On The Go…You’re Invited

This week is a reminder that I will have several busy weeks over the next couple of months.  With that in mind, I’d like to invite you to share your stretch story here.  That’s right – I’m looking for guest post submissions to help keep things going while I’m out for a couple of weeks this summer.  In early July, I’ll be heading out-of-town to visit family in the Midwest.  And in early August, I’ll be in Guatemala.  I’d love your help, and I’d love to share your guest post here.  Leave me a comment to let me know your interest.

Thanks!

What’s one of the best guest posts you’ve read recently?  Share your link in the comments.

Moving Forward (Terrie Thorpe)

Today’s guest post comes from Terrie Thorpe.  Terrie is part of The Network, a blogging community of Christ followers.  Terrie’s post shares her thoughts on moving forward.  Check out her post below and then hop on over to her blog.  Her bio and contact links appear at the end of the post.

Moving Forward

What keeps us moving forward? I have pondered this idea for sometime and this is what I come to conclude. For the Christian it is faith. But for those who do not hold to belief in Jesus, it is a form of self-motivation, ever reaching into the darkness of the future.

So what is this faith that we Christians cling to? Let me tell you what it is not:

1) It is not wishful thinking – crossing our fingers in hopes things will go right.

2) It is not an unfounded hope – believing in something impossible.

3) It is not blind – mindlessly following ancient teachings.

Faith is an uncompromising knowledge—at the heart level – of the truth of God. In the book of Hebrews, the writer expressed; “Faith is the confident assurance of what we hope for will happen. It is the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) There is only one way to know this faith and its by a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

The reality of faith is action. We must move forward beyond perceived boundaries to reach our goals of maturity. When we believe Jesus and receive what He said is truth, we are born again. Being born again comes with many benefits including God’s own Spirit living in us. The Holy Spirit is who leads and guides us. We grow in faith through believing and acting on what the Word of God says.

In recent years the Lord has led me in many directions. I had hoped for several years to write about my relationship with Jesus. In time my faith grew enough to write and publish two books about my experiences. I shared many of my personal trials and victories through God’s grace and truth.

When I came to Jesus, I brought a lot of baggage. Several decades of issues and misconceptions about the Lord, the Holy Bible and my position as a believer. I discovered it was those issues which held me in bondage for the longest time and prevented me from living the full life Jesus purchased for me at the cross. It is the payment at the cross which set us free.

Over the years the Lord patiently assured me of His love and presence in my life. He led me to people who could clearly explain my issues and how to get rid of the strongholds in my life. The scriptures came alive and I began to discern how to apply truth to my misconceptions. Like the layers of an onion, the Lord went deeper and deeper to heal my hurts, pains, fears that prevented me from freely loving Him. I can not say that all my issues are healed, some raise their ugly heads, but now I have a better view of God’s love for me and understand I have a part to play – I must actively get rid of things the Lord shows me are lies or harmful.

John 10:10 says “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy – but I have come so that you may have life to the full.”

I am still amazed to what extent the Lord will go to show me that He hears my prayers, knows my thoughts and desires. How He moves in others to bring love and hope to me in the smallest of ways, like free cup of coffee, when I didn’t have money; A smile or an encouraging word from a stranger. These are some of the ways I daily encounter God as His child and His friend.

How am I moving forward these days? Knowing that the Lord goes before me and protects my flank. Even when I can’t see the outcome, I know the Lord is with me and directing my footsteps. Using the skills (courage, faith, love and forgiveness) I have learned to defeat the evil that comes against me and letting the peace of God rule in my heart because I trust in Him.

How are you moving forward today?

Bio

This is a guest post by Terrie Thorpe: author, blogger and writer of Christian Living articles. Her books  “Am I Really Saved? Answering Questions of Christians” and “Footsteps of Jesus – Becoming a Disciple” are geared toward new Christians and those who have lost their way. Enjoys hiking, gardening, reading and sharing Jesus with the world!

