2011 was a year full of milestones for my family and for our church. Some of those milestones are best captured by the numbers . . .

Four. That's how many sets of reading glasses I now must have scattered around my life. One for the kitchen table to read the newspaper, one on my desk at work to prepare sermons, one in my car so I can read a restaurant menu, and one extra in case I lose one of the other three.

Fifty. That's how old I turned in 2011. It's also how old my own father was when I was born. In this case, not like father like son.

1,659. That was our average worship attendance for 2011, up from 1,540 in 2010. After a couple of years of flat growth, this increase is deeply rewarding. Special kudos to our 11:30 crowd which has grown more than any other.

One. That's the number of new mission statements at Good Shepherd: Inviting all people into a living relationship with Jesus Christ. The statement brings clarity, focus, and unity to all we do . . . and we've only just begun to flesh it out.

Two. That's the number of graduates in my family, as my son Riley graduated from high school and my daughter Taylor graduated from college.

$50,191. That's the average weekly offering at Good Shepherd in 2011. We had unusually strong December giving -- a phenomenon common in many churches but one we haven't had here before -- that raised us above the $50,000 per week mark for the first time ever.

192,320. That's the number of meals you packed on October 30 when we worshipped by feeding.

Ten. That's the number of message series in 2011: My Life Stinks, The Forgotten God, Lines, Jesus Tweets, The Comeback Kids, Elements, Boundaries With Kids, It's A Living Thing, Fashion Statement, and Christmas Lights.

1,440. That's the number of shoeboxes you donated in November through our partnership with Operation Christmas Child.

27. That's the anniversary Julie and I celebrated in June.

Through the years, I've agonized over situations that might affect church attendance on Sundays. Of course, the vast majority of these are things over which I have no control. Things like:

• Good weather -- Nice conditions mean people will go either to the beach or the mountains for the weekend.
• Bad weather -- Heavy rain, high winds, or, worst of all, a coating of ice, snow, or sleet, will keep Carolinians home faster than you can say "go-to-the-store-and-stock-up-on-milk."
• Panthers Games -- Know what? If I had tickets I'd probably hang out in the parking lot all morning, too.

But this weekend is the first time I've ever agonized over gasoline.

Will we have any? Will people use their last few drops on a trip to church? Are we worth running on fumes to get here?

The Observer says "yes." Maybe I'll stop worrying.

Then again, maybe not.

Because we've got a really good finale planned for Heroes. Really good. I wouldn't want you to miss it.

So see you in church on Sunday.

Or in the gas line.

Because of the miracle of "post options" -- I wrote this on July 22 but it is published on the 28th -- I am in Moscow, Russia as you read this.

Eight of us from Good Shepherd have joined with Jon and Sonnet Barr, longtime missionaries with United World Mission. You can read about the Barrs and their ministry -- now called "The Exchange" -- here. Way back in 1999-2001, Jon and Sonnet were based in Charlotte and we were happy to have them call Good Shepherd home.

Our Moscow team is one of three GS short term mission teams this summer. Sixteen folks are at the Jubilee Children's Center in Nairobi, Kenya. I went on this trip in both 2004 and 2006. While there, the team will lead the children in Vacation Bible School, train the on-site teachers, and help with light construction projects.

The third team consists of ten people travelling to Bulgaria to partner with our missionaries Tony & Amy Myers. That team will also export GS Vacation Bible School as well as helping with church planting ministries.

So: 34 people from Good Shepherd living out the truth that Authority Sends. Check Matthew 28:18-20 and you'll see what I mean.

I don't know how much web access I'll have in Moscow, so this might be my first light week on the blog. Check back tomorrow!