Plans For Hope And Future

 How does it change your life and perspective knowing that God has plans to give you hope?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and The Weekend Brew.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.

Strive, Stretch, Strain…HOPE

Striving.  Stretching.  Straining.

What are you striving, stretching, and straining towards?

Ice Breaker – International Cuisine

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.

Last night, Leanne and I went to a Guatemalan restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Antigua Guatemala in Phoenixville, PA was a great place to experience a little flavor for the country we’ll be visiting this summer.  (Stay tuned for more information on a possible fund-raising dinner opportunity at this unique place for an international taste.)  Our dinner inspired this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker.

Question:  What’s your favorite international cuisine?  Where do you go to get your favorite international cuisine?  Do you make it at home?  Do you have a favorite restaurant?

My Answer:  Mexican food is one of the favorites at our house.  If I’m going out, I enjoy Japanese food – especially sushi.  I’m a big fan of the rolls with spicy tuna, avocado, and eel.  But I also like trying new things when I go out.  I’ve never tried making sushi, but I can see how that might be a fun thing to try sometime.

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!  (Feel free to share links.)

Closed Mouth, Open Heart – Guest Post by Amy Mable

Today, I’m honored to present guest blogger, Amy Mable.  After you read Amy’s STRETCH story below, please join the conversation in the comments then head over to her blog – Pentriloquist.  For more information about Amy, see her bio at the end of this post.

(If you’re interested in sharing your STRETCH story here as a guest blogger, let me know in the comments, so we can connect.)

Closed Mouth, Open Heart – Stretching Towards A Deeper Understanding

For much of my childhood, I had God and the taxpayers of the U.S. to thank for providing a roof over my head and food on the table. A “treat” for us was an Archway oatmeal cookie on the way home from the grocery store and I remember take out pizza just once. We were well below the poverty level. I remember one winter we ran out of kerosene for the furnace and my mother had to call all our relatives to ask for help. To say I dreamed of a different life as a grown up would be an understatement.

Today, my life is very different. Having only bare necessities and nothing extra, every little bit of work improved my life. Having a warm home year round and cable television provided tons of motivation, and the work built endurance within me to face harder challenges. It set an example for my children and it made me stronger.

So, when I say I believe government assistance programs should be carefully administered – it isn’t because I begrudge anyone a warm home or food on their dinner table. I just know that having “almost” enough motivated me to do whatever it took to get “enough.” I don’t want anyone stuck in poverty without the hope of being able to make things better. I thought that without that hope, people would just give up. I believed in the mantra, “Leave no man behind!”

As a result, I aligned myself with fiscally conservative policies. I had no bitterness or resentment toward poor people, I wanted hope for everyone. And I wanted real help for those that couldn’t make it out – a safe and warm place to sleep, food on their table, the ability to see a doctor when they were sick.

I wanted people to understand, but they didn’t. The popular opinion was that people “like me” begrudged single moms and poor children the help they needed. No matter how loud I said, “That isn’t what I mean or feel,” it was the message that was coming across.

“So, stop saying it. You’re not delivering the hope I have for people, you’re hurting them.. just stop!” God convicted me of the message I was sending. It was the world’s message, not his, and it was hurting the very people I wanted to help.

“How important is it that you hold onto this?” I could feel God speaking to my heart. “Is it more important to be vindicated? Because, this isn’t my work for you. It’s distancing those in need from my love, provision, and peace. I want you to let it go. Stop being known by your politics, but as my daughter. Hold your tongue. Reach beyond the shame of your financial poverty and grab onto the real riches I provide.”

Initially, it seemed too “holy” for me. I’m a practical person, but it rang true. I knew He was the source of my peace. I had that peace even as a child in a poor family, but somewhere along the way… the farther I was removed from those days of poverty, the less I remembered the peace in the midst of it all.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:26-27

God has been stretching my muscles – literally. The ones under my chin. The ones pulled taut when my mouth is shut. It’s uncomfortable at times, but I can’t tell you how much better I feel after a good “stretch.” I’m never sorry. It’s improved the circulation of God’s inspiration, enhanced my flexibility (I was quite rigid in the past), and I can reach things that I could never grasp before.

How has God revealed a higher level of understanding that stretched you beyond your experiences?

Love Works Wednesday Link Up Week 5 – Unselfish

Today, we continue the  Wednesday series based on Love Works by Joel Manby.  In today’s post, Bill Grandi (The Cycleguy) and I are discussing the six chapter (Unselfish:  Think Of Yourself Less).  Check out Bill’s take by clicking here.

