Jon Stolpe
Jon Stolpe
The Rookie
“I consider myself very lucky. God has a funny way of bringing some things around and knocking you in the head with the ultimate destination. Something I should have achieved quite easily took me a long time to get around to. It came in His time, not mine.” – Jim Morris
Okay, I’m a sports nut, and I also love to watch movies. So when you combine sports and movies, I’m probably interested. Last night, we had a family movie night, so we pulled one out of the old VHS video tape drawer. The Rookie was filmed back in 2002, but I still thought it was great six years later. The movie is based on the true story of Jim Morris (see his quote above) who tries out for the big leagues when he was well past the normal baseball players starting age. I love this movie, because of the bond that Jimmy Morris’ character has with his son. His son goes everywhere with him and they together enjoy a love for the game of baseball. I also love this story, because it demonstrates to power and hope of redemption and forgiveness. In the movie, Jimmy Morris is plagued by a tough relationship with his own father. The end of the movie gives a glimmer of hope that these relationships from the past can move towards restoration. Finally, The Rookie shows the beauty of chasing after a dream.
Leanne said it was a little slow in the middle, but I thoroughly enjoyed it again – especially after having had the pleasure of throwing the old baseball around with my own son twice this week.
Until the next post, bring the heat…
I’m Still Here
I’m still here. It seems like it’s been more of a challenge to keep up with the blogging thing recently. I think it’s primarily due to overall busyness which for some reason seems to have increased dramatically recently. Some of it is weather related…I would much rather be outside in 70 degree sunny weather than in the study typing away. Sometimes it also feels like I don’t always have anything “earth shattering” to post. I like my blog posts to document the “stretch marks” of my life. When life gets busy and when we get fatigued, it’s easy to forget that God is still working all around us in our daily lives. For this I’m thankful – God is still here (and always will be)!
Until the next post…
Celebrating 100 Days!!!
Today is the 100th day of 2008. Did you forget?
As of today, I feel like I have accomplished quite a bit so far this year:
350.6 miles of running
24.6 miles of biking
182 floors of the stair master
5,050 sit-ups
Resumed playing the saxophone
Practiced 37 times (not including my lessons)
Accepted a promotion at work
Helped to lead a marriage small group
Read 3 books (and parts of several more)
Successfully memorized 24 verses relating to Evangelism
Painted a couple of rooms at the house
Planted my "grape vineyard"
….
So far, it's been a great year, and I look forward to many things to come.
One of the things that I am most looking forward to is my annual camping trip with the guys over Memorial Day weekend. That's right in 44 days, I will be camping. I have been part of this event for 18 or 19 straight years (minus one missed year for a family function). This is a weekend that I look forward to every year. Obviously, I look forward to the good times together with great friends. The main reason that I look forward to this weekend is that these are guys who have my back.
One of the verses that I'm memorizing right now is found in Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching." As the years have passed, we've all experienced various challenges. It is incredible to know that we have this brotherhood and a common bond in Christ that keeps us glued together despite the fact that we all live miles apart and see each other only a few times a year.
Until the next post, I'm looking forward to celebrating the 200th day of 2008…
August Rush
This weekend, we rented August Rush from Redbox. I’ve included the movie trailer below. If you’re looking for a great date or family movie, check it out.
Until the next post, music is everywhere…
One Month to Live
What would you do differently if you knew that you only had one month to live? This is a great question. Our church just started a new series that deals with this very question. The video clip below was shown during our Sunday service, and I think that it drives very directly at the subject. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Until the next post, live the dash…
Meet Elizabeth Rose Stolpe
Here's a message from my brother. They just got Elizabeth from China.
Hello everyone,
It is official. Yesterday we went to the Nanjing center for adoption affairs and we were handed a beautiful Xi Yan Xin,now Elizabeth Rose Stolpe. Today we completed our 24 hour trial period ( I know it sounds wierd) and we decided we would keep her ( Like we would have said no?) and we signed the Chinese adoption papers and now she is officially our daughtert. More paper work to come for travel and immigration into the US. She is beautiful and calm and content and giggles and smiles at daddy and Sam. She calls Rachel mama and loves my beard. She has a cough and an ear infection, made worse by the bad air quality, but we put her on an antibiotic and she already seems to be doing better. Getting back to the clean air of Wisconsin will be good for her. She is really tiny, maybe 17 pounds or so. Eliza is easy going and very fun. She loves to eat though.
