Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

Yikes…2 weeks!

I can't believe it's only 2 weeks before I'm back at Pathway! To say I'm excited to get back to things would be an understatement. This time off has been over the top…amazing…timely…dream inspiring…did I say amazing? Really…every pastor needs one of these things. I can't even put it into words guys. I am so blessed to lead a church that would allow me to take three stinking months off to just chill, dream, connect, disconnect, blah blah…you know what I'm saying.

August 4^th, here I come…

Lighter side of Sabbatical Part 3 – It’s a Small World to Pinocchio

Warning – this is a long post…if you'd like to read about my shorts falling down, read on…you were warned…

This Lighter Side actually happened a month ago when we were hanging out at Disney's Magic Kingdom. Didn't realize it, but the end of May and June are called the rainy season in Florida. Rainy Season can be translated – it will rain every day, at least once, usually in the afternoon.

While waiting in line for the It's a Small World ride, we started getting rained on (in line). So we got a bit wet, not too bad though. Then a boy in line in front of us decided it was time to toss his pizza up. That was gross, but not really gross. What was really gross was when the Disney crew threw a bunch of that stuff that soaks it all up (like wood shavings or whatever) on top of it, and then decided to walk away and leave it there (not wiping it up).

Now, when you are in line for a ride at Disney, you have one thing in mind…GET ON THE RIDE! You aren't looking down wondering what you are stepping in or anything like that. Sure enough, the people herd in front of us (much like cattle) actually stepped in the stuff and drug it through the rest of the line. I saw pieces of the soak it up stuff on the floor as I was getting on the ride (at least 4 mind-numbing lanes from the incident)! Finally, a Disney "cast member" as they called them came by to direct traffic.

While in line under the cover of the building (and by the tossed up pizza), and on the ride, it really started to rain (and lightning, and thunder) outside. We didn't think much of it until we were finished with the ride. We got to the exit and the place was packed with people who didn't want to go out in the downpour and thunder and lightning…and neither did I! Another one of the Disney cast member's came and said, "I'm sorry folks, but you all (crash of thunder)…(awkward pause)…have to exit." Yah right, I wasn't seeing him running out there in the lightning!

We finally decided to grin and bear it, and make like a panther over to the Pinocchio food court (just a half a football field away). I held our youngest in my arms, and Megan and our eldest were left to run on their own. I really can't tell you how ridiculously silly we looked…wish I had a video.

My eldest child (btw – Megan and I decided when I started this blog not to mention the names of our kids, nor put pictures of them on here…thus the eldest and youngest thing…if you'd like to know their names, listen to my podcast regularly…as there is now a mad rush to the podcast page) skimmed right across the water much like Jesus walked on water. Megan had flip flops on and could hardly run in them (she runs like a girl anyhow…hah!), so she was bringing up the rear. Speaking of the rear, that's exactly what I was concerned about…my rear…you see, my shorts were not used to the run I guess and decided it would be a great time to drop down to my ankles. They never really made it down there, but get a mind picture of me, holding my youngest as close to me as possible, trudging through a couple inches of water, dodging the bolts of lightning hitting the ground (well, maybe not this one, but it was lightning!), with a death grip on my shorts who had suddenly decided to drop! Megan was laughing so hard by the time we got to Pinocchio, I thought something was wrong with her.

These are the memories folks…not one of the Miller family will ever forget that run from It's a Small World to Pinocchio's food court. Thus accomplishing one of the main goals of this Sabbatical…connect with and make memories with my family!

Lighter Side of Sabbatical Part 2 – The Cracker Barrel Incident

I think it was Keith (Grabill) that reminded me the other day how there's typically always a few funny moments from every traveling adventure for the Miller family. Here's probably the most awkward:

It's a wonder Cracker Barrel didn't run out of their blessed Chicken and Dumplings platter as often as I've found myself snarfing it down over the past few months. My story really has very little to do with the food though…more the amenities…more specifically the bathrooms.

We had stopped somewhere earlier in the day at McDonalds (for lunch) and I had noticed how the men's and women's restrooms were backwards compared to most McD's. How annoying is that? I mean really? (I guess more annoying would be those restaurants that spell "men" or "women" out in their native tongue…leaving you to figure out if that's Luigi dancing in an apron, or Mama Rosa dancing in a dress.)

While heading to the facilities at Cracker Barrel, I found myself double checking the signs to be sure to go in the appropriate restroom. Not to get too personal, but all I wanted to do was to wash my hands. I then noticed that the Cracker Barrel bathrooms were also switched! I couldn't believe it.

