Willow Group Life Conference Starts Today!
As I type, the first large group session at one of the best conferences is getting ready to start. I had an incredible pre-conference workship experience. I can't wait to share more later.
Stay tuned…
Joke of the Day
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m proud to say that I inherited my Grandpa Stolpe’s humor. So when I hear (what I believe is) a good joke, I can’t help but tuck it away for future use. Here’s one I heard from one of my co-workers today:
What do you call a hot dog with nothing in the middle?
Give up?
Answer: A “Hollow-Weiner”
What a great joke!
Until the next post, keep laughing…
Better Than This
From some of my reading this morning…
Psalm 84:1-12
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My
soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my
heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the
sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where
she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King
and my God. 4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever
singing your praise. (Selah) 5 Happy are those whose strength
is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they
go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from
strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of
Jacob! (Selah) 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of
your anointed. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a
thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house
of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord
God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good
thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12
O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
Is it clear enough, that being with God in heaven is way, way, way,… better than whatever we have going on right now or than whatever we are looking forward to in the future.
Just a thought…
Malchus Miracle
This morning I was reading in John 18 when I came to this verse:
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a
sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his
right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.
sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his
right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.
I’ve read this passage and verse many times before, but for some reason today, I was struck my John’s inclusion of the name of the high priest’s servant. Malchus is not mentioned anywhere else by name in the Bible. The fact that John included his name seems to imply that John may have known Malchus. I wonder if they became friends after this meeting in the garden. I have to imagine that Malchus’ perspective on Jesus and his followers changed significantly after this event.
I wonder if he held bitterness towards Peter for whacking off his ear. (I think Peter’s actions reflect the damage that can be done by Christians when they react without thinking things through. I’m sure Peter’s intentions were good, but ….) It’s interesting to realize that despite Peter’s actions, Malchus may actually have come to know Christ in a new way. After all, he may never have had the first hand experience of Christ’s miraculous healing (of his ear) if it were not for Peter’s hasty action. Looking at it from this perspective, it’s comforting to know that God can take my best intentions gone wrong and still allow life change to happen.
Just some thoughts…
I’m Still Alive
I apologize for the long delay in updating the blog. It’s certainly not for lack of things to write about. As we’ve started the new year, it has been filled with lots of new excitement along with new struggles. I hope to return to writing about them soon. In the meantime, I just wanted to let you know that things are going mostly well.
In brief, the kids love their new teachers, Isaac just started Cub Scouts (which has been a huge highlight), I’m still working on the saxophone, my running has also picked up some with nearly 32 miles logged this month (including an 8.23 trail run this morning), Leanne is “adjusting” to her new role as director of Providence Christian preschool, and fall is rapidly approaching.
Like I said, I’ll write more later.
Hope this finds you well.
Until the next post…
A Day at Ocean Grove and Other Reflections
I’m fairly certain that I blogged about our visit to Ocean Grove last year about this time, but it merits repeating – Ocean Grove is a great place to go if you’re looking for a quick day trip to the Jersey shore.
We spent the day there yesterday in what has become our favorite Jersey shore place to be. As I floating out past the breakers with Hannah, I was reminded of my countless visits to the shore as a youth. I was very blessed to grow up 45 minutes to an hour from another one of Jersey’s treasures – Island Beach State Park. Especially when I was in college during the summer, my friends from Mt. Holly would all load up in the Braun family van with our chairs, blankets, food, and volleyball net. The beauty of Island Beach State Park was that it cost $6 (or $7) per car, so we were often paying less than $1 per person to get on the beach. Usually we’d get there between 8 and 9 AM, so we could set up our volleyball net. A typical beach day would include several games of volleyball, a catch with the softball with Brian Willem, some form of football, ride waving, sitting around talking, long walks on the beach, and constant snacking on whatever food we brought. Usually, we would pack everything up around 2 or 3PM, so we could head back to the Mt. Holly area to get cleaned up before enjoying a barbecue or a night out at the movies. These memories were a big part of my youth.
At any rate, now I’ve got by own beach bums. I’ve never seen a kid who likes sand more than Hannah. And it was truly a joy to see Isaac floating in the waves on top of his buggie board. I can’t wait for our next visit to Ocean Grove.
Until the next post…
No TV For A Month – Day 15 Update
Can you believe it? I'm just about half of the way through this thing!
