Jon Stolpe
Jon Stolpe
The Bucket List #2 – Life Means So Much
One of the songs that comes to mind when I think about the themes of The Bucket List is Life Means So Much by Chris Rice. Chris has an unbelievable ability to capture many of the wrestlings of my heart. Click on the link below and enjoy.
Until the next post, every day is a gift worth living, make the most of the time, every minute you’re living…
The Bucket List
Last night, Leanne and I had a date night. Yes, it seems like a novel concept, but we’ve found that as hard as it can be to schedule these nights, they are always so worth it. After a delicious dinner at Schwenksville’s own Ortino’s, we ventured to our local movie theater to enjoy The Bucket List. Wow, this was a great movie. The movie reminds me of a question that I like to ask people – “If you knew you only had one month left to live, what would you do?”. At any rate, I think the movie was well worth the investment. We all need to be reminded from time to time about the importance of living today as if it were our last day. So what’s on my bucket list? That’s a great question. Here are some of my initial thoughts:
1. I want to see the Grand Canyon. I’ve heard it’s majestic.
2. I want to do something that will far outlive me.
3. I want to make a stranger smile.
4. I want to learn to make wine.
5. I want to visit the country of Sweden.
6. I want to see my children get baptized.
7. I want to run another marathon.
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My list will keep growing, and it’s certainly a list in progress.
Here’s the trailer for the movie:
Until the next post, what’s on your bucket list…?
Virgil’s Micro Brewed Root Beer, Etc…
Without question, one of my favorite times of the year is Memorial Day weekend. Every year since I started college (except for one year – which is another story), I have ventured up to the Poconos with some of my closest friends who are originally from the Mount Holly, NJ area. The weekend has really become a retreat and fountain of youth for most of us. I could go on for a long time about this event.
At any rate, one of our many traditions is the naming of the Virgil. This is the name we give to the newest guy on the trip. Last year, Tom Nesspor was the Virgil. And John Kosydar is the Virgil every year he comes up. In a way, we consider it an honor to be part of this trip, so the Virgil title is not really as bad as it might sound. Well, today at the end of my saxophone lesson, I stumbled across a beverage that pays tribute to our tradition – Virgil’s Root Beer. You can also get other flavors like Cream Soda and Black Cherry Cream Soda. I couldn’t resist putting their website up on my blog for all my camping buddies to enjoy.
Until the next post, “you’ll swear it’s made in heaven”…
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
The past few weeks, I have been wrestling with a work related opportunity. Without going into tremendous detail, I know I’ve been a little excited and anxious over the possibilities of a new challenge. Several verses have come to mind recently that have helped to set my mind at ease:
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (recently memorized as part of my evangelism verse pack – thanks Bob Lewis)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” Luke 12:22-23
Sometimes it sounds easier than it really feels. I’m thankful that God has given us His Word to guide us, comfort us, and to share.
Until the next post, don’t worry… be happy…
2008 – Week 7 Exercise Recap
Another building week…
2/10 – 5.4 miles on the track
2/11 – 7.8 miles
2/12 – 7.6 miles
2/14 – 7.2 miles (hill interval workout)
2/15 – 7.0 miles
Total for the week – 35.0 miles
This next week will be a recovery week. I’m starting to think more about the possibility of a spring marathon – perhaps the New Jersey Marathon on May 4th. We’ll see….
Until the next post…
Proud Parent
On Saturday, I took a break midway through my painting project to head to the YMCA for Isaac’s basketball game. Here’s a little history on Isaac’s team: They lost their first five games. They tied the next three games. So heading into Saturday’s game, they hadn’t won a game yet (although, the last few games have been extremely exciting). We all wanted to see our kids win at least one game this year, and we were quickly running out of time as the season ends this coming Saturday.
