Yesterday, Allie got a chance to play and read with Ashton Sommers, daughter of our good friends Chadd & Cory Sommers in Akron. This has to be one of the cutest pictures I've ever seen (Do I say that every day?)
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Our Family Christmas...
Gotta love this picture. Should have put this on the cover page for www.garyandjennie.com. Love having a digital camera. Love not using pronouns in sentences. Just verbs and connectors.
Jennie is in a new Christmas sweater from Gary (courtesy of Kaufmann's). Allie is in a bright red outfit that is very Christmassy. Is that a word?
Gary is in an all-Ohio State outfit. In honor of suspended star quarterback Troy Smith.
Jennie is in a new Christmas sweater from Gary (courtesy of Kaufmann's). Allie is in a bright red outfit that is very Christmassy. Is that a word?
Gary is in an all-Ohio State outfit. In honor of suspended star quarterback Troy Smith.
Jennie's 2nd Turkey...
For Christmas day, Gary's parents were in Delaware, and Jennie made a 20-pound turkey. Leftovers for three months! It was awesome, so I thought I'd give you a close-up... More to come...
Her first Christmas...
Allie's first Christmas so far has produced some great moments. I will have a ton of pics to put online, but here is one of what Allie does with 104% of her gifts... She eats them. She eats the wrapping paper. She marvels at the crinkly sounds of the paper and the gifts. She drools on gifts.
She IS our gift.
She IS our gift.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Winter fun?
Well, we didn't take Allie out in the snow much, because we were too busy shoveling or hot-tubbing to get her all bundled up. Rest assured, some Allie snow pictures are in your near future, though. Here's today's latest view of her in her excer-saucer. Sounds like something from the future.
Speaking of which, Jennie and I watched the movie "I, Robot" tonight. Our local store lets you rent movies on Wednesday for $0.97 - isn't that crazy? Anyhow, we watched Spiderman 2 last night and I, Robot tonight.
I'll give a movie review sometime before the new year. Maybe I'll even do my top ten movies of the year... Best wishes to Tobey Maguire and Will Smith in their bid to win "Mutterings' Actor of the Year." Hint: Spidey doesn't have a chance. With great power comes great responsibility (and poor acting).
Speaking of which, Jennie and I watched the movie "I, Robot" tonight. Our local store lets you rent movies on Wednesday for $0.97 - isn't that crazy? Anyhow, we watched Spiderman 2 last night and I, Robot tonight.
I'll give a movie review sometime before the new year. Maybe I'll even do my top ten movies of the year... Best wishes to Tobey Maguire and Will Smith in their bid to win "Mutterings' Actor of the Year." Hint: Spidey doesn't have a chance. With great power comes great responsibility (and poor acting).
Warm off...
You know how, in the summer, you're supposed to go to the pool or drink something cold to "cool off"?
Well, today, Jennie and I sat in our backyard hot tub to "warm off."
I've had some people ask if we're supposed to shut it down for the winter. Isn't this the season that you're going to need it? So, twice in the last 24 hours, I've shoveled off the cover and the deck around our hot tub, and we finally got in it this afternoon. It wasn't as hot as we'd hoped, but I turned up the heat for next time. We're going to need it here, as the temperature is supposed to dip to under 10-degrees all day tomorrow.
Well, today, Jennie and I sat in our backyard hot tub to "warm off."
I've had some people ask if we're supposed to shut it down for the winter. Isn't this the season that you're going to need it? So, twice in the last 24 hours, I've shoveled off the cover and the deck around our hot tub, and we finally got in it this afternoon. It wasn't as hot as we'd hoped, but I turned up the heat for next time. We're going to need it here, as the temperature is supposed to dip to under 10-degrees all day tomorrow.
Rocky Balboa?
Though Jennie hasn't actually seen Rocky IV, where Rocky trains for a boxing match in Russia, running through snow-capped mountains and hills... Jennie had her own snow-capped fun in the backyard, running around in a foot of snow. She was exhausted, but still had enough energy to smile for the camera...
