Each week, as I climb the three stairs to our stage, I have potentially a whole host of problems going through my head; here are just twenty-one:

1. Who is on the team this week?
2. What’s the pastor speaking on?
3. Who’s running sound?
4. Who is running lights?
5. What will the graphics look like?
6. Did I remember to put the “Chorus” graphic in twice?
7. What arrangement of (that song) did we decide on?
8. Should that be an “Fmaj7” or just an “F”?
9. Will the sound guy know when the guitar solo is?
10. Will the coffee be brewed?
11. Will the announcement person pray?
12. Will there be any spelling errors or typos in slides?
13. Did I meet that person last week?
14. Who’s counting off the first song?
15. Who’s counting off the second song?
16. Where’s my bible?
17. Does that child’s parents know that they’re in here?
18. Where’s that buzz coming from?
19. Did I eat breakfast?
20. Is that “clever transition” going to work?
21. AM I MAKING A DIFFERENCE????

Obviously, I can not answer most of these questions; however, I believe one of the essential elements for doing ministry is peace of mind. By the time I walk to the center of the stage, I need to be centered spiritually, intellectually and emotionally, and every question I have to deal with has the potential to pull me off my game. Luckily, I have to make choices with most of them. I can:

1. Control them by answering them between Monday and Friday
2. Control them by answering them Sunday with a conversation or a phone call
3. Trust that they are answered, and just wait and see
4. Know that they are not answered, but just release them (and make a note to address them later)

The trick to doing nearly anything is knowing when to press/control and when to release. There are simply certain things that I will trade in order to preserve my peace of mind. It may mean that I have to deal with a “curve ball” or two, but I also know where my “shoulders are big“, so I know which areas/categories are easier for me to release.

What about you? Do you know what questions confront you when you are “shipping”? Do you know what to release, control, or trust?