Here she is, about a week ago while we were in Michigan. Stay tuned for Allie's first ever Halloween adventure.
Monday, October 31, 2005
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, October 27, 2005
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!-------
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?
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
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!
------
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.
------
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.
------
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.
------
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.
------
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! (???)
------
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?
------
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!
------
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).
------
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...
------
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.
------
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.
------
The Interpreter is out. Have you seen it?
------
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!
Sunday, October 09, 2005
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!)
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!)
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