For many years I wrote about fiction, story, belief, ordinary life, and the questions that shaped my work. More than two thousand essays remain here—not because every one represents my current thinking, but because together they tell the story of a writer learning over time.
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The archive begins with the most recent writing. Use the numbered pages below to move backward through time.
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Teachings of Jesus that Christians Dislike and Ignore, Number 1
By David Madison at 2/03/2023 Here’s the link to this article. They just say NO to their Lord and Savior Nothing undermines Christianity more than taking a close look at the…
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The Southern Baptist Convention’s move to expel Saddleback Church will backfire
Here’s an email I received today from Hemant Mehta. It clearly reveals why I’m thankful I escaped Southern Baptist fundamentalism. Here’s the link to this article. The church…
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Drafting–Colton and Sandy abduct Mildred and steal her van
Colton awoke Sunday morning at 3:00 AM in a cold sweat. For a minute the dream or whatever it was didn’t stop. The picture in his head was…
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Mental Meanderings—A Look-Back at Yesterday (Tuesday–022123)
While biking I normally listen to either a novel or a podcast. Yesterday was the tenth session inside Lawrence Sanders’ book, The Third Deadly Sin. Sanders is a…
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Podcast #124–In Search of Reality–The Best of Making Sense with Sam Harris
I encourage you to listen to these two brilliant men. Prepare to be humbled by your level of knowledge, but by paying close attention, pausing when needed, you…
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Writing Journal—Wednesday writing prompt
Your character is enjoying Chinese food with friends, and when the fortune cookies are opened, the predictions seem to have specific meaning to each person. Within twenty-four hours,…
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02/21/23 Biking & Listening
Biking is something else I both love and hate. It takes a lot of effort but does provide good exercise and most days over an hour to listen…
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The Creative Accident: Visionary Ceramicist Edith Heath on Serendipity, the Antidote to Obsolescence, and the Five Pillars of Timelessness
Here’s the link to his article. On aligning the things we make with basic human values for an enduring world. BY MARIA POPOVA “No one is fated or…
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Mental Meanderings—A Look-Back at Yesterday (Monday–022023)
Between 10:00 and 12:00 AM yesterday, Jonathan, Donna, and I applied a first coat of sealer to the roof of Jeremy’s travel trailer. During this time, while I…
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Writing Journal—Tuesday writing prompt
Your gamer protagonist discovers that the person he’s been talking to in a chat room is a murderer. Worse, the person seems to know his real name. Write…
Richard L. Fricks 