Follow her blog: Light for the Journey

Three Easy Stretches to Writing a Book (Dan Erickson)

Today’s guest post comes from Dan Erickson.  Dan and I have become friends over the past year thanks to the blog world.  While we live on opposite sides of the country, we have several things in common:  We are both PKs (Pastor’s Kids).  We both have daughters.  And we both like to write.  Dan has written two books.  I read the first book (and loved it), and I can’t wait to read his second book which just came out.  In today’s post, Dan shares some thoughts on writing a book.  Dan’s bio appears at the bottom of his post.

Three Easy Stretches to Writing a Book

Writing a book is a challenge.  I know.  I’ve written two.  So what does it take to write a book?  It’s simple.  It takes consistent commitment.

Here are my three suggestions for anyone who wants to write a book:

1.  Start writing immediately: People tend to have a thousand excuses why they can’t start writing a book.  Here’s a short list of ways not to get started:

• I don’t have a story.
• I don’t have time.
• I have writer’s block.
• I’m not a good enough writer.

These excuses are all lies.  We all have a story in us.  We all have 15 minutes a day to spare.  There’s really no such thing as writer’s block.  We become better writers every time we sit down and write.

It doesn’t matter what you write at first.  It could be a journal post, poetry, or a how-to manual.  Just sit down and start.

2.  Set a loose, long-term goal: I set loose goals for my book projects.  When I wrote my first book, A Train Called Forgiveness, I didn’t really have a goal.  I just started writing and discovered I could do it. 

I wrote the first draft in about three months, I found an editor at the college where I work, let the book sit for a few months, and did the rewrite.  The whole process took about nine months from start to finish.

The goal for the second book, At the Crossing of Justice and Mercy, was more specific.  I set a loose date of Spring 2013 and spent most of a year working through the process.

The third book of the series, The Track to Redemption, is going to stretch me the most.  I know this one is going to be the hardest to write.  It has the most difficult theme and I want it to be the best of the three.  So I’ve set a date of 2014/2015.  That gives me a little leeway and allows me to do some other writing and music projects in between.

Give yourself some flexibility and don’t let yourself burnout.

3.  Make writing a daily habit: Here’s my final tip.  Write every day.  You don’t have to work on your book every day, but write something: a poem, a blog post, a letter.  Just don’t let these other forms of writing become an excuse not to work on your book.

It’s okay to take a few weeks or even a few months off between book projects.  In fact, it likely helps with the creative process.  It gives you time to think, to stretch your imagination.  But you need to set a time to get back onto the project.  For instance, I have a start on my third book, but I’m taking a few months off to work on promotion.  But I have a cabin to stay at this summer where I’ll buckle down and write.

For me, the writing has come pretty easy.  The hard part, and what really stretches me is the promotion, the waiting for something to happen.

Trying to self-promote a self-published book is like trying to find the eye-of-a-needle in a hay mountain.

Promoting a book takes time and energy.  It gets frustrating and depressing when you see low sales and slow growth.  It makes you question whether it’s all worth the effort in the first place.  But you need to evaluate your reasons for writing a book in the first place.  For me, it’s all about the story.  My stories generate thought, healing, and hope.  If only a few people are touched by them, that’s reward in itself.

So go ahead.  Write a book.  But write it for the right reasons.

Question: Do you have a book in you?

Dan Erickson is a writer, poet, and songwriter in his spare time.  He teaches feature writing and public speaking courses at a college in the Northwest.  He’s a single dad to his daughter Annie.  He was the child victim of a cult, and his first book A Train Called Forgiveness, is a fictionalized version of that experience.  You can learn more about Dan’s work on his blog @ http://www.danerickson.net      

The Stretched Blog Visits Joseph Lalonde – Leading From Our Hands And Our Knees

Today, I’m guest posting as part of The Network for Joe Lalonde at his blog, Joseph Lalonde.  In my post (Leading From Our Hands And Our Knees), I share some thoughts about servant-based leadership.  Here’s an excerpt to get you started.

