Review: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

Donald Miller‘s Searching For God Knows What was one of the first books I read when I first started my journey of spiritual discovery several years ago. Since then I’ve bought, read, loved, recommended and loaned out every one of his books. So when his newest book finally started to take shape, you can imagine how I’d be scrambling to get my hands on one.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years fits nicely with his other works. It’s another collection of thoughts and stories by Miller as he continues his own journey of spiritual discovery. In this book he takes you through some lessons he learned as he worked with a couple producers in developing a screenplay for his book Blue Like Jazz.

Along the road he learns some valuable lessons on story and how it relates to all of our lives. Just being able to appreciate Millers points of view and style of writing are enough for me to like this book, but this one more than the rest actually has me contemplating my own story, or stories, on an almost daily basis. And for that, it has been an invaluable read.

» Read The First 30 Pages Here

» Listen to Donald Miller Speak On His Million Miles Tour

Filed under: Books, Donald Miller, Reviews

One Book Meme

I got tagged by Jake (Blah Blah).

01. One book that changed your life
The Barbarian Way – Erwin McManus
I saw him give this lesson on DVD first, then I bought the book and read it over a weekend. It felt like it gave me a new lease on life. Very short and powerful.

02. One book that you’ve read more than once
Wild at Heart – John Eldredge
I went through this twice with men’s groups recently, and I’m going to have to read it again soon. It’s just packed with great stuff.

03. One book you’d want on a desert island
Man’s Search For Meaning – Victor Frankl
This book is amazing. And if you’re on a desert island, you’re sure going to want the information contained within. I’ll be reviewing this book very soon.

04. One book that made you laugh
To Own A Dragon – Donald Miller
All of the Don Miller books made me laugh, but this one happened to be the most recent.

05. One book that made you cry
Christmas Jars – Jason Wright
Luckily it was late, and everyone was sleeping. Stupid book had my face all messed up.

06. One book that you wish had been written
From The Mire: The Tom Hawkins Story – Tom Hawkins
This is a #1 best seller if it ever does get written. Maybe the leadership at NewSong will wise up, give him a raise and a 6-month sabbatical to write it.

07. One book that you wish had never been written
If I Did It – OJ Simpson
What a moron.

08. One book you’re currently reading
Just finished Man’s Search For Meaning last night, and looking for another at the moment. The Flames of Rome was supposed to be the next book, but the copy I was going to read is missing. So maybe if I can find one, that will be the book.

09. One book you’ve been meaning to read
A Generous Orthodoxy – Brian McLaren
This book really intrigues me, but I’m trying to steer clear from theology books for awhile. I’m suffering from a bit of fatigue.

10. Now tag five people: Tom Hawkins, Shane Bertou, CEC Worship, Ragamuffin Soul, Mandy Thompson

Filed under: Books, Brian McLaren, Donald Miller, Erwin McManus, Life, Meme, O.J. Simpson, Theology, Victor Frankl

What’s Your Story?

Well, it’s official. The next time D-Mill comes to town I’m making the road trip, regardless of whether or not I have a someone to go with me.

Shane posted the audio of Donald Millers visit to Mars Hill today. You can also download it from the Mars Hill website. Miller basically covered material from the book he has coming out next May called, Let Story Guide You.

Having read all of his other books, I can attest to the fact that Donald is a big fan of story telling, and that it shapes his theology. He talks a lot about movies and how to tell good stories which gives me good reason to believe that the movie he’s working on based on Blue Like Jazz will be something worth watching. And that the new book will be in my library.

Filed under: Books, Donald Miller, Stories

Donald Miller + Mars Hill

One of my favorite authors, Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz and Searching For God Knows What, will be speaking at Mars Hill Bible Church this Sunday. Mars Hill being the church that Rob Bell (speaker on the Nooma series) is the pastor of. They are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

They have three identical gatherings on Sundays — 9am, 11am & 6pm.

I’m pretty sure it’s short notice to get many (if any) to drive up there with me for a morning service, but perhaps we can get a group for the 6pm service.

Anyone interested???

» donaldmillerwords.com
» marshill.org
» nooma.com

Filed under: Donald Miller, Mars Hill Bible Church, Nooma, Rob Bell

Quick Hits

» Blue Like Jazz is Being Made Into a Movie

» Vatican Issues Commandments for Drivers

» Mike Tyson’s Punch Out Throw Back

» Billie Jean is NOT My Lover

» 25 Web Sites to Watch

» Gear for the Worshipper

Filed under: Donald Miller, Mike Tyson, Nintendo, Sack Cloth, Vatican, Web, YouTube

More Than A Formula

If the Gospel of Jesus Christ is just some formula I obey in order to get taken off the naughty list and put on a nice list, then it doesn’t meet the deep need of the human condition, it doesn’t interact with the great desire of my soul, and it has nothing to do with the hidden (or rather, obvious) language we are all speaking. But if it is more, if it is a story about humanity falling away from the community that named it, and an attempt to bring humanity back to that community, and if it is more than a series of ideas, but rather speaks directly into this basic human need we are feeling, then the gospel of Jesus is the most relevant message in the history of mankind.

Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What (45)

Filed under: Donald Miller, Quotes