Snow Time!
Delaware, OH - Yesterday and today, the huge snowstorm that hit the midwest and much of the United States dumped roughly 10-12 inches of snow here in Delaware. Today the roads were declared a "level 3" weather alert, meaning nobody is allowed on the roads except emergency vehicles or snow trucks. This picture is the picnic table in our backyard.
Jennie and I stayed home of course. I shoveled the driveway and other places... worked on our church's Christmas Eve service (if we still have one)... wrapped our Christmas gifts... played with Allison... worked out... did some reading and studying... and of course played with our digital camera. More pictures to come, which you may have already seen above...
Jennie and I stayed home of course. I shoveled the driveway and other places... worked on our church's Christmas Eve service (if we still have one)... wrapped our Christmas gifts... played with Allison... worked out... did some reading and studying... and of course played with our digital camera. More pictures to come, which you may have already seen above...
Monday, December 20, 2004
Season's Greetings from the Siffert Family!
Tonight, Bob & Lori Siffert dropped by, in the middle of their "Easton Mall Getaway" in Columbus. We are excited for them (and sad for us) as they will soon move to Ocala, Florida. Bob has a new job opportunity and a better weather experience awaiting him in the north-central part of the state.
They tell us it's less than two hours from either coast (Atlantic or Gulf), and that their new home will soon be ready for them to move in. With zero temperatures haunting northern Ohio this week, who wouldn't want to join them?
We've known Bob & Lori for about three years now, and our lives are incredibly blessed to call them our friends. We already miss them, but are excited for this new chapter in their lives and grateful that they also call Akron their home.
Over the last couple of years, we've seen some of our closest Akron friends spread out all over the country. Kevin and Jane Delaney are now in Birmingham, Alabama. Jeff and Leanne Becksfort are now in Portland, Oregon. Tim and Suzanne Cooper are now in Denver, Colorado. Mike and Rachelle Arnold are now in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bob and Lori Siffert are headed to Ocala, Florida.
I miss all these people! God keeps bringing new friends into our lives, as He always does, but I look forward to keeping in touch with friends and to "reunion times" as well.
Driving to and from Akron was pretty sentimental for me and Jennie - some of the best times and friendships of our lives.
But we are LOVING life in Delaware, and convinced that we are doing the right thing. We are constantly meeting new people and new friends and having opportunities to grow, learn, serve, and lead!
They tell us it's less than two hours from either coast (Atlantic or Gulf), and that their new home will soon be ready for them to move in. With zero temperatures haunting northern Ohio this week, who wouldn't want to join them?
We've known Bob & Lori for about three years now, and our lives are incredibly blessed to call them our friends. We already miss them, but are excited for this new chapter in their lives and grateful that they also call Akron their home.
Over the last couple of years, we've seen some of our closest Akron friends spread out all over the country. Kevin and Jane Delaney are now in Birmingham, Alabama. Jeff and Leanne Becksfort are now in Portland, Oregon. Tim and Suzanne Cooper are now in Denver, Colorado. Mike and Rachelle Arnold are now in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bob and Lori Siffert are headed to Ocala, Florida.
I miss all these people! God keeps bringing new friends into our lives, as He always does, but I look forward to keeping in touch with friends and to "reunion times" as well.
Driving to and from Akron was pretty sentimental for me and Jennie - some of the best times and friendships of our lives.
But we are LOVING life in Delaware, and convinced that we are doing the right thing. We are constantly meeting new people and new friends and having opportunities to grow, learn, serve, and lead!
Gary & Allie not quite awake...
Saturday morning sleep-in at the Underwoods in Uniontown. Does this feel like a reality show?
Turn back the clock...
Just a few years ago, these three might have been among a bunch of Grace college girls staying up all night, telling crazy stories, and laughing hysterically.
