All That You Can't Leave Behind

New episode...Crackberry Cracker

2011-10-01T04:19:00.000-07:00

Cell phones...one thing that Kenya does SO much better than the US. After we returned from home assignment, I was stuck between two cell phone worlds. The restrictive Wicked Witch of the West held my BlackBerry captive, and I need some shady Kenyan acquaintances to break it free. In the process though, I found that God can show up in the most unusual circumstances if we make ourselves available.

College Football Preview

2011-08-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Every year at this time I take a break from stories about Africa or missionary life to focus on my hobby--college football. In 2009, I talked about a college football playoff. In 2010, I theorized about conference expansion. This year, I'm going to preview the upcoming season.

The main way I get my sports fix is through podcasats that I download on the Internet. My favorite podcast is "The Solid Verbal," which is hosted by two guys, one from Pennsylvania and one from Southern California. (Ironic, because those are the two places where I lived in the U.S.) Modeling after their show, I chat with football expert Clint Neff via Skype about the 2011 college football season.

And if you're not a football fan, don't worry about listening to this one. You won't hurt my feelings. Click below...

Sudan's Day in the Sun...my night out to eat

2011-08-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here's the story of how I got invited to the Ambassador's house here in Kenya to meet NBA superstar Luol Deng. Learn about these two great men (Ambassador Gration and Deng), a great woman (Gration's wife Judy), and the future of Africa's largest country--Sudan.

Oh, and I might have insulted the 6'9" athlete too. There's something in there about that small detail.

Stitcher Radio is now "All That"

2011-07-07T05:21:00.000-07:00

You can now find the "All That You Can't Leave Behind" podcast on Stitcher Radio. Stitcher Radio allows you to listen to your favorite shows on the go, streaming daily updates to your iPhone, iPad, or computer. If you like to mix your sports and news, you can "stitch" together a station. And if you like to listen to short tales from the mission field along with your other favorites, you can now check out "All That You Can't Leave Behind" on Stitcher Radio.

Check out Stitcher and find my podcast today!

Cleaning out the cupboards

2011-06-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

New episode just launched of my podcast. How do you empty and refill a kitchen multiple times in one year? What is the weirdest canned food you ever bought? (Pork brains?)

Also discussed, how much do schools for missionary kids change in one year? Can a school survive with a 50% rate of turnover?

New podcast episode comes home...

2011-06-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Home assignment is a time of many challenges for missionaries--fund raising, traveling, home schooling. Finding a house is one of the mundane but necessary tasks. Our unbelievable housing situation for our first furlough is the topic of this episode. Part 2 of a 3-part home assignment series of stories--"A house, a home, and a heritage."

How weird are missionaries?

2011-05-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

This short episode recalls two families that we visited with during our home assignment year. One was heading towards the mission field, and one away from the mission field. The contrasting emotions and thoughts of each were fascinating, and the exotic locale of our meeting-- a McDonald's in the middle of nowhere in central California--made the experiences all the more interesting.

You've got mail!

2011-04-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

I've completed two years in the world of podcasting so this is my "where-have-we-been-where-are-we-headed" episode. I answer questions from listeners and share some shocking statistics about my personal popularity in the city of San Antonio, Texas. How intriguing!

Winter...The Season to Dream

2011-02-13T04:42:00.000-08:00

The final installment from my second book Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in Missions. This selection, taken from the epilogue, compares the season of winter with the metaphorical "winters" that missionaries face in taking the Gospel abroad. Enjoy this, some of my most poetic prose to date.

Modern Day Moses

2011-01-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

In this short episode, I share a personal and heart-wrenching story about a Kenyan friend who died tragically. The life of this Moses will forever change the way I view relationships and eternity. Listen to episode 31 here, or download on iTunes.

The Nile isn't just a river in Egypt...it's in Uganda too!

2010-12-16T09:34:00.000-08:00

Part 3 of my three-part series on the greatest African adventures I've had in our five years here. This one covers whitewater rafting the Nile River, but the greatest adrenaline rush wasn't what you'd think it'd be. Check it out...listen here or subscribe for free on iTunes.

"Because it's there"

2010-11-24T01:40:00.001-08:00

Sir Edmund Hillary, when asked why he climbed Mt. Everest, quickly quipped, "Because it's there." My reasoning wasn't any more profound than his when I chose to climb Mt. Kenya (Africa's second tallest mountain) a few years ago. This new episode details my second greatest African adventure (part 2 of a 3 part series) and can also be found in my first book All That You Can't Leave Behind, available on sale now on Amazon Kindle.

