About

I’m an analytical, problem-solving, creative communicator. It feels great to use both sides of my brain almost every day as I write books like the bestselling Before You Go, speak to audiences across the country, and coach CrossFitters into the best shape of their lives.

My goals for this blog are threefold:

1. Make you think.
2. Make you laugh.
3. Point you to other resources that will make you think or laugh.

I don’t expect to accomplish each of these goals in every post, but I do aim to mix in all three whenever I can. My goal is to post several times a week. To make sure you don’t miss new posts, you can subscribe via RSS or Email. For daily updates, insights, and other randomness, you can find me on twitter and facebook. You can subscribe to my email newsletter, which I send out three or four times a year, here.

I started this blog back in 2002. While you’re probably eager to go back and read through all the archives, I’ll let you off the hook by listing a few posts that you may want to take a look at to get a feel for what kind of content to expect from me in the future.

Here are a few of my favorite stories. You can find others here.

Mispronouncing a Nice Funeral
The Press Conference
Raising Boys at Chick-fil-A
Sitting in the Dark

I was a preacher for 14 years. Here are a few posts I’ve written where I interact with specific Biblical texts, sort of like sermons, but without all the gestures.

Be Quiet
Believing the Worst about God
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
Enter the Darkness
How Long O Lord?
Losing Jesus
Missing the Point of Salvation (3 Parts)

I’ve long been fascinated with biblical interpretation. It sort of comes with the territory when you are a preacher. Here are some of my favorite posts about how to read Scripture.

A Bona Fide Apologetic (3 Parts)
A Good Reading is Better Than a Right One (2 Parts)
Do We Follow the Bible or Jesus?

I love preaching/public speaking. I love to do it and I love to listen to it when it is done well. Here are a few posts about the art and craft of public speaking, as well as the inner life of the preacher.

Advice to Young Preachers
I Used to Be a Preacher
Run Lola Run (AKA The Worst Easter Sermon Ever)
Made to Stick: Simplicity

Back in 2005, I did a series of posts about the future of the church network/denomination in which I grew up. For reasons I don’t fully understand, these are the most read posts in my archive.

The Emerging Church of Christ (Seven Parts)

Finally, here are a few posts that defy categorization that were fun to write and generated some great discussion or are still being read long after their expected shelf life expired.

Feed Me!
God in the Bathroom
Relevance is Overrated
Rooting for the Skeptic
Stella Hereford
What Makes Worship Good?
Why We Love Jack Bauer

So you still want to know a bit more about me? Well, since you asked . . .

I was born and raised in Texas. I attended Abilene Christian University where I earned degrees in Communication (B.A) and Christian Education (M.S.) and played lots of pick-up basketball. I’m married and have two boys. I’ve worked with churches in Bellingham, Washingtion; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Austin Texas.

My primary spiritual gifts are teaching, leadership, and sarcasm.

I’m available to speak as an interim preacher for churches in transition as well as at special events for churches, groups, businesses, and other organizations. I do consulting for churches and leadership groups who are navigating difficult transitions, as well as with preachers/speakers who are looking to improve the quality of their presentations. If you’d like to schedule me to speak or would like to visit about a possible consultation, you can contact me at wadehodgesATgmail.com.