Laud and Praise... Too Much Hype

Since the beginning of the semester, I have been under a lot of stress and demand.  Most of this has come from my desire for two things:  the Ministry & Missions Department award and graduating with honors.  I've been stressing a ton about my grades (I'm at a 3.488 and need a 3.5 for honors) and the way the M&M professors perceive me.  I've never stressed about grades, and I'm not the kind of person to really care what someone thinks about me.  Why the sudden change in my attitude?  I wanted the honors to know that I'm the best.  I wanted my dad to tell me at graduation that he was proud of me for my accomplishment.  I wanted the affirmation of Drs. Jones, Fetters, and Bergler (and RuthAnn!) to have some kind of certainty that I was going to succeed in my future ministry...  What a load of crap!

God's in control.  He's preparing a place for me to do ministry where I'll be just fine.  I've already got the ministry effectiveness seal of approval from about 350 people in Iowa.  Unfortunately, the chances of my dad ever telling me he's proud of me are slim to none.  Dad's:  be sure to let your sons know that you're proud of who they are and you're okay with helping them make choices instead of telling them what to do.  After all, they're not your children.  They're just on loan from your Father.