Yeah, I don't mean to preach, but... Okay, sometimes, I mean to preach.
Like this Sunday. I have done it a thousand times, but whenever I get the opportunity to speak at The Chapel on a Sunday morning, it is a pretty incredible experience.
I think the preparation and just thinking about it is more intense than the actual moment.
All these thoughts and more... "Can I be true to what the Bible is saying?" "Will this be interesting for people?" "Will they feel compelled by the message to change something in their lives?" "Do I have enough cool pictures on my PowerPoint?" "Should I even use PowerPoint at all?" "Will I sweat?" "Should I stop talking for two days before this, so I can save my voice?"
In the end, it is all about God and what He wants to do.
Some of you reading this blogger have heard me, and encouraged me in this ordeal of speaking or preaching.
Others may wonder why I hardly ever talk with you about my job, and I don't bring it up much. (That sentence was redundant.)
Anyhow, I love public speaking, and I love God and people. It seems to be a good fit. But just like anything, it takes practice and hard work. In practice, I've "winged it" a few times, and then think "that was fun, but I'll need some notes."
This week I am speaking on Hebrews 10:19-25. We live in a culture that pursues independence but craves connection. We strive for individuality and ache for intimacy. Jesus Christ promises to connect us intimately to God and deeply to each other. My goal on Sunday is to get that message across in an accurate and compelling way. If people leave convicted about how they can activate depth and love in their relationships, I'll be a happy camper. (Nevermind the fact that I don't camp very often, and I don't like when people use cliche's. I will suspend said preferences in that area, and "camp happily.")
(See, some posts will be about silly movie reviews and Allie's latest development, and others are all serious and such. Thus is life, friends).
Meanwhile, on the Allison front... sometimes she cries, and it sounds like she is about to talk. Tonight, she was doing a half cry, which sounded like a soft-spoken "ell." Maybe she thinks her name is "Ellison."
Tomorrow, Denzel Washington's new movie, The Manchurian Candidate, opens. So does M.Night Shyamalan's new movie, named after a certain fantasy basketball team - "The Village."
I know one couple who saw four movies last weekend. (I know, you're thinking, "yeah, Gary, you WOULD know a couple like that - and it's probably YOU GUYS!). Nope, it's not us.
I'll let that couple remain anonymous, but also mention to you that they gave "I, Robot" a big thumbs up. Even though I didn't review it, I'd have to agree. This July has been a great month for movies. August, on the other hand... Unless you feel this urge to see every Tom Cruise movie ever made (including the upcoming "Collateral" where he plays a hit-man who 'hijacks' a taxi...), the film cupboard is bare for the rest of the summer. Which is good, because I need a break from movies.
(Whatever!)
Finally, I must mention that I love how so many of the top songs out right now seem to have spiritual themes, passion, or implications. Take Hoobastank's song "The Reason," Evanescence's "My Immortal," or Switchfoot's "Meant to Live." Can't we just sing these songs on Sunday? They're great!
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Movie Review Disclaimer...
My previous post was a movie review about The Bourne Supremacy.
Because of some conversations I have with people, or comments people make, I feel I have to make the following disclaimer. I will do so in a "comment/response" format.
COMMENT (from someone else): "Gary, you seem to watch a lot of movies - don't you have better things to do with your time?"
RESPONSE: "I do enjoy movies. I enjoy a great story that is well told by a director and well-portrayed by the actors. I think movies are actually the most effective sermons to today's culture. I actually do use much of my time to do other things. I spend a lot of time at work, doing ministry and being involved in people's lives. I have changed more diapers at this point, and I always enjoy holding Allison and spending time with her - I can't get enough of that. You know I like doing a website and writing a journal online. I am also starting to workout more at the local YMCA and spending time with people. I am very satisfied with how I'm using my time right now. I see movies as a productive hobby that I enjoy. I suppose I should mow the lawn tomorrow, though."
COMMENT #2: "Gary, you like to see movies right when they open - why is that?"
RESPONSE: "I don't know. I think it's because I'm a fan of movies. Again, I think stories are the most powerful way of getting through to people - and movies are our modern-day form of storytelling. Each movie is a parable, really. If a movie preview seems especially intriguing, or I really like a certain actor or director, I am excited to see it."
COMMENT #3: "Gary, I hear you go to some movies by yourself - what's up with that?"
RESPONSE: "I'd prefer to go with Jennie (my wife), and she has gone to more movies with me than not lately. An astute friend encouraged us to see two movies on the weekend before we had Allison, and we are glad we took his advice. We had a great time together. Just to be honest, there are some movies that Jennie doesn't like. She doesn't like action as much, and she doesn't like scary scenes or thriller movies.
I am also an only child, so I don't mind doing certain things by myself. I don't mind sitting in the theater by myself."
COMMENT #4: "Do you really think we care what you think of a movie?"
RESPONSE: "No, but it is a very easy way to start up a conversation. Especially with meeting new people, movies are often a great connection point. An easy way to start talking. I used to connect more in conversations about sports, but I'm getting tired of that."
COMMENT #5: "Tired of sports? Are you an idiot?"
RESPONSE: "No, I am not an idiot. I am just tired of talking sports sometimes. Maybe it's part of being a Cleveland fan. I'm tired of the same conversations about how things never go our way. I'd rather see Will Smith kill some robots than watch the Indians blow a lead late in the game for the 100th time."
Because of some conversations I have with people, or comments people make, I feel I have to make the following disclaimer. I will do so in a "comment/response" format.