As a reminder, Manby’s premise is that leadership is best when it comes from a position of agape love based on I Corinthians 13 (“…[love] is not self-seeking”).  Since I already read the book, I thought it would be interesting to highlight some of the sentences I underlined when I read the book initially:

• “Being unselfish doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself – it means thinking of yourself less.” (p. 88)
• “If we are unable to be selfless in our personal life, we are unlikely to be unselfish as a leader, and unselfishness is a key component of leading with love.” (p. 93)
• “The crazy thing about giving is this:  when we give, we never know what might happen.  Often giving provides the giver with unexpected blessings – as well as making the world a better place.”  (p. 95)
• “Being unselfish isn’t just for individuals – it’s for organizations too.  As leaders we’ve been blessed with resources, and part of our responsibility is to pass it on or “share it forward.”  The gift of leadership brings with it the awesome responsibility of giving properly of our time and resources but also of being a steward of giving for the organization.”  (p. 98)
• “Giving time and talent to develop internal leaders is another important reflection of being unselfish in an organization.”  (p. 100)
• “If we become numb to the needs of our employees, their performance and ability to satisfy our customers will diminish over time, compromising the very “numbers” we were obsessed with.”  (p. 101)
• “’Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.'”  (p. 102)
• “Unselfishness sometimes means letting others lead.”  (p. 106)

This is a tough one.  I don’t know many people who aren’t at least a little self-centered.  We live in a “look at me” culture.  Most of us have tunnel vision on what is best for ourselves.

We don’t put others first.  It takes focus and discipline to look past our own desires to the needs of others.

And it doesn’t take long to see this in the world around us.  Sports stars on the field or on the court pound their chests after a play as if to say “Look at me; I’m the man.”  Most politicians are looking out for their own interests instead of finding ways to compromise for the betterment of society as a whole.  And in the business world, it’s a dog eat dog world where people climb over one another to get to the top even if it means stepping on someone or even ruining someone’s career.

I probably shouldn’t state this as a blanket statement as I have met tremendous people who clearly have the interest of others in mind, but this doesn’t seem to be the norm.

I’m guilty of being selfish, and I bet if you’re honest with yourself, you’re guilty of selfishness as well.  I don’t want to be this way.  I want to be known for thinking of others first.  I want to treat others the way I would want to be treated.  So how do we do this?  Instead of coming up with a seven step process for becoming unselfish, I think it really comes down to one thing:

Follow Jesus.

That’s it.  You see he was a servant.  He put others first.  He put the interests of others ahead of his interests.  He was unselfish.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:1-11

And this is how we should lead and live our lives.  If we follow Jesus in selfless living, we will change our homes, our schools, our places of employment.  And we will change the world.

Over the next four weeks, Bill and I will continue to explore love based leadership.  I hope you’ll read along, jump into the comments, and maybe even change the way you lead.  Until then, consider getting a copy of Love Works for yourself, and see how this book might change you and your leadership.

What is one thing you can do differently this week to become a more unselfish leader?  How have you been led with selfless, love-based leadership?

A Tidal Wave Of Generosity

Part of my adventure to Guatemala last year included the construction of a house in Xenacoj (Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sacatepequez).  We built this house with 25 teenagers and 6 adults in two and a half days.  It was an experience I will never forget.  Part of the reason for our success was the leadership of Joshua Crabbs (pictured with me above).  Through his ministry with Casas por Cristo, he has helped to build hundreds of houses for needy families in Guatemala and Mexico.

Another reason for our success was the generosity of The Stretched Community.  Through your generous giving, The Stretched Community donated $8,000 which paid for the materials necessary to build this house.  (Click here to read more.)

This year, our family is heading back to the same village in hopes of making a difference for children, widows, and families.  We’re raising money and saving money to cover the costs of going on this trip.  So far, we’re about 27% of the way towards covering the estimated costs of the trip (estimated at $5,000).

We also set out a goal of raising $8,750 to feed hot lunch to 200 children for six months.  (We also set a STRETCH goal of raising $17,500 to feed these children for a whole year.)  Yesterday was a milestone day in reaching this target.  We received our first gift towards this goal.  A gift of $40 was generously given by someone in The Stretched Community.

To put it in understandable terms, $40 will provide hot lunch to one child for 114 days (over 22 weeks).  $40 will provide hot lunch to 114 children on one day.  $40 will provide hot lunch for 22 children for one week.  $40 may seem like a drop in a bucket compared to the goals listed above, but it’s huge.  $40 literally has the ability to change lives for children in Xenacoj.

It’s my prayer that this will be the start of a tidal wave of generosity.  Just like a small spark from a match can start a massive fire, a simple gift can be the spark that changes Xenacoj forever.

To find out more about how you can join the tidal wave, click here.  Thank you!

Be generous: Invest in acts of charity.
Charity yields high returns.

Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (The Message)

 

When The Treadmill Stops Suddenly – 5 Tips For Handling Life Stopping Experiences

I’ve been logging running mileage again, and it feels great.  Most of my miles these days are happening on the treadmill at the gym thanks to the cold weather and early morning darkness that blankets our area at this time of the year.

The other day, I was up early running a quick 4.5 miles at our local YMCA.  I had the treadmill ramped up to 7.8 miles per hour (which for me is a pretty decent pace).  While I’m on the treadmill, I listen to podcasts and glance up at the televisions to see the latest sports highlights and news updates.  About a mile into my run as I was lost in my own world, the treadmill suddenly stopped.

Imagine driving your car at 65 miles an hour and it suddenly stops completely.  Or imagine riding your bicycle at 15 miles an hour when someone jams a stick in your spokes.

This is how it felt when the treadmill stopped for me.  I somehow managed to catch myself before a complete catastrophe occurred.  The guy running next to me commented, “Wow!  Nice catch.”  I tried to get the treadmill back up and running, but it wouldn’t power up and restart.  I switched treadmills and continued my workout.

Sometimes life is like this.  We are coasting along when something happens in our lives that brings things to a screeching halt.  It’s happened in my life a few times – like the time I crashed my car two weeks before my wedding, like when my wife was rushed to the hospital shortly after our son was born, and like the moment I learned that my grandfather had passed away six years ago.

I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I’ve learned a few things through life events like these.

1. Hang on.  Sometimes this is all we can do.  When we don’t understand, when we don’t know the plan, we can trust God and hang on to His hand.  I remember asking during these times, “Why?”  Even in the toughest moments, we must remember that He will never leave us.
   

   “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Joshua 1:5

2. Trust God.  In times like this, I’ve gone back to Proverbs 3:5-6 as a promise that God will make my paths straight even when life doesn’t make sense.
   

   Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

3. Lean into family and friends.  I can’t tell you how much family and friends have meant to our family when life’s train seems to have derailed.  It helps to know that someone is praying for me, is willing to talk or listen as I wrestle through the challenges of life, and is willing to be there when I can’t fully focus on my daily needs.  If you’re missing this in your own life, I’d encourage and challenge you to seek out this kind of friendship.  Our church small group experience has provided many of these types of friendships.
4. Consider a change.  Sometimes a life stopping experience can be the catalyst to positive change in our lives.  This week, I switched treadmills.  Maybe these experiences are a call to change direction.
   

   “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

5. Learn and grow.  Life halting experiences can be life altering experiences if we take time to learn and grow.  This is why I recommend a journal or even a blog as a way to record life’s happenings.  I have learned so much through the major speed bumps of life and the blog and my journal have become great places to record and process these experiences.

I returned to the gym this morning to run more on the treadmill.  I’m sure I was a bit more cautious, but I’m ready to keep going.  I’m thankful for the reminder that a simple treadmill experience can provide.  I have no idea what the rest of the day holds, but I look ahead with confidence knowing that it will be okay no matter what transpires.

What have you learned from a life stopping experience?  What other tips do you have for handling these kinds of times?

Faith, Hope, and Love

I often share a quote about hope – one of the three things that remain according to I Corinthians 13.  But the greatest of these three is love.  As we enter this week when many will be celebrating romantic love, may we love in a way that represents Paul’s words well.

How have you experienced faith, hope, and love this week?  How can you share love with others in the week ahead?

Today, I’m hooking up with The Sunday Community and The Weekend Brew.  Hop on over here and here to see what I’m talking about.

(Come back Wednesday, when I continue a discussion with Bill Grandi based on Love Works a great leadership book by Joel Manby.)

Drew Brees Quote

We spend so much time tracking our stats and trying to do better.  We track the traffic to our blogs.  We track our social media Klout scores.  We track the number of followers, friends, and likes we rack up.  I’m guilty of it.  I want to know if I’m expanding my reach.

But at some point, it becomes too much.  I want to be more than a number.  I want to achieve dreams that go beyond records and one-up-man-ship.  When I think about hope, it’s so much more than a number.  I hope we all aim higher.

How have numbers gotten in the way of reaching for bigger hopes?

Ice Breaker – Watching

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.

First, it was reading.  Last week, it’s listening.  And this week, it’s watching.

Question:  What are you watching these days?  Movies?  TV Shows?  Sports?  Videos?

My Answer:  I’ve definitely cut my television and movie viewing down over the past several years, but I’m still watching a few things when I get a chance.  This past weekend, I saw Lincoln with my wife at one of our local movie theaters.  I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser when I get a chance.  More than these, I’ve enjoyed watching my son’s basketball games.  His team finished the regular season undefeated, and they won their first playoff game last night.

And here are a couple of videos that I’ve enjoyed recently from YouTube.

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!  (Feel free to share links.)