Exempla

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 Agassiz's fish can help us consider. Get your copy of The Christian Storyteller: https://a.co/d/izDtlgF Episode photos/...

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. Video/pictures/sources: exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/07/theres-no-medal-for-fourth-place/

Do you want to become an effective storyteller who points others to the truth of God’s Word? I want to help. Listen to the introduction to my new book The Christian Storyteller. Learn more at christianstorytellerbook.com.

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? Learn more about The Christian Storyteller: christianstorytellerbook.com Learn m...

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. Learn more about The Christian Storyteller: ⁠christianstorytellerbook.com⁠ Pictures, sources, and transcript for this episod...

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. Transcript: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/27/b...

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. Transcript/source: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/13/faithful-henry-replay/

Wheeler Lipes didn’t join the navy so he could perform emergency surgery while onboard a submarine, but sometimes life brings us challenges we don'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. Pictures, sources, a...

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. Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/15/my-exempla-replay/

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. Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/01/caesar-and-the-pirates/

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. Transcript and pictures: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/18/ode-to-a-small-yellow-house/

In the fall of 1941, a spy came to the United States to warn us about the attack on Pearl Harbor, but records suggest that his warning was largely ignored. Learn why as I tell his story in this episode. We’ll also consider what we can learn from this apparent missed opportunity. Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/04/a-spys-warning-for-pearl-harbor/

When the animals and birds went to war, the bats had a choice to make. Would they side with their fellow furry animals or with their winged companions the birds? Find out in this adaptation of one of Aesop’s fables that teaches us a valuable lesson about loyalty and convictions. Transcript and source: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/04/20/why-bats-live-in-caves/

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 story behind some of those rules and the woman who helped make them a reality. Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/04/06/peanut-butter-on-tri...

In the fall of 2020, my wife and I found ourselves needing to buy a house. The housing market was crazy and it felt like an impossible task, but through our process of house-hunting, I learned a valuable lesson about how we tell the stories of our lives. Transcript and picture: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/03/16/fine-time-to-buy-a-house/

In 1828, veteran missionary Adoniram Judson moved into a makeshift bamboo hut in the jungle and separated himself from the society of others. What drove a faithful servant of God into the depths of despair? Listen to the heart-breaking story and learn a lesson about the challenges of overcoming the paralyzing power of grief. Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/03/02/a-dark-pit-...

Does God care about how we worship Him? Which is more important to God: doing things the right way or doing things for the right reason? In 2 Chronicles 30, King Hezekiah faced a dilemma when he hosted the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Listen to his story and learn an important lesson about our worship. Transcript: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/02/17/dirty-hands-clean-heart/

What would it have been like to witness the Boston Tea Party? Was it a chaotic free-for-all with tea flying in all directions? Not quite. Instead, the rebellious Bostonians who tossed British tea into the harbor shocked onlookers with their calm self-control. Listen to the story and consider a lesson in how we conduct ourselves. (Picture credit: Jesse Costa/WBUR) Transcript and sources: https://ex...

I went skiing for the first time as a ten-year-old kid. The experience taught me some lessons. For one, it taught me that I will never be an olympic skier, but it also taught me an important lesson about music and one role that good Christian songs can play in my life. Transcript and picture: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/01/20/a-song-for-the-ski-slopes/

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—the man who created Sherlock Holmes—wrote a book in 1922 in support of the claim that fairies had been seen and photographed in the British countryside. But how did two photographs taken by a couple of girls in their backyard become the subject of a nation-wide debate and how did Doyle get involved? As we explore this “fairy tale”, we’ll learn some important lessons about wh...

What can we learn from the life of a little fir tree? With a little imagination and some help from a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, quite a lot! Join me for this tale about impatience, regret, and the power of a contented heart. Transcript and source: https://exemplapodcast.com/2023/12/16/the-grumpy-little-fir-tree/

What is a pineapple worth to you? For aristocrats in 17th and 18th century England and France, money was no object when it came to having and displaying pineapples. Why did Europe lose its mind over this singular tropical fruit? Hear the story in this episode and consider a lesson about how we view God’s good gifts. Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2023/11/25/the-pineapple-craze/

None of us enjoy having hard conversations, but when I told my son a frightening story and witnessed his unexpected reaction, I learned a valuable lesson about telling others things they don’t want to hear. Sometimes a simple story can be far more than just a story. Transcript and pictures: https://exemplapodcast.com/2023/11/11/a-hard-story-to-hear/

You might know the moving tale behind the writing of “It is Well With My Soul”, but have you heard what happened to the author, Horatio Spafford, after he wrote his beloved hymn? His is a tragic story, but one that can teach us some valuable lessons. Transcript, pictures, and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2023/10/28/is-it-still-well-with-my-soul/

The fear of missing out can be paralyzing. But when Jesus was presented with an exciting opportunity, how did He respond? Listen to the story and learn a lesson about missed opportunities from Jesus' example. Transcript: https://exemplapodcast.com/2023/10/14/jesus-missed-out/