I want to give a HUGE thank-you to my church family at Atonement. You really surprised me on July 25...I had no clue you had cooked up a celebration for the 30th anniversary of my ordination/15th year at Atonement. The years have just flown by, especially that last half. We've been busy here in Florida, busy doing God's work with God's people, and I just didn't give a thought to what a milestone this was.

Thanks for the surprise, the thoughtfulness, the tributes, and the luncheon. Thanks for inviting my colleagues from the Tampa conference -- especially Pastor Dave Kruger who was the interim pastor here, and part of my welcoming committee; and Pastor Eric Friedrichs, who leads Christ the King Lutheran Church in Temple Terrace, and now leads us Tampa Conference pastors as our new dean. Thanks for remembering a moment in my ministry I could have easily let slip by. You reminded me how richly God blesses us through caring for, serving, and being part of a church family.