These last two weeks, I’ve been existing as a camp counselor by day and, well, an exhausted twenty-something by night. Despite my sad farewell to Camp Ridgecrest, I was fortunate to work at not one camp this summer, but two. First, it was a weekend camp for foster youth; most recently, it was a local day […]
Read More Camp Gilligan: Another Camp Ends, Another Heart BreaksA couple weeks ago, I took one of those repetitive personality test things. Only this test was different. This one was Strengths Finder. You heard? My church uses Strengths Finder in its leadership, and it’s frequented our many life groups over the years. I joined my current life group about a year after they took the […]
Read More “Strengths Finder”: The Introblue car goes straight white car turns left red light turns green cars surge forward surge toward me. tonight i sit behind a window and watch eyes stare and mind wanders i wonder where everyone is going tonight wonder where i am going tonight? soon i will gather my things and walk i will walk […]
Read More five minutes from homeJuly 14, 2013 — Costa Mesa, California I close the door behind me, desperate for the quiet that only four beige walls and a toilet-throne can provide. My foster youth camp is over, over already, and I’m being forced to attend an hour-long debriefing with all the other counselors. I’m exhausted. Staying here in this […]
Read More Foster Youth Camp: Where Struggle Finds JoyThis weekend I’m going back to camp. No, not Camp Ridgecrest. Sadly. But another camp nonetheless. When I made the difficult decision not to return to Camp Ridgecrest this summer, my heart longed to work with youth again this June-July-August. After all, that’s been my story these past two summers: venturing across the country to impact youth […]
Read More Camp Calls: Revisiting the Desire of My HeartThis is the third in a three-part blogging series on my four-year return to the Exodus International Freedom Conference. For the first part, “Impressions,” click here. For the second part, “Lessons Learned,” click here. For a video of a ninja cat, click here — and then wander back here for the conclusion to this Exodus International […]
Read More Exodus International Shuts Down and We All Move OnwardThis is the second in an epiK three-part blogging series on my four-year return to the Exodus Conference. For the first part of this series, “Impressions,” click here. For the third part, “Onward,” transport yourself to the future. And then tell me how you did that cuz I wanna go too. When you attend an Exodus […]
Read More My Last Exodus Conference: Lessons Learned14 July 2009. After driving 15 hours through the night, I wearily parked my car at Wheaton College just outside Chicago. Groggy and petrified, I stepped into the bizarre new universe that was the Exodus Freedom Conference – an alien reality of unmasked interiors around every bend. The theme of that 2009 conference was “Make […]
Read More My Last Exodus Freedom Conference: ImpressionsI KNOW, I KNOW, I need to recap my return to the Exodus Conference from this past weekend. It’s coming, I promise. The conference was amazing, and I’m still unpacking so much from the experience. You can check back Monday for the first in a series of Exodus blog posts. In the meantime, I wanted […]
Read More (Non) Wandering WednesdayI recently published a book. My first. You might have heard. It’s all about struggle and redemption, and I titled it Struggle Central: Quarter-Life Confessions of a Messed Up Christian.
But that’s almost not what it was called.
