Hey gang, long time, no feed!

I won’t belabor the point here–life is just busy. Work is nuts but necessary. Ministry is awesome and heavy. Marriage and parenting are a joy and a challenge. But I can’t leave you forever, faithful reader (and/or occasional reader who forgot they subscribed to my email updates)!

I have a book review or two I’m eager to post, as well as some content from sermons I got to preach this summer, but for now, let’s just ease back into the swing of things with a few fun links and notes on this late-summer afternoon:

• I’ve been really enjoying two nostalgiarrific TV retrospective podcasts for the last month or so: Talkville Podcast (featuring Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling, the Lex Luthor and Clark Kent of Smallville) and Pod Meets World (featuring Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedel, a.k.a. Topanga, Shawn, and Eric from Boy Meets World). These were probably my 2 favorite TV shows from my teens and twenties, so the 20+ year retrospectives are a delightful recap and look behind the scenes. If you’re a fan of either program, you gotta check them out.
• Speaking of 20-year nostalgia, this retro love letter to Goldeneye-style N64 gaming looks doooooooooope. Too bad, I don’t have a decent computer to game on (or time to play it). Oh well. Still cool.
• I haven’t seen the latest season of Stranger Things (no Netflix, so I’m waiting for the library to get a copy), but I have picked up enough little bits and pieces from social media to know that it’s the creepiest season thusfar. I thought this live video of Twentyone Pilots opening with a ST-inspired version of “Heathens” in a recent concert in Romania was pretty neat. (Creepy imagery from the show, so if you’re sensitive to such, pass on the video.)
• A couple of years ago, I mentioned on Twitter that the one cover I’ve been looking for but could never find was a good up-tempo ska version of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis. (Look, sometimes I get these weird ideas in my head, but you KNOW it totally works as a concept.) Turns out, a Mexican ska band called The Big Browns recorded a “rock-steady” version that is pretty chill and fun. Not *quite* what I was wishing for, but still well done. And if you play the video at 1.5x speed, you get a better sense of the masterpiece that sadly still only exists in my imagination.
• Currently reading: Man, a lot of things. Several theology books, but my current fun reading is The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, the first Poirot mystery. I decided I’d try to read through the top 10 Poirot novels as judged by the folks at AgathaChristie.com. This is my fourth in the list (after Orient, Nile, and Ackroyd), but I did watch a film adaptation of The ABC Murders so I may skip that one on the list. With a bookshelf and reading list full of heavy tomes and heavier topics, it’s nice to have something light and fun to dip into.

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That’s all I have at the moment. No promises of a new posting schedule (you know how I can be), but I will say that yeah, I’m thinking I’m back. So we’ll see what kind of hijinks we can get into here in the second half of 2022. See you soon!

Hello again, reader.

It’s been a busy spring and early summer, so here are a few quick personal highlights since the end of March:

• Together for the Gospel was a great time. I enjoyed the beautiful weather in Louisville, came home with two dozen books, spent time with some of my closest friends, and got to meet and hang out with a few people I’ve only ever “met” online. I came away from that trip physically tired (so much walking!) but spiritually and mentally refreshed. If you haven’t checked out the sermons from T4G this year, let me recommend a few for you to enjoy: Alistair Begg shared the simple duty of the Christian minister, Shai Linne focused our eyes on the glory of Jesus, John Piper challenged us to live holy lives, and Christian Lwanda called us to base our ministries solely on the Word of God. All of these messages will bless and challenge you.
• Our family did indeed buy a house. It’s been a challenge in these first few months, trying not to panic over the sheer number of repairs (large and small) that a 50-year-old house needs. And while I’m no handyman by ANY available metric, I’ve been able to do things like replace (and in one case, rebore and install) new doorknobs and deadbolts, replace the inner workings of a toilet tank, and reseal countertops and sinks and things, among other simpler repairs. Big learning curve, but I’m hoping to be up to the task. Good thing the hardware store is within walking distance; I’m already a “frequent flyer.”
• This week, my wife and I celebrated 8 years of marriage. I can’t begin to explain how blessed I am to have this woman by my side. I am strengthened and inspired by her presence and care for me and our children. I am humbled by her kindness and wisdom. She is a gift of God to me and I would be in a far worse place as a person without her being here.
• The next 6-7 weeks will be full-up with ministry opportunities, from Sunday School to preaching to serving in Vacation Bible School. I would appreciate your prayers as I prepare and teach. I’ll be preaching at my home church on Father’s Day, and then two times in July at another church where I’ve preached before. I’ll share those sermons in future posts.

I don’t have any fun links to share at the moment, but I’ll resume semi-regular posting tomorrow with a new blog post that may generate a comment or two. Here’s the teaser: I’m gonna go against the grain just a little bit regarding a much-beloved blockbuster movie from last year. Should be fun.

That’s all I have today. See you tomorrow.

Man, this year’s reading list is sad.

The best laid plans of mice and men and parents of toddlers oft go awry, yeah? This year’s reading round-up is short and shallow–and the list of books I started and could not finish seems almost as long!

Here we go, for better or worse:

January

>>The Words Between Us – Erin Bartels

>>The Practice – Seth Godin

>>Conscience – Andy Naselli and J.D. Crowley

February

>>A Hard Thing on A Beautiful Day – Ted Kluck

>>The Burning: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 – Tim Madigan

March

>>One by One – Ruth Ware

>>Pastors and Their Critics – Joel Beeke and Nick Thompson

>>Comfort The Grieving – Paul Tautges

>>Something Wicked This Way Comes – Ray Bradbury

May

>>Fault Lines – Voddie Baucham

July

>>Corporate Worship – Matt Merker

>>How to Eat Your Bible – Nate Pickowicz *skimmed the last few chapters*

>>A World without Email – Cal Newport

August

>>She Did What She Could – Don Karns

>>Wolverine: Old Man Logan (trade paperback) – Millar / Bendis / Lemire / Brisson

September

>>Confessing the Faith – Chad Van Dixhoorn

November

>>The Invisible Man – HG Wells

>>Hawkeye Vol 4: Rio Bravo – Matt Fraction / David Aja

December

>>Invincible (TPB Vols. 1-3) – Kirkman / Walker

>>A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

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A few comments on the preceding:

This is by far the closest fiction/non-fiction ratio I’ve had in 10-15 years (8 fiction to 12 non-fiction). I wonder if that’s a statement on where my mind’s been at this year. Also interesting to note that most of the fiction was read in the last few months–possibly as a means of escape?

More than half of these books are fewer than 300 pages. Some of ones that were longer took multiple tries to get through. This is also the lowest book total I’ve had, possibly since I started counting and posting to a blog. Again, none of this is surprising considering what all I have had going on, but it’s interesting how I’ve struggled with focus/time when it comes to reading this year.

I’m currently “in-progress” with about 6 books, but most actively with another volume of Invincible and a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro called Klara and the Sun. I just downloaded a library e-copy of Erik Larson’s Devil in a White City, so clearly I want to go light to start 2022.

My mostly-fiction DNF list (books I got at least a chapter or two into before stopping early) included, but was not limited to, the following:

• Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep – just a bit too seamy/grimy to be enjoyable – I won’t be coming back to it.
• Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – definitely will return to it, but never got locked in enough to persevere when other shiny distractions arose
• Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers – another one I may get back to at some point.
• Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X – I definitely will come back to this; it looks like a fun series.
• Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life – okay, controversial take: it’s just not that good. It’s full of obvious observations but it doesn’t really say anything new or meaningful. Admittedly, after the first chapter, I skimmed a bit, but I just don’t see the appeal. Apologies to those who think he’s the second coming of Socrates.
• Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca – I didn’t get very far into it, but I definitely want to come back to it when I’m in the right frame of mind.
• Franz Kafka’s The Trial – Meh. I gave it a shot, but it was a bit too pretentious to be enjoyable or even interesting. I’ll go along with some avant-garde writing, but at some point you have to ask, “Am I actually enjoying this?” If not, boot it. There’s no point in reading Important Novels that don’t actually bring joy or greater human understanding.
• Ernest Cline’s Ready Player Two – What a disappointment. I adored RP1, and I feel like he spoiled it a bit with this second volume. I got so fed up with the protagonist that I bailed after just a few chapters. From what I gather from others, that may have been a smart move.

My top-five reads from 2021 (in no particular order):

• The Burning, by Tim Madigan – This is a riveting account of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. It seemed only appropriate to read it on the year of its centennial. It was a heart-breaking glimpse into a moment of American history that is still so often passed over without comment.
• Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury – I read this in high school, but it was almost a different book to me as a middle-aged man. I would recommend revisiting some of the classic works you read in your youth; it’s quite eye-opening. Anyway, Bradbury has long been one of my favorite storytellers, and this one is a wild ride.
• Confessing the Faith, by Chad Van Dixhoorn – This was given to me as a birthday present in late 2019 and it just took me a while to get through because it needs to be read slowly. Dr. Van Dixhoorn exposits every point of the Westminster Confession of Faith and provides theological arguments for why each element was written the way it was, and what implications these doctrines have on daily life. This is helpful both as a volume on Christian history and as a book for devotional reading and meditation. Excellent on all counts.
• A World Without Email, by Cal Newport – This one took me a few tries, because it is dense and heavily-researched, but it argues a somewhat controversial or counter-cultural premise: What if businesses and organizations found other ways to accomplish what we claim to accomplish using email? Further, does the universal, constant reliance on email improve or actually hamper true productivity? This is Newport’s most “out-there” thesis, but I think he makes some really strong points.
• A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens – Seriously, every time I read this short book, I’m blown away by the depth of emotion and understanding. More than that, I’m again surprised by all of the references to Christian faith and thinking throughout the volume. While Dickens wasn’t observably a professing believer, his cultural context was so immersed in Christian thinking and worldview that it is inescapable in his writing. As a Christian, I am delighted and encouraged by every glancing reference and thoughtful aside.

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Your Turn: What was the best book you read in 2021? What should I add to my TBR list in 2022? Comment below!

Hey friends! I apologize for the radio silence. This week has been a doozy, and the weekend won’t be any easier. I’m hip-deep in sermon prep for tomorrow (in other words, shamefully behind!). But I hate letting so long go without saying hello.

I have one post scheduled for Monday, so far. Hoping I can knock out a couple more this weekend so we can get back to a steady schedule.

I would appreciate your prayers through the weekend. Just too much going on to spell it out, and it would be boring anyway! God has given me a lot to take care of in this season of my life, but He also gives grace. Pray that I will rely on that grace.

Thanks for reading. See you Monday.

 

There was a time when I would go for weeks without posting anything and feel only a twinge of guilt.

These days, I feel kinda anxious when I can’t hit three posts a week.

Life has been super complicated and full and challenging and good lately. I’ll tell you about it sometime soon. In the meantime, you’ll need to bear with me.

So, in lieu of new content, a question for you, dear reader:

What’s one positive thing from your 2019 so far? Big or small, share your joy in the comments below and let us celebrate with you!

I’ll be back on Wednesday with more short-story talk and hopefully a return to regular posting!

One of the descriptors that is thrown around too often when describing a work of art is “Important” (with a capital “I”). But I saw a movie on Tuesday that I would argue deserves that capital-letter descriptor.

Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer is an independent film based on the harrowing true story of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, an abortion provider in Philadelphia who was responsible for the death of at least 1 pregnant woman, along with the brutal death of at least 8 babies born alive during abortion procedures. This is a sensational news story that you may have never heard about, because as these true events were discovered and prosecuted, national media outlets were very slow to cover the details of the story.

And let me quickly add here: this isn’t simply a movie “about abortion” or merely an “anti-abortion” story. This is a story about women’s health, about the dignity of patients in a time of crisis, and the callous indifference of bureaucratic inaction in order to avoid controversy.

The film production is top-notch, especially considering the size of their budget. Some of the CGI effects were a little unrealistic, and a few of the minor performances were wooden, but on the whole, the acting and production values were excellent. As writer/producer Ann McElhinney stated in a recent interview, this movie is meant to have the feel of a Law and Order episode, so that the viewer is caught up in the story. I can confirm this; even knowing how it ended, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I have to admit, though: while it’s not as graphic as it could have been, not by a long-shot, it is a hard watch at times. So use your judgment, if you are sensitive to the subject matter or have concerns about PG-13 language. And this is probably not a good movie to take younger kids to, though teenagers should be fine.

