Sibling Rivalry?

Actually, Allie really likes baby Luke so far. I think the best part has been hearing her say the word "Glook" more often. That's what she calls Luke. "Glook."

She calls him "baby," and responds whenever she hears him cry or sees him. Allie just turned 18 months old, and is so much fun. I can't believe all the toys and clothes she got for Christmas. It's clear she doesn't feel left out at all at this point.

Because I'm an only child, I really have no experience with the whole sibling rivalry concept.

Any words of advice? I'd love to hear 'em.

Nice.

That's Grandma Walta (Jennie's grandma) with Luke, and Jennie with Allie. We've had more challenges getting the four of us to pose together than you would possibly believe. Not sure if we'll actually send one of those cute Christmas cards again this year. Though now, I feel guilty for calling it a "Holiday Card" last year.

We called it a "Holiday card" because we didn't get around to sending it until about New Year's. Not because we were trying to avoid Christmas. But boy, what a controversy during this recent Christmas! I think it should be okay to wish people a happy whatever day they want to celebrate.

Precious?

Absolutely.

Go Buckeyes!

Luke gets ready for Ohio State's big bowl game against Notre Dame on Monday. Last night, he laid on Daddy's chest and watched a replay of the Buckeyes' battle with Texas in September. What a great kid!

Learning to Love?

Allie kisses mommy 12-16-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Allie has been giving kisses now for at least a week. What a sweetie!

The Reunion...

Luke Allie happy 12-16-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Allie is all too excited to show off her new little brother. Amazing how much we missed Allie during our 2.5 days in the hospital. We're home now and Allie is adjusting well to our new addition... so far =)

One day old...

Luke up close 12-16-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Who do you think Luke looks like?

Cast your votes in the comment section.

Little Buckeye

Luke with Daddy 12-15-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Several have already said Luke looks like his Dad.

Dad first thought Luke looks like his sister.

Regardless, Luke got all the love yesterday on his arrival. We love him and can't wait to bring him home.

Allie met him for the first time last night at about 6:45pm. She did great, and even looked at him and said "baby" a few times. We all know she has no clue whatsoever. But she will be a great big sister.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and encouragement!

The Hero

Luke and Mommy 12-15-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Jennie had a long day yesterday. We waited a while at the hospital so they could monitor her contractions, heart rate, and other various statistics.

Her induced labor went well, especially after the epideral.

Everything is going well (feeding, sleeping, etc.) and Jennie is already bonding big-time with this one.

Welcome Luke Underwood!!!

Luke sleeps 12-15-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Luke Thomas Underwood

Born Thursday, December 15, 2005
3:44pm

8 pounds, 7 ounces

21 inches long

Mom and baby are doing great. Luke came out pretty fast, so he has some purple (bruise) on his face, but he's doing great!

Couple of Babes...

Jennie & Allie 12-11-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

'Nuff said.

Picture Day

allie sittting
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Allie got all dressed up for picture day. On one of the first significant snow days here in central Ohio, Allie broke out the furry coat for the photos. Of course none of her actual photos turned out well, but this one did.

What a cutie.

Little Reader

allie reads 2
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Allie likes to read. Sometimes, she'll grab a book and go sit by her own and 'read' it.

It is amazing how she'll read a book, and then insert some of the words she actually does know how to say.

Like "ducky."

Like "cracker"

and, of course,

"Go Buckeyes!"

It's a Wonderful Life!

Underwood best..
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

We just watched the Frank Capra Christmas classic last night on NBC.

But it really, truly, is a wonderful life. God has blessed me with an awesome wife, a beautiful daughter, and a wonderul son (below Allie) who will arrive this Thursday (or earlier).

Jennie and I can't wait to meet Luke. Allie still calls him "Glue."

This picture is from today's daycare Christmas program, where Allie got to "sing" with other kids her age. We had fun and got some great pics! More to come...

Roller-Coaster Narnia Day

The decision to take Fridays off (instead of Sunday or Monday) paid off well today. Jennie and I spent three hours in the hospital this morning (3AM-6AM), convinced that Jennie was going into labor and ready to bring Luke into the world...

Jennie was having lots of contractions, but Luke was still '"high" and she wasn't dilated but only 3 centimeters with no progress. I remember being this open about Allie details, to Jer's chagrin, but here I go again...

We had planned to have an extended "date-day" today, spending time doing Christmas shopping, going to a movie, and probably eating somewhere cool.

Anyhow, after being at the hospital so long in the middle of the night, we were plain zonked (tired). So we got home, took Allie to daycare, and slept for four hours. We woke up, had a great burger at Fuddrucker's, and then went to see Narnia on opening day.

Narnia - the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - a disney-produced rendition of C.S. Lewis' literary classic. The movie was excellent, and the action, drama, and special effects were better than I thought they'd be. Without giving an extended review, I'll just tell you this movie is well worth seeing. 3.5 stars.

The kids and voices in this movie did a terrific job.

Before seeing this, I kept comparing Narnia to The Lord of the Rings. Borh are fantasies, both involve strange creatures, and both have similar effects and graphics. But we must remember where these movies came from. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an extended mythology written for adult fantasy readers in England. Most copies of the trilogy together consist of over 1,000 pages. The Narnia movie is based on C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia - but only book one of the seven in the series. Book one, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, is often about 150 pages, and written as an allegory - a story that is an extended metaphor or symbol for something else. The book is written for kids, but has much appeal with adults. I feel the same about the movie.

Narnia is a great movie for kids (especially ages 7-12), but will have much appeal for adults.

The Lord of the Rings is probably the opposite. A fantasy movie for adults, but has much appeal for kids.

All that to say I liked Narnia and will probably rent it when it comes out to see it again. Let me know your thoughts on this one, as I know many of you will see it - if you haven't already...

On the Polar Express...

There's the logo for our new sermon series here at Delaware Grace.

The other night, I discovered that a church in Cincinnati is also doing a series by that very same name! Horizon Community Church is doing a 5-week look at some of the more popular movies of Christmas. They started with A Christmas Story.

Anyhow, Jennie and I watched The Polar Express last night. I remember being at a ministry conference in 2004 when they were giving out free tickets to an advanced screening. As if the movie had something to do with faith.

Well, "they" were right on. This movie has a LOT to do with faith. I must have found seven or eight great clips from this movie that address the issue of and search for faith.

The main character is supposed to be Tom Hanks as a little boy. He really wants to believe in Santa Claus, the North Pole, and the whole story of Christmas.

I don't want to ruin the movie for anyone... But if you want a movie that can really take you back to the wonder, the fantasy, the excitement of Christmas, I think this is that kind of movie.

Quite frankly, I expected NOT to like it. I've had some people tell me it wasn't a good movie. I have my mom telling me "it got weird" in a couple of spots. It may not be a movie for everyone.

For whatever reason, the movie hit a special cord with me. The main character really wanted to believe. Much of his interactions deal with the power of believing. The power of seeing the unseen. How faith must come before actions.

Tom Hanks must play ten characters in the movie. One of his characters says quite clearly, "Sometimes, the most real things are the things we can't see." How true.

The trailer for this movie starts out with a narrator saying, "What if there was a place beyond your imagination, and to get there, all you have to do is believe?"

Well, I think there IS such a place. In fact, I think experiencing life with God is such a place.

And that's precisely why I really liked The Polar Express.

The True Meaning...

For the next four weeks, we'll be focusing on Christmas. If you haven't bought gifts for anyone yet, your clock is now ticking. If you haven't made your Christmas wish list yet, people are buying you things you might not want. Every year, we celebrate and enjoy Christmas for so many good reasons. We might even entertain discussion or prayer about the "true meaning of Christmas."

Several months ago, I got excited about the idea of doing a Christmas sermon series that connected with some of the most memorable and loved Christmas movies. I am committed to preaching straight from Scripture, and use culture as a way to connect. We're going to focus on the gospel accounts of Christ's prophecy, birth, and reception. We'll probe the Bible's account of "Christmas" and examine the most important virtues of the season. Here's a schedule of four powerful virtues of Christmas, as found in the Gospels:

Sunday, December 4 - "Believe" - Matthew 1 and the calling of Joseph
Sunday, December 11 - "Love" - John 3 and 1 John 4
Sunday, December 18 - "Give" - Luke 1 and 2
Sunday, December 25 - "Receive" - John 1

Since this is called "Reel Christmas" and we want to connect faith with life and culture... I will be looking for Christmas movies and clips that inspire us to "Believe," "Love," "Give," and "Receive" in the God-given meaning of Christmas.