Read More Quarter-Life Confessions of a Gay ChristianFELLOW WANDERERS: This particular kind of video adventure has been a long time coming. For a while, I kinda lost the “spirit” of Wandering Wednesday. Back when this creative concept was instated in 2011, I envisioned many spontaneous drives to the coast, mountains, city, and desert alike. Seeing new sights and hearing new sounds, adding […]
Read More Wandering Wednesday #14 – Bolsa Chica, CAI’m 26 years old. Well, the beard helps me look 26; without it, my delicate mug is hardly pushing 19. Patchy facial hair notwithstanding, I don’t feel 26. Not at all. I don’t feel like I’m in the second half of my twenties, and most of the time I really don’t know what age I […]
Read More 5 Years Behind the Rest of HumanityA month ago, I posted an excerpt from Struggle Central. It was one of my more insecurity-inducing posts, as the memoir penetrated the surface of my struggles from camp last summer — struggles I only vaguely referenced on this blog before diving into them headfirst with my book. That particular Struggle Central excerpt featured the heart-racing, chill-inducing, gaze-gathering […]
Read More Opening the Door: New Challenges, One Year LaterLast week, I did something I’m not usually prone to doing. I made an impulse decision. Although, to be fair, it was an impulse decision preceded by a few weeks of legitimate pontificating: Should I eventually or should I immediately register for Donald Miller’s Storyline conference in Nashville? After dwelling for years on “eventually,” I […]
Read More Storyline: Why I’m Flying to Nashville and Why You Should Come Too!Since the inception of this blog, I’ve been doing these little top-11 countdowns. They’ve actually grown to be not so “little,” as my first top-11 Hillsong United countdown remains my most viewed post of all-time. Christian music is one of my many “things,” and I’m beyond thrilled of the increased quality in recent years. Tenth […]
Read More Tenth Avenue North Songs: TMZ’s Top-11 FavoritesLast week, after 9 hilarious-sometimes-repetitive years, The Office finally said goodbye. Many thought the show should’ve ended the year Steve Carell left the show. I wasn’t necessarily in that camp at the time, though I wouldn’t have minded seeing the show bow with its lead actor after 7 successful seasons. At first, it was intriguing to watch […]
Read More “The Office” Finale: A Goodbye to BeautyEvery now and then, I tend to wander. It’s kind of my thing. And sometimes I tote a camcorder along for the ride. It’s also kind of my thing. Recently, I wandered to Palm Springs, California — a resort town in the middle of southern California’s hot dusty desert. I’d been to Palm Springs once […]
Read More Wandering Wednesday #13 – Palm Springs, CA“Hey, were you guys just praying?” I turn from my four church friends to a man – a young man – with blonde hair. He’s a couple years younger than me — a veritable kid with studded earrings. He dons a red sweatshirt emblazoned with the acronym of a local university. “Yes,” we confirm to […]
Read More Homeless Hope in an AlleywayGOOD NEWS, Y’ALL. Remember that book I wrote? Struggle Central? I technically released it on my birthday a few weeks ago, and the response has been affirming. So very affirming. And now, guess what? I get to release my book again! Only this time it’s, like, more of an official release. After some up-and-down painstaking […]
Read More “Struggle Central” is Almost Born. Again.It’s May. These last two years, May has brought about a shift. A change. A drastic tide to the normal flow and current of my life. Leaving. I tutor in September. I tutor in October. I tutor in November. I tutor in December. I enjoy the holidays. I tutor in January. I tutor in February. […]
Read More A New May Story: Staying in CaliforniaTwelve days ago, I hit the “send” button on a newsletter that would transport my first book to 114 people scattered about this planet. In the ensuing 12 days, 40 others would join my fold and also see my first book born in their inbox — born bloody, naked, and afraid. So very afraid. Within […]
Read More On Releasing My First Book: Lusting for LoveSo. It’s been a good week. Last Wednesday on my 26th birthday, I released my first book, Struggle Central: Quarter-Life Confessions of a Messed Up Christian. Sent it to every single one of my newsletter subscribers for free while it endures self-publishing processing en route to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers soon. […]
Read More “Struggle Central” Around the WebOnce again, it’s time for a sneak peak at my soon-to-be-published book, Struggle Central: Quarter-Life Confessions of a Messed Up Christian. If you’ve missed any of my other excerpts, check out my struggles on shame in high school, loneliness at church, and my first harrowing steps into my current church community in California. Today’s Struggle Sunday excerpt takes […]