How are your hands and knees?

For so many, leadership is all about a position of authority. When most people think of leadership, they think of someone sitting in the plush corner office. They think of someone sitting on a throne. Or they think of someone who stands tall above everyone else.

Authority is an important aspect of leadership, but there is something else leaders should consider.

Leaders lead best when they lead from their hands and knees.

(Click here to read the rest of this post.)

If you’re visiting from Joe’s blog, I’m glad you stopped by.  I hope you’ll check things out and become a regular part of The Stretched Community.  You can sign up to receive daily blog updates by adding your e-mail on the main page (I promise not to send you spam).  To help you get a taste of my other writing, here are a few of my favorite posts:

• Leap of Faith
• Less Like Scars
• Ten Things Every Small Group Leader Should Know
• The Power of the Next Question
• How To Respond To The Election Results

How could servant-based leadership impact your leadership effectiveness? What is one thing you can do this week to lead from your hands and knees?

Stretched To Transparency

This is a guest post by Chris Vonada. He is an author and geologist with many other hobbies. He lives in Jacksonville, FL. Visit ChrisVonada.com to find out more about his books:  Common Ground… Geology Happens! and Believe… And You Say?

Leave some margin in your day and you’ll live a life that is more satisfying and less stressful.

Have you heard that one before? I sure have, and, believe it to be true. It seems whenever I fill up my world with stuff to do there are always times when I’m running a little behind (like delivering this blog post to Jon S. a day late – yikes!). I guess this happens to us all, that things don’t always go exactly as we plan at times. Planning is essential to being productive. It’s always a bit of a challenge to me when the unexpected comes up, and I have to make a choice between, basically, living out my life and following my own plans. What’s more important? They both are important, really.

“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” John Lennon

I guess in some ways what Lennon was referring to was the choice between living in the moment and planning for the future. In the end, I’m guessing that this Beatle followed his own good advice. Remember, his life was cut short by an unplanned aberration.

While I always try to balance my life in terms of where I’m choosing to spend my time, I also believe that I should strive to stay “stretched to transparency” when it comes to living for Jesus. Stretched to transparency – basically living for Him in such a way that it’s apparent to others why I’m doing what I’m doing. Maybe that’s tweeting a Bible verse, or sharing part of the Gospel to inspire a friend in conversation. It could also be writing a little bit more about how I see Jesus in the beauty of our majestic mountains, or how the soothing sound of waves rolling up on the beach remind me of Him. Transparency is the modus operandi when it comes to living life as a witness for Jesus.

Someone once told me living the life of a Christian is boring. You know, not all that much fun. Why? I’m guessing that some think of fun as what we call living in the world vs. planning, or “waiting” for our eternity. But is that completely correct? It sure is a different twist on the Lennon quote, right?

Remember…

“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” John Lennon

Maybe that was what JL meant, a twist on living IN the world vs. living FOR eternity? Not so sure now?

If you’re not staying stretched to transparency, you’re not living. (Click To Tweet)

So many times when we think of Christ we’re seeking something, like eternal life. I found a gold nugget recently, about living our lives NOW… and a little more about what Jesus had planned for us in this life:

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10

Have your cake and eat it too? Yep, that’s what Jesus said, you can enjoy your life now and see Him in eternity. So many times we’re told that we have to sacrifice to “cover up” our sins. Jesus offers us a rich and satisfying life now, and the promise of a future.

“Stretched To Transparency” – shouldn’t I be talking it up throughout my daily walk? I think so. What’s there not to be excited about this overflowing life, and living for Him?

This is a guest post from Chris Vonada. Chris is an author and geologist, and also enjoys reading, running, anything outdoors, travel, family, friends, music and life! He writes about his passions at I’m Just Thinkin’ (http://chrisvonada.com). You can also follow him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChrisVonada).

