Dave Edgren ~ Story: Teller, Author, Trainer ~

BOOK DAVE NOW!

Dave Edgren is passionate about creating a values-based storytelling culture. In his engaging and often hilarious way, Dave’s commitment to literacy and learning combine to provide him as story: teller, author and trainer.

Originally from California, Dave has been entertaining, inspiring and educating children for more than 20 years. Having written 5 children’s books and crafted dozens of stories for performance, Dave’s storytelling is professional and intentional.


Dave also speaks regularly to teachers and parents about his love for story and inspires them to use story as a regular teaching tool at home and in the classroom. Dave is a visitor you will want to invite back until he’s a permanent part of your story!

Current Titles and Topics include:
Giant Boots (Humility, Community, Self Worth)
You are Awesome, We are Amazing (Self Worth, Community)
The Story of the Golden Rule (Interfaith Dialogue, Compassion)
Jimmy and the Black Spot (anti-bullying, well being)
Brave Kwami (Multiculturalism, Inclusion)
Be a Hero not a Zero (Self-Awareness, Confidence)


Dave Says:
We are wired for story. We remember stories. We retell stories. We learn best from stories. Stories are why we are who we are. Storytelling is uniquely human!

I tell stories at every opportunity I get. At Christian schools, I tell Bible and faith-based stories. At public schools, I tell values-based stories. I tell stories to people of all ages at summer camps, churches, youth meetings, camp meetings and more.

I also run storytelling workshops. Most people don't realise they are already a storyteller. Storytelling is easy and great fun! Why not INVITE ME to come tell stories to your crowd or run a storytelling workshop? I'd love to join you!

Story: Teller

Flyer for Christian Storytelling

Flyer to Pin at you local shops

Flyer for Values-based Storytelling

GOD'S STORYTELLERS - HOPE CHANNEL AND DVD SERIES

The Hope Chanel came to Australia to film local content. The Union President asked me to prepare a 12 episode series of storytelling for Children. I asked storyteller and magician Brian Boyland to give me a hand and we put together a winner! The entire series is available from me on DVD. Here are ten of my stories from the series.


SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS WEEK AT PRIMARY SCHOOLS 

Week of Prayer: "I Want to See Jesus"  - I often get to visit Christian schools for a week, telling stories every day. I love these opportunities to develop and build upon a theme.
Monday - Micah and the Golden Rule
Tuesday - Malcus and the Justice of Jesus
Wednesday - Mary and the Mercy of Jesus
Thursday - Peter and Humility
Friday - Jesus and Your Story (and mine)
So far, I have used this series at Heritage College (Victoria), Edinbourgh Adventist Primary School (Victoria), Macquarie College (New South Wales), Carmel College (Western Australia), Riverside Adventist School (Western Australia)

INDIVIDUAL TALKS AND EVENTS
Harmony Day - A story-set for public schools about unity in diversity and non-bullying.
Interruptability - A story-set about "STOP. LISTEN. HELP." Two stories about Jesus.
Jesus loves Children - VIDEO - Telling a story in a Pakistan Orphanage - on Skype!

Why I don't do drugs! - This is my personal story of the impact drugs has had on my family.

Telling in the Park  - A trip to Echuca turns into a community storytelling opportunity.
Seeing with God's Eyes - A Story-set (30 minutes) on Compassion

STORYBOOK READING
Collection of Eight Books - Read by Dave. Watch and choose a favourite!
Puff the Magic Dragon - Classic Peter, Paul and Mary song presented as a children's book.
The Hungry Caterpillar - My wife made a caterpillar and 5 fruits to use in sharing this book.
Storytelling Session - The Yarra Ranges Council runs a Children's Week each year.

Story: Author

BOOKS

I started writing books when I worked at Signs Publishing Company (2006-2009) as a magazine editor. I was telling stories at lots of camp meetings, churches and schools and was constantly being asked, "Do you have your stories written down? I'd love to read them to my children." So, I decided to give it a go.

Click on the image to be taken to my books at AdventistBookCenter.com

The Serpent Scroll was a test case. I wrote it, shared it with people and sent it to the various Adventist publishing houses around the world. People loved it, but the only word I got back from publishers was "no thanks" until a year later, Pacific Press Publishing Company decided to publish it and asked me for two more. So, over the next two years I wrote The Lamb Scroll and The Kingdom Scroll. This Adventures in the Bible series is to kids what 28 Stories is to youth - A way to study the Bible that works.  

