Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

What I’ve been reading…Pistol – The Life of Pete Maravich

As with most vacations, I chose a biography to dig into. Wasn't sure I'd finish it given the busyness with Hayden, but I made it.

I never really knew who 'Pistol Pete' Maravich was until after he died (he passed away in 1988). I was more interested in being "like Mike" when I was a kid.

I can't say there is anything really profound that I took from these 323 pages. It was interesting to hear the story of not only Pete, but his father Press. Really is a sad story, with a tragic ending but for the decision of Pete to follow Christ for the last few years of his life.

Not my favorite biography, but interesting none the less.

Update on Megan & Hayden

All is well with both.

Really strange how much one pound makes a difference in babies. Both Ashton & Tate were 7lbs 4 ounces or something like that at birth, and Hayden is around 6lbs 4 ounces right now (at 2 weeks old!). She seems so tiny!

This was Megan's 3^rd C-section, so healing has been slow going due to scar tissue they had to deal with.

I've really enjoyed my vacation time around Hayden's birth…I've done everything but feed the baby over the past few weeks (that job is all mommy's).

What I’ve been reading…Living in the Spirit by George Wood

Just finished reading a book entitled Living in the Spirit by George Wood. Thoughts:

• Interesting to read his personal experience with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
• P. 24 He talks about the 4^th stage of Jesus' disciples – revelation to argument to arrogance to exclusionism. When the disciples couldn't cast out the demon, they wanted other people who were casting out demons to stop. They thought they had the exclusive franchise on Jesus' ministry. I admit to falling into this trap (and being led into this trap) all the way through college, and into our first ministry assignment. When we started Pathway, God really started dealing with me on this. God is bigger than the charismatic/Pentecostal circles I am/was in.
• P. 80 Early Pentecostals did not try to argue people into the baptism in the Spirit. They lived and preached in such a way that people wanted what they had. Good stuff…
• P. 151 In discussion of spiritual gifts, and the need for correction at times - The acid test of spirituality is whether or not a person can receive correction.
• P. 151-152 Test of all spiritual gifts:
  • Does it glorify Jesus Christ?
  • Does it edify believers (the Saints)?
  • Is it a good witness to nonbelievers?

Last thought - there are a couple of interesting video spots sparked from this book on this website…

View Over Middlebury

Middlebury had an odd rain shower/sun spot hit it simultaneously tonight (Saturday).  It caused there to be one of the most amazing rainbows I've ever seen.  One of my neighbors suggested it ended in my back yard...nope...not unless the pot of gold has been replaced with a swing-set and dog do-do. 

Dancing Wedding Party

Ok...the holiness tradition in me says this is sacriligious (we only dance if it's 'in the spirit')...

The lighter side of me thinks there's just something right about the joy exhibited through this dance...(and makes me wish I had further mad skills)

Your thoughts?

Thanks to Jeff Leake for the video...

What were we thinking…

You've all been there…stop being so high and mighty…last night, we had one of those "what were we thinking" moments.

Don't get me wrong, having a baby was a God thing, really. I cannot tell you how excited I am about now being a dad to 3 beautiful girls…but…when the youngest (Hayden – 1 week old) decided to scream all night last night…you can't help but to think to yourself, as you are walking the floor, singing every childhood song you can think of, hoping to somehow silence the squeal of a newborn…if not just for a moment…WHAT WERE WE THINKING!

Disturb Me…again…and again…

Disturb me…it's a message I shared a few weeks ago, and it's still disturbing me. I'll tell you what has disturbed me this past week…the person who I saw jogging as I was driving home from church last Sunday. How can we reach this person? I don't know for sure that they were or weren't in church that morning, but my guess is they weren't. How can we show this person that faith is important, particularly, faith in Christ? How can we show this person that "physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:8)

Then there's the other family that I know, right here in downtown Middlebury. Well, I say I know them, but it's only to wave at them (we've talked a few times, small talk). They seem like really nice people…they have kids close to the same age as ours…he has a nice John Deere (I am recently struggling with a bit of Deere envy, I must admit). It seems they have a good thing going…dog…couple of kids…seem to enjoy marriage and having friends over, often (as evidenced by the frequent cars in their driveway, spilling out on the road). So, how do we help them see that they really do have a great thing going, but there's something missing…something they were created to have, but are not walking in.

It's not churchiness they need, nor something to do on Sunday mornings. They need Jesus. They need to begin to live for someone who can cause them to fulfill their complete life's purpose, while at the same time, dealing with the sin issue of their lives.

Seriously, this is what is disturbing me this week. My heart is broken…feel like I need to fast…kind of hard to do when you have people bringing you delicious meals (due to Hayden being born)…hah!

Sisters

I can't believe I didn't snap a picture from tonight's visit of all 3 of my older sisters (I am the baby). I was able to grab the picture below off of some video I took.

I love my sisters (Jacquie to the left holding Hayden, Julie in middle, and Shayne on the right talking to Ashton)…yep…I'm blessed. I guess you could say these three prepared me to live with my own three (plus wife)!

7 Baby Steps to Financial Peace

In my non-taking-care-of Megan or Hayden time this week, I've been re-reading Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace book. 7 Baby Steps to follow…where are you?

1. Pay minimum on everything until you get $1000 in savings. (rainy day fund)
2. Debt snowball – pay off all personal debt except your home.
3. Create 3-6 month nest egg of your monthly expenses.
4. Save 15% of your gross household income in retirement plans.
5. Start college funds for kids.
6. Take all the extra you can scrape together to pay your house off early.
7. Spend time giving it all away.

The only step I'm not so sure I agree with my friend Dave about is step number 7. I've seen and experienced that the quicker you start to give significant finances away, the quicker God replaces it and brings more blessing. I would hate to think that I have to wait until the seventh step until I start giving extravagantly to my local church and God's kingdom! What do you think?

Me and My Big Mouth

Was praying through Ephesians 4:29 today, and thought through the message from Sunday on Me and My Big Mouth. Quick Reminder of the THINK acrostic (from Rick Warren)…before you say it, ask yourself:

T – is it Truthful?

H – is it Helpful?

I – is it Inspirational? Is it going to build up or tear down?

N – is it Necessary?

K – is it Kind?

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs…"

Swim anyone?

How would you like to be taking a dip in this pool? I ran across this article today…people in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, trying to deal with the sweltering heat wave hitting China right now…

I mean, I've been in some crowded pools while on vacation, but this takes the cake…

4 Day Whirlwind

Well…let me download a couple of events/thoughts here…maybe more for me than you…

Tuesday night, Megan was not feeling well and having very strong contractions! Given that our baby wasn't scheduled for a c-section until Monday, we assumed the baby would hold out until Monday...baby had another plan. Around 10pm Tuesday night, the girls suggested I pack a bag just in case. They joyously helped me pack my bag (knowing the sooner that bag leaves the house, and mom and dad are headed to the hospital, the sooner they can go to GRANDMA'S!). Around 10:30pm, as I announced it was time for 2 little girls to head to bed, Megan's face lit up and suggested that perhaps her water had broken (which it had)!

Quick call to Megan's mom Sheryl, to my sister Shayne (to come until Sheryl could get there), and we were out of there. I had permission from Megan to speed, run red lights, the whole bit. I was in "hot pursuit" of Goshen General Hospital…now that was fun.

We arrived at the hospital around 11pm, and baby was born (via c-section) at 1:32am on Wednesday. Given that this was what looks to be our final baby, I decided to go whole hog. I've been at the hospital this whole time, even camping out on a pull-out-bed/chair at Megan's side. Trying to take in every moment of it! It's actually been fun being a part of it all, but I am completely wiped out (before you start feeling sorry for me, forget it…I'm not the one who just had her guts chopped open and who is now a human feeding machine for Hayden…pray for Megan!).

