September already? Crazy. I haven't been able to attend recently because of some crazy work stuff, and I have an appointment today, but I wanted to share my wins and challenges for this week. Wins: Started working out a few days a week again. Got an excellent new guitar (Epiphone 335). XL shirts are fitting really well. Finished my upcoming talk on biblical study. If you want to hear the audio, let me know. Challenges: Feeling overwhelmed with all the things I'm trying to start and finish (church website, Google cybersecurity certificate, getting new clients, waiting to hear back on a few potential ones, and waiting to hear back on a job interview). Thanks for letting me share!

First, I just got first set of 40-inch shorts after wearing 42s since 2016. I was shocked that the day finally arrived. Second, I had a question for you: What do you consider to be the top three factors in building self-confidence?

No matter what you believe, I really think this can apply. Let’s show some love today. “Love one another with affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” - Romans 12:10

I never thought I'd be able to wear this shirt. Even when my wife bought it for me seven years ago, it was still snug and looked ridiculous on me. But I stubbornly kept it because I dug the design. "One day, it'll fit," I told her. "One day!" That day has finally come. The years of opening the closet, picking it off the rack, and not being able to put it on. The last six months it spent in our "other" closet because it wasn't worth keeping in the main one if I wasn't going to wear it. All of that was worth it. I'm down another five pounds, and this shirt feels loose on me. And I'm going to be rocking it at the @legacyarena tonight for the one and only @natebargatze's sold-out performance. Because I feel like I've got a bit of star power of my own right now. 31 pounds down, 64 to go. And I know that with God, all things are possible. Even wearing a silly shark shirt at the start of summer.

They say a powerful way to reach your goals is to stay accountable, so here's my ask for accountability from you all. This is the first XL shirt I've purchased since 2018 or 2019. I bought it at the Anberlin show last Friday. I can't wear it yet, but I'd say I'm 15 pounds away from it fitting perfectly. I want to be wearing it by mid-July, if not sooner. And another statement for accountability: I'm never going to buy another 2XL shirt in my life. That part of me will soon be long gone. I thank everyone for supporting my weight-loss journey so far. Thirty pounds down, sixty to go.