28 Stories is a Bible discussion and journalling guide for youth. In wanting to study the Bible with my son for Baptism, I could find nothing that was open and dialogue driven enough to allow him to express his faith as we studied together. So, I wrote 28 Stories. The 28 Fundamentals are dealt with through story, personal reflection, personal application and Bible Study. Lots of people love 28 Stories!

The Perfect Lamb was originally a narrative easter sermon I preached at Avondale College when I was a student there. 10 years after preaching it the first time (and a few times inbetween) I decided to write it as a Children's book. The Perfect Lamb is a great way to introduce children and families to the emotive meaning of Jesus on the cross.

Giant Boots was a story I made up one morning to tell (just for fun!) to the classmates of my two sons. They had invited me to their classes to tell a story and I wanted something that taught the same value as a recent performance my youngest son and I had done the previous weekend. Mikey and I sang the song in each class and then I told the story of Giant Boots. It was a hit and so I wrote it!

The NEW Church was my core message when I pastored churches, taught Sabbath School principles or spoke to youth. Nearly everything at church fits in the three categories of Nurture, Evangelism or Worship. The NEW Church is just a simple way to ask yourself, "Am I being an effective Christian today?" The NEW Church is for youth and adults.

ARTICLES, DRAMAS, BOOKS
Published Writing
UnPublished Writing

Story: Trainer

STORY=POWER - STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
The Seventh-day Adventist Church General Conference's Center for Secular and Post-Modern Studies invited me to Georgia to film this workshop. It is available online, free to use. Please use it to run workshops in your church!



Each topic is in two sections. First there is 10 minutes of story. Then 10 minutes of theory.

Use the PLAYLIST dropdown menu in the video above to choose one of the topics.
To  fully understand the Story Seat (my story-building and storytelling model) watch them all in order.

Here is a short synopsis of each presentation:
Sermon – Using story in a sermon. Narrative plot building
Small Group – How to use story in a friendship group
Educators - Children’s storytellers in church or SS
Personal Witnessing – The Power of you story
Personal Bible Studies – Guided discussion
Educators – Youth pastors, school teachers, SS teachers

THE BOOKABURRA STORYTELLER PROJECT 

The Bookaburra Project is a early-years literacy initiative in the Yarra Ranges Council where I live. I am on the leadership/training team and am one of their regular Volunteer storytellers. Reading to Children is more important than we can ever quantify. It shapes the world, one story at a time!
Bookaburra Storytime - Helping volunteers have the skills and confidence to read to children.

The Bookaburra Blog - What's happening now in the Yarra Ranges Shire Storytelling Project.

ARTICLES THAT TEACH THE POWER OF STORY

Transitional thinking (for all ages!) - The theory behind me... My books, Storytelling, Sermons...

This is a presentation that I gave to the Adventist Youth Directors of Australia. It explains the power of story in transitioning from one faith stage to the next. It also explains the focus of my ministry.

God's Storytellers - Your call (and mine!) to being a storyteller of God's Epic Narrative. This was a formational moment in my life when I realised the powerful reason why prophecy (and the majority of the Bible) is presented in story form.

A Story Like Jesus  An indepth look at the power of story and call to tell! I preach this as a sermon. The editors at "The Journal" wanted a shorter version, so I rewrote it as two articles.

• Good Soil Storytelling  Part 1 - Why Children get the Kingdom. How to Bring the Bible to life.
• Believing Grown-ups  Part 2 - Getting truth into adults. How story get's through.

Listen Then Tell - By listening first, we can tell a story that resonates with our audience

1-2-3 of Planning a Story - The only three things you need to prepare before telling a story
Story Building  - The foundation of my values and faith based storytelling

Story Givers  - Background to why storytelling by parents and mentors is so important

Six Stories of Influence  - Notes from book "Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins"
Storytelling Strategies for Life - Using Storytelling principles in everyday life
Good/Bad Storytelling - Christian Comedian Ken Davis tells a story - let's think about it!