COMMENT (from someone else): "Gary, you seem to watch a lot of movies - don't you have better things to do with your time?"
RESPONSE: "I do enjoy movies. I enjoy a great story that is well told by a director and well-portrayed by the actors. I think movies are actually the most effective sermons to today's culture. I actually do use much of my time to do other things. I spend a lot of time at work, doing ministry and being involved in people's lives. I have changed more diapers at this point, and I always enjoy holding Allison and spending time with her - I can't get enough of that. You know I like doing a website and writing a journal online. I am also starting to workout more at the local YMCA and spending time with people. I am very satisfied with how I'm using my time right now. I see movies as a productive hobby that I enjoy. I suppose I should mow the lawn tomorrow, though."
COMMENT #2: "Gary, you like to see movies right when they open - why is that?"
RESPONSE: "I don't know. I think it's because I'm a fan of movies. Again, I think stories are the most powerful way of getting through to people - and movies are our modern-day form of storytelling. Each movie is a parable, really. If a movie preview seems especially intriguing, or I really like a certain actor or director, I am excited to see it."
COMMENT #3: "Gary, I hear you go to some movies by yourself - what's up with that?"
RESPONSE: "I'd prefer to go with Jennie (my wife), and she has gone to more movies with me than not lately. An astute friend encouraged us to see two movies on the weekend before we had Allison, and we are glad we took his advice. We had a great time together. Just to be honest, there are some movies that Jennie doesn't like. She doesn't like action as much, and she doesn't like scary scenes or thriller movies.
I am also an only child, so I don't mind doing certain things by myself. I don't mind sitting in the theater by myself."
COMMENT #4: "Do you really think we care what you think of a movie?"
RESPONSE: "No, but it is a very easy way to start up a conversation. Especially with meeting new people, movies are often a great connection point. An easy way to start talking. I used to connect more in conversations about sports, but I'm getting tired of that."
COMMENT #5: "Tired of sports? Are you an idiot?"
RESPONSE: "No, I am not an idiot. I am just tired of talking sports sometimes. Maybe it's part of being a Cleveland fan. I'm tired of the same conversations about how things never go our way. I'd rather see Will Smith kill some robots than watch the Indians blow a lead late in the game for the 100th time."
Saturday, July 24, 2004
The Bourne Supremacy...
If you don't like exciting and engaging and suspensful plots, don't bother seeing it. If you prefer seeing subpar acting and characters that are not well developed, spend your five bucks elsewhere. If you'd rather see poor camera work, slow-paced drama, or unrealistic action scenes, watch something else.
The latest film chapter in the Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) series is getting terrific reviews from all over the country, and add mine to the list.
I know several couples who made a point to watch the first movie (The Bourne Identity) before going to see The Bourne Supremacy. I highly recommend that, because the sequel plays off the first movie a lot. You can fully understand and enjoy either movie on its own, but they are very well connected.
In the first movie, Bourne is some sort of high-ranking, super-intelligent one-man weapon for the CIA. He suffers from strong case of amnesia, and completely forgets who he is and what he is doing.
The sequel shows him on a mission to not only find out more about his life and CIA exploits, but to also chase down the CIA operatives who are actually out to kill him.
Since this is my first movie review that you people are reading, I don't want to give any of the major plot events or surprises away. Let's just say that there are many twists and surprises.
Matt Damon does a great job of playing an intense, focused, and sometimes compassionate Jason Bourne. We get more glimpses of Bourne's personality and emotional life, which are almost as memorable as his incredible driving skills.
One thing you'll notice about the movie is the choppy camerawork. Several people have criticized the film for the too-rapid, too-diverse, too-small angles taken by the camera. I'll admit, my eyes needed a rest after the movie, because there was a lot of action shown in a more "rushed" way. Maybe you'll like that about the film - I guess the director said something like, "When the characters are in a hurry, we want the audience to feel rushed like they are." So true.
In contrast to a lot of the recent action films, this movie is very realistic. Bourne appeals to audiences as a modern-day, real-life hero - not some pimple-faced geek who shoots spider webs out of his wrists. This movie is filmed in real-life places that are fun to visit on the big screen - like Moscow, Berlin, India, and Italy. It's worth watching just for the scenery.
If you liked the first movie, I think you'll love the second, and I highly recommend seeing it in the theater. If you don't like action, international intrigue, great escapes and fight scenes, it's maybe not for you.
On a side note, I remember the movie as being very "clean." I didn't have to look away from the screen, and I can't remember any foul language. I'm sure it was in there, but not much (if any).
Would I go out of my way to see it again? Probably.
RATING: 3.5 stars. I want to give it 4 stars, and maybe it deserves that. If I see it again, maybe it will get a better grade, but I like it better than Spiderman 2 or I, Robot.
Other ratings:
The Terminal (Tom Hanks) 2.9 stars
Dodgeball (Ben Stiller) 2.9 stars
I, Robot (Will Smith) 3.25 stars
Spiderman 2 (Tobey Maguire) 3.3 stars
The latest film chapter in the Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) series is getting terrific reviews from all over the country, and add mine to the list.
I know several couples who made a point to watch the first movie (The Bourne Identity) before going to see The Bourne Supremacy. I highly recommend that, because the sequel plays off the first movie a lot. You can fully understand and enjoy either movie on its own, but they are very well connected.