Megan is recovering normally, and Hayden is eating, sleeping, and pooping…which are the top 3 things a baby ought to be doing I guess (maybe add in crying). We head home today (Saturday) with some sort of blue light blanket as Hayden is a smidgen jaundice.

Looking forward to heading home and starting our new normal!

Strengths and passions

Just read this great quote from Rick Warren…

So many talented people give 1st class allegiance to 2nd class causes that diffuse their energy, weaken their impact & waste their lives.

Find your strengths and passions, then run with it…be devoted to giving your all in 3-5 areas, rather than half hearted in 10-15 areas…

Baby Hayden

Born 7-15-09 at 1:32am, 6lbs ¾ ounces, 18.5 inches, Hayden Anne Miller, with more hair than her daddy…Megan and Hayden are both doing well…

Baby Here

She's here...will share more later, but at 1:32am the world added another Miller...will post more later...mom and baby are doing great...

Baby on it's way

It's Midnight...officially July 15 and we are having a baby in about an hour and a half! Baby is coming early! Yahoo!

Elkhart Campus Telephone Number

Jason Brooks, Elkhart Campus Pastor, formerly known as only a Pathway Connections Pastor, just stuck his head in my office and declared the new phone number for our Elkhart Campus (which will actually just ring into our Middlebury Campus at this time).  You'll never guess what the number is...go ahead...guess...you'll never guess...really...293-8992!  Nope, really, 293-8992.  If you've never called the church before, you probably see no significance.  But, if you happen to know the church number, 825-8992, you'd completely get it. 

Pathway - One church, many campuses...and...same last four digits of our phone numbers...how about that...I was more nervous than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs about that one...

Video Message?

I spent most all of Monday looking at possible facilities for our Elkhart Campus. One of the key features we have to look at concerning our Elkhart Campus facility (facility makes it sound like a bathroom or something...how about we call it...oh, I don't know...a building), or might I say building, is how well can the whole audience see the screen.  If the Word is going to be brought via video every week, then we better be able to see it! 

Speaking of video, I thought we got a great feel for how video of a speaker can work in a church setting this past Sunday.  Did you notice how you and the rest of the audience reacted to the clip I played of Matt Chandler preaching?  The second service actually started to applaud at one point in response to one of the funny things Matt said. 

I know it's different...I know most of us have never experienced it, at least on a regular basis, but I think we are going to find that a video message format is doable and effective.  Might not be for everybody...but...I think that pig is going to oink. 

People God uses Greatest

Mark Batterson has a great post on the people God seems to use the greatest – people who aren't afraid to look foolish (while they are climbing a tree to see Jesus, stepping out of a boat on water, follow stars to find the baby Jesus, or chase after a lion).

Worth a minute to shoot over to his blog to read it…

Serving in Elkhart

I just took a few moments to look through the Sunday edition of the Elkhart Truth. I noticed an article about a block party Granger Community Church (Elkhart Campus) did for the Washington Gardens low-income housing development this past Saturday. Jason and I have both spent time with their campus pastor, Jeff Bell. They have a heart to serve…I love it.

At last night's Pathway Elkhart campus mtng, we talked about an upcoming garage sale we'll be helping out with at Hawthorne Elementary (raising money for the school and providing cheap clothing and supplies for the students and families). I love it…serving for Jesus…serving like Jesus…

Matthew 20:28 ²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Thanks church…

I wanted to say thanks to you church for catching this whole serve 2 vision thing. Loads of you have signed on to serve both services in our guest services area, Kid's Church area, Nursery area, Worship team, and A/V Team. It blows me away your heart to serve the house. I'm proud of you church (a good pride)…

Psalms 92:12-15

12    The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

13 Planted in the house of the LORD,

they will flourish in the courts of our God.

Praying Scripture – Philippians 4:6

I'm curious, have you continued to pray the Come Near Scriptures? If so, what has your experience been? Have you seen God do anything as you've prayed?

Today, I finished reading through Philippians, and 4:6 hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm praying through this today…

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heats and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Praying Scripture ignites your faith…give it a try!

Surge Protectors

 

A few weeks ago, our church building was zapped by lightning, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage (most covered by insurance) to our AV equipment, elevator, air conditioning units, etc. 

Now we've (I should say the volunteer help of Pathway's finest electricians) figured out that we can spend a couple hundred dollars on each electrical box to install surge protectors.  It's an absolute no brainer!  Of course we are going to do that. 

We install surge protectors that will take the hit of any future lightning strikes, and save the church staff/volunteers headaches and moola in the future...I love it. 

Instead of reacting to each lightning strike, and getting a sick feeling in my gut every time I see lightning anywhere near Middlebury (as it seems our building has some sort of "Kick me" sign on our backs when it comes to lightning), we can rest in the fact that we've taken care of things on the front side of the storm, so we will be protected. 

We can't keep the storm from happening...in fact, a good storm every once and a while is a good thing!  But we can be prepared as possible on the front side so that when the storm comes, it doesn't knock us on our hind ends.

Huh...I think you might get the correlation I'm getting at here. 

What are you doing to get Bigger, and play hurt?  Pick up the whole Bigger series (from Jan '09) at the Welcome Center this Sunday and let it stretch you again!

America the Beautiful

I set off my fireworks for the kids on Friday night...had a good time...I don't think it was until tonight that I really took the time to thank God for my country.  I realize we aren't perfect, but we've got a great thing going.  I love my country...I love Jesus Christ more...but I love my country and am proud to be an american citizen, and hope you are too (insert Lee Greenwood).  

Churches commitment to Family

What does a church that loves and is committed to families look like?

They have a youth pastor, a children's pastor, and a million dollar youth/kids facility?

Is that really how you gauge the level of importance family is in a church?

Or is there a bigger picture? Is there a way to minister to families that can be more fruitful than the above, even if using some of that structure? Ahhhh…welcome to my brain for the past few months…pray with me, the staff, and the LT…will you?

(I actually journaled thoughts on this back in January '09)

Giving Time

Was thinking about asking our church to go this route in our giving...I've been working on my diving summersaults...

Thanks to http://www.gregatkinson.com/ for the video...

Date night with your spouse?

Things learned while one’s wife is on bed-rest…

1. Pink and Green Kleenex boxes actually have pink and green colored Kleenexes in them…strange blowing one's nose into a green Kleenex…(Megan always purchases the grey or brown box as they are white inside)…
2. One should always read the box before purchasing an item…such as a 24 pack of Swiffer Dusters at Sam's Club which was thought to be a 4 pack…I thought it was rather expensive…
3. One's house does not get magically vacuumed everyday during dog hair shedding season…someone has to do that (meaning the one not on bed-rest)…
4. Working all day outside of the house, then working all night at the house, can wear one out…and I didn't even do everything (Megan still did the laundry and such as it is all upstairs) and the girls helped pitch in…
5. There really is no Molasses at the South Goshen Walmart…
6. We have a church full of people that want to show their love tangibly to their pastor…as in FOOD! We had chicken, spaghetti, pasta stuff, casserole's, pizza, Chinese takeout, Subway, beef and noodles, whoopee pies, and the list keeps going…DELICIOUS!

Toe Fish at the Essenhaus

A while back, we were looking down into the Essenhaus pond from their bridge.  We saw a huge turtle and a bunch of fish.  Then we discovered a brand new fish...the Toe Fish.  See if you can see it in the picture...

 

It doesn't happen very often, but every once and a while I get the girls...and get them good.  This was worth every slug in the arm and gut I received!

5 Components of a Healthy Marriage

Just read a great reminder on marriage from Rick Warren…if you get a couple of minutes, it's worth the read…

I Am Free – the story

I ran across this 'story behind the song' link for the song we sing called "I Am Free." Powerful if you have a couple of minutes…