Category Archives: Stories

The Voice in the Factory

My wife recently shared a podcast episode with me from one of her favorite shows: Atlas Obscura. The episode was on something called Cigar Readers (or Lectors), and it was absolutely fascinating. In the 1800s in Cuba, with around 500 cigar factories in Havana alone, a tradition/movement arose of having a reader in each group.Continue reading “The Voice in the Factory”

What Do We Make of a Life?

On the way back from a camping trip on the coast, I downloaded and listened to a dystopian novel from the 1990s – I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. As I listened, my mind regularly went to The Life of Chuck that Morgan and I saw a few weeks ago. On theContinue reading “What Do We Make of a Life?”

An Invitation for Outsiders & Insiders

Many people have pointed out that one way of looking at the prophet Jonah is as a classic nationalist.  You could say he believes in Israel.  Israel should be first.  He is with the chosen children of God, not the gentiles, and definitely not the Ninevites.  Now, his nationalism… maybe it’s the subtle kind.  He’sContinue reading “An Invitation for Outsiders & Insiders”

Attempted Escape

Yesterday was the first of my two-part sermon series on the Book of Jonah. This is a story about Jonah, and it’s a story about Israel, and it’s a story about me.  And one thing that’s true for all of us, is that the call of God is often clear.  It’s often as clear asContinue reading “Attempted Escape”

The End of the Story – Will Ferrell, Jim Stockdale, and Educators

There’s this movie with Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman called Stranger than Fiction. Have you seen it? If not, you should watch it; it’s excellent.  Will Ferrell is a character in a book that Emma Thompson is writing and there’s this interplay between her story and real life that is creative and thoughtContinue reading “The End of the Story – Will Ferrell, Jim Stockdale, and Educators”

Esther: Who Knows?The Mystery of God

A sermon at Emmaus in the middle of a series on the Old Testament called A Well Worn Path… So this decree is sent out all across the empire.  Jews everywhere, including Mordecai, are horrified.  And so Mordecai sends word to Esther.  Remember Esther is the closest one to the king and she’s secretly Jewish. Continue reading “Esther: Who Knows?The Mystery of God”

Delivered Again

A sermon at Emmaus in the middle of a series on the Old Testament called “A Well Worn Path…” This outcry of Gideon… it’s the outcry of the broken, the unemployed, the lonely, the sick.  It’s the outcry of one who has faced rejection after rejection.  It’s the outcry of you and me when weContinue reading “Delivered Again”

Swimmers, you’re being watched

My two oldest kids swim for the Loomis Basin Dolphins.  Since I wasn’t a swimmer growing up it has taken me a while to learn the ins and outs of how this whole swim team thing works.  It’s a whole different culture with its own unique language and norms.  This year though. I’m fully in. Continue reading “Swimmers, you’re being watched”

Conceive

A sermon at Emmaus in the middle of a series on the Apostles’ Creed called “Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters.” There’s a church in New Jersey called Nassau Church.  It sits on the edge of a college campus along this busy downtown street.  You walk from the street outside, up the wideContinue reading “Conceive”