Donald Miller's Blog, page 134
October 19, 2010
Outlive Your Life
Feel like doing something exciting? Been looking for an inciting incident to jump start a new story?
Last month I picked up Max Lucado's new book Outlive Your Life and read most of it on the same day. It's by far the best book I've read this year. I liked it so much I gave out 500 copies at the conference we held here in Portland. And I've already heard glowing reviews from people who read it on the flight home.
Here's my video review, followed by a little challenge:
Outlive Your Life Video from Donald Miller on Vimeo.
So, feel like hosting a small, interdenominational group in your home to study Max' new book?
Here's are some suggestions on making it happen:
1. Give the study a four-week lifespan. Of course, it can go longer than that, and whoever comes could remain friends for life, but the study itself doesn't need to be permanent. This is will be a fun time to gather with new friends, to learn from each other and get to know each other, and it doesn't have to be more than that.
2. Make a list of folks to invite. Make sure to include people from other denominations. Are you Catholic? Then invite a Baptist. Are you Methodist? Invite your neighbor who goes to that Lutheran church down the street. Set a date, then invite a group over.
3. On the first night, explain that you read Max book and you'd love to be involved in the wider embodiment of the church. If you're idea of church has been defined by the small community you fellowship with, confess this and ask people around the room to share how they ended up in the denomination where they now practice their faith.
4. Break the book up into four sections, and ask everybody to read the first chunk by the next week. As you read through that section, come up with just a few questions that might stimulate conversation. My guess is, though, you will never get to them.
5. On week two, simply ask people what they hi-lighted or underlined. Ask them which portions of the book struck them and why. This question alone may take the entire evening to answer. When the conversation begins to wane, ask somebody in the group if they will close the time in prayer. Then serve desert or something that will make people feel comfortable sticking around.
6. On week three, introduce the idea of "doing something" together to practice faith as a small part of the body of Christ. The group could sponsor a child, or take part in a project the following Saturday. You could have a bake sale together, or if you're all from the same neighborhood, help a neighbor out with some work around their house. Ask people to be thinking of something you guys can do as a small community.
7. On the fourth and final week, agree on something everybody can do together. Make sure to listen to everybody's ideas, and affirm each of them. The project you follow through on will most likely be something that can be accomplished practically, rather than an idea the group "likes best."
8. Follow through on the project. And also follow through on the friendships.
The reason I like the idea of getting people together is that I'm convinced it's the enemy that wants us to be divided. When we get to heaven, I think we will see how similar and, quite honestly, how safe we all were. It's insecurities that often divide us.
This is a huge challenge, but it's also a fun challenge. If it's something that you'd like to do, run with it and come back to this blog and let us know how it goes!
October 18, 2010
Our Last Week to Raise Money for Blue Like Jazz
So it's our last week to raise money for Blue Like Jazz. I wanted to answer some questions about why we are still raising money for the film. If you haven't given to the project, please help us out. And if you've already given, thank you thank you thank you…! You can donate here. And here's a quick update:
Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz Update from Donald Miller on Vimeo.
Blue Like Jazz Update
October 15, 2010
Some of my favorites, Joshua Harris, Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herzig chime in on Blue Like Jazz
I sent out an e-mail blast or two asking for friends to say thanks to you guys, and have been blown away. I don't get tired of watching them. Two of my favorite musicians, Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herzig, along with my old friend, pastor Joshua Harris (absolutely wonderful human being) sent in their quick thanks. And we've still got a few more to come….Thanks again everybody!
Thank You Videos – Take 3 (Save Blue Like Jazz) from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.
Matthew Perryman Jones, Katie Herzig and Joshua Harris thank you for saving Blue Like Jazz.
www.savebluelikejazz.com
The Danger of Projecting an Identity
These are some notes taken from a book I'm working on called The Way of a Disciple:
If there's anything obvious about humanity, it's that people are obsessed with projecting an identity. And it's true in church, only more annoying. I do it and you do it. To claim we don't is to claim the fall of man hasn't affected us.
