I’ve Moved

As of 2009, Second Drafts has a new home, so come over and play (just be sure to wear clothes you can get a little messy). See you in the new neighborhood.

Ten-Year-Old in the House

I don’t feel nearly old enough to have a ten-year-old in the house, but since I’ve got one as of today, I’m very grateful she’s this one.
Happy birthday, Sweet Pea. I love you more than I sometimes show and you know.

Live from the Interim

The time between Christmas and New Year’s has always been a favorite of mine, as there’s usually less reason to leave the house than normal days. I’m a homebody by nature; my problem is I’m just not left home alone that much (psychiatrist’s orders).
The past couple days have been a hodgepodge of doing stuff I’ve [...]

All I Want for Christmas…

…is nothing I really need.
May Jesus be your reason for the season.

Booklist 2008

After hitting 60 books last year, my goal this year was 6 per month, for a total of 72. Unfortunately, unless I develop speed-reading capabilities between now and 2009, I’m going to finish at half that with a disappointing 36 for 2008. Nuts.
The year for me has seemed an “off” one in terms of reading. Granted, [...]

Death by Crustifiction

Grading New Testament exams tonight, I came to the page where I ask students to outline the gospel of Matthew. I had no idea that, in chapter 28, Jesus was “crustified.”
(My nine-year-old’s words: “Sounds like something they do at Subway.”)

Every Party Needs a Pooper (and I’m Volunteering)

The western half of the 64/40 reconstruction opens this morning (work on the eastern half begins today). Maybe I’m just bitter all the forecasted ice and snow is nowhere to be found and I have to go to school for “review day,” but yesterday’s closed-highway party easily makes the “things I’ll never understand” list in [...]

We Were So Young

Other than the lenses of my glasses being roughly the size of grapefruit, Megan and I took a decent engagement picture back in the day (pardon the ugly streaks – I was still trying to figure out the scanner technology that had just come out).
This pic is from October of 1996 (I had popped the [...]

Chicago Politics

Pot, meet Kettle. Let’s talk about your blackness.

Breather for Now

I pulled the first all-nighter of my seminary career last night, writing 20 one-page reflections and cramming for the final exam for my Old Testament History class. I went to bed from 8:30 to 11 p.m. last night, got up and worked until 5:30 this morning, dozed for half an hour before getting up and [...]

Words to Live/Write By

“If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten
Either write things worth reading
Or do things worth the writing”
- Benjamin Franklin

The Color of Heaven

We had quite an international experience Friday night. Our friends, the Venkatesans, are from India and invited a few families over for dinner to celebrate Arun’s birthday (he’s a doctor here in St. Louis). In addition to the Venkatesans and us, there was another American family, another family from India, and a family from Pakistan [...]

The Holidays

Seeing as how we’re now officially into the season known “the holidays,” I thought I’d put up a couple of polls inquiring as to my readership’s Christmas tendencies. The first two are below (with comments available to elaborate on your responses).
 
 

On Raising Kids Gracefully, part 2

As I have four young daughters – each of whom I dread possibly dealing with the rebellion struggles Jack Miller did with his – I chose to read his book, Come Back, Barbara. The book is not particularly well-written, but in terms of new insight, Miller’s reflection on his relationship in Barbara’s youth sums it [...]