Ice Breaker – Top 5 Christmas Movies

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

This week’s question is designed to get you in the holiday spirit.  The Christmas movies are starting to show up on television.  It’s time to schedule time to watch your favorite movies.  Today’s Ice Breaker will get you thinking, so you can properly prepare.  Have fun!

Question:  Name your top 5 Christmas movies.

My Answer:  I’m sure I could come up with more than 5, but I have to start somewhere.  Here you go:

(1)  It’s A Wonderful Life – What can I say?  This is my favorite Christmas movie by far.  I’ve always enjoyed watching this movie on Christmas Eve.  There’s something about being reminded every year that I have a wonderful life.

(2)  A Christmas Story – Many of us could probably recite the lines from this movie.  Believe it or not, I looked like Ralphie from that movie when I was a young kid.

(3)  Christmas Vacation – If you need a good laugh during the holidays, this is a great place to turn.

(4)  Polar Express – The animation, the music, and the story make this one of my favorites.  You gotta’ believe!

(5)  Christmas With The Kranks – This is one of our families favorites based on Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.  (If you get a chance, read the book.  It’s a great book!)  I love the ending of this movie when the community unites together to help the Kranks.

Honorable Mention:  Elf, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and The Muppets Christmas Carol

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – Top 5 Christmas Songs

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

This week’s question is designed to get you in the holiday spirit.  While malls, shopping centers, and television commercials begin playing Christmas music right after Halloween, our family typically doesn’t start listening to Christmas music until right after Thanksgiving.  Since today’s Ice Breaker falls one day after Thanksgiving, I thought it would be a good idea to start thinking about Christmas songs that you like.

Question:  Name your top 5 Christmas songs.

My Answer:  My list will include a mix of Christian and secular songs.  (For my Jewish friends, you are welcome to chime in with any songs that may be part of your traditions.)

(1) In A Bleak Midwinter – This isn’t a real popular song, but I love the words.  “What shall I give Him? Give my heart.”

(2) Go Tell It On The Mountain – A fun song about spreading the Good News.  I especially when we sing this one on our neighborhood caroling adventures.

(3) I’ll Be Home For Christmas – I had a saxophone solo in this song when I was in the junior high jazz band.  As a result, this song has always had a special place in my heart.

(4) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Bruce Springsteen version) – I didn’t grow up with the Santa tradition, but I’ve always enjoyed hearing this song when it comes on the radio – especially the saxophone solo part.  I dream of playing that part someday with a live band.

(5) The Gift – I first heard this song when someone gave Leanne the Jim Brickman Christmas album by the same title.  I’ve had the privilege of hearing it live twice at Brickman concerts.  It’s a great song to put you in the right mindset for Christmas.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

How Can I Do Better? – Reflections From A Parent/Teacher Conference

Last night, we attended a parent/teacher conference for our son.  As a middle school student, Isaac also had the opportunity to participate in the conference as well.  Isaac had just finished up his first marking period of seventh grade.  He did remarkably well (proud Dad moment) achieving straight A’s.

The conferences were optional yet we decided to scheduled a meeting with his core teachers.  For Leanne and I, it was an opportunity to listen to additional feedback – to hear where Isaac is excelling and to her where Isaac could grow or improve.  Naturally, the feedback from his teachers was all great to hear.  And at the end of the conference, they provided an opportunity for us to ask questions.

Isaac asked his teachers this question, “How can I do better?”

This is a pretty powerful question if you’re serious about getting a true response.  Just because we did “well” doesn’t mean we can’t get better.  I like this philosophy.  When I was in an active design engineering role at my company, I used to ask the installers and the start-up technicians these types of questions.  “How can I improve my design next time to make your installation easier or to make your start-up activities go more efficiently?”  I learned so much by asking questions like this.  As a manager now, I need to keep asking these questions.  I want to be the best manager possible to help my team succeed and to help my team members achieve their personal career targets.

Isaac’s teachers gave him some great feedback in response to his question.  They told him to speak up and to take a more active leadership role in group activities.  They encouraged him to be more creative in some of his assignments.  And they reaffirmed that he was already doing a great job.  Then the teachers turned the tables on Isaac by asking their own follow-up question, “How can we do a better job helping you?”  Isaac had to think about this question.  What a great conference to attend!  It was so neat to see students and teachers discussing ways to get better.  What an example for all of us!

