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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I liked this better than Blue Like Jazz. I put it down half-way through and wasn't eager to pick it back up, but when I did I was pleasantly surprised with how much I really like it. I feel like he can be full of himself... but he recognizes that. He has some great ideas (lifeboat analogy) and he hits on a lot of truth.
He says, "it often seems what we really want is for people who are not Christians to think we are valid, or Christianity is valid, rather than showing them Jesus..." (p.207). This is too true. He goes on to talk about the beautiful people on Christian CD covers. It reminds me of the line on facebook that asks for religious views-- people have many answers that allude to "Christian," but also distance themselves from that label-- 'Christ follower" etc. I understand why we avoid a label because it comes with so much baggage, but you could say the same about your family and last name. I think it dis unifies a body of believers when we are always trying to stand out... Not sure, I have to think about this a little more.
He says, "it often seems what we really want is for people who are not Christians to think we are valid, or Christianity is valid, rather than showing them Jesus..." (p.207). This is too true. He goes on to talk about the beautiful people on Christian CD covers. It reminds me of the line on facebook that asks for religious views-- people have many answers that allude to "Christian," but also distance themselves from that label-- 'Christ follower" etc. I understand why we avoid a label because it comes with so much baggage, but you could say the same about your family and last name. I think it dis unifies a body of believers when we are always trying to stand out... Not sure, I have to think about this a little more.
What I Liked
Donald Miller has a candor about his writing that is extremely compelling. This is what drew me into Blue Like Jazz and he keeps this style throughout everything I've read of his. The brutal honesty of Miller captures so many of my own doubts and frustrations and revelations. He makes some excellent points in this book.
What I Didn't Like
I know one of the main points of this book was that Donald Miller didn't want to write a formulaic self-help book. I get that. His reasoning makes sense. However, this book doesn't really have structure at all. Miller writes in tangled reflections about his childhood and adulthood, as well as discussions about life boats and circuses and Santa Claus, and I found myself struggling to keep from skipping to the point of each long tangent.
No, this isn't a formulaic self-help book. There also isn't much of a point to it at all. Blue Like Jazz was hugely effective in capturing my experiences as a young adult seeking Christ, but Searching for God Knows What is a pretty accurate title. I found myself ending each chapter thinking, "What is he trying to say here?" While there were definitely a few scattered points that left me floored, and while I loved the explanation of the Gospel at the end, I'm still not sure why Miller wrote the book. What was he ultimately trying to say? Why does he want anyone to read?
The book becomes a little political for my taste. Even though I agree with a majority of Miller's statements (so I'm not speaking from the perspective of someone who is resentful and offended), it comes over a little bit like, "Christians are relying way too much on hierarchy and patriotism and the opinions of others and on being 'right'... but if you believe this about politics, you're wrong."
Donald Miller has a candor about his writing that is extremely compelling. This is what drew me into Blue Like Jazz and he keeps this style throughout everything I've read of his. The brutal honesty of Miller captures so many of my own doubts and frustrations and revelations. He makes some excellent points in this book.
What I Didn't Like
I know one of the main points of this book was that Donald Miller didn't want to write a formulaic self-help book. I get that. His reasoning makes sense. However, this book doesn't really have structure at all. Miller writes in tangled reflections about his childhood and adulthood, as well as discussions about life boats and circuses and Santa Claus, and I found myself struggling to keep from skipping to the point of each long tangent.
No, this isn't a formulaic self-help book. There also isn't much of a point to it at all. Blue Like Jazz was hugely effective in capturing my experiences as a young adult seeking Christ, but Searching for God Knows What is a pretty accurate title. I found myself ending each chapter thinking, "What is he trying to say here?" While there were definitely a few scattered points that left me floored, and while I loved the explanation of the Gospel at the end, I'm still not sure why Miller wrote the book. What was he ultimately trying to say? Why does he want anyone to read?
The book becomes a little political for my taste. Even though I agree with a majority of Miller's statements (so I'm not speaking from the perspective of someone who is resentful and offended), it comes over a little bit like, "Christians are relying way too much on hierarchy and patriotism and the opinions of others and on being 'right'... but if you believe this about politics, you're wrong."
My favorite of Miller's books, it's startlingly funny in places and he's honest enough to own that he doesn't have all the right answers.
A challenging book for Christians and seekers alike. Miller is refreshing in that he goes ahead and steps on toes all over the place and doesn't exempt himself from the misdirections and reductions Christians have fallen for over the years. This book points to the most important thing: a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. Head knowledge about Jesus or affiliation with Him is of no value. What matters is being in love with Him beyond all others.
Donald Miller works to present the Christian faith in relational terms in this book. With his easy-to-read, engaging and humorous style, Miller presents the gospel in a way that can challenge or encourage any Christian.
Loved it. Don's honest and transparent questions about faith and love and life and existence are refreshing because every Christian has them, even the most hard-nosed devout theologian. Don is a great writer, and even when I don't agree with him (which is less often in this book than in BLJ) I feel like if we met we would talk about these things respectfully and lovingly. That's what I love about his books. It feels a lot like having a really profound conversation with a good friend.
As much as I liked Blue Like Jazz and loved A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Searching for God Knows What is now by far my favorite of Don Miller's books. I received the expanded edition as a graduation present, and I finally finished it! Don Miller talks about how inadequate our formulas are for knowing God, and he is anything but cliché. He presents a refreshing case for a relational view of Christ, the One Who loves us so much that He gave His life for us. Christianity at its core is a relationship with Christ, falling in love with Him, our Bridegroom, daily. This is a book that I would recommend to anyone and everyone, especially those of us who have grown up in the Church and are learning how to make our faith our own.
I love this guy, love his work. Want to own all of it, want to give them all away as gifts to literally everyone.
I appreciate the explanation Miller gives at the beginning for the Genesis theory: God created humans to ask for identity, He is the only one who can supply it. The original sin began as a question of identity (can I trust God, or will eating this fruit show me who I really am). And as a result of the fall, we try to find identity in everything else, every other covering other than Christ.
On a whole, there were portions of this book where I felt Miller could have done with less grandiose ties and illustrations to support his thoughts... It seemed like he was trying too hard to fill the book. I say this in the most well-meaning tone, because he's one of my favorite authors!
I think A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and Scary Close are profoundly better. It may be that he was still finding a flow, as this was one of his earlier works.
On a whole, there were portions of this book where I felt Miller could have done with less grandiose ties and illustrations to support his thoughts... It seemed like he was trying too hard to fill the book. I say this in the most well-meaning tone, because he's one of my favorite authors!
I think A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and Scary Close are profoundly better. It may be that he was still finding a flow, as this was one of his earlier works.