Tonight I got to watch the movie, “The Razor’s Edge,” based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. It tells the story of two young men who graduate from college in Illinois, then volunteer to drive an ambulance in France during World War I. The horrific experience they have causes one to cancel his wedding … More Archive: Root of All Evil
I heard a few days ago that Samoa is struggling with a problem. The island nation of Samoa does a lot of commerce with New Zealand and Australia. But Samoa is on the east side of the International Date Line and Australia and New Zealand are on the west side. What that means is that … More Archive: What Day Is It?
OK, first of all, I will admit. I am supposed to be writing on my novel, finishing the last few chapters of a five-year project. Instead, I am writing my blog and hoping inspiration will kick in sometime before winter. And my second caveat is that I am breaking one of my own rules. I … More Archive: The Greatest Want of the World
After years as a professional communicator, all that time working for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in some capacity, I have come to the conclusion that everyone is hiding something. When I was a PR assistant at Hinsdale Hospital in Illinois in the early 80s, a colleague told me that I was “too transparent.” What he … More From the Archive: That’s Right. I’m a Nerd.
My wife Shelly feels like I have the most vivid dreams of anyone she has ever met. When I have one, and when I remember it in the morning, I try to tell her about it. Why? Because I have learned through my own graduate work in communication that unless you verbalize your dreams, they … More From the Archive: I Must Be Dreaming
I can’t help it. I’m a blabbermouth. When I am working on a writing project, I can’t hardly wait to finish a chapter before I print it off and start to share it. I corner my wife, harangue my students, bother my daughter, even pester you faithful blog readers just to know that someone, somewhere … More Feedback or Solitude? Another Dilemma for Writers
The following is an archival post from my previous blog that I just happened to stumble across yesterday. In light of the coming election, I thought it was something all Christians needed to remember. While visiting Facebook the other day, I stumbled across a message from my good friend Celeste perrino Walker, who had … More A Does Not Equal B
Mea culpa. Yes, I have been negligent in writing my blog for the past week. I have excuses–anniversary, busy at work–but suffice it to say that I will try to do better. Today I plan on doing something I have been thinking about for a while, basically since reading the excellent book on writing entitled … More Hello. Is it me you’re looking for?
I have a book in my library at home that, every time I pick it up to read, scares the whoopie out of me. I read a few pages and am troubled so much by the words that I have to put it down. The book is Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. Maybe that’s where … More The Next Level
There’s a specific kind of student writer that always gives me a chuckle when they show up in my classes. Regardless of whether they are an English major or a Journalism major, somewhere in their high school years they were told, “You are such an exceptional writer! You are gifted! You are talented!” And they … More The Right Treatment
The Great Adventure 