Here’s a recap of the game. Isaac sat out during the first quarter of the game. At the end of the first quarter, the other team was winning 2 to 0 (what a defensive struggle). Isaac entered the game as the defensive center; by the end of the half, the score had ballooned to 4 to 2 in favor of the other team. Isaac continued to play the rest of the game at center. Towards the end of the third quarter, Isaac had hit a long basket (from around the free throw line) to make it 6 to 4 or 6 to 6. The parents were all beginning to wonder if this game would finish in a similar fashion to our first eight games. We were in for a surprise. Suddenly, our team (the Jazz) came alive. Isaac hit three or four more shots from “way outside,” and another kid hit a lay-up. When the final buzzer went off, the Jazz prevailed 14 to 6. This may not sound all that exciting, but I can assure you that this was won of the most exciting basketball games I have ever attended.
This week, we finish off the season against the only undefeated team in the league. While that seems a bit scary, I think our team is up for the challenge.
Until the next post, come fly with me…
2008 – Week 6 Exercise Recap
Here’s my recap from last week. While it was the same mileage as the previous week, I was certainly a building week. This week included my longest run so far this year and my first two-a-day. Here are the details:
Sunday 2/3 – 9.0 miles (on the muddy Perkiomen Trail)
Monday 2/5 – 6.0 miles
Tuesday 2/6 AM – 7.6 miles
Tuesday 2/6 PM – 2.4 miles
Thursday 2/7 – 7.0 miles
Total for the week – 32 miles (Total for the year – 160.5 miles)
I was hoping to get a few miles in on Saturday, but I spent the day painting instead. I got a good ladder workout.
Until the next post…
2008 – Week 5 Exercise Recap
Back to building, here’s this week’s recap:
Sunday 1/27 – 8.1 miles
Monday 1/28 – 5.0 miles
Tuesday 1/29 – 7.8 miles
Thursday 1/31 – 7.9 miles
Saturday 2/2 – 3.2 miles
Total for the week – 32 miles
Until the next post…
Harlem Nocturne
This morning I had my second saxophone lesson. My instructor gave me a piece of music to work on. The piece is called Harlem Nocturne. This is a song that I played many years ago, so the sound of it brings back some great memories. The song itself was written by Earle Hagan in 1940. For those of you who haven’t heard the song before, I’ve listed the lyrics below as well as a YouTube clip. This will be my project over the next few weeks. Should be fun.
Harlem Nocturne
A nocturne for the blues played on a bro – ken heart string
It’s wailing out the news my baby is gone from me.
Dark shadows in the rain, a tel – e – phone that won’t ring
Just mem – o – ries re- main of lovers that used to be.
I miss the laughs and the fun, my spot in the sun
When I was the one one and only.
The music and lights, those wonderful nights
The morn – ing is the time we’d kiss.
The laughs and the fun, my days in the sun,
They’re over and done, and I’m lonely;
Don’t ask me to hide the heartbreak in – side
The gleam – ing spark is gone, the light went dark.
This nocturn for the blues took all and left me nothing
Nothing but the blues ’til baby comes back to me.
Until the next post, keep on jammin…
Sometimes Things Don’t Go As Smoothly as You Think They Should
Last night, we hosted the second night of our marriage group. I’m still scratching my head a little bit. It didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped. Here’s a note that I wrote to the group following our meeting.
Good evening everyone! Thanks for coming and being part of the group last night. Here’s where my honest assessment comes in – I should preface this by mentioning that I’ve led small groups for several years. Honestly, last night felt very “flat” to me. I’m not sure if it was my lack of energy, difficult curriculum, a tough subject matter, or just the fact that we’re all still getting to know one another. At any rate, I want to apologize for not helping to make last night’s conversation more engaging. I just want you to know that Leanne and I are committed to molding this thing into something that will be a positive, growing time for all of us. So… we’ll be working diligently between now and next Wednesday to find ways to make this the best possible experience for all of us, and we’ll trust that each of you will come ready and prepared to talk about the saboteurs of our marriages. Deal?
Here’s your homework for next week: Read Chapters 4 & 5 from the book. Do Exercises 9-14 from the workbook.
We look forward to seeing you all next week!
Jon and Leanne
Have you ever experienced anything like this? I’d love to hear your story (it might make me feel a little better).
Until the next post, I’m glad I belong to the God of second chances…