Last week, Jennie got to hang out with Megan Boehm and Angela (Ogden) Dephouse at Megan's bachelorette party. Jennie didn't get home until 3:30 in the morning, but had a great time and a lot of good laughs and conversations!
Congrats to Megan Boehm and Brian Kunkler for their wedding on Saturday! They got married at The Chapel's Green Campus, and it was beautiful!
Jennie and I enjoyed seeing our two worlds (Grace and The Chapel) collide in such a great way. From Grace, we saw Andy Wirt, Jason & Marcie Haymaker, Mark Williams, Angela (Ogden), Mark & Meredith (Delameter), John & Jessie (Barrette) -- I should know their new last names, shouldn't I? ... and from The Chapel, we got to see people named Siffert, Derr, Ostovic, Tinkham, Craig, Norman, Clark, Larson, Bach, Penn, Putnam, Warner, and many others!
Last week, Jennie got to hang out with Megan Boehm and Angela (Ogden) Dephouse at Megan's bachelorette party. Jennie didn't get home until 3:30 in the morning, but had a great time and a lot of good laughs and conversations!
Congrats to Megan Boehm and Brian Kunkler for their wedding on Saturday! They got married at The Chapel's Green Campus, and it was beautiful!
Jennie and I enjoyed seeing our two worlds (Grace and The Chapel) collide in such a great way. From Grace, we saw Andy Wirt, Jason & Marcie Haymaker, Mark Williams, Angela (Ogden), Mark & Meredith (Delameter), John & Jessie (Barrette) -- I should know their new last names, shouldn't I? ... and from The Chapel, we got to see people named Siffert, Derr, Ostovic, Tinkham, Craig, Norman, Clark, Larson, Bach, Penn, Putnam, Warner, and many others!
Future Browns fan?
Dan Bahry is an incredibly loyal Browns fan. He's also a guy who has been an strong encouragement and friend to me since we met in June of 2003. Here he is holding Allison.
I've always been a Browns fan, and I like them even better now that Butch Davis is gone. Allie enjoyed a brief visit to Akron this weekend, and I have a few more pictures to come...
She's six months old already, and we had her pictures taken today at JCPenney. A free sitting fee, and just $4 per sheet of pictures? That's an incredible deal, and a reason to avoid Babies'R'Us for a little while.
Gary spent the entire day doing Christmas shopping at Polaris Mall here, just north of Columbus. While it's exciting to have such a huge shopping complex with lots of Ohio State garb, I'm not sure it's any better than North Canton's Belden Village and "The Strip" right next to it.
Polaris might have a Quaker Steak and Lube, The Buckeye Corner, and a few other novelty shops - but Belden boasts a great movie theater, Border's, Pancho's, Rockne's, and too many memories to count. Like that time when we were at Longhorn Steakhouse and the tornado hit... Ahh, memory bliss!
I've always been a Browns fan, and I like them even better now that Butch Davis is gone. Allie enjoyed a brief visit to Akron this weekend, and I have a few more pictures to come...
She's six months old already, and we had her pictures taken today at JCPenney. A free sitting fee, and just $4 per sheet of pictures? That's an incredible deal, and a reason to avoid Babies'R'Us for a little while.
Gary spent the entire day doing Christmas shopping at Polaris Mall here, just north of Columbus. While it's exciting to have such a huge shopping complex with lots of Ohio State garb, I'm not sure it's any better than North Canton's Belden Village and "The Strip" right next to it.
Polaris might have a Quaker Steak and Lube, The Buckeye Corner, and a few other novelty shops - but Belden boasts a great movie theater, Border's, Pancho's, Rockne's, and too many memories to count. Like that time when we were at Longhorn Steakhouse and the tornado hit... Ahh, memory bliss!
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Have you seen this man?
