The Stretched Blog Visits Deuceology

Today, I have the honor of guest posting over at Deuceology.  Deuceology is a blog by my friend Larry “The Deuce” Carter.  Larry is a Christian, blogger, husband, dad, and a huge Tennessee Vols fan.  Everyday, Larry posts his thoughts and struggles as he seeks to spur others and himself closer to God.  I love his honesty and openness which leaves me challenged on a daily basis.  Please check out his blog and my guest post which is titled I’m Dreaming of A Stretched Christmas.  Then do me a favor and leave a comment.  Thanks!

Larry "The Deuce" Carter from Deuceology

Regarding guest posting, I love opportunities to guest post as it provides another opportunity to “stretch” me, so contact me through the comments if this is something that interests you.  And I love to share others stretch stories and guest posts, so let me know if that’s something that interests you as well.)

Surprise!!!

My wife did it!  She surprised me for my 40th birthday with a party at our house on Saturday night.  And yes, I was surprised.  She sent out invitations, contacted friends, went food shopping, and coordinated the surprise plan with our neighbors, our family, and other friends.  Nobody dropped a clue.  I showed up at our house Saturday night after a day of making Korv (a Swedish Christmas sausage) expecting to take a shower and head out with Leanne and a couple of friends to celebrate over dinner.  When I walked in the house, I was greeted with a house full of friends.  It was such a wonderful opportunity to touch base with some people who mean a lot to me.

There were many highlights to this evening, but I wanted to share a particular detail with The Stretched Community.  One of our good friends, Amy Sullens, made a cake for the party.  Amy did an incredible job representing me on the cake.  On top of the cake was a running shoe (that looked quite realistic).  The shoe obviously represents my running interest.  The Happy 40 Birthday sign on the front of the cake looked just like a runner’s race bib.  On the left side of the cake was a tent and a campfire which represents my love for camping and a couple of camping traditions that go with me each year.  There were two chickens on the back of the cake.  Yep, I still have a couple of chickens.  And finally, the right side of the cake boasted a laptop computer with Stretched by Jon Stolpe on the screen.  My blog made my cake!

All this, and the cake was delicious!

What four things would go on your cake to represent you?  They can be fun things, or you can choose to go deeper.

(If you’re interested in cakes like this, you should check out the Cake Art by Amy Facebook Page.)

The Stretched Blog Visits The Handwritten

Today, I have the honor of guest posting over at The Handwritten.  The Handwritten is a blog by my friend Michael Perkins.  Michael is a creative pastor, blogger, husband, and dad.  Everyday, Michael posts a handwritten thought.  I love his creativity and honesty, and I consistently am challenged by these thoughts.  Please check out his blog and my guest post which is titled Stop & Start.  Then do me a favor and leave a comment.  Thanks!

Michael Perkins from The Handwritten

(Regarding guest posting, I love opportunities to guest post as it provides another opportunity to “stretch” me, so contact me through the comments if this is something that interests you.  And I love to share others stretch stories and guest posts, so let me know if that’s something that interests you as well.)

December 10th, 2011 Week In Review…

These weeks keep blowing by at a rapid pace.  This week was a milestone week.  I turned 40 on Thursday, and the Stretched blog is having one of the best weeks ever.  Here’s a recap of the week.

Monday, I kicked off the week with a post about my reading list for 2012.  Thanks to all of you who gave me ideas to add to my list of consideration.  If you missed it, please stop by and add your recommendations.  On Tuesday, I shared about our families Christmas ornament tradition.  I really appreciated hearing about your favorite family ornaments and Christmas tree traditions.  Wednesday’s post paid tribute to my Grandpa and his legacy.  Thursday was my birthday.  I appreciated all the birthday greetings through the comments and on Facebook.  Finally, we finished the week off on Friday with another holiday Ice Breaker where we learned about everyone’s favorite Christmas songs and carols.  As always, I’m thankful for all of you who stopped by and left a comment or just checked things out.

I am so thankful for your contribution to the blog through comments.  Your comments are what makes this Stretched Community!  Please remember to take the time to Subscribe to the blog, so you can have Stretched delivered daily to your e-mail inbox.  Also, don’t forget to stop by the Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook fan page.  Become a fan to keep up with some additional Stretched stuff.  Thanks!

A few of my favorite posts from the rest of the blogging community this week:

• 15 Christmas Ideas for Your Small Group by Ben Reed on Life & Theology
• Distinctives of the Three Types of Small Group Connecting Events by Mark Howell on Mark Howell Live
• What to Do When You’re Drowning in a Sea of a Million Blogs by Don McAllister on Jeff Goins Writer
• A How to for a Great Interview by Brad Lomenick on Brad Lomenick On The Journey

How about you?  How was your week?  If you’re a blogger what happened over your way this week?  Did you read any great blog posts this week?  Share with the rest of us!

Ice Breaker – Christmas Songs and Carols

It’s that time of the week again…time for an ice breaker question!  In keeping with last week’s theme, I’m going to stay with a Christmas related question again this week.  For those of you who are new or who forgot, ice breaker questions are used to help people get to know each other – to “break the ice” so to speak.  I love hearing what other people have to say and how they think.  So for today, I’m throwing out another simple ice breaker question.  I’ll answer it first, then it’s your turn.  Answer the question by leaving a comment for us all to enjoy.  Thanks!