Some movies that are being considered...
- The Polar Express
- It's a Wonderful Life
- Elf
- The Christmas Carol
- Christmas Vacation
- The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
- Home Alone
- Miracle on 34th Street

Can you think of others?

Can you think of a scene from any of these movies that would inspire people (you included) to greater levels of BELIEVING, LOVING, GIVING, or RECEIVING?

Just curious....

Intensity, Emotion, Feeling...

This Saturday, Ohio State will play Michigan in football.

When you "love" something or someone, you wind up placing a lot of thought, emotion, and loyalty toward them. I have been an Ohio State fan since about 1982. Growing up in Ohio, most of us root for our home teams. OSU is the only large football school in the state, the only one in the national picture every year. Growing up in a football county (Stark County - home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and much of football's grass roots including Paul Brown, the Massillon Tigers, and the Canton Bulldogs), I have always loved to follow, watch, and play football.

While I usually challenge people on how "flippantly" we use the word "love".... I do use the word personally. I do love Ohio State football. I root for, support, follow, study, preach, and talk Ohio State football.

This morning, Jennie was sick, and so I brought Allie into Daycare today. Since it is Ohio State vs. Michigan week, I dressed Allie up in her Ohio State shirt, her Ohio State socks, and her Ohio State windbreaker. She also wore blue jeans and a diaper, in case you were wondering. I was so proud to bring her in with that outfit on, and walked her around the hallways to show everybody.

After I dropped her off, I went to work. I suppose I should let you know that our church hosts the daycare, so I work in the same building that Allie plays in all day.

Just a half hour ago, the door to my office opens slowly.

My beautiful daughter Allie walks in.

But something

is very

different.

My face froze in shock, amazement, frustration, and love....

Someone in the daycare or church staff had dressed Allie up in Maize and Blue.

For those of you who do not know, those are the colors of Michigan. NOT the colors of Ohio.
These are colors I swore never to put on any of my children. These are colors that symbolize the evil regime up north. These are the colors more fit to be seen on toilet paper than on children's clothing.

In that moment, I was really stunned. I didn't know what to do.

Here I am, senior pastor of a church... leader of a staff... and someone has dressed my daugher up in the garb of the enemy.

What would you do?

I have always "loved" Ohio State. (No, not "Love" in the God-sense or the family-sense.. you know what I mean.)

As a result, I have always "hated" Michigan. (No, not "hate" in the sinful sense where you condemn people. Again, you know what I mean.)

In a sports sense, this was still an emotional moment for me. Makes me love Ohio State even more. Makes me love my daughter even more. Makes me hate Michigan even more.

Any suggestions on how I could or should retaliate?

Meanwhile, I have this huge confidence that the best kind of retaliation happens on the field. Ohio State is 3-1 against Michigan since Jim Tressel arrived as head coach of the Buckeyes. It's a tough rivalry and anything can happen, but I think Ohio State is going to win.

My prediction: Ohio State 35, Michigan 13.

Christmas List...

By now, you've probably had a few people ask you what you want for Christmas.

I have, as at least the Underwoods, Waltas, and Jennie inquired as to my yule-tide wishes.

I don't know exactly what it is, but my perspective on Christmas and gifts has changed somewhere along the line.

Usually, I feel guilty thinking about what I "want" for Christmas. I realize I have everything I need. In fact, if you cut my possessions in half, I'd still have everything I need. Cut them in half again, and I'd still... you get the point. Ours is a nation of excess, a culture of comfort.

When I realize that I don't really "need" anything, I start to think about "legitimate" wants. New clothes. Money for school. Gift certificates to take my wife out for dinner. Stuff for our baby or our family.

Somewhere in my American, white-middle-class past, I learned to give into the "non-legitimate" wants for Christmas. I grab the Best Buy ad out of the Sunday paper every week. I go online to look at the latest gadgets and movies and such. I look at my list of "legitimate wants" like a new shirt or whatever and fight feelings of dissatisfaction. Like toys are supposed to make me happy. Like the iPod Shuffle just isn't big enough or cool enough. Like the 150 books I already own and want to read aren't complete without book #151. Like my "Ohio State room" isn't exciting enough without one more bobblehead, picture, or program.

As I sort through my Christmas list... As I define some things as "wants" and others as "non-legitimate wants"...

Right here in Delaware, there are people who cannot afford to give their kids a Christmas gift. There are people who rely on food pantries for their Christmas dinner. There are those without a home.

And I have a whole room in my house devoted to a football team.

Just thinking "out loud" on paper, I guess. Not sure where this is leading, I just know I feel this to some extent every Christmas. Don't we all?

But what to do about it?

Calendar Check

Jennie and I could hardly get to sleep last night, talking about how fast the past year has flown by. It's been over a year now since we started life here in Delaware. So much has changed, so much has stayed the same. God has blessed our lives in so many ways.

I have learned a lot about myself.

We have learned a lot about ourselves.

We have learned a lot about God, family, friendships, and time.

I am 31 years old, Jennie is 27. All of the sudden, we feel like life has hit this pace where the months go as fast as weeks used to. Where weeks go as fast as days used to. Many of you know what I am talking about.

But there is still power in the moment. Power in a few minutes - enough, at least, to update my journal with a little sentimentality and reflection.

I have learned that I love to preach. It is probably my top spiritual gift, and a passion and privilege to be able to do this thing twice a week. I like having the freedom to experiment, to question, to probe, and to develop. I like knowing that, even if I think a sermon goes bad, other people will love it and God uses it.

Rest assured, I don't intentionally plan bad sermons. Just some are better than others, and that's life.

Yesterday, I felt sick to my stomach and preached a sermon that challenged some people. We're starting this study through Jonah, and I preached through the events in chapter one - backwards. It was fun to at least experiment by preaching a passage backwards and rewinding every few minutes to ask the question - "How did we get here?"

I have learned that I am terrible at keeping in touch with friends. I rely too much on this silly blog, instant messenger, or e-mail, and I'm starting to get sick of it. I'd rather pick up the phone and call someone than hope he checks his e-mail.

I have also learned that, the longer you go without keeping in touch, the less you feel like you have the "right" to call them now. I know that's not true, so I'll probably start calling some of you for the first time in a long time. Then again, I'm admittedly bad at keeping in touch, so I'd better not make that claim.

iChat is good sometimes, though.

I guess I am done with this post. I miss you all, though.

Jennie is 33 weeks pregnant, sometimes really tired and congested even.
Allie is saying new words like "clock" and "truck" and "butterfly" - although they don't always sound correct. We'll work on enunciation.
Luke kicks a lot, and is pretty big already. Someone told me today that the largest baby ever born at Grady Hospital here in Delaware was like 11 pounds or something. Not a record we want to break, Luke.

Fumble Recovery?

allie football
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Definitely our best Halloween ever. Allie played the part of the Ohio State cheerleader who also liked to throw the football. For much of the night, she walked around the neighborhood with two snickers bars firmly clenched in her fists.

Very Happy Halloween...

allie halloween outfit
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Last night, we held "trick or treat" in our neighborhood. Of course Allie was an Ohio State cheerleader. She had a lot of fun running around the neighborhood with Jennie. She also liked shouting "Hi-yeee" and "Bye-eee" to people who came to our house for candy. For a break from all that action, she chased a football around the yard.

Allie in leaves...

Here she is, about a week ago while we were in Michigan. Stay tuned for Allie's first ever Halloween adventure.

