Of Homelessness and Preaching

#1: So I did my speaking gig on Hunger & Homelessness tonight, and it went okay. Met a couple of really nice folks afterwards, and some kids got some convo credit. After sharing about everything I have learned in my 39+ years, I realized that it was probably good that I never went into campus ministry or teaching college. Don’t know that this is my group to “connect” with. Again, I enjoyed the opportunity, and I got to meet some impressive young folks.

#2: But Jody wins the race for inspirational homelessness lessons tonight. She went to Ralph’s (our local grocery store), and she said that (as usual) there were some solicitors outside the front door. Tonight, it was kids asking for money/food to help the homeless. There was a man walking by, and one of the kids stopped him and asked if he wanted to donate to the homeless. Without missing a beat, he replied, “I am the homeless,” and kept walking. And he was. And the kid didn’t know what to say. Jody thought a good response might have been to actually give him the food they were collecting, but that may have made too much sense.

#3: Anyway, speaking tonight reminded me that I gave up preaching (although I’ve now been asked to preach at our church’s Christmas Eve service – sheesh, can’t get away from preaching!). “Giving up preaching” then reminded me of a YouTube video one of my Facebook friends linked to today.

[Explanation: Church of Christ folks of my generation are very familiar with the singing group, Acappella. What most remember as the original guys are the founder, Keith Lancaster, and mega-bass, Rodney Britt.]

Well, Rodney Britt succeeded me as preacher in Ocean Springs, and the YouTube video was from Keith & Rodney doing a sort of reunion deal in South Africa recently. The sound quality isn’t very good, but you’ll get the drift. My favorite part is the guy dancing in the aisle when Rodney enters and starts singing!!! LOL!!!

Can I Get a Witness?

I got to play the part of a defendant in a “wrongful termination” (in response to threatening a sexual harassment suit) case tonight for my friend, Shane. He said he asked me because nobody could convict me. I think it was because the defendant was seventy years old. Either way, it was fun. And as they say, the jury’s still out.

I’m guessing when the average Joe thinks about law school, he would suspect that we have all these classes where you learn how to put on a trial. Truth be told, Trial Practice is a class, but it is an elective. And lots of people choose not to take it. In fact, lots of students avoid it like the plague. Actually, most lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom.

I sat in on a public interest panel last year that talked about, oddly enough, public interest law. I remember one of the panelists encouraging everyone to take a Trial Practice class whether or not you would ever picture yourself in a courtroom. Her reasoning was along the lines of, “C’mon, you going to survive law school and never learn your way around a courtroom?”

Makes sense to me, but I actually hope to be a trial lawyer.

Tomorrow is my day to register for Spring classes, and I’m planning on taking Trial Practice. It ought to be fun. Plus, if I need a witness, I know I can call on Shane.

Attention All Writers of Country Songs

So I’m in Criminal Procedure class today, and we’re talking about the 4th Amendment’s search & seizure requirements in light of exigent circumstances, and we have this case where poor Chuck & Tera have a falling out and Tera tells a cop named Love that Chuck hid some weed under the sofa, and the issue was whether or not it was okay for the cops to keep Chuck from hanging out in the trailer without police accompaniment while one of the cops went for a search warrant…

But forget all that. It’s just there was a line in the case that I am sure would be inspiration for a beautiful country music song. It came when the cop first arrived on the scene, and it said…

“Love knocked on the trailer door.”

That, my friends, is a #1 song if I ever saw one.

I expect royalties.

Wow, I Have My Very Own Ad!

Check it out HERE. I feel totally important all of a sudden.

I agreed to speak on the undergrad campus during “Hunger & Homelessness Week” a couple of months ago, but I had no idea I would get my very own advertisement. I’d do just about anything for my very own advertisement.

You actually have to pre-register for this puppy, and of the 55-person limit, Jody heard that it is already approaching full capacity. My first reaction is that people are misreading the ad and think that there will be free food and shelter at the event. Then I remembered that it must be the fantastic topic. And it is a fantastic topic: “Christians Taking Action Against Hunger & Homelessness.” I would want to go if anyone else was speaking.

Quite an opportunity, though, the chance to speak to an impressive array of college students about one of the most important topics I can imagine. I have a couple of thoughts bouncing around my head, and I hope I can get them to cooperate and come out in actual words by Thursday evening. Wish me luck.

The Day the Music Died

If you’re up for ten minutes worth of a single song, enjoy the YouTube rendering of Don McLean’s classic, “America Pie,” below.

As for interpreting the crazy lyrics, you’re on your own. There have been some fun attempts on the Internet, so you can amuse yourself with a little Google help to your heart’s content.

As to an “official” interpretation, not going to happen. Other than confirming the Buddy Holly-ness of the song, you aren’t going to get anything out of McLean. Here is what he said: “Sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.”

There you have it.

And here you go.

A Special Touch

Today was another installment of the law school’s Sack Lunch Saturday, and I think that each time we do this I get happier and happier.

We had sixteen folks out to help today, which has become our normal (and amazing) number. A big chunk of them are 1L’s, and they are just awesome.

Today, we had a special guest. Jacob Moore is now three years old, and his mom had a great idea of doing something to serve others in conjunction with his party (Jacob’s dad is a 3L here). Yesterday, they had all the kids in our campus apartment complex out in the courtyard painting the paper sacks we would use today for the Malibu Labor Exchange. All 100 of them. Very cool.