I walked in…didn't think much of the fact that there were no urinals on the walls (can I blog about urinals?), and the fact there were more stalls than my local mechanic (very nice sized restroom). I had begun washing my hands when I noticed the girly hand lotions that I could freely use once washed. Ugh…I couldn't believe someone would actually put that in a men's restroom (I've been known to throw away hand lotion when it's found on the counter in men's bathrooms).

At some point in the middle of my hand washing though, alarms started going off in my mind (alarms much like the fireworks Bobby Brady saw when he kissed the girl with the mumps back in the Brady Bunch episode 46, but more of a warning than a celebration alarm). Huh…Bathrooms switched around (was it just a trick of my mind?), no urinals, hand lotion…the thing that threw me over the edge was this constant sniffle I heard coming from one of the stalls. It almost sounded like…like…like an elderly woman sniffing?

At that moment, I began to sweat. I turned around to steal a glance under the stall and my suspicions were met with fact. The sight of sneakers that looked like the kind my grandma used to wear, with short socks with a fuzzy ball on the back, was enough to send me running! I WAS IN THE LADIES RESTROOM.

A quick glance around to see if anyone saw me (nope, just me and the elderly sniffing lady), and I was out of there. Walked directly from that restroom into the Men's restroom. Acted as cool as a cat…like nothing happened…other than now I had to more than just wash my hands!

I don't think anyone saw me or noticed (not even the elderly lady who I saw leave the restaurant while I was coming out of the Men's room). When I got back to the table and shared it with Megan and the girls, they all had a good laugh at my expense.

And that's another Lighter Side of Sabbatical folks…read the signs carefully people…read the signs…

Last Quarter of Sabbatical

Have a real sense of being in the last quarter of this Sabbatical. I've been working on this one post for about 20 minutes now, trying to define what I mean by that (typing, erasing, typing, erasing, etc.)…but I can't seem to put it into words. Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally…I feel good…though at times the spiritual battle is intense. I know that may sound odd, but it is very real to me, today (Monday) especially. Not really sure why.

I appreciate those of you who have been standing in prayer with me over the past few months! Praying for my family and I this week is the Mishler's Life Group that meets at their house. I'm still amazed at that…thanks guys!

The Lighter Side of Sabbatical Part 1

And now (as if you'd asked) let me share with you a few lighter sides of sabbatical...as opposed to heavier sides of Sabbtical...which I guess I've already shared from...

How about this video...my girls wanted me to try to grow a moustache while we were traveling a few weeks ago...as you can see, it wasn't much of a success...Megan hated it...something about a 1970's movie star or something...

Pathway Part 2

Further thought...When I say I miss Pathway, I mean more than just our Sunday morning gathering...I miss the fellowship!  I miss the interaction with all of the people!  No one prepared me for the feeling of disconnection you'll feel when you go on a Sabbatical.  Nothing that I can't deal with (after all, I run into a bunch of you in my neighborhood!), but it has been an unexpected shock. 

I think it's a good thing.  When someone disconnects from any church body, there ought to be a healthy feeling of loss.  I see that as a win!  In fact, Godly Fellowship might even be the one thing that brings people who have walked away from Jesus back. 

Have you ever experienced that?

Final Thoughts from Pittsburgh/Skinning a cat

Monday night late...It's really strange to wake up in one city, and go to sleep in another.  Woke up this morning in downtown Pittsburgh, going to sleep in downtown Middlebury.  Traded a view of PNC park - home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for a view of the green Middlebury Water tower out on US 20. 

I leave Pittsburgh with a greater understanding that there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Really...they (Jeff Leake and Allison Park Church) are doing things here in Pittsburgh that other churches would say they would never do...but it's working for them!  There is no cut and dry way to start/mother/father churches!  How cool is that.  We don't have to do it the way everyone else is, but the way the Spirit of God is leading us to do it!  Obvious?  Asbolutely!  Good to be reminded?  Absolutely?

The whole idea of stepping out and doing whatever it is God has put in our hearts to do, whether it's been done already or not, is turning into a theme of this Sabbatical. 

PS - if you are anywhere near Pittsburgh, connect with Allison Park Church.  Better yet, get connected with Nick Poole, join one of their new church plants, and tear it up with them! 

Absolutely Floored

I'm just re-reading an email I received today from one of our Life Group leaders here at Pathway.

I'm really not supposed to be receiving email from anyone, but I sent out a specific request to this leader b/c it was their week to pray for my family and our church while I'm on Sabbatical (each of our 15 LG's are taking a different week to pray through the prayer guide I prepared for them for that specific week), and they were only responding.