Thursday Mutterbox

Sure, it's Thursday, and I haven't updated the bloggiouse in a while. Jennie and I were in Michigan for a couple of days. I was in Indiana for at least a day. Alas, blogworld gets the leftovers. AND the updates! Can't forget those!
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Friday night, some friends o'mine and I rode out to Winona Lake in a rented Pontiac Montana minivan. We had a great time, and it was worth the rental. Worth it, that is, until I found out I could have used my connections at Enterprise rent-a-car to swing a better deal. Seriously, though, we saved a ton of gas money and didn't put any miles on our cars!
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Why in the world would we go to Winona Lake? Our 12th-annual Fantasy Basketball Draft from our days at Beta Dorm. We have continued doing the FBL (Fantasy Basketball League) and really had a good time this weekend. Thanks to Brad Shupe for hosting Friday night's "party," and to Dave & Kristin Jones for the cookout on Saturday, and to Dave Pacheco for being the source of much comedy for the weekend.
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I am currently preparing to teach God's Story Line tonight, so I shouldn't post too many more updates.
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The picture of Allie was taken a couple of weeks ago. We do have some more pics from our time in Michigan with Jennie's family. Her parents live in Big Rapids, Michigan and are huge Green Bay Packer fans. No, I did not mention the Browns beating the Packers a few weeks ago.
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Life in Columbus is good. Can't believe we're less than eight weeks away from baby Luke's arrival. Yikes. Time to sleep in, if there ever was time. I see my whole life - especially the next twenty years of it - flashing right in front of me.
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I also see a few more trips in a minivan.
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I'm not one of those guys who thinks that getting a minivan is somehow a compromise of my masculinity. I think it's time for all of those guys to get over it and act like parenting is a better privilege. Just be glad if you can afford a vehicle in the first place.
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Apparently, I need to relax more. That previous statement was pretty strong.
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If I do relax more, I don't think that would be another compromise of my masculinity.
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I just finished reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. Terrific and thought-provoking. Emphasis on the "provoking" part. Like Brian McLaren's book "A Generous Orthodoxy," Rob Bell's book is probably for mature readers only. Bell challenges some of our most dearly-held beliefs, and he does it to make some strong points that are worth discussing. Of course he has taken criticism from those who think he has compromised his Christianity.
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I don't think Rob Bell has compromised his Christianity. On the other hand, I think he has not compromised his masculinity, either.
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LOST reruns. Why?
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White Sox sweep Indians in September, win world series in October. Not so lucky next year, Ozzie.
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My team: Dirk, Elton, Vince, Tony, Tyson, Jameer, Caron, Grant, Nenad, Eric, Earl, Antonio, Al, and T.J.
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Christmas shopping already?

Late Tuesday Ramble...

I was trying to do these updates every Tuesday, but I think I skipped last week. Oh well - it's time for some real updates and thoughts from life here in Delaware... What would people want to hear about? Maybe that's your comment that you post underneath here... Tell me what kind of updates I'm supposed to give. Or do you just want me to attempt to entertain you with funny quotes and stories about all things Allie, Jennie, or Gary?
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LOST is a great show. Jennie and I are taping season two. There's a lot more going on (potentially) than you ever imagined on season one. This week, hopefully we find out who the "others" really are.
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Jennie has passed the 30-week mark and is feeling good and big. Luke is doing well and kicking a lot. I can't believe he'll be here in less than two months. I mean, he's already here, but he'll be "out here" in the post-natal world.
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Allie is gaining in intelligence and cuteness. She is so smart. She gives me five. She can point to her toes, her nose, her hair, her mouth, her teeth, and her eyes! When I hide her yellow elephant, she asks "Go?" - which is her version for "Where did he go?" She runs a lot. She laughs a lot. Tonight, I was wheeling her around the living room on her little cart and she fell off and hit her head. She was fine after a few minutes, but I'm still reeling from the sight of that fall.
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Last week, I was at Willow Creek's "A2" Conference. I have been to 8 or 10 conferences so far in my pastoral life, and this was easily the BEST. I had a terrific week of worship, learning, inspiration from some of the country's finest. Ironically, last Wednesday was the 30th anniversary of Willow Creek Community Church. Tomorrow night (10/19), they are having a special in-house concert with Matt Redman, Louie Giglio, and Chris Tomlin. Yikes.
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Anyhow, at Willow, I got to hear Bill Hybels speak three times. His passion for evangelism and his terrific storytelling and insight are sharper than ever. Can I just say I think it's pretty unfortunate that so much of conservative Christian America only knows him as the "seeker service guy"? It's funny to hear other Christian leaders criticize a guy - and a church - that has such worldwide influence. Let alone the influence in their own community. Last year, at their Easter weekend services, they had almost 50,000 people. Criticize away! (???)
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I guess my other problem with the criticism is that most of these people have never actually been to Willow or heard their leaders teach. Why is it that some people would prefer to criticize success than learn from it?
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Props to Kirbyjon Caldwell, the last non-Hybels to speak at the conference. He's the pastor/leader of Windsor Village church near Houston. He started the church like 15 or 20 years ago, and now there are 14,000 people going, giving, and serving in the Houston area because of his leadership. His talk was insightful, funny, and memorable. He talked a lot about getting out of the Christian huddle and going out and living with real faith in action. At the 2003 Leadership Summit (another classic conference experience), Kirbyjon was sick, and so they had Erwin McManus speak twice. Erwin is one of my favorites and a real inspiration to me, but Caldwell is just as powerful and engaging. I learn so much from hearing and watching these guys!
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Jennie is leading a small-group study for high school girls here in our living room. She has been enjoying these Wednesday night meetings, and it's been fun to watch her lead (even though I'm not actually there in the room).
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Work is also going very well for Jennie - one day a week at a local nursing home company. Occupational Therapy. She's obviously going to stop working soon as the pregnancy progresses. Allie goes to our Grace Family Daycare while Jennie is at work those days...
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This Friday is my annual FBL Draft weekend with the dudes from Grace College. A bunch of us are going to ride out together from here in Central Ohio.
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Sometimes I preach a sermon and feel like, "Man, am I glad that's over!" This past Sunday, I preached on the busyness and stress of our lives, and our need to get real with God. Luke 10:38-42. Felt like one of the best talks I've ever given. It was fun, I was real, and I was even a little hyper. Jennie gives me good feedback afterwards.
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The Interpreter is out. Have you seen it?
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Yeah, I haven't posted in a while. I'm too busy reading Danny Wright's blog, or working and teaching, and waiting for Ostovic to update his blog too. Hee hee!

Reading night...

Jennie and I are on the couch reading. We read different stuff, and I don't know why we're still awake.

Okay, I know why she's still awake. She's reading a pretty awesome book, and she can't put it down. It's the story of how Willow Creek Community Church grew from being a youth group church plant in a movie theater... to one of the largest churches in America that now influences the world.

Me, I'm just reading some of my friends' blogs. All sorts of news. I laughed, and I cried, and I'm having a great time.

- One guy is just hilarious to read, thoughtful and thought-provoking too. Jer, props on setting the bar pretty high for humor and honesty on the blog. Even more props for logging on to Mosaic. You're right, Erwin is one of my heroes, and I'm thrilled that I can download his podcasts now for free.

- Another blog discusses football picks and blog theory. Are blogs just places where we write too much or think too much about ourselves? Knavel delves mostly into the world of sports, but he can be thought-provoking when you least expect it! I enjoy reading your blog, Commish!

- It is really hard to compete with the blog-news put out by The Ostovics right now, but Becks and Lee are going to try! Keep scrolling down and you'll see what I mean... Then again, Tom and Christie Burns also have cranked out a few major updates of their own - thanks Tom for returning to blogville!

- Do any of these guys blog? Mike Arnold? Dave Matheny? Dave Jones? Dave Pacheco? Dan Bahry? Chadd Sommers? Zac Derr? Chris Young? Jonathan Wiley? Scott Feather? I guess I could do a web search and see if any of them do, but I figure if I start name-dropping here, word might get around to them... and then they could all start blogs as if it was their own idea?

- I guess blogging isn't for everyone. But the Browns are 2-2, with wins over the Packers and the Bears.

- This doesn't replace my "Tuesday ramble" - I'll drop in sometime in the next day or two with more updates before the A2 Conference. Can't wait to worship at Willow Creek. Can't wait to see the Happy Faced Guy. Can't wait to hear McManus & Stanley. Can't wait to see Muto (while we're at it, does anyone know who Muto is? Does Muto blog? -- I guess I'll find out this week!)

Tuesday Ramble...

