Anne Marie Miller

Author: Anne Marie Miller

  • I’m Guilty

    i’m guilty of name dropping.

    i’m guilty of only feeling confident when (insert important person’s name here) tells me i have value.

    i’m guilty of saying one thing and doing another.

    i’m guilty of not following through.

    i’m guilty of being so self absorbed, i make you think i care…but i only care because i’m getting something out of it too.

    i’m guilty of saying i’m going to pray for you and i don’t.

    i’m guilty of pretending i don’t know the answer, when in reality, i just don’t want to help you.

    all this to say, i’m guilty of being selfish.

    a lot.

    and it kind of hit me today, when pete was talking about whoever is the least…

    i know i can get caught up in the junk of caring about who i’m associated with.

    because the right people take you to the right places.

    and those right places will leave you satisfied.

    which is a load of bull.

    and i think of who jesus associated himself with…

    failures. sinners. the outcasts. the sick.

    the untouchables.

    nobody that would ever win a popularity contest.

    or help him win a popularity contest.

    but that’s why he was here.

    that’s why we are here.

    to be

    and to be with

    the least.

  • 1:56

    that is when i started bawling. i dare you to watch.

    ht: zak

  • scandalous

    when ted haggard’s story first came out, i wrote this post. tuesday, i saw him on CNN.? yesterday, i saw him, his wife, and two of his kids on oprah.

    the way he addressed his issues was more raw and honest than i expected.? the love his wife showed him, and the way his kids talked about him, was nothing short of phenomenal grace.

    something he said made me mad though. really mad.? although, it didn’t really surprise me.

    he had confessed his same-sex attraction to his wife early in their marriage.? he was abused by an adult male when he was really young, and that jacked him up.? that was the trauma.

    a few years before he began acting out on his attraction, he went to some leaders and pastors he knew. he said he was wrestling with these thoughts even more and needed their advice.? some withdrew. others told him to keep his mind off of it by working harder for god.

    after that, he confessed he didn’t know what to do with the struggle anymore.? he desperately wanted them to be gone, and he felt like he needed to hold up the “ideal” of a perfect husband, perfect father, perfect pastor.? he made the decisions to not talk, and to act out – but it goes back to show that so many times we feel like we can’t discuss our brokenness with other believers…

    that.

    breaks.

    my.

    heart.

    we all can choose to talk about our problems, absolutely. and nobody can be responsible for making that decision but us.? the environments that the “church” has created, however, tells us something different. it creates an environment where we feel like we need to have everything figured out, or else we’ll face judgment, ridicule, and isolation.

    that just ain’t right.

    we’ve got to create environments of honesty.

    and we have to lead the way.

  • What I look like at Midnight while on a Plane in the Ice

    photo-32

    I have been firmly planted in 10B since 9:45 pm ish.

    We aren’t expected to take off for another 2 or so hours.

    Which means I’m getting home around 3 am.

    I do have my Sprint Wifi card.

    And 5 minutes left on my laptop.

    Otherwise I may have gone insane.

    Spill it.? Longest time you have been stuck on a plane?

    Please make me feel better.

    ==

    UPDATE: I changed this because shortly after I wrote it, they ended up canceling my flight completely.? I probably take between 30-50 trips a year and have since I can remember, and have always just been really lucky to never have a cancelation.

    Normally, I am really compulsive about packing.? I keep an extra change of clothes with me, a few toiletries and something to keep me entertained if my flight is delayed.? Since this was a really “quick” trip to Dallas, I didn’t do any of that.? I made the mistake of checking my bag too (I had too many liquids) so it is now somewhere in Nashville and I am at a hotel by the airport.

    Very wrinkled.

    The best part about the night were the FIVE cabs that were operating. No shuttles. No limos.? Nothing but these five cabs.? He charged the EIGHT of us who rode with him $35 to drive about a mile to the hotel.? I got to know the guy next to me VERY well as we slipped all over the highways.? I started getting nervous when I saw we were passing all the other cabs.? And when I smelled the driver’s very liquor soaked breath…

    But we arrived at the hotel safely and I just woke up a few minutes ago…looks like my flight back to BNA is only 10 minutes delayed right now…

    It’s been an adventure!!