I don't usually call somebody out on my website. It's not really proper etiquette. You're supposed to write things of a general nature, giving updates about your family and friends, especially pictures of your very-cute daughter. Well, since our photo-tour of our weekend in Akron is currently being detained in Tallmadge, Ohio (read: someone left our digital camera at a wedding reception on accident - not me or Allison)... I decided to post a picture of a very creative, intelligent, and funny friend of mine.
Meet Josh Smith of Gitgan.com. Yes, it's his web-design site, and yes, dude designed my website. However, after conferring with Tim Cooper, Jeff Becksfort, and several others, we have yet to hear back from our beloved internet guru.
I actually met Josh when he was in 9th grade, and I was a raw college freshman helping out with The Chapel's youth group for the summer. That didn't stop us from re-connecting about seven years later, being in several men's groups together, and building what I consider to be a very solid friendship.
Josh, if you're out there, I miss you bro. I hope you're doing well, and I hope lots of people go to your website now and hire you to do their pages. You are a great guy with lots of personality, skills, humor, and faith. At the very least, people will read your blog and be entertained, enlightened, and encouraged.
While I don't normally do photo-blog tributes like this, because I'm afraid of singling you out, I figured you might break the norm. I mean, you can see how in this world of personal websites and blogs and journals, people don't really need to interact via e-mail, phone, or personal time - they merely need to read each other's blogs.
Josh, I just wanted to say hi. Hope things are going well for you. I hope you don't mind that other people are "listening in." May you and Kirsten and the entire Smith/Winkelmann clans have a terrific Christmas! Your brother on the blog, Gary
Meet Josh Smith of Gitgan.com. Yes, it's his web-design site, and yes, dude designed my website. However, after conferring with Tim Cooper, Jeff Becksfort, and several others, we have yet to hear back from our beloved internet guru.
I actually met Josh when he was in 9th grade, and I was a raw college freshman helping out with The Chapel's youth group for the summer. That didn't stop us from re-connecting about seven years later, being in several men's groups together, and building what I consider to be a very solid friendship.
Josh, if you're out there, I miss you bro. I hope you're doing well, and I hope lots of people go to your website now and hire you to do their pages. You are a great guy with lots of personality, skills, humor, and faith. At the very least, people will read your blog and be entertained, enlightened, and encouraged.
While I don't normally do photo-blog tributes like this, because I'm afraid of singling you out, I figured you might break the norm. I mean, you can see how in this world of personal websites and blogs and journals, people don't really need to interact via e-mail, phone, or personal time - they merely need to read each other's blogs.
Josh, I just wanted to say hi. Hope things are going well for you. I hope you don't mind that other people are "listening in." May you and Kirsten and the entire Smith/Winkelmann clans have a terrific Christmas! Your brother on the blog, Gary
Sunday, December 12, 2004
The Life...
It's Sunday night, and Jennie and I are exhausted after a long, fulfilling weekend. Life as a Senior Pastor and Pastor's wife so far is going great. I remember when I started this whole journal, it felt more like a place of personal reflection. It felt more like a hobby, a place to share random thoughts - sometimes even meaningful thoughts.
For whatever reason, it's easy to let this evolve into a place for factual "updates" on our lives, more pictures, and creative (I hope) observations about life, sports, movies, God, etc. Maybe that's because a lot of people are reading this. Actually, there's not that many people reading this. Well, okay, some people are reading, but I never really know who is reading. Not that it matters.
Plus, my updates usually contain something about Allison and Jennie. They are pretty much the main attraction. We're hoping to get a picture of the three of us. Something for either Christmas or New Year's cards. We'd love to send some sort of Christmas update. I wonder of those cards with the "Here's a summary of what happened in our lives in 2004" inserts are being replaced by bloggers. An online journal. Do you really want another letter from us?
My friend Jeremy sent an e-card last year, and it was terrific - animated, with their voices giving updates about their lives. It felt like we were sitting on a couch across from them. Anyhow, it remains to be seen what we're going to do for Christmas cards. That's okay, we still have 12 days to figure it out. Yeah right, it just seems like it all goes so fast.
