I had to drive into Burleson and take care of a bill at the local hospital. On my way, I stopped at a gas station to fill up my pickup. I’m standing there putting gas into my truck when a large bird–a grackle (if you live here in the South you know what those are)–landed … More The Universe Doesn’t Care
I am getting more and more disillusioned with Facebook. It seems like every time I go on there, someone has an axe to grind, someone has to argue a point, someone wants to prove that they are right and everyone else is wrong. It just gets depressing. Somewhere we got the idea that argumentation was … More More Wag, Less Bark
I have stories in my head. Well, yeah. Writers are supposed to have stories in their head. But do you ever think what happens to those stories when writers don’t put them on paper? (Sorry, I’m old school; I should be saying on screen, but you catch my drift.) The first result is a travesty. … More Just Write the Blamed Thing!
Today’s Assembly at Southwestern Adventist University was the annual Convocation. You know: that’s the one where the faculty all dress up like peacocks and march in while the band plays and we officially announce that the school year has begun. This is the 18th year I’ve been involved in convocation, and it’s something I do … More Truth Is Tough
I spent the weekend at my son’s place in Galveston, where among other things, we viewed and discussed his continuing battle to put the final touches on The Price of a Free Lunch, the 11-minute film we did based on one of my short stories this year. Like all of our projects, it was heavily … More Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try.
I was challenged by a thought the other day that I wanted to in turn share with you. We have a new professor in our department. Kyle Portbury is an award-winning filmmaker from Australia who has come to join us at Southwestern Adventist University to teach radio-TV-film. We were talking about social media in our … More Community or Creativity?
I was an exceptionally gawky kid growing up. Blame it on being a fast grower. Blame it on not having a father who played ball with me. Blame it my disinterest in sports. But I was uncoordinated. My older cousin, Bob, who played college baseball was as close to a jock that my extended family … More Making Lemonade
When I die, I’ve told my wife, I want them to find me sitting on my riding lawnmower in the back yard. Why? First, it’s a good place to get fresh air and sunshine. Second, it’s about the only place I can find peace and quiet anymore (even with the 4 hp. Briggs and Stratton … More The Creative Side of Mowing Your Lawn
It’s been all of five days since I introduced my new book Chosen to the world. It’s been a long time coming, just a dream for most of that time, and now it is reality. I’m eager for you and the rest of the world to read this book, because I think it’s one of … More Letting Go
I’m currently teaching two classes that are unintentionally vexing my students to death. One is intended to make them into editors, the other one into reporters. What vexes them is the simple fact that they can’t seem to come up with stories to write. Well, that’s not exactly correct. We have planning sessions where I … More I Hear Voices….
The Great Adventure 