  • Grilled Cheese

    So today I am speaking at the Leadership Network Innovation3 conference in Dallas (my hometown – how I miss you!).

    Since we have been in what I shall call Seriousville for the last few days, I thought it would be fun to do something completely silly…like put up how I make grilled cheese sandwiches.

    I’ve been twittering about my grilled cheese sandwich making skills for a while now, and the people have demanded the secret.? Keep in mind this process has been one perfected over time, and has yet to be replicated…but here are the instructions.

    It’s all about the timing!

    For best results, use a buttermilk 1/2″ thick bread with a mild organic cheddar cheese.

    Place a large skillet on your burner, and set the heat at a 5.5-6.
    Spray butter flavored Pam (or other cooking spray) until it covers the pan.
    Walk to the refrigerator and pull out Salt and Cream style butter and cheese.
    Walk back to the counter by the stove.
    Spread butter on ONE piece of bread.
    Place bread butter-side down on skillet.
    Open cheese packet and place cheese on bread.
    Spread butter on the other piece of bread and place bread on cheese, butter side up.
    Wait 35-45 seconds.
    Flip sandwich.
    Seal the cheese bag and close the butter tub.
    Walk to fridge and place in fridge.
    Wait 35-45 seconds and flip.
    Continue flipping every 30 seconds until the bread has achieved a golden-brown look.
    When you’ve reached the desired brown-level, place sandwich immediately on a ceramic plate.
    Cut the sandwich USING THE SPATULA/FLIPPER into triangles (either 2 or 4).
    Turn off stove.
    ENJOY!

  • Should You Question God?

    This morning I was skimming through the conversation on this post and there were several people who seemed to think that to question God is out of line.

    Granted, I am no theologian, but I personally disagree.

    I think if we don’t question God – if we don’t ask Him why he does the things he does sometimes – we will never come close to understanding the nature of God.

    Because why he does what he does reveals His character to us.

    I think about some of the things Jesus asked.

    “If this cup can be taken from me…”

    “Why have you forsaken me?”

    Will we find all the answers?

    Not in this life.? But I do think it’s important to ask, and to be open to exploring our faith on a much deeper and personal level.? Sometimes, maybe even a desperate level.? Because I truly believe God wants us to discover his character.

    What do you think? Should you question God?

  • D is for Depression. No really – it is…

    I think it’s fair to say if you’ve been around here any amount of time, you’re familiar with my on-and-off again battle with depression. I had some bloodwork done a couple months ago and they found out I was severely Vitamin-D deficient.

    Insert mega-high dose of 50,000UI/week of Vitamin D for the last month.

    Insert a huge difference.

    Now, it’s not a perfect fix, but it’s helped tremendously.

    You know those weeks where it’s cloudy all the time, but every once in a while the clouds break for a while and the sun is out, but then it gets cloudy again?? Instead of being cloudy all the time…there are significant breaks.? Which is AWESOME.

    There are enough breaks that I haven’t felt necessary to actually start my antidepressant.

    Anyway, I know many of you have also shared your own stories of depression, so if you haven’t had your blood tested for Vitamin D levels…I recommend it highly.

  • Beauty is Calling

    My dear friend and fellow Nashvillian, purveyor of artist conferences and retreat centers, maker of a fine French Martini, excellent and entertaining traveling companion to Uganda, husband to a beautiful real estate mogul, downtown Franklin, TN legend THE RANDY ELROD will be hosting a “book tasting” tomorrow to celebrate HIS book release “Beauty is Calling.”

    Beauty is Calling is a collection of Randy’s original watercolors and insightful quotes.? He is so incredibly gifted, it’s ridiculous!

    Join Randy and pretty much all of the Nashville area this Friday evening, Jan.23 from 5-7pm at Landmark Booksellers in historic downtown Franklin, TN

    Complimentary wine & cheese and a free wine glass and signed print if you buy a book(s).

    Check out the video below to see how beautiful Beauty is Calling truly is!

  • The Two Greatest Words:

    IN STOCK.

    in-stock

    It’s on its way.

    I am so eating a cupcake today.