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My sermon, “The Cost of Discipleship” from March 25,2012

Blue Like Jazz - April 13, 2012

About 2 years ago, I was in the Christian book store and saw a new book by one of my favorite authors Donald Miller. The book was called A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. I was excited to read a new book by Don. So I picked it up and began reading.

I have never before in my life read a book so quickly. It took me a mere 2 days to consume this fantastic book about the role of story in our lives. The central piece of the book was about Donald’s journey in writing a screenplay for another book of his, Blue Like Jazz. 

The book changed my life. I never thought I would in anyway be able to repay Donald for the new direction in my life. However, several months after reading the book, I heard the news that the movie would not be made due to lack of funding. Some other guys, who had been impacted by this story the way I had, decided to start a campaign to raise money for the movie to be made.

There was my chance. A chance to repay the value given to me. I didn’t have much money but donated what I could. And the movie got more than enough funding to be produced. And now is the time that is going to pay off.

Blue Like Jazz is coming to theaters on April 13. I plan to be there opening night and take in the movie I helped make possible. I’d love it if you would join me. I’m posting the trailer in a separate post so be on the lookout for that as well.

As I’ve been wrestling through some tough thoughts this week, my stress level has been on a gradual uptick. The following is a description of a dream I had last night. As my good friend Damon said to me, “Pay attention to that dream.”

I dreamt I was standing in a room, and my body was full of piercings. I remember feeling a deep sadness and tension surrounding this fact. And then, I heard a voice say to me, “Take those out. That’s not who you are.” As I began to take the piercings out of my body, I remember physically feeling relief. It was in that moment that I realized I was asleep and yet I could feel the burden lifting from my sleeping body.

I’ve never been someone to put too much weight into a dream, but I’ve never experienced anything like that very real, physical feeling I had while asleep and dreaming this scene. I am still processing and reflecting on this encounter and know that this dream was significant.