This is Week Five of Confessions Of A Pastor.

This week's confession has to do with despair. I struggle with it.

So do most pastors.

I think there is a connection between the last two weeks. The same kind of people who are obsessed with appearances often wrestle with despair. When things don't look right or go right, the perfectionists among us really have a hard time.

That probably includes you.

This Sunday, see how my confession is your confession. And my hope is your hope.

8:30, 10:00, 11:30.

Some of you remember this Andre Agassi commercial from the 1990s. Image Is Everything is the tag line that haunted him for years.

While my tennis game is nowhere near Agassi's, my struggle with image, appearance, and reputation is.

That's why this week's Confession Of A Pastor might just be the most personal of them all. I Am Obsessed With Appearances. I really am. We'll check out I Samuel 16 and see what kind of biblical remedy there is for an obsession that I suspect I share with some of you.

Along the way, the kids from Jersualem Marketplace will share some of their spirit with us. It's going to be a great Sunday . . . I can already feel it.

You know what's interesting about Andre Agassi? Late in his tennis career, he shaved his head, changed his clothing, and became known for substance rather than style. That's why he was a better player at 33 than at 23.

When it comes to ministry, maybe the same thing will happen in me.

This week is our annual Vacation Bible School.

Our entire campus has been transformed into "Jerusalem Marketplace." We have a synagogue, a central shopping/crafts area, and even a petting zoo.

You can see the last part here:





It's actually one of my favorite weeks of the year. Each time, I work as a "tribe leader," which means that I help move a group of VBS kids from activity to activity, finishing up each day with a special "tribe time" in which we review the teaching and the experiences.

This is what my tribe looks like:





It gives me a chance to be more than someone on stage to at least this small group of kids. I also get to experience first hand their interest in the things of God and their enthusiasm for the church.

In other words, it gives me a chance to be a pastor.

Week Three of Confessions Of A Pastor comes this Sunday.

By way of reminder, here's the series promo:



This week, we'll look at the confession: I Have To Work Hard To Stay Sexually Pure.

It's a long list of pastors who have "fallen" sexually, isn't it? This week you'll hear how those of us in pastoral leadership at Good Shepherd strive to keep our names off that list.

Along the way, I think you'll get some pretty revolutionary views about sexuality and godliness. Can you believe those two words are in the same sentence? This Sunday, find out how. 8:30. 10:00. 11:30.

Confessions Of A Pastor continues this Sunday.

And it's a genuine confession: I feel completely inadequate.

I had a friend in high school tell me once that I was a "simmering cauldron of insecurities."

Some friend, right? Actually, you can find out more about him here.

But he was probably on to something.

That's why this Sunday you'll find out some of the ways I feel like I'm in over my head; like I'm playing out of my league.

Oh, and you might learn something helpful for you own inadequacies as well. To get ready, check out I Corinthians 1:26 - 2:5.

By the way, Julie did read Tuesday's anniversary post -- but only because I put a highlighted link to Kinetic Concepts Incorporated (her company), and several colleagues have an alert system that lets them know whenver the company gets a citation like that. For a day at least, I had some notoriety over at KCI.