Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

Merry Christmas!

Just finished up our 2 Sunday services here in Middlebury…what an amazing time celebrating an Amazing Gift!  Our Elkhart Campus saw 5 people make commitments to follow Jesus today...

Merry Christmas!

Why do we do that?

I feel like I've been running since the middle of last week! Had a great time with the Pathway Leadership Team during our yearly retreat this past weekend. It was a bit of a different feel this year as we spent the whole time Saturday asking the question 'Why?' Why do we have Sunday services? Why do we have youth ministry? Why do we do what we do?

We've got a great team of LT members with the heart and passion to see God's vision accomplished!

Habakkuk 2:2 Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.

NLI Helena Video

Great video testimony of the power of the Gospel...Bill and Linda Howell, with Next Level International, will be with us this week in Middlebury, and next week in Elkhart via video. 

EC Students

Heard that they had 16 students at the launch of our Elkhart Campus student ministries this past Wednesday night! How about that…

Elkhart Campus Pics from Oct 18th

This is what it looked like!

Visit from a snake

So I'm sitting in the main office, talking with Debbie, and I see something brown and skinny (about a foot long) slithering across the floor. Debbie screamed, I screamed, then Jason came in and we caught the creepy thing. That is honestly the last thing I ever expected to see in the office today. Jason is a bonified snake handler now.

Elkhart Campus Initial Service

I talked with Jason about how things went at our Elkhart Campus yesterday…aside from a few AV glitch's here and there, things went great! We had 82 people there for our initial service! Yahoo!

Patriot Guard at Funeral

Ok…nobody else was really there yet, so I felt it would be alright to take a picture of the Patriot Guard at Zac TenBrook's funeral this past week. These are volunteer's from all over the area who show up for funerals (on their motorcycles, mostly Harley's) of those in our armed forces who are killed while serving.

They don't just show up though…they lined the entrance of the church with US flags and stood at attention. Though we didn't have any issues with people picketing this funeral, they were ready and more than willing to take care of any issues. It was really an interesting site to behold.

Further thought – people have asked "how did the funeral go?" Uh…I'm never really sure how to answer that about a funeral. It is an honor to be asked to lead a funeral, at the same time, I'd be glad to not do them that often!

This funeral was different in a lot of ways…maybe most different for me b/c of the message I felt led to share. Most of the time at funerals, I share a message bringing comfort to the hurting. But this one was different…I really felt led to preach a challenging message…along the lines of the Legacy series we just finished at Pathway. It's one of those things where you share what you got, and leave it to God!

I encourage you to continue to pray for the TenBrooks over the next few days, weeks, and months…

Marine Zachary TenBrook Funeral Arrangements

The arrangements have been finalized for Zac's viewing and funeral as follows -

Viewing:

Sunday, 1pm-8pm, Miller Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury, IN (Directions here)

Funeral:

Monday, 2pm, River of Life Fellowship, Middlebury, IN (Directions here)

Update on Zac TenBrook Funeral and Viewing

As most of you know, Marine Zac TenBrook passed away last week in truck accident while training in California (read more here). The armed forces don't necessarily work the same as the rest of us…so…it looks like Zac's viewing and funeral will be sometime over the weekend, or possibly first thing next week. Keep checking back for more details. I'll pass them on to you as soon as they are known. We should have more definitive details on Friday afternoon/evening.

Update, 10-9-09………………………… The arrangements have been finalized for Zac's viewing and funeral as follows -

Viewing:

Sunday, 1pm-8pm, Miller Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury, IN (Directions here)

Funeral:

Monday, 2pm, River of Life Fellowship, Middlebury, IN (Directions here)

58 Running with Elkhart Vision

58 people (31 adults, 27 kids!) have signed on from Pathway Middlebury, saying that October 18^th, they are the heart of Pathway Elkhart. I love it!

Inside scoop – my 'in my gut' goal for the Elkhart campus when we started this whole process was 40 people to go with Elkhart…we've already blown that out of the water by 17!

