Dan O’Deens Blogspot

I love Donald Miller.  He makes me think.  He makes me laugh.  He makes me wonder.   This book made me realize that ’story’ is a part of our lives.   We are the story.  We are “a” character in the story that is part of a much bigger story!   He says, “A character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it is the basic structure of a good story.”  He later explains, “It’s not a book; it’s a movie.  We have to show it.   A character is what he does.”

That was far to revealing.  My character is more than my desire and my thoughts.  It is my belief’s, desires and thoughts put to action.    It is true that we are whole!  But people’s perceptions of us are based on what they hear us say and what they see us do.   They know nothing of what we think or feel.   A great story should include all of these areas.

All of us are writers.  Every writer knows what to do.  ”You put something on the page.  Your life is a blank page.  You write on it.”  Doing what we feel and desire is difficult.   The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is “Do not fear.”    We have to overcome our fears and do the things that God has placed on our hearts.

Miller has done an outstanding job of helping us understand that our lives tell a story and our story plays a significant part in a grander story.  We choose to put the story into ‘play.’

This is a great read.   Hang in there for the first 4 chapters as he sets the stage.  It will be worth your while and you will have a story to live and tell!

How arrogant and narrow really is the Statement:  ”I AM the way, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father except through ME.”

One has to put this statement through the reality of the GOD-MAN!   The one who said that about himself sent that message, not from a lofty throne as a powerful king who was exercising his arrogant authority.

He had left the splendor of heaven.  He stooped down.  He came to our place of residency, planet earth and He is knocking at our hearts door, asking to come in.

This message instead came from a lowly manger, from a humble servant, exercising sacrifical humility.   He risked and ended up losing his life over that statement.

The TRUTH:  Your eternal destiny hangs on the thread of what you do with that statement.  Eternity hangs in the balance.  The choice is yours.  You choose life – heaven by believing in that statement or You choose death – hell by not believing in that statement.  The choice is yours!

Perhaps the most amazing theologically mind boggling truth is that the ONE person (GOD) who could make me do right…or chooose right…doesn’t!

I hope you will choose this day to follow Jesus!  He really is the only way, the truth and He so wants to give you life….in fact…LIFE ETERNAL – HEAVEN!

Great leaders who are dependent on God bring great words.  We are all life long learners.

I am learning a lot today at ‘the Nines’ conference.