>> What A Day

Here is a typical Sunday in my life. April 1, 2007, I woke up somewhere around 5:15 and 5:30 thinking it was actually later than it really was. Do you ever do wake up thinking you are late? (Whew! I had a couple more minutes to snooze.) My phone, which is also my alarm clock, has some problem because of the day light savings time thing. It is weird, on Saturday night it begins thinking that it is on the old time or something. ( the phone company my have been playing a April fools joke on me or something) I usually wake up before it sounds the alarm, so I got up and began getting ready for the day. I am talking, moving very SLOW! After quietly saying good bye to my wife and thinking I will see my family in a few hours, I hop in the car and maneuver around the used car lot of a driveway. (I do not have a used car lot even though I am thinking about selling off some of the cars that seem to find themselves parked there each weekend. (Not really on selling them... but really on having to maneuver around them)

Where was I? Oh yeah...I begin heading out of the driveway while it is still dark, and I make my way to the NSC building. I know we will move one day and have lots of acreage to park cars and a really nice place to worship, but I really like this place. This has been our home for one year! I like it because God put us there. It is quiet as I turn on to the gravel parking lot and ease up to the door. I park near the door until it is time to unlock the gate of the parking lot next door. I go inside with a million things on my mind, and my heart is palpitating at the anticipation of being able to speak to hundreds and thousands of people in just a few hours. (Hundreds for now.)

After making seven pots of coffee, (not all for me) I think about the things I will be sharing in just a few hours. It is really quiet, and I spend some time alone with the Creator of the universe. It’s Awesome. After about an hour and a half, I take my car next door and drive to the end of the parking lot, which is in the next county I’m sure. Then some of the NSC Praise band begins to show up. Some of them actually park their cars near the county line. “There is life out there,” I murmur to myself. Ha.

Things begin to get cranked up as the band begins one last hour of prep. I simply meditate and think about the message I am about to bring. Then I walk around the G.P.S. (worship center) praying for those who will be attending worship. I pray, "Lord bring them in. Help them to wake up, get up, suit up, crank up, and drive up to NSC today to worship you."

At nine o’clock the students show up for Bible study, and somewhere between 9:00 and 9:15 workers and staff start coming around doing the various and needed tasks to get ready for the day. Around ten o’clock people start arriving for worship. They make their way to the coffee and stuff, and some detour at the Compass Center (NSC books and gifts).

Did I mention that God meets me there first thing in the morning? With out Him all we do would be futile. In fact, I can't do it without Him.

The countdown starts, cars continue to pour in, children continue to get checked in, the countdown to worship time goes to 0:00, and then it is time. Here we are to worship the only one who is worthy, Jesus Christ. When He shows up, things really begin to happen. The worship is great, the message is from Him, and lives are changed. The service has concluded, but people are still hanging around. Some are at a meeting. Some are telling us they just had a life changing experience, some are just happy to be around people who are on the same journey they are on. Everyone is hungry! It is 12:30, and people are still hanging around (which is great). There are a few bewildered looking kids hoping to eat at least one more meal. (they are wondering when that will be.) How many were here today and how many met Christ? Just a few of the questions I ask. (I also want to know how many cars were parked here today) Well it is time to head out. Man, I will miss this place, till the next time we get to come together and do it again. WHAT A DAY.