When you read the title you may have thought that this was going to be "True Confessions of Pastoral Life" or something like that. Maybe you thought I was going to do some whining or complaining about the church or ministry. None of that stuff here, sorry if you are disappointed. 
The title actually comes from our text for Sunday, July 25. John 12:25 reminds us that Jesus said that whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. It helps to know that two different Greek words are used for the word life in the text. Jesus is reminding people that they have to pick a life. We can either pick the one we design or we can pick "eternal life," we cannot have both. When I read about the life that Jesus offers both now and for eternity and I think about the consequences of choosing my way over His way, it really is a "no-brainer." I want His life, eternal life, divine quality of life...I cannot possibly have it without Him. Therefore I hate my life, my way, my self-will whenever it is contrary to His will. Life only works one way. I love His life. I hate my life. Have you ever let go of something that you thought was life only to find it was really death?
The title actually comes from our text for Sunday, July 25. John 12:25 reminds us that Jesus said that whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. It helps to know that two different Greek words are used for the word life in the text. Jesus is reminding people that they have to pick a life. We can either pick the one we design or we can pick "eternal life," we cannot have both. When I read about the life that Jesus offers both now and for eternity and I think about the consequences of choosing my way over His way, it really is a "no-brainer." I want His life, eternal life, divine quality of life...I cannot possibly have it without Him. Therefore I hate my life, my way, my self-will whenever it is contrary to His will. Life only works one way. I love His life. I hate my life. Have you ever let go of something that you thought was life only to find it was really death?