Post Archive


Here you can find every post from Jack's Journal, even the ones I've hidden! 

Please don’t run right here. It is very difficult. That is what you will hear from the Spanish police if you are at the intersection of San Sebastián de los Reyes’s Calles de Leopoldo Gimeno and Real Vieja...

An American crossing Turkey by bus sets out to trace the spread of Islam across Anatolia, only to find his journey unexpectedly tracked by an undercover police officer at a remote station in Diyarbakir.

An armed escort was waiting the bottom of the steps. They weren’t there for me. I wasn’t in the military anymore, so I joined the line of people making their way from the plane to passport control. The colonels and non-commissioned officers that shared my flight sped to the coalition airbase on the opposite side of the runway. They had a war to fight behind concrete walls an

On a visit to a region plagued by war, a former military officer seeks out a different side to Iraqi Kurdistan that dispels the stereotypes common across America, finding a place paved with peace, from Christian monasteries to pristine waterfalls.

Exhausted yet captivated, Jack reflects on a month racing across Turkey—its cities, religions, and history shaping every step of the journey.

Jack explores Paul’s letters to Timothy that define church order, warn against deceitful spirits, and call believers to faith, modesty, and endurance in the last days.

Covering Elazig, Harput, Kayseri, and Konya, I catch up on Turkey’s mix of Ottoman, Seljuk, and modern heritage across four new cities.

Exploring southeast Turkey from Mardin to Şanlıurfa, Jack discovers ancient monasteries, Diyarbakir’s city walls, Islamic history, and unique local experiences.

Traveling from Spain to Turkey, Jack dives into Turkey’s rich history, shares hostel conversations, navigates passport checks, and rediscovers his love for Turkish food.

Jack dives into Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians, each challenging false gospels, hierarchy debates, and calling Christians to live biblically, not culturally.

Exploring 1 & 2 Corinthians, Jack found Paul’s letters reveal not just doctrine but living guidance on division, leadership, women in church, and true faith.

From Santiago’s crowded cathedral to running with the bulls near Madrid, this week brought disappointment, adrenaline, and a longing for Sevilla.

Jack experiences Spain’s encierros beyond Pamplona, where tradition, danger, and camaraderie meet. This time, he's in San Sebastián de los Reyes.

Jack finishes the Camino de Santiago—315km, new friends, lessons, and loss. Reflections on the journey, Spain’s fires, and what comes next on the road.

Europe resists air conditioning in the name of virtue, yet heat deaths outpace US gun deaths. Jack looks at the faux morality behind this resistance and preventable death.

In This Dispatch: - Weekly Dispatch - Call to Adventure - Latest YouTube Videos Weekly Dispatch I made it to Sarria! This is the...

I need a travel partner! I've got an amazing two-week adventure in Morocco planned, and I'm looking for someone to join me as I trek the Atlas Mountains and Sahara dunes!

Jack shares highs, lows, cathedral visits, lessons from fellow pilgrims, and plans for Turkey, Iraq, and Morocco while cruising buses and walking the Camino de Santiago.

Coming home after long-term travel isn’t always joyful, leaving again not always exhilarating. Jack explores the hard truths, shifting ties, and bittersweet pull of life on the move.

Jack provides an update from the Spanish frontier town of Castrojeriz while reflecting on the impact of over-tourism. He also issues a call to join him on future excursions.