July 11, 2015

Carrot Stick Encouragement

Some people talk about dangling the carrot before the horse. I don’t have carrots, but I do have Cheetos—at least they’re the same color. My family and I climbed Copperhead Summit in Black Mountain, NC. It took twice as long as it should have, because we took along my three-year old son, Carrick. His little legs churned so fast. I’m sure he felt like he […]
July 8, 2015

Guest Post – Spelunking Speculative Fiction: High Fantasy Rules!

My newest post Spelunking Speculative Fiction: High Fantasy Rules! is featured at A Little Red Inc. Please check it out! http://alittleredinc.blogspot.com/2015/07/spelunking-speculative-fiction-high.html
July 1, 2015

New Post Featured at Almost An Author

I posted at my monthly column on Almost An Author today. Please check it out! http://www.almostanauthor.com/2015/07/how-to-write-faster/
June 1, 2015

Cap Gun Evangelism

“I’m playing dead, daddy.” The words of my three-year old still bring a smile to my face. I shot him good—with a toy cap gun—of course. Recently, on a family vacation, I bought four toy cap guns. The kind that make a loud shooting sound when the hammer strikes a firing cap. They’re the “real” toy guns I remember playing with as a child. I’ll […]
May 23, 2015

Campfire Pentecost

Spring always reintroduces two important things back into my life—hot dogs and campfires. I love sitting outside on a cool night, listening to a crackling fire while, roasting hot dogs. Living in the Midwest, there’s nothing more exciting than the return of spring after a long cold winter. As a parent, I cherish spring. It brings ample opportunities to get the kids out of the […]
May 18, 2015

Leaping Lucy

I used an American Girl doll to extract my six-year-old daughters tooth. I removed it the old-fashioned way, by tying one end of the dental floss to her tooth and the other end to Lucy, the American Girl doll. I convinced my daughter to let Lucy assist with the delicate operation. I’ll be honest this genius idea only came after thirty minutes of negotiations during […]
May 13, 2015

Muddy Knees

My arms ached as I hefted around 30 pounds of a muddy grimy two-year old boy.  Even though my muscles burned, I relished every moment down the mountain. My son Carrick was worn out. Tired of stepping over roots, trudging through muddy trails, and slipping on slick wet stones, my boy succumbed to his tiredness. He was a champ. His little legs had carried him […]
February 13, 2015

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

Who doesn’t love the lyrics from the movie Frozen? I’ll admit, I know every word of every song. But before you judge me, know that I have three children under the age of eight. As a dad, it is my job to be engaged with their world and their culture. Plus who doesn’t love Disney? I like living in Ohio. We get snow all winter […]
October 9, 2014

Child Evangelists

I recently moved with my family to a new house. My children love it because we have neighbors. Neighbors who are there age, children they can play with. Like any good pastor’s kids, my children quickly asked their new friends to come to church. We were proud of their initiative, but we shared in their frustration as the neighbors reported that they are not allowed […]
October 2, 2014

Mosquito Nets for Jesus

A cacophony of nighttime jungle sounds serenaded my son and I in our cabana. Surrounded by darkness in the lush Belizean jungle, Carver and I had time to talk about life and ministry. My seven-year-old son and I led a family mission trip to Belize. We were stationed in the city of Armenia. We spent the days hosting a soccer camp and read more here… […]
August 12, 2019

How Time Travel Helps You Write More

Hope’s Hacks(some ways to break up that writer’s block) This month’s cure: Time Travel   What the cure is: Going to historical villages, attending medieval faires, and other historical events    Why the cure will help: For some reason, going to a historical-themed village/play/event can kindle a creative spark. Maybe seeing actors trying their best imitations of Renaissance slang or watching a good Old-Fashioned joust can not only […]
September 5, 2019

How Research Destroys Writer’s Block

Hope’s Hacks(some ways to break up that writer’s block) This month’s cure: Research, research, research What the cure is: Research as much as possible about the subject you’re writing Why the cure will help: Let me tell you a story. Once upon a week ago, I decided to write the third book of my trilogy. This book frightened me because of the enormous amount of research it required. […]
July 3, 2021

How to be an Influencer… even if it is by accident

Have you ever wanted how to be an Influencer? In 2020-2021 I became an Influencer, even if it was by accident. But before I tell you my story, what actually is an influencer? An influencer, by definition, is a person with an ability to influence another to purchase products based on their recommendations. These promotions are typically done through one or more of the various […]
July 9, 2021

4 Recreational Activities You Need to Try in 2021

When you think of the word “recreation,” what comes to mind? Is it a time where you can relax and get away from your daily life, or is it something that drains all of your energy? If you’re looking for things to do in 2021 that are fun and invigorating, here’s a list of four activities to try:   Swimming Swimming is a great activity for […]