Pulpit Practice

On my way into Real Food Daily (yes, I can't seem to get enough of this place) I see Marcelo reading and waiting outside. I could only spare a few minutes because my lunch buddy was waiting inside at our table and I feel rude...almost like those people who check their blackberries during lunch or a meeting.

When I asked if I could interview him he smiled and chuckled a bit while agreeing to a conversation. "I'd love to but I'm sure I am not your typical Real Food Daily waiting reader." Marcelo is reading The Expository Genius of John Calvin by Steven J. Lawson - non-fiction. He (Marcelo) looks up to John Calvin. His admiration sprung while at a conference. There was a bookstore (at the airport or where the conference was held) and this particular book popped out at him. "You could say that the book picked me", he says. Marcelo has been interested in John Calvin for 5 years now and like Johnny from an earlier interview reading Spurgeon, Marcelo reads books on John Calvin to better his preaching.


Like a diligent student, Marcelo is armed with a highlighter and pen so that he can mark interesting points and even questions the texts before him. He calls it "arguing with the author" as he shows me an example of his notes in the margins. His latest notation? "This is a good point. But is humor always wrong?"

Theology and philosophical books are his bag. The last book he read was The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, a book of dramas pertaining to the Christian faith and follows a man's religious journey in search of salvation.

Favorite book of all time? He didn't want to sound cliche but, hands down, his fave book is the Bible and reads it as much as he can everyday. I poked him a bit more to see if he had another favourite aside from the Bible and after much thought he responds with What Is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul.


If he could write his own book (that was not theology-related) Marcelo would write about Martial Arts! Apparently Martial Arts is his other passion and has a strong background in it. He's been doing it for 13 years and has taught it for 7. I know, I totally wasn't expecting "martial arts" as his answer - very cool.

Marcelo would also love to write a parenting book on how to raise triplets. He's a triplet daddy himself (1 boy, 2 girls) who are now about 2 years old, if I remember correctly. (I remember making a comment about the terrible twos with his threes). I asked him how raising triplets has been and he definitely admits it's alot of work. He also adds, "When people complain to me about now being able to sleep because their child kept them up that night I don't even sympathize for them. I say, 'Hey! I've got to deal with 3 sleeping schedules! Ask me how much I've slept!"

We exchanged cards and he pointed out that he has a blog, too. Visit Marcelo's Blog here

Do you have a hobby that you'd like to write about?