After reading in one of my runner's magazines, I found out that the Olympic marathon is going to be August 23rd at 7:30PM. I was thinking about watching it, but I later realized that I already have a previously scheduled commitment that will prevent this. It's looking more and more probable that I will actually make it.
This morning as I was catching up on my blog reading, I was intrigued by Sean Healy's recent blog post about this very subject. Sean (as mentioned before) is the only other person who is in on the challenge with me (as far as I know). It is really interesting to read about the reaction he is getting to this challenge. People are considering him quite strange at his place of work – or maybe I should say "more strange than they already thought." Sean is a good friend, and I can resonate with most of what he says. I have certainly received a few strange questions about why in the world I would give up the TV for a whole month.
Honestly, it has given me a chance to explain my reasons. Here's what I typically tell people. "First, this was a stupid decision. Who in the world would ever pick the month of the Olympics to stop watching TV? Second and now that I've gotten that out of the way, I needed a chance to realign my priorities. I think the television had taken too much of a primary role in my life, and that's scary! So far this challenge has given me more opportunities to spend time with my wife and kids – taking walks in the neighborhood or on the trail, running 5Ks, and just talking. This challenge has also given me more opportunity to read, paint, and to focus on things that should mean more to me."
So what does this mean for me and the TV when August is over? That's a good question. I'm not sure yet. I want to make sure my priorities are in the right place (although I'm sure that will always be a wrestling match). I do agree with Sean's post that the TV provides a common ground in our culture to start conversation. It has been more of a challenge this month to have some of those "water cooler" type conversations, because I don't know every juicy detail about how the Phillies gave up another game, how Michael Phelps broke another record, how some gymnast fell of the balance beam, or how the Eagles second team should be playing instead of the first team. Hopefully, come September, I will be more balanced in my approach to TV.
Until the next post…
No TV for a Month – Day 7 Update
Can you believe it? By the end of today, I will have made it one week without the television. That's 168 hours without TV and only 576 more hours to go!
I know of at least one other person (Sean Healy) who's been doing the challenge with me. He has decided to use his new found time to start his own blog. Check it our here.
Anyone else up to the challenge? If so, how are you spending your new found time?
Until the next post…
No TV for a Month – Day One Follow-Up
I guess I can say that I made it; however, I’m honestly having second thoughts. In fact, I may consider pushing this whole thing back to after the Olympics.
Yesterday was somewhat comical, I started the day off great. On a normal day, I watch 10-15 minutes of ESPN Sportcenter while I’m eating my breakfast in the morning. I did without it yesterday. The funny thing is this, I was trying to be a kindly co-worker by taking one of my colleagues out at lunch time to pick up his truck. After this, we stopped for lunch at the Fireside in Ambler. We ended up sitting at the bar and wouldn’t you know the whole place was lined with TVs. I didn’t even think about it at first, but then I realized that I was watching ESPN Sportcenter right there. So does this count? I’m not sure. Leanne said that the no TV thing should only count at home. (And by the way, she is the one who came up with the suggestions of postponing the no TV thing until after the Olympics.)
Until the next post…
Stretch – Full Circle
Isn’t it funny that they’ve named the summer middle school event at our church after me? Just kidding of course. If you read along early last summer, you’ll know that I had the privilege of participating in last year’s Stretch event. Well, it all starts again tonight. If you have a sixth through eigth grader and live in the CCV area, you don’t want to miss this event.
Here’s how the description reads on our church’s website:
Live Band! Sports! Prizes! Food!Inflatable! Video Games! Laser Tag!Dancing! Tournaments!
Who?
Students entering 6th – 8th grades
When?
Thursday, July 10th – Saturday, July 12th6:30 – 9:00 PM (Optional hang out until 10:00 PM)RAIN or SHINE!
Cost?
ABSOLUTELY FREE! Free t-shirt included!
Where?
Christ’s Church of the Valley1560 Yeager RoadRoyersford, PA 19468
Click here to register your student for STRETCH!
Who?
Students entering 6th – 8th grades
When?
Thursday, July 10th – Saturday, July 12th6:30 – 9:00 PM (Optional hang out until 10:00 PM)RAIN or SHINE!
Cost?
ABSOLUTELY FREE! Free t-shirt included!
Where?
Christ’s Church of the Valley1560 Yeager RoadRoyersford, PA 19468
Click here to register your student for STRETCH!
Until the next post, I’ll be stretching…