Courage – The Stretched Blog Visits From Carol’s Quill

Today, I’m guest posting as part of The Network for Carol Peterson at her blog, From Carol’s Quill.  In my post (Courage Through God’s Word), I share some thoughts about courage.  Here’s an excerpt to get you started.

When you think of courage, who or what comes to mind?

 

Maybe it’s the lion from The Wizard of Oz who fought through fear and insecurity until he discovered courage in the quest to conquer the Wicked Witch of the West.

 

Maybe it’s Maximus Decimus Meridius, the Roman general portrayed by Russel Crowe in Gladiator, who stood up to the Roman authorities and the competitors in the gladiator arena.

 

Maybe it’s Amelia Earhart who challenged the limitations and obstacles of flight and inequality to courageously go where no woman had dared to go.

 

When we think of courage it’s easy to think of the strong, the bold, and the heroic.  We often assign courage to those in the limelight – sports stars, politicians, movie stars, rock stars, and other celebrities.  It’s true that many of famous people have demonstrated courage in overcoming tremendous odds.  I don’t mean to diminish their accomplishments, but I think we can find deeper meaning for courage if we look to those around us and to those outside the spotlight.  (Click here to read the rest of this post.)

If you’re visiting from Carol’s blog, I’m glad you stopped by.  I hope you’ll check things out and become a regular part of The Stretched Community.  You can sign up to receive daily blog updates by adding your e-mail on the main page (I promise not to send you spam).  To help you get a taste of my other writing, here are a few of my favorite posts:

• Leap of Faith
• Less Like Scars
• Ten Things Every Small Group Leader Should Know
• The Power of the Next Question
• How To Respond To The Election Results

Stretching Beyond My Comfort Zone

I am so excited to share guest blogger Eileen Knowles.  Eileen guest posted here back in July 2012 while I was in Guatemala (Living the Lessons).  Today, she shares about a recent STRETCHING experience in which she references a recent blog post – Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone…My First Vlog.  Please read her post, answer the questions, and stop by Eileen’s blog for more great writing.

(I’d love to share your STRETCHED story with The Stretched Community.  Let me know if you’re interested in becoming a guest blogger here by leaving a comment.)

Last week, I tried something new and scary on my blog. I stretched out of my comfort zone. I came out from behind my computer screen and recorded a video post. And, not only that, the Lord was prompting me to share a portion of my journey in recovery and freedom from addiction.

I’ve shared my story before on my blog, but never in front of a camera. I sometimes find it amusing how God decides to work when He prompts us to move beyond the familiar. He didn’t call me to simply show my face and talk about something lighthearted and safe.

If God had left it completely up to me, I would have LOVED to talk about coffee.  I love coffee.  Other people I know love coffee.  Wouldn’t being in front of a camera talking about something like this be a nice place to start when we choose to follow God out into unknown territory?

But, God had a different plan for me last week. And, His plan didn’t involve a small timid step. His plan involved a bigger leap of faith.

Eileen…share what I’ve done in your life. Encourage people to not give up. Remind them that they are not alone in their struggles. Tell them about freedom!

I was reminded last week that God never calls us out in order for us to play it safe. There will always be risk involved when He invites us to take a leap of faith. Yet, if we choose not to trust Him or to follow His lead, we risk something far greater.

As I stretched beyond my comfort zone last week, it was this beautiful what-if question that carried me forward.

What if by taking this risk God uses me to help just one person move from captivity to freedom?

God desires to use each of us in a unique way…and, most likely, the journey will involve some scary stretching!  [Click to Tweet]

Take a moment a think back on your most recent trip out of your comfort zone.
What was the result?
What did you learn?

Eileen Knowles is a small town Arizona girl who studied English at The University of Arizona a long, long time ago. She now lives in small town North Carolina with her husband, Roger, their nine-year old son, and one quirky dog named Bisbee. When she is not working part-time as a Virtual Assistant for eaHelp, she thoroughly enjoys drinking coffee, running, playing Scrabble, and writing about how cool it is to journey through life with Jesus holding her hand.

