Jon Stolpe
Jon Stolpe
Random Stretch Thoughts
Life continues to provide plenty of stretching opportunities. Today’s post is simply some of the things that are stretching me these days.
1. Headaches. Since the month of February, I’ve been dealing with lots of headaches. I haven’t had a migraine for a few weeks, but I’m still wrestling a bit with the day-to-day nuisance headaches. I started seeing someone who is helping with deep tissue message. This seems to be helping, but it seems like I still have a way to go until my back, shoulders, and neck loosen up.
2. Running. Yesterday, I shared about the 2nd Annual Race to Remember. Between blogging, headaches, and the other busyness of life, it can be a challenge to find a regular routine for running. I’m hoping that a date on the calendar will inspire me to be more consistent in my running.
3. Gardening. I don’t talk about gardening a whole lot here, but it is still one of my passions. Admittedly, this hobby has taken a backseat to my family, my job, my writing, and other activities. I did manage to get my garden planted a few weeks ago. Now, I need to figure out how to keep the deer and groundhogs out of the garden. And I need to find time to weed.
4. Blogging. I love the blog, and I intend on keeping it going. My main struggle is landing on my next path forward – What is the next step for the Stretched Blog? Should I write and eBook? If so, where should I focus? I know for certain that I want to use my writing and blogging for something way bigger than myself. The Guatemala trip and the Stretched house is confirmation that anything is possible.
5. Guatemala. I really need to work on my Spanish. In nearly a month and a half, I’ll be making this life changing trip. I pray that I will be alert to the impact of this trip. We’re less than $2,700 away from paying for the house! Feel free to hop on board.
6. Family and marriage. This is a huge priority for me. Many times I feel like my attention and energy isn’t always where it should be. I don’t want to look back with any regrets. In a week, my daughter will be graduating from middle school. I know she’s ready for high school, but this milestone is a reminder that time isn’t slowing down. I need to make the most of the opportunities.
7. Faith. To put it plainly, my relationship with God has to be the most important thing in my life. I’m constantly filling my mind with good things, but I’m realizing more and more that I need to be still. This stretches me to the core.
I’m sure there are many other things that are stretching me, but this list provides a glimpse into the ones that keep coming back to me. I’m thankful that God is patient with us while we stretch. I’m thankful that he desires a relationship that is new, exciting, and stretching.
What’s stretching you see days?
(Don’t forget to get in on the giveaway that’s going on this week on the Stretched blog. Click here for more details. There’s still time to win Platform by Michael Hyatt or Love Does by Bob Goff.)
2nd Race to Remember – Perk Trail Half Marathon and 5K
I’d like to announce the 2nd Annual Race to Remember (A.K.A. The Perk Trail Half Marathon and 5K). If you followed me last year, I ran the first Race to Remember last year on September 11th as an opportunity to get in shape, enjoy the Perkiomen Trail, and to remember those impacted by the attacks on our country on 9/11/2001. It was a great day for me. Last year, I announced the race fairly late, and I ran the race for the most part by myself. This year, I’m hoping to get a few people to join me by announcing the race much earlier. Here are the details as I’m planning it now:
When: Saturday, September 8, 2012
Time: 8:00AM
Entry Fee: $0.00 (but I think it would be cool if we could collect canned goods for the local food pantry) Currently, this is a non-supported race. There are no timekeepers, no race t-shirts, and no awards. I guess that could change if someone steps up and wants to help.
Where: If you’re interested (let me know), my plan is to start the “race” at mile marker 11 which is located behind Tailwinds Bike Shop in Schwenksville, PA. I’ll run south through Collegeville, PA to mile marker 4.5 which is located at Yerkes Road. I’ll turn around and come back with the finish past mile marker 11 at the Schwenksville Fire Department. You’re on your own for parking, but you should be able to find something real close in town. (For the 5K, you start and end at the same point. The turnaround point is mile marker 9.5 which is just past the foot bridge south of the Plank Road Park – Central Perkiomen Valley Park.)