The Big Question - A Conversation with a local reporter clarifies how the Bible speaks thru story.
A Story Like Tory - Parenting is all about the story we live and the stories we tell to our children.

Why I don't do drugs!

The Victorian Government is getting serious about drug and alcohol awareness for teens. I am excited about this focus and hope they get the message out! I have been a passionate advocate for a drugfree life since I was a child!

Please click on the graphic above to get the fullsize file. Then print it out and give it to leaders who work with teens.

Oppa Kingdom Style

Yesterday, as I was waiting for the light to change from red to green, two primary-school aged boys walked across the pedestrian crossing directly in front of my car. Well, “walked” might be the wrong word choice. They pranced. With one hand holding imaginary reigns and the other spinning a mock-lasso, they shuffled sideways across the road. If you’ve been alive in the past few months, you’ve heard the hit song, “Oppa Gangnam Style” and probably seen kids, teens and adults doing the dance. 

With amazing energy and a catchy tune, this Korean song has topped the charts in 33 countries. It has swept the world. Kids, particularly, are singing the chorus and doing the horse-riding dance with gusto. Kids live to imitate, and Oppa Gangnam Style is fun, funny and fully engaging. Kids are loving it!

This success of this song is amazing, not only because it is in Korean, but because the actual words tell the story of an “oppa” (a Korean term of respect for ‘older brother’) who is cool even though he is not muscle-bound, drug taking or time wasting. He is a hard working city dweller. He works in an office all day and enjoys hanging out with his friends at night. And his girlfriend is just like him. They are normal people. The music video starts with in a playground full of children where Psy (the singer) is trying to get some sun, suggesting he’s babysitting his nieces and nephews. This is the kind of guy we all wish we had as an older brother! 

Gangnam is the wealthiest part of Korea. To live there is desirable but requires wealth, which requires hard work and higher education. “Oppa Gangnam Style” means, in effect, “I’m the respectable older brother who lives in Gangnam and I am who you should want to be when you grow up.” In today’s wealth and prestige focused world, Oppa Gangnam Style is presenting a much better message than many other popular songs which promote unhealthy lifestyles and unbalanced relationships. Oppa Psy is family we’d like to have.

In church circles, we hear a lot of talk about family. At a baptism, people say, “Welcome to God’s family, brother.” At church we might hear, “Good morning sister, isn’t it good to be part of the family of God?” And we pray, as Jesus taught us, “Our Father . . . ” 

But, when Jesus talked about the people of God, He called them a kingdom. He said the “kingdom of heaven” belongs to the poor, the persecuted and those who realize they need God. He said we should want the “kingdom of God” above everything else because God gives every need to those who seek His Kingdom. 

So why “kingdom” rather than “family”? What does this mean to you and me? For one thing—a pretty awesome “one thing”—it means our “Father” is the King! And that means we are princes and princesses—we’re royalty! 

But there is so much more to the kingdom of God than making us feel good about being part of the in crowd. As we explore the kingdom Jesus talked about, we find a place where the poor are cared for, the sick are healed, the rich share, children are included, sinners repent, and outsiders are welcomed. 

Jesus said this kingdom—the kingdom of God—is very near. For Jesus, the goal wasn’t so much about getting yourself into the kingdom, but letting the kingdom get into you. And once that happens, the kingdom becomes like a little yeast in a lot of dough. It spreads in you and through you and you rise, as someone new—a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, more commonly known as a Christian. Jesus calls us, in effect, to live “Kingdom Style.”

Another important reason Jesus called His people a kingdom is because a kingdom is built, maintained, beautified, and expanded by the citizens, not the King. The King defines the kingdom, sets the laws and governs the people. Living “Kingdom Style” means each of us is busy bringing the kingdom to life in every word and action. The kingdom of God is created anew each and every day by each and every one of us. 

And we do it together. To put the principles of the kingdom into practice is to become the ‘big brother’ who draws others to live “Oppa Kingdom Style.” This is discipleship. The kingdom of Heaven is all about community. Perhaps this is why we like the family metaphor so much. God’s kingdom feels like a big happy family. We become stronger in our faith and more effective in our mission when we work together. Living “Kingdom Style” cannot be done alone. True kingdom citizens—true Christians—live “Oppa Kingdom Style” recognising that we walk in someone’s footprints as someone else walks in ours. Together, we are the kingdom of God.

