Exempla

26/10/2024

Leonardo da Vinci was a genius. But one of his artistic endeavors got the better of him. I want to tell you about Leonardo’s horse, a giant sculpture that did not end up like Leonardo intended. It was a project that some people say haunted him until the day he died. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/26/leonardo-da-vincis-giant-horse/

12/10/2024

My seventh birthday was a disaster. It came during a move for my family, a move that did not go as smoothly as we hoped. But it’s funny how we can have good memories of unpleasant experiences. Reflecting on that miserable birthday makes me profoundly thankful and helps me think about what really matters in a child’s life. Listen now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/12/the-worst-birthday-ever/

21/09/2024

What can you learn from a dead fish? You might be surprised. Samuel Scudder was certainly surprised by his fish encounter when he started studying under the renowned scientist Louis Agassiz. Let me tell you Scudder’s story and challenge you to ponder the valuable spiritual lesson that fish can help us consider. Listen to “Look at Your Fish!” now on your favorite podcast player or at https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/21/look-at-your-fish/.

07/09/2024

Olympic middle-distance runners can run a mile in under four minutes. They are phenomenal athletes, but in many ways, they are just like the rest of us. Let me tell you the story of a race at this summer’s Olympics, the rivalry that fueled it, and the lesson we can learn from the result. Listen to this first episode of Season 3 of Exempla now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/07/theres-no-medal-for-fourth-place/

05/09/2024

I’m deeply grateful to Scott Pauley for writing the Foreword to The Christian Storyteller. He is such a great example of someone who uses stories well as he shares God’s Word. I can’t wait for the book to come out later this month! christianstorytellerbook.com

03/09/2024

God is a storyteller… and so are you! The Christian Storyteller is a guide for using stories to point others to God’s truth. Make plans to get your copy September 18. Pre-order the ebook now: www.amazon.com/Christian-Storyteller-Using-Stories-Eternal-ebook/dp/B0DFTSVF68/

31/08/2024

Listen to a special bonus episode of Exempla to hear the introduction to The Christian Storyteller, coming September 18. We can all be effective storytellers who points others to the truth of God’s Word. Learn more at christianstorytellerbook.com. Listen to the episode at exemplapodcast.com.

30/08/2024

Who is the hardest person for you to get along with in your church? It’s important to realize they are still a part of the body of Christ. The fictional story of Jimmy helps us consider how difficult it can be to accept that truth. Listen to “Necessary Members” now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/24/necessary-members-replay/.

24/08/2024

Sometimes, church is hard. There can be members you don’t like very much or people who just don’t seem to fit. What do we do when it feels like the church would be better off without some of its members? This is a story about a woman who thinks one man in her church might be more trouble than he’s worth. Is she right? Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/24/necessary-members-replay/

17/08/2024

In your life, how have you seen that “God governs in the affairs of men”? It’s true, whether we see it or not. Listen to “Master Plan” for a story about how a stamp, a volcano, a French engineer, and the Congress of the United States were all part of a world-shaping historical episode. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/10/master-plan-replay/

17/08/2024

In your life, how have you seen that “God governs in the affairs of men”? It’s true, whether we see it or not. Listen to “Master Plan” for a story about how a stamp, a volcano, a French engineer, and the Congress of the United States were all part of a world-shaping historical episode.

10/08/2024

It doesn’t surprise us that a volcanic eruption could shape history, but what about a postage stamp? Sometimes small things make a big splash. Listen to this story about the origin of the Panama Canal and learn a lesson about the influences that decide the course of history. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/10/master-plan-replay/

03/08/2024

Have you ever lost something precious, only to realize your sorrow was actually God’s grace? We need to learn to trust the way God gives… and the way He takes away. Listen to “Brighter Lights” for a challenge about the discrepancy between our view of life and God’s. Listen Now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/27/brighter-lights-replay/

27/07/2024

It’s funny what matters to a little kid. When my son was two years old he loved nothing more than a fire truck, or tow truck, or police cruiser with flashing lights. But take those lights away? In this replay of an episode from season 1, I share a story from when my son was two and his tears taught me something about God’s perspective on my life. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/27/brighter-lights-replay/

20/07/2024

What is the greatest barrier to living an empathetic life? We don’t like setting aside our own feelings to share in the feelings of others. We want others to join in our joys and our sorrows, but we have a hard time joining in the joys and sorrows of others. Listen to “Faithful Henry” to hear a story that makes us think about this important topic. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/13/faithful-henry-replay/ (https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/13/faithful-henry-replay/)


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13/07/2024

Think you know the story of the Frog Prince? Think again. The story was actually originally called “Iron Henry”. In this replay of an episode from season 1, I’ll introduce you to Henry. Henry’s is an odd tale with a surprisingly challenging lesson to teach us. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/13/faithful-henry-replay/

06/07/2024

When have you seen God use you to do something for which you were unqualified? We must not let inconvenience stop us from doing the work of God. For a story about facing a difficult situation head-on, listen to “Not Convenient” now on your favorite podcast player or at https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/29/not-convenient-replay/.

29/06/2024

Wheeler Lipes didn’t join the navy so he could perform emergency surgery while onboard a submarine, but sometimes life brings us challenges we didn’t expect. Lipes wasn’t qualified to save the day, but the situation left him no choice. Listen to the Lipes’s story and learn the lesson he teaches us about doing what needs to be done even when you’re not the right man for the job. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/29/not-convenient-replay/

23/06/2024

What stories have shaped your life? The Bible tells us about God, about ourselves, and about how life really works. And when you start reading it, what do you find? It’s in story form. When God wrote a book, He filled it with stories. Listen to a replay of the first episode of Exempla to learn more about the importance of Christian storytelling. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/15/my-exempla-replay/

15/06/2024

What does Exempla mean? And what does an ancient Jewish feast have to do with the importance of storytelling? This replay of the very first episode of Exempla explains why I started this podcast and where its unusual name came from. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/15/my-exempla-replay/

08/06/2024

Whose lives are most affected by your words? Listen to the latest episode of Exempla for a story about the power of words. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/01/caesar-and-the-pirates/ (https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/01/caesar-and-the-pirates/)

01/06/2024

When he was just twenty-five years old, Julius Caesar got captured by pirates. But it was the pirates, not Caesar, who got more than they bargained for. Listen to the unbelievable story and learn a valuable lesson about the power of words. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/01/caesar-and-the-pirates/

25/05/2024

What place on earth makes you long for Heaven? There is a perfect place, but it’s not in Massachusetts, or Virginia, or Indiana. Listen to my story about a little yellow house that meant the world to me in the most recent episode of Exempla. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/18/ode-to-a-small-yellow-house/

18/05/2024

When I was a kid, there was a place that was, hands down, my favorite place on earth. It was a little yellow house in the mountains of western Massachusetts. Recently, I went back to that magical place. I want to tell you about that visit and what it taught me. Listen now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/18/ode-to-a-small-yellow-house/

It’s a strange feeling—going back to a place after not being there for a long time. Sometimes, the place has changed. Sometimes, you’ve changed. Sometimes, it’s a little of both. It feels like you’…

10/05/2024

What makes it hard for you to listen to someone? When I share God’s truth, I hope that others will be able to look past me and my imperfections to the truth of the message I declare. I need to be gracious enough to do the same for others. Listen to “A Spy’s Warning for Pearl Harbor” (https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/04/a-spys-warning-for-pearl-harbor/) for a story that illustrates this truth.