Eileen is passionate about leaving a legacy for her son and encouraging others along the way who might need a dose of hope poured into their weary lives.

You can find her taking at The Scenic Route

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cupojoegirl
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eileen.knowles.9

Closed Mouth, Open Heart – Guest Post by Amy Mable

Today, I’m honored to present guest blogger, Amy Mable.  After you read Amy’s STRETCH story below, please join the conversation in the comments then head over to her blog – Pentriloquist.  For more information about Amy, see her bio at the end of this post.

(If you’re interested in sharing your STRETCH story here as a guest blogger, let me know in the comments, so we can connect.)

Closed Mouth, Open Heart – Stretching Towards A Deeper Understanding

For much of my childhood, I had God and the taxpayers of the U.S. to thank for providing a roof over my head and food on the table. A “treat” for us was an Archway oatmeal cookie on the way home from the grocery store and I remember take out pizza just once. We were well below the poverty level. I remember one winter we ran out of kerosene for the furnace and my mother had to call all our relatives to ask for help. To say I dreamed of a different life as a grown up would be an understatement.

Today, my life is very different. Having only bare necessities and nothing extra, every little bit of work improved my life. Having a warm home year round and cable television provided tons of motivation, and the work built endurance within me to face harder challenges. It set an example for my children and it made me stronger.

So, when I say I believe government assistance programs should be carefully administered – it isn’t because I begrudge anyone a warm home or food on their dinner table. I just know that having “almost” enough motivated me to do whatever it took to get “enough.” I don’t want anyone stuck in poverty without the hope of being able to make things better. I thought that without that hope, people would just give up. I believed in the mantra, “Leave no man behind!”

As a result, I aligned myself with fiscally conservative policies. I had no bitterness or resentment toward poor people, I wanted hope for everyone. And I wanted real help for those that couldn’t make it out – a safe and warm place to sleep, food on their table, the ability to see a doctor when they were sick.

I wanted people to understand, but they didn’t. The popular opinion was that people “like me” begrudged single moms and poor children the help they needed. No matter how loud I said, “That isn’t what I mean or feel,” it was the message that was coming across.

“So, stop saying it. You’re not delivering the hope I have for people, you’re hurting them.. just stop!” God convicted me of the message I was sending. It was the world’s message, not his, and it was hurting the very people I wanted to help.

“How important is it that you hold onto this?” I could feel God speaking to my heart. “Is it more important to be vindicated? Because, this isn’t my work for you. It’s distancing those in need from my love, provision, and peace. I want you to let it go. Stop being known by your politics, but as my daughter. Hold your tongue. Reach beyond the shame of your financial poverty and grab onto the real riches I provide.”

Initially, it seemed too “holy” for me. I’m a practical person, but it rang true. I knew He was the source of my peace. I had that peace even as a child in a poor family, but somewhere along the way… the farther I was removed from those days of poverty, the less I remembered the peace in the midst of it all.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:26-27

God has been stretching my muscles – literally. The ones under my chin. The ones pulled taut when my mouth is shut. It’s uncomfortable at times, but I can’t tell you how much better I feel after a good “stretch.” I’m never sorry. It’s improved the circulation of God’s inspiration, enhanced my flexibility (I was quite rigid in the past), and I can reach things that I could never grasp before.

How has God revealed a higher level of understanding that stretched you beyond your experiences?

Stretching More Than My Legs – Guest Post by Denise Long

Today, I am honored to share a guest post by Denise Long.  Denise and I met very recently through the Blogging Your Passion Google+ Community.  You can read more about Denise in the post and bio below.  I’m always looking for other guest bloggers to share their STRETCH stories here on The Stretched Blog.  If you’re interested in guest posting leave a comment.