As you walk—whether it be across the road at a red light, at the park with your family, or to serve the needs of a suffering world—may you walk, hand in hand, Oppa Kingdom Style.

Parents - Ultimate Disciple-Makers!

Christian parents have the joyful task of studying the Bible with the primary purpose of presenting its realities in simple truth-filled statements. Children need this simplicity and clarity. 

For example, to a child, Jesus at a party has a very beautiful meaning. He's at your party! He’d never miss it! He loves you and always shows up. Jesus is never too busy to be there for you. He never calls to say He will be late. He always shows up early. In fact, He’s always there. Jesus says He will never leave of forsake you. That’s Jesus the partygoer - simply. 

As parents, our Bible study has a children's focus. Children must have things explained to them simply. And so, we strive to do so. This takes effort: to only say something to a child when it is simple enough for them to understand. Especially Jesus. Especially the Gospels. If we present Jesus and His teachings poorly (wrongly, partially, or in words too hard to understand) our children will build on those shaky, often incomplete, foundations we have laid. And what they build will crumble—or support them in wrong views for the rest of their lives. 

Sometimes, in this “child-readying” journey of Biblical exploration, simple raindrops of truth really mess with our doctrinal thunderstorms. “Jesus loved sinners.” And He showed His love by spending time with them. They were at parties. They were homeless. They were at church. And He went to them. 

Jesus served them in their environment: 

He provided the good wine long into the party. Jesus was fully present. 

He slowly washed their feet before redefining every symbol in a cherished memory event. Jesus was thoughtfully intentional. 

He praised a prostitute for wasteful love and rebuked a religious man for selfish thoughts. Jesus saw into hearts. 

He made the church a place of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus put people first.

As parents in the world, let us model this “people first” aspect of Jesus’ character. When relating with people outside our home, may we never turn away because they are “less” than us. May we always seek to care for the people rather than judging the environment. May we always seek the good in the heart rather than accept glaze on the surface.

As parents in the home, may we present spiritual truth through carefully planned action long before we use words. And may our words be laced with Grace. May we speak the Truth in simple statements and stories that are easily remembered and put into practice. May we repeat these truths often.

We must be true to the Living Water and deliver it drop by drop. And hopefully, when the storms come, our children will not be afraid of the rain. And if they are, they will know where the shelter of Home is—and that it is safe.

Christmas Blessing

They sat like two children, playing on the steps, outside Jerusalem’s temple. The game they played wasn’t one of competition or make-believe. It was a game children don’t play well. But they weren’t children, yet they laughed as they played. And each day, as they continued playing, they shared stories from their childhood. The game they played was one of patience, but one worth playing. The waiting game is like that.

Many people, passing on the street, said the pair were living their second childhood. At 84, Anna considered it her third or fourth. And Simeon, while he couldn’t recall his exact age, knew he enjoyed waiting more than anything he’d done in his long life. 

It was here, on the steps of the temple, that Simeon first met Anna. He had been drawn to the temple as if something was beckoning him. An invitation sent. Invitation received. He couldn’t be sure what the invitation said, just that he was meant to be here. So, he sat on the temple steps and watched the people come and go. He found himself, like most people of grand-parent age, drawn to the young parents who brought infants to the temple to dedicate them to the Lord. He studied the parents’ faces. And, if they walked within earshot he called them over, asked to hold the baby, and stared—transfixed—into each little face.

He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. Until he met Anna. She had been watching him from a distance for many days. She too was drawn to the temple. But, she knew her calling. She was a prophetess and was often called to speak into the life of some person for whom God had a message. She, too, was studying the young people, assuming the prophetic blessing within her was for someone early in life. 

She couldn’t help notice Simeon. He spent most of his day smiling, laughing and talking with people who journeyed to and from the temple. Simeon was about her age and she felt herself drawn to him. Her husband had died lifetimes ago, after only seven short years of marriage. Although she felt much to old to be, she couldn’t help draw closer each day. Until, one day (many years ago now) she joined him on his step. 

They watched the faces together, studied the young parents together, cuddled babies together—laughing, loving, sharing stories—new and old. After months of togetherness, the message came upon Anna. She knew the old feeling of a prophetic word. It was here and she was surprised by the person God had put on her heart. 