And so, I’d like to ask a couple of questions.  I hope you’ll give me honest and constructive feedback.  It’s part of the STRETCHING process.  I value your feedback!

How can I better serve you – The Stretched Community?  What thoughts can you share to help me improve my writing and The Stretched Blog?  What topics would you like me to cover more often?  Less often?  What’s working well?  What’s not working so well? 

Ice Breaker – Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

This week’s question is inspired by a Thanksgiving tradition in our house.  Each year, we put a tablecloth on the Thanksgiving table.  Each person in attendance traces their hand-print onto the tablecloth.  Then they write down five things for which they are thankful – one for each finger.  Over the years, our tablecloth has filled up with hand-prints of many sizes and shapes.  There are hand-prints for loved ones who have passed away.  Each hand-print represents a year of thanksgiving.  We’ve almost filled up our first tablecloth as we’ve been doing this for over ten years.  I’m looking forward to reading your responses to today’s Thanksgiving Ice Breaker!

Question:  Name 5 things for which you are thankful this year.

My Answer:  (1) I’m thankful for my trip to Xenacoj, Guatemala this summer.  This trip was a major leap of faith for me.  Through the trip, I saw God provide and I experienced major stretching as I interacted with the teenagers on the trip and with the people of Xenacoj.  This was certainly a milestone experience for me.

(2)  I’m thankful for the blogging community.  I continue to stretch as I participate in this community as both a writer and a reader.  I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

(3)  I’m thankful for my job.  I’m an operations manager for a company that designs and installs building automation systems.  Besides the technology, I love the people I work with every day, and I appreciate the opportunities I have to help people in their own career journeys.

(4)  I’m thankful for my kids.  Wow!  They keep growing, and they keep amazing me with their talents and with their thoughtfulness.  In many respects, they teach me every day about the importance of putting others first.  They teach me patience.  And they teach me to aim for the stars.

(5)  I’m thankful for my wife.  This is last but clearly not least.  Leanne is my treasure.  I appreciate the opportunities we have to work towards goals.  I appreciate the insights she brings into my sometimes thick skull.  I admire her heart for others – her servant’s heart.  I’m blown away by her beauty.  And I’m inspired by her example of encouragement that she brings to our marriage, to our family, and to all of her relationships.  I am blessed.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – Charity of Choice

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

This week’s question comes from a desire I have to make a difference in the world.  I’m excited to hear your answers as it provides more ideas for making a difference.  Many of us are involved in great organizations that are focused on helping others.  Today’s Ice Breaker is a chance to share about those organizations and to brainstorm about how we can all make a difference.

Question:  If you were to focus your energy and resources to a charity, what would the charity be?  And why would you select that charity?

My Answer:  There are so many great organizations out there that deserve support.  And to be honest, I would still select the local church as the place to focus my attention.  I believe that there is such power to change the world through the combining of efforts through the local church.  I’ve seen it in action at my own church.

Having said that, I still have a heart for other charities.  It amazes me to see the creativity and the resourcefulness of organizations who are committed to doing something positive in this world to make a difference.  For example, our family works with The Seeing Eye to provide guide dogs and freedom to people who are visually impaired.  This summer, I had the opportunity to work with Casas por Cristo who helps to provide reasonable housing for families in Mexico and Guatemala.  And locally, Philabundance helps to provide food to the needy in the Greater Philadelphia community.

All these are great, and picking one is pretty tough (I guess that’s why the local church is still the best option).  But if I’m forced to pick one, I would go with Habitat for Humanity.  I was introduced to Habitat and it’s founder, Millard Fuller, at a fairly young age.  As a teenager and college student, I worked on several Habitat projects helping to build affordable housing for those in need.  I found such satisfaction in using my hands to help create a home for someone.  I also enjoyed working with other people towards a common purpose.  I haven’t worked with Habitat for Humanity for several years, but this post is a reminder to check them out again.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – Lights Out

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

We lost power for 85 hours at our house this week.  Power was just restored before lunch time.  With this in mind, I’m hoping you can help out with this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker.