Read More “Struggle Central” Excerpt #4: Camp Ridgecrest Reignites the StruggleOne year ago, I turned 25. A quarter-century. The halfway mark between 20 and…30. One year ago today, I was baptized. It was one of those ethereal moments that fully convinced my belief in a God. Those kinds of moments just don’t happen. Nobody gets baptized on a Tuesday night in a water park surrounded by […]
Read More One Year AgoOnce again, it’s time for a sneak peak at my soon-to-be-published book, Struggle Central: Quarter-Life Confessions of a Messed Up Christian. If you’ve missed either of my other excerpts, check out my posts on shame in high school and feeling alone at church. Today’s excerpt takes me back to 2011 in southern California as I struggled […]
Read More “Struggle Central” Excerpt #3: Church Search CompleteI love my grandfather. I grew up a mile down the road from my grandparents, and I often walked to their house for adventures only grandparents and their grandchildren can appreciate. In turn, my grandfather would often take early morning walks to our house, tweed cap, leather jacket, and sweet hickory pipe in tow. My […]
Read More The Story of Ahh: My Grandfather“Excuse me, can I just say something?” I turned from the vulnerable conversation I was having with a new friend and looked up at a middle-aged woman’s face. She’d been sitting two tables beside us, eating dinner with her teenage son. Upon rising from her completed meal of Panda Express goodness, she stepped over and […]
Read More On Interrupting Someone’s MealOnce again, it’s time for a special Struggle Central edition of Struggle Sunday! I’ve already posted one excerpt from my first book, and posted below is another! It’s the second sneak peak for Struggle Central: Quarter-Life Confessions of a Messed Up Christian, with at least one or two more reveals in the Struggle Sundays to come. Today’s excerpt takes […]
Read More “Struggle Central” Excerpt #2: Alone at ChurchYou’ve asked for it. You’ve craved it. You’ve lain in bed restlessly yearning for it. And now YOU GET IT. It’s April Fool’s Day, and instead of saying I spent last night in the hospital (that “joke” didn’t go over so well a few years ago…), I figured now would be the perfect time to […]
Read More “Struggle Central” – The BloopersDear Camp Ridgecrest: For seven months, the surface of my laptop has worn a sticker of your name; coffee shop sojourners 2,500 miles west of your borders see it everyday. For seven months of routine mornings, I slipped on a blue bracelet etched with the Indian name you gave me. A name nobody but you […]
Read More Goodbye, Camp RidgecrestIt’s Struggle Sunday! Today marks a decidedly special Struggle Sunday edition, because posted below is an official excerpt from my upcoming book, Struggle Central: Quarter-Life Confessions of a Messed Up Christian. It’s the first sneak peak of several in the weeks to come! My first book releases soon! Subscribe to my email newsletter for your […]
Read More “Struggle Central” Excerpt #1: Shame on MeOne of my first big “hits” on this blog was an innocent little top-11 countdown I posted in 2011. The countdown featured my very favorite Hillsong United songs, and to say it was difficult paring down Hillsong United’s million offerings of awesome to just 11 is a total understatement. To date, that post is far […]
Read More Hillsong United Songs: TMZ’s Top-11 Favorites, Part 2My “One Word 365” for 2013 is identity, and it’s time to check in for the spring. Though it’s technically not even spring yet, recent events beckon this post. My one word for the year makes perfect sense given my upcoming little-holds-barred book. Also, the Indian name I received at camp last summer has taken […]
Read More IDENTITY: My “One Word 365” Spring Check-InSo, yesterday was a wonderful day. After a week and a half of faithfully/madly editing some personal video footage, I finally uploaded a book trailer for my upcoming project. Yes, book trailers are a thing. The reaction couldn’t have been more encouraging. From Twitter to Facebook to YouTube itself, the encouragement was overwhelming. Yesterday was such an affirming benchmark in the […]
Read More Yes, Book Trailers Are a ThingOn Monday I tried to get a haircut. Tried three times, actually. Even tweeted jokingly about the whole ordeal. Jokingly but kinda frustratingly too. Pretty sure the universe is against my getting a haircut after 3 failed attempts this afternoon. — Thomas Mark Zuniga (@thomasmarkz) February 18, 2013 First, I rolled by some Indian salon that specialized […]
