Article published October 31, 2009
'Blue Like Jazz' author plans Perrysburg talk
Donald Miller will speak about his new book, 'A Million Miles in a Thousand Years,' Tuesday in CedarCreek Church.
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Donald Miller wrote a book while looking in the mirror with A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (Thomas Nelson, $19.99).
The author, who became a spokesman for a generation of young, disenfranchised, free-thinking Christians with his million-selling 2003 memoir, Blue Like Jazz, bares his soul during another period of life in A Million Miles.
The new memoir looks at his collaboration on a screenplay for Blue Like Jazz with Steve Taylor - the Contemporary Christian music icon known for such satirical tunes as "I Want To Be a Clone" and "Bannerman" - along with Ben Pearson.
As Mr. Miller writes, tongue in cheek, on his blog, "writing a book about writing a movie about a book you once wrote yourself" would qualify as "the ultimate act of narcissism," except he's topping himself by touring the country talking about the book he's written about a movie being made about another book he's written.
The 38-year-old author, who will be in Perrysburg Tuesday night, said in an interview this week that everything in A Million Miles is true except "if it's a really funny line, I probably made it up."
As is his style, Mr. Miller digs deep in his new book, including some stories about trying to track down his father who had abandoned the family when he was a child.The first person he asked to help find his father told Mr. Miller that his dad had been living in Texas but died five years earlier.
"I genuinely grieved the loss of him for a period of time, which was really weird because I never knew him," Mr. Miller said in the interview.
But when his mother heard he was looking to meet his father, she called Mr. Miller with the shocking news that his dad was living in Indiana. The previous report was wrong.
After recovering from the revelation and shifting out of grief mode, Mr. Miller decided to contact his father for the first time in more than 30 years.
"I had to do something I didn't want to do, that's for sure. But it was worth it," he said.
The visit went well and the two remain "lightly" in touch, he said.
Mr. Miller will be in Perrysburg at 7 p.m. Tuesday at CedarCreek Church, 29129 Lime City Rd. Tickets are $15. More information is available from the church, 419-661-8661, or online at itickets.com.Hillsong United movie
Hillsong United, the cutting-edge rock-and-roll worship band from Sydney, will be sharing stories of "hope, love, loss, and sacrifice" in the film I Heart Revolution: We're All in this Together.
The 2 1/2-hour documentary will be shown in theaters one night only, including a screening at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Cinema De Lux Maumee, 1360 Conant St.
The group informs fans that there will be only a "tiny" amount of music in this film, which focuses on the people the band has met and the stories they've heard during two years of traveling across six continents, 42 nations, and 93 cities.
Tickets are $15.From Veggie to Jelly tales
Phil Vischer, creator of the wildly popular VeggieTales, has teamed up with Focus on the Family to offer a series of internet variety shows for children teaching biblical lessons.
Mr. Vischer had built VeggieTales into an entertainment powerhouse for kids in the Christian marketplace, then lost it all in 2003 when he overextended the company and lost a lawsuit - which was later overturned.
He has continued to pursue new ways to teach Gospel messages and stories to children in entertaining ways.
His latest project, backed by the well-established Christian organization Focus on the Family, offers 20-minute programs for children, accessible on the Internet at JellyTelly.com for a monthly subscription.
The cast of puppet, cartoon, and real-life characters includes program host Buck Denver, Dr. Schniffenhousen, Agnes and Winnifred, Quacky the Duck, and Hermie the Caterpillar.VeggieTales holiday DVD
Meanwhile, Big Idea, Inc., the company that produces Veggie-Tales videos, recently released a Christmas DVD, Saint Nicholas - A Story of Joyful Giving.
The video ties in with Samaritan's Purse's annual Operation Christmas Child, which delivers shoe boxes filled with goodies to poor children around the world.
The Christmas video's theme song, "Give This Christmas Away," was written by Matthew West and performed by West and Amy Grant. You can watch the video online at bigidea.com.Chapman to release CD
Christian music superstar Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD, "Beauty Will Rise," will be released Tuesday by Sparrow Records.
The album features 12 songs written in the months following the tragic death of Mr. Chapman's 5-year-old daughter, Maria, who was struck and killed in the family's driveway by a car driven by her 17-year-old brother.
