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The Science Of Why Storytelling Is So Powerful

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

Stories are powerful. They draw us in and they make us feel.

The experience of hearing or watching a story is processed in our brains differently than when we simply are given facts.

When we hear facts or read information, it hits our “language processing” parts of the brain where we decode words into meaning. And that’s it. Nothing special happens.

But when we hear a story, something very different happens. Not only are the language processing parts of the brain activated, but also the parts of our brain that we would use if we were actually experiencing the events of the story ourselves.

A good story can put your whole brain to work.

I remember some particularly memorable stories from my growing up years in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s… Read More

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Stories With Mischief & Little Bits Of Trouble

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

This time of year makes me think of a story that happened a few years ago…

Shari and I were on a double date with some friends. After dinner, the date took a nosedive when we ended up at Ross (you know, as in “Dress For Less”). I was trying to make the best of it by finding random, ridiculous items for sale in the store.

The girls walked around the store together, so I stuck with my friend. He found some socks to buy and we stood in line, waiting behind several people. I noticed a bin of VHS movies near the checkout line and one of them caught my eye: 1987’s Buns of Steel workout video… Read More

I love the bible

I Love The Bible

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

It is said that after Jacob wrestled with God, he walked with a limp.

So it has been with the Bible and me.

I have wrestled with the Bible, and it has left me with a limp.

But I am glad. I am glad because this limp has slowed me down a bit. It has humbled me. It has forced me to stop running so fast and sure down the path of certainty that I forget to listen, to pay attention, to ask questions, to build altars, to wait… Read More

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Happy Friday To You

- - Fun / Humor, Uncategorized

Did you have a fantastic Halloween? I did. I even have some leftover candy—which brings me to my first point…

 

1. FREE—LEFTOVER HALLOWEEN CANDY.

I’m not joking. And I’m not talking about all the nasty stuff that nobody wants. This is the good stuff—and it’s from this year, not last year… Read More

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Things I Dislike About Ministry Pt. 3

- - Life With God, Popular, Uncategorized

“Work it, make it, do it—makes us harder, better, faster, stronger.”            —Kanye West, Stronger

I really do wish ministry was always “Work it, make it, do it—makes us harder, better, faster, stronger,” but the truth is, sometimes it’s also, “Work it, make it, do it—and we still end up with little or no progress at all.”

What I mean is this: the smallness of our actual impact is a discouraging reality.

It’s not always bigger, better, breakthroughs, and bomb-diggityness. Despite our hard work and urgency, we haven’t healed the world (or ourselves, or the individuals in our churches). The actual impact of our efforts is smaller than we’d like. And slower too… Read More

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Things I Dislike About Ministry Pt. 2

- - Life With God

Are you interested in the full time ministry? You might want to enroll in some acting classes. There’s quite a bit of acting that goes into being a pastor or ministry leader in the church.

We act like we didn’t see that movie.

We act like we don’t know that Miley Cyrus / Kanye West / Lady Gaga song.

We act like we’ve already learned every one of life’s most important lessons.

We act like there’s a solid Bible answer for every question.

We act like we believe everything we preach… Read More

Things I Dislike About Ministry TITLE BAR

Things I Dislike About Ministry Pt. 1

- - Life With God

This is not me being all complainy, and I have no intention of dogging on the ministry. The truth is, I love ministry. In fact, in my 20 years of full-time ministry, I’ve never once wanted out or spent a moment fantasizing about an alternate career. I’ve experienced ups and downs, heartbreaks and victories, normalcy and all kinds of weirdness… and I love it. I’m thankful for this thing I get to do called “ministry.”

Maybe you think I shouldn’t do what I’m about to do. You might suggest I talk about ministry like Bruno Mars sings about his “Just The Way You Are” girl…

Oh, you know, you know, you know I’d never ask you to change. If perfect’s what you’re searching for, then just stay the same. So don’t even bother asking if you look okay; you know I’ll say… When I see your face, there’s not a thing that I would change, ’cause you’re amazing just the way you are.

Sorry. I can’t do that… Read More