Pathway Middlebury started with 12 people (8 adults and 5 kids)…I think we're already off to a great start!

U.S. Marine, Zachary TenBrook gone

Pathway lost U.S. Marine, Zac TenBrook (both he and his parents, Doug and Kim TenBrook, of Middlebury) yesterday. He had recently been sent to Twentynine Palms, CA, for further training (to be sent to Afghanistan in November). He was involved in a truck accident while in training. Please pray for the family.

We'll pass on more information as available…funeral and viewing arrangements will be discussed Friday afternoon…just pray right now!

Update: Saturday, 10-3-09………………….Bottom line is, it looks as if the viewing and funeral will not be happening until the end of next week/next weekend sometime.

Update: Wednesday, 10-7-09………………. As most of you know, Zac TenBrook passed away last week in truck accident while training in California. The armed forces don't necessarily work the same as the rest of us…so…it looks like Zac's viewing and funeral will be sometime over the weekend, or possibly first thing next week. Keep checking back for more details. I'll pass them on to you as soon as they are known. We should have more definitive details on Friday afternoon/evening.

Update: Friday, 10-9-09…………………… The arrangements have been finalized for Zac's viewing and funeral as follows -

Viewing:

Sunday, 1pm-8pm, Miller Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury, IN (Directions here)

Funeral:

Monday, 2pm, River of Life Fellowship, Middlebury, IN (Directions here)

Free Money

A few years ago, we received a letter from some lady in Indianapolis, informing us that the government owed us some money, and she would be glad to get it back for us (if we pay her a small fee of $50). Thinking it was a scam, I looked into it more in an attempt to turn the lady in to the Better Business Bureau. It turns out, it was for real!

Somehow, in connection with our previous FHA Mortgage on our old house in Middlebury, we had several hundred dollars coming to us! We bypassed our now dear friend from Indy, and filled out the forms for free. A few weeks later, there was a check in our mail box!

Now think about this…that money was ours, the government was just holding on to it. Whether they held on to it, or we received it, it was still our money.

Think about all God is holding for us. Blessing, healing, deliverance, freedom, joy, peace…it's all in his hands. AND IT'S OURS! The moment we surrendered our lives to Jesus was the moment that every promise He makes in the Bible was ours!

He is trying hard to get it to us…but sometimes, we just don't get the message, for whatever reason. We get too busy to really ask. We get to spiritually limp to have faith that he really will do what he says. We end up living far beneath the level of appropriation that God has for us…not b/c it's not there…but b/c we never connect with Him to receive. I realize God is sovereign, but we play a role in this as well! Think on this…

1 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) ²⁰For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Why not join me tonight as we spend time connecting with God at our Middlebury campus…7pm…all His promises are Yes and Amen!

Drywall at EC

Fyi...drywall went up yesterday at our Elkhart Campus...

October 18th – Elkhart Campus

I just saw some preliminary shots from the new camera we'll be using for our Elkhart Campus…good stuff. Thanks again to those of you who gave in the Catapult offering we had earlier this summer so that we could make this purchase!

Honestly, the anticipation is killing me here. This new campus has been years in the making…and to be this close to being able to have another opportunity to reach this region with the Gospel…well…it's exciting to say the least.

Had a great time of prayer last night with a group of about 35 of you…asking God for favor in Elkhart and Middlebury!

Pathway Worship Team

Pathway has been blessed with great musicians like Wes and Derek (who did a phenomenal job leading us in worship last night at Just Pray). If you are gifted in the area of music, let us know! We'd love to see if you would fit on the team…

Thanks for Serving

Over the past few weeks, I've been recording (video) our Sunday morning services with an old TV/VCR combo in my office. We have an old stationary video camera that captures and shoots what's happening in the sanctuary throughout the building. It's not the greatest, but I've been watching the message times, trying to pick up on any of my annoying mannerisms, roaming around in the altar area, etc. I'm wondering if and how anything will need to change once we start recording with the new camera for the Elkhart Campus. I've been listening and critiquing the audio for years…it's a whole other ball game with video!