Question:  (Keeping it clean of course) What’s a fun family activity for times when the lights go out?

My Answer:  Reading.  I actually did a bit more reading with the power out.  There was no temptation to turn on the television or to be on the computer.  I finished reading Bryan Allain‘s new eBook, Community Wins, and I almost finished reading Love Works by Joel Manby.  These are two books that I would definitely recommend – even if you never lost power.  Maybe having the power out isn’t such a bad thing.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – King or Queen for the Day

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

This week’s question is somewhat inspired by my experience with Servefest this week.  Make your answer fun or serious.  Let’s here some great ideas!

Question:  If you were king or queen for the day, what rule, law, or policy would you decree?

My Answer:  This question could go in all kinds of different directions which could be a little scary.  Here’s my answer which is not meant to side with one side or the other of the political spectrum.  I would create a reward system of some type for businesses which promote community involvement.  There is so much power available in the companies of the world.  Look at what happened with the Extreme Makeover Home Edition where Sears, CVS, Siemens, and several other sponsors worked together to build homes for families in need.  If companies were serious about providing resources (including manpower and material resources) to help the community, it would be amazing to see what would happen in the land.  As I’m learning this week, it wouldn’t only impact the recipient; it would also help those in the companies (the employees) at they worked together to make a difference.  And that is what I would do if I were king for the day.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – Halloween Costumes

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

As Halloween rapidly approaches, it’s time to think about costumes.

Question (actually two):  What have you dressed up as for Halloween in the past?  If you are going to dress up this year, what is your costume?

My Answer:  My parents were pretty creative when it came to Halloween costumes.  One year, I was a box of corn flakes (seems more appropriate now with my corny humor).  One year, I was a Mexican (I guess that wouldn’t be politically correct these days).  And one year I was a ghost.  But the costume I will always remember (and I’m not proud of it) is the flower-pot costume.  That’s right.  One year, I was a flower-pot.  The pot was made of cardboard that we painted brown.  I wore a green turtle neck shirt, and we fastened white petals around my face.  I’m sure my parents thought it was cute, but I think it may have left some scars.  After all, what fourth grade boy ever wants to be a flower-pot for Halloween?

I don’t think that I’ll be dressing up this year, but if I were I could go two ways.  I would either throw a Walter Payton Bears jersey on and go as a Chicago Bears fan, or I would go all out and dress up as a construction worker.  I have the hard hat, the tool belt and tools, and the rest of the garb to make this an easy costume to throw together.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – Halloween Candy

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

As Halloween rapidly approaches, it’s time to think about something important – Halloween candy!

Question:  What is your favorite Halloween candy?  What will you be handing out at your house on October 31st?

My Answer:  Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are by far my favorite Halloween candy.  How can you top chocolate and peanut butter.  We don’t get any visitors on Halloween, but if we did…Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Ice Breaker – Debate

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we 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.

This week’s question is inspired by Wednesday nights presidential debate.  While I’m not interested in getting too political here on the blog, I think debate is actually one of the few fairly healthy things left in the whole election process (as long as the candidates can stick to the rules of the debate).  As I was reflecting on this week’s debate, I started thinking that there are many fun things that we enjoy debating in our culture today.  Surely, this could be a fun ice breaker question for this week.  So as you read and respond to this week’s question add your position on the “fun” debates that others provide in the comments.

Question:  Coke or Pepsi?  McDonald’s or Burger King?  What fun things can we debate?  And where do you stand in these fun debates?

My Answer:  Cubs or White Sox?  This was one of the first debates that I can remember having as a kid.  I grew up on the western side of Chicago in the Wheaton, IL area.  This was clearly Cubs territory.  So I cheered for the Cubs.

As for Coke or Pepsi?  I would probably go with Coke although I have to stay away from caffeine now thanks to my migraine headaches.  McDonald’s or Burger King?  This was a debate when I was a kid.  I probably would have voted for McDonald’s back then.  Now, I rarely do fast food and if I do…I go with Chick-Fil-A.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!