I did a sermon about Mr. Clean this Sunday. Focusing on Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees (Matthew 7:1-20), we looked at our own efforts to "get clean on the outside" and look religious or look good to God and others. Only Jesus can clean us, and He starts on the inside by forgiving and cleaning our hearts...
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Jennie is at a small group leaders' meeting right now. She's leading a women's small group in our Tuesday morning ministry called "Calico" - 15 women each week studying through Proverbs. Part of a larger group of about 80-90 women, they are going through a curriculum recommended by Gail Benn at The Chapel. I miss Jack & Gail - very cool people!
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I hear John and Jamie Fuller are running the Akron marathon, in competition with Sybil Lambert. Haven't heard if Hilary Derr, Adam Barton, or Dave Smith are going after it again. Should I run one sometime?
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Ohio State looked great in thumping Iowa, 31-6. Great to see Troy Smith leading the offense and dominating a game. The defense actually dominated, and I wouldn't be surprised if OSU finishes the season 11-1 and a BCS bid.
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In a couple of weeks, I am attending the "A2" Conference at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. I'm excited for a time of challenge, learning, and thinking through what the church should be doing. Take a look at this great video they have put together as an intro...
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I saw The Day After Tomorrow last year. Good special effects, unrealistic plot, but it was all about an unusual rash of destructive weather, and how the world responds to it. After Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita (which fortunately was a level 3 instead of level 5 when it hit land), it is hard to believe we still have a lot of "hurricane season" to go. It's certainly a heartbreaking and shocking time to see so many people suffering right here in America. Hopefully, this will awaken churches - and citizens - nationwide to meet the other existing needs like poverty, illiteracy, abandoned children, and many others that don't get the headlines on CNN.
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Tom & Christie Burns had their baby today - Everett Thomas Burns -- at about 3:30pm or so here in Worthington! So happy for them. Turner now has a baby brother! Congrats, guys! Can't wait to meet him!
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LOST is in its second season, and Jennie and I are hooked on the show. Last week's first episode was thrilling, and they always seem to leave you hanging for next week. This show feels much more like a movie than a TV show - better acting, filming/cinematography, and better character development and plot. I love that it's really more about the characters than the actual mystery or plot. Unlike "The Day After Tomorrow," I guess... and that's a good thing.
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Go Tribe! Indians can still win the Central division, or at least get the American League wild card spot. Hottest team in baseball since the all-star break.
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Allie is asleep. She is teething, too. We had a moment this morning, where all three of us Underwoods brushed our teeth. Allie holds the toothbrush in her mouth, wiggles it around, and laughs. She has the cutest laugh, which always sounds like a spontaneous burst. She is also the 'celebrity child' at church, as everyone knows her. Allie is great around people, but sometimes I think she could get smothered, spoiled, or just tired of being around people. A little brother will be a good thing for her.
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LUKE UNDERWOOD coming soon...

Luke Underwood is alive and kicking. 27+ weeks old. Already a human being. Jennie and baby are doing great, still due to enter the "external, breathe-on-your-own" world on Sunday, December 25. We'll probably induce labor on the 15th, though. At least that's what our Doc Hammett, says, and he's pretty good at this stuff.
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FAQ's about "Luke"...

Q: Did we name our son after Luke Skywalker, star of "Star Wars"?

A: Even though Gary played with Star Wars figures as a kindee-gartner, our light-saber-wielding Jedi had nothing to do with it.

Q: Did you see that one movie where Chris Farley imitated Darth Vader, saying into a running fan, "Looooke, I am your fatherrrrr"?

A: Yeah.

Q: That was awesome.

A: Yeah. Any more questions?

Q: Can we get Luke his first Ohio State outfit?

A: No, Gary already did that about two months ago. But please feel free to get Luke his third, fourth, or fifth Buckeye outfit.

Q: Oh, I get it! Luke is named after Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator, Luke Fickell, right?

A: Well, Gary did enjoy watching Luke Fickell in the late 1990's as he played for Ohio State. Gary also lived in Akron while Luke Fickell was an assistant coach for Akron University. Let's just say that it's a nice "side benefit" for our son, but he wasn't named after this former all-Big Ten performer.

Q: Is Luke going to have a big head like his father?

A: Please don't go there. He is currently "measuring big" as Doc Hammett puts it, but all babies have heads that are larger than their other parts.

Q: How is Jennie feeling?

A: Pretty good, but she's starting to feel very pregnant, and we can't believe how quickly the next couple of months will go!

Q: I like these FAQ simulations on your blog. Do you think you'll ever do another entry like this?

A: Sure. Whatever the readers want. Whatever keeps them logging on. This is a consumer-driven website.

Q: Cool.

A: That's not a question, is it?

Q: Uh, I guess not. I'll stop asking you questions so you can go finish watching The Day After Tomorrow. Is it true that Jake Gyllenhall is a terrible actor?

A: I thought you were done asking me questions.

Q: Sorry, have a good night.

A: Um... yeah... you too.

The Little Brown Jug...

brown jug race 2
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Jennie and I got to see one of the biggest events in Harness Racing (as if I know what THAT means) yesterday. It's the biggest event of the year in Delaware, as over 52,000 people were here for these races.

The horse I was pulling for was called "Village Jolt," and my Grace friends will know why. Village Jolt won its first race, and then finished second in the championship race - which is known as the third leg in the Harness Racing Triple Crown. No surprise to see "Village" come in second.

Most of the people were betting on horses all day, as there were about 20-25 races throughout the afternoon. Of course I didn't. It's a pastor thing, you wouldn't understand. Or maybe you would. But I was tempted to.

My fun was more like "fantasy harness racing," where I'd pick the horse and pretend the stakes were high.

Scenes from the Fair...

allie horse laugh
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Wednesday night was Allie's first trip to the fair - actually, ANY fair! We went to the Delaware County Fair, where our church band played for an hour and we saw lots of people we knew.

The fair is just a few blocks from our house, so we can hear it at all hours of the day this week.

Allie enjoyed meeting many different animals - pigs, goats, alpacas, "duck-ee," and of course this horse.

The horse would try to NIBBLE on Allie's arm, and she laughed like crazy. Picture tells story.

Predictions... if you care!

Last year about this time, I made a prediction about how the Browns would do in 2004.

The Browns finished the season with a record of 4-12. With shocking accuracy, I predicted that exact record!

Here I am in 2005, and some of you are challenging me to duplicate my predicting prowess.

The Browns looked great in beating the Green Bay Packers AT LAMBEAU FIELD on Sunday. Let those words sink in to your heart and mind. The Browns beat the Packers. See, I run in some circles where certain Packer fans like to rip on Cleveland. The Browns could go 1-15 this season, and I'd still hold my head up high in those circles.

Anyhow, let me say that Browns' new coach Romeo Crennel is a great guy, the perfect fit, and off to a solid start.
Let me add that the people making decisions about players (GM Phil Savage, President John Collins) are just as solid.

HOWEVER, the Browns simply do NOT have the talent to contend or do very well this year. They have players with better character, leadership, and teamwork - but they don't have much more talent than last year. If this team succeeds, they will be a "poor man's" Patriots - relying on the TEAM concept to eke out a few victories.

Because of their lack of talent, I'm hoping they get higher draft picks next year. In order to do that, you must lose a majority of your games. Nobody loses on purpose, though, so the Browns could mess my plan up. Apparently, they would rather try to win football games than try to get a shot at Matt Leinart, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, or (of course) A.J. Hawk. Apparently, they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to roll over and play dead in front of the ghost of Reggie White or Vince Lombardi.

This Browns team is going to win a few ballgames this year. Not because they're all that great yet, but because there is such equality in the NFL, and because they have a coach who will prepare them and put them in position to win.

In short, I think the Browns go 6-10 or - at best - 7-9. Sadly, I think they will still lose some close games they could win. But the best is when they beat better teams in their own stadiums while frustrating their hall of fame quarterbacks.

MEMO TO PHIL SAVAGE, BROWNS GM: With the 6-10 record, you'll probably pick somewhere between 6 and 10. That's an ideal place to grab A.J. Hawk and solidify your defense for the next 12 years. He's Spielman 2.

Tuesday Ramble...

Since my last few posts have been on Tuesdays, I thought I'd "check in" with a weekly update from the land of Underwood.

- Jennie and I went to the Ohio State game Saturday. They beat San Diego State 27-6 in one of the sloppiest offensive games I've ever seen. Still not sure what Jim Tressel is doing with his quarterback situation.

