Donald freakin' Miller

Donald freakin' Miller. That's right. I intimated that I have a problem with the man. Sure, its a polite, attention drawing problem, but its a problem nonetheless.

If you have never heard of Don (no, we aren't on a first name basis and have never met, but I am sure he wouldn't mind), you should get to know at least his most (in)famous work, "Blue Like Jazz." He has other books, the titles of which I forget, but that's the one that put him on the map.

Anyway, today I was doing some research (that's what pastors call time surfing the web when they should be doing other things - and, provided the stuff you are looking at is in some way related to Christianity, you CAN call it research and feel good about it) for a message I am trying to get together for Sunday. As I was poking around, I came across a 20 minute video clip of him talking at some convention somewhere. So, since I had worked my way to lunch time, I thought I could listen/ watch and eat my lunch (again, this is pastor language for multi-tasking).

There were a lot of things that were striking about the video. For one thing, since whatever time this was filmed and now Miller has lost a few lbs. Apparently the Christian writer's speaking is not immune to some measures of vanity. Beyond the cosmetic observations however, Miller did have something interesting to say. Most particularly, he talked about stories and the power that they have.

The North American "story" claimed Miller was something like, "Go make lots of money. Use that large amount of money to buy stuff. Gather enough stuff and you will be happy." There were other examples, but that's the one that sticks in my mind.

The observation he made next was simple, but unsettling. The gospel "story" is about God's work in this world to undo all the messy broken stuff - bringing an end to war, famine, injustice, personal pain, insults, gossip, death, etc., etc., etc., More than that, you and I have a role to play in this massive story. In fact, we have a particular piece that God has designed for us to play in this redemptive drama.

As an example, he talked about a friend who was involved in feeding the hungry in the third world. In fact, when this friend was effective, entire communities were fed and prospered. Conversely, if this person "checked out" of the thing God had made them to do, if they died, if they simply gave up there would be a whole, a gap if you willing the work that God wants done.

Have you ever thought about your life and purpose as part of God's dream for this world?

What part of the undoing of this world's brokenness would cease if you died/ gave up?

I just finished this book. If you don't know Pat Lencioni, you might want to pick this book up anyway. More often than not, Lencioni is commenting on organizations, structure, leadership, vision, etc., etc., etc. But, this time he takes aim at something we all have been a part of in some form or another: a family.

I don't want to spoil the book as it is a pretty simple, and easy read. However, in the end, Lencioni says that families ought to view themselves as organizations, and as a result ask themselves a couple of important questions.

First, what makes your family unique? That is to say, what sets your family apart from every other one on the block? What is the unique blend of values, goals, aspirations, etc., that you share as a family unit

Secondly, Lencioni asks people to consider the question: What is our rally cry? Essentially, he is saying that if even for only a short period of time, each family has a goal, a focus, a common set of priorities that ties them all together.

Finally, Lencioni asks people to consider how their own family shares the answers to the first two questions.

In the end, I have to say that I like the book. Do do think that it lends itself to some version of a family unit that exists only in the suburbs of North America. However, that having been said, there are certainly a shwack of families that fit that criteria be they blended, traditional, mixed in some way, same sex, - whatever. In each case, it would seem to me that the questions he poses, at least for this segment of our society are worth thinking about.

So, what is it that makes your family unique? What is the unique constellation of values, goals, shared experiences and objectives that all combine to make the family that you are a part of?