The Day I almost met Don Miller

I picture Don Miller as a bearded vagabond smoking a pipe in Portland.   Fact is, he is nowhere near that anymore.   He lives in Nashville, he has gotten his stuff together and is running a pretty successful business called story line.  This focuses on conferences and writings and helping people. and a whole lot more I have no idea about.   http://storylineblog.com/  Blue like jazz was published in 2003.   I read it near-after. I'm sure I got it at the beloved Christian book store  Before marriage, before college degree, before children, before the understanding that I have now to live as a nonreligious Christian.  It was game changing.   Mild altering, it was the book I needed to read exactly that time.  It re-sparked a journey of faith where I was ok to say no and it was not evil or back-slidden to question God.   FFWD  13 years.    Still having read much don miller, a part of the now defunct Don miller fans, and his popularity has grown. In the old days I'd ask a brother, do you know don miller?  Don Who? and on....So me and Don have a history.  
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In good old sav they were having a book festival.  And low and behold the 1st advert said Donald Miller.  No book name, just his name.  I leaped inside my skin, I envisioned me and him smoking a pipe or getting a coffee at the foundry, or talking about the obscurity of 100 churches in 10 blocks in SAV..   The day came closer and I was rearing to go.  I had to work,  (DOPE)  i was bumed out, But was planning to see another author.   When looking further at the line up It said donald L miller (Donald L. Miller is a prominent biographer and historian.)   WTF.... Who the hell is Donald L miller I hollerd..   No offence to DLM.  But I was looking for my DM.    So the moment passed, and I didn't get to meet Don.  I still haven't met Don.  But my idea of Don is likely more pixilated than the real him.  He's grown up, married, and a business man as far as I can tell.   IDK.  One day in a moment of fandom I will travel to Nashville and search for DM.   Maybe I can write an post called Searching for Don miller.  
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Do we have an altered idea of Jesus?  Are we a fan of the idea of christ while the actuality of the savior is far from what we see him as?  I think so.  We like to brush over the passive jesus, but like the jesus with the whip, or we like the healing jesus but not the scolding jesus.   I know I do.  Sometimes when we are looking to meet Christ the "soft whisper" passes us by because we were looking for the rumble.  Maybe my DM has passed me by.  Who knows... One day we will met and might even get to discuss Townes or coffee or pipes or texas...

You are Living~live the life

I think, maybe Jesus had this in mind when he said.  I have come so that you may live life and live it more abundantly.   (john:10-10).  The notion of living life struck me hard during the Eucharist and worship this weekend.   A simple prayer was said.  Lord thank you for life, and letting me live and enjoy it.   This weekend was fun, watching E run up and down the street ~trick or treating.  Having to tell her the "rules" as a good dad would,   "back up, don't go inside, say trick or treat, say thank you." She loves life and loves to live it. She will say these things that  turn your heart into mush, such as " i love you or I had a super time with you, or you're my favorite".   She teaches me daily how awesome this world is.  I don't think she has any negative / depression like tendencies.  She talks to her self, sings songs, plays.  She inspires me to be less stressed and let loose.     Afterwards the kids went to bed and the adults chatted and laughed and told stories etc etc.   Sunday morning came early but off to church we wen't.   And then it hit me. This is life, its busy and stressful, its funny and there are lots of ups and down, but I love life and my My eternal optimist side continues.....I am an optimist because I realize this is not the end its only a chapter.   There is a new city to come, where the Lord will be with his people.   But meanwhile God has given us great things.  Good food, family drinks, TV, Netflix, children laughing, playtime, work, money.  There is work to be done, there is change to be needed, but in due time. and If we don't get what we want we will get what we need.   All things come from him above.   So yes I am living, and I am trying my best to Live the life  ~peace  JM.

Biblical Marriage or a modern day springer.

The wives of David of Israel. 
The Story is in first Samuel. Merab and Michal.. Merab was king sauls eldest and was promised to David for fighting and killing the philistines. But then Saul reneged and said he couldn't have her anymore. Then Saul gave him Michal. This is pretty much agreed upon as a being a political marriage for power. Abigail: when Nabal (her husband) died David thanked the lord for his death and went and took his wife. . AHINOAM: Many people agree that this was sauls wife and david took her and married her while saul was still alive. Then we have Bathsheba who was seduced and David murdered her husband. 

Is this a biblical marriage? 

What do we do with this story? 

Is this totally messed up? 

Yes 

Its more complex. Than the summary above. 

God allowed it, i know this.   But its also a modern day tabloid/ springer episode. Im not sure exactly what to do with it. There are plenty examples in the Bible that go against our western view of "biblical marriage". I think its important to look at the thread and story of the bible. 
David did not worship any God but YHWH. Thats what I try to do. That is where we should start. Peace JM.

To the Left of Jesus

I don't really care if you are left or right, red or blue. It seems those who put themselves in the red camp, like to say way tooo much online how everyone else is liberal and leading Jesus to hell.  Look at Charisma Magazine.  its full of that nonsense.  Just so we are clear on a few things here is social living 1010 according to jesus.   I'm with jesus.  If that makes me liberal, so be it.

Peacemaking, not War Making: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [Matthew 5:9]  
Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. [Matthew 5:39]  I say unto 
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully 
use you, and persecute you; [Matthew 5:44]

The Death Penalty: Thou shalt not kill [Matthew 5:21]Crime and Punishment: If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her. [John 8:7]  Do not judge, 
lest you too be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be 
measured to you. [Matthew 7:1 & 2.]  

Justice: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  [Matthew 5:6] Blessed are 
the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy [Matthew 5:7]  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father 
forgive your trespasses.  [Matthew 6:15]

Corporate Greed and the Religion of Wealth: In the temple courts [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves and 
other sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep 
and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. [John 2:14 & 15.] Watch out! Be on 
your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. [Luke 12.15.]  
Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 19:23] You cannot serve both 
God and Money. [Matthew 6:24.]

Paying Taxes & Separation of Church & State: Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God 
the things that are God's.  [Matthew 22:21] 

Community:  Love your neighbor as yourself. .[Matthew 22:39]  So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to 
you.[Matthew 7:12.]  If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in 
heaven. [Matthew 19:21] 

Equality & Social Programs: But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be 
blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. [Luke 14:13 &14.] Public Prayer & Displays of Faith: And when thou pray, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray 
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They 
have their reward.  But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father 
which is in secret… [Matthew 6:6 & 7]

Strict Enforcement of Religious Laws: If any of you has a son or a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not 
take hold of it and lift it out?  [Matthew 12:11] The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. [Mark 2:27.]Individuality & Personal Spiritual Experience: Ye are the light of the world. [Matthew 5:14]

CupOfCoffee for Hunter

Can you donate the cost of a cup of coffee to hunter? I know everywhere you turn people are asking for donation. We are bombarded by it. This Young mans story has grabbed my attention and now i'm on hunters team. And now i'm asking. Can you donate? Will you donate? Watch the video and ask yourself that question.

Hunter Medical Fund