Uphill idealist

First Lutheran Church of Jamestown to host Bestselling Author Donald Miller Kicks Off 65-City Tour: September 16 to Launch His Highly Anticipated New Book: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years Donald Miller , author of the New York Times bestseller Blue Like Jazz, takes to the road this fall, visiting 65 cities by tour bus to launch his eagerly-awaited new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life (Thomas Nelson, $19.99 hardcover, October 2009). Though in great demand as a speaker, Miller usually does just a few talks each year. “Donald Miller On Tour: An Evening with Donald Miller” will give his legion of fans, who turned Blue Like Jazz into a contemporary spiritual classic that has sold more than one million copies, the opportunity to see him live as he logs thousands, if not quite a million, miles. Miller, who lives in Portland, OR, will spend about two months on the road. He’ll kick the tour off in the Pacific Northwest, with an event in Victor...

When I was about six years old, I used to go outside and swing on my swing set and sing the song below at the top of my lungs, that and some John Denver tune that I can't recall at the moment. It was such fun to belt this one out in the freedom of childhood and the great outdoors. If you are having a good day, I encourage you to take a moment, go outside and sing this at loud as possible. If you are having a bad day - you don't have a choice; go sing it NOW! Have a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day! Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay My, oh my what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine heading my way Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay Mister Bluebird on my shoulder It's the truth, it's actch'll Ev'rything is satisfactch'll Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!

No matter what. No matter what may come, I will not let you go. This love is for you, no matter what you do. It does not depend on who you are or who you know. No matter what. No matter what may come, I will not let you go. No Matter What by Tangled Blue . To contact Joel or Aimee for more information on their band Tangled Blue click here.

Inhale Exhale Connect and Release. Connections that teach me how to live are the ones that I keep. Most connected is the "Wow" moment when I realise that the people that try to confine me are really the helpless captives in disguise. Isolation and division break the foundations of a plan. Purpose, excitement, encouragement and vision help me to stay focused and stand- when others refuse to see the connections before them they miss the Promised Land. Inhale Exhale Connect and Release. Connections that teach me how to live are the ones that I keep. Copyright T.L. Eastman 2007 This poem was originally posted at Greetings from Experiment House , a old shared blog of Ian and myself.

Freedom image found at Flicker. Freedom is an interesting concept. There are many categories in life in which people seek or are seeking freedom. Speech, religion, press, thought, assembly, association and choice are the immediate freedoms that come to my mind. I suppose it's obvious to say that that my freedom pondering presently has been in the area of my thinking. In much of my reading this week in my Sacred Space devotion, freedom was the focus of the week. Much of it's emphasis was in the freedom to be oneself and to think upon how God delights in the creation of each and every person. Some of the thoughts of freedom led to a common ground of unity and love. All these connecting statements got me thinking. Can freedom truly be experienced without a foundation for living based on love and unity? Recently, I've had days that cause me to spend (probably) too much time pondering the dark corners of my own mind. I found in this last week that my struggle with freedom had m...

Mr. Linky is a new friend I'd love for you to say "Hello" to. He's a hard working and helpful friend to help keep all of us blogging buddies better connected. If you would like Mr. Linky to be your buddy too, just go visit him here. Today I'm helping host post at the Sleeping with Bread blog that I share with Mary Lue and many Monday bread bakers. (Blogging bread that is.) Stop on by and join in the blogging bake sale!