Why: I listed the reasons above. Similar to last year, I will be thinking and praying for different people along the way. Here’s what I did last year: I’ve also been thinking about dedicating each mile to thinking and praying for different people (and things)…Mile 1: Spouses of those who lost their lives on September 11th…Mile 2: Children of those who lost their lives on September 11th…Mile 3: Firefighters…Mile 4: Policemen…Mile 5: Service men and women…Mile 6: Leaders in our country…Mile 7: Leaders around the world…Mile 8: Leaders in our community…Mile 9: People who work in New York City…Mile 10 People who work in Washington, D.C….Mile 11: Churches and Aid Organizations…Mile 12: Our Enemies…Mile 13: Peace. For my reflections on the first Race to Remember, you should check out this link.
So what do you think? Are you in? I’d love to run the Race to Remember with others this year. If you’re interested, you can “sign up” by leaving your name in the comments.
What are you training for these days? How did you remember 9/11 last year?
Giveaway: Platform & Love Does
This month, I’m trying something new – a giveaway! I’ll give away Platform by Michael Hyatt to one lucky winner, and I’ll give away Love Does by Bob Goff to a second lucky winner. Both of these books were recently released and are on my “to-read” list. You can increase your chances of winning by taking the following actions:
(1) Subscribe to the Stretched blog. On the right side of the main page, there’s an easy place for you to enter your e-mail, so you get Stretched delivered to your e-mail everyday. I’ll give you 5 points for this task. (If you’re already a subscriber, you’ll automatically get 5 points!) I won’t share your e-mail with anyone else.
(2) ‘Like’ the Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook Fan Page. I’ll give you 3 points for this task. (If you already like Jon Stolpe Stretched, you’ll automatically get 3 points!)
(3) Post a link to this blog on Twitter. In order to get credit for this task, you must include my twitter handle in your tweet – @jonstolpe. I’ll give you 2 points for this task. I’ll throw in 2 points each day that you tweet this between now and the end of the contest.
(4) Leave a comment on this post. Finally, I’ll give you 2 more points if you leave a comment on this post. The best comments will answer one of these questions. What is something that you have won in the past? What do you think I should give away next month? What is on your “to-read” list?
You have one week to enter this contest. I will announce the winners next week.
3 Thumbs Up! June 2nd, 2012
Time for another rendition of the Stretched 3 Thumbs Up! Each week, I highlight 3 things that deserve a thumbs up. This week is a bit of a hodgepodge which I hope you’ll enjoy.
Thumbs Up Number 1: Home Sausage Making. Before you laugh or get too grossed out, hear me out on this one. This book is a great resource for anyone who is adventurous enough to try making their own sausage. There are so many great recipes in the book along with tips for making sausage. Homemade sausage is way better than store-bought sausage. I enjoyed homemade bratwurst over the weekend, and it was clearly better than anything you can buy already made. Check out Home Sausage Making for a fun, new culinary experience.
Thumbs Up Number 2: Pandora. Pandora has become one of my favorite apps for the iPad. Pandora is an on-line radio application that allows you to create your own radio station based on a song or artist. Within seconds, I can listen to music that fits my mood or focus. The application is also available for PCs and iPods (and other platforms I would imagine). I know the local radio guys don’t like this application, but it’s worth checking out Pandora if you’re trying to listen to a certain type of music.
Thumbs Up Number 3: Team GCC. This is a new blog and new adventure by a group of students and alumni from Grove City College. This team of young men is pedaling across the country with a common vision and purpose. They started in Seattle, Washington this past week, and they’re currently making their way across the northwest. Check out Team GCC, and follow them as they make this 4,000 mile journey.
What else deserves a thumbs up this week?
May 2012 Top Posts and Commenters
May was another record-breaking month for the Stretched blog. Overall traffic increased 11.26% from last month’s previous record high. In addition, the Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook fan page has added several new followers over the past month. The community and platform are growing, and I’m excited to see how God may use the Stretched Community to impact the world.