Anna turned to Simeon, “The Holy Spirit has a message for you, Simeon. You will not die until you see the Lord’s Messiah!”

Hot tears rushed down his wrinkled face, creating pathways of joy through the dust on his time-worn cheeks. It was as if all his Christmases had come at once. Or, it would have been, if he had known what Christmas was to be and would become. He embraced the old prophetess and they laughed and wept together.

Years passed. Each day they sat on the temple steps. People became accustomed to their presence. Everyone learned of Simeon’s passion and Anna’s prophecy. It was the talk of the town, like Noah’s Ark, for a year or two. Then it was just an old couple, dreaming their days away on the temple steps. “Let them enjoy their sunset years,” people would say, smiling as they passed. “They’re a lovely couple and they’re not hurting anyone.” And they would watch Anna and Simeon laugh, tell stories and kiss babies. “They’re like children,” the people said, “They love to play their game on the temple steps.”

Then one day, Simeon felt it. He couldn’t explain what it was that he felt, but he turned to Anna and said, “This is what it’s like for you?” She raised her eyebrows, not understanding, “When the spirit comes upon you—this feeling. Oh my, Anna, it’s like a knowing without words.”

Anna nodded, tears coming to her eyes. “The time is here, Simeon,” she said. “The Holy Spirit has come upon you. The Messiah must be somewhere near the temple today. Watch, seek out the eyes of each man. You will know when you see Him.”

Simeon, sitting on his step, gripped his hands tightly together across his knees. They were shaking—hands, knees, even his heart. He began studying the face of every man as he walked by. It was too hard to see, from down here, so he stood up. His anxious eyes jumped from man to man. Some were on the steps. Some were walking below the steps. Some stood above him, on the landing. How could he see them all? 

Then he was distracted by his usual interest, a young couple carrying a baby, coming down the steps. He studied the man’s face, caught his eyes. Nothing. He looked down at Anna, “Another baby, Grandma. Shall we?” Anna laughed and said, “After you, Grandpa!”

“May I hold you precious babe,” Simeon asked. The young woman looked at her husband, they had expected this encounter as does every couple leaving the temple. She smiled and handed the small bundle to the old man.

As the child rested against Simeon’s chest, his racing heart stilled and a gentle breeze, like a solitary dove landing, blew across his face. Simeon, whispering a prayer, praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

The old man kissed the baby’s forehead and blessed Him. Then, as he handed the baby to His mother, words cascaded from above, like a waterfall in spring, erupting from Simeon’s mouth, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” 

Simeon shook with the after effects of a prophetic word, spoken. Anna had shuffled toward them, a few steps behind Simeon and arrived as the words of prophecy flooded from him. She gave thanks to God for this moment. One prophecy fulfilled, another commissioned. 

Although they had seen the Messiah, the couple remained on the temple steps—laughing, loving, sharing stories—telling all who would listen about the arrival of the Christ-child and God’s plan for the rescue of Jerusalem. 

Sometimes... Joy!

I fell to my knees, on the floor of my van, while cleaning the mats this morning. While down there, I noticed a tiny sand crab scurry under the seat. Somehow, since our visit to the beach a month ago, this little guy has found enough to live on in the confines of my Chrysler.

Imagine the life this little crab has had, living on the crumbs generated by my three kids. They get in and out twice a day, most days. School drop off. School pickup. Church on Saturdays. They occasionally have snacks while we drive. Very occasionally. And yet, our crab-friend lives.

I wonder if this solitary little crab ever misses the seaside social life. Does he long for the sand and the surf? There’s a bit of sand built up in the holes where the seats lock into the frame of the car. Not much, but a bit. There is no salt water. He's making the best of it.

And I only noticed him because I fell.

Sometimes we get up too quickly.

On Facebook, this morning, a friend of mine posted an anonymous quote: "Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be afraid of standing still." My first thought was how very much I have enjoyed my "standing still" over the past month. "Stillness is Wonderful" was my post in reply.

We are taught that being busy means we are successful.

“If you want something done, ask a busy person.” ...

“How have you been?” … “Busy. Real busy!” … “That’s good.”