Let me take a line from the email, "We are planning as a life group to gather on Wednesday evening to pray for you." I am absolutely floored. That people in my church would love my family enough to take up a night to pray for us…I don't have the words.

Amazing.

Sabbatical Quick Thoughts/Reminders

I told you Sunday about the pastors mtng deal that I was asked to speak at for a couple of minutes this past Monday.  Went great!  Amazing how God is using this upcoming Sabbatical to speak to other pastors all over Indiana about their need for rest.

Really...if you have any questions/concerns at all about this Sabbatical, shoot me an email and I'll do my best to answer them either on this blog or in an email back to you.  I am wise enough to know that some of you have had some nasty experiences when your previous pastor went on Sabbatical at your previous church.  Quick thoughts/reminders:

• This is not a forced Sabbatical, but a planned sabbatical (for over 2 years we've planned). 
• I am coming back, and will not be leaving when I get back...hah!  You can't get rid of me that easily!  Seriously, one of the major components of this Sabbatical is how Pathway can reproduce itself - this is a reason for the Sabbatical!  (if you are really concerned about this, know that I and all of the Leadership Team signed a contract that states I will not leave within 1 year of returning from Sabbatical!)
• This is not a 3 month VACATION, though one of the 3 stated goals of the Sabbatical is to rest/disconnect!  I will unashamedly be taking time to rest and relax with my family during this time, but I/we will also be spending time with Jesus and other Godly men and women all over the US who can speak into my life. 

For more answers to your questions, check out this special Sabbatical section in my blog...See you tonight!

Sabbatical Links

Hey, if you're looking for some more info on the Sabbatical we've been working on over the past 2 years, you can see all of the links in the Sabbatical category here…

Sabbatical Overview

I want to re-post some thoughts I shared months ago concerning Sabbatical. You can find these thoughts and more by clicking here and reading through all my posts on Sabbatical.

What will be accomplished?

3 pronged vision for my Sabbatical coming up in May/June/July 2008:

1. Expanding Reach of Pathway – how can we reach more people in this region through a multi-site approach to ministry? One church – many locations kind of thing.
2. Disconnect from daily ministry stress – Disconnect from the weekly stress load of leading the church.
3. Connect with my family – This is my number 1 life focus of ministry!

Why Sabbatical?

What is my job?  It is my responsibility to guide this church into the future. To lead it where God wants it to go.   

Something interesting - For six months before I started this church, I did not hold any official ministry position.  When I look back, this was God giving me a sabbatical.  What did Megan and I do during that time?  We went to church planter's training.  We went to church as attendees, where nothing was required of us except to worship and listen.  We prayed and heard from God about what he wanted His church in Middlebury to look like.  I know that this church has had the success it's had based in part on that six months of prayer, training and listening. 

So, seven years later.  A three month sabbatical to pray, to attend, to listen, to learn.  This is my responsibility.  There is not one other person at this church who we could send on a three month sabbatical and say, "Okay, you go and hear and learn what God has for Pathway for the future and how he wants to arrange and rearrange us and then come back and lead us all there."  Whose job would that be?  Who fills that role of leadership?  It's the pastor.  It's a necessary responsibility of the job. I am no more important than anyone else, I've just been called to lead.

Sabbatical Post – Just Go and Doing the Dump

Had two interesting conversations today (Sunday) concerning my Sabbatical coming up May – July 2008...

First – Just Go. This morning I talked about how Jesus said Go, and we say Come! There are things that I already do in my life that have at the heart, this intention. As 1 Cor. 9:22 says, I "enter their world…" (MSG). But what if while I was on Sabbatical, I made more of an effort to connect with people who have yet to follow Christ. Take some time, while I'm away from the everyday working bubble of the church, to further "enter their world…" I like the thought and the idea.

Second – Doing the Dump. The concern was raised that while I'm connecting with other pastors and mentors, I might simply dump their ideas on Pathway once I return! Great concern! Let me clarify – though I love to hear and experience new ways for the local church to be more effective, I realize that not everything that works at other churches will work here at Pathway! It's all got to be sifted through the Holy Spirit's plans for Pathway. Further thought – the goal of being more of a regionally focused/church planting church has been a part of the DNA of Pathway since the beginning. Don't look for any "new vision" necessarily to come out of this Sabbatical. Just a refinement of the how we can go about accomplishing the vision He's already given us!

Shoot me an email, or comment here on this post, if you have any more questions…scottm@pathwayag.com

Why 3 months, other staff, is it fair?

Hey guys…though I will not be posting on this sabbatical for infinity, there are still some great questions/thoughts out there that I'd like to process with you…here goes!