In the first movie, Bourne is some sort of high-ranking, super-intelligent one-man weapon for the CIA. He suffers from strong case of amnesia, and completely forgets who he is and what he is doing.
The sequel shows him on a mission to not only find out more about his life and CIA exploits, but to also chase down the CIA operatives who are actually out to kill him.
Since this is my first movie review that you people are reading, I don't want to give any of the major plot events or surprises away. Let's just say that there are many twists and surprises.
Matt Damon does a great job of playing an intense, focused, and sometimes compassionate Jason Bourne. We get more glimpses of Bourne's personality and emotional life, which are almost as memorable as his incredible driving skills.
One thing you'll notice about the movie is the choppy camerawork. Several people have criticized the film for the too-rapid, too-diverse, too-small angles taken by the camera. I'll admit, my eyes needed a rest after the movie, because there was a lot of action shown in a more "rushed" way. Maybe you'll like that about the film - I guess the director said something like, "When the characters are in a hurry, we want the audience to feel rushed like they are." So true.
In contrast to a lot of the recent action films, this movie is very realistic. Bourne appeals to audiences as a modern-day, real-life hero - not some pimple-faced geek who shoots spider webs out of his wrists. This movie is filmed in real-life places that are fun to visit on the big screen - like Moscow, Berlin, India, and Italy. It's worth watching just for the scenery.
If you liked the first movie, I think you'll love the second, and I highly recommend seeing it in the theater. If you don't like action, international intrigue, great escapes and fight scenes, it's maybe not for you.
On a side note, I remember the movie as being very "clean." I didn't have to look away from the screen, and I can't remember any foul language. I'm sure it was in there, but not much (if any).
Would I go out of my way to see it again? Probably.
RATING: 3.5 stars. I want to give it 4 stars, and maybe it deserves that. If I see it again, maybe it will get a better grade, but I like it better than Spiderman 2 or I, Robot.
Other ratings:
The Terminal (Tom Hanks) 2.9 stars
Dodgeball (Ben Stiller) 2.9 stars
I, Robot (Will Smith) 3.25 stars
Spiderman 2 (Tobey Maguire) 3.3 stars
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Allie's Day Out
As Jennie tries to rock Allison to sleep, I thought I'd write you a few blurbs about Allie's adventures in North Canton today.
Let me start by explaining that now, when you click on "mutterings" at our homepage, you arrive at a blogger/journal site which gets you the same fun updates, at no cost to me. In fact, because blogger.com allows me to journal on their site, I can post more pictures on our website. If you haven't checked the photos from today, you're missing out on some VERY cute events.
Tom, Christie and Turner Burns were in town. They are our great friends from Hilliard, Ohio. Tom was my best man, and I was his. They came up this morning, and spent the day with us here in Green.
We went to lunch at... (can you guess) RED ROBIN!!! Yep, it has been one of our favorite non-Mexican restaurants over the last six months. Sadly, their prices went up, and I paid about $8 for their "5-Alarm Burger." The "5-Alarm" burger is their attempt at heat, including a couple of jalapenos and some pepperjack cheese. While the burger was very good, and the fries were... bottomless? Uh, I don't think that burger was hot enough to set off any alarms, per se. Then again, I'd eat Jalapenos and Tabasco on my oatmeal every morning if I thought of it.
Anyhow, Turner Burns is a real treat. He chased me around the house, kissed my daughter (without asking), and let me play with his toys. At about 2.25 years old, Turner is extremely cute, adventuresome, and articulate. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It was great to see Honus, and spend a lazy-fun day together.
It is funny how, now that we have kids... a day together means "let's get together and watch our kids!" A few months ago, I would have thought that might be boring... but it was a terrific time. I guess we are indeed growing up around here.
I mentioned that Turner is smart, but this kid is off the charts. Somehow, this post-toddler suggested that we should all go to ice cream after Red Robin. He must have known that we were only a few hundred feet from Coldstone Creamery.
I really shouldn't have had ice cream. About 10 minutes after eating our cheesecake-flavored ice cream with Reese's and Cookie Dough, my mouth lost the good taste and my stomach felt horrible. Is Ice Cream really worth it?
I confess that I sometimes fall pray to the "instant gratification" thing.
Jennie notes that I like to see movies on opening night. Even if that was a criticism, we're still planning on seeing "The Bourne Supremacy" as it opens tomorrow night.
Oh yeah, Allison slept through our lunch and our Coldstone trip. She's asleep already - Jennie has the magic touch. Guess it's our turn to turn in.
Enjoy the pics on our site, and don't give in to ice cream urge.
Let me start by explaining that now, when you click on "mutterings" at our homepage, you arrive at a blogger/journal site which gets you the same fun updates, at no cost to me. In fact, because blogger.com allows me to journal on their site, I can post more pictures on our website. If you haven't checked the photos from today, you're missing out on some VERY cute events.
Tom, Christie and Turner Burns were in town. They are our great friends from Hilliard, Ohio. Tom was my best man, and I was his. They came up this morning, and spent the day with us here in Green.
We went to lunch at... (can you guess) RED ROBIN!!! Yep, it has been one of our favorite non-Mexican restaurants over the last six months. Sadly, their prices went up, and I paid about $8 for their "5-Alarm Burger." The "5-Alarm" burger is their attempt at heat, including a couple of jalapenos and some pepperjack cheese. While the burger was very good, and the fries were... bottomless? Uh, I don't think that burger was hot enough to set off any alarms, per se. Then again, I'd eat Jalapenos and Tabasco on my oatmeal every morning if I thought of it.
