Ordinary Voices

One Wednesday evening, Joel, Amie, and their children Ella and Isak go to Park Point, Duluth,MN for one last outdoor worship service. As Joel is setting up, Amie, Ella, Isak and a friend go to the beach to wait. There the routine of the day is broken. A freak accident leaves Isak on an operating table and his parents helpless and vulnerable searching for hope. Listen as Amie and Joel share where they found strength, hope and how it changed their view of the world around them.

On the 11th Anniversary of his father’s death, Mikah Meyer stepped into a van and launched on a tour. His publicized objective was to be the youngest person to visit all 412 sites managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The first to do it in one continuous 3-year trip. But, it’s also a resurrection trip, done in honor of his father, to bring a sense of new life out of his death.

I interviewed Mikah at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp in Amery, WI, three months into his journey. We talked about his father, Pr. Larry Meyer, the trip and faith. As you listen, you’ll discover why the landscape of Mikah’s life is easily defined as This is My Father’s World.

Part 2 of my conversation with my therapist friend, Margy. During our interview we got into a really interesting conversation about confession and forgiveness. Both as it relates to psychology and faith. Her thoughts made me think about how I present this issue as a pastor. Guilt will dwell within us whether we do anything about it or not. We might as well find a place to give those wounds some relief.

A friend who is a therapist posted an article on Facebook from another therapist talking about how much he loved his job. Frankly, I never heard a therapist talk so enthusiastically about their job. The article, though, touched on how much people feel they are a burden, or ashamed about seeing a therapist. So, we just talked about therapy and ti felt really good.

Carl was spending 9 months of the year working with homeless youth on the street. The other 3 months, he did video production for ESPN's X Games. He needed to make a decision, a full-time career in video production or continue to work with the homeless. Carl decided to remain working with homeless youth. This show explores his decision.

If human life is so rare, why do we treat it so poorly, crudely, and violently? I thought I might start exploring issues of life by looking at birth. This show is about what nurse learned about life from working a birthing unit of hospital.

Picture Courtesy of Danielle MacInnes at Unsplash.com

In the comic books of my youth, good and evil were simple, clear cut issues. Good fought for truth, justice and the American way. Bad guys were really bad. In today's comic books, good and evil are much more complicated issues. I asked a comic book enthusiast to help me understand the transition. From this conversation I hope to discover a better understanding of good and evil.

I invited a friend to use the Lectio Divina Method of reading scripture. Lectio Divina means Divine Reading. It was developed by Benedictine monks to mix scripture reading with meditation and prayer. So you’re not trying to studying Scripture, but feeling it, talking with God about it and encountering the Living Word. Then listen to find out what direction that Divine Reading took her.

What started out to be a thoughtful conversation about race turned into a reflection on a community — Painesville, Ohio. How that community made us all - Black and White - thoughtful about race.

Easter Sunday is when a wide variety of lost souls gather to worship. People who stopped attending church are not the only questioning the authenticity of the Church. Many people on the inside have the same questions and struggles. I interview a person who remains emotionally connected, but physically distant from Church in hopes of shining light on the meaning of faith.