My 2nd Attempt to Get This Book for Free (Even Though I Already Own It Now)

More Don Miller! :)

What story are you telling? from Rhetorik Creative on Vimeo.

A pretty inspiring book! Buy it on AMAZON!

The Drive Thru Difference

Many of us have forgotten about Haiti already. Life for us has moved on. Maybe you donated, maybe you intended to but never got around to it. Perhaps the images and news stories struck your heart, but you never moved to action. Or maybe you did, and you've satisfied the emotion you felt a month ago.

For me, there have been a couple factors that have played into my life. One was definitely the earthquake. Over the years, I've seen tragedy, and felt sadness for people, and had a desire to do things to help. Unfortunately, even if I did react immediately, the experience didn't continue in my life. I soon forgot about the needs of other people and carried on, making myself happy, searching for satisfaction, and complaining when life didn't come to me the way I wished it would.

So when Haiti hit I, again, was moved to give. But this time, I don't want to stop giving. I'm not saying I am going to continue to send money to Haiti or to the Red Cross. I just mean, I want to be a giving person. I have been given so much. And as reminded by preachers like Mark Driscoll and Frances Chan---I'm rich! Why do I keep it all for myself?

A few people who have impacted me:

1. Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand years has continuously challenged me to live a life worth telling about.

2. Mark Driscoll - You can have your opinion about the man, but he does have some great things to say. I was especially moved when he replayed the story (it was audio/video) of a person in Haiti who suffered for a week with injuries to the face because the family could not afford a taxi to the hospital. When he asked how much it would cost to get the family member to the hospital, the man replied, "Um, uhh.. .one,, uh, fifteen dollars." My heart broke, and tears fell.

I sit around deciding if I should renew my phone today since I can. Should I buy a new computer since mine is kind of slow? Man, I'd really like a flat panel tv because my big monstrous one is hard to move around. And here, in the same world I live, someone is suffering because the family doesn't have fifteen dollars!

3. Frances Chan - In his book, Crazy Love, (I think it was in the book) he said his family sold their larger home for a smaller home so they could give more. Wow. That hit me. I rent a room, and often feel unfulfilled because I don't have my OWN place. I feel lesser in society because I don't have the financial success that would allow me to get my very own home or even apartment.

But Chan challenged me --- I thought, wow, I have financial freedom because of my situation, but I use it all for me. God has given me this gift of renting a room so that I might be able to give to others.

So, I'm trying to be less self-centered with my money, and concentrate on the fact that I can be used of God to bless others with my money. It's not easy, but it's rewarding when it's accomplished. I feel purpose and fulfilled more than I would if I bought myself that SLR camera or a new car.

Interestingly, as you've probably heard in sermon after sermon about giving, I'm amazed at how much I've been able to get that I want, and still be giving more than I thought I could give. Maybe my mind is transforming so that I want less. I'm not sure. I just know I'm thankful for what I have, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to give.

So, my challenge to my friends, to my readers, is to give. The local Christian radio station would be a 4th challenge to me, and I want to pass it on to all of you. 91.9, WGTS, is promoting "The Drive Thru Difference." This is a simple way to give. You just buy your meal, and then pay for the person's behind you. I promise you, your heart will be rewarded in giving.

There is a print-out on the link, but I suggest you write your own note, just sharing your desire to give. Linking them to 91.9 will give them the opportunity to hear more about the God who gave His Son for us, so feel free to include that information.

I hope you are challenged, and I hope you take this challenge

Writing My Own Story

I'm reading Donald Miller's newest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. In a nutshell, a couple guys asked him to make his Blue Like Jazz memoir into a movie, and as they fictionalized his character, he made some fascinating connections between a story and reality.

I find myself thinking Don Miller is full of crap. I mean, he writes about his faults, but then accomplishes these amazing things like riding a bike across the country to raise money for wells in Africa, losing a lot of weight, writing amazing books. So then I get frustrated because I feel like his image of himself is so inaccurate.

When I was reading Blue Like Jazz, I felt a pretty amazing connection to Don Miller because we shared so much in common in the realm of insecurities. It was refreshing to see a successful 30 something confess the lacking he felt. But now that he's gone and made something of himself, I can't compare anymore!

As I'm reading, I find myself thinking, "This is all really good, but it's so idealistic. I want to make steps to better myself and my life, and to have purpose, but I don't have what it takes." Similar thoughts were constantly running through my head, and then I read this:

"Perhaps one of the reasons I've avoided having a clear ambition is that second you stand up and point toward a horizon, you realize how much there is to lose. It's always been this way."
(Chapter 18)

And then I'm back to feeling like Don and I really are quite alike. And deep down, I'd like to think we're alike in that I do have a lot to offer. Maybe.

But I can't write my own story if I don't have a plan. And there won't be any great victory if there aren't hurdles to jump. So what can I do? How can I make my life worth reading? I'm not quite sure yet, but I've got a couple small things in mind to start.

First of all, I'm going to do my reading goal again. You can't go wrong with reading. I want to read 12 books this year. Somehow, reading makes life meaningful. I'm not sure how, but it does. It must.

Second, well, this one I'm still on the fence about. I want to get healthy. I don't want to say that here because it's just something I'm going to look back on in a few days, a few weeks, even months, and realize, I've failed. again. But I'm putting it out here anyway because it's a desire.

Third, I want to have an impact in people's lives, and other than teaching, I don't really know how to do that. So I have a mini-plan, but I'm not sure how it's going to work. This is where I need help (Truthfully, I need help in many areas, but this isn't the time for all that). I need suggestions/ideas on ways I can help people. My goal is to do SOMETHING for someone once a week. I know that sounds ridiculously simple, but I'm a pretty selfish person, and I don't feel like I give much of myself to others in any way. So, that's my plan.

To start, I've signed up on www.kiva.org as a lender. This is kind of impersonal, but it's a step. Go to kiva.org to read about these low income entrepreneurs, and how you, too, can help them be self sufficient!

I'm scared. I'm frightened. I fear the failure that is to follow. But what's a story without a conflict?

09-09-09 - A Day I'll Remember For Quite Some Time

Near the end of the school day, I noticed on Twitter that Don Miller was in D.C. for a meeting of some kind. Don Miller is my favorite author. After reading all of his books, I felt like I knew him, and I'm sure if we ever met, we'd be friends. I also heard him speak in Virginia a few years ago, and there is something magnetic about his personality. You just want to know him.

Anyway, he had been hiding manuscripts to his new book all over the United States. He'd tell you the location on Twitter, and the first person to find the manuscript would also find a cell number so you could call Don Miller himself.

Today, around 3ish, he announced there'd be one more manuscript in front of a prominent house in D.C. at 5:30. I've never driven in D.C. let alone during the rush hour. Also, I was feeling miserably sick and wanted to go home and right to bed. As I drove home down Route 4, I thought, ya know, this road turns into Pennsylvania Avenue. I could just go. Why not? Worst case scenario: I get lost and don't get the manuscript. Best case: I get the manuscript and talk to Don Miller on the phone. So I went.

My GPS kept turning me in circles in D.C. and I had no idea where I was. Traffic was horrible, and it was nearing 5:30. I tweeted that I was going to head home. I tried and failed, and it was a dream lost. Kassel replied that it was only 5:20 and I shouldn't give up. At that moment, I saw the old house that is my personal landmark to let me know the White House is near. I pulled into a parking garage as soon as I saw one.

Meanwhile, Don Miller sent another tweet that said, "I'm here, with the manuscript and some runner up prizes. Would love to meet you." WHAT??!! HE IS THERE??!! HERE?!! aaahh! So, I RUN toward the White House, only to realize I'm in the BACK of the White House. It was 5:35 at this point, and there's no way I'd make it around to the front. But just as disappointment was about to take over, I saw him! He was facing away from me, talking to a guy ... who was holding the manuscript. I knew it was Don from the back by his legs. He's knock kneed like I am. :)

I interrupted their conversation, introduced myself to Don Miller, and AHHH! I'd met him! We took pictures; he took one with his iPhone. I took one with my phone. We chatted for a few minutes, and that was that. He took my address and is going to send me a hardback copy of his book since I didn't get the manuscript.

Man, I'm so glad I went. Some of you have no idea the impact his books have had on my life. I wish now that I'd mentioned that to him. He has been helpful and inspirational to me, and now I've met him.

What a great belated birthday present.

Don Miller

His benediction prayer at the DNC (he's an author I really like)