Today, Jacob and Tiffany (aka “mommy”) delivered the sacks to us, stayed and helped stuff them with lunches, and then traveled with Frank & I to the Labor Exchange to hand them out. Even cooler.

Oscar, the man in charge at the Labor Exchange, made a big deal out of Jacob’s artistic accomplishment and asked all the homeless folks to save the sacks after eating their lunches. He didn’t want to throw away such valuable pieces of art.

Before we left, Oscar wanted me to write down a little info about Jacob and what all he had done so they could include it in their newsletter over the holidays. I thought that was neat.

I wonder what the world would be like if, instead of presents, we all celebrated our birthdays by doing things for those in need? Would probably resemble that kind of world Jesus talked about.

The Waves Recede and the Chickens Relax

Had a good time at the Waves’ home opener tonight even though they faded away in double overtime. Always good being with Jody and Hillary on our Friday “family night.” Made even better sitting by (Dean) Tim & Lucy Perrin. Added bonus when Michael John came to the game for the overtimes (he was watching at home on television, and when it got exciting he had to come down!).

There’s a promotion with KFC this year: whenever the Waves score 75+ points in a game, everyone gets a free piece of grilled chicken. Well, it’s a pretty safe bet since our offense isn’t our strong suit. But tonight, in double overtime, I guarantee that some chickens were starting to get nervous.

Still, we lost 67-64.

Dean Perrin estimated at the beginning of the first overtime that it would take three overtimes to get some chicken, but considering we only scored nine points in two overtimes, there’s a good chance it would have took a good four or five.

Looks like we’ll have to buy our own grilled chicken this season.

Networking Can Be Sorta Fun Even Without the Networking

Our Career Development Office hosted a “Torts Networking Event” tonight, and since I’m all about torts, I decided to go.

Turned out that there were seven students who attended and a grand total of one attorney who showed up over an hour late. And she was a civil defense lawyer — also known as “the enemy” to me. Not much in the way of networking.

Oh well. It was fun anyway.

For one, we were at Gladstone’s of Malibu, situated on the Pacific Ocean where Sunset Boulevard ends.

For two, the seafood was tasty.

For three, the tasty seafood was free.

For four, our two CDO ladies–Aymara & Georgia–were fun conversationalists, most of it revolving around the excellent selection of ’80s music in the restaurant (even more, Aymara & Georgia are more my generation than my fellow students!).

For five, I didn’t have to study tonight.

And, as icing on the cake, I got to pick up Hillary from dance class where I got to see her dance a little bit.

So, all in all, not a bad evening for five bucks full of valet parking.

So My Reading List is Short Now’Days

Well. Of course my reading list is long, but it consists of such page-turners as Evidence Under the Rules: Text, Cases, and Problems. Or maybe, American Criminal Procedure: Cases and Commentary. Just to name a couple.

But this year I committed to keeping a non-law school book by my bedside, and overall, I’ve kept my commitment. But it has been slow going. I have finished two books this semester and have recently begun a third. For those of you without a life, I thought I’d share my itty bitty reading list from this semester.

#1: Just Call Me Mike. This is the autobiography of Mike Farrell, aka B.J. Hunnicutt from M*A*S*H. I received this from the man himself at my summer gig with Public Counsel, and he even autographed it for me! It isn’t going to win Autobiography of the Year or anything, but I’d say that (a) M*A*S*H fans would enjoy it, as would (b) any self-respecting liberal. I’m more the latter (though self-respecting is a stretch), so I’d say I enjoyed it. For anyone outside those two groups, however, you should probably wait for the movie.

#2: The Long Snapper by Jeffrey Marx. I submitted a strong hint to the fam that I’d like this book, and Hillary gave it to me for my birthday. I had fallen in love with Marx’s book, Season of Life, a few years back, and since The Long Snapper featured a dude in his late 30s, I thought this would be a perfect match. I found it enjoyable overall. I guess. But it didn’t hold a candle to Season of Life. Anyway, if you are (a) a sports fan, or (b) an evangelical Christian, I think you’d like it. I’m more the former, so I’m glad I gave it a read. Again, anyone outside these two categories shouldn’t bother.

#3: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I’m just getting started here, but I have high expectations. I read Sedaris’s When You Are Engulfed in Flames over last Christmas break, and it was way funny. This one is off to a great start, too. If you (a) are gay, or (b) enjoy hearing a gay person tell hilarious stories, you can’t go wrong with Sedaris. (I’m the latter if anyone is keeping score at home.) If you have the tendency to avoid all things gay, please step away from the bookshelf. However, anyone with a sense of humor ought to enjoy it bunches.

Well, that’s it. A whopping three books on this reading list. Hope you all can keep up.

Way Cool

So here’s the news Hillary shares with us a couple of days ago: her Girls Select Chorus is going to sing backup in a couple of songs for Pat Benatar at a concert in December!!! For a couple of ’80s kids like Jody and I, this is just almost too cool.

Today, Hillary said they found out what songs they’ll be singing. So enjoy a little blast from the past that’s still blasting in the present. Here are YouTube videos of the two songs:

#1: We Belong

#2: We Live For Love