- We ate lunch at some "Alumni Grille" down on Lane Ave there, and the nachos were great. The food and atmosphere were all BUCKEYE, and the Ohio State athletic director - Gene Smith - walked right in and ate at the same place with us! Not every day you get to eat lunch with a Big Ten Athletic Director, now is it? Actually, Gene was in the other room, reserved for OSU dignitaries... Once they hear about my Buckeye Room, I'm sure to get an invite.

- Allie is almost 15 months old and cuter than all get out.

- Jennie is 26 weeks pregnant and cuter than all get out.

- The Cleveland Indians are the hottest team in baseball, and all are getting out of their way. 34-11 since the all-star break. Fans still aren't selling out Jacobs Field, and I don't blame them. Give them one more week and they'll be back.

- Exciting goings on in the life of the Ostovics. We're happy for you guys!

- Life as a lead pastor is going well, and I guess as challenging and exciting as I could have asked for. Can't believe it's been a year since our week of interviewing here in Delaware! Jennie and I are loving it. We get our first taste of the Delaware county fair this week too. We had heard about what a big deal this thing is, with over 50,000 people attending Thursday's fair festivities. But now, every night, we literally HEAR the noise, the announcers, and the fanfare from this fair, just blocks from our house.

- Speaking of our house, I had another encounter with BEES. Some of you remember when I drove a mini-tractor into a tree with a bees nest the size of a small country. Well, this time, a zillion bees built a nest inside the front wall of our house. We keep finding dead bees in the basement. It's great!

- Actually, it's not great.

- October is usually my favorite month of the year. I probably wrote about this last year, how I love the weather, the football, the whole smell of fall. The colors are great too, eh? But October 14th will always be known in our home as the due-date for Laura, the baby we miscarried. Yep, we still love her, miss her, and think about her on a regular basis. We also identify deeply with others who have lost a child - or cannot have children - for various reasons. God has enlarged our hearts and our ability to sympathize. He's also reminded us that this world is not our home.

- A few weeks ago, Jeremy Bear asked me for a review of Hootie & The Blowfish's new album, entitled Looking for Lucky. I recently confessed to my small group that Hootie is my favorite artist of all time, and the legend only gets better. When "pop culture" or opinion gave up on Hootie after their first album (1994-95), I think their music started to get better, deeper, and more refined. (As I type this, I quickly realize that I should do another post, ranking their albums and songs of all-time, but I digress...) Overall, I think I am as committed to Hootie as Jer is to the Beatles. Gary is to Hootie as white is to rice. As Barton is to Dylan. As Tressel is to conservative playcalling. As Kelliouse is to making silly noises. Whatever that means. Anyhow, Jer - since YOU asked... the new album, "Looking for Lucky," is actually very catchy, original, and heart felt. The group actually has four or five songs that refer to religion and quote Scripture. I'm not saying there's been any conversion here, but if the lead singer of Korn can come to Jesus, then Darius Rucker could easily have the same response. "One Love," the first released-single of the album, talks about One transcendent love that can tear down all walls of hatred and discord in our society - and He's talking about God's love. I think this group might have Southern Gospel background.

- This concludes the weekly ramble. Do any of you use podcasting? I think that's cool.

Thanks Dad!

dad painting
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Yesterday, my Dad & Mom were here in Delaware, helping us get our home ready for our new baby.

Jennie's due-date is still December 25th, but the doctor is saying he would be willing to induce her around December 15th.

We have heard some painful stories about those who have induced a pregnancy. Our doctor's thought on that was that it's much tougher when it's your first delivery. This would be Jennie's second, and he felt pretty good about it. He's pretty laid back, and everyone in Delaware speaks well of him. Dr. Hammett has a great reputation and of course lots of pictures of himself with the babies he's delievered.

Uh, anyhow, back to my Dad. He was a workhorse around here yesterday. Painting, installing things, rebuilding our baby's room, closet, blinds, and everything. My parents have to be exhausted after the last two days with us. Allie has been sick, so she's helped everyone wake up several times per night.

Want a TV?

osu room 2
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

There's the TV in our Buckeye Room... It's 46" and doesn't work. Born in 1989, nobody fixes or sells televisions like this anymore. A real antique. Also, the entire wall was built around it. Any takers?

Dude paints too?

gary painting
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Yeah, I actually painted much of the place myself. I really wanted to put my mark on the Buckeye room and the new baby room.

I was good with the roller.

See that red wall? It took four coats to make it look Ohio State red. Also Wisconsin red, for those Badger readers out there....

Piano Teacher?

jennie in osu room
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Jennie and Allie are playing the piano in the newly-finished "Buckeye Room" in our basement.

Thanks Mom & Dad...

mom painting
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Yesterday, my mom and dad helped us paint and finish two very important rooms in our house. The first room is our new baby's room.

I realize that I haven't told the web world yet that...

We're having a BOY!!

So we painted the upstairs "nursery" white and blue (ironically, the colors of Gary's high school alma mater, Lake High!) to match the great baby decor set we recently purchaesed.

We also spent much of the day painting and preparing our basement room, which is now appropriately titled, "The Buckeye Room!"

Or, if you're Allie, the "Boo-Kah" room.

Boo-Kah!

allie-osu-9-10-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Last week, Allie made many people very proud of her. She was walking around the house yelling, "Boo-KAH!" "Boo-KAH!"

After a couple of days, we realized she was copying the sounds of her toy football, which shouts, "Go Buckeyes" when she drops it. "Go Buckeyes!"

What a great kid!

Go BooKAH!

People I don't like...

I spent the weekend with some people I really like. Jennie Underwood. Allie Underwood. Okay, I love those people.

I also spent the weekend with many of our youth from Delaware Grace, up at Lakeside near Lake Erie. Jennie and I had a great time up there, and enjoyed hanging out with many of our junior and senior high students. We also had a lot of great adult volunteer help, led by our youth director Dustyn Vanzant and his wife Robin.

Anyhow, I guess I was going to start this post talking about people I don't like. Is it wrong to "not like" a person just because he plays for the other team? Is it wrong to wish harm on someone just because he's not wearing the right uniform? Is it wrong to hope a grown man gets tackled a lot and experiences a lot of frustration on Saturday night at 8pm in Columbus?

Right or wrong, I've attached the above picture of a person I do not like. I respect him, but I do not like him. If God calls me to "love my enemies," then I guess I am hoping this person experiences a form of "tough love" this week. In the long run, it may benefit his career to lose one game. He may be challenged to greater levels of hard work, preparation, and passion for that elusive big win.

I suppose if I could get the guy in the picture to believe that it's in his best interests to lose, then I would actually be showing "love" to a person I do not "like."

Is it wrong to have a favorite team? Is it right to root against a team because they wrongfully mock respectable animals (like a steer)?

Well, right or wrong, I don't like Vince Young. I wish I could go see Vince's humiliation in five days, but it's too expensive!

Apparently, Vince, people are willing to pay big money to see you lose. But believe me, tough times like this will make you a much better man. Might even remind you that you need God.

No pain here, but...

On Monday, I had two of my wisdom teeth pulled. After hearing many stories from people who knew I was going "under the knife," I was prepared for the worst. Since I am groggy this morning, I'll give you the short version.

The dentist gave me lots of novacaine, so I couldn't feel anything sharp. He didn't "put me out" or whatever, which would have been fun. But I did get to hear and see him pounding away at my upper wisdom teeth. I heard teeth cracking, and felt so much pressure at one point that I thought he was trying to pull an eyeball out of my mouth. Nice picture, eh?

Anyhow, as I was leaving, he gave me a list of instructions, and a prescription for vicatin. As master of the obvious, I said, "So, Doc, after this novacaine wears off, I should expect some pain?"

Dude grimaced and said, "uh, yeah..." It was actually at that point that he gave me the prescription.

So I raced over to Kroger and got the prescription. The pharmacist tells me about some of the effects of vicatin, and other things I can do for this impending onslaught of dental doom. He suggests Aleve, and says I can go ahead and take the Vicatin BEFORE I feel the pain, as a preemptive strike.

So, I follow all of his instructions, and race home before taking the vicatin.

Three days later, I have felt hardly any pain in my mouth. I have only taken four vicatin pills in three days, so maybe I've had it easy. Probably the most painful moment has been looking at all the blood, or holding my two former teeth and being amazed at how big they are!