Ah, this post is titled "The Life..." Being a Senior Pastor at a growing, apparently healthy, and friendly church that is focused on Jesus Christ is a high privilege. So I crash on the couch Sunday nights feeling exhausted but very fulfilled.
Yesterday, I spoke at our men's breakfast for the first time. Similar to The Chapel's "Quarterback Club," but on one Saturday a month. After that, it was several meetings with other pastors and leaders, and then later that day working on the sermon both at church and at home. This morning, I was at church by 7AM, preached two services, attended a meeting of our deacons, visited with friends from Akron (Bob & Lora Beasley - thanks for stopping by, guys!!!), spoke at our church's Daycare Christmas program, and attended the reception afterwards. We had potentially two more parties to go to after that, but just were both (or all three of us) spent!
Anyhow, things are going well down here in Delaware. We really like the town, the people, and the location. We aren't far from Polaris, which has a ton of places to shop and eat, including "Buckeye Corner," "Chimi Changa's Mexican Grille," Panera, Chipolte, Best Buy, and a huge theater named "Marcus." The church is great, and the people have been great at encouraging and welcoming us here. A bunch of people helped us paint various rooms in our house, watched Allison, and given us just a lot of love and support.
A little strange missing the Mosaic Christmas party tonight, missing my first "Super Day" in four years, and not reading the Akron Beacon Journal (except online), but we're enjoying a good start here in Delaware. Even now, I feel obligated to let you know that I'll have future posts about Allison or Jennie. But I like doing posts like this too.
For whatever reason, it's easy to let this evolve into a place for factual "updates" on our lives, more pictures, and creative (I hope) observations about life, sports, movies, God, etc. Maybe that's because a lot of people are reading this. Actually, there's not that many people reading this. Well, okay, some people are reading, but I never really know who is reading. Not that it matters.
Plus, my updates usually contain something about Allison and Jennie. They are pretty much the main attraction. We're hoping to get a picture of the three of us. Something for either Christmas or New Year's cards. We'd love to send some sort of Christmas update. I wonder of those cards with the "Here's a summary of what happened in our lives in 2004" inserts are being replaced by bloggers. An online journal. Do you really want another letter from us?
My friend Jeremy sent an e-card last year, and it was terrific - animated, with their voices giving updates about their lives. It felt like we were sitting on a couch across from them. Anyhow, it remains to be seen what we're going to do for Christmas cards. That's okay, we still have 12 days to figure it out. Yeah right, it just seems like it all goes so fast.
Ah, this post is titled "The Life..." Being a Senior Pastor at a growing, apparently healthy, and friendly church that is focused on Jesus Christ is a high privilege. So I crash on the couch Sunday nights feeling exhausted but very fulfilled.
Yesterday, I spoke at our men's breakfast for the first time. Similar to The Chapel's "Quarterback Club," but on one Saturday a month. After that, it was several meetings with other pastors and leaders, and then later that day working on the sermon both at church and at home. This morning, I was at church by 7AM, preached two services, attended a meeting of our deacons, visited with friends from Akron (Bob & Lora Beasley - thanks for stopping by, guys!!!), spoke at our church's Daycare Christmas program, and attended the reception afterwards. We had potentially two more parties to go to after that, but just were both (or all three of us) spent!
Anyhow, things are going well down here in Delaware. We really like the town, the people, and the location. We aren't far from Polaris, which has a ton of places to shop and eat, including "Buckeye Corner," "Chimi Changa's Mexican Grille," Panera, Chipolte, Best Buy, and a huge theater named "Marcus." The church is great, and the people have been great at encouraging and welcoming us here. A bunch of people helped us paint various rooms in our house, watched Allison, and given us just a lot of love and support.
