Inappropriate Conversations

141: Good Monsters

Rather than noting what is in this World Storytelling Day episode, I'll note what is regrettably missing.

* Not much personal storytelling, despite a commitment to return to nostalgia a few weeks ago.
* Repeating some material from Inappropriate Conversations #50 about Lilo & Stitch.
* Insufficient callout to the band The Peddlers for the theme song to The Lost Continent.
* Planned but forgot to connect the "sound" of Dana Gillespie to Candye Kane.
* Missed an opportunity to feature at least a clip from the blues singing of the Different Drummer.
* Perhaps even fell short on fully noting the impact of an actress and costume designer on me at a young age.

Despite missing some elements, the "monsters and dragons" topic for storytellers this March 20 brought out my memories of good monsters, both literally and ironically.

Different Drummer: Dana Gillespie

Walk The Earth 10

Whether condemnation of a denomination based on its lack of prejudice is really more of an endorsement?

140: Gathering 'round the Campfire

So-called "mountaintop experiences" are often called "beyond description" by those who are careful about sharing religious experiences. I know. I am one of those people, with podcast episodes like this one being an exception. With a connection to the team building concepts in the previous show on spiritual development, let's go behind the scenes -- metaphorically around the campfire -- at a spiritual retreat or two.

Different Drummer: Max Lucado

139: Spiritual Stunting and Divine Development

Community building relies more heavily on understanding the stages of spiritual growth than we often realize. Team building does not hinge upon every member being at the same level of maturity and experience. It is crucial, though, to understand the progression and manage those differences with unity as the common purpose. Sadly, this does not describe very many groups in our society today, including churches.

Different Drummer: M. Scott Peck

138: Missing Someone I Never Knew

Storytelling has always been a part of Inappropriate Conversations. Sometimes that involves telling the stories of others to make a point. Other times it truly is personal storytelling in the realm of nostalgia. I learned an important lesson this month about the power of personal storytelling, as if answers to questions I was raising might be coming from the grave.

Different Drummer: Frank Capra

Walk The Earth 9

Whether we can call a church a home if children "must know their place" within its walls?

137: Gambling on Taxation and Tourism

My position on gambling tends toward indifference. I'm less likely to make obvious observations about criminal activity or other societal implications than I am to reject ideas that state-sponsored gambling lowers taxes or drives tourism. In narrow (and largely long past) circumstances, that may have made some sense. Now, it is clearly less sustainable than the average "reality TV" show.

Different Drummer: Tom Waits