Author: Jon Gauger

You could almost wipe the saliva off my mouth. That’s the intensity I felt walking into the International Center at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado. I was there to attend Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild conference. Plot structure, point of view, character development—this was the stuff I was longing to dig into. And dig we did (ur…not sure that last sentence would garner the approval of my instructors). Anyway, we came to the last night of the conference where writer and Editor, Dr. Dennis Hensley spoke. Oddly enough (or, in retrospect, perhaps realistically enough) he spoke on failure. If you’re…

An unsettling notion has lately come over me with regard to marriage. Understand I am grateful for Diana, my wife of 30 years, and the person she is—and is becoming.  She is a guiding influence on most everything I touch—from the way I dress to the way I write…to the way I am learning to clean house.  Or sit on the couch and just talk. The unsettling notion I speak of has very little to do with her…but very much to do with me.   And quite possibly you. Why all the sober talk at Valentine's? It’ a growing hunch that…

What happened to the advertisements?  Do you ever wonder why certain products used to be seen advertised on television or in magazines and newspapers….and now they are like “product non grata”–like they don't even exist. When was the last time you saw a commercial for 7-Up?  Here's a national brand…but seems to have fallen off the map, promotionally.. What about Certs—the peppermint breath mints that give you two–(CLACK)–two (CLACK)–two mints in one!   And speaking of mints, where are the commercials for Tic Tacs? Now I'm sure there's some logical explanation for all this.  Some 24 year old with his MBA…

By now you’ve probably heard the outrageous quote. Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo—very likely a 2016 presidential candidate–told Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom that “extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay” have “no place in the state of New York.” In one remarkable sentence, all pro-life people and all those who support a biblical view of marriage were labeled “extreme.”  What’s more, these folks were essentially asked to leave the state. But this uncharitable blast is at odds with reality. Poll after national poll shows Americans are divided almost evenly over the issue of abortion.  So…does that…

“She’s living on borrowed time.”  That’s the conclusion a friend shared with me in a pensive moment.  He was referring to his wife’s recent bout with cancer. His remark caught me off guard because his wife has been cleared of any cancer.   Surgery removed every hint of it—and no chemo or radiation was required.  She’s in great health now, with no significant medical problems of any kind. “The truth is, we’re all living on borrowed time,” said my friend—reading the curious look on my face. I thought about his statement quite a while.  He’s right. We’re all living on borrowed…

You’d have thought it was a grenade. Instead, it was only the Bible. That's all Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty was using as he offered a Scriptural perspective on homosexuality.  A national firestorm followed.  But in the thunder of ideological gun shots, a curious scene played out in the neighborhood where my friend Jack lives. For a couple of years, now, he's been trying to build bridges into the life of a friend across the street—let's call him Stephen.  Jack relates how it's been a slow go, getting to know Stephen, trying to build into his life.   Stephen is gay…and…

With Christmas now past, allow me to play Scrooge for a moment as I suggest that for many, December the 25th might just be one of the most disappointing days of the year.   “Heresy!” you say. “Blasphemous!” you cry.                                                 …But hear me out…   Like you, I love the time off from work at Christmas…the gathering together of family and friends.  Truth is, I actually enjoy wrapping Christmas presents.  And I absolutely love the MUSIC of Christmas. So…please hear me loud and clear—that I personally love Christmas.   Yet I cannot escape the sense that for millions and…

Christmas—it’s under assault.  No question about it.  From manger scenes evictedfrom public property to schools refusing to use the word, “Christmas.”  But I’m not here to complain.  No, I’d like to pause…and celebrate. I wish to celebrate the fact that even as Uncle Sam rushes with sickening speed toward a pluralistic—even pagan–persona, traditional Christmas carols are still heard…virtually everywhere. It’s true, isn’t it? We were at a public high school Christmas concert this weekend.  What did we hear?  Silent Night…The First Noel…Do you hear what I Hear? We’re shopping at a major suburban Chicago mall, and I’m hearing, “Joy to…

It's been quite a day at the office.  Okay.  So maybe Hyderabad, India isn't my usual work space.  But it was today. One of our morning objectives was to visit a slum and capture some compelling images illustrating what life is like for a disturbing number of India's lowest caste, the Dalit’s. Shooting pro grade video is tough enough under optimal circumstances, much more so walking through unimaginable filth, inhaling wretched smelling air. Then you set up the tripod, unpack the audio gear (regretting the wires trailing lazily in the human muck) and realize you've left a critical filter back…

I saw a glimpse of heaven this week.  We're in India, looking at the power that a school run by Christians can have in impacting the problem of human trafficking. In a nutshell, India's Dalit caste—the lowest of the low–represents the vast majority of sex slaves in India.  Because the Dalits are so poor, they are often unable to afford schooling for their young.  Lacking the social network (safety) a school experience provides, these girls, whose parents are out working, become easy prey for the traffickers. Enter the Good Shepherd Schools—a growing network of English Medium Schools. Operated by Christians,…