Well, I do feel blessed (by God, my dentist, and apparently vicatin) that I am not another wisdom tooth horror story.

In other news, I have spent several of the last 24 hours watching CNN. By now, you all know about Hurricane Katrina, and it sure seems like even the worst of this is yet to come.

It's absolutely heartbreaking to sit there and watch what's going on - the destruction, the rescue efforts, the commentary - but I feel like I really must watch it. No (directed at the mayor Biloxi or whoever made that comment), this is not as bad as the Tsunami - not even close! But it is extremely bad, and it is getting worse, and it is right here in a large American city.

While I am personally grateful for my friends and family that we have NOT been affected by this... I am sick to my stomach just thinking about it. Even now, the rescue and relief efforts seem so helpless without communication, electricity, or basic coordination around what is going on.

Apologies...

The other night, I wrote a long, long update to this blog, and then somehow, my time online "timed out." Have you ever had that happen? It was discouraging, cause I had all of these great things to tell you about....

- More news about our new baby
- Gary's riveting trip to the Browns' game
- Adventures with Apple repair
- Headed to Lakeside (Lake Erie) soon
- Random Jennie updates
- Allie's newest favorite toy
- Allie encounters Pet Store
- et cetera

Well, I found a new program that will help me update my blog more often - it's called "Dashboard," and it's a part of Apple's new operating system ("Tiger"). Not that you care, but at least it should give me more chances to update my blog without fear that it will be deleted too quickly.

It's a...

Jennie and I are having a baby.

Today, we had an ultrasound, and found out the gender of said baby.

We are very excited and grateful to God for a healthy baby. We got to see the baby up close and in great detail today.

The due date for this baby's birth is still December 25th.

We will have a Christmas baby.

Sleigh bells ring, and we won't be listening.

We will be at the hospital.

19 weeks and 5 days from now.

I can't wait to tell you more!

We celebrated our trip to the doctor by going to Wal-Mart and buying a brand new CD to listen to. Can you guess which CD we bought? (Hint: the CD has nothing to do with the gender of our child.)

Book Review: Ghost Soldiers

I can't believe that I am just now posting this review. It was probably two years ago when, I believe, both Mike Arnold and Doug Clark at The Chapel highly recommended the book Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides. At the time, I wasn't very interested in reading books about war.

For whatever reason, over the past year, I have developed an interest in reading books about war. So I picked up a copy of Ghost Soldiers and started there. I like to go with books that someone I respect has recommended, so here's the respect for Mike and Doug. Ghost Soldiers is about a rescue mission that took place during World War II in the Philippines. Hampton Sides takes you into the life and experiences of what it's like to be a prisoner of war in the worst kind of circumstances. There were times while reading that I found myself crying or catching my breath. Much of the book surrounded the famous "death march" that the Japanese captors led these prisoners on from camp to camp.

The background, characterization, and historical information leading up to the attempted rescue by the 6th Ranger Battalion under the direction of General Henry Mucci was incredible. The strategy, testimonies, and intensity of the attack on the Japanese was a thrill to read.

Today, I saw the commercial for a new movie called The Great Raid. The movie is BASED on the book by Hampton Sides, and yes, I cannot wait to see it. It opens this Friday.

I thought the book was terrific, inspiring, and engaging - and I appreciated the fact that this was well-researched history, not conjecture or opinion.

If you are interested in being inspired, encouraged, and frankly "grossed out" - it is a book about War, mind you - then I'd highly encourage picking up a copy of Ghost Soldiers. It's one of the few books that I've read before seeing the movie. I suppose I can do a movie review in a couple of weeks after I've seen the movie... but, as I was reading the book, I thought several times how there's literally no way to get all of this stuff - especially the important history, thoughts, and personalities of some of the key characters (uh, I mean - actual people) - into a movie. So, even a fully-stocked DVD with lots of interviews has a lot to live up to with this book.

Since reading this book, I have picked up a couple of other war-recommended books like Band of Brothers and D-Day but have yet to start them. I'm not ready to dive head-first into this genre, nor do I have the time. Maybe one good war book a year. Ghost Soldiers was an excellent one to start with.

Back to the Future...

This week, Jennie and I are spending the week in Winona Lake, Indiana. Sure, it's a little sentimental for us. It's where we met, fell in love, and also got married just five years ago.

It's also where we both went to college - at Grace College. So we're staying in Winona Lake, and we'll enjoy the beautiful scenery, sunsets, and time with Allie. Allie is starting to run around and play with other kids. It's all so... surreal.

We're here this week for the conference for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. I guess I'm officially a Grace Brethren pastor now. Blame Ken Bickel, who finally talked me into it. Seriously, though, we are excited about this week where we not only get to see some old friends in college (like Dave Jones, Jason Knavel, and hopefully Dave Pacheco), but also get to meet lots of new friends and connect with other pastors here.

I should also mention Jennie's friends, right? She's looking forward to seeing Tricia (Wood) Holabeck, Cathy Laker, Trish Stevens, and quite possibly Sarah (Peppo) Lavy.

Jennie and I have both experienced a variety of "worlds" in our lives. For me, there's the worlds of Lake (Uniontown/Hartville), The Chapel, Grace, SW Michigan, Grace again, Green (Ohio), and now Delaware. For Jennie, the worlds of Campbellsport (WI), Grace, Milwaukee, Grace, Milwaukee, Green (Ohio), and now... Delaware. It's pretty wild to see all of these worlds converge in one week, here in Winona Lake.

You have Kary Oberbrunner, who Jennie knew in the Milwaukee world, but then became a part of my Grace-world as my roommate in 1999. Kary is part of our Delaware world and the Grace Brethren world here this week too.

I guess I am the only guy from "The Chapel" world to be Grace Brethren now. Usually, guys have gone from Grace to The Chapel (Knute Larson, Tom Bennardo, Eloy Pacheco, Bob Messner, Steve Adriansen, and I'm sure the list goes on).

I suppose the best part is that we have fond memories of all of our worlds. And, silly us, we still think we can keep in touch with all of them. If I sound like I'm getting sentimental or reflective - I am. Life is - and has been - a great journey... with lots of interesting stops, people, and events along the way.

Just occurred to me that you might be from one of these worlds too?

If you're Jeremy Bear, we've connected in the worlds of The Chapel, Lake (kinda), Grace, and um... Grace. We can kinda count Columbus too, right? Since I visited so much and now live so close to there. We also share the Mosaic world. You with your presence at that great church, and me getting so much from Erwin's spirit through his writings and speaking.

If you're Tim Cooper, I guess you're wondering why I left out the other "new world" I'm in, called the Denver Seminary world (which also has many ties to The Chapel world, since Denver Seminary president Craig Williford was at The Chapel for a few good years.) Denver also has ties to Delaware and Grace. Amazing. Tied to Delaware because the pastor here before me, Jeff Gill, did the same degree program at Denver that I am doing. Tied to Grace, because my mentor and friend Ken Bickel also did his degree at Denver. But we all know I'm there just to hang with Coop and drink Jamba Juice.

If you're Josh Smith, you know me from the Chapel world and also the Chapel world.... and I suppose the other Chapel world. Seems like a whole different place there than it was when we first met in 1994 and barely knew each other. Then we had several pretty awesome years with BCM, and then a whole lotta change with two campuses, and we still keep in touch and have a great friendship.

(Here I go again, only focusing on my friends and not Jennie's. Maybe she needs to get a blog here.)

Back to my friends. Chadd Sommers can legitimately claim ties to the Lake world (high school, he attended most of our football games and even dated a few Lake girls!), The Chapel world (where he grew up), The Grace world (he moved out there for a year), the Chapel world (back again after we were both married), and of course the Green world.

If you're Dan Bahry, you know it only takes "one world" for people to really connect on a deep level. You rock, bro. Go Browns!

Yeah, this is a long blog. I'm done, and I'm grateful for all the "worlds" God's allowed me to live in and develop friendships. I'll try to blog more from Winona, but I just felt like getting some new stuff out there. Know what I mean?

What "worlds" have you traveled through in your lifetime? Post about them in the comments!

Blue... like jazz?