Read More My Oasis Haircut and a Long Lost ReconnectWestboro Baptist Church fascinates me. Though not a perfect metaphor, I liken this fascination to that with colorful characters on Survivor. And by colorful, I basically mean despicable. I’m looking at you, RUSSELL HANTZ. For those unfamiliar, Westboro Baptist Church lies at the geographic center of America: Nowheresville, Kansas. The church was started by Fred […]
Read More Westboro Baptist Church FreedomHappy Valentine’s Day! Or Single Awareness Day for the pessimistic cynics out there. Go team. I’ve never spent a single Valentine’s Day in love, so admittedly, I don’t really grasp the lovey-dovey magnitude of this day like so many do. For me, Valentine’s Day seems like a great chance to waste money on chocolates or […]
Read More Valentine’s Day Scavenger HuntsUm. So. I haven’t wandered with y’all in a while. Like really wandered. Like in a while. Not since Malibu last May. Gosh, I’ve definitely missed doing these videos! I recently returned to my roots — well, my most recently sprouted roots — and wandered about my home of the last 2 years. Wonderful Whittier. From […]
Read More Wandering Wednesday #12 – Whittier, CAA couple months ago I teased y’all about a new, exciting newsletter for this blog, teasing you even further about a crazy book idea. I teased and I teased, and then I hit a writing wall while struggling to land work and move into a more ideal living situation. And thus the dream appeared dead. […]
Read More On Starting a Newsletter, Writing a Book, and Mourning the X-GamesFor the first time in my life, the Superbowl won’t be in my agenda on this Sunday of All Sundays. Sorry, 99.8% of Earth. I’ve never been an overly huge football fan. Baseball, yes. Gosh yes. But football? To me, football encapsulates many wrongs within our culture: glorified obesity and praised masculine carnage. Like, whatever. Give […]
Read More The Superbowl: I’m Not Watching TodayHEY FELLOW WANDERERS! Sorry for yelling, but I’m excited today. Thrilled to share a brand new post, straight from the mouth of the trout. But you won’t find it here. For the first time in a long time, I have the blessed opportunity to post on somebody else’s blog. And for the first time in […]
Read More Change is More Than Time Zones: Guest Post w/ Laura Coulter!I am not a vile person. I’m a sensitive guy. One of those guys who has restrained his burps for 25 years because I know it’s gross when someone next to you burps like a blow-horn. I basically just don’t burp. Like, ever. Not even when I’m alone. Call it a gift. Or a really […]
Read More Cursing Christians: Finding the LineToday is Tuesday — actually, it’s 12:27am as I type this initial draft of a post. So while it is now officially Wednesday here in southern California, it’s still Tuesday night in Hawaii. Wednesday evening in Korea. I don’t get time. I don’t know whether I should have capitalized the “Are” in the title of this […]
Read More Tuesdays Are the WorstI knew it had been a while, but I was blown away when I realized my last Struggle Sunday post occurred on… May 27th of last year. Yikes. Please don’t let me go that long without getting messy with y’all again. While my life seems to be peaches and cream at the moment — regularly […]
Read More Summer Questions: I Don’t Know What’s Best for MeI have a special feeling to share with y’all. A most special feeling, actually. At the inception of my California story in 2010, I tutored at a wonderful little middle school. For the last two years, that job supplied me income, yes. But beyond a monthly paycheck, that job launched me unabashedly into tutoring. Into […]
Read More The Most Special Feeling in the WorldOver the last year-and-a-half, I’ve counted down some of my favorite things. It began with countdowns for my favorite Hillsong United and Casting Crowns songs. Then I branched away from music, listing my favorite pumpkin foods and books I’ve never read. But another musical countdown involving Brandon Heath is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I’m pretty sure Brandon […]
Read More Brandon Heath Songs: TMZ’s Top-11 FavoritesI used to hate the homeless. That sounds harsh, but it’s true. I’d see one and equate him to a stain on the carpet or a zit on the forehead. What’s their problem? Why are they so lazy? Why don’t they do something with their life? Why don’t they get a job? Why don’t they […]
Read More “Enjoy Your Mitsubishi.”Happy 2013! I’m certain nobody — on the Internet especially — has wished you a happy new year yet. So let me be the first to wish such gleeful tidings upon you. Even though we’re now a week into this new year. Better late than never, right? For faithful followers of my blog, y’all know […]
Read More One Word 365: Closing 2012 and Christening 2013Over the last few days I’ve been counting down my top-5 posts of 2012. From birthday baptisms to books I’ve never read, it’s been quite the adventure. Here’s a quick rundown of my last four top posts: #5 – A Birthday Baptism by Buccaneer Bay #4 – Lessons in California Driving #3 – Why I’ve […]
Read More TMZ’s Top-5 Posts of 2012: #1Guys. We’re almost there. Today’s TMZ countdown brings us to my #2 post of 2012. And it was one of my personal favorites of the year, too. When I wrote “TMZ’s Top-11 Books I’ve Never Read,” I never sought to change the world. And yet by the end of this post…I still didn’t accomplish that. […]
Read More TMZ’s Top-5 Posts of 2012: #2I’m smack-dab in the middle of a top posts countdown. I’ve already talked about my fifth and fourth most popular posts of the year. Time to pop the champagne on post #3. Wait, the champagne is for the first post… Time to pop the seltzer water for my third most popular post of 2012! It […]
Read More TMZ’s Top-5 Posts of 2012: #3I’m in the middle of a five-day stretch featuring my top-5 posts of 2012. At #5 was a recap of my emotional birthday baptism. And now at #4 comes something…completely different. “Lessons in California Driving” was my much needed venting session about how bizarre it is to drive out here. I’ve only been a California […]
Read More TMZ’s Top-5 Posts of 2012: #4Over the coming days I’ll be featuring my top-5 posts of 2012. I know, I know, I should have made it a top-11 to follow in the vein of this and this and this. Or a top-12 because it’s, like, 2012. WHATEVER. There’s only 5 days left in 2012, so a top-5 it shall be. […]
Read More TMZ’s Top-5 Posts of 2012: #5For years, I’ve eagerly awaited this day. This most ultimate day that would, in fact, supposedly finally but probably not become Earth’s very last. The end of the world. It’s one part affinity for sarcasm and another part legitimate longing for heaven. You either get my sense of humor and sense of “home” (or lack thereof), […]
Read More The End of the World: Can It Please Happen Today?It’s winter. Well, technically, it’s still fall. But nobody associates December with colorful leaves and pumpkin-spice everything. Certainly not growth. December means snow. December is bleak; the days are short and the nights are long. The trees are bare and the bears are sleeping. December is winter. Except when it’s really not. When I first […]
Read More Growth Unexpected: When Brown Hills Turn GreenI haven’t posted in two weeks. An empty blogless stretch unmatched on this site since…never. It’s never happened; I always have something to say. Something to write. I write about my life. My faith. I write about struggle. I write about my favorite music or my latest quirky observation of the world. I write about […]
Read More When Words Won’t ComeGoodbye, Pumpkin Season. It was such a fun time… It’s been a while since I ranked stuff. What a horrible non-decision this has been, considering my Top-11 Hillsong Songs and Top-11 Casting Crowns Songs remain among my most viewed posts. PEOPLE LOVE LISTS. Lists keep the world in order. Even if said lists serve no […]
Read More TMZ’s Top-11 Pumpkin Foods (A Farewell to Pumpkin Season)I’ve been running for a while. Both physically and figuratively. But I’ll focus on the latter another time. Well, maybe. I ran cross country and track in high school. Have continued running for pleasure ever since, and I even completed a half-marathon this spring. I love running. Running offers my physical blood the benefit of pumping […]
Read More When Running: It’s Okay to Stop and WalkI have no idea what I’m doing with my life. Ever since graduating from college in 2009, I’ve gone about some routine, hoping/thinking/praying I’m doing what I’m “supposed” to be doing. Whether it’s the “right” thing. Or if I’m in the “right” place. I think I belong in California right now. Pretty sure, actually. I’ve […]
Read More Korea vs. California: A Reason and a SeasonAfter the longest nastiest most expensive campaign in history, it’s finally Election Day. I know, right? It’s like hitting LOST finale day after six arduous years of mind-bending mysteries. Forget the tropical polar bears; soon, this ultimate political mystery will be revealed. I long debated writing anything special for this occasion. I liken my non-discussion […]
Read More Election Day: When Everything Changes But Probably NotI hate November. Those who know me best know this isn’t much of a secret. Ever since my dog died six years ago this month, I’ve dreaded these 30 particular days of the year. Truthfully, I can’t remember experiencing a “good” November since 2006 attacked. I always anticipate strife and struggle and regret and remorse […]
Read More November: I Kinda Really Hate YouPrayer is powerful. Praying for someone can be a powerful tool we have as struggling fallen humans. We see others entering rough horrid phases, and we pray. We pray, we pray, we pray. Stop. Stop praying, and start doing. Prayer can be paradoxical in many ways. Our intentions are good. We pray that God ministers […]
