Having a bizarre sense of humor is a two edged sword . . . it helps you cope with the craziness that is life, but it must be mastered and controlled (like many things in life) or it defines who you are. I love to laugh and to make folks smile, but if I had to choose, I'd rather be known for speaking the truth and having a heart for people.
We get one shot at this life and I choose to look at it as preparation for eternity. If you think of it as an audition based on your performance - you're never going to make the cut. It's a journey and you and you alone get to choose your destination. Choose wisely and the path will be laid for you to lead you in the right direction. We get a lot of chances while we're here to do things right or to make it right if we screw things up - but we have to be honest with ourselves.
I've traveled a crooked road and haven't always done the right thing, but I'd have to say I usually knew what the right thing was. We live, we learn, we grow, and if we have any integrity and character we learn to admit we don't know it all and we don't always have it together - we often need help just to get by.
I've been told there are only two really important facts to start from - First, there is a God; Second, it's not me (or you, either, for that matter ;~).
So only we can be responsible for what we do with that. You can make excuses, you can blame those around you, you can look everywhere else . . . but it always comes back to self.
I haven't felt the call to preach - I haven't found that God has given me the strength, courage, or knowledge for that. But God gives each of us a gift as He will to be used for His service. It may be riches of this world that we are to share with those less fortunate; it may be a skill with your hands or your mind that makes a difference in someone else's life; it may be a unique ability that not everyone can perform; it may be something as simple as a heart for others that produces caring, a kind word, and prayers for those around you. But make no mistake - you have a unique gift and He wants you to use it for Him.
I would like to believe His gift to me is the music I write. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it all on my own. The joy I feel in sharing these songs is a genuine reflection of a son striving to please his Father. As a man with children of his own (and now grand children) I know how it is to be pleased to see them grow to be the kind of individuals you can be proud of and the happiness that it brings to know you are responsible for part of that. I believe it's no different for God. And a son wants his father to be pleased with him and proud of him.
It would please me if those who hear these songs like and appreciate them. But it will please me more to get to hear my Father say, "well done, good and faithful servant". That will be more than enough.
May it be said, ' and they took notice of him, that he had been with Jesus.'