A little strange missing the Mosaic Christmas party tonight, missing my first "Super Day" in four years, and not reading the Akron Beacon Journal (except online), but we're enjoying a good start here in Delaware. Even now, I feel obligated to let you know that I'll have future posts about Allison or Jennie. But I like doing posts like this too.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
New Toy...
I usually never shop on the day after Thanksgiving. In fact, after shopping a couple of times lately, I am coming to agree with Knute Larson, who has quipped, "I think shopping is what they're going to do in hell."
Yeah, it's that much fun.
Anyhow, for whatever reason, I made the trip to Wal-Mart on that fateful Friday after Turkey day. I wasn't there to get anything special, just a few "TOILETRIES" for our new house. I'm not sure why the "toilet" gets credit for things like deodorant and toothpaste, but that's what we call them.
Well, since I'm always into electronics or whatever, I decided to go by that section in Delaware's Wal-Mart. Since Jennie and I had talked about nabbing a digital camera for Christmas, I asked the lady at the counter, "Do you have any insanely good deals on a digital camera?"
"Uh, well, we only have one left.." came the reply. The lady handed me a Kodak EasyShare 5.0 megapixel digital camera that came WITH the "dock" to connect to your computer and/or printer. Most cameras that are 5 megapixels (clarity) or more are well over $250, and you have to buy the dock seperate. This post-turkey-day deal at Wal-Mart was only $199.
Literally, seconds after she handed me the box - which I still wasn't sure I was going to buy cause I had to call Jennie to discuss the matter - another guy came up to the counter in a huff, pointed at my box, and asked the lady, "Do you have any more of THOSE?"
"Uh, that was the last one... sorry."
Fortunately, Jennie obliged, and now I get to take cool pictures like this. We'll have lots more Allie pics. Actually, what kind of pics should we take? Any requests? Is anybody out there? Even if nobody reads, I enjoy writing and now doing silly pics like this.
Yeah, it's that much fun.
Anyhow, for whatever reason, I made the trip to Wal-Mart on that fateful Friday after Turkey day. I wasn't there to get anything special, just a few "TOILETRIES" for our new house. I'm not sure why the "toilet" gets credit for things like deodorant and toothpaste, but that's what we call them.
Well, since I'm always into electronics or whatever, I decided to go by that section in Delaware's Wal-Mart. Since Jennie and I had talked about nabbing a digital camera for Christmas, I asked the lady at the counter, "Do you have any insanely good deals on a digital camera?"
"Uh, well, we only have one left.." came the reply. The lady handed me a Kodak EasyShare 5.0 megapixel digital camera that came WITH the "dock" to connect to your computer and/or printer. Most cameras that are 5 megapixels (clarity) or more are well over $250, and you have to buy the dock seperate. This post-turkey-day deal at Wal-Mart was only $199.
Literally, seconds after she handed me the box - which I still wasn't sure I was going to buy cause I had to call Jennie to discuss the matter - another guy came up to the counter in a huff, pointed at my box, and asked the lady, "Do you have any more of THOSE?"
"Uh, that was the last one... sorry."
Fortunately, Jennie obliged, and now I get to take cool pictures like this. We'll have lots more Allie pics. Actually, what kind of pics should we take? Any requests? Is anybody out there? Even if nobody reads, I enjoy writing and now doing silly pics like this.
Bragging Rights...
My friends who root for Michigan keep reminding me that, even though they lost in a blowout to Ohio State, they are going to the Rose Bowl.
Let me state, again, for the record... "Have fun - win or lose - with whatever you're doing in Pasadena. But for yet another year - in fact, 3 out of the last 4 years - your team can't and didn't win the game that mattered. You didn't beat your biggest, most-"hated" rival."
Ohio State won 37-21, and that's really all that matters. Especially in college football, where the bowls are more about "money" than about rankings. The Buckeyes, settled it convincingly on the field, and they'll do it again next year =). Go Bucks!