I usually talk about Nittany Lions, but not this time

2010-10-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of being a missionary in Africa is the adventures available. I begin a three-part series describing my three greatest adrenaline rushes. In this episode, lions in the zoo are awe-inspiring; lions in the wild are terrifying.

Episode 27...step up to the Mike

2010-10-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Murphy interviews the "Swiss Army knife" of missionaries, the multi-talented Mike Saum. Saum relays his experiences with pastoral training in Africa and with creative story-telling through modern media and, on the lighter side, tells stories of popped tires on the way to deliver a baby and his affection for Tootsie Pops.

Don't yell

2010-09-30T01:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry to keep you waiting on the next episode. Moving back to Africa and re-establishing ourselves in our ministry has been a daunting task. It's going to be quite a difficult year, but God's strength is enough. We're going to make it.

Needless to say, the podcast production schedule has been pushed back a bit. I hope to release the next episode in mid-October, and then the next three or four should follow very closely after that. The ones that follow the next one are already done. Thanks for your patience...and I'll be talking at you soon.

I can't live with or without you

2010-08-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

My new podcast episode focuses on friends and fellowship. Its an excerpt taken from my new book Winter Spring Summer Fall. Listen here or subscribe on iTunes.

One month until kickoff...

2010-07-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

Summertime is here which means that football season is right around the corner. I'm taking a break from normal podcast topics to talk about the big story of the college football off-season--conference expansion. I hope you enjoy episode 25 and be sure to tune in for episode 26...more selections from my new book, Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in Missions.

Another selection from Winter Spring Summer Fall

2010-06-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Episode 24 is finally here. I share one of my twelve "Lessons for Lasting" from my newest book. This one focuses on health--the physical realities of illness in missions and the spiritual complexities that lurk unseen. Listen here or subscribe on iTunes! Thanks for listening!

It's here!

2010-04-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

My new book is available on Amazon now. One reviewer has already commented there. Four stars out of five. Not bad. There are still some quirks to work out on the Amazon page, but hopefully those will be remedied in the next few days.

Click here to purchase.

Contacting my publisher directly is another great way to get it.

Email Father's Press.

Also, save my new Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in Missions book website as a favorite for future reference.

Book website.

New episode of podcast...Bill Davis interview

2010-04-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

We're living in a hundred-year old house in San Diego right now, and our downstairs neighbors last month were Bill and Donna Davis. I wrote about the impact their lives and ministry made on my future in the "Epilogue" of All That You Can't Leave Behind, my first book. He's been in the Philippines for over twenty years, and he carved out a little time during his home assignment to talk with me about why Bill and his wife Donna (or is it Donna and Bill?) are such hot topics for books, when their Bible translation work will be complete, and how to get your Mexican food fix in Manila. And for the cherry on top, Bill will sing a soulful rendition of "Mississippi Squirrel Revival."

Sneak peek

2010-03-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

This is your first chance to hear a portion of my new book--Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in MIssions. In this newest episode of my podcast, I'll read portions of the opening chapter, and let you know how to get your grubby little hands on it. Listen to it here or download it on iTunes. Either way, you're sure to be entertained!

Oh, and by the way, this is episode 22, not 32 as I state on the podcast. I didn't want anyone to think that they missed 10 podcasts out there somewhere. No need to search. You've heard them all.

New (Podcasting) Year's Resolutions

2010-03-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

I preview my second year of podcasting. A new book is just around the corner, and other changes abound in my ministry as a career missionary in Kenya, East Africa. It's short, it's off-script, and there are radical sound effects to blow your tiny little mind.

Also of interest, this is my first solo podcast. Recorded, published, the whole shabang! Let me know what I need to improve on.

A fun, new episode of my podcast

2010-01-30T17:54:00.000-08:00

Episode 20--The Secret Life of Boys

Small children aren't the first thing to pop into your head when you think of cross-cultural missions. Yet, for many missionaries, raising families in foreign contexts is part of God's plan. In this episode, I share some entertaining stories about my two pre-school boys.

Stay tuned for my next episode. I'll be changing up my format a bit for year two (yes, I've been at this over a year now!), and I think you'll like the differences.

A relevant quote

2010-01-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

I found this quote in a book I've been reading called Managing Transitions by William Bridges. I thought of my first book (and this website) immediately.

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another.
Anatole France, French writer

Book cover final

2010-01-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

I shared the original photo idea for my upcoming book back in November. Here's what happened when graphic artist Jessica Garcia and my wife Heather got a hold of it. Of course, you're looking at ALL of the art--front, spine, and back.

Let me know what you think!