I could have taken a highlighter to the whole thing and sat pondering a paragraph for a whole week, but instead I read it in a couple of hours and really enjoyed it.
Life is not a neat and tidy little package and he’s not afraid to deal with it, question it and ponder it. I like the way he thinks (and I’ve been a part of “fundamentalist” Christian churches my whole life!) Very refreshing, very intriguing! And laugh out loud funny in some places :)

THE GOOD:
Those of us who’ve been trying to follow Jesus for a long time have the unfortunate problem of keeping the passion alive. Over time, the wonder goes away and being a Christian is “something we do” rather than something we are. This is not really a new thing…Jews following Moses’ lead who had seen God provide quail and manna when they desperately needed food forgot this in the desert and made idols. It was good to remember the wonder that the same God who made the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the animals, and everything I can see and touch…cares enough about knowing me personally that He would send His only Son to SUFFER and DIE for me. I need reminders of that from time to time.

Makes us take a hard look at the things we “lump in” with Jesus that makes those outside the Church wonder if they ever want in. Things like pressure to dress in certain ways, talk in certain Christian “code words”, vote a certain way, and “oppose” certain things.

Understand, I’m not advocating a ‘life without rules’..I do believe part of following Jesus is becoming more holy, because Jesus IS holy. But that should evolve out of love for Him. When you love someone, you do things to make them happy. People show respect for “the law” by what they do when they think the cops aren’t looking, capisce? I also think it’s impossible to make Jesus Republican or Democrat. I’m sure He’d find much to be disappointed with in the philosophies of both major parties (and probably all the ‘third parties’ too, lest you think I’m taking it easy on the Green Party, Libertarians, Constitution Party etc. etc.)

BAD:
There is SO much focus on the mystical, the “touchy feely” Jesus that it would be bad for someone who’s just come to Jesus and is now looking to follow Him. Miller almost never has anything from the Bible to back up what he says and this would leave a new Christian without a good foundation to build their faith on. It would be like trying to be a veterinarian by petting dogs and cats but never reading textbooks about how they work inside.

BOTTOM LINE:
Good for a single read for the spiritual seeker. Probably worth multiple refresher reads for mature Christians when they start to get dried out spiritually. Nothing I’d see as a “must buy” though.

Previous to reading this book, I felt entirely ill at ease with my modern-day values and how they corresponded to traditional fundamentalist Christian doctrine. I didn’t understand how to become the best of both worlds—the Christ-follower and the worldly sophisticated philosophe. However, Miller’s words were quite encouraging. He didn’t preach or adopt that “higher-than-thou” tone which I detest. He simply put out his own private life experiences and explained how his beliefs and personal doctrine resulted from those experiences. It was simple, but simple in the best ways.

one of the best books i have ever read. i didn’t agree with everything, but i love the way don m. thinks.
But, i can also see how someone could easily hate this book. It’s a bit random.

i liked it.

I appreciate many of the sentiments in the book, especially the “I can be a Christian even though I don’t really fit into the mould of most of the churches out there.” I just didn’t enjoy the writing style. Miller seems to switch between being and adult and a an adolescent nearly midsentence and I’m not really sure what’s supposed to be going on here. Maybe the book was aimed at adolescents and I missed that somehow? I’m not sure.
Ah well, like I said, interesting message, but it just wasn’t packaged for me.

it is an interesting book but still preachy even though it says the thoughts are nonreligious. if you like this book but dont like the preachyness of the ending, read his book Through Painted Deserts. its all about a road trip he took before he decided what he now thinks is absolute

Christianity from a more realistic perspective – minus all the churchy words and traditional ways of looking at it. I love Don’s writing style too.

A quote:

Andrew is the one who taught me that what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do. (110)

I think this is published by an evangelical press, but not sure. I’m curious about it after seeing it at Borders.

a book club read.

quick read that was refreshing to read.