I don't believe the aim of the devil is to get us to masterbate, as is taught in so many churches, but rather to get us to project a righteous identity. Why would satan want us to project a righteous identity? Because projecting a righteous identity teaches people they will be safe as long as they are righteous which is a lie. They are not safe. Christ is safe and if we are one with Him than we are safe, too. Our own righteousness is nothing.
What this means for us is that God, at heavens gate, is not going to look around to ask your church friends wether or not He should let you in. Religious leadership may want you to believe this, because, for the worse, they want to have control over you, and perhaps for the better though of no help, they want to trick you into being a good person, but either way their agency is false and has no power. If God looks at you and finds Christ, you're fine, no matter what your friends say about you.
I only say this because there isn't anything more smelly in the brain than a person dropping statements about how pious they are in order to gain the approval of his/her Christian community. If the Hindu thinks little statues are Jesus, and the environmentalists think trees are Jesus, then the modern Christian thinks his friends are Jesus. I love my friends but none of them are Jesus. And to sit and listen to a pastor beg his congregation to think he's holy is a sad expression of a false gospel. This is not leadership, this is a kind of reverse idol worship, the leader tricking his congregation into speaking to God on his behalf so God will accept him.
What's sad about projecting an identity is our obsession with the process keeps us from discovering who we really are. We like certain things because we will be approved of if we do, not because something about how we were created responds to them. Who knows who I am, what I like, what moves me, because I have been too busy kissing up to ask myself those questions. Because I am busy projecting an identity, I am less moved by the beauty of a tree than I am by the latest fad of which I can associate my identity. If I were really cool, as we commonly define cool (a projection that we don't care what other people think) I'd go about my day in coaches shorts I bought at Target, socks that don't match, the most comfortable nurses shoes I could afford, and stand in parks laughing at how funny squirrels look when they crack nuts. Now that is freedom, both for our souls and for our family jewels, which are far more comfortable in coaches shorts.
The next time you want to impress your friends with your religious devotion, count it as false religion. And the next time you try to impress God with your worship, count it as heresy. He isn't impressed. If you're grateful for what He's done, thank Him and try to help others. That's all He asks. And even that is not required, or else grace would be conditional.
If you and I could really believe this, I think we'd be free.
P.S. Projecting an identity that you are not projecting an identity is the same trap. A true security in Christ involves no projection at all, just honest living and a grateful heart. And nurses shoes.
October 14, 2010
A Few More Thank You's From Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jena Nardella!
We've a few more Thank you's from world-renowned bloggers Anne Jackson and Michael Hyatt along with our friend Jena Nardella over at BloodWater Mission. We still have $37k to raise before we make history! Join the party here.
Thank You Videos – Take 2 (Save Blue Like Jazz) from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.
Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jenna Nardella thank you for saving Blue Like Jazz
www.savebluelikejazz.com
Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jena Nardella thank you for saving Blue Like Jazz
www.savebluelikejazz.com
Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jenna Nardella thank you for saving Blue Like Jazz
A Few More Thank You's From Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jenna Nardella!
We've a few more Thank you's from world-renowned bloogers Anne Jackson and Michael Hyatt along with our friend Jenna Nardella over at BloodWater Mission. We still have $37k to raise before we make history! Join the party here.
Thank You Videos – Take 2 (Save Blue Like Jazz) from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.
Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jenna Nardella thank you for saving Blue Like Jazz
www.savebluelikejazz.com
Anne Jackson, Michael Hyatt and Jenna Nardella thank you for saving Blue Like Jazz
October 13, 2010
Susan Isaacs, Saying Thanks for Saving Blue Like Jazz
Susan Isaacs, author of the critically acclaimed Angry Conversations with God sends her congrats on Blue Like Jazz getting funded. Thanks again for making this happen, guys. We will be updating this blog throughout the day with kind well-wishes from friends of the film. We are very grateful.
Thank You From Susan Isaacs from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.
To help the movie make history, donate here.
October 12, 2010
Steve Taylor, Director of Blue Like Jazz Says Thanks!
All day tomorrow we will be posting "congrats and thank you" videos from many of our friends who are thankful, like we are, that you are making Blue Like Jazz a historical movie. Steve sent me thirty donors phone numbers today and I loved making the calls. I am sure I'll make thirty more tomorrow. And at that pace, we should be done thanking everybody within a month or so! Anyway, here's the video Steve sent in to say thanks!