Let me state, again, for the record... "Have fun - win or lose - with whatever you're doing in Pasadena. But for yet another year - in fact, 3 out of the last 4 years - your team can't and didn't win the game that mattered. You didn't beat your biggest, most-"hated" rival."
Ohio State won 37-21, and that's really all that matters. Especially in college football, where the bowls are more about "money" than about rankings. The Buckeyes, settled it convincingly on the field, and they'll do it again next year =). Go Bucks!
The Joke's on YOU!
As you can see from this picture, Allie has already mastered the art of doing "raspberries!" You know the noise.
She is a pretty fascinating child. At five months, she can already sit up on her own. She can also spit up on her own. We're so proud!
I have lots of new pics to post, and I'm sorry it has been so long since I've blogged an entry on this site. In many ways, life is going great here in Delaware. We may even post a collection of pics on our homesite for the first time in months.
I'll try to put more new pics up tonight.
She is a pretty fascinating child. At five months, she can already sit up on her own. She can also spit up on her own. We're so proud!
I have lots of new pics to post, and I'm sorry it has been so long since I've blogged an entry on this site. In many ways, life is going great here in Delaware. We may even post a collection of pics on our homesite for the first time in months.
I'll try to put more new pics up tonight.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Water & Coke
On Monday, Jennie and I ate lunch at "The Mill," the restaurant in Buehler's Food Market in Delaware. It's just a simple picture, and yet it says so much - doesn't it?
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Can you find the senior pastor in this picture?
This is the pic the church used for our website (www.dgbc.org).
I got a haircut just a few days later, and I no-longer have the "Statue of Liberty" due that you see here.
We move to Delaware on November 22nd. If you'd like to sign up to help us paint our new abode, please contact Jennifer Joy Underwood at 740-972-3985.
Our new home is about 7 minutes from Damon's, 7 minutes from BW-3's, and just 20 minutes from the nearest Quaker Steak and Lube. We also live less than 5 minutes from Delaware Grace Brethren Church, 45 minutes from Ohio Stadium (read: Horseshoe) (read: where OSU upsets Michigan in two weeks) (read: you read it here first) (read: keep reading the blogger as I move on to other frivolous topics), and just 12 minutes from a town called Waldo.
(read: end of post)
I got a haircut just a few days later, and I no-longer have the "Statue of Liberty" due that you see here.
We move to Delaware on November 22nd. If you'd like to sign up to help us paint our new abode, please contact Jennifer Joy Underwood at 740-972-3985.
Our new home is about 7 minutes from Damon's, 7 minutes from BW-3's, and just 20 minutes from the nearest Quaker Steak and Lube. We also live less than 5 minutes from Delaware Grace Brethren Church, 45 minutes from Ohio Stadium (read: Horseshoe) (read: where OSU upsets Michigan in two weeks) (read: you read it here first) (read: keep reading the blogger as I move on to other frivolous topics), and just 12 minutes from a town called Waldo.
(read: end of post)
Elections, Installments, Controversies, and Kids Choir?
Elections - The last few weeks have been a blur for me and Jennie, but we did make it out to the polls to vote. Congrats to President Bush, and props to the record number of people who turned out to vote. We are so privileged to have that "right" in our country.
My first "sermon" at our new church was about the first "election" ever in history - actually, before history - that God chose His children before the creation of the world - Ephesians 1:1-14.
I always get asked "How did the sermon go?"
I don't mind being asked that, but it usually feels like a Catch-22. If I say it went great, then I'm a proud, arrogant pastor who thinks he's something. If I say it was average, people think I don't care. If I say it wasn't my best, then people assume I'm not taking my responsibility all that seriously and that I'm not very excited about preaching.
Meanwhile, I still feel compelled to answer the question, somewhat like this - "I really enjoyed giving this talk today - I love doing it, and I pray and hope and work so that God would touch people's lives and hearts when I preach. (And, if I feel good about how it actually went, I'll say something like...) I felt good about how it went."
