Exempla

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. But now, when I go back to that magical place, the joy is mixed with sorrow and it makes me long instead for another, better place. Pictures/transcript

It's easy to make peanut butter. Just grind up a bunch of peanuts and... Voila! But if you try to market and sell your peanut butter in the United States, you'll discover surprisingly strict regulations. In this episode, I'll tell you the surprising story behind some of those rules and the woman who helped make them a reality. Sources/transcript

In 1828, veteran missionary Adoniram Judson left everyone and everything to move into a small hut deep in the jungle. But even when paralyzing grief drove Judson to the brink of despair, his life and ministry were not over. His story holds a lesson for us about the challenges of grief and how we can gently point others to the hope that is always available in God. Pictures/sources/transcript: exemp...

Did you know that the author of Sherlock Holmes believed in fairies? He even wrote a book about it, detailing the supposed photographing of fairies by a couple of girls in a small English town. But how could such a smart man be so gullible? This “fairy tale” holds a lesson for all of us about why we believe what we believe and how to guard against falling for lies. exemplapodcast.com/2025/09/13/ar...

How much would you pay for a pineapple? For aristocrats in 17th and 18th century England and France, money was no object when it came to having and displaying pineapples. I want to tell you how that happened and share a lesson about how we view God’s good gifts. Sources/transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2025/08/30/the-pineapple-craze-replay/

I told a group of kids the story of young boy being saved from a fire. I was not prepared for how deeply my son would be affected by that story. It made me feel like a bad father, but over the next few days, I learned a valuable lesson about telling others things they don’t want to hear. Pictures/Transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2025/08/09/a-hard-story-to-hear-replay/

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen is responsible for turning LEGOs into a global phenomenon. But when Godtfred’s father first told him about his idea for a plastic building block, Godtfred thought it was a terrible idea. In this replay from season 2, there’s a lesson for us about humility and letting go of our obsession with fault-finding and blame. Pictures/source/transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2025/07/...

It’s hard to fathom the suffering and sorrow faced by Horatio and Anna Spafford. Even after facing one of the greatest tragedies of his life, Horatio penned the words to the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”. But Horatio's life took a strange turn that casts a shadow on his legacy. Still, the Spaffords’ sorrow holds some valuable lessons for us today. Pictures/sources/transcript Episode 5 of the Coun...

Why in the world do I have a podcast? Good question. In this fiftieth episode of Exempla, I want to tell you about the series of events that led to me starting this podcast back in 2021. It encourages me to reflect on how God led, and I hope it will encourage you too. Scott Pauley's podcast "Enjoying the Journey" Paul Hastings's podcast "Compelled" Proclaim Podcast Network Episode transcript

When I first met my wife, I was attracted to her—but I thought she was way out of my league. And I was right. But that didn’t keep us from accidentally ending up on a date… that led to a relationship… that led to marriage. In this replay of an episode from season 2, I tell the story of that first date and how maybe it wasn’t as much of an accident as I originally thought. Transcript: exemplapodcas...

When war upends Gladys Aylward’s life, she finds herself responsible for the care of two hundred children. When she discovers there’s a bounty on her head, she leads ninety-four of those children on a daring escape across China. In this final chapter of her story, we ask: What is her legacy—and what can we learn from her life of faith and sacrifice? Listen to Gladys tell her own story Listen to my...

Gladys is finally in Yangcheng, China, where she can begin her missions work. But during her years in Yangcheng, Gladys’s life is going to take some unexpected turns. Through it all, she will learn that God sometimes uses the unexpected and the unconventional to further His work of spreading the gospel. Transcript/sources: exemplapodcast.com/2025/05/10/gladys-aylward-foot-inspector/

Gladys Aylward was a small, unassuming woman from England—but her determination was unmatched. When a missions agency told her they couldn’t send her to China, she simply decided to find another way. In this episode—part one of Gladys’s story—you’ll hear about her incredible journey to China and be challenged by her powerful example of perseverance and faith. Transcript/sources: exemplapodcast.com...

My son broke his arm, and I didn’t know what to do. In the moment, I felt lost, but through all the fear and uncertainty, I learned something about God. This episode is about that day, what it taught me, and the quiet ways God shows us that He is a perfect Father. Transcript/photos: exemplapodcast.com/2025/04/05/running-to-daddy/

What happens to the soul of an Olympic athlete when he in interned at a prison camp during a war in which he has no part? Most would grow bitter or discouraged… but not Eric Liddell. You may know about Eric’s Olympic career from the movie “Chariots of Fire”, but you probably don’t know the story of the moving last chapter of Eric’s life. Pictures/sources/transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2025/03/22/e...

How many doughnuts is too many doughnuts? In Robert McCloskey’s Homer Price, a doughnut machine malfunctions, resulting in a hilariously enormous surplus of doughnuts. In this episode, I share this lighthearted tale and explore how its chaos mirrors the real-life mistakes we make when we stop thinking, stop praying, and simply let circumstances take over. Transcript/pictures: exemplapodcast.com/20...

In the 1980s, Ted Ngoy’s American Dream turned into a nightmare. He unexpectedly started to lose all the things he held most dear… and it was no one’s fault but his own. In this second part of Ted’s story, I explain what happened and share a warning about the power of sin. Pictures/sources/transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2025/02/22/fall-of-the-donut-king/ Podcast artwork photo by Giulio Di Sturco

Ted Ngoy had to flee his home in Cambodia and start fresh in the United States. But even though he arrived as a destitute refugee, Ted managed to leave his mark on the entire LA area. In this first part of Ted's story, I'll tell you why so many doughnut shops in southern California are owned by Cambodians and why Ted Ngoy is known affectionately as the "Donut King". Pictures/sources/transcript: ex...

How much impact does one preacher really have? Walt Coles served as a pastor for decades. He was my pastor during my junior high and high school years. But I don't think I could give you the title of a single sermon he preached. Still, I'm just beginning to come to terms with the profound influence he had on my life. Let me tell you about it. Pictures/transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2025/01/25/just...

On Christmas Eve, 1968, families all over the world gathered to watch a historic TV broadcast from the moon. The crew of Apollo 8 was asked to say “something appropriate” to mark the occasion. In this episode, I tell you about the message they shared with the world and the lessons it teaches us about creation, perspective, and the God who is over all. Pictures/sources/transcript: exemplapodcast.co...

In 1647, Christmas was outlawed in England. Why would Parliament cancel the observance of such a beloved holiday and how did the people respond? It wasn't pretty. I'll tell you the story in this episode and share a lesson about how we choose our battles. Sources/transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2024/12/14/the-plum-pudding-christmas-riots/

Benjamin Franklin had a son. We don’t hear much about William Franklin, possibly because of a decision he made in 1775 that forever changed the relationship between father and son. Let me tell you the story of how Ben and William found themselves on opposite sides of history—and how their story echoes the personal cost of standing by your convictions. Pictures/sources/transcript: exemplapodcast.co...

Some leaders are not worthy of our respect. King Saul was a highly dysfunctional king and he was trying to kill David, but when David had the chance to kill his worst enemy, his response surprised his loyal side-kick Abishai. Let me share the valuable lesson David has to teach us about how and when to honor authority. Transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2024/11/09/a-chance-to-kill-the-king/

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. Pictures/Sources/Transcript: exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/26/leonardo-da-vincis-giant-horse/

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. Order your copy of The Christian Storyteller: https://a.co/d/iBN9WoD Transcr...