Category Archives: Story Power

Monologues, drama, fiction, memoir

Music from My Movies

Posted on April 12, 2019 by

Impossible Love The song Impossible Love plays a key role in my film Over-the-Rhine, as indeed it does in my life. Early in the movie, seventeen-year-old songwriter and drug addict Alec has a melody stuck in his head. He attempts … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Poetry, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Story Power | Tagged , , , , | 34 Comments

Can Anyone Who is “Un-Saved” be Redeemed?

Posted on March 11, 2019 by

Not everyone uses the term un-saved. But Jesus said, and our own eyes tell us, that there are people who are on paths of self-destruction, whose choices are toxic to themselves and to others. I know, because I was one … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir, Religion/Faith, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , | 72 Comments

The Light of Humility

Posted on December 20, 2018 by

Studies have shown that most eyewitnesses of an event believe they have observed all that occurred. And yet, the same studies reveal, not one witness can ever accurately recount the entire event. Until we turn on the light of humility, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Christmas Experience

Posted on December 7, 2018 by

While still newlyweds, my wife and I visited Plimouth Plantation in Massachusetts, the impossibly authentic re-creation of America’s first Pilgrim colony occupied by role-playing historian-actors who literally live out the daily lives of the original inhabitants. During the course of our day … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

A Tale of Two Jacks

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

Two Jacks died on November 22, 1963. The assassination of the first, John F. (“Jack”) Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, made international headlines, and still frequently does. The death of the other, C. S. (“Jack”) Lewis, an … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir, Religion/Faith, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Rough Grace

Posted on November 21, 2018 by

It was 30 years ago, just before Thanksgiving weekend, on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Los Angeles International Airport was crawling with pre-holiday misery. Planes were late and tempers were flaring. The holidays might be impending, … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , , | 31 Comments

My Brief but Glorious Career as a Monster

Posted on October 29, 2018 by

I had a huge affection for monsters as a kid. From Dr. Frankenstein’s befuddled electro-charged jarhead to that ultimate rejected pound puppy, the Wolfman. So once I got old enough to say no to Mom’s “you would look adorable in … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , , | 36 Comments