Remind me again, how long will this be? Why 3 months? I found myself asking that same question. Most pastors that I know that have taken Sabbatical had taken 3 months, so it seemed a logical place to start. But the more I thought about it, the more I asked myself what is so magical about 3 months? Answer - absolutely nothing is magical about three months! So, how long should my Sabbatical be? It all goes back to the vision. We didn't start by saying, "Scott's sabbatical will be 3 months, now what in the name of the Das Dutchman Essenhaus is he going to do on sabbatical?" We started by saying, "Scott's Sabbatical is going to accomplish 3 goals: Disconnect, Connect, and Expand. Now, how much time does he need to adequately do that?" See what I'm saying? Thus the decision to stick with the 3 months. Great question!

Will the other pastors on staff get 3 months for their Sabbatical? That is yet to be determined. The other staff will definitely get a Sabbatical after 7 years of ministry here at Pathway. As far as length of staff Sabbaticals, we've decided to postpone that decision until after my Sabbatical. This is all new territory for all of us, you and me! We want to get one "under our belt" before we nail down a few further Sabbatical "policy" decisions.

I love you Scott, I love your family, I appreciate your ministry, but is it really "fair" of you to take 3 months Sabbatical? I mean, who else in the church can/would do such? As I see it, it's not really about do I deserve this or not.  Of course, obviously, there are others in this church and this community who deserve a sabbatical more than I do! What about the single mom who works her tail off trying to make ends meet? What about others of you who have jobs that the success of your whole company depends on decisions you make, every single day? Think about it, who would not benefit from three months off from their daily lives?  It's not necessarily fair that this kind of opportunity is not available to everyone. 

The real issue is why does this pastor need a sabbatical?  What is my job?  It is my responsibility to guide this church into the future. To lead it where God wants it to go.   Something interesting - For six months before I started this church, I did not hold any official ministry position.  When I look back, this was God giving me a sabbatical.  What did Megan and I do during that time?  We went to church planter's training.  We went to church as attendees, where nothing was required of us except to worship and listen.  We prayed and heard from God about what he wanted his church in Middlebury to look like.  I know that this church has had the success it's had based in part on that six months of prayer, training and listening.  So, seven years later.  A three month sabbatical to pray, to attend, to listen, to learn.  This is my responsibility.  There is not one other person at this church who we could send on a three month sabbatical and say, "Okay, you go and hear and learn what God has for Pathway for the future and how he wants to arrange and rearrange us and then come back and lead us all there."  Whose job would that be?  Who fills that role of leadership?  It's the pastor.  It's a necessary responsibility of the job.

Have any further questions? Shoot me an email… scottm@pathwayag.com

Is it common, Really?, and Casper the ghost

More questions on Sabbatical:

Is it common for pastors to take a Sabbatical? They are very common in Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, Lutheran, and other denominational churches. But in churches like ours, they are uncommon. Completely different thought, but I'm going somewhere with it ------- It is common for pastors of churches like ours to leave their church every 5-6 years though. I'm really beginning to wonder if more churches wouldn't institute some sort of Sabbatical policy, if we wouldn't see that 5-6 year tenure stretch out longer? That 5-6 year of a pastor being at a church is critical as I see it. Understand though…we aren't instituting a Sabbatical policy b/c of what other churches do, or don't do. We are instituting this policy b/c we are committed to the long term health of our pastors!

How in the world are you going to be able to stay away for 3 months Scott? Are you really going to do this? Someone asked me this question this past Sunday. Obviously, they know me well. I go away for a 2 week vacation and have a great time, but by the end of the second week, I'm chomping at the bit to get back to the routine (and back to leading!)! I've got some relatives, Del and Jeannie Penner, who are missionaries to Germany. This past spring, Del literally hit the wall. He's been serving Jesus on the field with everything within him, but he was more drained than filled (see message Take it Easy Part 2 from November 18^th). He ended up taking a forced 6 month Sabbatical. In a conversation I had with them over the summer, Jeannie explained one of the greatest things the Lord was teaching them was this – It's not their church, it's God's. Every pastor, on some level, deals with the temptation to begin to think that it's "their" church. And here's some people (Del and Jeannie Penner), who would be the last couple I would ever say would have issues with this train of thought, saying it's one of the greatest things they've learned on Sabbatical. Summary of this answer – yes, I am really going to do this. Not saying it's going to be easy to "stay away" for 3 months, but I think it's going to be one of the healthiest things for a guy to do who was the founding pastor of a church.