Anyhow, Turner Burns is a real treat. He chased me around the house, kissed my daughter (without asking), and let me play with his toys. At about 2.25 years old, Turner is extremely cute, adventuresome, and articulate. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It was great to see Honus, and spend a lazy-fun day together.
It is funny how, now that we have kids... a day together means "let's get together and watch our kids!" A few months ago, I would have thought that might be boring... but it was a terrific time. I guess we are indeed growing up around here.
I mentioned that Turner is smart, but this kid is off the charts. Somehow, this post-toddler suggested that we should all go to ice cream after Red Robin. He must have known that we were only a few hundred feet from Coldstone Creamery.
I really shouldn't have had ice cream. About 10 minutes after eating our cheesecake-flavored ice cream with Reese's and Cookie Dough, my mouth lost the good taste and my stomach felt horrible. Is Ice Cream really worth it?
I confess that I sometimes fall pray to the "instant gratification" thing.
Jennie notes that I like to see movies on opening night. Even if that was a criticism, we're still planning on seeing "The Bourne Supremacy" as it opens tomorrow night.
Oh yeah, Allison slept through our lunch and our Coldstone trip. She's asleep already - Jennie has the magic touch. Guess it's our turn to turn in.
Enjoy the pics on our site, and don't give in to ice cream urge.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Sickness?
Yeah, right now Jennie is sick, and has been for a few days now. I guess she can't take anything for it - except Tylenol for the headache - because it would affect the breastfeeding scenario.
Notice how, in the above paragraph, I explained that Tylenol is a drug that is used to cure headaches. And you didn't think reading my blogger would be educational.
Uh, speaking of education, I guess I am going after some. Because I wanted some sort of challenge, discipline, and further training in leadership, preaching, and ministry, I have applied for (and been accepted into) the Doctor of Ministry degree program at Denver Seminary.
I suppose it doesn't hurt that our friends Tim & Suzanne Cooper are moving to Denver as well, in less than two weeks. I can't believe it - less than two weeks! Major props to you guys for "taking the plunge" and heading towards full-time ministry. I wouldn't trade my on-campus seminary experience for anything, and I know you guys will be challenged and encouraged more than ever before.
So, I like Denver because it has the Coopers, some terrific professors (like Haddon Robinson and Erwin McManus), and incredible scenery (mountains). Jennie and I might try to sandwich a vacation around one of my classes there in the next 3-4 years. You know what they say, "When in Denver..."
My first class is January 10-14, 2004 - but the reading and research starts now. I have been getting books on eBay, and have almost finished two books already.
If you haven't guessed, I do love to read, and I am on kind of a roll right now. Books I am currently actually trying to finish right now include...
- Sacred Parenting - by Gary Thomas - a great book for parents about how God uses the parenting process to build your own character, faith, and attitude in many ways. I'm currently on chapter 4, and reading through this with a small group of guys.
- The Search to Belong - by Joe Myers - after seeing this book several times in stores and thinking I should read it some day, this book wound up as required reading material in my first class with Denver. I got it today, and am already on page 90. A thought-provoking book so far, that I'll probably post more thoughts on in the future.
- Angels and Demons - by Dan Brown - the prequel to Da Vinci Code, and I'm a third of the way through this one. This one deals with an ancient society of scientists called the "Illuminati" and their long-time vendetta against the Catholic church. So far, this book is just as exciting and engaging as The Da Vinci Code, but with fewer characters and fewer secret codes or mysteries.
- The Journey Toward Relevance - by Kary Oberbrunner - just a few chapters left, I just keep forgetting to bring it with me to the YCMA. I like to read as I ride the bike. Kary's book gives us a good framework for thinking about how we interact with culture today.
Yikes - I guess that's enough for now. I also read the Bible, and am studying James and some of the Old Testament prophets.
Notice how, in the above paragraph, I explained that Tylenol is a drug that is used to cure headaches. And you didn't think reading my blogger would be educational.
Uh, speaking of education, I guess I am going after some. Because I wanted some sort of challenge, discipline, and further training in leadership, preaching, and ministry, I have applied for (and been accepted into) the Doctor of Ministry degree program at Denver Seminary.
I suppose it doesn't hurt that our friends Tim & Suzanne Cooper are moving to Denver as well, in less than two weeks. I can't believe it - less than two weeks! Major props to you guys for "taking the plunge" and heading towards full-time ministry. I wouldn't trade my on-campus seminary experience for anything, and I know you guys will be challenged and encouraged more than ever before.
So, I like Denver because it has the Coopers, some terrific professors (like Haddon Robinson and Erwin McManus), and incredible scenery (mountains). Jennie and I might try to sandwich a vacation around one of my classes there in the next 3-4 years. You know what they say, "When in Denver..."
My first class is January 10-14, 2004 - but the reading and research starts now. I have been getting books on eBay, and have almost finished two books already.
If you haven't guessed, I do love to read, and I am on kind of a roll right now. Books I am currently actually trying to finish right now include...
- Sacred Parenting - by Gary Thomas - a great book for parents about how God uses the parenting process to build your own character, faith, and attitude in many ways. I'm currently on chapter 4, and reading through this with a small group of guys.
- The Search to Belong - by Joe Myers - after seeing this book several times in stores and thinking I should read it some day, this book wound up as required reading material in my first class with Denver. I got it today, and am already on page 90. A thought-provoking book so far, that I'll probably post more thoughts on in the future.
