Psalms 147:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Think about that…God has your number. You are not forgotten. No sir…you are on the top of His list. Your emotions play tricks on you and make you feel like He's out to lunch…but no sir…He's there. He's just teaching you to trust Him, and to follow Him, even when the water is murky.
Amen.
It's 10:39pm…and I'm worn out! I've spent the whole day getting "brought up to date" on things at Pathway. Then, coming home, and briefing Megan on things. It's one of those things where I don't want to bite off more than I can chew here b/c there's no need to jump into everything…but yet…I kind of want to bite off more than I can chew and JUMP INTO EVERYTHING!
FYI…for those outside of Pathway that have been following things…in my absence the past 3 months:
GOOD STUFF! I cannot put into words how much fun this Sunday's service is going to be! (not to mention I can actually get to church on time given that a certain person…whom I love very much…but is time challenged…won't be riding with me…this has not happened in 3 months folks)
I've been back in the office for 2 hours now…after 3 months out, what do you do first????
I cleaned my desk off (yes this picture was after the cleaning)…you can see the stack of mail I have yet to plow through in the bottom right hand corner of the picture…
And I dove into one of the whoopee pies from the Essenhaus that Shawn Maust so kindly dropped off to us all this morning…
Tomorrow will be spent in an all day staff mtng, getting caught up on all kinds of stuff…
Attended the wedding of Matt and Courtney Holloway just a few hours ago. I remember the night, a few years ago, when Matt (and his brother Josh) came to Jesus! We had a rare Sunday night service, back in the garage days. Matt's dad Mike shared an impromptu testimony…I got up then, and gave an altar call. Both Matt and Josh came forward.
I really had no idea what God was setting up for these two guys on that night…all I knew was that they just made the most amazing decision of their lives. Now, both of them are not only serving Jesus, but they are actively involved in serving others for Jesus (and their wives Courtney and Robin are not just along for the ride…they are in it as well!).
This is the dream God placed in Megan and I's heart 8 years ago when we launched out to start Pathway. We will see lives completely transformed and surrendered to Christ, and then released to serve.
This is just a start guys. God is raising up a generation of men and women of God who will unashamedly proclaim his name to their generation, with signs and wonders following. They will be too busy serving Jesus to find themselves caught up in typical church life. They won't shrink back, but be great men and women of faith. They will embrace their spiritual giftings, and run with them. They will understand the call of the local church and completely embrace the biblical mindset of a local church. These are men and women with a prophetic edge and apostolic, take the un-plowed territory, Spirits! All of Michiana, northern Indiana, this region, this country, and the World will hear the name of Christ b/c of the anointing that runs in these men and women.
And here's the cool thing…he's not going to leave us old geezers behind!
As one of my favorite preachers (TD Jakes) says… "Get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready…(at which point all the people in the sanctuary stand up and let go of a spontaneous shout of praise to God…go ahead…right there were you are at…let it go…)
Will someone do me a favor and ask me every couple of months how long it's been since I had dinner with my grandparents? Really. My mom's parents, Lamar and Delores Garber, have to be some of the funniest people on the earth. We just spent the evening with them eating pizza and such. Why is it I only see them twice a year?
Spent some time with Shawn Maust this morning (drinking coffee at the Café Crossing in Middlebury). Shawn will be bringing the Word (carrying on our series in James) at Pathway this Sunday (both services). This will be one of the last times Shawn will be sharing, really encourage you to be there (even though I won't be there…one more week folks…even my kids are begging to go to OUR church!)!
The time was 1930's and 1940's, and Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, was coming on the scene. Last year I read a book about Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (Dean and Me), so I decided to jump into this book about Sinatra.
Mr. Sinatra was an interesting fellow. For some reason I have this thought in my mind of this generation as being a moral generation…loving God and country. Well, they may have loved the God they created (part from the Bible and part from their own desires) and country, but morality was as much in despair as it is in today's Hollywood.
It is from this book that I found the most disappointing quote of the 15-20 books I've read over the summer…
He had decided never to write his autobiography, he had said, "because I'm not proud of too many things I've done." (P. 389)
That was one of the last sentences in the book. I could comment on it, but I'll let you think on it. God help me if that's one of the final quote's in a book on my life.
Well written, and full of snapshots into this pre-rock and roll generation…the good and the bad! I love a good biography/autobiography…
Robby and Tracy Bradford, one of our missionaries to France, just posted this video on his website...take a minute to watch and see what's happening...
How about that...one more week of Sabbatical. I head back to the office on Monday, August 4th. Today, I'm finishing up a weekend in Indianapolis at Megan's brother's house with the family.
Going to take a 2 day overnight prayer retreat this week...culminating the past 3 months of Sabbatical. Really looking forward to that.
That's it for now...
There is nothing like a large piece of dough, fried in oil, and smothered with cinnamon sugar…I actually shared this one with my eldest child this evening while out at the fair. It was our reward for feeding half of the people at the fair, taco's and taco salads for 4 hours! Great to see some of you out there tonight!
I finally got my hands on John Bevere's book entitled Breaking Intimidation (Megan's been hogging it all summer).
Great book! Every pastor ought to read this book. Every person, pastor or not a pastor, who wants to break out of and get past intimidation that is holding them back from fulfilling what God has put on them ought to read this! I really like John Bevere…get the book!
I can't believe I haven't mentioned yet that this week is the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. For those of you not from the area, this is one of THE LARGEST COUNTY FAIRS in the United States…and it happens just mere miles from me! How about that. You have not been to a county fair in the US until you have been to the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. I laugh at the attempts of other county fairs…I thumb my nose in their general direction…they can try, but none will live up to the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. (note to Fair Board – make the check out to Rev. Scott Miller)
We were out there tonight for dinner (after reading Marshall King's article in the etruth about pork chops, I had to try them…and they were delicious). The girls had the equally delicious Nelson's Chicken, who's new seating area was very enjoyable!
Will be out working in the Crystal Valley Exchange Club Taco stand a couple times over the next few days…maybe we'll see you out there…
Don & Susie Van Ryn: Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope
Could not put this book down...blogged on it here http://scottm.typepad.com/scott_miller/2008/07/what-ive-read-2.html (****)
Thor Ramsey: A Comedian's Guide to Theology
I like comedians...I like theology...not sure the 2 should have mixed in a book... (*)
Marcus Luttrell: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
Very interesting Blackhawk Down type book...a little long on description of boot camp, but interesting rescue story... (***)
J W Marriott: Spirit to Serve Marriots Way
Picked this up in a hotel room of all places (next to the Bible and the Book of Mormon)...about 10 years old, but interesting... (**)
David Green: More Than a Hobby: How a $600 Startup Became America's Home and Craft Superstore
Picked this up one day when Megan drug me, I mean, took me to Hobby Lobby... (**)
John Bevere: Breaking Intimidation
Megan's still reading it...
Nelson Searcy: Launch: Starting a New Church from Scratch
Really enjoyed this book...good stuff for any pastor to use to re-evaluate where there church is going! As with any "how to" type book, you won't agree with it all! (****)
Ed Stetzer: Planting Missional Churches
About 25% through...I really like Ed Stetzer...heard him speak once...good stuff so far... (***)
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