Does this mean that if we happen to run into you while you're picking up your blueberry muffin (or lately it's been a cinnamon muffin) at Muffins and More, that we should walk the other way and pretend like you weren't there? As if you were Casper the friendly ghost? Great question. During the course of the Sabbatical, we will be spending a few weeks away from Middlebury. But much of the time we will still be around, especially during the week. One of the purposes of the sabbatical is to give time to disconnect from daily ministry stress. It would be hard to accomplish this if people from Pathway continue to call and such during this Sabbatical. Thus the idea of not attending services, ministry events, etc, at Pathway is a vital part of the success of this Sabbatical. But, if we happen to run into each other around, by all means say hi! Also, I will be continuing to blog throughout the Sabbatical to keep you in the loop of what the Holy Spirit is saying to me and such.

What other questions do you have? Take a look at the other Sabbatical posts here, and then either post a comment, or email me at scottm@pathwayag.com. Thanks!

Sabbatical – Who’s Leading the Church?

I want to follow up on some thoughts about my upcoming Sabbatical this summer. Notice the Sabbatical Category listed to the right under the "Category" heading. Click there to read about more Sabbatical stuff!

Question – who will be leading the church in your absence? Great question! Given that we are already a staff-led church, there won't be much change – the staff will be leading the church (minus me of course). I've asked Keith, our Student Ministries Pastor (aka youth pastor) to be the "Lead Pastor", which will include leading weekly staff mtngs and monthly Leadership Team Mtngs. I will appoint 2 of our Elder's from the Leadership Team to be available to Keith at any time if he should be faced with a decision that would need further input (that couldn't wait until their monthly mtng), but I don't foresee that being an issue. Given that most all of our "pastoral care" happens through our Life Groups, there shouldn't be any change in the care you see given to one another!

Question – who is going to be speaking on Sundays? In fact, I already have a speaking schedule almost completely filled out for the 3 months I will be gone. Most of the speaking will be done by our other pastoral staff members, with guest speakers interspersed throughout. Given the gifting of our staff, I don't think we will miss a beat on Sunday's! Our staff will continue to lead the services as I do on Sunday's. I am working with my hair stylist to work out a way which each staff member could style their hair like mine. (if that's even possible - I don't think they make enough hair product to make these guys look as handsome and debonair as I)

Question – where will you be again? Playing hooky from church for 3 months? What's that all about? Neither I, nor my family will be playing hooky from church! We will actually take the time we have off to attend other churches, for 2 reasons: 1) to just get refreshed/fed ourselves 2) to get fresh perspectives and ideas that we could implement at Pathway. I will be doing NO SPEAKING at any other churches during this time. This will be the longest time I have spent without preaching since before we started Pathway! Again, this fits in with the focus of my Sabbatical. Expand, Disconnect, and Connect. During the week, I will spend time connecting with other pastors and leaders, as well as reading, praying, journaling, etc.

What other questions do you have? Either email me (scottm@pathwayag.com), or post a comment on this blog.

Sabbatical Audio Intro

Huge thanks to the AV Team for creating this audio clip from Sunday's message. This is a brief explanation of why we have created a Sabbatical policy for pastoral staff, and what my Sabbatical will look like.

Sabbati-what?

Sabbatical! This past Sunday I took a chunk of time to bring you up to date on some of what the Leadership Team (LT is made up of 5 Elders from the church and myself...the pastoral staff joins us for our mtngs, but they don't necessarily "vote" if a vote is needed...also, the pastoral staff was dismissed, other than myself, for Sabbatical discussions) and I have been working on in the area of Sabbaticals. Over the next few weeks, I hope to answer some of your questions through this blog, and emails with you. If you have a specific question/comment, feel free to email me at scottm@pathwayag.com. To help things get rolling, here's the 3 pronged vision for my Sabbatical coming up in May/June/July 2008:

1. Expanding Reach of Pathway – how can we reach more people in this region through a multi-site approach to ministry? One church – many locations kind of thing.
2. Disconnect from daily ministry stress – Disconnect from the weekly stress/spiritual load of the church.
3. Connect with my immediate family – This is my number 1 life focus of ministry.

One summarizing point as I see it…it's not a question of IF I (and the other pastoral staff) will take a Sabbatical, it's when/how I/we will take one. We can work one in on this side of the heart attack/depression/breakdown/pattern of stupid mistakes made out of frailty, or we can just sit around and wait for one of these items to rear its ugly head. I am 100% committed to the health (spirit, soul, and body) of our pastors. Healthy pastors lead to healthy churches.

If you've got a question or two, shoot them out to me? scottm@pathwayag.com