Stretching More Than My Legs

Jon, thanks so much for allowing me to stop by!  I love this concept of stretching.  All my life I’ve sought to stretch my life.  Ever since I was a teenager (many, many moons ago), I have set some uncomfortable goals and ran after them hard.  I learned many lessons from these efforts.  Like, some goals simply fall under the “tilting at windmills” category.  Others add immeasurable richness to life, even if you never fully attain the hoped-for results.  But the most important observation has been that the goals that have fallen within God’s perfect plan for how I am to live my life are the most satisfying and fulfilling.   God-sanctioned goals clearly give the biggest bang for your buck.

Over at my blog, A Disneyfied Life, I speak about using my love of Disney to help me reach my fitness and healthy lifestyle goals.  In short, I’m a 53-year old, Pooh-sized Mom with enough physical limitations to think that running a 5K is tilting at one Goliath-sized windmill.  So when you combine my love of Walt Disney World with the runDisney Expedition Everest 5K Challenge, that gigantic windmill shrinks a bit.  But as much as I love the motivation Disney offers, I know where my true strength lies.

O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people.  Blessed be God. 

Psalm 68:35

I believe that God wants us to live our best life here on this earth so we can more effectively implement the plans He has for us.  And I know for a fact that I am not living my best life if my energy reserves are depleted before noon and lifestyle-based diseases like high blood pressure and high cholesterol bench me from any sort of active ministry He would like to move me into.  God wants more for me, so I should want more for myself.  And if our bodies are His temple, I feel certain He is not pleased when I abuse it through overeating and an overly sedentary life style.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I Corinthians 3:16-17

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 23:21

Since my laziness and lack of control directly hurts no one but myself, it’s easier to sweep this sin under the kitchen rug.  So for this and many other reasons, I have committed to run Disney’s Expedition Everest 5K Challenge on May 4, 2013.  And just so you understand how much of a stretch this is for me, I’m 53 years old, have about 100 lbs to lose, and I have had three knee surgeries back in the day. Oh– and I’m flat-footed.  And I hate to sweat.

Things have not been easy, but since I began this journey on January 2, 2013, I have lost seven pounds and have consistently put my treadmill to use three times a week in accordance with my sensible training plan.  And while I wrestle daily with the most inane choices (do I really need cheese on that sandwich?), I have a spring in my step and a song of praise on my lips.  And on the darker days when I’m haunted by past failures and battle a sense of helplessness, I remember that God isn’t finished with me yet and he never leaves me or forsakes me.  I’m not running along this path all by my lonesome.

How about you?  Have you stretched yourself by “healthifying” your lifestyle?  Any verses you’ve used to encourage yourself along the way?

Denise is a wife, mom, legal assistant—but most of all a follower of the Christ who should have nothing to do with her, but who chooses to walk with her daily.  An incurable Disney World fanatic, Denise’s blog, A Disneyfied Life, recounts her training escapades as she works toward Disney’s Expedition Everest 5K Challenge and celebrates a disneyfied life.

Wondering: A Guest Post by Leanne Stolpe

Over the next week, I will be inserting some of the top posts from the Stretched blog.  The post today (Wondering) originally appeared on the blog on August 2, 2012 while I was in Guatemala.  This was a guest post written by my lovely wife, Leanne, and it was the third most popular post of the year.  This post was an opportunity for Leanne to process some of the stretching that she experienced during the summer related to her job situation.  In many ways, the stretching process has continued, but this post was a healthy place to start.

While I’m away in Guatemala, several people have stepped up to share their stretching stories with The Stretched Community.  Today, I have the honor and privilege of presenting my wife, Leanne Stolpe.  Leanne is a mother, wife, teacher, friend, encourager, and she is my biggest support and inspiration here on the Stretched blog.

Wondering

This year I began a new adventure into the world of special needs as a behavior therapist. There’s days where I love my job-many of them. There are definite benefits. The flexibility is wonderful. I love working with preschoolers. I especially love when I get to work both with the preschoolers and their families. I can see progress made. I work with amazing people-both teachers, co-workers, and my supervisor. Yet there are times when I feel bored at my job.. I feel like I’m not using all my potential.  I feel like I could do so much more.