Book Review: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

It’s not very often I pick up a book and read from cover to cover in one sitting.  This time I did.  All 255 pages of it. ok…I guess I did stop to make myself some ramen noodle soup, but other than that I was completely overwhelmed by Donald Miller’s new book.

The truth is that I have a copy of his older book, Blue Like Jazz, but have never finished it.  It wasn’t that it wasn’t good, it just didn’t overwhelmed me to finish it.   I think I’m going to back and finish reading that book too.

I guess it wouldn’t be too much to say that Donald Miller is probably one of the best story tellers I’ve come across in a while.  I haven’t been this mesmerized by an authors ability to pain pictures with words since I read Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows as a child.  Why?  Simply put, he tells a good story.

In the opening of his book, Donald writes this:

“…if what we choose to do with our lives doesn’t make a story meaningful, it won’t make a life meaningful either.”

This book basically is set on explaining this principle.  From sharing stories of how he when through the painstaking process of rewriting his life for a movie, to falling for a girl with a cute nose during a grueling trek through the mountains to Machu Picchu, he somehow inspires you to live for something more.  And subtly yet profoundly her establishes that this is best understood in living the life of biblical faith.

So what would I say about this book?  Probably what Max Lucado said when asked to submit a review of the book… “I already want to re-read this book.”

Converations // The Leadership Summit

No doubt that there are many champions of truth, but where are the champions of fruit? Too often those who desire a great work of God are too busy playing the critic instead of playing the farmer.

If there was a word that I would use to describe the focus of the Leadership Summit that I just attended, it would be the word “FRUIT.”  I was challenged extensively to be a leader who bears fruit…but not just any fruit – the fruit of Christ!

I admit, that I walked into the leadership summit a little skeptical.  My reasons are many, but they mostly stem from the influences of my time spent in the early years of my ministry which were heavily influenced by Calvary Chapel and Reformed Theology.

But after leaving the conference, I found myself invigorated to serving Christ by being a leader in my local fellowship.  I was urged to be a leader in my public as well as private life.  I was challenged to be a believer who was more like the prodigal son and less like the elder brother.

There is so much to write about what I experienced, but I have decided to just post my twitter updates of the two day leadership summit.  If you want more notes from the conference, you can go here.