I’m waiting for brain surgery. I have a slow-growing benign tumour. The longer I wait for my upcoming surgery the more I enjoy being quiet and not-busy. Many people have suggested I must be thrilled to have all this time—“to write another book”... Nope... No book. But, yes, I am very much enjoying the time!

At meetings last week, a church-growth guru, Brendan Pratt, shared a very interesting talk on Consumerism. The equation he shared, by which the western world motivates her people to continue the busy-life is: “Time=Money=Stuff=Happiness” — And we all want to be happy, right?

My glib reply (because, when there’s a laugh to be had, I often speak without thinking) was, “Happiness is overrated.” And, of course, I was wrong.

The Apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:16) suggests we should be joyful all of the time, no matter our circumstance. Nehemiah told the people in his day, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” His equation might look like: “Time=Worship=Strength=Joy”. The focus of your worship, in this paradigm, has a direct impact on your strength and joy.

Time plods along. We are unable to stop it, slow it down, speed it up or get it back. We can’t change time, but we can change where we focus our “worth-ship”.

What is worthy of your time? We all have our list, mostly unwritten.

It may be our children.

It may be our work.

It may be our appearance.

It may be our spouse.

It may be our entertainment.

It may be our search for a laugh.

Whatever the case, what we value will receive our time. This is worship. In worthy moments, our time-spent gives us strength and joy. The rest of the time, our strength and joy are drained from us.

It’s all about where we sit and what we have set before us. Hebrews 12:2 declares that Jesus was joyful on the cross, not because of the cross but because of what He saw “set before Him.”

Jesus saw a Kingdom where relationships were reconciled.

He saw God.

He saw us.

And He saw eternity - with us and God, together.

And, for Jesus, that was worth dying for. Jesus told Peter He could call 10,000 angels to his aid, if He needed help. Put your sword away, Peter. Always so busy, solving God’s problems!

Jesus, for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross. He stayed down. Do, you know what made it worth it for Him? Do you know what was set before Jesus, so clearly, that He gripped those nails and held on for dear death?

You.

Little (scurrying around searching for crumbs of happiness) You.

Jesus stayed down for you.

Because God is Love.

And to Him, you are worth it.


Sometimes we get up too quickly.

Story Building

My story building strategy is simple. 

There are two core principles I operate from when building a new storytelling presentation. 

First: Choose one value to teach. 

Build the story or stories (in a presentation) around one value. You can put the value in the mouth of a character. You can imbed the value in the way the character does what they do. You can even play around the edges of the value and have the kids guess what it is. Just don't muddy the water by stomping from one point to another. Choose a value. Teach it once, twice, three times. Use a variety of approaches. But stay on value. There are other times for other talks - one talk, one value.

Some compare it to a bullet and buckshot. One value, well aimed, will get a bullseye. But fire a shotgun, full of all your favourite buckshot one-liners, at the same target and you'll hit everything and nothing. As Steve Martin’s “serious business” character says to John Candy’s “mile-a-minute storytelling” character, in Planes, Trains and Automobiles: “By the way, when you're telling these little stories, here's a good idea. Have a point. It makes it more interesting for the listener.”

Second: Stories from our ancient faith are of ultimate importance. 

If they weren’t valuable teaching stories they wouldn’t have been told, told and retold until they were anthologized in the Bible. Because these stories are recorded in the Bible they are core material — for Christians, Muslims, Jews (Old Testament), and western listeners (most of us) — and are very important source material that our kids need. The world around our children will make more sense, their faith will have more relevence to them and their personal character will be built on higher ground if they know the core Bible stories. These stories have been the building blocks of little minds for millennia and led to the development of many great minds in adulthood. Even atheists in Western Society would not be who they are if they did not come from a culture founded on the Biblical narrative. So, I must tell Bible stories and tell them in a captivating fashion that leads to a love for the Bible.

My typical approach is to search for a key verse or story that states the value as clearly as possible. Once I have that story/verse, I build the other stories around it. If I have a personal story that fits - and I mean REALLY fits well, then I will include it. I used to tell a lot more personal stories but found I was telling stories from the ancient faith less and less. And that bothered me. So, now I focus, nearly entirely, on Biblical stories.

So, there you have it!

Choose one value. Then teach that value through core-faith stories.