Stories

In my life, some of the most powerful, profound words I’ve read have been in works of fiction. In this channel, I offer stories and poems that attempt to uncover deeper truths through (mostly) fictional narratives.

  • Poetry, Stories

    I Was the Keeper of the Flame

    This is the story of how I became the Keeper of the Flame, and how the world became the Keeper of the Flame, and how the fire – inside me – changed me.
  • Blog, Poetry, Stories

    Wounded for Fear

    A Good Friday meditation on why Jesus suffered the cross.
  • Blog, Poetry

    Why I Love Words and Paper

    Words, if you look at them, are a binary of black and white, ink on a page. But when we listen to them, when we see them for what they mean, they shine.
  • Blog, Poetry, Stories

    A Found Poem About Friendship Based on a ChatGPT Poem About Socks

    When I asked ChatGPT to write a sonnet about socks, it did! And a surprisingly coherent one, too. But then I wanted to see if I could take what it created and turn it into something new.
  • Prose, Stories

    Piracy

    A very short story about a man longing to return to his past.
  • Poetry, Stories

    Self Portrait

    A verse reflecting on myself and the things most important to me.
  • Poetry, Stories

    The One I Have to Tell

    I want to tell stories of majesty and grandeur, but it's far more important to me that my stories be honest, true, and those majestic stories aren't mine to share.
  • Poetry, Stories

    One Thousand Words a Day

    I made a goal for myself to write one thousand words a day, and sometimes, to meet my goal, I have to repeat myself.
  • Poetry, Stories

    Learning Reconciliation

    Peace is costly—it is not made by ignoring pain or hurt or history. Peace comes with honestly and humility, a commitment to seeing and listening to one another.
  • Poetry, Stories

    Beauty Grace Illusion Lie

    Life is complicated, messy, hard to understand. And that's exactly what makes it beautiful.
  • Prose, Stories

    Scripture to Me

    I was asked to describe my view of Scripture, so I wrote this short reflection as a depiction of how the Bible has come alive to me in recent years. Scripture is no longer a reflection of myself, but is a summons to know the world of life.
  • Prose, Stories

    Falling on the Sword

    Men prepare for battle against the forces of darkness. At the command of their Divine, they ride their warhorses against their foes and, with the power of their Divine, they win what they think is a miraculous victory.
  • Prose, Stories

    To Love Them Both

    A reflection on Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other." (NLT)
  • Prose, Stories

    Lunatic’s Ark

    One of my most challenging stories to date, this is a fresh look at the Noah story in four movements. What if Noah really had been the madman everyone thought he was? Do we today ever sabotage the mission God gave us?
  • Poetry, Stories

    scream.

    When everyone is screaming, no one can be heard.
  • Poetry, Stories

    The War is Coming!

    Sometimes, in our preparation for war, we are the ones creating the fight.
  • Poetry, Stories

    A Longing, An Inspiration

    The greatest inspiration often comes through pain.
  • Prose, Stories

    Santa’s Not Real

    Sometimes stories, whether they are "factually accurate" or not, carry more truth in their bones than a journalistic account ever could. It's like Santa Claus.
  • Poetry, Stories

    If They’re Right

    What if the accusations against us are right? What if we're the monsters they say we are? We don't think they are, but could that be part of the problem?
  • Poetry, Stories

    Empty Night

    Each day, no matter how bright, passes inevitably into the darkness of night.
  • Prose, Stories

    Behind Closed Eyes.

    Even the best of us often see what we want to see... and miss what we don't want to see. What do you notice as you read this story? What do you skim over? Where in your life do you miss opportunities to make a difference?
  • Poetry, Stories

    A Calm Heart

    In the midst of the storm of brokenness, peace comes from the tender heartbeat of God.
  • Poetry, Stories

    A Day Passes

    I wake up each morning hoping and praying that you'll still be here.
  • Prose, Stories

    Holding Hands, in the Garden

    There's a garden in Kansas City that is a special place for my wife and me, a haven that became a sort of sacred ground for us. This story is a quick, bright sketch of our time there and the reason it brought us so much joy.