Coffeehouse Contemplative
By Jeff Nelson
Coffeehouse ContemplativeFeb 05, 2023
God's Anonymous Ones
My sermon at Community Christian Church in North Canton on Sunday, May 12th, 2024.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Creating Through It
Sometimes in the midst of grief or loss, creating through it can help.
Paw Prints on the Baptism Cake
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Don't Ask Me How I Did It
People occasionally ask me how I've managed to write my books. Here's my basic approach to the creative process, which will seem anticlimactic, and generally boils down to "I just did it."
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Celebrating Our Stories
A brief recap of my family's recent experience at Cleveland Fan Expo, and reflections on how and why we connect to stories in books, shows, movies, and comics.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
After the Honeymoon Phase
When the initial novelty and excitement of a new experience fades, what do we do? We have several options, one of which is adaptation.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Good Old Thomas
The sermon I preached on Sunday, April 7th at Church of the Redeemer UCC in Westlake, Ohio.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
When Easter Isn't Easter
Easter is meant to be a time of joyful proclamation and celebration. But what if we don't feel much like celebrating?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
My Therapist Plays Magic: The Gathering
One's mental health journey likely will feature many curves, bumps, stops, and starts. But embarking toward healing and wellness at all is what's important.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Daze-Light Saving Time
The spring time change has not been treating me well the past few years. Maybe it's the same for you. I have some ideas of how to ease this exhausting and annoying transition.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Don't Stay in Your Lane
Most of us have passions and interests that are vastly different from what people know us to do and to be. Have you ever thought about actually trying to pursue those things? What's holding you back?
George Harrison, Brainwashed
Old in Art School by Nell Irvin Painter
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
The Huddle Room Was Too Warm
Not every environment is meant for us if we want to thrive, do our best work, and be our best selves. This episode will explore some of the ways to name why some spaces might feel "off" for us.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Turning 45
I just turned 45 and I have some thoughts and feelings about it.
Nerdette with Alison Brie and Dave Franco
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
The Wild Beasts
A sermon for the First Sunday in Lent, based on Mark 1:9-15.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Love and Ashes
Once again, Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday will fall on the same day this year. It may not seem like these observances go together very well, but they actually do.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
It's Only February
How are your New Year's resolutions holding up? If they're not doing so well, it might be better to view them in terms of the daily process rather than the end result.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Moonlight Is Lonely
My uncle, David Lawrence, passed away this week. This episode celebrates his love of music and family.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
SNOWMAGEDDON
It's been a week of cancelled school (and work) days thanks to snow and cold. This episode explores the happiness that snow days bring, and of finding joy in simple things.
Four Weeks: Reflections for Advent
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
They're More Like Guidelines
Missing a single instance of our routine can put us into a negative space of guilt, questioning our dedication, comparison to others, and a host of other things. This episode will examine that negative space, as well as how to get out of it.
Episode 111: Their Story Is Not Your Story
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Transitions All the Way Down
Change is happening in our lives constantly, and often there's more than one occurring at a time. How do we deal with it all? What kinds of questions could we ask to do so?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Pinning Mr. Perfect
We may struggle with an internal voice that constantly reminds us of our mistakes, flaws, and imperfections. It can have a negative effect on how we think others see us, as well as our self-perception. What's the key to quieting this voice?
NOTE: The podcast will be taking a break in December and return in 2024.
Four Weeks: Reflections for Advent
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Their Story Is Not Your Story
We may sometimes become tempted to compare our experiences with someone else's. That can be problematic for us in a number of ways, chief of which is that it keeps us from recognizing the unique circumstances of our own lives.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
It's All Dopamine
How do we best set up our brains for success, productivity, and engagement? This episode will explore the Ultradian Rhythm that guides our mental capacity to give our best effort.
No Self No Problem by Chris Niebauer
Keep Going by Austin Kleon
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Signs Come Alive
The sermon that I preached at Christ UCC in Orrville, Ohio on Sunday, November 5th, 2023.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
What's Happening
Just an update on what's been happening in my life the past week.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Good News Wrapped In Bad News
When something happens to us, how sure can we be that it's 100% good or bad? What benefit could it be to wait things out and see how things go? What if we held off on our tendency to construct a narrative around our experiences?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
This Hotel Might Be Haunted
As much as we might like to believe otherwise, our minds sometimes play tricks on us. This may be in response to particular scenarios in our lives or in relation to our overall worldview. What causes it, and how might we come to a truly more rational space within ourselves?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Pine Candle Books
The story of my two ebooks becoming paperbacks, the birth of my own publishing imprint, and the creative possibility that it brings.
