Category Archives: Movies

July the 4th is Almost Here!

Preachers, teachers and group leaders: If you’re looking for a brief-but-powerful illustration about what patriotism means, especially for people of faith, my 2 1/2 minute video may just be it. In the film, four ordinary people remind us it means … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mocking the Monster That Haunted Me

My Real Memoir It had been a hard summer, the hardest of my life. The monster Anxiety followed me wherever I went. Still, my bedroom window let the sun in, along with a dozen sparrows. And my flirtations with faith … Continue reading

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Why I (Have to) Tell Stories

If I was a greeting card, I’d be illustrated, and have one of those little built-in music tracks too. I honestly can’t remember a time I wasn’t captivated by words, pictures and music. Or by wanting to create them for … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Videos, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 53 Comments

Five Years Ago This Week

In May of 2020, Healing River, my first feature film as a writer-director, premiered on Amazon Prime. After winning over twenty major festival awards, it became one of Prime’s highest-rated inspirational dramas. And it remains so to this day. Since then, Healing … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 78 Comments

The Day My First Feature Film Premiered

A Filmmaker’s Journal 25 years ago today, my first feature film premiered on Showtime. I was doing a producing internship in a glass skyscraper a few floors below former president Ronald Reagan’s office. Interestingly, it was also the building (or … Continue reading

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So, It Turns Out I Really Am a Novelist

When I was a kid I wanted to be everything. I practiced tight rope walking on the chain-link fence behind my buddy Jeff’s house in preparation to join the circus. Explored the city sewers, preparing to become a world-class archeologist. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Humor, Memoir, Movies, The Wishing Map, Videos, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 76 Comments

I Always Knew You Loved Me, Mom

I made the above Mother’s Day video a few years back. I’ve posted it here so you can share it with others, if you wish. To show it at a church or other public gathering, click here. Mom was twenty … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , | 47 Comments

A Perfect Calm Before the Storm

My Real Memoir I stood in the dark one final time, and said, “Look, if you’re there, just cough or something.” As always, there was no answer. I was angry at God for not existing (although I wouldn’t admit it). … Continue reading

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Having a Conscience Is So Inconvenient

My Real Memoir I was still running my little school of the arts (and secretly living in a back room there) while attending Drama grad school. I wanted to direct. But because of my eleventh hour application, I’d been shoehorned in as … Continue reading

Posted in Memoir, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

In a World Where…

I love doing voice-overs. And fortunately have gotten to do a lot of them. As a member of the comedy trio Isaac Air Freight, I did my first voice-over as Little Joe in Prodigal Joe. Then went on to perform on … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments