Anne Marie Miller

Blog

  • Should Sex Offenders Be Allowed in Church?

    I just woke up an hour ago.

    Flooded in my “@” column in Twitter were tweets about an article TIME magazine released about sex offenders attending church, and in some cases, being arrested for it.

    No doubt this question is a highly sensitive one, and one most people in churches don’t exactly want to bring up and discuss. Given the topic of my new book Permission to Speak Freely, a few people connected the article to the book.

    Interestingly enough, as I share my own story in Permission to Speak Freely, I talk a bit about a time in my life when I was sexually violated by a pastor when I was sixteen years old. So this is a question I have wrestled with for a long, long time.

    On one hand, I can logically comprehend how most sex offenders operate. Sometimes, they’re genetically predisposed to their addiction and preying on children (or even adults). However, I’ve also met people who have been legally labeled as sex offenders, who just got caught up in a bad mistake – maybe a guy was 18 and he had sex with his 17 year old girlfriend and she wasn’t old enough to legally consent so her parents pressed charges. There are also people who have committed terrible offenses in their past, but they have been redeemed and restored fully.

    Then you throw in the “church” side of things. I couldn’t agree more with what a source in the TIME article says,

    church-door-locked“There are serious constitutional problems in banning someone from going to church, not to mention this runs counter to the church’s mission of inclusion, hospitality and redemption.”

    Jesus didn’t hang out with the religious people of his time. He spent time with those far from him. When a woman was about to be stoned for committing adultery, he covered her in protective grace which saved her life.

    I remember working at a church a few years ago and they were going through their insurance policies. For some churches to get the right kind of coverage and protection from liability, they have rules in place about how and where sex offenders can attend and serve.

    Personally, I know where my heart should land on the issue, but I don’t know how that actually plays out in real life scenarios. I know that the person who abused me is still serving within faith based organizations and I pray almost every day that what happened with me was his exception and not the norm. I also know he needs healing and grace and community to live a life that is whole and healed.

    What do you guys think? How have you seen this topic addressed in your own communities of faith or in your own life?

    —–

  • My Confession

    Every Monday I sit down to watch Intervention. Sometimes it makes me feel not alone in the daily battles that rage in my head and sometimes it scares me just how much I can still relate to the people on the show.

    I know if it wasn’t for certain people in my life, both past and present, there may have been (or could yet be) an episode with me in it.

    And I’m grateful.

    And I’m hopeful.

    And I’m heartbroken for how lonely I know the 20 million addicts feel they are.

  • I’m Growing a Sexy Mustache

    My mom reads my blog, so if I were to discuss the hereditary likelihood that one day, I may indeed grow a genetically handed down mustache, she may be offended. So, we’ll just get to the point.

    I’ve been invited to venture into a place not many women can go.

    The Mancave.

    mancave-blog

    My friends Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite, authors of Deadly Viper Character Assassins, have asked me to enter The Mancave for a very important discussion about sex and sexuality.

    We did something similar last year over on the Deadly Viper blog. It was called The Week of Hot Sex, and we discussed everything from sex toys to homoeroticism to other things that will make my mom, who is probably still reading this blog, blush.

    This year, we’re taking the answers to a video discussion in the Deadly Viper Online Mancave.

    In the comments section of this post, ask your questions, topics, confusion, or curiosities that you want us to address in The Mancave. Nothing is off limits, and if you want to remain anonymous that is A-OK.

    I’ll update you guys on how you can tune into the video conversation on October 20th (and following weeks).

    Go ahead. Make my mama blush.

    —–

    *(I love you, mom.)

  • Where is the Church? – Part One

    A couple of weeks ago, Atlanta was hit by serious flooding. As in, houses were submerged…completely devastated. In an area called Austell, thousands of families are displaced because of the damage.

    People. Have. Lost. Their. Lives.

    Last week, I met Pastor Shaun King for the first time, face to face. He shared with me a movement his church has started to help flood victims called Hope ATL.

    Hope ATL is pulling together resources, financial and practical and human, to help these victims. Victims who have lost, literally, everything.

    The thing that amazed me during my conversation with Shaun was that their church doesn’t have a lot of money. Or people. A couple hundred, at most. Instead of having meetings about how to help, or who to point people to in case they needed help, they simply stopped what they were doing…and helped.

    Now, the thing that disturbed me during my conversation with Shaun was that he had made many calls to many churches in the area, and so many churches said…

    No.

    They couldn’t help.

    I was shocked. Where is the Church when a city needs it the most?

    That didn’t stop Shaun. He kept rallying the people he could and went into the most dangerous and most flooded places and they went to work. They even decided to NOT meet in their building on Sunday or in their offices during the week and instead they met at the largest Red Cross Shelter for flood victims in Marietta (near Austell), where the flooding was worst, so they could provide care and hope and a place for people to see Jesus. They didn’t take up an offering that Sunday either, as most of the people who came had nothing. 50% of Austell is now homeless. So they gave back to them instead.

    And they’re still working.

    In order to get the help they need, Shaun had to reach outside of Atlanta. Out of the state, actually, to find the Church. Healing Place Church out of Baton Rouge and NewSpring Church from Anderson, South Carolina, offered to send teams to help.

    There is the Church. Thank God. Literally.

    Shaun didn’t complain. He didn’t stop to say that he was disappointed or tired or confused or frustrated that there are probably over 1000 churches in Atlanta and so few are stepping up to aid their own city. He humbly asked on our live video that if anyone who was listening could help, to please help.

