See You Down the Road
A happy Friday!
Though, admittedly, not a usual Friday.
Euuuuuuuulesss
Have I ever told you how much my wife Rusty and I resisted being called to Texas? Even as the moving trucks were being loaded in the front yard of our little fairy cottage in L.A., I was pleading to the Lord, “Are you sure? Texas? Are you sure?” I must have sounded to the Creator of the Universe like that bratty kid in the backseat nagging nonstop, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”
However, as is His way, God was firm and to Texas and a great unknown we rode. God even had a joke with us on that. “Lord, if You have to send us to Texas, please not that place called ‘Euless,’” my wife prayed. “I don’t know if I could live in a place called ‘Euuuuuuuuuless.’”
Sure enough, the house we found was in Euless. But what was I doing there? Well, it seems two fellows I had seen with Glenn Beck at Jim Garlow’s church a few years earlier were creating a new website for Christian and conservative news and commentary: They called it the Faith and Freedom Stream.
Exactly one year after departing my previous post in L.A., James Robison and Jay Richards (along with a third gentleman, Jonathan Witt) decided to hire this former Hollywood comedy writer to be the site’s editorial and administrative assistant.
And where was this venture of theirs located? In Euuuuuuuuuuless — just a mile from the house to which my wife and I eventually moved.
God is not only good, but He makes a darn fine realtor.
Those Wacky Streamers
In what seems like a flash, I ended up being the managing editor of the site, whose name had been simplified to simply The Stream, and even spent two exhausting years as the acting editor-in-chief while a search was underway for a permanent replacement. And, of course, serving as chief barista of The Brew for several years, as well as a second daily news roundup we called “Al’s Afternoon Tea” through most of 2024.
For 10 years, I’ve been at it. In my tribute to The Stream’s tenth anniversary earlier this month, I touched on the amazing people who put their heart and soul into The Stream, colleagues that I have loved dearly. Colleagues with whom I laughed and cried and fought the good fight.
We held to God’s truth even as the world was offering a devil of a time. We held together despite denominational differences, strong opinions, and wildly diverse personalities — a ragtag band of misfits, characters and rabble-rousers.
But that was then, and this is now. The Stream is shifting from a website that has offered primarily print content for the last decade to one that will soon be offering primarily video content, with an eye toward becoming a full streaming service at some point in the not-too-distant future. It won’t be as focused on what takes place in the Beltway as it has been up to this point, though it will still offer as much wisdom, analysis, and insight on current events through a biblical lens as the still-diverse group of people who remain on staff and the team of freelancers they work with can give it. They’ll also be sharing writing duties to continue bringing you The Brew every weekday morning — a quick news roundup delivered with personality and flair.
But this is ballgame for me at The Stream — my last serving of thoughts. “So long, and thanks for all the fish,” as the dolphins declared upon abandoning Earth in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe trilogy.
Thank You and Pass the Crowbar
What’s next? Well, this morning I’ll be put to work on our bathroom remodel. I no longer get to say, “Love to help, honey, but I gotta finish up The Brew. See what’s happening in the world.” (Oh, the mileage I’ve gotten out of that one. Oh, what tasks you have spared me!)
If I manage to survive the morning bout with a reciprocating saw, we’ll see what’s what. All I know for absolute certain, because He practically shouted it, is that I’m supposed to praise God right now because He’s already arranged my next steps.
Perhaps I can trick Him and say, “Please, Lord. Not Hawaii! I don’t want to live someplace called Hawaii!”
I cannot put into words just how much this audience has meant to me. Nothing beats knowing I was able to serve such amazing, patriotic, God-loving, nation-saving, smarter-than-the-Swamp, craftier-than-Congress Americans on a daily basis.
Finally, a Favor
Finally, I have a big favor to ask. The Stream would not have flowed for five seconds were it not for James Robison and our parent organization LIFE Outreach International. So please do me a solid (as the kids say): If at any point over the years, The Brew or anything else I’ve written at The Stream has brightened your day, please take a moment now to brighten the lives of those who desperately need their own “stream” of fresh water by donating whatever amount God puts on your heart to LOI’s amazing “Water for Life” program.
Here’s the link:
https://www.lifetoday.org/wells4life
Beyond the thousands of quips and commentaries, punch lines and punditries, let our legacy be a gushing water well of hope. Let’s make a loud splash in this Stream.
Thank you again for the honor of writing for you every weekday morning. May God richly bless each and every one of you, and may our hearts joyfully sing, “It’s a new season. It’s a new day.”
We will see you down the road …
Al Perrotta is a subcontractor for The Missus Home Remodels and creator of the Bananas Republic Substack. You can find him there and on X at @alperrotta210, or covered in drywall dust at the Calvert County dump.