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Ice Breaker – Note To Self 20 Years Ago

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I 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.

I’m going to try something a little different for this week’s ice breaker question. I’ll be leaving my response on video. This is a great opportunity for me to practice speaking / vlogging. And it also provides an opportunity for The Stretched Community to see a different side of me. Let me know what you think. So here goes….

Question: If you could tell yourself anything 20 years ago, what would you say?

My Answer: You’ll have to watch the video below.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Ice Breaker – Music In Your Head

Last night, we enjoyed Hannah’s season ending track and field banquet. (My wife says I’m writing too much about track and field.) It was a great way to end the season as teammates laughed together and coaches celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s team. One of the coaches said something about one of the senior runners that led me to this week’s ice breaker question. I hope you’ll chime in with your answer.

Question: What kind of music is in your head?

My Answer: I listen to many types of music – hard rock, alternative rock, rap, ska, gospel, and sometimes classical. I’m loving the Lumineers, All Sons & Daughters, Mumford & Sons, and Philip Philips. But lately, I’ve enjoyed getting back to classic rock. There’s something about classic rock that brings me back to my youth. I enjoy listening to bands like Yes, Boston, Van Halen, and CCR. Last weekend as I journeyed to and from the Poconos for my annual camping trip with some great friends from New Jersey, I found myself scanning through the FM tuner in search of another classic rock song. Good times!

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.)

Give Me A Break

Hello, Stretched Community!

I just wanted to let you know that I’m taking a few days off to enjoy the holiday weekend with friends and family. I’ll be back on Tuesday.

In the meantime, how do you enjoy taking a break? What do you do to recharge yourself?

See you next week!

Answers From Me Part 6 – Superhero

A couple of weeks ago, I asked The Stretch Community to ask me anything. And they did! I’ve answered five of the questions so far, and I thought I’d take a stab at another question today. This one comes from Matt McWilliams. Here’s his question:

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?

Also, can I borrow $1 Million?…and by “borrow” I mean “have.”

I would probably go with Superman.

When I was a kid, I thought it would be so amazing to be able to fly. I can remember running down the hallway of our house into the living room and jumping into the couch. I believed that for a brief second I was actually flying. Believe it or not, I’ve felt that feeling on the basketball court a few times (not recently). It’s a feeling that you are floating through the air. But it only lasts for a quick moment. It doesn’t last.

As a kid, I also played with the idea of being invisible. Perhaps, this superpower would be more amazing than flying. You could walk into a room without anyone noticing. I could sneak into the kitchen and get a bowl of ice cream, and I could eat it undetected – as long as nobody was in the kitchen when I came in to see the freezer open and close.

More recently, I’ve thought that it would be helpful if somehow I could be in multiple places at the same time. Especially as our kids are involved in different activities, I would love to be at work, be at home, and be at the track meet or other activity all at the same time. We often joke at the office that the cloning machine is broken.

But in reality, these superpowers remain out of reach. It’s probably a good idea that we can’t do all these things. My guess it that we would have a hard time using these powers selflessly. I’m also guessing that possession of these superpowers would cause us to stray from God. We would fail to realize the amazing power of our Creator.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

So maybe it’s a good thing that I’m not Superman. As for your other question, Matt, I don’t have a million dollars, but I’d gladly buy you a cup of coffee when we get together. Thanks for the question!

And that’s my answer!

Now, it’s your turn. Answer Matt’s question: If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?

Ice Breaker – Vacation Plans

For many, next weekend marks the beginning of summer. People start traveling and taking time off from work to enjoy a break and to spend time with family and friends. This week’s question will get you thinking about the summer ahead and will remind you of summer days of the past.

Question: What are your vacation plans for this summer? What’s one of the best vacations that you have ever experienced?

My Answer: If you have been reading along for a little while, you’ll know our family is planning to go to Guatemala later this summer on a short-term missions trip to the village of Xenacoj. Besides that, we are planning to take a swing through the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) to visit my family who live in that area. In between visits with family, we’re also hoping to hit one of the water parks in the Wisconsin Dells.

As for best vacations experienced, I would say that I really enjoyed the trip that Leanne and I took to France to celebrate our tenth anniversary. We stayed in Paris for two days, the Louvre Valley for two days, the Bordeaux region for two days, near Marseilles for two days, and Lyon for two days. It was wonderful to see the various sites of this beautiful country, and it was refreshing to spend uninterrupted time together with my bride.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.)

Answers From Me Part 5 – Favorite Phillies

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been answering questions that you posed to me in response to an Ice Breaker question. Today’s question comes from TMZ (a Phillies fan who currently lives on the West Coast):

Who’s your favorite current Phillies player? Of all-time?

