Continuing my Storyworth project, here’s how I answered, “Who had the most positive influence on you as a child?” I was blessed to have parents and grandparents, as well as aunts and uncles, on both sides who loved and spent time with me. Since I’ve written about them in other places, I will write here about a few key people who had … Read More
Why Empathy Isn’t the Endgame, Part 2 of 2
Last week, I shared a story of how I discovered that some view empathy as a dirty word. There, I made the case for why empathy, rather than being toxic, is one of the foundational virtues of being a good human. But the story was also about how my friend and I, despite feeling like we were on two different … Read More
Why Empathy Isn’t Toxic, Part 1 of 2
I remember the first time I learned that some view empathy as a dirty word; it was also the first time I began to learn how its meaning can be distorted and misunderstood. It was 2020, that dumpster fire of a year, and I was extolling the importance of the virtue in a conversation with a friend. Surprisingly, he pushed … Read More
What is Equal Rights Institute (ERI)?
Having just transitioned from a vocational season that required a certain amount of peaceful coexistence with dust, some are asking, what is ERI? A simple way my predecessor likes to answer this question is to say… “We help prolife people be less weird.” 😊 I love this line as what he’s provocatively calling out is that, sadly, the prolife movement … Read More
Exclusive Prayer and Ministry Update-043026
Hi friends, It’s been quite some time since I shared a formal ministry update, but I’ve definitely got some big news this week! This is one of God’s surprises that came out of the blue a few months ago and has finally come to fruition. The long and short of it is my dear friend, Josh Brahm, who is the … Read More
Fumbling Toward the God Who Loves Us
“From one ancestor he made all peoples to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps fumble about for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we … Read More
Favorite Concerts
Continuing my Storyworth project, here’s how I answered, “What is one of the best shows you ever attended?” I will go the concert route on this one, as I’ve only ever seen one “Broadway” show, Les Misérables, in downtown Louisville, KY. I have little remembrance of the show, however, as I don’t think we had very good seats.[1] But I’ve been to … Read More
What I’m Proudest Of
“Like the north wind whistlin’ down the skyI’ve got a song, I’ve got a song…” -Jim Croce, I’ve Got a Name Continuing my Storyworth project, here’s how I answered, “What things are you proudest of in your life?” Although technically not “things,” first and full stop, my kids: Matthew, Tim, and Emily. My greatest, long-term contribution to this world is all that … Read More
Beauty That Defies Description
Continuing my Storyworth project, here’s how I answered, “What’s one of the most beautiful places you’ve ever been?” I’ve had the opportunity to see many beautiful and amazing places, thankfully, many together with Pam. Notably, for most of the years we raised our kids, we vacationed in the Outer Banks with dear friends, and this remains one of our cherished spots. I … Read More
Vacation Memories: Sifting Through the Sadness
Continuing my Storyworth project, here’s how I answered, “What were memorable vacations from childhood?” Although this should be a fun question to answer, it’s shrouded in sadness due to the toxic religious culture I grew up in from the time I was six to about sixteen. We did visit my grandparents on my mom’s side, Grandma and Grandpa Seaman, a handful of … Read More