This week, it wasn't so much the mannerisms that caught my eye, but an omission from the message. In a message geared to encourage people to serve in the "house," I completely forgot to do one thing…THANK THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY SERVING IN THE HOUSE!

There are 65% of you who attend on Sunday mornings who are plugged in, serving, planted in the house, somewhere here at Pathway. Thanks, Thanks, and Thanks for your faithfulness…you blow me away at your willingness to serve Jesus through this local expression of Him!

Pause on the public use of the audible gifts

It's something I've wrestled with since early on in our church's life…it was propelled further by a series called March Madness that I shared in March 07…and has seemingly continued until today…

I had this feeling that there might be a more effective way to:

• Include more in the public use of the gifts during our Sunday morning services…
• Allow the gifts to flow more effectively in the context of the culture of Middlebury, IN, without overstepping clearly stated Biblical commands…
• Help to further define the appropriate use of the gifts…

Obviously, I turned to the Bible to teach me more about this. This led to the March Madness series where for the first time I spent a significant amount of time studying 1 Corinthians 12-14 on my own. I listened to and read a lot of teaching from others…but…my goal was to put everything I had heard and experienced in the past aside, and let the Word speak for itself.

The unintended effect this series had on us as a church was a bit of a pause on the use of the audible gifts in our Sunday services. The gifts of the Holy Spirit were still in motion, don't get me wrong, but the audible gifts of prophecy and tongues/interpretation of tongues, seemed to be paused. This caused every religious bone in my body to be shaken as I knew Scripture says not to forbid it (1 Corinthians 14:29)…but yet, I felt it was the right thing to allow to happen for this season.

I believe this season is over. I believe that perhaps, I have allowed this season to go on for too long? I am completely open to that possibility, and am willing to take the "heat" from God if so deserved.

After much prayer, debate, and discussion with the Staff and Leadership Team (over the course of the past 2 ½ yrs), I think it's time we share what we sense 1 Corinthians 12-14 says about the subject, and I'll be doing such over the next 2 weeks at Pathway.

Let me encourage you to do the following:

1. Pick up a copy of the March Madness series (cd and notes) at the Welcome Center this week, and use it as your devotional time over the next week or two. Or you can listen online here…
2. Join me in putting aside every preconceived idea/experience of what the appropriate use of the audible gifts are in a public worship setting, and let's let the Word and the Holy Spirit have a clean slate to speak to us on. I grew up in this stuff…if you did too, then let's submit all of our past experience with the audible gifts to the Lord and let Him speak.
3. MOST IMPORTANTLY: In the midst of the discussion, don't lose sight of the most important thing in all of this – Mark Driscoll says it best in this quote - The gifts of God are dispensed through the Spirit of God so that the church of God, can minister like the Son of God! It's not about what you or I want, or are comfortable with…it's about you and I being empowered to love God more and love others more! That's the bottom line!

I love you church…I believe the next few weeks will be pivotal in our attempt to get BIGGER in 2009!

Prayer - Sept 2, 16, 30

Are you in for 1 hour of intense prayer and worship...September 2, 16, 30???

September Prayer from Scott Miller on Vimeo.

Are you connected to a Local Church?

You read the book of Acts, and the Apostle Paul was absolutely adamant about starting CHURCHES. He didn't start Christian coffee houses. He didn't start Christian TV or Radio. He didn't start soup kitchens, or clothes closets. Of course, there is nothing wrong with any of these things and all of these areas of ministry not only have their place, but God can use powerfully! But NOT on their own. All of these should come along side the local church, and help accomplish the vision of the local church…period.

So, what then ought to be our interaction with the local church? How do we live out this Biblical value in the way we give of our time, talent and treasure in the local church?

I'll tackle this more in a message tomorrow (Sunday)…Question today though – are you in the house? Are you planted in the house…a local expression of Christ?