    I asked Shaun if I could extend his request to you…the ever generous and ever faithful readers here at FlowerDust.net. Because you’ve joined together so many times before to help others. When push comes to shove you are the ones who stand in the gap for the church that hides behind religiosity.

    If you can send teams, send them.

    If your family can go help for a day or two, go.

    If you can donate money, or food, or clothes, donate.

    We are always asking for opportunities to be the church instead of just do churchy things.

    Well…here you go.

    The HopeATL website has all the information you need.


    (On Wednesday, I’ll be posting part two of “Where is the Church?…Hope you’ll join me.)

  • I Got a Face Lift (And Catalyst Backstage…)

    First thing’s first. I got a face lift. Well, my blog did anyway. So if you read this via email or RSS, hop on over and check it out. Many thanks to Brad Ruggles for his amazing design work on figuring out “if Anne Jackson was a website, she’d look like….”

    I’m in Atlanta for the Catalyst Conference this week. On Wednesday, I’m doing a Lab with Los and Jon about blogging (more or less, really about things off the blogs), and then Los and I are hosting Catalyst Backstage on Thursday and Friday.

    catalyst-backstage

    This year, there’s gonna be live video feed from the main room of music, speakers, and some surprises too, as well as exclusive interviews with most of the speakers including Malcolm Gladwell and Rob Bell, which I am super psyched about.

    So if you didn’t make it to Catalyst this year, tune in to CatalystBackstage.com. Before you know it, we’ll be the new Regis and Kelly.

  • Free Stuff for Your Church

    I am so excited to announce that the official site for my new book Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace is LIVE. Huge thanks to Brad Ruggles for his tireless work on this project. He did an amazing job with the design…it is simply beautiful!

    Picture 3

    What I love about this site is that yes, you can see some of the confessions we’ve received (and will continue to update as the project continues – remember – it is never too late to mail in a confession) but we also have FREE resources for churches or groups which include adult and student/young adult studies, leader guides, and an HD video (click the link for RSS readers) for the studies.
    —–


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    Oh, if you use the free resources for your church, you can get a free copy of the book for your church.

    So, I’d love it if you’d pop on over and check out the site and if you so desire, tell a friend or two.

    Nifty Links:

    *Follow PTSF on Twitter for exclusive sneak peeks & free stuff

    *Become a Facebook Fan

    *Sign up to see new confessions

    *Send in a confession of your own

    —–

  • In My Heart For A While…

    When I first started talking about Permission to Speak Freely, I said it had been brewing in my head since May 2008.

    But I think it has actually be inside my heart for a LOT longer – like, the last thirteen years.

    I found this letter in a journal I kept when I was just sixteen years old.

    ?Dear Nobody,

    I thought when you became a Christian everything was supposed to be all happy and full of life and fire. Sure, it seems that way at first but when life goes on, the fire goes down to ashes and there seems like there is no hope.

    Right now, all I want to do is cry but I can?t. I feel confused, rejected, and hopeless. I don?t understand why, either. I just need to get it all out and that?s why I?m writing to you, Nobody.

    I?m afraid to trust anyone with these feelings because I fear my mixed emotions will go deeper.? I just need to feel understood. But nobody understands it. Nobody is like me.

    Or, maybe everybody else is just like me and they hide it like I do.

    If the world feels like me, I wish they?d let me know. I think they might be hiding their true emotions under a mask of fear.?

    It’s been an interesting process digging through some old memories. Thanks for hanging in there while this blog has been sporadic. I hope it will be worth it in the end.
    —-

  • Giving Away 100 Free Books!

    Sometimes on Thursdays I’ve given away 10 books. Sometimes 5. But usually 10.

    And these books aren’t just random books. They are books from people I know and love and have the honor of sharing their words with you.

    My friend Tom Davis, who has probably made one of the largest impacts on poverty and injustice than any single person I know, is an author as well as an advocate. He recently released a novel called “Scared.” which has received amazing reviews on Amazon, like this:

    “Scared is the hand adjusting our blurry lens of the world … You?ll visit Africa while reading Scared. And once you finish, a little piece of Africa will remain with you.”


    —

    Tom has graciously offered to give away books to the first 100 people who leave a comment on this post.

    The only question you have to answer is this in some way, shape, or form:

    Imagine a world where you had the power to eliminate extreme poverty. What would you do and how would you do it? What does it look like to you?

    I’ll email the first 100 commenters to get your information, and Tom will mail you the book. If you can’t wait, you can buy Scared on Amazon here.

  • Looking for Love

    Brad Ruggles, who designed the magnificent Permission to Speak Freely site is currently tweaking my new blog design which should launch very soon. It is beautiful…because Brad can do nothing but amazing work.

    Over the last three years, you guys have made this an amazing gathering place and for the most part, you stick around and invite your friends which I really appreciate. I want to continue to make this a comfortable and safe place to get uncomfortable and dangerous.

    When the new site launches, it holds a few opportunities for people to help partner with me to support this blog (yes, that is my fancy way of saying advertising) and my new adventure into full time writing.

    Something I promise you with this is:

    • I’ll only partner with people and products I truly believe in and think will help you
    • It will never get in the way of the aesthetic or message of this blog
    • If it’s a sponsored post, I’ll let you know

    If you are SERIOUSLY interested in exploring a partnership, please email me. I have an amazing little packet chalk-full of demographics and statistics that can help you make a decision.

    Thanks for making this a great place. It wouldn’t be FlowerDust without you.