As always, I like to share the top posts for the past month. Most of this month’s most popular posts were posted in May; however, one post from March continues to be at the top of the charts for this month. Here are the top posts from May 2012:
1. The Power To Change A Family Tree (5/2/2012)
2. Leap Of Faith (3/21/2012)
3. Book Review: By Faith, Not By Sight by Scott MacIntyre (5/29/2012)
4. Writing – A Strange Discipline (5/24/2012)
5. My Mom (5/8/2012)
6. Ice Breaker – Star Wars (5/3/2012)
7. Perkiomen Valley Blogger’s Society (5/20/2012)
8. Ice Breaker – Questions For A Stretched Blogger (5/17/2012)
9. 10 Things To Avoid On Camping Trips (5/27/2012)
10. Foundations Class Starts Today (5/6/2012)
And here are the top commenters for May 2012:
1. Larry Carter (28)
2. Tom Tarver (19)
3. Joe Lalonde (15)
4. Michael Shaw (14)
Thanks again to everyone who stopped by and to everyone who left a comment. Your readership, comments, and friendship mean the world to me. In the coming month, I will be looking for more ways to extend the Stretched Community and to broaden my platform. I am looking to launch a contest for this month. I am also looking for new opportunities to guest post around the blog world. Finally, I will be starting to build a guest post backlog and interview backlog to post while I’m in Guatemala later this summer. If you’re interested in guest posting here or participating in a Stretched interview, drop me a note in the comments so we can connect.
Thanks again for a great month. Don’t forget to share The Stretched Blog with your family and friends.
If you’re a blogger, what was the top post on your blog this month? If you’re not a blogger, what was your favorite post here this month?
Ice Breaker – Walk-Up Music
It’s not Friday, so don’t get too excited. I decided to move up this week’s Ice Breaker one day to make room for tomorrow’s May 2012 Review post. This week’s question was inspired by my three camping buddies with whom I spent my Memorial Day weekend. If you watch major league baseball these days, most players have a walk-up song that is used as they approach home plate for their at-bat. Since I’m a Philadelphia Phillies fan, my examples come from the Phils. Carlos Ruiz walks out to In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins. Chase Utley walks out to Kashmir by Led Zepplin. And Hunter Pence walks out to A Warrior’s Call by Volbeat.
I’d like to tie this into this week’s ice breaker question. For those who are new around here, an ice breaker is a question that helps us get to know one another. Each week, I ask a question which I answer in my post. Then, it’s your turn to answer the question in the comments of the post. Here is this week’s ice breaker:
Question: What would you chose for your walk-up song or music?
My Answer: The Theme from Chariots of Fire. This way I could run from the on deck circle to the batter’s box in slow motion. I know it’s not your typical rocking song, but this music by Vangelis is inspiring to me. Then after I hit my home run, I could run around the bases in slow motion as the music comes back on over the public address system.
Okay, now it’s your turn. Let’s hear your answer to the question. Leave your answer in the comments below, so we can all enjoy.
Summer Small Group Suggestions
Last night, our small group (H.O.P.E.) celebrated the start of the summer season with an end of school year picnic/barbecue. It was a great way to celebrate a wonderful year together serving others and growing closer to each other. I have thorough enjoyed watching our kids connect with the kids from the other families in our group, and I have enjoyed bonding with the other adults. I’ve also enjoyed serving together with these wonderful families. Over the paste year, we have made crafts and spent time with the seniors at the Colonnade of Schwenksville nursing home, made a holiday meal for international students at Montgomery County Community College, cleaned up the backyard at the Norristown Community House, packaged books at Cradles to Crayons, served breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House, made packages for cancer patient siblings at the Phoenixville Hospital, stuffed eggs for a local Easter egg hunt, and made cards for soldiers. We have had a great year together!
As we approach summer, we’ve decided to take a couple of months off while we all enjoy our summer vacations and summer schedule.
The summer often presents a crossroads for many small groups. Should they keep meeting regularly throughout the summer or should they scale back until the fall? This is a great question. Here are my ideas for how to approach this season.
1. Consider meeting regularly. If your group has enough mass, you might be able to get away with continuing right through the summer. If you decide to do this, I would recommend selecting a study topic that allows for group members to come and go. Many group members will likely miss a few meetings, and it’s a good idea to use a study topic that people can jump into at any time.
2. Consider meeting once a month. This is a great opportunity to keep the group going with a few social events. Picnics, swim parties, and outdoor meet-ups are great ways to stay connected during the summer months.
3. Consider taking a break. From the introduction above, you can see the this is what our group, has decided to do. We are all pretty busy over the summer, and this break will provide some time to focus on our families. Having said this, I’m already looking forward to meeting again in the fall.
4. Consider using the summer as a natural end to your group. Sometimes, it can be awkward to stop a group and start over. The summer can provide a natural time to transition from one group to another. This can also be a great time to release a leader who needs a break from small group leadership.
