Each week I plan for the weekend, but not like most folk, I assure you.  For me Sundays are “work” days but also they are also the best day of the week.  This past Sunday was supposed to be a particularly great day.  I ask God regularly to surprise me with His work and presence.  This past Sunday was plain evidence God is listening.

My family at Main Street planned on getting together at one time (11:00a) and then sharing a picnic on the church grounds immediately after “doing church.”  Getting a people together who normally worship in two separate hours is something we wish we could do more often.  There is a special energy in the room when we are all together, especially when lunch is in view.

We also planned on celebrating the completion of year one of the Yes, Lord! initiative.  This part of the celebration was particularly exciting because construction on the expansion of Kid’s Avenue just started two weeks ago.  It is always good to see something tangible come from the sacrifices of many.

We had a wonderful time together.  The music was very good, people sang along loudly.  After the message of the morning, people came to pray.  I had opportunity to celebrate with two families whose children made commitments to follow Jesus.

The day would prove to be the highlight it promised to be, but as I prepared to leave the sanctuary Phillip Brunner called me back to the platform.  I immediately began mentally kicking myself over what I possibly could have forgotten.  My anguish was short-lived as Phillip explained that it was time to recognize ten years of service at Main Street.

For this I was completely unprepared.  My staff gloated over being able to completely surprise me and I had the honor of standing alongside my lovely wife and ministry partner, Michelle, and our children Ryan, Alyssa, and Emily.  For the next (forever) my friend and fellow Elder, Joe Ivey, spoke about the last ten years.  I was amazed by the thoughtfulness of what he had to say. Next my friend and co-laborer, Phillip Brunner, shared encouragements from the church staff.  Then my dear friend, Claudia Henderson presented me with an antique clock (pictured, howbeit poorly, above) as a gift from the congregation through our personnel team.

I am glad I was not offered the opportunity to speak.  I was speechless.  In fact it has taken about a day to get my thoughts organized enough to begin to attempt to say, “Thank you.”  A little more than a fourth of my entire life is spent here at Main Street.  While being recognized is always welcome, the thoughtfulness of the honor bestowed upon my family and me is worth far more the quarter I deposited.

As I sit in my office listening to the gentle ticktock of time continue to roll past, I pray again and again that Main Street sees far greater things than this past decade.  I passionately ask the Father to surprise me again, not with honors and gifts, but with the magnificent work only he can imagine.  I want my family at Main Street to be just as astounded as I am.

So be it.