Okay, I’ll be honest. I haven’t been following the Phillies as closely as I used to especially as they have fallen back into the middle of the pack. I’m still a fan though. And to answer TMZ’s question, I’d have to say that Chase Utley is my favorite current Phillies player. His grit, determination, and pure hustle are a great example for other players to follow.

And my favorite Phillies player of all-time? That’s easy. Michael Jack Schmidt. Schmidt played 3rd base for the Phillies when I moved to the Philadelphia area in 1980, and he is arguably the best 3rd baseman of all-time. He certainly had his flaws as a sports personality in a tough town. But he has stayed with the Phillies since his retirement as a coach and promoter. I’d love to meet him at some point to talk about his faith, his family, and his career. (Tim Gradoville, you were a close second place!)

There you have it, TMZ. Who is your favorite Phillies player (past and present)? If you’re not a Phillies fan, who is one of your favorite players and teams?

Ice Breaker – Mom

This week’s question is inspired by my mom. Sunday is Mother’s Day. We all have something in common. We all have a mom. Here’s an opportunity to share something special about your mom.

Question: What is one thing you appreciate about your mom?

My Answer: There are many things I appreciate about my mom. She’s an amazing cook. She’s such a friendly and caring person. And she’s a great Scrabble player. These are all great things about my mom. But the thing I think I appreciate the most about my mom is her faith. She has an incredible faith in Christ. She knows that she can take everything to God in prayer. My dad who is a pastor will tell you that besides Christ, Mom is his bedrock. Happy Mother’s Day! I love you.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.)

Answers From Me Part 4 – Biblical Dinner Party

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been answering questions that you posed to me in response to an Ice Breaker question. Today’s question comes from Lulu:

If you could have a dinner party with characters from the Bible – which 3 would you invite? (Old or New Testament and not our Savior – as He is there anyways…ha ha.)

Thanks for the question, Lulu! Here’s my answer. David, Daniel, and Peter. All three of these characters from the Bible were leaders and were remembered for their faith. I consider David to be one of the original bloggers. I’d love to tap into his creative mind. I’d also love to meet the man who was known to be after God’s own heart. Daniel also had tremendous faith. I would tap into his inspirational story and learn more about his willingness to take a stand against what was against his beliefs. And Peter was a bit crazy, but his faith is remarkable. Anyone who would willingly get out of a boat in the middle of a storm and attempt to walk on water would be worth listening having at a dinner party.

And that’s my answer!

Now, it’s your turn. Answer my Lulu’s question: If you could have a dinner party with characters from the Bible – which 3 would you invite?

Ice Breaker – Musical Instrument

This week’s question is inspired by my son. On Monday, he will be turning 13, and he already is an accomplished piano and trumpet player. He is talking about following in his grandfather’s footsteps in becoming a music teacher and a piano tuner. He loves music, and he loves playing different musical instruments.

Question: What musical instrument(s) do you (or did you) play? Or what musical instrument do you wish you could play?

My Answer: I took piano lessons for about a year and a half when I was seven or eight. But my main instrument was the saxophone. I started playing when I was in fifth grade, and I played through high school. I played in marching band and concert band, but I especially enjoyed playing in jazz bands. In high school, I played the alto saxophone in a stage band, the tenor saxophone in a dixieland combo, and the soprano saxophone in a jazz combo. My senior year in high school, I went to states for all three of these jazz groups.

I still have the alto saxophone that my grandfather played when he was young. It comes out every once in a while, but I don’t make time to play it as much as I might like to.

As for other instruments, I tinker around with my acoustic guitar on a rare occasion. Maybe when I retire, I’ll have more time to play the guitar, the saxophone, and the piano again. Until then, I play a mean iPod.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.)

Ice Breaker – One Thing, Right Now

Question: What is one thing you could do right now that would improve your life?

My Answer: Sleep more. If I had to guess, I probably average 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night. Studies show that 7 hours a night is much closer to the ideal. And 7 hours of sleep provides most people with much better focus and energy for the day. According to a June 6, 2008 article in Time:

Studies show that people who sleep between 6.5 hr. and 7.5 hr. a night, as they report, live the longest. And people who sleep 8 hr. or more, or less than 6.5 hr., they don’t live quite as long. There is just as much risk associated with sleeping too long as with sleeping too short. The big surprise is that long sleep seems to start at 8 hr. Sleeping 8.5 hr. might really be a little worse than sleeping 5 hr. (Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1812420,00.html#ixzz2RWfzvoVV)

This is a tough one for me to change as I like to burn the candle at both ends. I get up early to run, write, and get ready for the day. And I probably stay up later than I should reading, watching television, or waiting for my teenage kids to go to bed. How can I fit it all in? I’m sure the answer lies in giving up a few things between the time I wake up and the time I go to bed. But what should go? That is the question.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.)

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