Prodigal Father

The plot twist of the book is Nouwen’s charge that we aren’t merely to identify with the lost younger son or the lost older son. But we are to identify with the founding father. Becoming more like him as we walk this road. We are to be ones who create home for other people. Ones who keep them safe and warm. Ones who always welcome them in. Even – especially – after they leave.

Anything Mentionable is Manageable

I saw the new Mr. Rogers movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” It’s unlike any other movie I’ve seen. A unique story structure, beautiful set design, and phenomenal acting. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a movie that will stick with me for a while. I was teary-eyed the entire way – both from the sheer beauty of this story and its haunting connections to my own.

A “Love, Simon” Pseudo-Review

On High School, Deep Dark Secrets, Coming Out, Asexuality, My First Kiss, Longing, Commitment, Separation, and the Eternal What-If? I tracked along with 95% of Love, Simon. The deep dark secrets. The longings for other boys. The conflict between self and persona. The thrill of realizing you’re not alone.

My 3 Favorite Christmas Songs

I’m not blogging as much these days; believe me, I’ve noticed. I feel the words escaping me the longer I sit here, and I find myself eager to ditch my computer and let this blinking cursor flash all Christmas Day. Perhaps the new year will bring new inspiration for blogging, like old times. But for now, I can only offer […]

Jurassic Brothers: A “Jurassic World” Recap that Has Nothing to Do with Dinosaurs

I saw Jurassic World on opening weekend alongside 4.6 billion others. Not quite opening night, because that level of commitment is reserved for more sacred stuff like Star Wars. (175 more days. But who’s counting?) Chris Pratt playing with raptors? Riding alongside them on a motorcycle? Some sort of big bad hybrid dino? Even though the trailers […]

My 11 Favorite Coffee Shops in America

After spending 282 days on the road in 48 states, I encountered dozens of coffee shops. I hit plenty of Paneras and Starbuckses from coast to coast, but I visited many local coffee shops as well. The stereotypical writer in a coffee shop that I am, all this coffee shop hopping was actually one of my favorite facets […]

My 5 Favorite Podcasts While #RunningTo

When you embark on a massive road trip like #RunningTo, you need a solid arsenal of listening material. Music can only take you so far. Sorry, One Direction; even you can only go so far. I’ve been devouring lots of podcasts on my long journey, both silly and serious ones alike. If you’re curious what I’m […]

TMZ Reviews: “Camp”

“For the whole week, I couldn’t wait to go back to my real life, you know? Now I feel like my real life is fake and camp is real.” Last summer, I did not — much to my lingering chagrin — return to Camp Ridgecrest. Ridgecrest was that magical (though often daunting) land from the […]

Tenth Avenue North Songs: TMZ’s Top-11 Favorites

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 […]

“The Office” Finale: A Goodbye to Beauty

Last 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 […]

Brandon Heath Songs: TMZ’s Top-11 Favorites

Over 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 […]

TMZ’s Top-11 Pumpkin Foods (A Farewell to Pumpkin Season)

Goodbye, 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 […]

“Surfing for God” by Michael John Cusick: TMZ Reviews

“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, […]

Books I’ve Never Read: TMZ’s Top-11 Favorites

I 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. […]

The Silly + the Serious of “Community” = This Blog?

Community is the greatest comedy on television. Its seamless transition from the silly to the serious is a sort of inspiration for my very blog. Watching Troy and Abed in the dreamatorium immediately followed by a sincere evaluation of their friendship reminds me of how I like to write about ducks (having sex) in my […]

TMZ Reviews: Blue Like Jazz

I recently saw Blue Like Jazz. What’s Blue Like Jazz, you ask? Isn’t that a book, you ask? How can one “see” a book, you ask? Why was this a real thing, you ask? Well, I can answer all but one of those. Blue Like Jazz was originally a book, yes, but it is now […]

TMZ Reviews: Tyler Tarver’s “Letters to Famous People”

Hey there TMZ’ers, what’s up? The sky. Unless you’re inside, and it’s the ceiling. Or unless you’re in the Hunger Games, and it’s a force-field dome. And if you’re in the arena shouldn’t you be avoiding child-killers instead of reading this blog? I mean, I’m honored, but if you die then you can’t read my […]

Casting Crowns Songs: TMZ’s Top-11 Favorites

A little while back I counted down my top-11 Hillsong songs (“Hillsongs”?). After two months with my own little niche in the blogosphere, that post remains one of my most viewed. So that led me to assume one of two things. Well, three: People love Hillsong. People love top-anything lists. People love my talking about […]

TMZ Reviews “Music Inspired by The Story”

One of my favorite things in life is hearing an incredible song for the very first time. Such a special, soul-bursting moment, and there’s really nothing quite like it. Except maybe bubblegum snow cones on a sultry day. One of my other favorite things in life is hearing an incredible album for the very first […]