Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Two Very Strong Book Readings

Couldn't have asked for more

First, the most emotional gathering at Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor where (see previous post) I lost my composure before I even got started. It was so emotional for me.

Then, the next evening, the library over in Southwest Harbot, Maine,  The place was so crowded people were sitting in every chair they had available and anything else they could find. A packed house and, atain, everyone was attentive and encouraging and when Q and A time came, a fellow in the way back whom I didn't recognize began askiing some very personal questions, knowledgeable of me more than I could imagine. I had spoken about the man who designed our cabin on the island,  designed Moosewood so perfectly that we knew first time we saw it, it was not just our house but, instantly, our home!. I had roundly praised that builder for talking us out of building the much larger place we had thought we wanted. He reminded us that we had told  him we wanted to "simplify, simplify, simplify." He could have made more by building the bigger place but persuaded us to go much smaller, simpler. And we did.  Thanks to a builder who talked himself out of making more money because he was honest.

And that fellow back in the corner -- heavier and bearded than we had known him -- was indeed that builder, Vic Mercer. What a wonderful surprise. 

BTW, the bookselleers at the event ran out of books and had to promise to get more the next day for people shorted. Flattering. 

Tomorrow, moving on to Camden hoping everything goes even half as well as they've gone so far, 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Signing Books and Hoping ... 

Signed forty books for a local Maine  book store today. Always a pleasure to do that, trying to imagine the people who will buy them and read them and get from them --- What? 
From the reader comments I've already received I'm encouraged to assume that the folks buying those copies I signed today will find "very good writing" ... "thoughtful and insightful" .... "stories of your TV years, the people and places and lessons learned, as well as your creating new and unique lives on the small island enthralled me all along" .... "Rapturous." 
Not all, to be sure, but some of the readers of those copies I just signed, I hope, will finish the book with feelings like those. And I hope some of them will tell me.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

If only I could always remember the blessings of this day...


What a day! This has been the most exciting, warming and gratifying --- while at the same time the most emotional -- day I've yet had in these book tour travels.

First, was "back home." Bar Harbor gazing across at Bar Island, home for thirteen best years of our lives. And here to talk about those years, that time, and how important they were to us and how we have never been the same and won't be. Moosewood, as  we called our island cabin, changed us.

No, that's not right. Moosewood didn't change us. God used our time at Moosewood, those thirteen years, to spur us to change ourselves.

Now we were back, greeting old friends, put up by Ivan and Sherry in the precious old cottage, oldest remaining home in the town which, slated for demolition to make room for condos, was rescued by Ivan who had it moved and repositioned and lovingly reconstructed, a monumental task quite hard to believe. It used to belong to a woman named "Thankful" so that's the name it retains as they rent it  out to visitors to town.

Dinner friends last nigh and then this morning, in heavy rain, a tour of Acadia National Park whose visitor center welcoming film I voiced a while back. And this afternoon on to the local library for a book-reading and signing and there was the problem. Not that so many people showed up they had to keep adding chairs both downstairs and up in the balconies looking down at the main floor.

And I started to speak.

Speak ... and cry. My voice breaking and I largely unable to speak.

"This is hard," I got out. And it was. Here so many people we had known and/or still knew. Here was beloved past before us in this library in which we too had spent much time writing, researching, leaning. And I was so choked up I had to struggle mightily to regain enough of my frayed composure to go on speaking. The intense interest and what sure seemed like love from so many in the crowd buoyed me and I reclaimed my voice and spent the next hour with them recollecting, and  being grateful. And they stayed with me. All stayed with me and when it was over and God praised, many filed over to the signing table and the joy and gratitude bounced back and forth for almost another hour.

And I was exhausted! Because of the rain, the second half of the afternoon had to be postponed till tomorrow --- the walking tour we will lead out to and across the island. Which, I know, will be another testing time for both Jo and me. The library is using the event as a fundraiser, collecting $150 per person and they're signed up to capacity. Amazing!  But so many people who live around Bar Harbor have never been across to the island, just seen it every day from the town pier and wondered what it must be like. We'll be proud to show them. Proud but, I suspect, also greatly emotional.

Worth it, though, to continue our assignment of using this experience we were given by God to praise God..

Monday, May 20, 2013


Finding Moosewood, Finding God had such a great long weekend in the Twin Cities.Television shows, radio and newspaper interviews, church appearance and book talk, and finally, an impromptu signing at the great little indy store Bookcase in the lovely suburb of Wayzata. It ran over three hours, a steady flow of encouragement and gratitude. 

Minnesotans are the best, warm and welcoming despite the fact they’re paying $4.39 a gallon for gas these days!!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013


Finding Moosewood
Finding God

The Tour So Far

In the past few weeks the book has enjoyed wonderful and warming welomes.
  • At the southern California mega-church, Mariners, I had the pleasure of speaking to a breakfast meeting of the church’s Men’s Fellowship, some 250 strong and attentive and energized. Was told by one member afterwards that in ten years attending those meetings, he  had never before seen any other speaker receive a standing ovation. Sold books and met many believers and seekers. 
  • The Florida Broadcasters luncheon I spoke to was a sell-out crowd, largest they had ever hosted. Again, I spoke first and then signed books and the response for both was rewarding. The president of the organization, Fulton Lewis III, wrote to say, “Jack, you were a big hit! On behalf of everyone at The Broadcasters Club, I want to thank you for your excellent presentation at our luncheon last Friday. I have received numerous calls and emails from those in attendance -- the verdict was unanimous: you were great!
   Personally, I was dead tired Friday night and thought I would go to bed early ... and read a little bit of your book. I discovered that is an impossibility! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. In a word, you have created a "masterpiece" -- one which will make even the most devoted atheist have doubts about his beliefs. Again, our thanks!                Fulton 
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  • At a fund-raising event for Florida library reading programs, I spoke and read for an hour, sold books for another hour and afterward got this generous letter from the program organizers: “Wow, what a wonderful afternoon! The standing room only crowd was the largest turnout we have ever had.  Not only were your stories and anecdotes fascinating and informative, but as a personality, you are incredibly entertaining and fun to listen to. I thought you might like to hear some of the comments from guests and board members:
I was so pleased to be able to get a signed copy of his book .... He was terrific ... What a story his life has been ... Imagine giving up all that success, kind of tells you how empty it can be without faith ... Spellbinding storyteller ... He was wonderful ... I thought that Jack’s talk was great and he was much funnier than I expected ... Everyone I talked to really enjoyed it too ... Heard nothing but great kudos for his talk ... His self-examination and journey of discovery were inspiring ... I believe we are all richer for the experience of getting to know a little bit beyond the “public” Jack Perkins. 
  • In Seattle for a series of bookstore events, church appearances, newspaper articles, radio interviews including Michael Medved’s national program, and a television appearance on KING-TV’s New Day Northwest show, I happily accepted the invitation to address an exceptional group of men, a longtime Businessmen’s Bible Study group called “His Deal.” This, too, was a sell out luncheon sharing bible reading and my discussion of my faith journey as documented in my book. The man who founded and presides over the group wrote that he had received many notes of gratitude and appreciation for his having me there. 
  • Next on the list: appearances in Minnesota, Tennessee, and a two week tour up and down the state of Maine. Through all of which I hope to do what the Lord has commissioned me and all believers to do: Spread the Word. For me that means going from broadcasting the news to broadcasting of The Good News.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Another great review!!

I am so grateful for the review of Finding Moosewood, Finding God just released by Examiner.com. Like all the others I have seen it is positive and enthusiastic, urging readers to get it for their own libraries. 

The reviewer in this case really "Gets it."  

Enjoy. I sure do.  

Monday, March 25, 2013

Doing Book Readings Is Not Always Predictable



Have been doing a lot of radio and TV interviews for the book, and some personal appearances as well -- book readings / signings. 
Of the latter, there was a special one last week, a fundraising event for a library organization and literacy fund. It was a warmly welcoming crowd and I spoke (with their apparent approval) for almost an hour, telling some of the stories from the book and reading excerpts as well. I had no plan as I began but tried to be sensitive to what the people were wanting. How intent and solemn should I get, when break the mood with humor. It was a fascinating exercise. Ups and downs, laughter and, a couple of times a few brimming tears. 
For example, I had no idea how I was going to conclude the presentation. Hadn’t planned that at all. But it planned itself. 
I was reading a story from the Vietnam writings in the book, a tale that -- just recalling it again, so burned it is in my mind -- I found myself losing composure a bit. It was a remembrance of a village of Vietnamese who had taken refuge underground as the largest battle of the war to that point was waged directly above them -- the bombs and mortars and gunshots for days after days. And the innocent villagers hid in their tunnels and caves underground not daring to emerge as long as the battle went on. And it sent on and went on. The people below had not brought much with them. And so there was first hunger and then worse. And that by the time the warring had subsided overhead and the villagers of Van Truong were sure it was safe to emerge from hiding, only a few us Americans were still there to witness their return. 
There was one man clutching his precious baby daughter, climbing up out of a hole, blinking into the blinding light of a free day and, clearly he was very hungry. A GI opened cans from his own rations and fed the man. It was sadly apparent that it was much too late for his baby. All a GI could offer for her was his own poncho to serve as the child’s burial shroud. Another GI used his entrenching tool to scratch out a shallow grave for the daughter and helped the father lay her to rest. Just one more casualty of the war but one I will never forget. Nor will I allow myself to forget the moment one of the marines, completing the burial, brought himself to attention, saluted over the grave, and then, bowing his head, said a prayer. He said a prayer.
I just stood there.
To this day, I hate that I just stood there. 

                      ###

That was the end of my speech.  

Thursday, March 14, 2013

A New Video


....and the pleasant job of promoting the book goes on. As do the most gracious comments about it.

I guess, in the week and a half since the official release of the book, I've done a couple dozen interviews about it on radio stations all across the country. 

I got a kick that the very first one was with a station in Bangor, Maine. How appropriate that that first telephone interview was with the station owned by none other than Stephen King, who, in a way he never intended, got our whole Maine adventure started those many years ago. Mary Jo and I owe him a great debt -- the debt of gratitude for introducing us to new lives we did not expect to seek let alone accomplish. 

There've been interviews with Christian stations and secular ones. At first, I am ashamed to confess, I treated them differently -- muting my message of Belief on the secular stations; highlighting it for the Christian stations. Mistake. 

It was a matter of feeling comfortable "preaching to the choir" but uneasy speaking to someone who might not agree. That is not the way to evangelize and all Christians are called to be evangelical.

How pleasant, then, when I found, speaking to secular stations, kindred company and no disdainful belittling. 

------

By the way, a chain of Florida newspapers, in a feature for their "Diversions" section, has just put together a brief written feature and linked to it a video interview they made at their studio. Very nice job, they did and I'm happy to share it with you. 




Thursday, March 7, 2013

The Perils of a Newly Released Book

Now I start getting first reactions to my book. It’s nervous time. 

Now that FINDING MOOSEWOOD, FINDING GOD has been released and people have started getting their pre-ordered copies via Amazon or B&N or whatever, or are heading to bookstores for copies there’s a danger lurking. 

I got a foretaste today. A person who got an early copy dashed off a note to report: “Got it, read it, loved it. It’s a great read.”

I should be pleased. And, yes, I am, BUT ....

But I hate to have this work I labored on so long, so carefully, so thoughtfully, to be devoured like a hot dog gulped at a ball game. I much prefer the sort of email I got today from a man, a stranger who reached out to tell me he just his copy and glanced it quickly and it looked great but he looks forward to reading it slowly and really absorbing it. I’m sure it has a lot to offer. 

Well, from the reviews it’s received so far, it does and I love that he chooses not to gulp.

The other thing -- and I really am being picky and prickly -- I do in this, the most important work I have ever undertaken, aspire for something more lofty and I hope inspiring than simply “Great read.”

Maybe I still think of the endorsement the great American preacher, Fred B. Craddock wrote for the book, saying:  You will want to pass this book along to your friends.
But before you do, you may want to read it again yourself. Jack is on to something; you can sense it. He moves past the apparent to the Truth, to God.

Love that endorsement and love his suggestion to read it again ... Though I’m not too hot on the idea of your passing your copy along to friends. Why deny them the joy of buying their own? 




Thursday, February 21, 2013

Reviews for my book!

From the Reviews so far . . . 


Here are words that thrill me and, I hope, will interest, even motivate you. These are  clips excerpted from  reviews so far of my new book.

 ----------------

Jack Perkins writes a Walden for today . . . engaging prose will transport readers . . . his articulate descriptions . . . Jack tells a powerful story . . . so well written that readers will be captivated . . . intriguing use of language . . .  equal parts humor and humility . . . Perkins sketches out his own road map to God and a more fulfilling life . . . meandering grace . . .simple yet profound points . . . lively, contemplative, and heartfelt . . . Perkins makes a compelling argument for straying from the beaten path . . . does Thoreau proud . . . fans of Thoreau and Emerson will enjoy Finding Moosewood, Finding God. 

Friday, February 8, 2013

National Prayer Breakfast 


Friday 2/9/13

Just back from D.C. where, on Thursday morning was held the annual National Prayer Breakfast. And where the evening before, as part of the event, convened the Media Banquet where I was honored to be one of the speakers. I spoke about my new book and the Holy Spirit that motivated it as it did our entire life change years.ago. As the writer of the copy on the book's dust jacket wrote of that life change: He gave up his life's work ... And found his life's purpose. Spot on!. 

Cal Thomas who hosts the banquet each year had arranged to have dropshipped to him fifty copies of the book that isn't formally published till March Fifth. He had the stack of those on a table inviting guests who wished to help themselves. Within 5 minutes after I ended my speech, they were all taken. Flattering. As were the many, many people who came up to me to say kind and generous things. Great for the ego, no help for the vanity.     

Most said they're eager to buy the book. One said she loved listening my voice. (Vanity!) I told her the book will be available as an audiobook I recorded. Or for Kindle or Nook. Why not one of each I said, overreaching. 

Among the people in the crowd were some quite notable folks. Shannon Bream, a lovely and very bright anchor for Fox News was there. Assuming that many viewers remark her stunning beauty, I gave her playful contrary feedback, telling her that whenever she comes on one of us, my wife or I, says to the other, "Hey, there's Old Ugly." She laughed. And forgave, I guess, as she was very complimentary about my presentation. Had nice talk with her and her husband afterwards, speaking of the strength of their faith in God as it has gotten them through some rugged times themselves.

Also present was an author I regard highly for his recent biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Eric Metaxsis (sp?). 

And, then I spotted a man I did not immediately recognize but just knew I should. he had that bearing and presence. Mary Jo told me. Pat Boone. 

Most fascinating of my fellow presenters was a couple. What to some might seem an unlikely couple but what a God-gifted couple they are. Roma Downey starred in the thoughtfully provocative TV series some years back, “Touched by an Angel.” She is a lovely Irish lass, a woman of great faith and the lilting speech to pronounce it. Her husband -- unlikely as it might seem to some -- is Mark Burnett, the man who invented reality shows -- Survivor, Apprentice, Smarter than a Fifty Grader, and on and on. And what have these two been up to now? Spending three and a half years producing an historic TV series to begin next month. “The Bible,” it is simply called and it is a series of extravagantly crafted and powerfully presented stories of the great figures of the Bible. The series debuts 3-3-13 on History Channel and runs each week until the concluding episodes on Easter night. EVERYONE MUST SEE IT! Must get others to see it. This series will long outlast everything else that’s ever been on television. It will be seen around the world spreading the powerful truths of The Truth to millions, billions of people. 

Mark and Roma showed us the opening section and the Last Supper segments, a half hour of powerful film-making. We were privileged. You will be privileged.

And I was privileged to have them as table-mates at the dinner the other night and see, as they spoke so movingly of my presentation that, in fact, Mark had tears in his eyes. 

It was a night of power and promise and I floated home with hope and love in my heart.


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Got a Great Surprise .....


Let me try to describe. 

It’s not enough simply to announce that finally -- after years and years -- I have experienced the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Not enough to talk of a milestone reached. I’m not even sure I am capable of telling the magnitude of the surprise I got on returning  home this afternoon. 

The package was undistinguished. It didn’t cry out to me. But my dear wife, as usual more perceptive, was excited by it. I had so cavalierly ripped open the package because I had not bothered to read the return address. 

The package was from Zondervan Publishing. 

It was the first advance copy of my new book! The official publication date is not till March 5th and, though I had seen proofs and galleys and the incomplete paperback version the publisher had sent out to reviewers, this was the real thing! 

The title, “Finding Moosewood, Finding God” is embossed on the dust jacket, as is my name. The copy on the front flap includes that line I did not write but wish I had because it succinctly captures the nut of the story: “He gave up his life’s work ... And found his life’s purpose.” 

It’s gratifying to read portions of the various endorsements on the back cover and those endorsements in their entirety on the opening pages inside. It’s good to see all the photo pages inside showing glimpses of the TV years -- Vietnam and all, and others of our island lives including the shot of our Thanksgiving dinner laid out atop a foot of snow  blanketing our outdoor picnic table. 

What fun! And what a blessed opportunity coming soon to share my faith by sharing this book. Having finally seen the finished product, I am inordinately proud. 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Finding Moosewood, Finding God has received its first review


.... and I must say, this Author has no complaints about it at all!!!

It was done by the classic reviewing periodical, BookList.  And here is what they have written:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 


Finding Moosewood, Finding God: What Happened When a TV Newsman Abandoned His Career for Life on an Island.
Perkins, Jack (Author)
Mar 2013. 320 p. Zondervan, hardcover, $22.99. (9780310318255). 070.92.


Inspired by a weeklong trip to Stephen King’s summer home, venerable television journalist Jack Perkins turned his back on city life and all its trappings to live in the wilds of Maine with his wife, Mary Jo. Several years and books later, Perkins turns his talent for telling grand tales to the task of recounting his voyage from small-town irreligious broadcaster to famous, globe-trotting journalist, back to small-town spiritual seeker. With equal parts humor and humility, Perkins sketches out his own road map to God and a more fulfilling life, leading the reader along with meandering grace through the major stops in his journey before hitting upon simple yet profound points. Journal entries, poems, and the use of datelines sprinkled throughout the book add to the feeling of being privy to a journal where the author has written his most personal ruminations on pursuing a simpler life and a deeper understanding of his Christian faith. Lively, contemplative, and heartfelt, Perkins makes a compelling argument for straying from the beaten path, and in doing so does Thoreau proud.


— Taina Lagodzinski 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Here are the first few pages of Finding Moosewood, Finding God

A sample designed ... of course .. to entice you to want to preorder the book. Any of the online booksellers or, certainly, your favorite local bookstore will be happy to do that for you. And I'll be REAL happy. 

Here starts Chapter One:


                                                  --0--



1: Why Thoreau It All Away?



Commentator Jack Perkins Leaving NBC for an Island
—Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, front page

After 25 years as a TV correspondent, anchorman and commentator, Jack Perkins said Friday he plans to retire from broadcast journalism next month to move to a small island off the coast of Maine.
—Los Angeles Times, page 12

Jack Perkins Leaves for Maine after Leaving his Mark
Jack started doing TV when TV started doing news.  He is one of the founding fathers of TV journalism.  He helped give it direction and purpose.  TV news is important in our society because people like Jack covered news as if it were important and as if we viewers were able to understand and learn from it.
—- Burbank Leader

Newsman Perkins Ankling in June
—Variety

The day those stories appeared, five questions tickled.  1) Why did the Her-Ex think the story deserved front page?  2) Why didn't the L.A. Times think it deserved front page?  3) Why was the Leader so embarrassingly effusive? 4) Why did Variety talk that way? and 5) Just plain why?   
Why, in the midst of a successful and satisfying television career, was I chucking it -- trading west coast for east; megalopolis of 8-million for island, population 2; airline schedules for tide table; TV Guides for Peterson's; Sak's for L.L. Bean; fourteen local TV stations and 82 local radio stations for none of either; three newspapers delivered to the front gate each morning and three more waiting at work, for a trip across the bay to Sherman's to buy the local weekly; smog for fog; mockingbirds for loons; new BMW for used Jeep; convenient public utilities for wood stove and solar power; monthly bills and paychecks for monthly bills; sounds of sounds for sounds of quiet; and freeways for free ways? Why?
For a quarter century, I had been a swimmer in the Magic Aquarium, an electronic image that flickered and fled. Correspondent/commentator/anchorman for NBC News is how I described myself. .  
“Noted actor/reporter,” mocked a non-TV colleague, in envy, I assumed.  
“That blankety-blank Jack Perkins,” muttered a certain president of the United States, not in envy, I assumed.  
Chaser of big doings, teller of grand tales, dweller among great cities, I not only loved my job but loved myself for having it. So what happened? Didn’t I still enjoy the recognition? When approached on the street by a stranger to whom — I could tell from the knowing glint in his eyes — I was not a stranger but a familiar Somebody from Somewhere to whom he had to say something, that wasn’t unpleasant, was it? 
Even better was being recognized by someone who really was a Somebody. Like approaching Bob Newhart at a party to tell him how much I admired his work, only to find him approaching me to tell me how much he admired mine; or when someone on the phone told me his friends had been praising a commentary I’d delivered on the air that day, and those friends were Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, and Cary Grant, and the Someone on the phone was Frank Sinatra — Why would I choose to “ankle” away from moments like those and become a certifiable Nobody? 
Beyond its superficial satisfaction, TV reporting offered joys of substance -- the pleasure of a story well told, a persuasive commentary.  A reporter had the rare and enviable power to shine light into the dark corners where land developers readied blueprints for urban blight, where con men schemed “Christian book sales” to separate the gullible from their nest-eggs, where malingerers feigned disabilities to bilk taxpayers; the shadowy back rooms where frauds, quacks,, and never-rich-enough billionaires plotted and conspired.  That flickering blue light in a distant window really could dispel darkness.  In an ephemeral medium, you could actually do lasting good.  
Why abandon that? Why would an ego fed on fame decide to diet?  Why, the introvert dependent on recognition to grease social ways withdraw to anonymity?  Having persuaded himself that the spotlight shining on him really did make him brighter — why, while that light still shone, would the actor, mid-play, exit grinning and head for a deserted island?
Or as pastor Dr. Robert Schuller, a man who loved word play, asked us in California one day, “Jack, Mary Jo, with all you have here, why do you want to Thoreau it away?”
Clever line -- which at that moment I couldn't answer. I didn't know. 
Thinking about it today, I realize that while I certainly enjoyed the touch of celebrity back then, something inside me -- yet unacknowledged -- was nagging: You're known, Big Guy. Hooray. But is that enough? Is it enough to have recognition if you don't use it? And how should you use it? Well, think of it this way, TV Man: Where did everything come from; who allowed you to enjoy such recognition? Might it have been the grace of a Holy God, giving you gifts not just to have but also to use? You've sung the hymn, To God Be the Glory. Might that be a purpose for what you have? 
Again, these were thoughts I should have been thinking years back but at least at a conscious level was not. In those golden-ego days, dazzled by the spotlight of celebrity, vanity and self-satisfaction, I was lost in the dark of my own illumination. Never did it occur to me that the flukes, impulses and happenstances that seemed to be directing my life were, in fact, the guidance of a generous hand – indeed, the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  I didn’t know and wouldn’t know for a while, the ultimate acknowledgement coming only slowly -- a reluctant revelation. 



More Excerpts To Come.... Keep Checking In ....

Monday, January 14, 2013

Sunday School with a Master


I spoke earlier of Fred Craddock -- the Rev. Dr. Fred B. Craddock, scholar, educator, pastor and inspiration most familiarly called by most of his flock simply, Fred.

Though he suffers from Parkinson's, is 84, not too long ago went through a siege of Guillain-Barre syndrome and no longer preaches regularly at the church he founded in Cherry Log, Georgia, he is, at the moment conducting Sunday school classes there for a few weeks and we attended yesterday. 

Rapt, intensely engaged were the folks who filled the fellowship hall of the little church listening to the master who would quite hate my calling him that.  As a speaker he is soft of voice and easy of manner and the points he made were gentle but challenging and many hands were diligently making notes. He spoke for an hour, beginning with a prayer thanking the Lord for his kind gift of "butterfly mornings and whipoorwill evenings." 

His challenge on that 14th of January was to the people to set as their task to read the entire New Testament between now and Easter, March 31st. He urged them to read it right through, not studying the text, not using outside references or dictionaries or commentaries; rather, he said, "Just let it happen. You won't memorize much along the way (or you won't know you have memorized it; you will end up with "forgotten memories." Just let it happen. 

I'm going to. I've enlisted. 

As I continue to work to promote my own forthcoming book, I am committed to reading through that entire part of THE BOOK.

Wanna join me in this Bible Non-Study?


Friday, January 11, 2013

Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas -- in many ways, the Man Who Made It Happen


I've known Cal for years and years and -- oh, yes! -- years. He referred to the tenure of our friendship in the Introduction he was kind enough to write for Finding Moosewood, Finding God.

But what I need to tell you is that there might not have been a Finding Moosewood, Finding God but for him. 

While I was busily contacting agents for this new book I wanted to get published, Cal, having read it in its very early stages, said he'd like to talk to a friend at Zondervan publishing house, the great Christian publisher in Grand Rapids, MI.. He did. And by the time I had chosen the wonderful agent I would be delighted to work with, Helen Zimmerman, (more about her later) Cal had already interested some folks at Zondervan into taking a look at my manuscript. 

Verne Kenney was the first at Zondervan to read sample chapters and quickly told me he'd like to read more. I sent him the whole manuscript. He got back to me several days later to say that "You've got a good book here, Jack." To which I replied, "No, Verne, I have a manuscript. I'm hoping you'll make it a book."

He had some insightful recommendations which greatly strengthened the work. And, having been an executive overseeing many of the groups and committees who now would have to read the ms. and give their thumbs up or down, he was well-positioned to be the work's shepherd through the process. I was most fortunate to have him behind it, behind me. 

And, as I said before, it was Cal who got the process all started with Zondervan. I couldn't thank him enough. Instead, I had yet one more favor to ask him. And that was, would he please write a foreword or introduction for the book. 

Now, Cal is busy. Beyond his widely syndicated columns and his regular pieces in USA Today, he also serves as a regular contributor to Fox News, and broadcasts for a D..C. radio station and Salem Communications stations. And travels regularly with his wife to their getaway home in Ireland. He's busy. Nevertheless, he readily agreed to my request though he said it might take a while to fit it in with everything else. 

That was late one afternoon. Next morning, in my email, I had it. He had done it at night and dispatched it first thing next day. I was shocked at his promptitude, but more by the generosity of his words. 

I won't spoil it all, rather save it for your enjoyment in the book, but here are some excerpts from Cal Thomas's Introduction to Finding Moosewood, Finding God
                                                           ------------------
         When we first met at NBC Washington back in the 60s, Jack’s official job description was a “writer” for the nationally known broadcast journalist, David Brinkley. Being a writer for Brinkley was something like being a hitting coach for Ted Williams. Brinkley wrote virtually all of his own stuff in a unique style. 

        I, through this, was a lowly copyboy at NBC News in Washington, but both of us saw ourselves as “in the door” at this great journalistic institution.
Like all of humanity, we were searching for the “meaning of life,” but didn’t know it at the time. In journalism, one can quickly become cynical because we see so many tragedies, political phonies and religious hypocrites, who fail to live up to promises they make, or practice what they preach. And so even if one decides to search for objective truth, one can often wind up lost by focusing on things below, rather than things above.
                                                          *     *      *
        In Finding Moosewood, Finding God, Jack Perkins takes us on his personal journey that led him to Jesus of Nazareth and to a new life with more purpose and power than anything Washington can offer or Hollywood can deliver. The problem with so many of us is that we never begin the journey and thus we never know that what is waiting for us is so much more – “exceedingly, abundantly, above all we ask or think,” as Scripture puts it – than the petty, unimportant and disposable things in which we place so much of our puny faith.
Jack’s faith in Christ is real because he has processed it – worked it out, as Paul the Apostle of Jesus commanded.  Finding Moosewood, Finding God is as unique as Jack. It avoids the clichés of contemporary evangelicalism and introduces us to what seems like an exciting life interviewing celebrities, only to present a much more purposeful life after Jack meets the Creator of all.

Friends, you can see, I believe, why I am so thrilled and grateful. Thank you, Brother Cal. 



Tuesday, January 8, 2013



I had lunch with Fred Craddock today


That simple sentence thrills me. 

It was a former pastor of ours in Florida, David Elton, who years ago while he and I were chaperoning some of the youth of our church to summer camp at Montreat, N.C., one day in the bookstore asked me if I’d ever heard of Fred Craddock and his books. I hadn’t and he steered me to a shelf with several of them displayed. At his urging, I chose one, Cherry Log Sermons and took it home. By the time I got home, however, I had already finished it (though I knew I would be going back time and again to read and reflect on its wisdom. 

They were simple sermons by a master, a country preacher who was so much more than that. By that time, Dr. Craddock had spent decades preaching and teaching (Candler Theological Seminary, Emory University, Atlanta) and then, partially retiring, had founded a small church up in the north Georgia town of Cherry Log (great name!). The book included texts of many of the sermons he had given in that small church. In all, they clearly proved that you don’t need to go to the great marble edifices in the big cities to get great preaching. One of the national news magazines (was it Time or Newsweek?) declared him to be one of the greatest preachers in the United States. 

When Jo and I built our log house up in north Georgia, we found ourselves just a town away from little Cherry Log but by that time Pastor Craddock had given up regular preaching, turning the pulpit over to another preacher. He still preached occasionally, we were told, but sporadically, almost unpredictably. So we started going to that church when we were in Georgia, hoping.....

There were many disappointments but, alas, one week we arrived and, checking the bulletin, found that, indeed, the sermon would be delivered by Fred Craddock. That was a December 28th. I remember because it was my birthday and what a perfect gift I was given. We surely were not disappointed by the message he preached that morning and though it was years ago, we still remember it. 

There would come occasions, thereafter, to communicate with him, then meet him when I had the temerity to ask him if he would consider writing an endorsement for my new book, the book whose birth I am now awaiting. He agreed to read the galleys and then we had lunch, just he and I, and he probed and questioned me and said he would be happy to go home that weekend and write something for me. If it worked I was welcome to use it or cut it or whatever.

I did not cut it. Not a word. It was so much more than I could have expected and I was honored to receive his most articulate blessing. 

Today, Mary Jo and I both had the chance to take him and his wife Nettie to lunch that I might, yet again, thank him for the generosity of his language and spirit. He truly is a blithe spirit.  A small man about whom there is nothing small. 

These were his words of endorsement which you will find printed in the front matter of “Finding Moosewood, Finding God” when it is released March 5th

Jack Perkins is a poet and that means enjoyment for the reader. Jack’s mastery of the English language provides pleasure a plenty. You will want to pass this book along to your friends.
But before you do, you may want to read it again yourself. Jack is on to something; you can sense it. He moves past the apparent to the Truth, to God. About this journey he is passionate, but as a poet he must keep his passion on a leash, out of respect for the reader who needs room to make his or her own journey. So, no pre-packaged conclusions here; no coercion here; no grand claims to have walked all the way around God and taken pictures. The poet knows that Truth comes suggestively, not dogmatically. The poet pauses over hints and coincidences, not with doubt’s hesitation but with reverence for the God who came veiled in flesh.

Fred B. Craddock
Bandy Distinguished Professor of
Preaching and New Testament,
Emeritus
Candler School of Theology,
Emory University

Monday, January 7, 2013





 Here is the cover art for my new book, my "Spiritual Memoir"




The story behind the cover...


The wonderful artists of Zondervan publishing came up with four possible cover images and gave me the choice. This one is not, as some have thought, a photograph of our island, Moosewood, and I did not take the photo but it feels right. To my wife and me who lived there for 15 years, this image simply feels right!  The whole cover does. It is mellow and peaceful yet active and such were our lives there. 

Ah, but there was one problem. In its original version, the pine cone up in right, Mary Jo noted, was quite wrong. Misplaced. It was the cone of a Ponderosa pine, nowhere to be found along the coast of Maine. On the other hand, the state flower of the state of Maine is the Eastern White Pine cone and tassel so, at Jo's urging, the Zondervan folk were happy to give the cover just the right pine. 

Little thing but I care so much about this project, I wanted everything just right. 

Please notice, also, the line "Foreword by Cal Thomas." In my next posting I'll talk about that and offer a sample of his gracious and insightful words. 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

I am committed to do all I can to promote this new book ....


...Because I truly believe it is 1) the best and most important work I have ever done and, 2) I believe the story of one man's transformation might inspire another man, another woman and, 3) because I owe it to the God who has guided my life in so many ways over these many years -- even before I recognized it -- wants me to proclaim His story.

I hope you'll check in here frequently over coming months and follow the story of Finding Moosewood, Finding God as it develops. The book is due out March 5th. The fun is just beginning.