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While in Texas last week I visited my friend Catherine Rohr at the prison where she runs Prison entrepreneurship Program. Catherine and I met years ago but connected again recently in Austin and she told me a bit more about what she does. Her program works with mostly violent criminals who are in the last years of their sentencing, and who have passed strenuous testing to be accepted into PEP. These are prisoners who were running gangs or small businesses behind bars, whose skill-set can be converted into healthy entrepreneurial outlets. Once accepted, the state of Texas transfers the prisoners to the Cleveland (TX) unit where they enter into a five-month, intensive experience that changes their lives. After going through security, Catherine and I made our way back to the classroom at the prison, a large, divided room that, on one side contains a computer lab and staff cubicles, and on the other an open room that will comfortably seat 100 or so prisoners. As the prisoners streamed in, I was surprised to be greeted by so many of them with hugs. These men did not seem like hardened criminals. They were soft and courteous and even dignified. Not only were they more [...]

  Joshua Dubois (the man in the picture who is not the President) has been doing terrific work in Washington, serving the President as the head of the Faith Based Partnerships Council. Josh and I criss-crossed the country together during the campaign, and I found him to be a delightful and devout follower of Jesus. Recently Josh stood behind the President as he officially made today, May 7th a National Day of Prayer. Congrats, Josh. And thank you President Obama. Here is the official press release from the White House:  THE WHITE HOUSE  Office of the Press Secretary  For Immediate Release May 7, 2009  NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2009  – – – – – – -  BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  A PROCLAMATION  Throughout our Nation’s history, Americans have come together in moments of great challenge and uncertainty to humble themselves in prayer. In 1775, as the Continental Congress began the task of forging a new Nation, colonists were asked to observe a day of quiet humiliation and prayer. Almost a century later, as the flames of the Civil War burned from north to south, President Lincoln and the Congress once again asked the American people [...]

Here’s an interview that recently came out with the United Methodist Church. I spoke with Robin Russell in Dallas a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the time. We pretty much hit on all the things I care about, so I’m reposting it on the blog. Q&A: A conversation with Donald Miller  Robin Russell, May 5, 2009  Donald Miller Donald Miller’s best-selling Blue Like Jazz has drawn a cult-like following among young adults seeking a “nonreligious” take on Christianity. His next book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years(Thomas Nelson), due out in September, chronicles his experience with filmmakers as they edit his life for the screen and tells how storytelling principles apply to our own lives.  Mr. Miller is also the founder of The Mentoring Project (thementoringproject.org), which recruits church mentors for boys growing up without a father. He spoke recently with managing editor Robin Russell at the recent Christian Book Expo in Dallas.  Tell me about your newest project.  Some guys wanted to make a movie out of a memoir that I’d written, and so we started writing the screenplay. And they began to change things in the book—they began to fictionalize my life, which was humiliating. So I realized that [...]

One of my favorite people in this world is my roomate Justin Zoradi. Justin is bunking with me until he and his girl Trisha get married this August. He’s only been in the house for a month or so, but already the place has a better feel just because he is around. Justin and Trisha moved to Portland a couple years ago and started a non-profit called These Numbers Have Faces, a partnership between American micro-investors and students in South Africa. Essentially, anybody willing to invest in a student can provide a college scolarship for about $23 a month. Incredible. Just down the street at Reed, students pay nearly 40k per semester.And yet the life changing affects of a college education mean just as much in South Africa as it does here. Many of the students Justin is working with in SA are the first to attend college. If you think about it, most Americans get some kind of scholarship, you know, either from our parents or from the government or from a program that cuts us a deal. It’s awesome that Justin has provided a means for us to give back to the world in such an efficient way. [...]

Why does story matter? with Donald Miller from Brian Mosley on Vimeo. Here’s another clip from Into the Elements.  I gave this workshop here in Portland about two years ago. It covers all things story. If you’re a writer or speaker, you might find the material helpful. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years will cover similar material, except rather than talking about how to write a good story, I discuss how to actually live a good story.