DO Something!: Make Your Life Count [Hardcover]

Miles McPherson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2009

Everyone wants their life to count. We all wish we could make a difference in a hurting world. The good news is that we can. Despite our own brokenness (and, in fact, because of it) each of us can be Jesus's hands and feet on Earth, reaching out to others in real and profound ways.

With powerful true stories, illustrations from the life of Christ, and specific activities for readers to engage, DO Something! is a hopeful and practical book that shows how to live out faith in a way that improves people's lives. With transparency and humility, Miles McPherson shares his own shortcomings as a young pastor trying to connect with people in need. Stressing the importance of hurting with people before you can do something for them, McPherson takes readers through the 5 P's of making their lives count: preparation, purpose, pain, power, and passion. By putting into practice the principles found in this book, readers will experience spiritual fulfillment as they see that they can make a real difference in the lives of those around them.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Time to Act Is Now

The world needs you. It's broken. Your neighbors are in desperate need of a helping hand. If you're not content to cruise through life, it's up to you to DO Something!

Transparent and insightful, Miles McPherson tells it like it is as he shares from his own experience as an ambitious professional football player turned pastor who had to learn things the hard way. With powerful true stories of everyday people making a difference and illustrations from the life of Christ, Miles takes you through the 5 P's of making your life count: preparation, purpose, pain, power, and passion. Then he offers practical suggestions for living out your faith in a way that impacts the lives of others.

From the Back Cover

You Can Make a Difference

You want your life to count--but how? By choosing to DO Something for others. This practical book guides each of us to discover what we were uniquely created to do--become Jesus' hands and feet on earth . . . and change the world.

"Put your faith into action--and let God use you to bring faith to others! Get ready to make an eternal difference!" --Lee Strobel, author, The Case for Christ and The Unexpected Adventure

"Let this book inspire you to open your heart, step up to the plate, and give the game of life your all."--Ken Blanchard, coauthor, The One Minute Manager® and Lead Like Jesus

"Get this book. Read it. Do something. Then read it again."--Chris Tomlin, recording artist; worship leader, Passion City Church, Atlanta, GA

"DO Something! is not a read and pass it on book. It is a read and reread book. Thank you, Miles, for this inspirational book."--Matt Hasselbeck, quarterback, Seattle Seahawks

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 222 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books; 1 edition (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801013321
• ISBN-13: 978-0801013324
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Miles McPherson is a man radically transformed by God. Even after fulfilling his youthful dreams of a successful collegiate football career and playing in the NFL, Miles was spiritually empty and on a path of destruction in the form of cocaine use.

During his second season in the NFL, two of Miles' teammates, Sherman Smith and Ray Preston, told him about God's amazing love and grace. Finally, one early morning in 1984, Miles had his first encounter with the person of Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him.

The moment Miles relinquished control of his life, God's power was evident. Miles was delivered from his drug habit, experienced positive changes in his daily life and actions, and was reunited with his girlfriend, Debbie, who is now his wife.

God soon set Miles' feet on a new path: serving in ministry, learning theology, and preaching the Gospel. Miles had great dreams as a young man, but he never imagined the joy and fulfillment he would experience in sharing God's love with others.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life-Changing Message October 16, 2009

By Janice A. Thompson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I'm thrilled to be able to review this book, even more thrilled that I'm actually the first on Amazon to do so! I'm a Christian author of both fiction and non-fiction books and my publisher (Baker) sent me a copy of Miles' new book, DO SOMETHING, at my request. It arrived by UPS today. I devoured this book. Devoured it. Now, mind you, I'm on deadline right now, myself. Should be writing my own book. But once I started reading these life-changing stories, I couldn't stop. One after the other after the other. . .each one impacted me in a unique and compelling way. I found myself wanting to cry, to shout, to get up from my seat and march around the living room. In short, I had to DO something.

I've always felt very strongly about servant evangelism. The church is called to have a hands-on approach, to minister to hurting people. And I love the fact that this book not only addresses needs individually (with amazing/powerful stories, no less), but also gives practical ways to do something about them. I sent an email to my pastor right away, letting him know that he will be getting a copy of the book from me. I urge everyone to do the same. Get this book into the hands of your pastors, your small group leaders, your outreach teams, etc. Most of all, though, read it yourself. Pay particular attention to the wrap-up sections at the end of each teaching. They're loaded with helpful ideas/information.

One more thing. . .the layout of this book is brilliant. Modern, relevant stories interrupted by stories from the life of Jesus (told in an updated, easy-to-read way), then right back to the modern story. Literally, Miles interrupts our story with God's story to drive home the point that we serve a God who can relate to our needs on every conceivable level. There is nothing we could go through - tragedy or joy - that He has not experienced.

I will leave you with the sub-title of the book: Make Your Life Count. I wanted to do it before reading this book, of course. But now? Well, now I feel like I can't breathe until I've actually taken a step in faith to DO something (bigger, stronger, faster, braver) with my life than I ever dreamed possible. Thank you, Miles, for the Ephesians 3:20-21 reminder that God's dreams/plans far exceed my own!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Doing something for God will change your life November 6, 2009

By Annie

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Doing something is one of the processes God uses to mature our faith and heal our brokenness and pain..." "How far are you willing to go to allow Jesus to give you a new heart, one that will obey God at all costs?" "If loving God is obeying, then loving someone else is helping them obey God." This is just a taste of what "Do Something, Make Your Life Count" has to offer.

Miles' insights into having a life that counts for Christ through trusting and being obedient to the Holy Spirit's call on one's life and by encouraging us through examples from his own life, lives of people from the Rock Church in San Diego and from others he has met on his walk, are shared in an easy-reading, life-challenging and engrossing format that will, as the first reviewer wrote, light a fire in your soul to get up, get movin', and Do Something for Him (as we are all called to do). As an added bonus you can "meet" these people he writes about online as well, which makes their stories even more persuasive for taking action.

"Each of us can be Jesus' hands and feet on Earth, reaching out to others in real and profound ways." This book also includes many suggestions on how to get started to "making your life count".....Highly recommended!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful February 7, 2010

By Anita Goggins

Format:Hardcover

After attending The Rock Church, the first church that has touched my every aspect of being in faith, and listening to Pastor Miles talk. I was, am ,in awe of reading the book "Do Something". He explains, preaches, and does so much to encourage people to do just that. Thanks to him and wife Debbie, that this book will, and has, continued to change the lives of people. He has made such an impact on my life. It is a great read. Ordinary people having to endure extraordinary circumstances. And just to know a little encouragement, and enormous amount of prayer in ones life, can and will, take you to levels of accomplishment you never experienced. This is a must read, and a must DO!!!!! God, thank you for placing Pastor Miles in so many lives. Anita Goggins