Psalms 92:13 ¹³    planted in the house of the LORD,

    they will flourish in the courts of our God.

Planted in the House...Serve Here Serve There

 

Jesus said that He didn't come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10).  I know that we ought to approach everything with prayer...but at the same time...let's not overspiritualize this!  If there's an opportunity to serve at Pathway that you would enjoy serving in, sign up now!  Make it happen!

This Sunday, we are going to hit all of the area's of opportunity for you to serve here at Pathway!  Check them out on the pdf's below...

Download Serve Here Booklet

Download Serve There Booklet

227 S. Main St., Elkhart Campus

A large portion of 227 S. Main St., Elkhart, is now ours!

Our goals were:

• Somewhere right downtown, preferably on Main Street. CHECK
• Ample parking. CHECK – STREET PARKING AND PLAZA PARKING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
• 1 large area for "sanctuary space" to seat 125-150, and 2 other areas for nursery and Kid's Church. CHECK – SANCTUARY IS ARCHITECTURALLY PLANNED OUT TO SEAT A MAX OF 160 CHAIRS plus ROOM FOR THE 2 OTHER AREAS WE NEED
• Not absolutely necessary, but it would be nice to be able to have it all week (so that we wouldn't have to setup and tear down…and we could also have space to have our youth ministry, or other mtngs throughout the week). CHECK – It's ours all week, every day, no need to setup or tear down!

Really have a sense that God has placed us exactly where He wants us facility wise. But the truth is…this building isn't the church…you are…and the good news is…He has placed you exactly where He wants you to be too!

Good stuff…

Hillsong United - The Time Has Come

Pathway's Worship team is working on this song ...

Summer Festival Video

Through rain...through water balloon chaos...and through shaving cream in your ears...the Festival Games must go on!  Watch this...

2009 Middlebury Summer Festival from Scott Miller on Vimeo.

Reach one more for Jesus

Ugh…Just watched the live video from the A/G General Council happening in Orlando right now. Herbert Cooper just brought a simple, but powerful message about reaching one more for Jesus. It really has rocked me a bit…convicted me a bit…stirred me a bit…ugh…

It's not about how many we have, it's about reaching one more…Pathway Middlebury is not about maintaining, it's about reaching one more. Pathway Elkhart isn't about simply duplicating what's happening in Middlebury, it's about reaching one more from Elkhart. Corporately, individually, it's about reaching one more…

You can watch the video of the service here if you're interested…

Preparation and Faith

This is what I saw yesterday at Pathway…Preparation and Faith:

• Outside, parking lot clean and bushes trimmed.
• Clean building prepared by our custodians.
• Greeters on time at the front doors, ushers posted and smiling at their assigned doors.
• Coffee brewing by 8am, filling the foyer with coffee smell.
• A/V guys there early, prepared to make the 8:15am sound check as successful as possible.
• Worship team practiced up and prayed up.
• Head Ushers going the extra mile (as usual), giving me my 2 room temperature waters and 1 cold water for Adam (you may think this is a bit pretentious, but in this one simple act, these guys honor me week after week…and help me keep my voice!).
• Pathopolis Kids Ministry/Nursery geared up to love on our kids, and help them experience the presence of God.
• Great message from England's own Adam Loughrey (even if he did talk about pimples on your hind end, how England has govt Health care so we ought to also, and had Mike Holloway singing a solo in the middle of the 2^nd service preaching time, etc.).
• AND FAITH! There was a sense of tangible faith in the room as we worshiped together, prayed together, gave together, responded together...I can't tell you the last time I sensed such expectancy from you church as we entered into both services.

So…we can live off of yesterday's "fire" if you will (to borrow from Adam's message)…or we can live on today's fresh food from God! Dig into the Word today…stay in an attitude of prayer all day…approach today, and everyday this week, with that same attitude of expectancy and faith…then let's just see what God does for us Sunday as we come together to celebrate corporately!

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."

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)