Joy’s Shadow as New School Year Begins
My daughter attended her first day of kindergarten today. A poignant milestone dressed up in an exceptionally cute plaid jumper. My wife and I thought we were pretty cool with it. Our daughter had attended preschool, after all, so this wasn't a major logistical...
A Poem for Shel Silverstein
Just read Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends with my five-year-old daughter. Somehow I'd never read his poems before, not as a kid or adult. What a delight. Look forward to reading more with my kids (though I did skip a poem now and then). I'm a few decades...
Interviews: The Good, the Bad, and the Self
The Nervous Breakdown invited me to do one of their "self interviews." I like their online magazine, but was dreading this a bit. Felt like it would take, well, effort. Because in regular interviews, you don't have to take the creative initiative. You still have to be...
On Being Radical Together
The only thing worse than a book reviewer who hasn’t read the book is one who pretends to have done so. I was kindly asked by Patheos's Book Club to write this post, though I haven’t read Radical Together. I'm in Haiti so wouldn't be able to read it in time. I only...
$10 That Made Writing My Book Possible
Writing is, for many of us, something we want to do and also like weaseling out of. Excuses are easy and plentiful. I wrote my last book in the midst of a crazy workload. Timeline was very short. I’d written my first book under completely different circumstances:...
Review in “Christianity Today”
4-Start Review of "After Shock" in Christianity Today (April 2011 issue): "In earthquake-ravaged Haiti, questions range from the pressingly practical (how to rebuild one's home amidst the wreckage) to the wrenchingly existential (how a just and loving God can permit...
Four New TV, Radio, & Print Interviews
Here are four recent-ish interviews. They're each excellent shows/websites/radio shows, and I really enjoyed the chance to talk with them: 1. On "100 Huntley Street," a TV show in Canada: 2. Interview on a ReadTheSpirit.com: "Japan & Rob Bell Aren't the Only...
Three Cups of Truth
[Also on Huffington Post:] I just watched the "60 Minutes" expose on Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea. It felt like a punch in the gut, even if it's of the too familiar heroes-come-crashing-down variety. It must have felt like a punch to many. None of us...
Event with The Welcome Wagon in Philly tonight!
The Welcome Wagon is a fantastic band. I'm excited about doing a Haiti benefit/concert/book event with them tonight in Philadelphia. Details of where and when and how below (and only $10; c'mon!). Vito (who with his wife Monique are The Welcome Wagon) and I attended...