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!