It is official. Yesterday we went to the Nanjing center for adoption affairs and we were handed a beautiful Xi Yan Xin,now Elizabeth Rose Stolpe. Today we completed our 24 hour trial period ( I know it sounds wierd) and we decided we would keep her ( Like we would have said no?) and we signed the Chinese adoption papers and now she is officially our daughtert. More paper work to come for travel and immigration into the US. She is beautiful and calm and content and giggles and smiles at daddy and Sam. She calls Rachel mama and loves my beard. She has a cough and an ear infection, made worse by the bad air quality, but we put her on an antibiotic and she already seems to be doing better. Getting back to the clean air of Wisconsin will be good for her. She is really tiny, maybe 17 pounds or so. Eliza is easy going and very fun. She loves to eat though.
We have all had a great time in China, but now that we have elizabeth we just want to come home. But we still have a week and a half before everything is finalized. I will tell you all about it when I am home, or you can check out the blog at stolpeadoption@blogspot.com .
Thank you all,
Dave
2008 – Week 10,11,12 Exercise Review
Okay, I’ve been a little lax on my exercise and my exercise postings; however, I’m still moving forward. Between being extremely busy with some exciting changes in my life, dealing with minor knee tendonitis and IT-band strain, and trying to break in new running shoes, I’ve had to alter my training over the past few weeks. Here’s my mileage, etc…
Week 10:
3/2 – 12.0 miles (flat trail workout)
3/3 – 6.0 miles (treadmill)
3/5 – 6.0 miles (treadmill)
3/7 – 6.0 miles (treadmill – hill interval)
Weekly Total – 30.0 miles
Week 11:
3/10 – 6.0 miles (treadmill)
3/12 – 7.5 miles (treadmill)
3/13 – 11.5 miles on the bike
Weekly Running Total – 13.5 miles
Weekly Biking Total – 11.5 miles
Week 12:
3/16 – 4.1 miles (hilly local course in the fine rain)
3/18 – 4.0 miles (treadmill)
3/19 – 4.0 miles (treadmill), 4.0 miles on the bike
3/20 – 182 floors on the stair machine – now that’s a workout
Weekly Running Total – 8.1 miles
Weekly Biking Total – 4.0 miles
Weekly Stair Total – 182 floors
Here’s a recap for the year so far (not including this week):
305.6 miles of running
15.5 miles of biking
182 floors of stairs
(And 3,828 sit-ups through 3/26. I’ve been trying to do sit-ups everyday since the new year started. I started with 1 sit-up on the first day, 2 on the second day, 3 on the third day, and so forth. So this morning, I did 87 sit-ups. We’ll see how long this thing lasts.)
Until the next post…
Update on Adoption
Here’s the latest picture of Elizabeth. My brother and his family are departing on Easter Sunday from Chicago to travel to China. It should be the adventure of a lifetime for the whole family. They will be in China for 3 weeks until they return with Elizabeth Stolpe. The whole family is excited to finally experience the reality that we’ve all been praying and hoping for over the past few years. Please keep David, Rachel, Sam, Elizabeth, and Rachel’s parents in your prayers as they make this trip.
Until the next post, bon voyage…
6 Words…
There’s a little game that I love to play, and it’s call “Hot Seat.” The basic idea behind this game is a follows: Get together with a small group of friends. Choose one person to be in the “hot seat.” Now, take turns amongst everyone else asking questions to the person on the hot seat. My rule is that no question is off limits; however, the person in the hot seat can decide to plead the fifth on any question that they just can’t answer.
This morning on my way into work, I was listening to the 95.7 Ben FM morning show, and I picked up a new question for my hot seat quiver. “What six words would you use to describe yourself?” This is a great question. Some of us would answer with adjectives (like tall, corny, etc.), and some might use nouns (like hoopster, runner, etc.). Here’s how I would answer the question with explanations as necessary:
1. Disciple – I want to be known as a disciple or follower of Christ.
2. Husband – I am so blessed to be married to a wonderful woman, and I want to be the best husband that I can be for her.
3. Dad – With two great kids, this goes without saying. I hope that I can live up to the examples set by my father, father-in-law, and grandfathers.
4. Friend – Finding true friendship can be more challenging as an adult. I hope that I am considered to be a friend in deed.
5. Leader – I’m thankful for the gifts of leadership that God has given me.
6. Stolpe – I’m so thankful for the legacy that comes to me by being a Stolpe family member. Friends of mine often comment that I have the Stolpe humor. And like all other Stolpe men, I stick out my tongue when I’m really concentrating.
So what words would you use to describe yourself?
Until the next post, think of those six words…
Closet American Idol Fan
Okay, so the title of this post no longer fits. I have to admit that I enjoy Fox‘s American Idol. I’m not sure if this season’s contestants as a whole are the best they’ve had, but I’m still enjoying it. If I were voting today, I would vote for the candidate in the video below who sang John Lennon‘s Imagine last week.
Until the next post, imagine…