The film is an adaptation of McElhinney’s bestselling non-fiction book of the same name, covering the discovery of Gosnell’s crimes and the details of the case. Some of the names are changed, and some of the scenes are dramatized, but the most chilling, unbelievable details of this story are all actually documented and verifiable. Kermit Gosnell is, by all accounts, a legitimate sociopath who practiced abortions in Philadelphia for decades. He violated dozens if not hundreds of health and safety regulations and risked the lives of his adult patients, all the while under the protection of a Pennsylvania statehouse and health department that refused to enforce its own regulations against the abortionist.

Other writers have noted how the movie has fared in terms of media coverage (not much better than the actual case, to be honest). NPR refused to run advertisements unless the filmmakers removed the word “abortionist” from the ad copy. Facebook has removed advertisements and blocked posts for “offensive” and “political” content. Some have documented theaters suddenly pulling the film or randomly cancelling screenings. Nevertheless, the film brought in $1.8 million in its first week, good enough for #11 in the box office (despite showing on fewer than 700 screens).

More movies are opening in theaters every weekend, so if Gosnell doesn’t do a brisk business, it will be gone from the theaters very soon. It’s ironic that a cineplex currently full of make-believe monsters and Hollywood hauntings is crowding out a true story of actual human horror that has been largely ignored.

So here’s my challenge for you, dear readers: Go see Gosnell this week–tonight, if possible. And take your friends.

If you don’t see it soon, you’ll probably have to wait until it reaches home video. If you think this story deserves to be heard, support it with your dollars and your feet by heading to your local theater over the next few days.

In a world full of noise and “fake news,” this story about the dignity of human life and the darkness of the human heart is truly Important.

You can check out the trailer here. You can buy tickets through Fandango (not-sponsored) here.

Addendum: If you went to see Gosnell after reading this post, please comment below and let me know what you thought! And if you’ve seen the film already, I’d love to get your take on it in the comments, as well!

Five blog posts about writing and work to take you into the weekend!

My 500 Words: A Writing Challenge: The blogs I’ve written over the years are documentary evidence of a push-pull within me when it comes to writing. I swing wildly from not writing much at all to cranking out post after post. Sometimes these shifts happen on a dime. (Wasn’t it just two weeks ago that I said I would start posting less often? Well…) After reading this post by Jeff Goins, I’ve decided to take the challenge and begin writing 500 words a day. (For the record, today is Day #3, and you, dear reader, are looking at my 500+ words for the day.) Not all of it will be published, and not all of it will be here, but I do expect a bump in activity here.

Why you Should Write for 182 Days: Dovetailing with the first article is this piece by Chomwa Shikati detailing so many good reasons why you should write every day for 6 months. If you’re like me, and you find that the love of the craft sometimes isn’t quite enough, this post may perhaps give you a bit more inspiration to sit down with a notebook or keyboard and do the work.

Library Rules: I work in an “open office plan” office, and frankly, some days it’s a miserable experience. The goal (presumably) is to “help encourage collaboration and creativity” but what it really encourages is distraction and irritation (at least in our experience). I spend my day with headphones in, trying to drown out the partial conversations and speakerphone calls that drift up and down the hallway. You tell me: would it be too passive-aggressive to email this link to everyone in my department, with no commentary attached? Yeah? Okay, fine. I’ll just stew about it a bit more.

5 Easy Ways to Build Your Writer’s Personal Brand: Okay, first, ugh; I hate the title, because I hate both “5 easy ways” posts and cheesy “branding” discussions. However, as I’m really starting to read about and think about how I want to move this platform (blergh) forward and use it to promote my online writing (here and on Medium, check me out!) along with any future book projects, I need to take my “brand” a bit more seriously. Suffice it to say, I’m going to be doing more reading, thinking, and likely writing about this in coming months.

“…Every Revolution Begins with Words”: Another Jeff Goins post, this time reminding us of how truly powerful well-crafted, passionate words can be. This is both an encouragement and a challenge to us. The landscape of social media and the Internet in general is pock-marked with the mortar blasts of heedless speech and hateful hearts. If we want to make a difference in people’s lives, we should consider very carefully what we say and how we say it.

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There you go, friends. Five articles for your weekend reading and edification.

You may have noticed that this site has undergone a bit of a face-lift, as well as a change in address (yay!). You’ll see more changes in the near future as I start to set up some new ventures. Don’t worry, I’ll still be posting book reviews and bullet-lists and a whole bunch of other fun posts on this site. I’m excited about what’s coming down the road, and I hope you are, too.

Have a great weekend!