Monthly Archives: January 2025

100 Years Ago (But It Could Have Been Today)

In 1925, Westminster Cathedral’s newly-established canon preached a message on contemporary sins. Reflecting on the traditional “7 deadlies” and upon his work among the poor, Canon Donaldson suggested these 7 Social Sins were the challenge of his time. They might … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Trapped in a Box of My Own Design

My Real Memoir I’d built the cabin—and now I had cabin fever. This wasn’t the life I wanted. All I did, it seemed, was administrate my tiny-but-important-sounding Newport Institute of the Arts. I was doing the one thing I said I’d never … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

What Would Make America Truly Great Again?

Thought for the Week Donald Trump is being inaugurated on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is weightier than it sounds. Why? Because, while Mr. Trump professes to “Make America Great Again” largely by protecting us against others, Dr. King … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 106 Comments

No Matter What Others May Intend

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He was tempted to give in to despair. (Who wouldn’t be?) But he chose instead to trust the God he knew would never abandon him. Divine irony: Two decades later his brothers came to Egypt in the midst of … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

I Finally Found the Perfect Blog Name

How to Choose a Blog Name After abandoning the title Don’t Read This, You’ll Only Encourage Him! I did what any creative guy would do: polled my Facebook friends for steal-able ideas. “I need a name that represents more than … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Here They Are: My Biggest Hits of 2024!

Forget the Grammys and Academy Awards, here’s the award show everyone’s really been waiting for: My most popular blog posts of 2024! Things took a strange turn last year when a bunch of traffic-blocking glitches kicked-in. Result? My most-read blogs … Continue reading

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Building a Patchwork of Love

Dear preachers, teachers and group leaders: A new year has begun, and that means new opportunities to love and minister to others. Not just for you, but for everyone in your congregation, classroom, or group. If you’re looking for a great … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Movies, Religion/Faith, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Come on Baby, Do the Notzilla!

Images above are from both the feature film and the graphic novel Notzilla (P.S. My publisher has just commissioned me to create a new Notzilla graphic novel!) Music From My Movies As I mentioned in the previous Music From My Movies, … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Four Steps to Becoming a Superhero

1) Choose the right costume (very important). 2) Wear costume no matter how hard it is to put on. 3) Practice being super every day. 4) Choose a Super-name no one else has (very important). Have a Super Year, friends! … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

The Mold From Which I Was Made

My Real Memoir She was my template, my prototype. But I never knew it. Even as a preschooler, I was embarrassed by her. “Don’t forget to go wee-wee,” she’d say at bedtime. “Nooo, Grandma! It’s pee-pee!” As a teenager, I loudly dressed … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 35 Comments