Fun questions

Someone new to CLC is asking some really fun (personal) questions, to get to know more about me & Chris:

What do you like to do in your personal time?  What’s that?  Oops, since we’re starting a series on margins next weekend, I’d better know.  To be honest, that is one of my biggest weaknesses, that both my wife & our Board of Directors have been on my case about for years.  I really don’t have any particular hobbies to occupy my leisure time.  I do enjoy travel (well, not the traveling part, folded up into an economy seat in the cattle-car section of the plane) – the part of meeting new people and trying new foods, etc. 

How do you spend your time when you are just being Jerry?  On my regular day off each week, you can usually find me hanging out at Border’s with a fattening beverage and some books (I love to read!), and we like to catch a movie now & then (here’s where we hope to be next week)

What’s your absolute favorite meal, place to travel to for fun?  I’m too much of a foodie to have one favorite, but here’s a list in no particular order: steak & baked potato at Saltgrass (I’d give anything if they’d bring this chain to Chicago!); pizza from either Pasquale’s (my wife’s old stompin’ grounds and the scene of our 3rd date, when she finally ‘fell’ for me) OR BJ’s Chicago Pizzeria in LaHaina, Maui (I don’t know if it’s the best pizza I’ve ever eaten, or if I’m swayed by the view of the Pacific Ocean right across the street in our favorite spot in Maui – but you seriously have to eat there!); lettuce wraps from P.F. Chang’s; barbeque ribs from Hickory Log (my wife disagrees, because she prefers the more traditional ones rather than these ‘dry’ ribs, but I say you haven’t lived until you’ve tried Hickory Log – and we pastored there for 5 years!  Every now & then one of my favorite CLCers even brings me some back when she returns from a visit there); most anything on the menu at Bubba Gump’s!  (Hey, this was fun – I like talking about food!)  I also love fresh-baked pita bread anywhere in the Middle East, and the Turkish kebob’s are wonderful!  Oh, and as far as travel, Maui is our favorite spot to relax….for something more affordable nearby, we really like New Buffalo, MI and the Harbor Grand.

How many children do you have?  We have 3 terrific kids: Chad, the eldest at 31, is an accountant in Los Angeles who will marry the woman of his dreams next month; Jen, our only daughter is 30, and she serves as my personal assistant in the office and plans to lead an internship ministry at CLC this Fall; and our youngest son, Brent, is 23, celebrating his 1st anniversary next week to his Latina wife, Sol, whom he met during a missons internship in Mexico City, and they serve as Directors for our Student Ministry at CLC.

How long have you been married?  Chris and I have been married for 35 years (12/16/72) – it’s a miracle she’s put up with me that long!

Where and how did you two meet?   Ahh, our favorite story: in Troy, MI, on my first day at the first church I served after Bible School (it was her home church in suburban Detroit) I saw her picture on the church bulletin board and (believe it or not) something said to me, “that’s the girl you’re going to marry”.  It was a few days later, at the end of the Youth Revival I had preached there, that I asked her out, and the rest, as they say, is history.

That’s probably TMI and more than anyone really wanted to know, but I sure had fun…can’t wait until next Friday’s edition of “Ask the Pastor” (anybody got a Bible question?)