- Angels and Demons - by Dan Brown - the prequel to Da Vinci Code, and I'm a third of the way through this one. This one deals with an ancient society of scientists called the "Illuminati" and their long-time vendetta against the Catholic church. So far, this book is just as exciting and engaging as The Da Vinci Code, but with fewer characters and fewer secret codes or mysteries.
- The Journey Toward Relevance - by Kary Oberbrunner - just a few chapters left, I just keep forgetting to bring it with me to the YCMA. I like to read as I ride the bike. Kary's book gives us a good framework for thinking about how we interact with culture today.
Yikes - I guess that's enough for now. I also read the Bible, and am studying James and some of the Old Testament prophets.
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Highs and Lows... The Story of Us
I remember "The Story of Us" starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer. Jennie and I rented it because it looked like a good movie about marriage and all of the ups and downs a couple goes through.
Well, there's several scenes in the movie where they show the family at the dinner table, and each one shares their "highs" and "lows" for the day. It seems like a very cool tradition.
Before I share a few highs and lows, I'll just put this sort of disclaimer - that movie isn't very good, and has a fair amount of language. If you do choose to watch it, it is (I think) a realistic look at a non-christian marriage.
So, I guess here are a few of the "highs" from this past week....
- Tom & Marcia Bennardo and their daughters Lauren and Lindsey were here this afternoon. Tom is a long-time friend and pastor of mine, and they have been in Hilliard (NW Columbus) for about 8-9 years, planting and leading Life Community Church. We had Subway with them, gave them a tour of The Chapel's Green Campus, and - oh yeah - introduced them to Allie. Allie rules.
- Allie is one of the "highs" from every day. Right now Jennie has her in a bright-white outfit that actually looks like she's some angel (and she is). Strangely, it looks like she's dressed for a wedding, but we hope that's a few decades off. Allie still cannot smile on purpose yet, but is incredibly cute and has no need for such petty facial expressions. She is an awesome gift from God, and we are grateful and having a terrific time with her. I actually enjoy changing diapers. Who would have thought? Even the noise she makes when she poops is cute.
- I saw "I, Robot" yesterday, starring Will Smith. Jennie points out that I like to see movies when they open, as I always have to be the first to know. I plea guilty to that, and I'll add that "I, Robot" was really a great time for me. I love sci-fi-future-tech movies, but only if they are well developed and seem somewhat realistic. This movie was all that and more, with Will Smith doing a great job as the lead.
- Apparently Terry Pluto and his terrific wife, Roberta, are going to be our guests for a Young Marrieds event at The Chapel on Friday, September 24th. Terry is a sportswriter and author at The Akron Beacon Journal, and has a very strong faith as well. He and Roberta do jail ministry together.
- My friends Matthew & Kristi Harrelson had their baby, Kendra Nicole, last week. It was awesome to see them at City Hospital with their new daughter and her older sister, Kaitlyn. Matthew is in a men's small group with me, and I've enjoyed getting to know them over the last year or so. He is also a strong Michigan fan, having grown up in that state up north. Pray about that for me, will you?
Some of the "lows"?
- Well, Cleveland is in uproar over Carlos Boozer's breaking his word with the Cleveland Cavs and signing with Utah. This is a huge loss for the Cavs and for the NBA. We fans still like to think of our team and players as "good guys," but very few of them really are. It's all about the money - it's a business - as much as we "purists" like to delude ourselves. I am still a fan, but I don't expect these guys to behave as examples for the rest of us. As Terry wrote this week, "Don't let the millionaires ruin your day."
- Another "low" for me might just be a "high" for Jennie. Our beloved Sony PlayStation 2 is out of commission. Apparently, it skips now, pauses and gets stuck, and may have ruined a few of our games. (Don't worry, I only play one game really, and I don't even play it that much). The PS2 is also a DVD player that we use a lot. The good news is that the Sony corporation is going to repair it for FREE. I don't have a warranty, I don't have a receipt. They don't care. They are going to repair it for free, and send it back to me in 15-20 days. So, the "low" is that I can't play my game, but for Jennie, that is a possible "high."
- I am having another "low" as I try to get back into a consistent workout regiment. I went to the YMCA five times this week, in an attempt to jumpstart some sort of physical improvement. However, I am realizing it is going to take weeks and weeks of consistency to get back to where I want to be. It's all about self-discipline, and this is only the beginning... again. Jennie said today she can already see a difference, which is nice.
- I usually feel "low" when Allison cries for no apparent reason. Babies do that sometimes, you know. And about 47 people have told me things like "all babies need to cry - it builds up their lung strength." Fine, but it still stinks to see your little daughter cry. No, I don't pick her up just to stop her from crying, but it still is hard. That's all I'm saying. Hearing her cry is definitely not one of my day's happier moments. Sometimes it is pretty funny, though. You can tell when she's crying for attention. The term "crybaby" is a lot more meaningful these days."
Well, there's several scenes in the movie where they show the family at the dinner table, and each one shares their "highs" and "lows" for the day. It seems like a very cool tradition.
Before I share a few highs and lows, I'll just put this sort of disclaimer - that movie isn't very good, and has a fair amount of language. If you do choose to watch it, it is (I think) a realistic look at a non-christian marriage.
So, I guess here are a few of the "highs" from this past week....
