This is out last week home. For all practical purposes, the fall comes rushing at us on Labor Day, Monday, September 4.

We leave that day for our first show of the fall tour in North Carolina. We drive back home immediately after that show so I can catch a 6am flight to California for a week of meetings. So, we’re trying to get ready.

The new marketing DVD is almost complete. David is working on the menus and I’m trying to finish up the final editing. And we’re waiting on Tim to get us the new television commercials – which look very cool!

Still, lots of stuff to do. I’ve been reading in 2 Thessalonians in The Message. This book talks about lazy people who had infiltrated the church there. Some of them weren’t even real believers – they were just taking advantage of the kindness of the people there. Paul ended up writing, “Don’t permit them to free load on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us…And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately – no excuses, no arguments – and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.”

Sounds like Paul had a real work ethic! But the verses that really got my attention came from Chapter 1 (verses 11-12): “Pray that our God will make you fit for what He’s called you to be, pray that He’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, He will honor you.”

These are great words and instantly became my prayer. I want my life – my ideas and actions – to have a greater purpose.