Thought Quotient

Joel Engle reminds us that real joy is found in Christ alone.

Hey guys,
It’s been a while since I have posted anything of philosophical significance. As I finished out this year of Christian music and transition into being a pastor of a new church plant, I have been looking back.

It is not always a pleasant thing to look back at your past and see the mistakes and stupid things you have done or worthless attitudes that you possessed. One of the things that I look back on and have learned from tremendously is the emptiness of “success.”

For many years, even though I feel like I had faithfully shared the truth of Christ and the message of the gospel, I also wanted fame. I really wanted to be somebody and be respected and even admired. I thought that securing a recording contract and being a “big name” was the way to do it. Even, though deep in my heart I knew better, I still had the desire to be recognized.

I remember the first time I heard one of my songs on the radio. I had dreamed of the day that could happen. I remember watching the movie “That Thing You Do” and thinking how cool it would be to hear one of “my” songs on the radio.

As I got in my car from the airport, I heard my song on the radio. It really wasn’t all that I thought it would be. The joy and excitement that I thought I would feel was not there. This has happened many other times in my ministry but this particular time I was very aware of the emptiness.

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