If you’re not in a small group, this may not make sense. I’m praying that you find a small group to call home – to connect – and to find the right balance of grace and truth. If you’re already in a group, I hope this is helpful as your group approaches the summer.
Are you in a small group? How does your group approach the summer? What other suggestions do you have for summer small groups?
Book Review: By Faith, Not By Sight by Scott MacIntyre
Over the weekend, I finished reading By Faith, Not By Sight
As an American Idol fan, it was interesting to get the inside scoop from one of the contestants I followed a few years ago. I also appreciated learning the back story of how much Scott has overcome to achieve his dreams and to share his gift with the world.
Whether you follow American Idol or not, I recommend By Faith, Not By Sight as an inspiring story of how God works in amazing ways despite the struggles we all face. The book was also a great follow-up to my recent thoughts on taking Leaps of Faith. Stories like this confirm the importance of learning to live by faith.
Who has inspired you recently? Do you watch American Idol?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
(Please note: There are affiliate links in this post. Should you purchase The By Faith, Not By Sight by clicking one of these links, I receive a small percentage of the purchase. These funds are used to support The Stretched Blog and to extend ministry and missions to Guatemala. Thank you!)
10 Things To Avoid On Camping Trips
As you’ve probably figured out based on Friday’s Ice Breaker post and yesterday’s 3 Thumbs Up! post, I am camping this weekend. I’ve been camping for as long as I can remember with my family and with friends. Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that should be avoided while you’re camping. Hopefully, you’ll find this list informative (and somewhat humorous):
1. Skunks. They may look like black cats with white stripes, but they’ll cause quite a stink if you get in their way. I’ve never been sprayed by a skunk, but I’ve been in camp when skunks decided to visit.
2. Thunderstorms. Some times you can’t avoid rain and heavy storms, but you should stay away from thunderstorms if you can help it. I’ve endured several soaking storms on past camping trips.
3. Bears. This falls in line with item 1 above. Keep your food locked up and your trash secured to avoid an unplanned meeting with a bear.
4. Poison Ivy. Itch. Itch. Scratch. Scratch. Need I say more?
5. Lack of warm clothing. The nights can get pretty cold if you don’t have the right gear.
6. Getting lost. Did you bring your compass and your map? They might come in handy.
7. Loud camping neighbors. I’ve experienced this a couple of times. Loud camping neighbors can ruin a great camping trip.
8. Lack of facilities. I like to rough it, but I’ve learned to enjoy a hot shower as I matured.
9. Snakes. I hate snakes.
10. Rocks and fire. Rocks under the sleeping bag and hot embers on the sleeping bag can ruin a good nights sleep.
I hope that you find this list helpful. What else would you add to this list?
3 Thumbs Up! May 26th, 2012
Since I’m off camping this weekend, I thought it would be fun to feature a camping themed 3 Thumbs Up! post. Each week, I highlight three things that deserve a thumbs up.
Thumbs Up Number 1: Byron’s Dutch Oven Cooking Page. Over the past several years, I’ve developed a love for Dutch oven cooking. Dutch ovens are special cast iron pots that are placed in the coals of a hot fire and used to cook all kinds of food from appetizers to side dishes to entrees to desserts. Byron’s Dutch Oven Cooking Page has become one of my favorite places to visit to discover new Dutch oven recipes.
Thumbs Up Number 2: Cabela’s Outfitter XL Cot. I’m a fairly big guy at 6’6″ and just over 200 pounds. As I’ve gotten a bit older, my back hasn’t handled sleeping directly on the ground like it used to. This cot from Cabela’s has become my biggest friend on my camping trips. The cot gives me a more comfortable sleeping surface that is off the ground. It also provides some great storage space for flashlights, my journal, and other small things that need to be stored by my side at night.
Thumbs Up Number 3: The Raven Charter. Yesterday was my brother’s birthday. For the past several years, he has been part of a band called The Raven Charter. TRC is home-based in the Dallas, TX area, and they’ve played at venues all over Texas. Their brand of alternative hard-edged rock is creative and though-provoking. Check them out here. Also, consider picking up their music from iTunes.
What else deserves a thumbs up this week? Share with the rest of us, so we can all learn and enjoy.