Thank You From Steve Taylor from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.
Marshall Allman, Star of Blue Like Jazz, Says Congrats!
Marshall Allman will be playing the part of Don Miller in the movie Blue Like Jazz. Marshall got his break in the movie Hostage with Bruce Willis, then had a recurring role on Prison Break before appearing in a few episodes of Mad Men. Now he has a recurring role on HBO's True Blood. Marshall read the script a couple years ago and called Steve Taylor to tell him to stop looking for his lead character. Steve rolled his eyes until he watched Marshall's body of work. He's an amazing actor, and I'm glad we got him.
Thank You From Marshall Allman from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.
This campaign is making history. If we get over $200k we will be the largest project ever funded on Kickstarter. If you haven't donated, donate today.
How to Guide a Team Through Conflict
Yesterday morning I caught the news story that the minors trapped in a Chilean mine will likely be rescued this week. It has been two months since the accident that trapped the miners more than a mile beneath the earth. They've been living in tight, extremely uncomfortable quarters ever since, while multiple attempts to rescue them have been underway. Families of the trapped men have set up camps around the rescue effort, cooking food that is sent down in small tubes through tiny shafts drilled for supplies.
If everything goes as hopes, the men will be freed this week. A small rescue vessel will be lowered so the men can be freed one at a time. There will no doubt be difficulties, and likely their rescue will take days, perhaps even weeks. And yet according to reports, the men have not been arguing and fighting about who will go first, but rather, who will go last. The news report said the men have bonded in their time together, and a brotherhood has been created amongst the workers.
It reminded me of that age-old truth in narrative, that character is only molded in conflict, and if you want your characters to bond, you have to put them through hell. While it's nice to go on a vacation to rest with friends, likely the people you will bond with most are the people you've experienced mutual hardship.
In narrative, when a protagonist or group of protagonists are overcome by conflict, the result is a tragedy. But when the protagonists overcome the conflict, the result is a comedy.
Few of us are experiencing the kind of conflict the Chilean minors are experiencing, but every family, team or community will encounter trouble. Groups that stay together while under fire will bond, and the result will be better than if the hardship were never to have befallen them.
Here are some keys for a team to survive conflict:
1. Invite God into the conflict. Structured, daily prayer will give people a sense of hope. Bring God into the conflict and trust that He is there with you
2. Commit to having patience. It's going to get tough, and nobody is going to get what they want out of the situation, so settle in and have some patience.
3. Have compassion. Some people register pain more than others, but resentment is an open door for the conflict to win. Don't resent somebody else's pain, even if you suspect they are playing the victim. Give them what they need for much longer than you might need it yourself.
4. Take some time to grieve. If there's conflict, it's likely because somebody, or something (a vision or a desire) has died. Moving on to quickly is not helpful. Give yourself a great deal of time to grieve what has been lost. Giving yourself permission to grieve will stop the voices of condemnation for feeling so weak. Weakness after a loss is part of the healing process, and so it should be associated with strength.
5. Serve one another. If it helps, go to a calendar and find a date a month or even a year out. Commit to serving everybody in need until that date. Of course we should always be servants, but pointing to a date on the calendar breaks up a tough commitment into an actionable step, and will stop you from trying to overly control the situation, a mistake a lot of people make when times get hard.
6. Listen. Listen to everybody involved. Make a list of names if you have to, and make appointments with everybody experiencing the conflict, and simply listen to how they are feeling. Try to formulate their thoughts and repeat it back to them so they know you understand. Share your own feelings with them. Much of the pain involved in a tragedy is the feeling of being alone and not having people in your life that understand. Listening will help people not feel so alone.
7. When the grieving is done, map out a vision and process to rebuild what was lost. Give yourself permission to slowly move forward.
8. When the time is right, write down all God has developed within you because the conflict took place. You'll be amazed at His ability to redeem a tragedy and make something beautiful grow as a monument to the beautiful thing that was lost.
Have you been through a very hard season? What helped you make it through the conflict in your story?
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