I hate hospitals. I hate doctors. And yet, here I sit in a hospital waiting room, standing watch as my wife of 39 years goes through surgery. It is a helpless feeling, a situation in which my wife and I know that even though it is a relatively routine surgery, it still involves general anesthetic. … More The Biggest Lie of All
SIX YEARS LATER Jonathan and Ziba pushed silently through the grass on their bellies until they could see over the edge of the hillside. The evening was still, and as the sun set over their left shoulders, they moved as quietly as they could so they wouldn’t be noticed by the Philistine guards below. Saul … More Chosen Ch. 4: “Encounter at Geba”
“I WIN!” Ziba shouted to Jonathan across the table and jumped to his feet. The burly 12 year old raised his arms in victory and danced in place, which the younger Jonathan sat quietly grinning up at his friend. “See,” Jonathan said. “You said you never win at Jackal and Dogs.” “Well, I don’t usually,” … More Chosen Ch. 3: “King and Champion”
Every writing and editing project goes through what I call its “Ugly Stepchild” phase. My latest book, Chosen, is right there, right now. This is a project I have been planning for more than 20 years. I have started and stopped on it several times. Before summer started, I reviewed what I had before and … More Sow Ears and Silk Purses
“Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Three men met on the field of battle—an Amalekite, a Canaanite and a Philistine. The Amalekite showed up in full armor and raised his spear to the sky. ‘I have won many battles. I am not afraid of either of you.’ He was promptly run over by the … More Chosen Ch 2 “The Road to Salvation”
And so it begins…Here is the first chapter in my writing project this summer, a Biblical novel about David and Jonathan. I hope you enjoy it. In southern Canaan, on the fertile plain south of the hill country, yet north of the dry Wilderness of Ziph, lay the mighty walled city of Gath. While … More Chosen Ch. 1 “A Conspiracy of Kings”
I am a product of the Seventh-day Adventist publishing system. For more than 100 years, Adventists have shared their distinctive beliefs and messages through written books and magazines that are published in printing presses around the world and distributed in Adventist Book Centers as well as door to door. My first book, 52 Things to … More Long Time Gone
My son Matt was involved in an auto accident in 2002 that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Immediately after his accident, his rehab doctor told us that the brain is a black box, and when there’s an injury, there’s no telling what the results will be. He’s doing better now, but at one time … More I’m Looking Through You…Which Isn’t a Bad Thing
I have a student in my just-finished Narrative Writing class with what I consider a once-in-a-decade talent. She wrote three short stories, each one better than the last. The last forced me to pull her aside and tell her, “You’ve got to get this published.” She didn’t respond. When I graded her final exam yesterday, … More Average Is Average
Let me tell you the story of two students. One was a friend of mine back in the 70s. I was always in awe of him, because he had creativity and talent oozing out of every orifice he had. I was not as talented, but I was determined. He wrote screenplays, and was both clever … More Tenacity Over Talent
The Great Adventure 