Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

What I’ve been Reading…Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

This book is an interesting account of a young boy who spent time in Heaven. His descriptions are beyond coincidental (including the fact that he met the little sister that his mom miscarried…a piece of information that his parents never shared with him due to his age). It is a quick read, and an easy read. I think you'll probably find you can't put it down (I actually listened to it on the way down and back to Indy this past week).

As with any book written about someone's experience like this - we have to be careful not to build our doctrine around someone else's experience, but around the teaching of the Bible! Having said that, I'm not sure I heard anything from this boys experience that didn't line up with what you read in the Bible!

Benefit Hog Roast for Tom Ethell

 
They are having a benefit for my friend Tom Ethell. Tom attended Pathway for a while, and I officiated at his wedding. Tom has Non-Hodgkin's Mantle cell Lymphoma Cancer. More information can be found here…

Download Benefit Hog Roast for Thomas Ethell Jr

 

Graduation time

I remember when I was a kid, the local TV stations would air "The Best of the Class" commercials. They were made up of the smartest people in the graduating classes of all the area schools. Might be hard to believe, but I never did make an appearance on those commercial things. I can sing the song though - "the autographs, and cap and gown, blah blah...something something...ain't we lucky we got 'em, Good Times." Or something close to that.

I did have the opportunity to speak at my High School graduation, it just wasn't b/c of my grades (in years past, the valedictorians were asked to speak). Unbeknownst to me, my tassel was stuck on my glasses for the whole speech. People thought I did it on purpose for a laugh...nope...just God's way of keeping a young man humble. Now, the fake arm I used when I shook hands with the School Board President (Chris Miller as I remember) to receive my diploma, that was for laughs, not the tassel thing though.

All of this to say Congrats to all of the Pathway MC and EC graduates. We're proud of you, and looking forward to see what God is going to do through your life in the future! (Now get out of your parents house as fast as you can)

Mission of Hope at CBS News

FYI…CBS News had an article about the Mission of Hope MOH500 project that we were a part of back in February.

What I’ve been reading…Fear No Evil by Brady Boyd

Brady Boyd took over leadership of New Life Church after Ted Haggard had a moral failure. If that wasn't enough of a challenge, just months after going to New Life, a gunman opened fire in the foyer of the church, killing 2 young ladies. In this book, Brady shares candidly about the process of leading the church through this. Very insightful and faith building!

What I’ve been reading…Weird by Craig Groeschel

Great book about staying balanced in life, even if it means going against the flow of culture. Culture says that it's ok to be running all the time, go go go - God's plan is otherwise. Culture says it's ok to be financially strapped, besides, my family and I deserve this – God's plan is good stewardship of our resources. What Craig Groeschel calls weird is really the life every Christ follower ought to want!

My thoughts on Osama

Ugh…I've had the wave of emotions over the past 24 hours. I have little desire to debate you on this (as I stinketh at such things). But I felt compelled (if not only for myself) to share what I've been thinking.

I join the thoughts of Ezekiel 33:11 (that many seem to be throwing around on this day…Scripture listed below), that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But please don't leave out the whole verse - he does take pleasure when they turn from their wicked ways! What do you do when a man is confronted, for 10 years and longer, to turn from his evil murderous ways, and he refuses to change? Is there a place for Romans 13:3-5 (Scripture listed below)? Is this the role of government? Governments do not bear the sword for nothing. Could this be God's vengeance? Even if you disagree with this interpretation of Romans 13, are we simply supposed to allow a murderer to continue to murder? And allow him to encourage others to do such?

What about Exodus 15:1-21? Verse 1 – I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. Is this not Biblical precedence for a celebration being allowable when an evil murderous person has been taken out? When Pharaoh's army was swallowed by the Sea, God's people sang and danced. Is it wrong for America to do the same?

I will now go out on a limb…As I see Scripture, I believe it is allowable for Americans to take a season not to celebrate death, as much as to celebrate life. Lives will now live b/c a continual murderer has died.

I don't suppose to have an answer to all of the questions, but it seems it has to come down to the reasons for celebration. What are your right reasons for celebrating this, and wrong reasons for celebrating this? Share in the comment section if you'd like…(conspiracy theorists, please keep such thoughts to yourself…thanks…hah!). Let me get us started:

Wrong reason – b/c your heart has been so full of hatred towards this man, and he now gets what he deserved the ugly warthog.

Correct reason – this man has murdered many, and now has been stopped…innocent people will now live b/c of this man's death…

Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'

Romans 13:3-5 ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. ⁴For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.