Cleaning The Attic

November 30th, 2007 | by Scott |

As my blog friend, Joe, points out Advent is a time to unload the weight of un-confessed junk.
One of my traits as a minister is transparency. That has gotten me in trouble in the past and will probably continue to do so in the future.

1. I battle jealousy issues. Jealousy over those who are smarter than me, better preachers than me and more “successful” than me.

2. I hate Christmas music. I get so sick of hearing the same 20 songs over and over again.

3. I stop and buy a candy bar every afternoon. I know I need to go on a diet and lose this extra 25 pounds but I just don’t want to.

4. I worry that I am not intelligent enough. So I read. A Lot.

5. I can be woefully insecure. I need lots of affirmation.

6. I love my kids with all of my heart but sometimes I don’t want to be around them.

7. I can be extremely morbid. I often think that we are just a moment away from catastrophe, disease or death.

8. I’m often afraid to fully voice my opinion on things out of fear of offending or being fully able to articulate my arguments.

9. I would shave my head today if Tracy would let me so I would never have to get a haircut again.

10. I love office work. I would stay in my office studying 12 hours a day if I didn’t have a family.

Am I overly weird? What about you? What are your confessions?
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Now playing: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Please Read the Letter
via FoxyTunes

  1. 24 Responses to “Cleaning The Attic”

  2. By Justin on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    Most people don’t ever see this side of me, but sometimes I can be a jackass.

  3. By terri on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    I worry too much about what other people think about me and then realize that other people are too busy thinking about themselves to think about me.

    I do sudoku puzzles at work

    I leave shoes out all over the house

    I think more highly of myself than I ought

    I don’t go to church on Sunday nights or most Wednesday nights anymore

    I don’t exercise like I should

    This is making me have a sick tummy - I should quit!

  4. By Scott on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    Justin, I doubt any of this blog’s readers have ever seen that side of you. :D

    Terri, I’m sure you only do the Sudoku during lunch and breaks, right? You could always find a church that doesn’t have Sunday and Wednesday nights and not feel guilty :D

  5. By Donna on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    I also struggle with jealousy…

    I have pride issues..

    I am a slob.

    I sometimes just don’t like people around

    I would shave my head too if David would let me.

    I overthink and overanalyze and yet can forget about something in a moment.

  6. By Belinda on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    I’m back!

  7. By John on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    I have a huge ego
    I think everyone is judging me unfairly
    I would love to be alone 99% of the time

    I’m with you on the Christmas music and it’s worse for me this year since I took a temp job with a store in a local mall. 8 hours a day of the music is torture.

  8. By matt elliott on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply

    I’m so sick of Christmas music I can’t stand it.

    I avoid Christian bookstores like the plague. I get borderline nauseous when I’m in them, and that’s not an exaggeration. So if I need to read a book by a Christian author, I’ll order it from Amazon and wait five days for it to be shipped to me rather than stop by the Christian bookstore on the way home. My dislike for the whole Evangelical sub-culture approaches almost unholy proportions.

    I still really love good hymns, no matter what many of our congregants think. 8-)

    My greatest fantasy is to be sitting in a living room with Emmylou Harris, playing guitar and singing with her on “Love Hurts.”

  9. By Scott on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply

    Donna, I’ll shave my head if you shave yours.

    Belinda, welcome back. Where did you go?

    John, I love alone time as well and I think I would be suicidal if I had that non-stop loop of Christmas music the malls play.

  10. By Scott on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply

    Matt, I am with you. The last time I was in one of those stores I almost started knocking tables over. I do guess I need to visit our local one at some point though.
    I dish out the extra for Amazon Prime. All my books arrive in two days. I love it.
    I often prefer the hymns to much of the newer songs. There is so much theological depth in the hymns that the praise songs cannot capture.

  11. By Doug Freeman on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply

    Scott, I can’t understand how you can like a song (its not a song) chocolate rain and despise Silent Night.

  12. By Mark on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply

    I love Christmas Music!!! Ya bunch of scrooges.

    I agree on the Christian bookstores. something just feels wrong anytime I’m in one. Not really sure why.

    I struggle with most worship music. Neither the hymns or praise songs we sing leave me feeling like I’ve adequately worshiped or praised God.

  13. By Robin on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply

    These are my advent confessions:

    I love Christmas music! I play it from Novbember 15th on.

    I leave my Christmas tree up through January.

    We don’t sing enough Christmas music in church as far as I’m concerned because we sing Advent songs until Christmas eve.

    I am truly blessed beyond compare to have a wonderful husband, children, family and friends (who surprised me with a 50th birthday party last night)

    I love to sing.

    I love to decorate, especially for Christmas.

    I love to buy gifts for my friends and family and I love to wrap them.

    I am a conservative who listens to Rush almost everyday and I watch FOX NEWS.

    I have hope for everyday and for the future because I believe that God is in control of not only our lives, but this world.

