Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

Monday in Elkhart

Monday in Elkhart from Scott Miller on Vimeo.

Haircuts on the House...of God

Just heard that the Intrigue/Pathway crew will be giving out 80 free haircuts on Saturday!  Good stuff!

Read more about what they are doing in this pdf...Download FREE HAIRCUT SATURDAY...

Keith’s last Monday night

The 365 staff did a great job of throwing a goodbye party for Keith and Lacei last night…one of the gifts was a heaping, and I mean heaping, pile of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Pieces…

Pathway Elkhart – Serving There

Pictures from this past weekends serving opportunity for the Elkhart Campus at the Two Rivers Meet Race…Good Stuff!

Pathopolis Opps

A couple of weeks ago, Megan and I took a little time to chat with the church about what's happening in our Pathopolis Kid's Ministry. It's good stuff!

If you'd like to be a part in any way, the opportunity is here! If you're desire is to plug into the Nursery (infants and toddlers) or any of our Kids Church's (from Pre-school all the way up to 5^th grade), bring it on!

Let us know at the church office (office@pathwayag.com) and we'll get you connected with Megan!

(thanks to Rob Smith for the picture)

Free Haircut Saturday

Katrina Miller, owner of Intrigue Salon in Middlebury (and Pathway person), came up with the idea of offering a day to the community in need for free haircuts! A couple of other hair stylists in the Pathway congregation have jumped in to provide their services as well. Using the gifts God has given you to serve others…I love it!

Not sure if I can share all the information just yet, but it will be happening soon.

Serve Here – Serve There! Good stuff!

Serve 2...Usher/Nursery Structure Changes

This past Sunday I talked about some changes to our Usher's and Nursery structure that will help us facilitate more effective ministry!  The audio of my talk is below if you missed it...

The Basics...

We are working under a nursery and ushering structure that was created for a church with one service (which we are not), therefore, something needs to change!  We are asking all involved in these ministries if they would be willing to serve in both services, and less often (goal being once every two months). 

Other stuff...

We'd like to break with a church tradition that started somewhere, and invite any of you ladies who would be willing to serve in the usher area to step up and serve!  Also, we'd like to ask that if you have a child who takes part in our infant or 2's and 3's class (soon to be a Toddler Nursery - listen to the talk to hear why), would you be willing to serve? 

Once we get this thing rolling in July, I think we'll all see the wisdom in the new structure.  Do what you can to give this puppy a try for the next 6 months, and then let's go from there!  Thanks Church!

Download Structure Changes Talk

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Elkhart, Elkhart and more Elkhart

Marshall King, Elkhart Truth's news editor and food columnist, just stopped by my office…great to put a face with the email/name. Megan and I started reading his Monday column entitled Dining A La King several years ago, and we've emailed back and forth a few times. Sounds like he's taken on a new role there at the Truth…good for him!

Headed to Elkhart this afternoon to meet with Steve Gruber, director of Downtown Elkhart, Inc. We'll be talking about what's available for our new Elkhart campus to use for our meeting space this fall. Ought to be a fun afternoon…

I love this…absolutely love this…before we ever have one service in Elkhart, our Elkhart Campus core team will be hitting the streets and serving! One of those opportunities is happening this weekend with Elkhart's Two Rivers Meet Race. They'll be handing out water, etc…just serving…just loving on the community…connecting with the community…learning from the community…I love it!

He's My Son...the Preacher

One of my dad’s favorite things to do when we were kids was to get the tape recorder out and interview us/record our voices.  The first tape (which was reel to reel by the way) is dated back in 1968.  Last summer, as a bit of a labor of love, I got all of these tapes out and transferred them to mp3 format. 

When I heard the clip below…well…I cried.  I pray I’ve been as affirming to my kids (starting when they were only a few months old like I was).  I’m using this in my message tomorrow (May 17^th). 

(fyi…the little kid giggling in the background is my sister Shayne Cripe)

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Denise Loney Funeral

For those of you who are a part of Pathway, Denise Loney's Funeral will be Saturday, 2pm, @ Pathway.  There will be no visitation or viewing.  We are planning on having a funeral dinner for the family and guests following the funeral.  If you are available to help, contact Denise Turner @ 825-8028.

Why I love Pathway

Pathway lost one of our members early this morning (Wednesday).  Denise Loney went to be with Jesus after several months of hospital stays (in and out), this last one for 2 weeks.  They were in the midst of transferring her from Goshen General Hospital to a hospital in Indy (literally in the ambulance), when her heart failed, and she was gone from us (but with the Lord).  Please pray for her husband Al, their twin girls - Renee and Abigail (9), and their twin boys - Dylan and Timothy (14).  I'll try to post viewing/service info here on my blog.

Why do I love Pathway? One reason is how amazing our Life Group leaders are at times like these.  The Loney's are connected to Dave and Denise Turner's LG...and the group is already stepping up to serve them (and have been, through the numerous hospital stays over the past few months).  This is it...doing life together...celebrating the good...crying and listening through the not so good.  I love you church. 

Ken Brown’s 13k

A few weeks ago, we had Pathway Missionary, Ken Brown (who is a Yale grad, not Harvard by the way…so sue me), speak to us at Pathway about what's happening in DC through Urban Outreach. Here's a picture from the 13k he ran this past Sunday…he suggested that next time, Jay Covert and myself ought to join him…I think I might fast and pray about that…then dig into a meal at the Essenhaus…hehe…

Town Hall For Hope - Video

FYI…Town Hall For Hope is now available online and DVD. You can get a hold of it here…

Elkhart Campus, LG Leaders Retreat, and Just Pray

It's the end of a Wednesday for me…

• Spent the majority of my day today with Jason (the fearless Elkhart Campus pastor) focusing on Elkhart Campus stuff…mtng…talking…trying to think about not only what ministry looks like in Elkhart, but what it looks like in Middlebury!
• Gearing up for next weekend's (May 8-9) Life Group Leaders Retreat…I really enjoy the opportunity to speak into leaders like this!
• Spent the evening with about 40-50 Pathway people at our April Just Pray event…praying…worshiping Jesus…looking to Scripture…really was a great night! We took a few moments to pray over Al and Mary Mishler (they will be relocating to South Carolina next Tuesday). The Mishler's have played a huge part in our LG ministry! They will be missed!

Monday Highlights

• Hand signing about 170 letters going out to all you amazing Pathway givers…(quarterly giving report)…I don't mind those hand cramps…your faithfulness to "Bring It" to God floors me…
• Lunch with our Elkhart Campus Pastor (Jason Brooks) and GCC's Elkhart Campus Pastor, Jeff Bell. Get this…Jeff graduated from Penn High School in 1992…the same year I graduated from Northridge…Jeff went to college in Springfield, MO, from 1992-1996…the same years that I did (he was at the Baptist school, I was at the A/G school)…Jeff has a happening hair do as you can see from his blog picture…I…well…did I mention we graduated in the same year?
• Tonight, I got to hear 2 young men (that makes me feel so old to call someone a young man) preach the Word at our 365 youth services (middle school and high school)…one for the very first time (Wes Hershberger), and the other's been doing it for a while (Matt Holloway)…you really can't put into words the blessing a pastor feels in seeing young men and women be raised up under your ministry, filled with such a passion for ministry! (it also speaks to the great families we have, as well as leadership we have in our kid's and student ministries!)

Stronger Part 2

Just one last thought on this Stronger message…I really feel like God gave me a word for our church concerning the connection of contentment, and walking in Christ's strength. The topic of contentment is huge, and a lot more could be said about it. But, the message from this past Sunday, was a direct word, from the Word, for many of us at Pathway.

Here it is in a nutshell – your level of contentment (in any given area of your life) is directly equivalent to your level of walking in Christ's strength. Take a few minutes to re-listen to it if you have to, but make sure you get what the Holy Spirit is trying to stretch us in here!

Easter/Resurrection

He's alive…He's not dead…some say its foolishness…the Bible says it's truth…my life says it's truth…He is truth!

I love Easter/Resurrection weekend…looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow church!

Easter Sunday - STRONGER

I've been working most of today on my message for the next two Sundays. Really excited to share some thoughts about the strength of God with you!

How is it that when I am weak, I am actually strong? Invite someone to come with you and be your guest this week at Pathway!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We do not consider ourselves a Christian Nation - President Obama

President Obama says that "we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation." 

What do you say?  Do these comments represent your thoughts?

March numbers…

Just got some Pathway numbers in from March…

• Near record attendance average…
• Record monthly giving to our regular Mission's Fund (that we use to support our missionaries)…
• The strongest financial month we've had for the General Fund in probably a year (forgot what it felt like to be in the black)…
• 17 people made a commitment to follow Christ in March!

Rough around the edges, but timely

I place a high value on having a sense of what God wants to do in a particular weekend service at Pathway. I don't want to over spiritualize things, but at the same time, by the time I get up to speak on Sunday, I want there to be a confirmation that this is God's word for the day.

This past Sunday, I just didn't feel it. I had prepared my message for Sunday throughout the week. I had studied well and hard, but as I got ready to head to the church Sunday (was actually in the shower), I had this thought drop into my heart…have I really spent the time this week in prayer over this message? Is this just a good message, or is it God's message for the day? Ugh…

5 minutes later, while brushing my teeth, God and I had this little discussion that sounded like this… "uh, God…it's me…sooooooo…I honestly am concerned that this week I've been more concerned with preaching what I thought needed to be shared, and less of what your heart is for today…I'll roll with whatever you have, but you've got to show me."

Long story short, I think we ended up with a message that was less prepared, rough around the edges, but timely. Lesson learned…

Town Hall For Hope - Dave Ramsey

Fyi...Pathway will be a host site on Thursday, April 23rd, for Dave Ramsey's Town Hall For Hope live video simulcast. 

More info to come...2 minute video below will explain more...

3 Places 3 People

About a month ago, I challenged you with the idea of praying regularly for 3 places and 3 people. I've found that if I'm not regularly praying for people who have yet to come to know Christ, or even for God to use me to touch them, it doesn't happen!

So, how are you doing? We prayed all month long in February for God to give us His eyes for others…has it changed anything?

(this is meant to be rhetorical, as well as…well…whatever the opposite of rhetorical is…in other words, feel free to leave a comment)

Madagascar Update

Just received an email from Jay Rostorfer, our missionary to Madagascar. You might remember we prayed for the growing unrest in their country last month. They have now been advised to leave the country ASAP for their safety. Here's an excerpt from their email:

Since our last communication with you last week, things have gotten much worse here in Madagascar.  There has been a mutiny within the army, there is talk of a possible military takeover of the government, violence in the streets has escalated, attacks on governments officials has begun, etc...  Needless to say, the situation has become very serious.

As a result, it is the decision of Assemblies of God World Missions for the missionaries to evacuate the country immediately.  What that means for our family is that we will be flying to Nairobi, Kenya on the first available flight out of the country, which is Saturday.  We will spend the time until the flight making all necessary arrangements for our ministries, personal possessions & packing bags to leave.

How can you pray?

• For our safety over the next few days. 
• For the flights to continue from all airlines.
• For the national church and believers.  This political situation has them very shaken up. 
• For our daughters.  Our girls are tough and are able to handle a lot, but this kind of sudden upheaval can affect anyone. 
• For our finances.  This kind of change for our family will be quite costly.

Feed the Children Middlebury Food Drop

We had a blast unloading and giving away food today in Middlebury to pushing 400 families!  I threw the following video footage together when I got home tonight...

R3

In this week's Sunday message, I reference a foundational series of messages I did back in May of 2007, dealing with what it looks like to be relevant. You can listen to the first message here, or you should be able to get to most of them here.

Real Life

Real God

Real World

Structural Change – Worship Team

I've blogged a couple of thoughts lately on change. Let me dive deeper into another area that is changing, morphing, moving forward, here at Pathway…

Worship Team:

The Multi-Site thing has sparked this change. We have structured our worship team the same way for 8 years now. It's time that we create a new structure for our worship team. The end result will still look much the same (a team of gifted, passionate for Jesus, men and women leading us in worship from week to week), but will be structured in such a way that it is more reproducible from campus to campus. Another goal is to create a structure that will allow more room for creativity, as well as a clearer defined on ramp for new members to join. In this new structure, I see us moving away from one huge worship team, and creating multiple teams.

These are just a few of the idea's concerning the new structure that I started thinking about last summer. This past January, I started mulling it over with our worship team leader, Derek Kidder. After discussion, it became real clear to us that if we were really going to overhaul this ministry, we may need to bring it to an end! What? Cancel worship team? What in the world are you thinking?

Remember guys, I was the one who set the direction for the worship team 8 years ago. I understand the pain of looking at a structure you setup, that needs to be broken down, and rebuilt. But that's where we are at. It's not that what we had was broken in any way, it's just that the Holy Spirit is wanting to do something new! Something fresh!

I've asked all of our worship team members to step back for the next 2-3 months. Sit in the congregation and just worship with us, without the focus of leading others. Take a much deserved break!

In the mean time, while we are trying to discern what this new structure looks like, we'll create a hodge-podge of different musicians and singers (from our current team) to lead us over the next 2-3 months. Some weeks, we may have one guitarist and a singer. Other weeks, we may bring back a full team. Any way you slice it, HEAR ME ON THIS ONE – WE ARE NOT CANCELING OUR SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC WORSHIP TIME!!! We will continue to have worship as long as there is a God worthy to be worshiped! Our corporate music worship time is a vital part of what we do on Sunday's, and it will continue to be! We're just going to try some different elements, and definitely a different structure.

If you have any questions on this, or ideas, shoot me an email at scottm@pathwayag.com! I know change is not always the most comfortable time, but if a season of 'different', can lead to a season of 'more effective', I know you agree – it's worth every bit of it!

Thanks for rolling with us on this one…

Structural Change – Multi-Site

I've blogged a couple of thoughts lately on change. Let me dive deeper into an area that is changing, morphing, moving forward, here at Pathway…

Multi-Site:

Going to a Multi-Site model of "doing church" (one church, many campuses) does not JUST effect the new campus, it effects all the campuses! I wouldn't say you will see major change in the way we do things on the Middlebury campus as we start the Elkhart campus, but there will be change.

Part of that change is simply all of us stepping up and taking on the opportunity to serve! As we send some of us out to Elkhart, this will open up new windows of opportunity for you to take on the ministry positions they've held here in Middlebury. We can choose to focus on the sacrifice of stepping up to fill the empty spaces, or we can look at it as an opportunity for God to stretch us and take us to the next level too!

There's a load of other things I can and will share on this, but one thing I can't do is to over emphasize how much I want you to be a part of our Multi-Site nights coming up in a week. Get more info here and plan on being there…

Cha-Cha-Change

I'm not one who lives for change. Like most humans, I am very comfortable in my regular routines. I would be perfectly willing to eat the same meals (taco's, spaghetti, home-made chicken strips with mashed potatoes, meatloaf with baked potatoes, this funny looking noodle stuff that Megan mixes with olive oil, broccoli and chicken, etc.) every week of my life (much to the chagrin of my eager to try new stuff wife).

But I've learned, there are times and seasons when things need to change. There are times when the Holy Spirit places His finger on something and says, "right there…that needs to change." Sure, it's not like you hear an audible voice or anything, but in your spirit, you know something needs to change.

The challenge with change in my life, is very few times do I know why things need to change, I just know they need to change. This drives some people crazy, but I tend to enjoy it. I'm not smart enough to know the 'why' for everything, but I think I have learned to be sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit to recognize His nudge in an area. Not infallible, not without ever missing it a bit, but a strong sense of the Holy Spirit's leading.

Do you like change?

Missionaries to India Meals

2 Sundays ago, we prayed at Pathway for one of our missionaries to India who had an opportunity to eat with two different families that weekend, both of whom were definitely not following Christ. Here's a blog post of their weekend! Check it out…

No sacred cows

For 8 years now, we've tried to build a culture of change into Pathway. Meaning, there are no sacred cows. Everything is open to change (other than our doctrine, core values, etc.). Maybe I should clarify, all METHODS we use today can, and probably ought to, change from time to time.

Our buildings have changed. Our service times have changed. Our Sunday morning coffee choices have changed. Our Missions methodology has changed. Our Kids Ministry has changed (curriculum, rooms, and age breakdown). Our Student Ministry has changed. Our staff has changed. My underwear has changed, many times (sorry, just had to throw that in to make sure you're still with me). My role has changed. Our Small Groups have changed into Life Groups, therefore, changing their focus.

Any church who settles in, and decides never to change, will soon find themselves in a place of plateau and inward focus. This is not healthy or effective in helping that church to move forward into reaching new people for Christ, and helping the already convinced grow.

Why the talk of change and sacred cows? B/c there's changes on the horizon for Pathway…not earth shattering change, just different, new, fresh, change…

What is it? I'll share more later…

365 Baptism

This video was put together with footage from our baptism night at Pathway's 365 Student Ministries a couple of Months ago.  What a great night...

Missions...Maybe Later

Opportunity...that's what we are looking at right now when it comes to giving towards home and foreign missions.  This past Sunday, we had a huge chunk of our church take a step of faith, and commit to give to reach the world for Christ.  Would you join them this Sunday? 

Or...maybe later?

Pathway’s Wes Gorsuch in the news

Check out this article about Goshen Health Systems (aka the hospital in Goshen), including video and a quote from Pathway's Wes Gorsuch! Wes oozes a servant's heart…good stuff!

Direct video link here…

32 minute message

Just wanted the world to know that I preached a 32 minute message this past Sunday in second service…that may very well be a record short message for me. (interesting how the same message took me 39 minutes in 1^st service, but that was including the intro video which was cut from second service)

How about that…

Agenda Alert

 

AGENDA ALERT - yes sir, I do have an agenda with this current series we're in!  What is that agenda?  It's God's agenda!  Ultimately, it's that you and I would do everything we can to accomplish Acts 1:8 - "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  Our call is to reach Middlebury, Elkhart, Northern Indiana, the U.S., and the World!  We can't get away from it.  If we are Christ followers, this has got to be our passion.  This month can't just be another missions/outreach focused month on the yearly preaching calendar.  We've got to dive in! 
 
This means every person in our church being ready to do whatever needs to be done.  If it means being a greater steward of the Middlebury campus, I'm there.  Not only am I there, but I'm there early, and ready to serve in my area of ministry.  If it means giving up my comfort of the "known," and heading out to the Elkhart campus, I'm there.  Whatever God is asking me to do, whatever is going to help accomplish the vision of the house, I'm there!  I'm not looking for a title or a reward, just here to serve the house. 
 
In a week or two, I'm going to ask you to make a faith promise as to what you feel God can give through you over the next year towards reaching our region, our country, and our world with the Gospel.  I am completely aware of the financial crisis most all of us are in.  But this is the great thing about giving...it's not equal giving, but equal sacrifice!  We all can do something! 
 
Don't stop giving through this season.  Bring the tithe, and then over and above that, give what you can.  There will never be a day in heaven that you will come to me complaining about how often I challenged you to give to God and His work!  Make this a matter of prayer...
 
Giving/going is the obvious, hands down, measure of someone who has God's eyes for others.  Giving of your time, talent, and treasure!  It has to be more than a Christian obligation thing, or a "the pastor said I should, and I know I should" type thing, it's got to be something burned into your heart. 
 
As we continue in this series...as we come together to pray next Wednesday...would you ask God to give you His eyes? 
 
Have a great rest of the week church...

Prayer - Am I missing something?

I had a strange thought come to me today as I spent time in prayer. I guess I wouldn't so much say it was "strange" as much as it was just different (I have this annoying habit of thinking that anything different has got to be strange).

Am I missing something? This was the prayer I felt led to pray today. It wasn't like I had a burning bush experience or anything…but I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit prodding me to pray this prayer for a few days…Am I missing something? In my busyness…in my laziness…in my whatever-else-ness…am I missing something the Holy Spirit is trying to say to me?

You ever pray this kind of prayer?

Burundi in your undie

Just got back from lunch with Missionaries to Burundi, Brett and Joan Nelson. What great people, with a more than evident call to the country of Burundi…you could say God's given them His eyes for Burundi.

Whenever I read or hear about the country of Burundi, I can't help but to think of my Southern Hemisphere Geography class, with teacher John Weaver, at Northridge High School. A classmate and I made up little sayings and songs to try to help memorize the different countries. If you mispronounce Burundi, it sounds a bit like undies, which made a great rhyme that I still remember. It was a bit sophomoric, but it worked!

The Up

I just found out today that Disney/Pixar has made a new film (coming out May 29, 2009) using the name of our new 1^st-5^th grade class – the UP. I'm going to have my lawyer talk to their lawyer, as it seems they did not speak to us before using said name.

(just in case you stumbled upon this blog and think I'm serious…I'm not…at least about a lawsuit against Disney…I am being honest in that we named our class before having any knowledge of the movie…and also, at this point in my life, I have no lawyer…though there is a family friend of Megan's family that has given me a whole lot of free advice…I'm sure you'll sleep better knowing that)

Coming in February…Give Me Your Eyes

Mere days before Jesus died, Luke 19 says he approached Jerusalem, and cried. He wept over it. We all know the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept," but this was different. No one died. No one was sick and in need of being healed. Yet Jesus wept…again. Why? B/c his heart so broke over the city of Jerusalem. It welled up inside of him and he could hold it no longer.

Do you think God could give us his heart, his eyes, for Middlebury? What about for our new campus getting ready to launch this fall in Elkhart? What about this whole region of northern Indiana? What about as Robby and Tracy Bradford, and Todd and Amanda Tyson, head off to France to start churches all over that country…could he give us his eyes for France? All of Europe? All of Africa? All of North and South America? Every continent we've got where there are people that need Him?

Get ready for God to move your heart, and for him to give you HIS eyes…

Middlebury Prays 24/7 Update

Just went out to fill my slot for prayer at the Café Crossing (along with a load of you)! It really is exciting guys. Yesterday, all over Middlebury, churches traded pastors…this week, churches from all over Middlebury, come together to pray, everyday, 7 days straight, 24 hours a day…Next Sunday night, people from all over Middlebury come together for a night of music, and communion…representatives from most every church in Middlebury there, taking communion together…it's going to be an amazing week…more info on all the weeks happenings here.

(fyi…Sunday night event happening at Middlebury Church of the Brethren, 6pm)

 

    

Washington Park Church

 

 

 

About a year ago, a team of us went to help work on a new church plant near East St. Louis, in Washington Park, IL (this is a church plant out of Urban Outreach, with Jay Covert). Here's an update on what's going on!

Prayer – God Breathe on Us

I'm finishing up my message for Sunday today, and this thought keeps coming to my mind. As we get ready to kick off 7 days of 24 hour prayer here in Middlebury, make this your prayer – GOD BREATHE ON US. Every time God breathed into or onto something, GREAT things happened.

• He breathed into the nostrils of Adam, and fresh life came.
• He breathed into those in the valley of the dry bone (Ezekiel 37), and fresh life came!
• He breathed on the disciples, and new, fresh life came!!!

Take a minute right now to lay it out to God…Breathe on us Holy Spirit…every church…every person (saved or unsaved)…Breath of Heaven breathe on us now!!!

Amen.

Pathway Fast

We're on day 2 of the Pathway fast. I felt like I ought to do a Daniel fast (fruits and vegetables only), so I'm taking it on! I honestly think an all food fast (just drinking liquids) is easier than a Daniel fast. Anyhow…

Had a great day of prayer yesterday, and a great time of prayer this morning with the staff. Looking forward to the culmination of all of this fasting with a Just Pray event on Wednesday night…that is…if we don't get snowed out!

What are you praying for Scott? I'm glad you asked…

• That God would teach me to Play Hurt…and not let trials derail me from His purpose!
• That God would further define my role as I'm Planted in this House (Pathway).
• That God would give me further insight on how I can best study his Word, and get the most out of it…I want it to Grip me, and I want to Grip it!
• That God would give wisdom as we further develop the team to head to Elkhart this fall.
• For wisdom as to the "how" we "do" missions here at Pathway.
• How to re-structure different ministries in the church to be more effective.
• Leaders…that God would give wisdom as we choose new leaders here at the Middlebury, and the Elkhart campuses.

Of course there are other family type things I'm praying about…but that's the major Pathway stuff! God's best to you in your fasting journey my friend!

The Week Before Christmas…and other Sewage Tales

What most of you didn't know was how close we were to having to find another venue for our Christmas service this past Sunday! You see, on Thursday, Dec. 18^th, a certain vital piece of equipment decided to give out at the church…the device that takes the waste from our bathrooms, shreds it, and shoots it down the driveway to the connection to the city's sewer system at US 20. (maybe that's too much information?)

So, it's Friday morning, and literally, if we don't get this thing taken care of ASAP, we can't have services there on Sunday (remember also that Friday morning we woke up to a snow/ice storm). Never fear, C & E, is here. (C & E being the company that installed it in the first place) They had what we needed, but it was in Indianapolis! If we could pick it up, they could fix it.

So, fearless staff member Jason, took off in the Ford like a runner out of the starting blocks, for a 3 hour trip to Indy, and a 3 hour trip back from Indy…in hopes of getting back by 4pm so the C & E guys could get it done! He did, they did, and now you can (go to the bathroom that is).