No Perfect Time: Brief Essays on Life and Faith
Four Weeks: Reflections for Advent
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Love Is Louder
My sermon for World Communion Sunday at First Congregational Church of Akron on October 1, 2023.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Enjoying the Journey
Sometimes we can be so focused on the achievement at the end of a process that we can miss little lessons and experiences along the way. Making a point to notice moments during the journey can help us appreciate it more.
The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
The Humility of "No"
We may have many different reasons for not setting a good boundary when we should. A certain amount of them are rooted in satisfying our own ego at the expense of our own health and relationships.
Prayer in Motion: Connecting with God in Fidgety Times
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Akron Pride
Recounting my experience at Akron Pride at the end of August.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Old Hundredth
I'm celebrating my 100th episode via a lot of self-admitted navel-gazing regarding what I've learned over the course of recording this podcast.
Recommended favorites:
Episode 4: Practice Makes Proficient
Episode 64: The Three (or Four) Cs
Episode 80: I Don't Call It Trauma, But It's Trauma
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
I don't know what to say
TRIGGER WARNING: domestic violence and suicide
My community suffered a great tragedy this past week. This episode is my possibly ill-advised way of beginning to process it. I also reflect on ways to express grief when we can't find the words.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
That's a Tomorrow Problem
We can give quite a bit of our mental and spiritual energy to worrying about things that won't happen for a while. Sometimes such worry is warranted, but often it could be redirected toward what's happening in the moment.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Ghost Stories
My family and I recently had the chance to take a ghost tour of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. I wanted to share a little of our experience while it's still fresh in my mind, as well as talk about other potentially paranormal moments that I've had.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Building Another Nest
The concept of "leaving the nest" works just fine for birds, but it gets more complicated when we apply it to humans. This week's episode re-examines this long-used metaphor.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Watch for Pinch Points
Certain industries warn of "pinch points" that may be present as workers perform tasks or operate tools or machines. There's a such thing as mental, emotional, and spiritual pinch points as well. This episode explores what those could be, as well as ways to watch for them.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
A Gradual Sunrise
My sermon at Bethany UCC in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on July 23, 2023.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
When Roots Run Deep
The sermon I preached on Sunday, July 16th at Bethany UCC in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
A Walk Through Indianapolis
My first night in Indianapolis, I took a pretty extensive walk through the downtown area.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Beach Thoughts
My family enjoyed our annual beach vacation in mid-June. I decided it'd be fun to gradually record something for the podcast during that week as different ideas came to me. This week's episode is the result.
Coffeehouse Contemplative: Spiritual Direction for the Everyday
Prayer in Motion: Connecting with God in Fidgety Times
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Our minds have creative and amazing ways to help us make sense of the world, including how best to make decisions when faced with opportunities and problems. But as helpful as they can be, we may need more than our own cognitive devices to see what's truly happening.
NOTE: the podcast will be taking a break in June and will return in early July.
No Self No Problem by Chris Niebauer
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
The Menu vs. the Food
We may have a certain notion or preference about how life should play out, but it doesn't often match up with what actually happens. From ordering an unfamiliar dish at a restaurant to our biggest life moments, how do we reconcile the ideal vs. reality?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
It's Still Easter
According to the liturgical calendar, we are still in the Easter season. Does it still feel like Easter, though? Reminders are much more difficult to come by than they were in March and early April. So what kinds of reminders do we need, and where can we find them now?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
What Did You Do Yesterday?
Sometimes we ask, "How did this happen?" or "How did things get to this point?" To help find the answer, we should look back on what happened the days, weeks, or months before. And what could we do today to end up with a better tomorrow?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Counting Blue Cars
Sometimes the images we use for God make sense, but due to life's current circumstances, there might be others that make more sense to us. This week's episode will explore the fact that we have many more such images to work with than we may think.
Dishwalla, Counting Blue Cars
Sati by Christopher Pike
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
A Thorn in the Ear
You may be dealing with some ailment--physical, emotional, or spiritual--that is throwing you just enough off kilter to cause you to re-arrange your approach to life. How do we live with such things, and can we learn anything from them?
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
They Know You're a Butt-Kicker
Even the most constructive forms of feedback can feel awful to hear. But remembering some things about ourselves and the person sharing it with us can help us receive it better.
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
An Easter Testimony
This episode will be released on Easter Sunday, so I'm sharing one of my own experiences that is foundational to why I consider myself an "Easter Christian."
Luke 24:13-35 (NIV)
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder
Gilding on the Fingers
Palm Sunday and Holy Week show us a very different use and nature of power than what we're used to and may even prefer.
Celebrities for Jesus by Katelyn Beaty
Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder