The Prayer Chain “Shawl” Vinyl/Concert Fundraiser/The “Eric Campuzano Attic Tape” Bootleg
KICKSTARTER: SHAWL DOUBLE VINYL & LIVE CONCERT The Prayer Chain is fundraising on Kickstarter to release their album, Shawl, on double vinyl, and to provide a concert experience for fans (i.e. for me!). As of this writing, they’re almost 75% funded, but they need your help! So go here and fork over your hard-earned dead...
A Strange School of Apocalyptic Fish: A Review of “What Will Soon Take Place” by Tania Runyan
My Review ***** (Out of 5) Tania Runyan has conjured up a strange school of apocalyptic fish with What Will Soon Take Place (Paraclete Press). Each of the poems in this collection, which explores the book of Revelation through a personal lens, wriggles with wit, catches light like so many shining rainbow scales, and sets ripples...
Indoor Smoke Signals: A Thanksgiving Essay + Recipe
Picture Above: Grandpa Jack, me, and Grandma Ruthie back in the day when I rocked bangs. I wrote this piece a few years back for our church’s cookbook. I hope you like it and the recipe that accompanies it. The event described in the piece took place sometime around 1992 or 1993, I believe. Indoor...
“To Be Born Again”: In Touch Magazine’s First Graphic Essay
In Touch magazine recently published its first graphic essay, and I wrote it! Jeff Gregory illustrated it. Read it here!
Cacao Euphoria: A Salute to a Lawrencian Baker
Yeah. I’m posting a blog entry for the first time since humanity discovered fire. I know it’s been awhile. But Evie goes to kindergarten in 78 days (Who’s counting though?) and I fully expect that I will be able to post more often once this happens. So I am beginning today by posting a little...
CTJ’s In Touch Series: “Wholly Scripture: Confessions of a Wayfaring Reader”
In 2015, I decided to read the Bible from cover to cover for the first time. I did so believing I’d probably read most of the text over the course of my life in piecemeal form via personal devotionals, sermons, and Sunday school lessons. To my surprise, I discovered quite a few things in scripture that...
Sanctuary of the Cinema 2016-2017 Syllabus
Sanctuary of the Cinema, 2016-2017 Course Syllabus Instructor: Chad T. Johnston chad1978@gmail.com Twitter: @Saint_Upid All features begin at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church, Lawrence, Kansas. FBC is an American Baptist congregation, and is based at 1330 Kasold Dr. Film screenings followed by group discussion. Food and drink are permitted, and occasionally...
Read CTJ/Saint Upid’s Writings
My Honorable Mention Essay in Belle and Sebastian’s “Write about Love” Contest chadthomasjohnston.com, January 12, 2011 The Star-Lassoer: An Interview with V2/Bella Union Artist Stephanie Dosen chadthomasjohnston.com, February 13, 2011 Music Review: Rubblebucket “Omega La La” Somewhere Over the Audio Rainbow, Prime Parents Club, July 8, 2011 Music Review: SPIN Magazine’s “Newermind: A...
“To Build a Throne”: My Essay on James Hampton
Read my latest piece, “To Build a Throne” (In Touch Magazine), which reflects on the work of African-American janitor James Hampton, who secretly built a 177-piece collection of throne-room furnishings for the return of Christ before his death in 1964. Photos courtesy of the Smithsonian. Excerpt: “If God chose to enter the world in the...
Marcia Epstein Interviews CTJ on LawrenceHits.com
In 2014, I realized that if God found it necessary to rest on the seventh day of creation—literal, figurative, or otherwise—I might do well to take a few deep breaths, too. That being said, last year I resolved to slay fewer word dragons, eased up on my overeager social media output, read more (I even finished Dune,...
“Nightmarriage”: Information, Critical Acclaim, Published Excerpts, Free Audiobook MP3s & More
Buy CTJ’s”Nightmarriage” NOW! Buy the Print Edition Here for $14.99 Buy the E-book Edition Here for $4.99 Buy the Color Edition Here for $34.99 Chad Thomas Johnston’s Nightmarriage is a whimsical memoir that explores the terrors of marriage and the perils of parenthood. Adapted from Johnston’s blog series of the same name, Nightmarriage proves that, when two people marry, their...
Book Review: Elizabeth Esther’s “Girl at the End of the World”
I read this book in two days. I never read anything in two days—not ever. I am a tortoise of a reader, trudging along the highway with innumerable hares haranguing me as they hurry past me. Most books take me weeks or months to mull over. As a writer, I am also pretty pokey. But...