Did you ever have someone recommend a book to you? I get that often. In fact, usually, when someone says, "You gotta read (insert book title here)," I usually tune them out. I have enough books to read. My bookshelves are one big guilt trip for me. I buy books and then I do not read them. If someone looked at my shelf, they might think I am an avid reader. I guess I am becoming one of those. But a closer look at the truth would tell them that I am much more of an avid "book buyer" than I am a reader. So I have a stack of 10-15 books on my desk that I "want to get reading..." And then I have shelves of other books that I plan to read someday. Some of those books are books that I've started reading, get 50 pages in, and then put aside...

So, about a month ago, Dave Gannon recommended Blue Like Jazz. A few days later, I saw it reviewed on a friend's website. Two other people asked me if I'd read it, and I see a chapter from it inserted into my favorite magazine. Think it might be time to pick up a copy?

Well, I just finished reading Blue Like Jazz, and I really liked it. Donald Miller writes as if he's talking directly to you, sharing what the subtitle calls, "nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality." That's exactly what you'll get. It's like you're getting inside a real person's mind, hearing their doubts, fears, and questions about life.

He has some great chapters about life, faith, community, love, and the church. Here's a guy who attended one of the toughest universities in the country, and I think he did it simply to connect with people and make friends. One chapter talks about how he and his friends set up a confessional booth in the middle of campus for students to come and confess their sins.

The twist came, however, as each student came to the confessional. Instead of confessing their own sins, they listened to the author or one of his friends confessing the sins of the church. How Christianity has judged people instead of loving them. How Christianity has had people fighting themselves instead of loving the world. How Christianity has not done a good job of showing the love of Christ to our country.

Overall, this was a very honest, personal look at one man's struggle with the Christian faith, and how he came to know a deeper love for Jesus while rejecting the bad things he has seen in Christianity. Miller was witty, honest, real, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. His self-deprecating humor makes the book memorable and enjoyable.

I don't say this about too many books, but I think this one deserves a second read. I'm not saying it's the "best book ever" - as I tend to say after seeing movies I like. But I am saying it's well worth your time, it's a quick read, and I'm really glad I read it!

Jamba Responds!!

Hello Gary,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We are thrilled to learn that you want us to open in Delaware County. The recipe for opening new locations is really quite simple and our intention is to open Jamba in every city where there are enough customers to support a store. As you can imagine, picking the right real estate is also very important.

Over the years, customers have been the ones that have given us the permission to grow. Many of the towns/cities that we currently serve were once just recommendations and requests such as yours. I will share your email with our Real Estate department for review.

I hope you're having a terrific day! Hang in there...we look forward to blending in your hometown someday.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hofeling
Customer Service
Jamba Juice Company
1700 17th Street
San Francisco, Ca 94103-5136
800.545.9972

"We aspire to deliver the perfect Jamba Experience to each and every Customer, each and every time!"

Rocky Mountain High...

Denver Mountains 1
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Here's the actual view from Lookout Mountain. Just one hour before heading to Panera, we got some great pictures here and some nice views of the city of Denver. Over 100 degrees that day, but if you go up the mountain, it gets colder. Interesting - closer to the sun, but colder.

Anyhow, the week went fast and I can't believe summer is pretty much gone already. Yesterday, Jennie and I were at a youth conference where we got to hear Francis Chan speak, and so can you if you click on that link!

Just six days ago...

Tim and Gary 7-05
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Time goes too fast. Here I am, awkwardly posing with Tim Cooper somewhere on lookout mountain. I think I am sitting strangely because I am afraid of heights. Or because I was wearing sandals with slippery tread while on the side of a massive mountain - yeah, that sounds better! Thanks for the memories, Coop!

Because I feel like it...

You now see a picture of Minnesota basketball player Kevin Garnett, from a mural in the Minneapolis airport. When people ask me, "How was your week in Denver?" I always reply, "Great - I got to see a big picture of Garnett!" (Okay, I actually don't say that, but I bet I had you going... Anyway... My friend, Jason Knavel, recently wrote on his blog about how he doesn't like the NBA (Pro Basketball) very much, and then listed his top 10 favorite sports to watch. I'm slightly jealous of a guy who thinks up a top-ten list before I do. So, in the spirit of "catching up," here are my top ten favorite sports and events to watch on television - though I actually don't watch as much TV anymore.... but for the sake of doing a list...

Oh, and while you go through this list, feel free to click to learn more about each specific sport or team...

#10 - Cleveland Indians baseball. Some of this stems from nostalgia - I will always love the Tribe. If we were to look at this poll back in 1995-1999, I would have ranked the Indians at #1 or #2. But, just as teams change, so do people. The Tribe at its best ranks right just below the Buckeyes at their best. Actually, I take that back. I think that the fact that major league baseball (not in capital letters for a reason) has NO salary cap has actually made me disdain that form of the sport. The fact that Steinbrenner can buy the Yankees into the playoffs every year is not only unfair, it's pretty much old news.

#9 - The NFL Draft. That's right... I'd rather watch the suspense and hear the banter surrounding the NFL draft than watch just about any baseball game, golf tournament, or poker tournament. I guess in a former life or an alternate universe, I was Mel Kiper. I love playing general manager, and Pull and I were doing pretend drafts back in 5th grade.

#8 - Unfortunately, there is no #8. As a consolation prize, click here.

#7 - March Madness (The NCAA Basketball Tournament). I've always loved the college basketball tournament. I remember when I saw Lorenzo Charles score the winning bucket in 1983 for Jim Valvano. I mean, I have history with the NCAA, and I do a bracket every year, usually not for money. Best moment was when Ohio State made the final four a few years ago with Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd. Too bad Redd didn't make it in the pros.

#6 - College Football games of any kind. I do love to follow College football as probably my most favorite sport regardless of team or location. I love the atmosphere, the feel of the season, the smell of fall, and yes - I like the fact that college players still seem teachable and not full of themselves like they are in the NFL. They still have something to play for - like a job one day.

#5 - Ohio State Basketball. I actually think this one will climb to #3 or #2 over the next couple of years. With such a great recruiting class, Ohio State looks like they'll return to the national picture and contend in the NCAA Tournament!

#4 - Ohio High School Football!. I still think it's great, and love following teams from Northeast Ohio like Lake, St. Ignatius, Massillon, Buchtel, and Canton McKinley. Over the last few years, I also like to follow players who have already committed to Ohio State, like Garfield's Chris Wells, one of the nation's top high school running backs.

#3 - NBA Basketball. Yes, I know it's no longer cool to claim that you watch pro basketball. I have heard probably a hundred people say how it's not the pure game anymore, or how big the egos are, or how the game is just different now and full of show-offs. I'd like to take this opportunity to let all of those people know that there are (shockingly) more teams in the NBA than just the Portland Trail Blazers. The CAVS and the rest of the NBA are actually very fun to watch. The league has more talent and character and personality than ever. Note: I am also from Akron, home of Lebron James. 'Nuff said.

#2 - Cleveland Browns football. That explains why I'm so frustrated on Sundays during pro football season, and why I actually like fantasy football. But the Browns are hopefully headed down the right track with new coach Romeo Crennel and many new players.

#1 - Ohio State Buckeyes college football games. I think that's obvious. If not, I'll have to blog a lot about OSU this coming year.

Note: As I type this, Jennie is craving a Hostess Cupcake, so I'm off to the store!

Come to Columbus?

(An actual letter I sent out today via the Web...)

Dear Owners of "Jamba Juice,"

Last week, I spent a few days in Denver, Colorado. Your company has a store located on Hampden Avenue in south Denver, as you may already know. "Jamba Juice" happened to be on the way from my friend's apartment to the school where I study. To make a long story short, after a friend introduced me to your quality smoothies, I stopped at your store five times last week.

I had your "Berry Lime Sublime,"' your "Jamba Powerboost," your "Strawberry Nirvana," and of course your "Orange Dreamsicle." Each time, I enjoyed adding a free protein boost, energy boost, or vita-boost to my smoothie. The service was friendly and the taste was friendlier.

When I returned home from Denver, I promptly went to the Jamba Juice website. Imagine my heart's dismay when I saw that you do not have any stores in Ohio, Michigan, or Indiana.

Did you know that Delaware (Ohio) County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States of America? I wonder if you would consider this fine business opportunity in our area, as our population and consumer base is growing rapidly. If there is anything I can personally do to help your cause, I would be more than honored to help out.