1. As a leader u must continually reflect on the possibility you may be wrong #tls092:32 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
2. Conventional wisdom can actually b the comfortable thing 2 do & the comfortable thing is often the wrong thing 2 do – Tony B. #tls092:30 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
3. Next up…Tony Blair #tls092:22 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
4. wow! bill hybels just told ppl not to give for the special offering if they are not faithful in giving the tithe to their local church #tls01:47 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
5. What I feel hard to take is lifeless ceremony is what I find in most churches-Bono #tls09 // ouch!1:32 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
6. Bill hybel has got bono in the hot seat…lol! #tls091:30 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
7. http://twitpic.com/d2gvp – Ladies and gentleman…Bono. #tls091:11 PM Aug 7th from TwitPic
8. Getting ready to hear Bono #tls091:08 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
9. We often look at people as problems and not their situations – this is wrong. #tls0912:46 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
10. In a weird way, failure can be an early warning of success. #tls0912:45 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
11. The saying “there is no room for failure” is dumb. In times of change failure is a necessity #tls0912:43 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
12. Scratch that last tweet. Big problems are solved with small solutions…period! #tls0912:33 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
13. Approach big problems w/ small solutions over time. #tls0912:30 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
14. Effective change starts with looking at what God is blessing and working on that, not concentrating on what isn’t #tls0912:29 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
15. Chip and Dan Heath are up next. I read “Made to Stick” and am excited to hear them #tls0912:14 PM Aug 7th from twidroid
16. Here we go again…let’s see what God would want to smack me in the face with! #tls0912:06 PM Aug 7th from TweetDeck
17. @thatangiegirl learning leadership from David Gergen. Iff u don’t know who he is google him and read his resume. Very qualified10:41 AM Aug 7th from twidroid in reply to thatangiegirl
18. Eest leaders have regular habits 1)self discipline 2)physical fitness 3)building time in your day to reflect & be w/ ppl u cherish #tls0910:38 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
19. It’s obvious Gergen dodged really answering Bill’s last question…lol. #tls0910:35 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
20. If u want to change the world be the change in the world. #tls0910:34 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
21. Getting a wonderful “worldview.” #tls0910:33 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
22. Leadership does not have to be lonely. The day of the lone ranger is gone. The best leaders build a team of leaders. #tls0910:16 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
23. Maturity is coming to grips with your flaws #tls0910:07 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
24. Having a really INTERESTING time learning about leadership from this session. #tls0910:02 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
25. Regan…had a contagious optimism about life – Gergen #tls099:57 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
26. Someone who can look farther back can see farther forward. #tls099:54 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
27. We often confuse motion for progress – gergen #tls099:49 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
28. Next up…David Gergen in an interview format. #tls099:40 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
29. To forgive does not meant u forget, but u will never forget what u don’t forgive #tls098:36 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
30. To forgive does not meant u forget, but u will never forget what u don’t forgive8:35 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
31. Forgiveness is giving up the right to revenge #tls098:34 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
32. Sometimes forgiveness means, ” I forgive u now get out of my heart & mind – get out of my life!” #tls098:33 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
33. Listening to Wes Stafford speak about pain. tls#098:06 AM Aug 7th from twidroid
34. What if our “being” was not determined by our “doings,” but our “doings” were a direct result of our “being?” Just a thought this morning.4:58 AM Aug 7th from TwitterFox
35. Good morning!4:05 AM Aug 7th from Twitterrific
36. Good night!8:47 PM Aug 6th from web
37. Great day at the Leadership Summit. I’ll post notes on the blog soon! #TLS095:39 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
38. We r not to staff more people to do ministry we r to staff more staff to equip people to DO ministry. #tls092:42 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
39. Harvey is bringing it! #tls092:39 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
40. Excited about the GLO bible I just got but it only works on windows…Sad=( Isn’t it 2009? #tls092:29 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
41. Btw…I feel like such a tech nerd sitting next to @chadcapp here @leadersummit #tls092:24 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
42. This conference seems to point to the idea that collective and cooperative leadership is key to influence for REAL change. #tls092:17 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
43. You’re assuming herding cats is a bad thing. – Jackley // LOL! #tls092:10 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
44. If you believe in co creation you have to give up some control -jakley #tls092:08 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
45. I pray one day I help my daughter become a leader like Jessica Jackley’s father did. Such a great story! #tls091:55 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
46. I pray one day I hel my daughter become a leader like Jessica Jackley’s father did. Such a great story! #tls091:55 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
47. Dear anyone who might get the wrong idea, I am tweeting conference points, not personal statements directed towards anyone or organization=)1:28 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
48. The main thing separating you from God is your damnable good works #tls0912:52 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
49. Repentance must be a repentance for the reason of your right doings #tls0912:51 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
50. Tim Keller is bringing the word beautifully in what I will call “hidden expositional message” #tls0912:37 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
51. Ok…I am a new fan of Josh Wilson #tls0912:11 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
52. Ok…I am a new fan of Josh Wilson #tls0012:07 PM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
53. listening to hamel I am realizing that I have bought into “old” models of leadership that are no longer relevant or biblical. #tls0910:34 AM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
54. Church has become a weekly convocation for the converted and the comfortable -hamel #tls0910:00 AM Aug 6th from TweetDeck
55. The kindest kind of mngmntis the truth. Sadly in christian culture we twist it and say the kindest form of mgmnt is avoidance. #tls099:47 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
56. I am watching the video drama on a bad example of firings and am having flashbacks #tls099:40 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
57. Next up…firing staff members #tls099:36 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
58. Dear Calvary Chapel pastors, u need a board. No excuses. #tls099:35 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
59. Next up…managing board problems #tls099:22 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
60. Session 2 is going to b interesting. Hiring, firing, & board meltdowns #tls099:17 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
61. “The pace at which I am doing the work of God is destroying the work of God in me” Bill H. 20yrs ago #TLS098:30 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
62. “The pace at which I am doing the work of God is destroying the work of God in me” Bill H. 20yrs ago #TSL098:25 AM Aug 6th from Twitterrific
63. “There is nothing like the local church when the loocal church is working right!” #tls09