In memory of the whole episode, I felt a bit inspired to write the following moving poem:

The Week Before Christmas

 

Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the church,

Not a toilet could flush, for a pump we must search,

Not in Goshen, or Elkhart, or South Bend twould be found,

Not in Fort Wayne or Kokomo, but to Indy we're bound,

 

A new pumps what we needed, the model be newer,

To shoot the waste out, to the city's keen sewer,

It seems it's been stuck, in our tank down below,

Only the smell there, would lead us to know,

 

Deliver he must, deliver he would,

To install before Sunday, assuming they could,

Get the thing working, get the thing running,

It's just human waste doesn't need too much cunning,

 

Ah yes it is fixed now, it's okay if we flush,

Relax and please know, that it really is slush,

That is collecting outside, in the nice rocky area,

Not stuff we don't want, causing disease and malaria!  (does raw sewage cause malaria?)

 

FYI…Yes, that is a hand sticking out of the septic tank in the picture above…

Sunday Night Thoughts

• It is cold…like -4 degrees cold…
• 5 people gave their lives to Christ this weekend…GOOD STUFF!
• Did you know our services almost didn't happen at our facility today? More on that in a post tomorrow…
• Our worship team did a great job of leading us…not to mention the creative use of lighting by the AV guys...see pic below…
• The kids' testimonies from our service today were over the top powerful. Listen to the podcast when it's posted tomorrow…fast forward to about ¾ of the way into the message…listen as 5 of our Pathway kids share how God has been big in their lives!
• In second service, I think I might have actually said the word 'fart' while reading a passage of scripture…can I use that word on this blog? I guess I just did. I didn't glance anywhere near where Keith or Jason were sitting, as I knew I would lose it. One of those times I was glad the sanctuary was dark!

   

  

Tuesday Thoughts: Snow, Girly Soup, Skunks, and Keys by my Pillow

• They are calling for 3-5 inches of snow by morning…how about that!!!
• As much as I hate to say it, Panera "Girly Restaurant" Bread broccoli cheese soup is delicious…had some for dinner last night and lunch today (leftovers).
• Really pumped about this Sunday's Christmas message…I've invited all of the kids who shared their "Big God" testimonies at the kids program this past Sunday night to share them again on Sunday!
• Yes, it still smells like skunk in the building. (you can read about it here)
• Still trying to figure out why I woke up Sunday morning with my wedding ring on my right hand and my car keys in between Megan's pillow and mine. Huh…word from God maybe?
• Pathway Note - I received a mailing from Jason and Sarah Furrow (our Missionaries to Honduras) today including a rewind of what God's done there in 2008. I'll leave info at the Welcome Center if you're interested.

A good day to you…

Sunday Night’s Run Down

Sunday Night's run down:

• Had 2 great services this morning…not sure why, but the guy who was speaking spoke for an hour in both services…what's his deal anyhow?
• Really felt like the Holy Spirit was helping deal with the touchy subject of moola!
• God still moved despite the decision of a skunk to lie down and die (expelling every bit of stink he had, all over the ground) right underneath where the sanctuary furnace pulls in its 'fresh' air. Oh, it was fresh alright…
• Tonight's kids Christmas thing was GREAT! Our kids did a great job of sharing about their 'Great Big God.' Huge thanks to all of the teachers and leaders who helped pull this thing off!
• We packed over 400 people in the church tonight (including the kids). I forget how many were in the sanctuary…somewhere around 300 I think, not including those on stage.
• Gary Cripe, once again made an appearance in tights…starring as Captain Christmas. Last year's pic here…
• Delightful cookies following the kids program.
• I am tired…wiped out…that's a great feeling at the end of a Sunday.

CVM Church Garage Sale - FREE

Pastor Chris Garner, and Crystal Valley Missionary Church, are putting on a FREE garage sale this weekend.  What a great idea! 

This Friday 9am - 5pm, and this Saturday 9am - 1pm, at their church (right accross the street from the Essenhaus). 

If you have a need, or somemone you know does, send them out!  More info by calling 825-3206. 

Family first…

I've worked hard at trying to lead the way in keeping my family #1 in my life (behind the Lord of course). This is something I try to drill into the staff as well, and they've caught it! I'm proud of our staff at Pathway. They really love our church, but their focus is on their families.

I'm not saying the 3 of us never have our struggles in keeping balance, but as you listen to the prayer requests we throw around with each other at our weekly staff prayer time, you see this passion shine through. This just blew me away yesterday as we prayed together…Good stuff…

Proverbs 14:26 He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.