    I’m not as educated or as smart as the folks on this blog are, but life is wonderful and God blesses me everyday for which I am truly thankful.

  14. By len on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    I love Christmas music. I even listen to it at various times throughout the years.

    I think the music Scott Freeman recommends is largely boring and all sounds the same. He did, however, point me to the greatness that is Tay Zonday.

    Most of the terminology associated with the so-called emerging church makes me want to scream.

    I am largely conservative, but feel very much at home around those who disagree with me.

    If the 2008 election were today I would vote for Mike Huckabee. I would love to have a private meeting with Scott about that.

    John Edwards frightens me more than any candidate; and by a long shot.

    I have no idea how a Free Will Baptist pastor from TN is ranked #3 in number of comments on a Church of Christ pastor’s, whom I have never met, blog.

  15. By Tracy on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    Add me to the loving Christmas music camp. I could listen to it all year too. Having small kids makes me love it with new ears and I thought I loved it before - I really love it now. I mean, how can you not love ‘Away in the Manger’? Especially the 2nd half that we simply don’t sing often enough.

  16. By Scott on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    I do appreciate some of the Christmas tunes that have theological significance. But not in a loop for two months straight.

    Robin, none of us here are smart. We just hide it well.

    Len, if Huckabee gets the nomination I will do all in my power to campaign against him so stay tuned. And don’t be slamming my music, now.

    Tracy, are we really listening to “Away In a Manger” or some third rate band (or Beyonce) doing yet another iteration of “Winter Wonderland” No thanks.

  17. By matt elliott on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    I should mention that the fact that I still love good hymns doesn’t mean that I don’t love a lot of good contemporary worship music as well. “Good” is the operative term here on BOTH styles.

  18. By Belinda on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    Where have I been?? Nowhere, but I’ve been unable to view your blog for awhile - I really really missed it. All is well again.

    I don’t like contemporary worship services at all. I do like the “oldies but goodies.”

    I like some Christmas music. I do wish it didn’t begin until at least the day after Thanksgiving.

    I’m not going to worship services anywhere right now. It really bothers me, but I’ve been unable to find anywhere that “fits.” Most of the church of Christ folks around here are still very republican and announce it at services. They believe GWB is a godly man - and announce it.

    I’ve decided my family and I aren’t going to buy into the traditional Christmas anymore. Too many people have too little - why should we stress ourselves out over getting more stuff for each other?? They are better ways to spend a few dollars (i.e., St. Jude Children’s Hospital and a local no-kill pet shelter).

  19. By Jonathan on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    Len,

    Don’t get too comfortable at # 3. I’m only 29…I mean, now 28…behind you!

  20. By Scott on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    Make your movements now. It all starts over in 28 days.

  21. By greg on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    What?? I’ve got an insurmountable lead (provided you aren’t planning any Ron Paul posts), and it’s all going away??

  22. By terri on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply

    Maybe you could combine my comments with those of That Girl and I could move up the list a little.

    Tell me you don’t love “Christmas Is A Time To Say I Love You” by Billy Squier

  23. By Scott on Dec 4, 2007 | Reply

    Greg, that’s the way the plug-in works. But I figure if you sit and watch the new year’s bowls and do a live-commenting thing you should be fine throughout the year.

    Terri, that is the GREATEST Christmas song of all time.

  24. By Sympathizer on Dec 18, 2007 | Reply

    I love this entry. Thank you for being so candid.

    Even though you’ll know who this is, Scott, I’m going to make my entry “anonymous” to everyone else so I can really be honest here.

    I can relate so much to item 6. I love my kids to death, but I need time away from them on a regular basis. In fact, even if we could financially swing it, I wouldn’t stay home full-time (I reserve the right to change my mind in the future).

    I also struggle with being judgmental. I have a hard time knowing how to be there for someone when I think the icky stuff they’re experiencing is the result of bad choices they’ve made in their life. When women in our church confide in me about struggles they’re having, usually I just want to tell them, “Well what did you think would happen when you married that twit?” Or, “Well maybe it’s time you stopped rescuing your kids all the time and let them experience the consequences of their poor choices first-hand.” Or, “You really need to decide to stop being the victim, and make some changes in your life.” As a result of this, I’ve found that I’ve done all I can to avoid several people in our church because I’m disgusted by them and their lives. I need to learn to better deal with that.

    I revel in cynicism. I think that’s also a reason for isolating myself from others.

    Overall, I’m not a good minister’s wife. I’ve got to be one of the biggest mis-fits for this role– ever.

  25. By Scott on Dec 18, 2007 | Reply

    Give me the misfits any day over the ones who are just so “perfect.” I would imagine there are many in your congregation who feel that way as well. I have no use for those who have it all together. They are typically much more messed up then those of us who are vulnerable and real.
    You sell yourself short. What you have to offer is more substantial than some picture of “perfection.” Keep doing what you are doing.

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