Jon Stolpe
Author Archives: Jon Stolpe

Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel

This morning I finished reading Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel. If you recall, I had posted about this book previously. Well, here’s my take on this new book that should be sweeping the nation. The book is obviously written primarily to a single audience. The book offers many valuable tips to help prepare for a marriage that will go the distance. After talking to many people who have entered marriage without a strong foundation, I’m convinced that singles need a resource like this one. Here’s an excerpt from the book to help you get the feel for what I’m talking about:

If God has a marriage planned for you, think about this: you have already been created to “go all the way.”
When I say “go all the way,” I’m not talking about the “I Wanna Sex You Up,” people-disposable games man settle for. I’m not talking about taking what you want sexually (or giving away sexually what someone else demands) in a relationship before marriage. Instead, I’m affirming God’s plan for a marriage that goes all the way in sexual, emotional, and spiritual fulfillment. And that goes all the way through the years and decades of life.
Most people, Christ followers or not, deeply desire exactly this. But a closer look at how many of us pursue this goal before and after marriage shows that, while our desires are normal, our methods are routinely misguided. Turns out, how we set about to go all the way in our most important human relationship takes us only partway.
So what do you do when you want a marriage that soars in a world where most crash before takeoff? What do you do when you have a dream for intimacy, but most married couples you know are strangers to each other? What do you do when you desire a marriage that goes all the way?
I propose that you do something different.
In this book, I’m going to show you that your desire for life-long intimacy is a God-given desire. And I’m going to help you prepare for that relationship. But we’re not going to travel the typical path. Ours will be delightfully different. Oddly godly. I won’t try to fool you – a good marriage is never easy. But it is absolutely possible.

This is a book that I would recommend for my own kids as they approach adulthood. This is also a book that I would recommend to couples who are serious about their marriages. Sometimes it can be refreshing to look at a book like this and be refocused on thoughts and ideas that can help our marriages flourish. Finally, I’m thankful for a wonderful wife who is committed to going all the way.

Until the next post, I’ll be trying to live an oddly godly life…

Gimme A Break

Life can get so busy at times. I just came home from an extremely busy week at work, and I’m exhausted. Work has been going well; in fact, it’s pretty exciting right now, but it also seems to have zapped my energy. I started the week out on fire – working out Monday and Tuesday. Then Wednesday hit along with the beginnings of a minor chest cold. Hopefully, it will go away quickly, but it temporarily derailed my workout routine and depleted my energy.

The minor cold has actually forced me to take a brief step back. Every once in a while, I think this is important. The Bible tells us that God rested on the seventh day of creation. I believe this is a reminder to us all that it is important to take it easy from time to time. Actually, I think it’s important to regularly take time to rest and recoup.

This is part of the reason that I’m looking forward to the holidays. I’ll be off for almost a week and a half. The break will be wonderful!

Until the next post, take it easy…

18th Anniversary of 18

Today, I am celebrating the 18th anniversary of my 18th birthday. Okay, actually I turned 36 today. I am now closer to 70 than I am to birth. That sounds a little gloomy when you put it that way, so that’s why I like thinking of it as the 18th anniversary of my 18th birthday.

At any rate, I really have had a great day today. I woke up to breakfast in bed provided by my two great kids. I hung-up the Christmas ornaments which is a separate post in itself. I attended Isaac’s second basketball game at the YMCA this afternoon. And tomorrow Leanne is taking me to see Jim Brickman in concert. I have truly been blessed.

All this birthday stuff always leaves me a little contemplative. This is the first year that I am not celebrating my birthday with my Grandpa Stolpe who passed away in February. I have accomplished a lot and grown quite a bit over the past year, and I look forward to an exciting year ahead.

It’s easy to wish time away as we look forward to the next weekend, the next holiday, or the next big vacation. What I have learned is that it’s important to live in the present while we celebrate the past and look forward with hope to the future. Last night, Leanne and I literally clicked back and forth between CBS’s Movies Rock and a showing of one of my favorite movies Click starring Adam Sandler. The clip of the movie below is a touching reminder of the importance of loving our families and keeping our priorities straight. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqM177NIY4&rel=1]

Until the next post, I’ll be enjoying what is going on now…

Words of Wisdom

This past Friday was the last day for a gentleman at my office. He had worked for the company for over 37 years. He passed along a letter for us all to read and I thought I’d share the end of his words with you:

…And thank you so much for the many kind thought that so many friends shared with me last week. When we were in the lunchroom on Friday, Christian asked me if I had any advice before I left and I said I would send him an email. Please permit me to share a few things I have learned:

1. Start every day with a TO-DO List and do the most important things first.
2. Eat three good meals every day.
3. Get regular exercise.
4. A bird in the hand is truly worth two in the bush, and an existing customer is worth four or five prospects.
5. Money is not everything, and few, if any, of us would be here if we weren’t being paid.
6. You will only occasionally realize the effect you have on those around you, but remember that everything you do counts.
7. Free will, and the ability to reason, are what separate us from the animals. Evolution didn’t get us here.
8. The third most important thing in life is to work, and to do your job well.
9. The second most important thing is to love your family, your friends and your neighbors.
10. The most important thing in life is to love the Lord with all of your heart, with all of your mind and with all of your soul.

Best wished for the future.

God bless you all.

Dave

Wow, I hope I’m able to share words of wisdom like this both at my retirement and throughout my career. Dave’s words are inspiring.

