any reader of this blog knows how completely stoked i am about The Way bible, a bible i spent 2 years developing for tyndale publishers. it’s an NLT bible with hundreds of stories and elements that curate the message of scripture and the kingdom of god. developed with 17 – 30 year olds in mind (but, heck, i think it’s a pretty killer bible for high schoolers, and i’d like it as a 48 year-old), the intent is to create space for questions, doubt and hope.
and, since, you know, i have a hook up with the publisher, i get to give some of ’em away.
but i also have friends connected to Blue Like Jazz (The Movie), which has its theatrical release at the end of this week. of course, many of you have read the book, and some of you have seen a screening of the movie (as i have). and i think you’ll see why it makes sense that i would think this movie (which is great, btw) and this bible would connect with the same kind of people (regardless of age). the cool thing is, i get to give away movie tickets also.
seriously, this is probably the best giveaway i’ve ever gotten to host on my wee humble blog. i’m going to award 20 winners with a prize package including 2 movie tickets (which can be used at any theater, any showing of Blue Like Jazz, good until april 30) and a copy of The Way. the movie tix will be a download code, and the copy of The Way will be shipped to your eager little hands. (so, each prize is worth something around fifty bucks!)
i’d love, love, love it if you would show your support by doing a couple things:
heck, i’d love it even more if you would spread the word. tweet this. send people here to this blog post. use the little social media sharing options at the bottom of this post. send people to the BLJ website or The Way website (which, for what it’s worth, is more of an extension of the bible than a marketing site).
i’ve gone ’round and ’round on how to decide who gets the 20 prizes. i thought about giving ’em to the first 20 peeps who bought something from The Youth Cartel store. but i decided that wasn’t ethical (and probably not even legal!). i thought about just saying the first 20 comments win, but decided that was way too boring, and would be over too quickly.
so i’ve settle on this: tell me why you want them (the tix and the bible). keep your answer to 1 – 3 sentences (no need for massive paragraphs and emotional pleading). i’ll pick the first 10 winners at the end of 24 hours (roughly, that is — i’m on vacation this week, so i’ll pick ’em tuesday morning at some point). and i’ll pick the remaining 10 winners a little later — probably on thursday morning.
this is one of four similar contests launching today. i corralled my friend, and The Way contributor, scot mcknight, into doing one on his blog. so, hey, if you don’t win here, maybe you can win at one of the others!
ok… here we go! why do you want the Blue Like Jazz movie tickets and copy of The Way?
oh, and how about a couple trailers:
THE FIRST 10 WINNERS
choosing winners has been MUCH more difficult than i imagined it would be! i grabbed about 40 that caught my attention and copied them into a word doc; then kinda went with a combo of random choosing and my gut from there! sorry to all those who aren’t in the first 10. i’ll be choosing another 10 on thursday.
but, the first 10 are…
Mookie
Eric McFarland
Vik Schaaf
Stuart Delony
Todd Graham
Rachel Kurtz May
Deena
Jordan Wiseman
Jenny Call
Marv Nelson
and, the 2nd (remaining) 10 are…
Kevin Ibanez
Bobby Mooney
Ian Robertson
Chris Saulnier
Danny Eiler
Dawn Wisner-Johnson
ryan guard
Tim Gleason
Mark (from Topeka First)
Brian Barnett
that’s it folks — thanks for playin’! go see the movie even if you didn’t win, and pick up a copy of The Way also.
I am a volunteer youth leader and I would love to check out this Bible for myself and my young people. I LOVE Blue Like Jazz the book. I know that the movie is going to be epic. I’m planning on checking out this movie and this Bible anyway…being able to do it for free would be an awesomesauce bonus.
I’m going to see the move anyway, but it would be great to take someone with me. It’s been a blessing to take part in backing this movie financially. The Bible sounds like a great gift to give to someone.
I am a single mother and want to see _Blue Like Jazz_ so much, I can’t wait! But our child support payments are messed up and there is just no way I can afford to see it in the first crucial few weeks it is open. It would simply be a huge blessing to be able to go see the movie. Also I do not have _The Way_ Bible and I love having multiple versions of God’s Word available.
Well, I’d really like to go see the movie. I’d love to take my wife or one of my kids. I think they would like it. The NLT translation is my favorite, so even at 48 yrs old, I think I would like this Bible.
I’ve already purchased The Way Bible and would like to give one a(Way) to start the conversation (discipleship 101). As far as BLJ, I love Donald Miller’s Book and I am a fan of how Steve Taylor’s films speak to me. Oh, and I like free stuff!!!
My wife and I would love to see this movie because we have a heart for ministry. We wrote our own wedding vows and in them we expressed our desire to be like Aquila and Priscalla from the Bible who were able to reach out to others with the Truth! I have seen Donald Miller in person and I really enjoy his ability to tell stories of hope and change in a practical way that makes sense. Also, since my wife and I got married we haven’t purchased a family Bible and I think The Way would be a great tool for us to spark conversations and debate. As a bonus I have a friend who enjoys Donald Miller’s work so much that she spent her entire weekend on the road with very little sleep just to play a teeny, tiny extra role in the film and I would love to see her for a split millosecond after she put in all that effort because of her belief in this film!! Thx!
