I want to take my preacher hat off for a few minutes and just be Gregg.
        I grew up in a little community called East Fork.  My Dad was a dairy farmer.  I went to school at a small school named Spring Creek.  I grew up wearing blue jeans, cowboys boots & a cap.  I was a country boy.  I loved listening to Elvis Presley and Waylon Jennings. 
       I loved sports.  I dreamed of being a high school basketball coach.
       Like most boys, I liked girls... a lot.
       I loved LSU.  I mean, I LOVED LSU.  Man, I loved to go to Tiger Stadium and watch the Tigers!
       I was also competitive and I could have a temper.
       I graduated from high school in 1979 and attended Southeastern Louisiana University from1980-1981.  During that time I majored in Health & Physical Education and was planning to be a coach.  Until, my life was re-directed in 1981.  That's when I was called into the ministry.  Now, someone might ask "How were you called into the ministry?"  Well, I didn't here a voice that said "Gregg... I don't want you to be the next Bobby Knight (without the chair throwing) ...I want you to preach."  No, it didn't work like that.  I had a friend who saw something in me and felt God could use me, warts & all, in the ministry.  I prayed and as best I could, I sensed that maybe wanted me in the ministry.  I had no idea how... I'm not the most intelligent and didn't have a pedigree but, I followed.  .
       In 1984, I was "ordained" which is a ceremony in the Baptist church where you sit in a chair and other ordained men come by and place their hands on your shoulders or head and normally, say a prayer for you.  Sometimes, they say you have a nice haircut.  I think one or  two whispered "Go Tigers" to me.  Just kidding.  No, laying on of hands is pretty serious.  You are being "set apart" for ministry
        When  I was ordained, I had no idea how much I would struggle with that "set apart" deal. 
       You see, after I was "ordained" I got a title.  Now, instead of just "Gregg Potts" I became "Rev. Gregg Potts."
        From that point forward I was known as "Bro. Gregg." 
        For 23 years, I had been just plain ole Gregg Potts from East Fork.  I was a Christian and I loved country music & sports.  Now, I was "Bro. Gregg" and that brought a set of expectations.  They didn't explain this at my ordination service and it's probably good that they didn't cause if they had, I might have canceled the deal. 
        I had been "Gregg" for a long time.  And Gregg had some problems with "Bro. Gregg." 
        During the ordination, did God reach down inside me and turn off  the country music switch?  No.
        Did God turn off the "sports switch."  No.
        Did God all of a sudden make me more patient?  No
         And that created a problem because, from the time I became "Bro. Gregg" people expected me to act  like "Bro. Gregg."  That meant I had to start speaking in old English.  For example, "Oh, loving wife, blessed art thou."  But, I tried that, and it didn't quite work. 
         When the kids misbehaved I didn't say "Oh, wonderful children.  If you feel led of the spirit, please refrain from ugly behavior." 
         No, I was still Gregg.  Now, I was reading my Bible  and trying to honor the Lord.  And, I was trying to  live a spirit-led life.  But, did I do that 24/7?  No. I leaked. 
         And that's the point of this blog. l have never felt comfortable with a "super spiritual" mindset.  Some guys do and that's fine.  But that's not me.  I love the Lord, and I want to honor Him but, I'm Gregg Potts the Christian before I'm "Bro. Gregg."  And, if I take care of Gregg Potts the Christian, it will take care of "Bro. Gregg." 
         I am not  perfect.  I don't pretend to be.  I don't have any "hidden sin" I need to confess or anything.  But, I know me and "me" is not perfect.   And Jesus knows that.  None of us are perfect.
         The apostle Paul struggled with this.  In Romans 7, Paul wrote "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."  I can identify with Paul!  Every day my old nature does battle with my new nature.  And sometimes,the old nature wins.  When it does, I go to the Lord and He forgives! 
       Last week, while I was home, I went by to see a young man who has down's syndrome.  I've known his family for almost 30 years.  I was Music & Youth Director at the church his family attends back in the early 80's.  Since then, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. 
        As I was visiting with his family I was asked "What should we call you?  Should we call you Bro. Gregg, Dr. Gregg?"  I replied, "No, I"m just Gregg."
        If Gregg can live for the Lord it will take care of the expectations of being "Bro. Gregg."