It’s past 8:00 pm and I’m indulging my workaholic tendencies. Holly and the boy have abandoned me until Thursday night. They’re in North Dakota, visiting Holly’s sister, and I’m at the office. I would sleep here if there was a shower. I miss my family deeply, but I love my work. So I’m numbing the pain of bachelorhood with some extended work hours. I have to preach 4 messages this week (long story), so there’s plenty to do.

I told our congregation Sunday that the last time Holly was gone for a few nights I didn’t do so well. One night, for instance, I had a 1 lb. bag of peanut M&Ms for dinner. I’m not kidding.
One of our volunteers heard this, was extremely concerned about her pastor, and took action. She stocked the fridge in the office with home cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next 4 days. Thanks Stephanie. You saved my life. Holly thanks you too. She was worried.
The only problem is, now I have absolutely no reason to leave the office. Except for the shower thing.

Another cool thing: from the front part of my office, I can kind of hear Angie making phone calls. That woman is amazing. Did you know that she works all day on Mondays an hour and a half from our offices (she is co-owner of a company-she works hard) and then comes over every single Monday to call every single one of our first time guests, which sometimes number in the hundreds?
When church planters want to know why our church is growing, I should just let them spend a day with Angie. She’s why. Not our marketing, preaching, or business acumen… volunteers like Angie who flat make it happen.

And people like Stephanie who cook for the pastor to rescue him from Ramen noodles.
(I’m not sure how that makes our church grow. But I like it.)

I love this freaking church.