- Tom & Marcia Bennardo and their daughters Lauren and Lindsey were here this afternoon. Tom is a long-time friend and pastor of mine, and they have been in Hilliard (NW Columbus) for about 8-9 years, planting and leading Life Community Church. We had Subway with them, gave them a tour of The Chapel's Green Campus, and - oh yeah - introduced them to Allie. Allie rules.
- Allie is one of the "highs" from every day. Right now Jennie has her in a bright-white outfit that actually looks like she's some angel (and she is). Strangely, it looks like she's dressed for a wedding, but we hope that's a few decades off. Allie still cannot smile on purpose yet, but is incredibly cute and has no need for such petty facial expressions. She is an awesome gift from God, and we are grateful and having a terrific time with her. I actually enjoy changing diapers. Who would have thought? Even the noise she makes when she poops is cute.
- I saw "I, Robot" yesterday, starring Will Smith. Jennie points out that I like to see movies when they open, as I always have to be the first to know. I plea guilty to that, and I'll add that "I, Robot" was really a great time for me. I love sci-fi-future-tech movies, but only if they are well developed and seem somewhat realistic. This movie was all that and more, with Will Smith doing a great job as the lead.
- Apparently Terry Pluto and his terrific wife, Roberta, are going to be our guests for a Young Marrieds event at The Chapel on Friday, September 24th. Terry is a sportswriter and author at The Akron Beacon Journal, and has a very strong faith as well. He and Roberta do jail ministry together.
- My friends Matthew & Kristi Harrelson had their baby, Kendra Nicole, last week. It was awesome to see them at City Hospital with their new daughter and her older sister, Kaitlyn. Matthew is in a men's small group with me, and I've enjoyed getting to know them over the last year or so. He is also a strong Michigan fan, having grown up in that state up north. Pray about that for me, will you?
Some of the "lows"?
- Well, Cleveland is in uproar over Carlos Boozer's breaking his word with the Cleveland Cavs and signing with Utah. This is a huge loss for the Cavs and for the NBA. We fans still like to think of our team and players as "good guys," but very few of them really are. It's all about the money - it's a business - as much as we "purists" like to delude ourselves. I am still a fan, but I don't expect these guys to behave as examples for the rest of us. As Terry wrote this week, "Don't let the millionaires ruin your day."
- Another "low" for me might just be a "high" for Jennie. Our beloved Sony PlayStation 2 is out of commission. Apparently, it skips now, pauses and gets stuck, and may have ruined a few of our games. (Don't worry, I only play one game really, and I don't even play it that much). The PS2 is also a DVD player that we use a lot. The good news is that the Sony corporation is going to repair it for FREE. I don't have a warranty, I don't have a receipt. They don't care. They are going to repair it for free, and send it back to me in 15-20 days. So, the "low" is that I can't play my game, but for Jennie, that is a possible "high."
- I am having another "low" as I try to get back into a consistent workout regiment. I went to the YMCA five times this week, in an attempt to jumpstart some sort of physical improvement. However, I am realizing it is going to take weeks and weeks of consistency to get back to where I want to be. It's all about self-discipline, and this is only the beginning... again. Jennie said today she can already see a difference, which is nice.
- I usually feel "low" when Allison cries for no apparent reason. Babies do that sometimes, you know. And about 47 people have told me things like "all babies need to cry - it builds up their lung strength." Fine, but it still stinks to see your little daughter cry. No, I don't pick her up just to stop her from crying, but it still is hard. That's all I'm saying. Hearing her cry is definitely not one of my day's happier moments. Sometimes it is pretty funny, though. You can tell when she's crying for attention. The term "crybaby" is a lot more meaningful these days."
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
The All-Star Game?
I don't really watch it anymore. Some friends of mine went to Quaker Steak and had wings while watching the game. That's a worthwhile event.
During last night's midsummer "classic," Jennie and I took Allie on her first trip to a Mexican restaurant. This was quite a moment, and all our friends at Pancho's restaurant loved finally meeting our daughter. We were hoping Allie would actually sleep through the whole ordeal, like she did our trip to the mall and shopping at Kohl's.
No such luck.
For the first 45 minutes or so, Allie was really awake, cute, and looking at the funny pictures of Jalapenos on the wall. Smart girl.
After that, it was clear she was "too tired" yet again. Allison sometimes forgets to sleep, you see, and so for the next half-hour or so, Jennie had a baby in one hand, and a guacamole-beef nacho in the other hand.
Some of you are reading this going, "Gary, don't you know you're supposed to hold Allison then so Jennie can relax and eat her nachos for once after having Allie with her all day?"
Right. You try taking a crying 3-week old from her mother at dinnertime! (ha ha)
Jennie loves holding her, as do I. I also think Jennie wanted to show off the fact that she can calm Allie down while calming her own appetite as well. My wife is quite talented.
Anyhow, Pancho's has great food, and I love going there with family and friends.
Overall, I can't believe it has been three weeks and things are so smooth in parenting so far. I am in NO RUSH for her to grow up, as much as I'd like to see her start smiling when she's AWAKE.
Let's take this Daddy business one page at a time, and enjoy every moment. I love Jennie and Allie to pieces. That sounds like a destructive type of love. "Love them to pieces."
You know what I meant.
During last night's midsummer "classic," Jennie and I took Allie on her first trip to a Mexican restaurant. This was quite a moment, and all our friends at Pancho's restaurant loved finally meeting our daughter. We were hoping Allie would actually sleep through the whole ordeal, like she did our trip to the mall and shopping at Kohl's.
No such luck.
