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The 11th Commandment

by Shawn August 10, 2011

So often we want people to arrive. We want them to know. We have our heritage of modernity to thank for this, our obsession with facts and figures, statistics and scientific methods. And lists, endless lists. Many churches have articles of knowing faith that say in relatively plain language, “Here it is. This is what [...]

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Help Determine the Future of my Blog

by Shawn August 9, 2011

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the focus of this blog and where I’d like to go with it in the near future. Would you mind answering these three questions in the comments section below? Feel free to also let me know any other thoughts you have on the content. Thanks! 1) Which type [...]

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My First Bicycle, or The Ugly Brown Bike Meets the Thorn Bush

by Shawn August 8, 2011

The little boy sat by the window, staring through the dusty screen. Flies twitched up against the mesh, their jerky flight eventually finding a way through. The boy lifted the fly swatter slowly. He was a ninja, or perhaps The Karate Kid. Wax on, wax off. Smack. Another dead fly. Another penny. Then he went [...]

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What Are You Waiting For?

by Shawn August 6, 2011

I wait quietly for a book contract; my hope is in that. I wait quietly for money; my hope is in finances. I wait quietly for retirement; my hope is in that day. I wait quietly for a spouse; my hope is in that. I wait quietly the S&P to raise our rating; my hope [...]

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When Your Dream Requires Waiting…and a Teeter Totter

by Shawn August 5, 2011

Andi is a good friend of mine from college who, just a few weeks ago, was gracious enough to give my family a tour of the estate of which her father has been the caretaker for many, many years. She is a fabulous writer working on a project that I think has huge potential to [...]

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Three Things to do After a Bad Day at the (Writing) Office

by Shawn August 4, 2011

Ever have days where you feel like everything you’ve ever written is terrible or (even worse) simply average? John Steinbeck did. Referring to a writing session during the creation of East of Eden, he wrote: “It is just no good and I am going to throw it away.

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Theology is No Substitute for Time Spent Waiting Under an Oak Tree

by Shawn August 3, 2011
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I have an eight-year-old son now. He’s skinny, like I was. He’s (mostly) gentle, a rule follower, and he prefers playing with Legos by himself in his bedroom and please stay out unless you are offering food. Check, check and check – just like I used to be. I remember late on Saturday afternoons, when [...]

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