Until the next post, I’ll be working on my to-do list…

Fresh Coat

Yesterday, I spent the day painting our family room with three of the best helpers in the world. Even the kids did a great job helping as we transformed the walls from a construction grade off-white paint to a “beigeish” color. This morning, we woke up to a light snow covering outside. Despite the fact that I’m not as crazy about snow as I used to be, there is something refreshing about a fresh coat of snow. Whether it’s a fresh coat of snow or paint, it’s wonderful to see things covered up and new. This reminds me of a verse from the Bible:

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)

Both these verses explain that God has the ability to give us a clean slate, a fresh coat of paint, a fresh coating of snow. Our sins (and all of us sin all the time) are ugly. These are the things that prevent us from approaching the holy presence of God; however, thanks to God’s mercy and to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we have the opportunity to be white like snow in approaching God. Amazing. Refreshing. Marvelous.

Until the next post, don’t splatter paint all over the floor…

Beef Bourguignonne

Okay, don’t ask me to pronounce it, but this is the subject of my latest culinary challenge. It’s another name for a classic French stew that tastes absolutely scrumptious.

Here are the ingredients:

1 pound boneless beef chuck roast cut into 3/4-inch cubes (you can actually buy it already cut up)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced (I used 2 cloves)
1 1/4 cups burgundy (I used 1 1/2 cups of this wine)
1/2 cup beef broth (I used 3/4 cup – Campbell’s soup)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
3/4 teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed
3 cups fresh mushrooms
4 medium carrots, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1/2 pound pearl onions (I found mine in the frozen vegetable section of the grocery store)
2 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained and crumbled (I didn’t use this, but I’m sure it would make the recipe even better)
3 cups hot cooked noodles
Snipped parsley (optional – I didn’t use this either)

Now what, well before I give you the steps, I should tell you that I followed the crockery-cooker directions, so that is all your getting here.

In a pan cook half of the meat in 1 tablespoon of the hot oil til meat is brown. Remove from pan and add remaining oil, remaining meat, the chopped onion, and garlic. Cook till meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat. Mix all the meat together in this mixture.

In your crock pot, layer mushrooms, carrots, and pearl onions. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca. Place meat mixture atop vegetables. Add bay leaves, thyme, marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour 1 1/4 cops burgundy and 1/2 cup broth over meat. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or till tender. Discard bay leaves. Stir in bacon. Serve with noodles.

The smell of this dish alone will make your mouth water. I did all the preparation the night before and put the crock pot in the refrigerator until the morning. Before I left for work a returned the crock pot to the cooker and let it cook all day while I was at work. I would highly recommend this recipe (as long as you like beef).

By the way, I should mention that I used the Better Homes and Garden New Cook Book as a guide for this one. Enjoy.

Until the next post, don’t forget to stop and smell the French stew…

Spanish English Church Service

While on our vacation to Dallas, TX we went to a special Thanksgiving service held at in the building of my parents’ church (Central Christian Church). What made this service unique was that it was held by a Spanish speaking church, Vision Mundial Para La Familia, which meets at my dad’s church. The service was mixed between Spanish and English, and a translator patiently translated back and forth between the two languages. It was truly awesome to worship God, share praises and thanksgivings, partake in communion, and hear thoughts from the pastors in both languages. Experiences like this help us understand how Christ came to seek and save the lost of the world – not just of English speaking United States of America. I am thankful for this experience on our vacation.

Until the next post (and always), la alegría del Señor es nuestra fortaleza!!!

Favorite Christmas Movies

This afternoon, I spent 4-5 hours putting up icicle Christmas lights at our house. This was the first time putting up lights outside at any of the houses we’ve lived. I now know how much work is involved in putting them up, and I’m already hoping that it doesn’t involve so many acrobatics and so much time to time take them down. While I was putting them up, I was reminded of one of my favorite Christmas movies, Christmas Vacation. In this movie, Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) spends a good portion of time putting up lights on his house trying to outdo his neighbors. It’s certainly a must see. While I’m thinking of it, here’s a list of some of my other favorite Christmas movies:

8. The Santa Clause (Tim Allen makes multiple appearances on this short list)
7. Home Alone (slap stick comedy at it’s finest)
6. The Muppet’s Christmas Carol (funny, what can I say)
5. A Christmas Carol (this will always have a sentimental side to it for me, because my parents took me to see the play in Chicago for my 7th or 8th birthday)
4. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (see my notes above – the Jelly of the Month stuff always makes me chuckle as well)
3. A Christmas Story (believe it or not, I looked just like Ralphie Parker when I was a kid)
2. Christmas with the Kranks (great movie, better book – what is Christmas all about anyway)
1. It’s A Wonderful Life (best Christmas movie of all time, hands down)

Let me know about your favorite Christmas movies. I’d love to check them out.

Until the next post, I triple dog dare you to stick your tongue to that pole…

The Trains at Northpark

While Hannah was celebrating her 10th birthday at the new Dallas American Girl store with Leanne and Mom, Dad took Isaac and I to a fun train exhibit (The Trains at Northpark) that was set up to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas, TX. We really had a great time seeing all the trains. They had the trains running through famous places including Mt. Rushmore, Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, and Dallas. If you’re in the Dallas area this season, check it out.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a true Texas lunch at Sonny Bryans Smokehouse. It probably wasn’t the best for the cholesterol, but it sure was delicious.
Until the next post, nothing beats the smell of BBQ brisket…
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