Read More Stop Praying for OthersA dear friend has been powering through one of my all-time favorite shows, Friday Night Lights. How fitting that this incredible show serves as inspiration for this post. I’ve been back in southern California for nearly three weeks, and I’ve experienced quite the gamut of emotions in that span. Relief? Check. Loneliness, despair? Check, check. Hope, frustration, […]
Read More A Friday Night Lights Kind of Change“Every time a man knocks on a brothel door, he is really searching for God.” — G.K. Chesterton I’m attracted to openness and vulnerability in writing — blogs, books, you name it. I can never get enough stories on the human struggle; the messier, the more honest, the infinitely more encouraging. A former porn/sex addict, […]
Read More “Surfing for God” by Michael John Cusick: TMZ ReviewsMy Mitsy is mine again. After five long vehicle-less days and four lost interviews, she’s been repaired and returned to me. What was broken has been fixed, and what was lost is once more found. Now in the aftermath of this whole fiasco, I’m reminded of a story. A Lost Coin In Luke 15, Jesus […]
Read More Lost and Found: From Coins to CarsI’ve experienced some bad days in 25 years. Moving from Pennsylvania to Georgia as an innocent 12-year-old kid was pretty sucky. My dog’s sudden death left me in pools of undying tears. Now, add this past Monday to the Worst Day of My Life list. Monday was horrific. I took my car to the mechanic […]
Read More The Second Worst Day of My LifeOne Word 365: my succinct “theme” for 2012. I began this year with the declaration that these 365 days would be courageous. A year of leaps and bounds like never before. I checked in this spring with an update on my courageous moments. Not as a chance to puff myself up, but rather as a […]
Read More One Word 365: My Autumn Check-InOnce again, my life is starting over in the same magical place. After a long week on the road, I’m back in southern California. Last night I stared out at the Pacific Ocean and felt certain peace to be back home. “Home” in the temporary sense that yes, this is where I am meant to be […]
Read More Starting Over Again: The Tale of Westward Ho 2It’s been a restful lazy arduous rocky month. I’ve deeply missed blogging. As my life greatly transitions with this snazzy new layout, I certainly aim to blog with increasing regularity. I suppose I should elaborate how California figures (or doesn’t?) into this grand transition. After a life-changing summer working at camp, I returned home to […]
Read More California Re-Bound? The Ongoing Saga of Traveling Golden TroutI’ve been eastward ho-ing on this blog for ages, it seems. A nice parallel to my ever-winding trip itself. I truly can’t put into words (or video) the impact this road trip had and still affects on my life. From Vegas to Chicago to Pennsylvania and everything in between, my appetite for new and nostalgic […]
Read More Eastward Ho! The Grand FinaleI grew up in eastern Pennsylvania before moving to Georgia at 12 before moving to California at 23. Pennsylvania always comes to mind whenever I think of my earthly “home,” and yet the western part of this great state had always been such a mystery. Until this trip occurred, that is. I entered PA through the […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Pennsylvania PrideLast time, I chronicled my eastward trek from Omaha to Milwaukee. I didn’t film much in Milwaukee because, well, I was pretty emotional. In this next chapter of my journey, I elaborate on my Milwaukee angst. After 24 hours in Milwaukee, I hit the road at night and drove south toward Chicago. I’d had no […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Chicago at NightSeveral months ago I reentered Milwaukee a year removed from the most life-changing summer of my life. Midway through the summer I blogged about that heavy drive into the city; here now is the continuation of that tale, recounting my 24 hours back in sweet Milwaukee. After parking on all too familiar Logan Street I […]