For the first 45 minutes or so, Allie was really awake, cute, and looking at the funny pictures of Jalapenos on the wall. Smart girl.
After that, it was clear she was "too tired" yet again. Allison sometimes forgets to sleep, you see, and so for the next half-hour or so, Jennie had a baby in one hand, and a guacamole-beef nacho in the other hand.
Some of you are reading this going, "Gary, don't you know you're supposed to hold Allison then so Jennie can relax and eat her nachos for once after having Allie with her all day?"
Right. You try taking a crying 3-week old from her mother at dinnertime! (ha ha)
Jennie loves holding her, as do I. I also think Jennie wanted to show off the fact that she can calm Allie down while calming her own appetite as well. My wife is quite talented.
Anyhow, Pancho's has great food, and I love going there with family and friends.
Overall, I can't believe it has been three weeks and things are so smooth in parenting so far. I am in NO RUSH for her to grow up, as much as I'd like to see her start smiling when she's AWAKE.
Let's take this Daddy business one page at a time, and enjoy every moment. I love Jennie and Allie to pieces. That sounds like a destructive type of love. "Love them to pieces."
You know what I meant.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Sometimes I wonder...
I wonder if people are reading this blogger/journal, or if they are still hoping I'll update the mutterings on our homepage. This really is the best option, and I hope people find it.
I wonder if people will get sick of me talking about my daughter Allison, either online or in person. Not that I'll stop, though.
I wonder if I should quit doing fantasy football this year. I love the guys in my league, but I'd rather not spend my Sunday afternoons hoping Domanick Davis gets into the end zone.
I wonder why Christians are so bothered by The Da Vinci Code. It is an excellent book that is obviously fiction. If the biblical controversies raised by the author cause more people to test their faith, that should be a huge positive. Of course there are already three Christian authors out with books that offer all the answers.
Meanwhile, The Da Vinci Code is an excellent and entertaining work that I read and finished last week. I couldn't put the thing down. Chapters were short, engaging, and suspenseful from start to finish. Characters were extremely well-developed, and the plot-twists were surprising.
I also wonder when we'll stop getting upset at non-Christians for their views. The author of said "Code" offers a plot that challenges traditional Christianity and Catholicism in a subtle, memorable way. Why not embrace the challenge and enter the discussion? A friend of mine got the audiobook (unabridged) from the library, and listened to it while driving around town on the job. It inspired him to study the origins of our modern Bible, how the text was protected and preserved by the Church, and become more solid in what he already believed. I confess I've had the same response to reading The Da Vinci Code. I got out some of my seminary notebooks, read a bunch of the Old Testament, and feel a much-renewed desire to study (and yes, defend) what I believe.
I wonder if Allison will like to read as much as Jennie and I do. I know you all think she's going to be a Buckeye-watching, fantasy-sport playing, movie-critiquing fiend just to win dad's approval. (ha ha). That couldn't be further from the truth. Last week, in one of our few quiet moments, Allie and I read the first few chapters of Proverbs and the book of Ruth. She was thoroughly engaged.
I can end this rant by saying... it seems like people who don't read, don't grow. That sounds simplistic and strong, but it's pretty true. I could take it one step further and say it really helps to read about things and people that view life differently than you do, as I described in The Da Vinci Code.
On a personal note, I think the timing of Allison's arrival, coupled with the stuff I've been reading lately, is pretty interesting. This is the time of year when I barely watch TV, because there are no sports on that I like. The Indians are getting better and have four all-stars, but I'm just not interested.
Usually this time of year is a downer for a sports fan like me, but maybe this time it's an eye-opener. In other words, life has been incredible these last two weeks, and I haven't missed it.
Uh, Allison is waking up now... I guess I'll talk at you later. Thanks for reading - post comments below if you want, especially on the Da Vinci thoughts or reading...
I wonder if people will get sick of me talking about my daughter Allison, either online or in person. Not that I'll stop, though.
I wonder if I should quit doing fantasy football this year. I love the guys in my league, but I'd rather not spend my Sunday afternoons hoping Domanick Davis gets into the end zone.
I wonder why Christians are so bothered by The Da Vinci Code. It is an excellent book that is obviously fiction. If the biblical controversies raised by the author cause more people to test their faith, that should be a huge positive. Of course there are already three Christian authors out with books that offer all the answers.
Meanwhile, The Da Vinci Code is an excellent and entertaining work that I read and finished last week. I couldn't put the thing down. Chapters were short, engaging, and suspenseful from start to finish. Characters were extremely well-developed, and the plot-twists were surprising.
I also wonder when we'll stop getting upset at non-Christians for their views. The author of said "Code" offers a plot that challenges traditional Christianity and Catholicism in a subtle, memorable way. Why not embrace the challenge and enter the discussion? A friend of mine got the audiobook (unabridged) from the library, and listened to it while driving around town on the job. It inspired him to study the origins of our modern Bible, how the text was protected and preserved by the Church, and become more solid in what he already believed. I confess I've had the same response to reading The Da Vinci Code. I got out some of my seminary notebooks, read a bunch of the Old Testament, and feel a much-renewed desire to study (and yes, defend) what I believe.
I wonder if Allison will like to read as much as Jennie and I do. I know you all think she's going to be a Buckeye-watching, fantasy-sport playing, movie-critiquing fiend just to win dad's approval. (ha ha). That couldn't be further from the truth. Last week, in one of our few quiet moments, Allie and I read the first few chapters of Proverbs and the book of Ruth. She was thoroughly engaged.
I can end this rant by saying... it seems like people who don't read, don't grow. That sounds simplistic and strong, but it's pretty true. I could take it one step further and say it really helps to read about things and people that view life differently than you do, as I described in The Da Vinci Code.
On a personal note, I think the timing of Allison's arrival, coupled with the stuff I've been reading lately, is pretty interesting. This is the time of year when I barely watch TV, because there are no sports on that I like. The Indians are getting better and have four all-stars, but I'm just not interested.
Usually this time of year is a downer for a sports fan like me, but maybe this time it's an eye-opener. In other words, life has been incredible these last two weeks, and I haven't missed it.
Uh, Allison is waking up now... I guess I'll talk at you later. Thanks for reading - post comments below if you want, especially on the Da Vinci thoughts or reading...
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Allison, Jennie, and Leonardo.
Before I start, I must apologize for the website lately. Many of you logged on to find the kind words "BANDWIDTH LIMIT EXCEEDED" and at the worst possible time! I have contacted my host for our website, and plan to up the bandwidth. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a bumper sticker on a dude's car that said "Tekkie: Will work for bandwidth" - and now I know why.
Well, I can't believe how fast the first NINE days of my daughter's life have gone. Time flies too fast these days. She is doing great, and already loves Ohio State. I'll have to add a couple of her pics to our website.
Allison is doing great, and she's regained the weight that she lost. She looks so much different or older than her pictures from the hospital. If you want to see the actual hospital pics, they're at www.growingfamily.com, click on their "WebNursery."
I will probably do a few mutterings on the homepage until I figure out how to post pics to this blogger. This is a lot easier.
Jennie and I have slept pretty well at night, but overall she is exhausted. I don't know how she has done it, and I am amazed and blessed to have such a great wife and now a great mother for my kids. Allison is so incredibly cute to hold, snuggle with, and play with already. Any time I know we are going to get visitors at our house, I sing her a song with their names in it. She seemed to like the "Chadd and Cory song" that I did two days ago.
On Tuesday, Bill & Kim Underwood (my cousins) stopped by with their three kids - Jacob, Bryn, and Reagan. That was a whirling dervish of a visit. We love Bill & Kim, and I dearly love their kids too. But I realized how "orderly" and "protective" I am of my own stuff - or Allison's stuff, for that matter. Maybe I'll grow out of that. Jennie and I would love to have more children someday, but right now we are overjoyed and loving the one God has given us now.
Our friends have been tremendous - bringing food, mowing our lawn, trimming our grass, and visiting to say hello and love on Allie. God has really blessed Jennie and me beyond our ability to recognize. We are grateful and honored in so many ways!
Some things I used to do in my free time will now have to die. Rest assured, the webpage is not one of them. I am talking about some of my sports hobby. Let's rip away the chaff of watching sports on TV. If it's not Ohio State football, then I don't have to see it. Even if it is Ohio State football, you'd think I'd have my fix by now with two Fiesta Bowl victories and one national championship in the last two years.
Leonardo? Yes, I'm almost finished reading the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Maybe I'll do a review of it on our website or on this blogger. Right now, it is a thrilling book to read, and it's obvious why it's become a bestseller. I bought the book on eBay, and I plan to sell it next week on eBay. Anyone interested?
Got to start the college fund somehow!
Well, I can't believe how fast the first NINE days of my daughter's life have gone. Time flies too fast these days. She is doing great, and already loves Ohio State. I'll have to add a couple of her pics to our website.
Allison is doing great, and she's regained the weight that she lost. She looks so much different or older than her pictures from the hospital. If you want to see the actual hospital pics, they're at www.growingfamily.com, click on their "WebNursery."
I will probably do a few mutterings on the homepage until I figure out how to post pics to this blogger. This is a lot easier.
Jennie and I have slept pretty well at night, but overall she is exhausted. I don't know how she has done it, and I am amazed and blessed to have such a great wife and now a great mother for my kids. Allison is so incredibly cute to hold, snuggle with, and play with already. Any time I know we are going to get visitors at our house, I sing her a song with their names in it. She seemed to like the "Chadd and Cory song" that I did two days ago.
On Tuesday, Bill & Kim Underwood (my cousins) stopped by with their three kids - Jacob, Bryn, and Reagan. That was a whirling dervish of a visit. We love Bill & Kim, and I dearly love their kids too. But I realized how "orderly" and "protective" I am of my own stuff - or Allison's stuff, for that matter. Maybe I'll grow out of that. Jennie and I would love to have more children someday, but right now we are overjoyed and loving the one God has given us now.
Our friends have been tremendous - bringing food, mowing our lawn, trimming our grass, and visiting to say hello and love on Allie. God has really blessed Jennie and me beyond our ability to recognize. We are grateful and honored in so many ways!
Some things I used to do in my free time will now have to die. Rest assured, the webpage is not one of them. I am talking about some of my sports hobby. Let's rip away the chaff of watching sports on TV. If it's not Ohio State football, then I don't have to see it. Even if it is Ohio State football, you'd think I'd have my fix by now with two Fiesta Bowl victories and one national championship in the last two years.
Leonardo? Yes, I'm almost finished reading the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Maybe I'll do a review of it on our website or on this blogger. Right now, it is a thrilling book to read, and it's obvious why it's become a bestseller. I bought the book on eBay, and I plan to sell it next week on eBay. Anyone interested?
Got to start the college fund somehow!
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