Ice Breaker – Trick or Treat
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Question: Trick or treat? Why?
My Answer: I don’t like when people play fast ones on me, so I will have to go with treat.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Human Achievement
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
On this date in 1911, Orville Wright stayed in the air for 9 minutes and 45 seconds in the Wright Glider in North Carolina. Considering I flew from Newark, New Jersey to Guatemala City, Guatemala this summer in 5 hours, this event seems rather unspectacular. But what if no one had never done this before? Obviously, Orville Wright’s achievement was monumental in demonstrating the early potential of man to fly. Today’s Ice Breaker is inspired by the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments.
Question: What human achievement amazes you the most?
My Answer: I have always been interested in space and space travel. I am amazed that man has been able to land a man on the moon, land a rover on Mars, and fly a space craft beyond the edges of our solar system. These achievements remind me of the creative minds God has given us.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Yacht
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Question: If you had a yacht, what would you name it?
My Answer: Stretch seems like the obvious choice. If I followed the pattern of my recent blog posts about having a mission mindset, you might think I should go with On A Mission. I like the name Hope Floats. I never saw the movie, but I think the name sounds “uplifting.”
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Bucket List
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
This week, our family said goodbye to my Grandma. In 94 years, she saw and did a lot of amazing things. I don’t know if she had a bucket list. Based on what I know, she was ready to leave this life. She was satisfied with what she had seen and accomplished during her lifetime. My Grandma’s passing was a reminder how quickly life passes. This week’s Ice Breaker question is inspired by this reminder.
Question: What is something on your bucket list? And what are you going to do to cross it off your list?
My Answer: I don’t have an official bucket list, but there are many things I’d like to see, experience, or accomplish before I “kick the bucket”.
- I’d like to build 100 houses in Guatemala.
- I’d like to write another book.
- I’d like to be completely debt free including my house.
- I’d like to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary (and 60th, and…).
- I’d like to visit Sweden in late June.
And this is just off the top of my head. In order to cross these items off my list, here are some of the things I’m doing:
- I’ve built three so far, and I’m planning future trips to Guatemala to build the other 97 houses.
- I’m writing content for the book every week. I’m working on a few ways to build my e-mail list in order to make my book project more attractive to a book publisher.
- I’m living debt free besides the house. My wife and I are getting together weekly to go over our budget. And we’re planning ahead to reduce our mortgage significantly in the next four years.
- My wife and I are practicing a weekly date night. We plan to get away at least two times a year just the two of us. I’m exercising five to six times a week to keep myself in decent shape to make it to this milestone.
- I’m not sure about the Sweden thing yet, but we’ll have to start working on plan for this one.
As I think about this above list, I’m reminded of a verse from Proverbs:
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Homecoming
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Question: When was the last time you celebrated a homecoming?
My Answer: This week, I am celebrating two homecomings. On Saturday, I’ll be at Grove City College to celebrate homecoming and my 20th college reunion. It should be a fun time catching up with great friends, and visiting the campus where I met my wife.
On Sunday and Monday, I’ll be in Wheaton, IL to celebrate my Grandma’s homecoming. She passed away this past Tuesday, and our family is gathering to celebrate her life. It will be a very quick visit, but it should be a wonderful time to celebrate Grandma and to catch up with my family. (To read more about my remarkable Grandma, check out these two posts: Say What You Need To Say and Stretching To The Finish.)
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Contest
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
This week’s Ice Breaker is inspired by a Toastmasters activity I participated in last night. The activity stretched me, and I’m hoping this week’s Ice Breaker question will stretch you a little as well.
Question: When was the last time you were in a contest and how did you do?
My Answer: Last night, I was in a speech contest for Toastmasters. I participated in a Table Topics speech competition with other competitors from my local area. I was asked a question and I had one to two minutes to answer the question. Here was the question: What event from the past, present, or future would you most like to be at and why? The winner talked about the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I didn’t get to hear him speak, but I hear he did a great job. I talked about the future weddings of my children. My speech was well received and I finished in second place. It was a fantastic experience, and it encouraged me to keep competing in these types of contests.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – High School Football Game
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
This week’s Ice Breaker is inspired by this season of high school sports. My daughter runs cross-country, and my son marches in the marching band. This means we are at most of the football games. Tonight, we’ll be heading across town to see our school match up against another school. Our son will be playing the pregame show, and then we’ll sit back and watch the game. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with other parents.
Question: When you were in high school where were you likely to be during the football game?
My Answer: I marched in the marching band, so I was likely to be in the stands watching the game and playing the fight songs. I was (and still am) a big sports fan, so I loved being at the games. My sophomore year, our football team won the state championship which meant I played in a few extra games.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Back To School
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Last night was Back to School Night at the high school where my kids go to school. We had a great time following their class schedule and meeting their teachers. Today’s Ice Breaker question is inspired by our evening.
Question: If you could go back to school, what class or degree would you pursue or retake and why?
My Answer: If I was going back to high school, I would try to fit a wood shop class into my schedule. I never took this class when I was in high school, but I think it would be so useful now.
If I was going back to college to pursue another degree, I would consider something in one of the three areas:
- Communications – To help me become a better communicator.
- Web Design/Programming – To improve my skill in designing things on the web.
- Missions – To expand my thinking and effectiveness in ministering to others at home and overseas.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Age
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Question: If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?
My Answer: 23 was a great age for me (not that the other ages have been bad). First, 23 represents the number of my favorite basketball player, Michael Jordan. More importantly, I had very little responsibility at the age of 23. I also had little understanding of how challenging life could become. At the age of 23, I was preparing to get married. I was working at my first post-college job in northern New Jersey and Manhattan. I was driving a 1974 Chevy Nova for part of this year until I leased a Ford Explorer (bad decision). I thought I knew it all (was I ever wrong). 23 was a good year.
I’m thankful for where I am now – 29! (Just kidding, I’m actually 42.)
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Ice Breaker – Labor Day
Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
According to Wikipedia, Labor Day is “a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.” For most Americans today, Labor Day simply represents the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. Today’s Stretched Ice Breaker is inspired by the original reason for Labor Day.
Question: Pick one job (not your own) for which you are thankful and tell us about it.
My Answer: I’m thankful for teachers. There are many people have influenced me – pastors, youth leaders, bosses, (to name just a few). Sometimes overlooked though are the teachers. I can think of so many teachers who have had a positive impact on my life. From band teachers to math and science teachers, I am thankful for so many teachers who have invested in my life and have made me a better person. If you are a teacher, thank you for what you do. I hope you have a great Labor Day and a spectacular school year.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!