Gather Round the Mic

Though this blog has been dormant through 2011 thus far, I have been writing. I've posted a couple pieces at a blog collective called "Gather Round the Mic."

• First, for a piece on how my media habits have shifted since becoming a father, some 4.5 years ago, click here.


• For the site's top 10 films of 2010 list, I contributed the synopsis on Toy Story 3, since I had been watching it constantly and repeatedly since its release on DVD. You can read that here.


• And just today, I posted a reflection on the intersection between the film The Invention of Lying and the books Love Wins and The Sacredness of Questioning Everything. Read that here.

I was a bit busy in February and March due to the birth of our third child, our beautiful son, Joel Andrew. Kids are great. We love 'em.

HOSEA! (And a "Streaky" Blogger)

First off, the Gates family is now a family of four!  Hosea Daniel Thomas Gates was born at 2:48pm on Monday, July 6.  He was 8 lb. even, and 21 1/2 inches long.  Pictures are forthcoming.  For now, let's just say we love him lots.  And lots.

In baseball, there are a lot of people who are characterized as "streaky" hitters.  They look like MVP's for a few weeks, and look like career minor-leaguers the next.  

In my own blogging, I am very streaky.  As the circumstances of my life change, my blogging frequency ebbs and flows.  Since I've started full-time ministry again, with weekly sermon writing, pastoral visits, and a whole list of other things, I haven't felt the need to blog so much.  

But, as you can tell, I'm blogging today, and I feel like there will be more to come soon.  So be ye forewarned.  Grace and peace, my friends.

Confessions of a Stay at Home Dad

Mark my words: being a stay at home dad is harder than seminary. It's wonderful to able to spend so much time with Addison. It's an absolute joy. But it is not easy to be constantly in demand. Sure, it's flattering to have a beautiful girl asking me to play with her (cards, toys, blocks, movies, games, fort-building, etc.) all day long, but when I'm trying to clean and cook and run errands and relax all at the same time, it becomes a bit overwhelming. I think I'll settle into a pattern, but I haven't yet.

So here's a huge thank you to all the stay at home parents of this world, and a huge apology to all of you who have been told that you "don't work" because you're a stay at home parent. You work.

I know being a pastor is a high demand position, but it's nothing compared to raising a two-year old.

And it's so rewarding. Crazy rewarding. I love you Addison!