Chick-Fil-A and Culver’s

In two weeks I leave the wonderful state of Florida to be part of the “Frozen Chosen!”  I had a friend of mine on facebook talking about fried cheese curds and it got me thinking about food (which isn’t a hard thing).

So I thought to myself, “What am I going to miss about Florida, and what am I looking forward to in MN?”  The next few posts will be dedicated to what I will miss about Florida and what I’l look forward to in MN.

What I’ll miss:  Chick-Fil-A

I will miss your sweet tea, Chick-Fil-A

I will miss your perfectly fried Chicken with no pickle and loads of ketchup and mayo.

I will miss the waffle fries and the nuggets I steal borrow from my daughter’s stash while mom isn’t looking.

I will miss sharing the 0.99 soft serve ice cream with my wife.

What I look forward to: Culver’s

I look forward to your original root beer, Culver’s

I look forward to your equally unhealthy butter burgers that drip of grease and butter goodness.

I look forward to eating fries and substituting fries for fried cheese curds because I have already given into the fact I won’t be eating “healthy” here.

I look forward to sharing a cup of frozen custard goodness with my wife again and my children who only think custard comes in a donut.

When it Hurts to Grow Up

Yesterday I officially became a family man.  While it’s not as cool The Griswold’s station wagon, it does have a luggage roof rack!  Yes…

We bought a minivan.

After the birth of our second child, it became very apparent to us that sooner or later we were going to need more than a Mazda Protoge to haul our kids around.  So after much saving and strategic planning, we found ourselves in the position to buy a minivan – with cash!

Dave Ramsey says that paying with cash as opposed to paying with credit or financing actually causes pain.  He is totally right.  When we drove away in our  minivan, I literally felt pain.  It was the most money I have ever spent at one time.

But the price we paid with all the purposeful planning that was put into it made what was “painful” to do, a rewarding thing as well.  Why?

I could give you all the financial reasons why it’s better to buy with cash than with financing or credit.  Not because I am a financial guru, but because my personal experience with credit proves that I am an expert on the negatives.  I KNOW how NOT to manage your money.

Back to what I was saying…what we did and how we did it (purchasing a minivan) was extremely rewarding because I came to an epiphany on the way home.  And what was that?

Maturity hurts.

Why?  Because we are, by nature, beings that love familiarity. We love keeping things the way they are.  We don’t like to have our boats rocked. Growing up means rocking the boat.  It means confronting the lies which tell us we are ok and realizing that we need to grow.

In college, I was very EXTREMELY immature. (I know…my wife would banter back, “WAS?”)  I honestly didn’t see it…or at least I was unwilling to recognize it and admit it.  That was until one day, a professor of mine who I had built a good relationship with pulled me into their office.  This professor was leaving and it was their last day at the university I was attending.  So I could tell that what this person was pulling me into their office to tell me was important.  So what happened?

My professor placed me in front of the mirror and said,

“Phillip.  I want you to look at yourself and say, ‘I am immature.’ ”

At first I was, “You’re crazy!” but I complied and said it.  Then my professor again said with even more resolve, “No…I really want you to look at yourself and say ‘I am immature’ “.

I got it.  And it hurt.

I wish I could say that I totally became the most mature person in the world – but I was far from that…still am.  But I am grateful for all the people who cared about me and confronted me on my “areas of improvement” as well as the many life situations which have stretched me into becoming the man I am today.  After all, no one I personally know and admire has become what they are by being a Toys-R-Us kid!

So bring on the pain!
(I just wished I could have gotten wood paneling!)