Sincerely,
Gary Underwood
GaryandJennie.com

When in Detroit...

Those who know me well... know that I don't like Michigan. I do love my relatives that live in Michigan. I really like former Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel, from the same state. I also had a great experience and made many friends in Bridgman at Woodland Shores Baptist Church back in '96-'97. Other than that, I thought I really had no reason to like that state up north.

Well, this picture is from the Detroit airport - a VERY cool hallway that changed colors and made futuristic, soft toned noises as you walk down the way. Sometimes I rode those "people-movers" (things like escalators without stairs - what are they called?)... Anyhow, the Detroit airport had some cool effects. The Nachos, however, were terrible (not a surprise).

Oh, and I guess I like one more thing about Michigan (besides the best bookstore in the world in Grand Rapids)... Mars Hill.

A World of Beauty...

Denver Mountains 1
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

This was the view all week in Denver. Even though it was 100 degrees outside for most of the week, the view and the sunsets were BREATHTAKING.

I guess I mean that literally, because the altitude and the heat made for some shortness of breath. But I had a great week, and I'm so glad to be home. Both Jennie and Allie are glad to have me back home.

Baby #2 is kicking...

Things to do in Denver when you're Alive...

This week, I'm in Denver having a great time hanging out with Tim and Suzanne Cooper and skiing the slopes at Vail. Uh, actually, I'm at Denver for a class at Denver Seminary. Just had my first half-day of classes, and the place is wonderful. A beautiful new campus that they just opened LAST WEEK, and are just really now moving into.

The class is on "How the Nature of the Church Affects Strategies for Ministry" and is taught by Dr. Craig Williford, formerly of The Chapel. We had a very interactive and fun afternoon. Pastors and ministry leaders (15 or so) from around the country are here to sharpen their leadership and think about the direction of our churches and ministries.

It is hard to be apart from Jennie and Allie this week. Right now, they are on a road trip to Winona Lake, Indiana to visit some friends from our days at Grace College. I think Jennie had lunch at Hacienda, probably downing a wet burrito and lots of chips.

Sunday morning at church, Allie was standing and walking by Jennie. Then, she saw Daddy (ME) across the room, and RAN to me. When she got to my feet, she threw up her arms as if to say, "Daddy, Hold me!!" One of the greatest moments of my life, actually. First time she's ever done that. My popularity was but a fleeting moment, as the next time I saw her, Jennie handed Allie to me and then my beautiful daughter started crying instantly and reaching for mommy. Maybe Allie was bummed that, for the first time in months, I did not mention her in some way during my message at church. Speaking of messages at church, check them out at this link right here.

So, this week, here's my schedule in Denver... if you're interested. Notice, no time hanging out with John Elway or Carmelo Anthony (sorry to disappoint.)

Tuesday = class all day (8am-4pm), enjoy a seminary orientation for new students (read: FREE DINNER), and then skip out early to attend the Tuesday night worship service where Tim Cooper is serving as Interim Pastor - a great young adult style church called TNL, or "The Next Level Church."

Wednesday = class all day (8am-4pm) with a lunch seminar about some computer programs called Moodle and EndNote 8 (Read: "Wish they had wireless internet so I could check e-mail and pretend to be learning about computer programs."). Wednesday night, I'll probably venture into the mountains or Colorado Springs to get some nice pics.

Thursday = class all day (8am-4pm) and I'll give a presentation on The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee. Thursday night, probably hang out with Tim & Suzanne and play ping-pong or find other things to do in Denver when we're alive. Not sure if anyone's getting that joke, but I'll keep going there and hope it's funny.

Friday = half day of class (8-Noon), do a seminary interview, and then hopefully meet with Mike Arnold and Tim Cooper for lunch. Really would love to see Mike! Haven't seen him since he moved to Vegas almost a year ago.

Saturday = get up wayyy early, fly out of Denver at 7:30am...

The week will go fast, and I do have "homework" every night. Great stuff, though. I love the challenge and the learning... I'm grateful to God, The Chapel, and Delaware Grace Brethren for helping me go after this great learning opportunity. And I'm grateful that you're still reading my blog!

That reminds me...

Getting all Spiritual on us?

That's right, Pastor Gary is starting a SECOND blog. This one addresses issues of faith, life, culture, and church. I hope that it becomes a great way to connect with our people here in Delaware.

I also want to invite you to check it out, as I plan to update it several times a week. Inspired by the fact that I am no longer doing my FUSION newsletter, and also inspired by Tim Cooper's e-mail devotional "The Word," I want the challenge and consistency of doing a devotional online. I hope to be more thought-provoking than uplifting, more relevant and forward thinking than the status quo, and more enlightening than not. =).

Uh, anyhow, here's the link:

Underwood Unplugged

Go there, read, respond, and enjoy! Also, don't forget to come here again to get exciting updates like these!

- Allie climbed up the stairs yesterday, pretty much by herself!
- Jennie starts her new Occupational Therapy job next week, doing one day a week or less!
- Tomorrow night, we're headed to Easton (great outdoor mall and hangout) for a date night before Gary heads to Colorado for a week.
- Gary and the elders of the church recently completed a study/process of establishing our CORE VALUES for ministry. It was a seven month process, but WELL worth it!
- While in Denver, I plan to go hiking in the mountains and beat Tim Cooper at Madden. (Note: I have not played any video games in the last seven months. Are you impressed? Are you depressed?)
- For those of you who really wish Gary would just talk about basketball on his blog, click here.

The Mutter...

Yeah, I need some sort of generic title that just says, "I have nothing real great to say, but I still feel like posting something on my blog," so I came up with "The Mutter..." Got any better ideas? Seriously - post a comment or suggestion below!

---- Nobody commented on my War of the Worlds review, so I'm guessing you all want to see the movie for yourselves and form your own opinions. I usually feel that way, even though I do check on Rotten Tomatoes for a general consensus of how a movie is being reviewed. They are usually right on with a percentage or "grade" of how ALL written movie reviewers are evaluating a movie.

---- I bet some of you don't care what I think about movies, or wonder where I get all this time to see a movie and then blog about it. Good question. I love to write.

---- I've decided to write about some more meaningful things in a journal called "Underwood Unplugged." Go there if you want more deep thoughts or challenges about faith, life, and how church should be.

---- Next week, I'll be in Denver all week for my first course at Denver Seminary. It's taught by current Denver Seminary President Craig Williford, who - ironically - used to be the Executive Pastor at The Chapel.

---- While in Denver, I'll be staying with my good friend Tim Coooper, and hopefully we'll get to cruise into the mountains, do some hiking, and talk deep about life and ministry. Cooper is currently interning at a church called TNL, which stands for "The Next Level." It looks like a dynamite church, and I'm looking forward to their Tuesday night service.

---- Yep, I bought an iPod Shuffle. For $88 on eBay. I can't believe how much stuff (songs, sermons, data) can fit on this little thing, and I bought the small version (512MB)! I highly recommend it, especially since you can use it for so many things and in so many ways. Smaller than a pack of Big Red, but not as big as a pack of Juicy Fruit.

---- Jennie is now 16 weeks pregnant. This pregnancy is going fast, but she did feel sick on Sunday and Monday. Just needs more rest and TLC. On that note, while I'm in Denver, Jennie is headed to Winona Lake (Indiana) to visit friends and influence people. She's taking Allie, staying with her friend Cathy, and on the road with another friend Addie.

---- This summer is going fast and furious. Last week, Brian Hunt was here for July 5th. We had lunch with Tom Bennardo. I had lunch with Tom Burns the other day. I had "breakfast" with Kary Oberbrunner the other day. We were in Akron over the weekend to do a wedding.

---- Speaking of weddings, I must give a shout out to Brian and Amanda Dente. This is one high-quality couple with some very high quality friends. Both in their late 20's, Brian and Amanda are very much in love with each other, in love with Jesus, and have a magnetic and positive influence on those around them. The people we met and saw at their wedding and reception were great too. Kinda reminds me how big the world is, actually. Here's the kind of people I'm talking about... Jennie and I look at the "seating chart" for the reception, and are initially disappointed that nobody we know is at our table.
Reluctantly, we mosey on over to our "assigned" seats and spend about three hours talking to a couple we just met, didn't really get to talk to anyone else, and of course we "strangers" all hugged before leaving them.