If it didn't go well, I'd know. I am my own worst critic. Jennie, on the other hand, is probably my best critic. She always has insightful and helpful - carefully-worded - thoughts about the job.
Installments - October 31st was my "installment" service as Senior Pastor here at Delaware Grace Brethren church. Dr. Ken Bickel, a terrific prof and good friend of mine from my days at Grace Theological Seminary came out to give the main message and to celebrate this weekend with us.
Allie can "install" her own pacifier now, but it never really faces the right direction. It is fun to watch her try.
Controversies - I'm tired of Maurice Clarett. Funny, it's usually "controversy" that drives up the TV ratings and the newspaper sales. Is it okay to say that I'm tired of controversies?
Kids Choir - A few minutes ago, I was in the gym (I mean, "Family Life Center") of our new church here in Delaware, Ohio. I got to watch about 50-70 kids (I didn't even try to count) as they stood up on stage, singing together. As they all marched in place (NOT in unison, mind you), my first thought was about how cute they all were and how Allie will one day march out of turn with them.
My second thought was that here is a generation - and their parents' generation - who (for some reason) have asked, called, hired, prayed for, and helped me move to Delaware to become their Senior Pastor.
When all is said and done, I don't think God is going to care how good my sermons are (or aren't).
What He does care about... is how well, how faithfully, how passionately, how creatively, how biblically, how efficiently, and how effectively did I carry out this heaven-sent assignment to care for the spiritual needs and souls of so many of His precious children!
I shouldn't let a day go by without being in awe of that responsibility, and in total awareness of my need for God first!
My first "sermon" at our new church was about the first "election" ever in history - actually, before history - that God chose His children before the creation of the world - Ephesians 1:1-14.
I always get asked "How did the sermon go?"
I don't mind being asked that, but it usually feels like a Catch-22. If I say it went great, then I'm a proud, arrogant pastor who thinks he's something. If I say it was average, people think I don't care. If I say it wasn't my best, then people assume I'm not taking my responsibility all that seriously and that I'm not very excited about preaching.
Meanwhile, I still feel compelled to answer the question, somewhat like this - "I really enjoyed giving this talk today - I love doing it, and I pray and hope and work so that God would touch people's lives and hearts when I preach. (And, if I feel good about how it actually went, I'll say something like...) I felt good about how it went."
If it didn't go well, I'd know. I am my own worst critic. Jennie, on the other hand, is probably my best critic. She always has insightful and helpful - carefully-worded - thoughts about the job.
Installments - October 31st was my "installment" service as Senior Pastor here at Delaware Grace Brethren church. Dr. Ken Bickel, a terrific prof and good friend of mine from my days at Grace Theological Seminary came out to give the main message and to celebrate this weekend with us.
Allie can "install" her own pacifier now, but it never really faces the right direction. It is fun to watch her try.
Controversies - I'm tired of Maurice Clarett. Funny, it's usually "controversy" that drives up the TV ratings and the newspaper sales. Is it okay to say that I'm tired of controversies?
Kids Choir - A few minutes ago, I was in the gym (I mean, "Family Life Center") of our new church here in Delaware, Ohio. I got to watch about 50-70 kids (I didn't even try to count) as they stood up on stage, singing together. As they all marched in place (NOT in unison, mind you), my first thought was about how cute they all were and how Allie will one day march out of turn with them.
My second thought was that here is a generation - and their parents' generation - who (for some reason) have asked, called, hired, prayed for, and helped me move to Delaware to become their Senior Pastor.
When all is said and done, I don't think God is going to care how good my sermons are (or aren't).
What He does care about... is how well, how faithfully, how passionately, how creatively, how biblically, how efficiently, and how effectively did I carry out this heaven-sent assignment to care for the spiritual needs and souls of so many of His precious children!
I shouldn't let a day go by without being in awe of that responsibility, and in total awareness of my need for God first!
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