Read More Milwaukee ParadiseLast time on Eastward Ho, I lost approximately 8 years of my life lost in the boredom desert of Nebraska. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE. In this episode, I reach the Nebraska/Iowa border and say hey to the city of Omaha. And then I quickly skedaddle out of there, zooming across Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin en […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Milwaukee DreadEastward Ho was the greatest solo venture of my life. I’m only halfway through posting my video recaps, as the fun was just getting started with my next chapter. Nebraska was awesome! So many exciting roadside attractions! Thrilling adventure around every turn! Beautiful scenery surrounding you! I’m just kidding, Nebraska was horrible. BUT THAT DOESN’T […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Rocky Rockin’ NebraskaAs I transition from 24/7 camp-life to the “real world” again, I’m posting videos from my eastward trek across America last May. I’ve already posted about Las Vegas, and then again. Last time, I was in Utah where I admired rocks shaped like shoes and Mormon forts. Up today comes my brief stop in Denver, […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Introducing Denver, Starring Harrison FordFor the next week or two I’m posting videos from my May eastward trek across America. I’ve already posted about my stay in Las Vegas, and then because there was so much absurd glitziness to absorb, I posted another Vegas video. Alas, eventually I had to leave my sin behind in Sin City. That brought […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Utah, Metah, WealltahIn my last Eastward Ho chronicle, I found myself on a desperate search for Subway in the heart of Las Vegas. And while I eventually found said Subway only to eat dinner at Panda Express instead, I realized I could find anything in this city. So I soon began another search. This one held slightly […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Searching Vegas, the SequelAs I continue recuperating and recharging from an exhaustive summer at camp, I’m excited to FINALLY start posting the videos of my epic eastward road trip from California to the east coast. Such a life-changing trip; I’m forever grateful. Up first for Eastward Ho is a stop in Las Vegas, the first of two videos […]
Read More Eastward Ho! Hungry in VegasNow that I’m back home in Georgia, recuperating from a draining yet life-changing summer at camp, I thought I’d finally get around to uploading those countless videos from my spring trek across America: “Eastward Ho,” as I’ve liked to call it. Or just EH for short. But I promise this trip was anything but “eh.” […]
Read More Eastward Ho! THE MOVIEI was preparing to leave. Been salivating over the blissful thought the entire fourth session. Would I be sad to leave this magical place? Had I experienced countless blessed moments? Certainly. But I was exhausted. Wearily spun into emotionally seasick circles. Then a funny thing happened on the way to the life boat. I describe […]
Read More The End is the EndThis “final” session at camp was a doozy. I utilize quotation marks for reasons to be revealed later. Probably at the end. It was certainly the most exhausting session of the summer, and at times the most defeating. Coming off a near-perfect session, it was inevitable that this session just wouldn’t compare. Simply wouldn’t stack […]
Read More The End is the BeginningAfter a phenomenal summer of guest posts while I hang with kids 24/7, it’s time to bring it to a close. It’s fitting that my final Wandering Wednesday submission of the summer comes from a good college friend and a fellow writer/wanderer. You can follow Erin on Twitter at @Ebowerwrites, and she also runs a […]
Read More Braving the Real World: A Wandering Wednesday by Erin BowerMy third session at camp now resides in the books, and it’s with legitimate sadness that I type this recap, because this session – these precious kids – rocked my world. And now it’s over. Now they’re gone. My role as “camp counselor” took on elevated meaning and purpose as nine incredible Tennesseeans flooded my […]
Read More A Most Incredible DevastationThe summer rolls on and I’m continually in awe of yall’s wandering stories. So awesome. Up today for my summer guest-series is probably my most faithful reader and commenter. He goes by Mitchell Yaksh, and I hope I’m not the only one who can’t pronounce his last name. Oh well, nobody can successfully pronounce mine […]
Read More To Bama and Back: A Wandering Wednesday by Mitchell YakshMy goal going into the summer was to post a blog every single week about my life at camp. I quickly realized that a new post every single week was simply going to be impossible. Since my camp runs in two-week sessions, I figured a post every other week would be more feasible. I succeeded […]
Read More When Boys Become MenIt’s once again time for Wandering Wednesday: GPE! I’m loving everyone’s guest-submissions this summer. Totally rocking my world. Up today is someone I recently met at Phil Wickham’s Singalong 2 live recording, Cheryl Chen. Cheryl is a fellow writer/blogger, and you can check out her blog here. You can also follow her on Twitter @Cheryl__Chen […]
Read More In His Hands: A Wandering Wednesday by Cheryl ChenIt’s summertime, and the guest posts continue to roll in! Up today is a Wandering Wednesday from one of my faithful readers, Philippa Ball, as she tells a wonderful wandering tale all the way from the UK. You can follow her on Twitter @philamina11. And if you’d like to guest for me this summer, check […]
