Today is one of those days where you wake up and you know life will never be the same again. These days are really no different than any other day - other than one small detail. And the day after usually doesn't bring about immediate change. But you know inside this could be the day that changes everything. This could be the day you look back 50 years and pinpoint as "the day" - it could also be the day you look back at in 18 months and realize was the day you needed to start looking for another job.

Ten days ago, I arrived as I always do in the parking lot of Taco Mac on Holcomb Bridge Rd at 4:20 pm to depart for WSB studios with Allen and Jeanette. Jeanette was running surprisingly late. I didn't think much of it, and I hoped into Allen's truck. He turned to me and said, "how good are you at a keeping a secret."

Those are always scary words - especially for someone like me who likes to talk. This is not to say I am not good at keeping a secret when I need to, this is just to say I usually like talking about stuff.

"Next Tuesday," he tells me, "I am announcing to the staff and congregation that after much thought and prayer I am stepping down as Senior Pastor of Mount Pisgah and I have asked my successor to be named by June. I am willing to stay for up to a year for a transition period, but I feel called to pursue the radio show full time, and now is the time to do it."

Needless to say, I was shocked. I knew as the radio show program would grow, Allen would take more of an interest in the show and less of an direct interest in Mount Pisgah. He'd go from preaching, say 42 sermons a year to maybe 26. He would eventually step away from all things besides casting vision, preaching, and radio. But I never expected this, and I never expected it this soon.

I have the mixed emotion of extreme excitement and nervousness. It is kind of like riding a roller coaster when you are afraid of heights (like me). You know this is going to be a blast. You know are going to be safe. You know everything will work out fine and in the end you'll be so overjoyed all you'll do is long for the time just 5 minutes earlier when you could do it all over again - for the first time. But when your box car takes that first link in the chain to the top of the hill, you are still a little nervous.

From this moment on, sink or swim, it's just Allen and I. Sure there will always be Glenn, and probably Jeanette. And eventually we'll hire more people as the show grows. But for now it just feels like Allen and I. However, I can't imagine anyone better to ride up the hill of the "roller coaster of life" than Allen, because roller coasters are always much easier to surmount when you have a friend sitting right there with you. Sink or swim, I am proud to take this step and I am proud to do this with Allen. Alright, everyone put up their hands becuase here we go........