Charles Spurgeon Was Intense…
Thursday, May 29th, 2008…before he preached!
I read this a couple of days back on Steven Furtick’s blog. It brought a smile to my face (not that I don’t smile much).
My father was (is) a pastor. Before he used to speak his mood would change. He would become very focused on the message. He would tense up. His patience levels reduced to a very short fuse. He wouldn’t eat anything before leaving for church because he couldn’t.
As kids, you didn’t dare mess about in the back of the car while he drove to church. That would have been guaranteed pain right there.
Only after the service did we get our dad back to normal, after the self-evaluation session and encouragement shout-outs in the car. On the way back he’d even put the radio on. Sometimes. 
Now that us four lads have all grown up and left home, my poor mum has to put up with this singlehandedly on a regular basis. She’s well used it to now though. Ha ha!
I’m not a preacher, but I can relate to the same motions while preparing for worship. I can’t think of anything else most of the weekend. I can’t eat before the service. I just can’t seem to be my normal chilled self. I’m always sneaking off for another look over the set-list.
I’m not convinced it’s a good thing. I sometimes feel guilty for the impact that it has on my wife and kids. Even when I think I have it under control, Liz can still sense I’m uptight.
I’m not sure Spurgeon should have rebuked other preacher’s for being jolly before a service! Man, he must have been really in knots.
What’s your story? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? How do we get the right balance of preparation and normal life?
p.s. Dave, that Sunday back stage when you were about to go preach. I never said a word. Now you know why. Been there, done that, got a slap.
by Death Cab For Cutie) and the first song, I Will Possess Your Heart contains the following lyric.