...To Exude Excellence

Excellence. Only recently has this word even attempted to be applied with strength and precision in my life. Actually, up until about 6 months ago, I didn’t even know what that word could ever mean. I mean, what does a boy from Mississippi who moves to Nashville to be around music EVER need excellence for? Better yet, why hadn’t I ever tried to pursue it? I’ve been thinking about these things and I can only really come up with one real solution….this crap is hard work!

It’s a typical scenario. You have someone who has a little bit of talent given to him (or her for the ladies) with a lot of drive and heart and he could really go far. It happens all the time. How often do you hear someone on the radio, on a tv show or even at a live venue and think to yourself “Wow, I could do what THAT person is doing”.

Take a different perspective…and this is the kicker that happens ALL of the time. You have someone who is stupid talented. I’m talking about the guys that can play, sing, write, compose circles around those jerks on reality tv making loads of money off of a karaoke contest. Yes, THOSE people. More times than none, “those people” have no drive, no communication and most certainly no excellence in their work.

Currently I am a worship leader. I am a full time musician. It’s more of a controlled setting and that’s something that I’ve never been used to. In my former circles, I used to be what I like to refer to as the “wing man”. No, I’m not talking about the guy that goes with you on a blind date “just in case” you have to make a getaway. I’m talking about me here….the guy that let the breeze take him wherever. I had no idea what excellence could be and how it could affect every waking aspect of your performance.

Yeah I know….quite an epiphany, huh?

Here’s what REALLY boggles my mind, though. How can I, a Christ follower be anything less than excellent? Am I doing myself and other people a disservice if I come unprepared for a weekend?

Yes. Yes, I am. And on top of that, I would be held accountable. Much like a boss at a job, I would be held accountable if I showed up on a Saturday night or Sunday morning and had nothing ready whatsoever.

So then, whether you are a Christ follower or not, the sheer fact remains that the idea to “exude excellence” is foreign in our society. Whether you’re working for the city making minimum wage (like I did), or in retail (also like I did), or 7 figures (like our reality show karaoke friends…..oh, NOT EVER me) exuding excellence is more than just a Biblical principle…it’s a way of life.

A Merry Heart

this is the happiest time of my life....and there's only one person to blame for that. she.


she is the best of every attribute of God's perfect design, set aside for me from the moment she was born.

sure, there have been some bumps and bruises along the way. we don't get to see each other very often, but i don't hold that against her. why would i? most of the time i don't even think about that.

lately has been a little different, though. we are getting SO close to the end and just like a kid a christmas time, i'm getting anxious for the end. i know that i'm going to be getting the greatest gift on earth and i KNOW she feels the same way! ;)

case in point:

the other night i was sitting at a table with some really good friends. some were new friends, some were older friends. as i looked around, i realized that everyone else at the table was a couple. married or not, everyone else had a significant someone with them. my fiance' had just left that day and i think that heightened the matter.

everyone was trying to console me in my grief, but their messages were all the same..."you've only got 5 weeks left"! such great friends, but it's kind of like the "just visiting" space in monopoly.

anyway, i didn't say all of that to make anyone feel sorry for me. God knows that not a lot of people read my blogs, but what i DO want to accomplish here is the feeling of assurance to the woman that i love.

it's not her fault. yes, she DOES have to finish school before we can get married. yes, she DOES live in Oklahoma (in state tuition...who could blame her?). no, she COULDN'T control that. how can you control where you are when you fall in love?

i don't blame her.

it's just hard for natural reasons. loving long distances has it's fair share of heartache, but there's one thing i know for sure...i'll NEVER take her presence for granted.