The first single, "Heaven Is the Face," has already been released and has earned critical acclaim and popular success.Chynna Phillips' new duo
Chynna Phillips, formerly of the hit-making trio Wilson Phillips, has found a new musical partner in singer-songwriter Vaughan Penn.
Chynna & Vaughan's debut disc, "One Reason," was released earlier this month by Reunion Records and features a can't-miss combination of sugar-sweet vocals, smooth pop melodies, and a straightforward Gospel message.
Ms. Phillips said she was raised a Christian but "reunited with the Lord" about five years ago, and was waiting for the right opportunity "to sing for his glory."
The title track, "One Reason," reminds people not to get sidetracked by the busy-ness of their lives.
"There's a reason why I'm here and Jesus is my one reason," Ms. Phillips said.Sanctus Real's 'Forgiven'
Toledo's Sanctus Real won't release its fifth studio album until March 9, but the band has given fans a preview of the new CD with the single, "Forgiven."
"The working-out of forgiveness is so key to our growth and maturity as followers of Jesus," Matt Hammitt, Sanctus Real's lead singer, said in a press release. "The very idea that we have been forgiven for so much wrong moves, reforms, transforms, and heals us. As we were framing 'Forgiven' around this concept, we realized that this was such a fundamental aim for all of us - to forgive and be forgiven."Switchfoot set to tour
Switchfoot, the San Diego surfer band that has managed to bridge the Christian and secular markets, will be releasing its seventh studio disc, "Hello Hurricane," Nov. 10, after which the group will embark on a cross-country concert tour. Fans who preorder the new disc at switchfoot.com can get a free song download and four music videos.
There's no Toledo concert on the band's tour schedule thus far, but you can tune them in Nov. 12 on Jimmy Kimmel Live.Video disputes Darwin
The Mysterious Islands is a new documentary filmed in the Galapagos Islands with the stated purpose of stealing some of the thunder from Charles Darwin and the expected wave of publicity surrounding the Nov. 24th anniversary of the publication of his On the Origin of Species.
Created by brothers Jon and Andy Erwin, the 90-minute film makes its goal crystal clear in the cinematically beautiful trailer: "200 years after the birth of Charles Darwin and 150 years after On the Origin of Species, a team will travel back in time to prove him wrong."
The trailer shows scenes of Galopagos animal life including penguins, tortoises, lizards, and crabs as one of the explorers asks, "Is it a laboratory of evolution, or is it a testimony to God's greatness?"
For more on the Erwins' film project, go to themysteriousislands.com.Disc helps abuse victims
Former Toledoan Rich Seng has put together a compilation of 21 songs featuring remakes of well-known hymns sung in Catholic churches.
The purpose of the disc is to benefit victims of priestly sexual abuse. Proceeds will go toward the costs of producing a documentary film examining sexual abuse in the priesthood and in government.
Mr. Seng said he undertook the project because he wanted to do something to raise awareness and help the victims of clerical abuse.
Most of the artists are from Chicago with the notable exception of Toledo's Scott Hunt and the Strat-O-Matics, who contributed "You Are Near."
The disc can be heard in its entirety online at catholicmonarchy.com. It can be purchased for $16, including shipping and handling, from Rich Seng, 1321 North Milwaukee Ave. # 408, Chicago, IL 60622.Kendricks keep mum
What are filmmakers and pastors Alex and Stephen Kendrick going to do to follow up the success of their hit movie Fireproof?
The Albany, Ga., siblings aren't revealing much yet - except that they'll announce the title and story line of their fourth feature film on Nov. 15.
You can be among the first to know by signing up online at theNextSherwoodMovie.com.EWTN going high-def
EWTN Global Catholic Network, which reaches more than 150 million homes in 140 countries, will begin broadcasting in high-definition starting Dec. 8.
"We chose to launch HD in December so we could bring our viewers all the beautiful images of the Christmas season using the most advanced technology," network president and CEO Michael Warsaw said. "We are proud to say that we are the only Catholic television network available in this format."
David Yonke is The Blade's religion editor.
Contact him at:
dyonke@theblade.com
or 419-724-6154.
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