Took part in a conference call this week with the Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives in D.C. This government organization was started by George W. Bush and has been continued by President Obama. The program is being run by Joshua Dubois, a friend who worked as a liaison to the religious community for Barack Obama when he was a senator. Among other things, the CFBCI hopes to level the playing field by helping faith-based organizations who work with the poor and marginalized get access to federal funding. There are no “faith-based dollars” but the CFBCI will work with organizations to help them understand how federal funding works and how to apply. In addition, the CFBCI has announced their four areas of focus, and I thought you might find them interesting: 1. Work to integrate faith-based organizations in the economic recovery. 2. Promote responsible fatherhood and healthy families. 3. Reduce the need for abortions. 4. Foster inner-religious dialogue between people of different faith backgrounds. I’ll be meeting with the CFBCI about twice a month, when I’m able to sit on on the conference call, and I’ll keep you informed of their progress. It all sounds really good to me and [...]
It seems like the trend is to get really into a band, not because they are talented, but because they are new. And then once everybody likes them, to not like them anymore. I like this trend because associating yourself with something new and cool makes you seem new and cool. But the trick is to stay ahead of the newness and coolness. That’s why I’m completely over “Still Pending” a Portland band that made it big in 2017. I just want to say that now, that I am completely over them. They are trying to do that retro Pearl Jam thing and I’m over it. They don’t have any video’s from the future but here they are in 09. Totally over it. I’m also over Organic food markets, video phones, electric plug-in spaces for electric cars at supermarkets, reading, dog equality, shock-jock pastors, gaymance movies, wind power and professional American soccer. Over it. What are you over?
If you’d like to bring the Million Miles in a Thousand Years tour to your town, please read the following: In September, when A Million Miles in a Thousand Years hits bookstores, I’ll be setting out on a 65-city tour. We are just starting to figure out the route, and have certain cities we have to hit. But if you have a venue, or know of a venue you think would house about 1500 people (think of the churches or schools where you’ve seen lots of concerts) would you let us know? Chafee Management is routing the tour as we speak. Here is an early description of the evening, just so you can pass it along to those who would be housing the event: •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, An Evening with Donald Miller and Friends While turning his New-York-Times bestselling memoir into a screenplay, Donald Miller discovered his life was too boring to be turned into a film, and he decided to do something about it. In An Evening with Donald Miller, you’ll hear a hilarious and yet heartwarming story of one man who decided to edit his life, and as the audience comes along they [...]
When I first started writing I made the mistake of thinking I should be descriptive. I’d envision every scene and describe things, the trees as tall as flag poles, the wind coming across the field like music and all that flowery like this and like that. But in truth, many of the great writers don’t describe much at all. It’s true you’ll read Fitzgerald or Steinbeck and feel like you are in the scene, but when you take a second look at the description, there isn’t a whole lot there. Instead of adjectives, great writers often use verbs. Their characters do, and they are always doing. In this example from Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, a Mother and Father have recently lost a child to crib death, and the doctor has pronounced the child dead. Notice how the paragraph feels descriptive, but is actually more full of verbs than adjectives. “My father shakes his head. Doctor says he’ll have to take her to examine her and Dad signs a paper. My mother begs for another few minutes with her baby but the doctor says he doesn’t have all day. When Dad reaches for Margaret my mother pulls away against the wall. [...]
My assistants son, Riley (approximately 12.5-years old) will be keeping Lucy (approximately 5-months old) while I am away this weekend speaking at a conference, and all next week while I am traveling down south. It’s costing me $20 a day, which isn’t bad when you consider the going rates at a kennel. Still, I am putting together a bit of a to-do list for Riley. Got any suggestions on what I can add to it? Here tis: 1. Daily feeding. 2. Daily walks (1 short and 1 long, total of an hour or so.) 3. Daily massage. Not deep tissue, just light upper back and shoulders and also hind legs. 4. Read her a story at bedtime. Nothing scary, just something about cats falling down or in embarrassing situations. 5. Daily verbal affirmations. (You look nice today, Lucy. We like you better than our dog Roxy, Lucy. We wish Roxy would run away so we could have you, Lucy.) 6. Help Lucy with her homework. Right now I am teaching he to bag her own poo. Anything I am forgetting? Have a great wednesday.
