[donmillerfans.net]
The Don Miller Fan Site
Don's Flickr
Categories
- Ask Don a Question
- Belmont Foundation
- book news
- Don Answers your ???s
- interviews
- journal entries
- movie news
- of interest
- poll
- reviews
- site news
- speaking
- weblog reviews
Blogroll
- Ankeny Briefcase
- Burnside Writers Blog
- DonaldMillerWords
- Prayers for Blowouts
- The BWC
- The DMF.net Forum
Archives
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
Meta
random notes
Published by bryan | Filed under speaking, weblog reviews
a few random notes from the webosphere…
+ If you’re anywhere near Eastern Mennonite University on Friday night (30NOV07) you can catch a “solo theatrical multimedia performance” by professional actor Jason Hildebrand based on Don’s book Blue Like Jazz. More info here.
+ Blogger Tyler Wittman, on the blog Elect Exiles, recently raised some issues that he had with Blue Like Jazz. While he notes that Don is a “really good author and knows the conventions of writing well”, he states that the phrase “non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality” is “rubbish” and that Don “may not have intended to write a theological tract, but he did.” Tyler also said…
…all across history people have tried to project themselves onto the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So whenever I see someone painting a picture of Jesus that’s reminiscent of themselves, I get really suspicious. This is partly why I had to pass on Donald-Miller-mania…What he’s essentially done is employed enough hip sub-culture knowledge and self-deprecation to convince us that he’s a guy that would make for good conversation. He’s got a really interesting story and he’s eager to know the stories of other people. He’s someone who cares and who is interesting enough to get to know. For Donald Miller, this is Jesus. Again, the mirror.
+ Don spoke at Rob Bell’s church, Mars Hill, on November 11th. The sermon, which was titled “Story”, can be found here.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
To me, and I could be wrong, I don’t see the comparison between Don’s view of Christ and the one held by The Jesus Seminar. Don knows full well who Christ was and is, while The Jesus Seminar is still wondering.
Strangely, Tyler didn’t pick up on Don’s spiritual journey and failed to see why others have similar journeys. Don has never been ‘heretical’, in his writings, and never will.
Please keep the children, that the Belmont Foundation mentors, in your prayers…
November 28th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
guys, thanks for linking to the blog and reading the post. I liked Blue Like Jazz, don’t get me wrong. I think that it’s a good biographical work and I did pick up on some of Don’s spiritual journey. I have some different views on what I think the Bible presents to us as mature Christianity, though. The story leaves too many questions for the reader. If a lapsed Christian or fringe “believer” were to read it, I feel as though it might have the ability to negatively effect them just as much as it could positively effect them. In that respect, it’s hard to recommend to such people. However, I know several people who have been helped by it, so it’s a tough call. Unfortunately, these were things I didn’t bring out in my quick review.
Thanks for reading! God bless.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
THANKS for the links to Elect Exiles and Mars Hill … good stuff at both web sites!
I really appreciate that this web site points to criticims of Don’s work … I count myself as a “fan” … and that sometimes seems dangerous to me … and I certainly want the big-picture of my faith to be bigger than BLJ
What struck me most about the Elect Exiles comments was this … shortly after reading BLJ, I heard a folk song which ended “… you remind me who I am” … and it occured to me that I like what’ve read and heard from Don Miller because it reminds me who I am … and now the EE criticism has me wondering if I’m mistaking that for seeing a Jesus who is “like me” … and I can see how that’s not likely a good thing.
I live in Corvallis … and so know who Marcus Borg is … and what the Jesus Seminar is … and the analogy to what they have done to try to make Jesus be a “mortal liberal with a Ph.D” gives me pause …
November 28th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Don likes it when i put up negative stuff and positive stuff, so i try to put up both from time to time. Just because i post something (whether its positive or negative) doesn’t mean i agree with it, but i like it when people think about more than just one side of an issue…
November 29th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Tyler,
Don’t get me wrong, I understand some of your concerns. If you get the opportunity, please read some of Don’s other works.
In response to “Jesus being like me”, I know Jesus is not like me, but I strive to live by his character, i.e. Galatians 5:22-23. God’s love and grace will always prevail.
Peace be with you…