I just wanted them to do what I’d asked of them. But week after week, about half the middle-school kids in my home school writing group would show up without their writing work done. Since my class plans depended heavily on having each of them share their writing with the group so we could discuss it, this pattern was putting a huge crimp in my ability to actually teach them anything. Though my improv skills grew as a result of... Read more

Last week, our household received a postcard from our local megachurch, advertising its Easter service schedule. There were multiple services, designed to invite people to consider the empty tomb. It occurred to me that the numerous identical services strung at regular intervals across Saturday night and Sunday AM were not too different from Catholic mass schedules around here, especially on big C & E (Christmas and Easter) weekends. Though non-denominational services are different from Catholic services in lots of dramatic... Read more

I am glad to be back in Chicago again after nearly a week in California. I discovered Jesus in some of the unlikeliest places at the Mt. Hermon writers conference: – I felt Him embracing so many who’d come with high hopes, only to be told by an acquisitions editor or agent that their idea wasn’t marketable. – I saw Him celebrating two childhood friends who’d come to the conference from different places in the world – hoping to connect... Read more

A couple of months ago, I ran across a contest on The Writers View e-mail loop. This loop is a networking/information/encouragement portal for…you guessed it…writers. The prize for the essay contest was a full scholarship to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference in Cali. I’m at a bit of a crossroads in my writing vocation, and hope that being immersed in a learning community for the better part of a week will help me better discern just what the heck... Read more

Grandson Gabriel and I went to Kohl Children’s Museum today. My kids and I were regular visitors to an earlier (smaller) version of the museum. Those visits with my kids seem to have happened about 6 minutes ago, instead of…um…more than a decade and a half ago. Gabriel spent about a half an hour in the Potbelly Sandwich shop, making fake sandwiches out of plastic foodstuff. Watching this little boy completely lost in the joy of work gave me a... Read more

Picture this with me: a church’s worship team on a float in a parade. The float’s speakers are blaring out the latest Christian music Top 40 hits. The team is smiling and waving to the crowd…maybe even karaoke-singing along as the float crawls up the parade route. The float features a sign with the name, slogan, address, phone number and website of the church, along with a mention that their team does WORSHIPTAINMENT. They have a kickin’ team, covering your... Read more

Rest in peace, Larry Norman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TliWDSLrYb8Click on the above link for some vintage footage. Read more

I am facing the most intense writing deadline I’ve encountered in about a year. This means that I go to my default “backed into a corner” writer’s mode for a short amount of time. Whoever said a writer’s life is glamorous outghta come over here and see how its done in real life. On second thought, don’t come over here until after 1 or so. That’s usually when I get around to brushing and flossing my teeth. Let me give... Read more

When I was in third grade, before I took my first Iowa Basic test, I remember my teacher giving us a pep talk about the test. Besides the instructions about using our sharpened number two pencils to completely color the A, B, C or D circles, and erasing completely if we decided to change our answer, I’ll always remember her telling us that tests were fun. I bought her pitch – hook, line and sinker. I loved standardized tests, and... Read more

There is so much I could say about this post:http://branthansen.typepad.com/letters_from_kamp_krusty/2008/02/kumar-sits-in-t.html#comments But additional words are unnecessary. Go on wit ya. Read it. Read more