Question:  What is your favorite Christmas song or carol?

My Answer:  Here you go….

I think I’ll answer this twice.  My first answer will be my favorite secular Christmas song, and the second is my favorite Christmas song that you might hear on the local pop radio station.  For my first song, it may surprise you to know that I really like the song, In A Bleak Midwinter.  Before you get to flustered let me explain.  I realize it’s not the most up beat song, but the words of this song speak volumes – especially the last verse:

1.	In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
	earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
	snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
	in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2.	Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
	heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
	In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
	the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. 

3.	Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
	cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
	but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
	worshiped the beloved with a kiss. 

4.	What can I give him, poor as I am?
	If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
	if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
	yet what I can I give him:  give my heart.

And my favorite Christmas radio classic?  Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.  How can you beat the saxophone solo and the part when Bruce tells Clarence that Santa might bring him a new saxophone.  How can you beat that?

So there you have it, my answer to the question.  Now it’s your turn….I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say!

It’s 40!

Yesterday, I shared about my Grandpa, and I mentioned that I think about him every year at this time.  The reason I think about him especially today is that we share a birthday – today!  Yep, that’s right, the Stretched blogger turns 40 today.  How did that happen?

As I consider this milestone, I’m thankful.  I’m thankful for all the life I’ve experienced so far and for the life that lies ahead for me.  I’m grateful for the people that God has placed in my life.  And I’m so thankful for a God who loves me in the ups and downs, the goods and the bads, and in my successes and failures.  Today’s Psalm applies perfectly to my thoughts for the day.

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD; 
   he turned to me and heard my cry. 
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 
   out of the mud and mire; 
he set my feet on a rock 
   and gave me a firm place to stand. 
³ He put a new song in my mouth, 
   a hymn of praise to our God. 
Many will see and fear the LORD 
   and put their trust in him.

 ⁴ Blessed is the one 
   who trusts in the LORD, 
who does not look to the proud, 
   to those who turn aside to false gods.
⁵ Many, LORD my God, 
   are the wonders you have done, 
   the things you planned for us. 
None can compare with you; 
   were I to speak and tell of your deeds, 
   they would be too many to declare.

 ⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— 
   but my ears you have opened— 
   burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 
⁷ Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— 
   it is written about me in the scroll. 
⁸ I desire to do your will, my God; 
   your law is within my heart.”

 ⁹ I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; 
   I do not seal my lips, LORD, 
   as you know. 
¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; 
   I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. 
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness 
   from the great assembly.

 ¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; 
   may your love and faithfulness always protect me. 
¹² For troubles without number surround me; 
   my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. 
They are more than the hairs of my head, 
   and my heart fails within me. 
¹³ Be pleased to save me, LORD; 
   come quickly, LORD, to help me.

 ¹⁴ May all who want to take my life 
   be put to shame and confusion; 
may all who desire my ruin 
   be turned back in disgrace. 
¹⁵ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” 
   be appalled at their own shame. 
¹⁶ But may all who seek you 
   rejoice and be glad in you; 
may those who long for your saving help always say, 
   “The LORD is great!”

 ¹⁷ But as for me, I am poor and needy; 
   may the Lord think of me. 
You are my help and my deliverer; 
   you are my God, do not delay.

Psalm 40

How do you celebrate and process the milestones in your life?

My Grandpa

Grandpa and The Stolpe Boys

When I get to this time of year, I often think about my Grandpa Stolpe.  (I’ll tell you why tomorrow.)  My Grandpa passed away a few years ago, and he is missed by his whole family.  Grandpa has two kids, seven grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.  I’m sure each one of us would have a different perspective on our grandfather, and I wanted to share a little bit about my take on the man my cousin calls Big Grey.

Grandpa was first and foremost a follower of Christ.  He lived it.  He breathed it.  He provided a clear example that Christ should come first in our lives.  I remember Grandpa leading us in prayer and Bible reading when we sat down for breakfast when we were there for a visit.  He was always involved at church.  And he had a huge heart for missions and bringing God’s love to everyone around the world.  As we sat down for breakfast, I remember Grandma and Grandpa praying specifically for missionaries around the world.

Grandpa was a killer croquet player.  Whenever we went over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the croquet set would come out of the garage and the croquet match to end all croquet matches would begin.  Grandpa knew the rules like the back of his hand, and he was always quick to teach us the correct way to play the game.  After Grandpa beat the rest of us around the croquet course, he would go back and knock out the older cousins so the younger grandchildren could win.

Grandpa had a great sense of humor.  Some of my cousins and siblings might argue with me on this, but this is something I carry with me.  Grandpa had a desire to make everyone laugh.  He always had a corny joke or response that broke the ice and made you chuckle.  For example, when the cantaloupe came out, he would say, “I can’t elope.  I’m already married to Grandma.”  Or if we had nectarines, he would say “I don’t neck with Irene; I neck with Grandma.”  I’m proud to say that I picked up some of that humor.

Grandpa was Swedish.  Grandpa knew how to speak Swedish.  He shared the Swedish traditions with our family – especially the Christmas Swedish traditions.  I big part of celebrating Christmas is eating the Swedish food.  I attribute this to my Grandma and Grandpa.  At Grandpa’s funeral, they even sang a Swedish hymn.

Grandpa was an incredible example.  After his faith, his marriage was always his top priority.  He and Grandma were a team.  They complimented each other well.  They put each other first before their own interests and needs.  Grandpa would do anything for Grandma.  After his faith and Grandma, family was a top priority.  He would do anything for all of us.  He always wanted the best for each one of us.  He and Grandma prayed consistently for each one of us.  Grandpa had a special relationship with each of us.  When we showed up for a visit, he showed us off like we were movie stars.

I share about my Grandpa to brag, to share, and to remember.

Who in your life to you want to remember and why?

Our Christmas Ornament Tradition

My first Christmas ornament from 1971

I love this time of year when we break out the family traditions related to the Christmas season.  One of the traditions that I love is when we put up the Christmas tree and decorate it with special ornaments.  Each year, we give our kids a “special” ornament that represents something about their year.  This year, our daughter received a canoe ornament from the Christmas shop in Mont Tremblant.  This ornament will help her remember the fun we had on our family vacation to Canada this summer when she paddled around a small lake in a canoe with her brother.  Our son received a ski gondola ornament also from the Christmas shop in Mont Tremblant.  This ornament will help him remember our hike to the top of Mont Tremblant and the easy trip down in the gondola.

We’ve been doing this tradition since the kids were born, so they are starting to develop quite a collection of these “special” ornaments.  Each year when we set up the tree, they take turns hanging up their ornaments and reminding us all about their ornaments and the memories that are associated with each of them.  It’s a fun tradition!

They're almost as tall as the tree! How did that happen?

I can’t tell you that Leanne and I thought of this on our own, because that wouldn’t be true!  My parents actually carried out the same tradition for my brothers and me.  I still have all my ornaments from when I was a kid, and yes, I still hang them up every year.  And I think my kids actually enjoy hearing the stories associated with my ornaments.  As we were hanging up our ornaments this year, we wondered if the tradition would carry on to our grandchildren some day.  I hope so!

Do you have any tree trimming traditions at your house?  What is one of the “special” ornaments that you hang on your tree every year?

Leaders Are Readers – Creating My Reading List For 2012

“Leaders are readers.”

I’ve heard Tim Sanders quote this in several interviews on the radio and on podcasts.

It seems to me that there is a lot of truth to this statement.  When we feed our minds (with good stuff), we fill it up with tools that are useful for leading and for life.  With this in mind, I am beginning to assemble a list of potential books to consider reading in 2012.  I should let you know that I’m generally a slow and very deliberate reader, so I’m planning to narrow the list down to twelve with a couple of alternates.  Here are some of the books that I’m considering so far:

The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

Today We Are Rich by Tim Sanders

The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon

Community:  Taking Your Small Group Off Life Support by Brad House

Creating Community:  Five Keys To Building A Small Group Culture by Andy Stanley

So these are a few of my ideas.  I will most likely throw in a fiction book or two (or three).

Now I’d like to hear your thoughts.  What would you add to the list?  What’s on your “To Read List”?  What have you read recently that you think I should consider?  I can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

December 3rd, 2011 Week In Review…

We’ve come to another weekend, and I have to say that this week didn’t let me down.  It was busy, it was challenging, and it was fun!  I hope you had a great week as well.  As I look forward to what is sure to be a great weekend, I just wanted to recap the week.

After a slower week last week due to the holidays, it appears that people came back to the Stretched blog as they’ve returned to their regular blog reading routines.  It also looks like we may have picked up a new reader or two.  As always, I’m thankful for all of you who stopped by and left a comment or just checked things out.  Monday’s post was a recap of my Thanksgiving Marathon experience.  I really appreciated the encouragement of so many of you who cheered me on despite being miles away.  On Tuesday, I shared my thoughts about our recent visit to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero.  Wednesday featured my thoughts about seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway.  Thursday, I shared my monthly recap post on what went down in November.  Friday finished things off with another fun Ice Breaker about Christmas movies.  This week we learned that It’s A Wonderful Christmas Story when you go on Vacation with an Elf and The Muppets.  Check these posts out if you missed something this week.

Thanks a million for your contribution to the blog through comments.  I’m hoping to catch up on returning comments this weekend.  I love what you all contribute to this Stretched Community!  I just wanted to remind you all to take the take to Subscribe to the blog, so you can have Stretched delivered daily to your e-mail inbox.  Also, don’t forget to stop by the Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook fan page.  Become a fan to keep up with some additional Stretched stuff.  Thanks!

A couple of my favorite posts from the rest of the blogging community this week:

• THE Blog Post by Matt Cannon on The Seeking Pastor
• Underwear For Three Days by Rob Shep

How about you?  How was your week?  If you’re a blogger what happened over your way this week?  Did you read any great blog posts this week?  Share with the rest of us!