I haven’t been able to find them all but a few of the articles I’ve written over the years are in the VAULT under the header FREE WORDS.  I’ll add more as I find them and get permissions, along with e-books and book excerpts as they’re birthed

I’m especially glad I found the one called “Relevant.” Writing it was a lesson in itself.

I wrote it for Relevant magazine I think back in 2003 with the title “How Relevant is Relevance?” Back then I had a publicist at the label every article was sent through.  She had me tone it down a bit and then changed the title of the finished product – without telling me – and sent it on called “Liturgy and Legacy Vs. Lattes and Lights: How the Church Longs to be Relevant”, which Relevant shortened to “Liturgy and Legacy Vs. Lattes and Lights.”

And yes, it was a sort of a (not-so) subtle swipe at Relevant‘s content in those days.  Back then – and it’s not this way any more – the magazine was written by a bunch of young cool people looking down their noses at anything not young and cool.  Young and cool seemed to be a requirement of relevance for them.  As a guy becoming increasingly unyoung and uncool, and having seen a broader spectrum of relevance at work in the world, I lashed out. 

I wouldn’t do it the same way today. 

But allowing myself to write this article angry – writing for publication angry for the first time ever – showed me how productive it can truly be.  Anger, frustration, disgust-these are all compelling reasons to write.  They show me where my passions and immaturities lie.  They help answer the question “What do I have to say?” What I have to say is ”This isn’t right and I think this is.”

A creative person who spends all of her time writing from angst bores me.  But one who never does makes for an unconvincing human. 

Some of the best songs and essays and sermons and blog posts out there have come from angst.  So don’t be afraid to discover what bothers you, why it bothers you and ten write in that direction.

Now, after I do this I often regret what I’ve written.  I hide it.  I realize it’s not something everyone should read.  But it’s out and I discover something about myself, about what matters to me enough to spend 1000 words on.  This is why I’ve stopped fearing writing upset. 

It’s not my job to write for everyone.  It’s my job to write honestly.  I depend on editors and friends to re-title and tweak until what I’ve vomitted up tastes good to the masses.