The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Some Good:
* Had an amazing Elder Team meeting this week. I am SO excited about Mick and Wade joining the team. This was really the first time the guys could begin to explore what our role will be at Hope. It's really an honor to serve alongside guys who are genuinely seeking the Lord's leading and are eager to dive in courageously. My experience has been that a really biblical Elder Team is a rare thing in this world, even after years of effort. And here God is pulling it together beautifully in such a simple, gentle way. I can't wait to see what's next!

* We've got a full compliment of teachers for our Hope Kids program which is awesome. And Bill Little has offered to host a special session for Middle School students during the message tomorrow. This makes me feel really good since we'll be diving into the less-than-comfortable subject of the 7th Commandment.

Some Bad:
* Believe it or not, our dog is still hanging in there. But not for long. Every day we wake up wondering if this will be the day when we need to say goodbye, but she's still eating and wanting to interact with us. Her mind is totally there, even as her body is giving out on her (which makes the inevitable decision so much harder). But we're thinking that we're seeing the signs that say it's finally over. The cancer has spread from her belly into her thighs, and now it's moved down one of her legs. It's so hard, because it's really obvious that she wants to be up and about, playing, exploring, digging in the yard, etc.

Some Ugly:
* I've come down with some kind of bug. Spent way too much time Friday afternoon and evening running between the couch and the bathroom. Bleh! Today I feel totally wiped out -- as if something has sucked all the life out of me. So I'm heading to bed early (before 8:00 PM!) and hoping the Lord can refresh this aging body... at least enough for a great morning of worship together at Hope. 'Night, all!