Someone asked, on Quora, “What are the most difficult things people have to learn in their twenties”? Normally, I wouldn’t answer a question like this: I’m not sure the lessons I learned in my twenties are of much use to anybody else, anywhere in the world. But I had spent…
Wherein Facebook, family, friends, and providence pave the way… On October 2, 2010, after 87 years of a sometimes difficult and often blessed life my father passed away. During the months before his death, and after, I was in frequent contact with my mom and we were trying to figure…
Wherein I get to announce news that hasn’t officially been announced only because somebody else beat me to it and, well, it’s no longer news, now tell you what I’ve been itching to say for the past [undisclosed amount of time] because the news has been embargoed till now. Whew!…
Wherein I lament the passing of one of the Christian Web’s greatest and most popular Websites. One year ago I interviewed for a job at Gospel Communications. There was an opening for a training specialist and I happily made it through the various rounds of interviews and reference checks. In…
Wherein I reflect on gay marriage and just a wee little bit upon marriage itself. Please note, I really have no business writing this stuff. But I just don’t have the sense… Okay, so during my one-hour drive home from work a couple days ago, I was listening to public…
A few days ago, a friend from an Assemblies of God-oriented discussion group raised an interesting topic. Since I haven’t posted much here for a while, I thought I’d share my thoughts and joyfully invite your comments. The Good Pagan Carissa wrote: « I think, and this is a lay…
Wherein I describe my first day on the job after a harrowing 14-month unemployment ordeal. So, there hasn’t been much news on this blog lately, mostly because I’ve been busy, I’ve been distracted, and I’ve been unemployed. Somehow, not having a job makes me less productive in my blogging alter-life.…
So, it’s been a wee little while since I last posted. Some of you have contacted me via email to find out what’s happening and to be sure everything’s okay. I appreciate that — I really do. So I was sitting here tonight with pretty much nothing to do except…
I couldn’t let the day end without wishing all of you a happy new year! Welcome to 2008! I am safely tucked away in Michigan right now. My family secure and housing provided. Work has already begun to find work. It’s going to be a good year. I’ll keep you…
Hi, all. First off, I apologize for not spending much time in this space over the past couple of months. If you’ve followed my blog activities (and inactivity!), you know that on October 22, I accepted a position as marketing and media director at one of the Assemblies of God’s…
Wherein my wife and I describe a day without meds, without sleep, and concluding with a horse tranquilizer. For AJ, that is., Intro So my son has a pretty severe case of ADHD. And lest you nay-sayers pooh-pooh that notion, let me say that even when merely undermedicated both his…
Wherein I opine on the culture war between Christianity and those of homosexual persuasion, and their supporters. So, breaking news, San Fransisco is a gay-friendly town. Oh, more breaking news: Chrisitanity is anathema to a sinful lifestyle. And it’s an easy target for sinners. So the 24th annual hedonistic fetish…
As previously noted, this is my week for presenting at GospelCom’s meetup: “The Internet Ministry Conference.” I successfully captured audio for today’s presentation: “Relationship Blogging.” So as soon as I can get my audio editor software working, I’ll upload it as an mp3 file, and I will also upload a…
The question … I recently received an email note from a friend. She wrote: "I am curious if anyone knows of some Christian articles dealing with internet flirting or cyber sex … I just can’t seem to find anything that I can relate to or identify with, and I know that there…
photo: RichTatum Hey, I thought I’d give you, my faithful readers, a chance to let your voice be heard. Give me a call at my voicemail number: (630) 524-2255(You get three minutes, unless you call back for more.) Leave me a message on, say … anything! I’ll review the messages,…
The Carlton Pearson curiosity continues. Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed the amount of search engine queries landing on this site have shot heavenward for Carlton Pearson. The searchers have typed: carlton pearson goes bad carlton pearson has cancer carlton pearson has lost his mind is carlton pearson gay?…
photo: escapedtowisconsin The Rev. E. Thomas Trask, General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God, has announced his resignation. I will prepare a report with more details soon. Really. I will. Note: As promised, my long rambling cogitation is now available here. [tags]trask, tom-trask, thomas-trask, thomas-e-trask, general-superintendent,…
Hi. My name is Rich and I’m a tortured artist. The Confession Well, really, I’m more tortured, than artistic. And it may be argued that the artistic is more artifice than artful. But I try, nonetheless. Folks who don’t know me well (meaning just about everybody) don’t realize I have…
Happiness is finding beauty in unexpected places. I try not to post too many things close together, but I was too excited about this to let it slide without posting. No, I didn’t get a job. Tonight I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. At first I…
For the second time in my short life as a blogger, I’ve been meme-tagged by an evil blogging compatriot hoping to provoke me into playing a silly blog-tagging game, generating more content, and generally surrendering to mass hysteria. Okay. I’m in! But only because I’m a sucker for attention. And…
Back in May of 2006, while in the employ of Christianity Today International, I was asked to do a little something for my boss, Kevin Miller, a CTI vice president and leader of the Resources division. Kevin’s a great guy, a good friend, and an excellent manager — a true joy…
And just what as the Reverend Billy H. Burris thinking on that day?Sign spotted at Praise Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri. HT: DocLarry at Lost Chord [tags]BlogRodent, church, praise-assembly, assembly-of-god, assemblies-of-god, church-sign, funny, humerous, marijuana, pot, reefer, stoner, drugs[/tags]
The light of the Church on Earth is a bit dimmer today, but the chorus in Heaven is that much more joyful. Statement by the President Regarding the Death of Ruth Bell GrahamContact: White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 202-456-2580 WASHINGTON, June 14 /Standard Newswire/ — the following is…
Why so many problems begin with frustrated desire Every day, headlines assault us with troubling news. These recent titles from a local news website are just a small sampling: Two Shotgunned to Death [source] Joyriding Gang Member Slain; Crash Injures Family [source] Local Soldier Dies in Afghanistan [source] School Gets…
Last week saw a milestone pass in our house: AJ enjoyed his very first last day of his very first year of schooling. He has now officially “graduated” kindergarten. We are very proud. [Blah, blah, blah — skip Rich’s philosophizing,and go straight to the podcast!] Never having parented before, and having…
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