Broke seminary student.
i would love to pass on this blessing to my students, plain and simple. i work with many students who have nothing, so blessing them would be amazing.
hi mark, would really like to see this movie and am interested in ‘the way’ too. i’m not sure about either but willing to give both a chance to win me over. thanks sincerely if you pick me to receive them in your giveaway!
Because I’m the mom of two searching teenagers who won’t listen to me but might watch a movie and see Jesus in it.
I love Blue Like Jazz. I was a kickstarter backer and got to see it at an advanced screening. It is a wonderful film. I’m start of a two month old church plant near St. Louis. We are taking a large group to see the film. Included in that group is a young man who is coming to church for the first time in his life. I have a friend who has starting reading The Way and feels that it would be transformational for this young man. So, in short I would like to give it to him.
I loved the book & am soooo looking forward to the movie! I loved the idea of this Bible leaving space for doubts, questions & hopes. That’s real life. (oh & I live my “the way” bible which is in The Living Bible version)
I’ll still buy two tickets even if I win, but I’ll bless someone else at the theater opening night with the extra tickets as a Random Act of Kindness.
I want them because Blue Like Jazz was one of the first Christian books I read. It helped me solidify faith without feeling like I had to fake anything to get along in Christian society. I’ve supported the movie since it was first announced and am currently on the street team promoting the movie even though there aren’t any theaters in AR showing it yet. And The Way just sounds really interesting.
THE FIRST 10 WINNERS
choosing winners has been MUCH more difficult than i imagined it would be! i grabbed about 40 that caught my attention and copied them into a word doc; then kinda went with a combo of random choosing and my gut from there! sorry to all those who aren’t in the first 10. i’ll be choosing another 10 on thursday.
but, the first 10 are…
Mookie
Eric McFarland
Vik Schaaf
Stuart Delony
Todd Graham
Rachel Kurtz May
Deena
Jordan Wiseman
Jenny Call
Marv Nelson
I’ve never heard of “the Way” bible and would LOVE to check it out. I’m def going to see BLJ no matter what….BUT I’d love to take two friends with me. :) Thanks for the offer!
Working with college kids. Would find lots of ‘ways’ to use The Way, and have been waiting so patiently to see this new movie! Would be blessed were I picked as a winner.
I saw the movie at one of the prescreenings and plan on seeing it again on friday, but would love to be able to take friends who don’t want to spend the money to see it. Also i’m a camp counsellor all summer long and it sounds like The Way would be a good resource to lead discussions throughout the summer.
Marko,
I am a huge fan. I would love to win this contest because I am a youth pastor and I would actually love to turn right around and regift these things to one of my students. Give them a great Bible for their walk and take them (with myself. great relational ministry time) to see the movie. My kids are well aware of the movie since I was a backer and didn’t get to the screening since it was during our youth night. Thanks for all you do man.
I read Blue Like Jazz and loved it. It has really encouraged me in my spiritual walk. My wife and I were supposed to see a pre-screening of the movie but due to scheduling issues with her chemo and radiation, we were unable to. Anyway, it’s been a rough few weeks with her treatments so far and we could use a break.
As for the Way bible, I’d probably give it to one of our kids. They love reading anything, including the Bible, and the Way would probably open up some new insights for them.
Okay, so I am looking for a date-day and I would love to take my girlfriend and I figure what is a better way of writing a better story then being inspired by one? Donald Miller is a hero (I make films so I love what he has done) so either way I am going to see it, but it would be great to have a free way of getting there. The Bible sounds very inspiring as well, can’t wait to read the stories!
As a young adult (although, that won’t be for long), I’ve always desired to help others in my generation explore faith without the pressure to give the church answer, because I work there or that is what is expected of them. I also think Donald Miller’s book turned into movie is a great tool to initiate conversation with young adults about faith and life.
I would like to win the tickets and Bible. My husband and I have 3 like girls and don’t get to go out on dates much. I’ve highlighted & underlined many things in this book as well as have had to tape the cover, but this is the one thing that has resonated mostly with me: in the chapter Church you wrote “There was room at the table for me, but I wasn’t in the family.” How I long to be part of a family. Thank you Donald Miller for this book.
In Life we all are constantly striving to get this or get that, the things the world insists we need to be perfect, content, and established, but I truly believe we can achieve all this and more within Proverbs 4:5: Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. This Bible will certainly be an assest in my spiritual journey. Because of Calvary, Patricia Riley-Chapple
Thank you Marko!
2nd set of winners
Kevin Ibanez
Bobby Mooney
Ian Robertson
Chris Saulnier
Danny Eiler
Dawn Wisner-Johnson
ryan guard
Tim Gleason
Mark (from Topeka First)
Brian Barnett
that’s it, folks — thanks for playing!
This is SO EXCITING!!! I really need to get my hands on a copy of THE WAY, and check it out for sharing with the young couples that I am sharing fellowship and the Word of God with, I think this is a very contemporary Word! I am also very pleased to see that Blue Like Jazz is coming to the theatre – got too many young people in my life who don’t read!
Would LOVE a copy …. teach confirmation at my church …. provide a bible to each year’s class … always looking for a Bible that could challenge and engage … and grow with the kids …. we are very much trying in our confirmation class to engage the kids in a process of “unlearning” … helping them see that doubt is essential to faith … and that all that they’ve come to know is just a fraction of the beauty of the God that is life and love and grace. Would love to check out this Bible and consider for next year’s confirmation class.
“Love Wins” … Anthony