Read More Steadiness in the Wandering: A Wandering Wednesday by Philippa BallI recently drove across the country to reach my summer camp destination on the east coast. What follows is one of several real-life wandering stories from my incredible “Eastward Ho” adventure. Before I can talk about what I actually did upon my return to Milwaukee, I must first explain the magnitude of my initial arrival. […]
Read More Eastward Ho: Milwaukee MeleeWandering Wednesday: Guest Post Edition surges forward with a submission by the one, the only, the one with the only greatest blog of all-time, the Joseph Craven. You can follow ole JC on Twitter @thejosephcraven, which is not to be confused with @ajosephcraven. His blog is The Greatest Blog of All Time, and I’m not […]
Read More Wandering to Macon: A Wandering Wednesday by Joseph CravenI’ve been at camp for two weeks, and the first group of boys have returned home. Time to tell the tale of session one… The Arrival Waking up on Opening Day, I was incredibly anxious. I’d just endured two emotionally draining weeks of training, and this was what it was actually all about: the kids. […]
Read More Repetitive Rains and New NamesIt’s Wandering Wednesday with a summertime twist, as I’m getting to feature some awesome guest-posters during my hectic camp-filled summer. Here’s a great one from one of my absolute favorites, Rob Shepherd. Be sure to follow Rob on Twitter @robshep and check out his hilariously transparently pseudo-pastoral-ish blog at robshep.com. If you’d like to guest […]
Read More I Don’t Have All the Answers: A Wandering Wednesday by Rob ShepherdI recently drove across the country to reach my summer camp location on the east coast. What follows is one of several real-life wandering stories from my incredible “Eastward Ho” adventure. I’d thought about just passing by. It was already dark and getting kinda late. I had 500 miles to travel the next day and […]
Read More Eastward Ho: 30 Minutes in ChicagoI’M AT CAMP. And finally, I’ve got a chance to report what’s been going on these last couple weeks. Excited to share my experience with y’all this summer! During camp training, it was engrained within all the counselors that we, under no circumstances, were to ever hit a child. They said nothing about Jesus hitting […]
Read More Jesus Hit MeIt’s time for another rousing edition of Wandering Wednesday: Guest Post Edition. Up this week is Adam Stück of typewritermonkeytaskforce.com. I had to Google the u with the two dots over it in order to type his name properly, in case you were wondering. You can also follow Adam on Twitter @coffeeologian. Wanna guest for […]
Read More Not All Those Who Wander: A Wandering Wednesday by Adam StückIt’s time for another summer installment of Wandering Wednesday: Guest Post Edition. Today I’m honored to host Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com. Lauren, let your wandering tale now commence: It was a late December day at maybe five pm or so. The sun was setting […]
Read More West Texas Highways and Lingering Essays: A Wandering Wednesday by Lauren BaileyIT’S SUMMERTIME BABY. Well, maybe for you it isn’t yet. Maybe you’re still taking classes or maybe the summer solstice hasn’t officially hit or maybe you’re living in Australia where it’s currently weirdly winter. Regardless of your/Earth’s situation, my camp-counseling self needed some blogging help this summer. And thus I present, “Wandering Wednesday: Guest Post […]
Read More Lost in Yosemite: A Wandering Wednesday by Kevin HaggertyBefore driving across the country last week, I met up with one of my favorite bloggers, Max Dubinsky. We both happen to live in southern California, and he graciously agreed to an in-person interview, thus unwittingly allowing me to break out the phrase “TMZ Exclusive” when such wording is usually reserved by that other TMZ […]
Read More TMZ Exclusive: An Interview with Max Andrew DubinskyI recently spoke in church. Like…big-people church. Not children’s church or Sunday School or the nursery. It’s about as insane a claim as my slam-dunking over Shaq. At the start of the year I’d have given greater odds to becoming LeBron Tom than Pastor Tom. But God’s been challenging me this year. Calling me out […]
Read More Struggle Sunday: I’m Not WorthyI like lists. Lists keep the world in order. Lists tell us what’s the best of the best and the worst of the worst and the medicorest of the mediocre. Top-10 lists are cute, but cliché. That’s why I do top-11 lists. They’re less cute, yes, but also less cliché, which also means more original. […]
Read More Books I’ve Never Read: TMZ’s Top-11 Favorites