Strange Noises, Knowing What's Coming, and What We Need in Elders

Concern of the Day (well, at least one of them!): Evelyn heard a loud tumbling sound coming from the roof at about 7:00 this morning. I was in the shower, so I didn't hear it. She thought something had fallen off the roof, or a deer had been on our deck. But neither appear to be true. So did some rafters fall inside either of our attics? The sound happened just once, and we've heard nothing since. (No scurrying, scritching feet, thank goodness—at least not yet!) If we don't hear anything more before then, I'll venture into the attic Saturday when it's light. I don't wanna go up there with a flashlight in the dark.
Updates later.

Quote of the Day:  "People of depth know what is at stake with each new year. They know we are blessed not to know what is coming."
—Paul S. Williams, in his column posted today at christianstandard.com 

 Second Quote of the Day: "Elders are ultimately responsible for the congregation. They must be men of conviction who are willing to make hard decisions and live with them long enough to see if they are working. Only when men of conviction serve as elders will churches be able to make decisions that positively alter the direction of a congregation. Otherwise, the loud voices of the 'we like it this way' or 'that won't work' crowds will dictate the demise of the church.
—Chuck Sackett in an excellent article that will appear in Christian Standard's March "Elders Meeting" column

Picture of the Day: Tomorrow morning (we meet at 6:00 a.m.!) is my men's Bible study's first gathering of the new year, and the last session of the six-part video series, The Christmas Experience, narrated by Kyle Idleman. Our guys have really enjoyed it, and one of them, Brad Comerford, even borrowed the videos to use at home during Christmastime. Thanks to Mike Mack for recommending the series in his column in Christian Standard.

 

Encouraging Words

Encouraging words are too few and far between--for any of us! So when I opened my e-mail this morning with an e-mail from an old friend, Mike Mack, I was buoyed through the day by the nice things he said about me. Mike was quoting a blurb I had written about his new book, Small Group Vital Signs. Then he went on to review how our paths have crossed—over the past 25 years! I told him I had forgotten some of the incidents he mentioned—but I've never forgotten him!
So, gratefully, I'll link to his glowing words so I'll have 'em here in my digital diary to encourage me some day when no one else will.
Mike is groups minister with Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and founder of SmallGroups.com.

On a far less serious note, let me record that Tie Tuesday here where I work has no gender barriers, as the picture to the right proves. Congrats to colleague Margo Wilhelm for joining us in our fashion statement!