Anne Marie Miller

Category: Church

  • Adventures of a Travelin’ Preacher Chick DVD

    Getting to know Christine Caine the last couple of months has been amazing. For those who aren’t familiar with Chris, you can read (and should read) more about her here. The girl preaches at Hillsong – heck, preaches all over the world for crying out loud – while fighting sex trafficking and injustice and equipping other leaders. And riding a pink vespa. Of course.

    Could I find a more lovely lady to look up to?

    Next month, while Chris is down at Healing Place Church, I am going to join her and she and I are going to record a couple of DVDs about women and life and ministry. One about anything and everything, and one specifically on the life of a travelin’ preacher chick. Because I know there are more of us out there than we realize, and I know there are questions we are all dying to know.

    We would love for YOU to be a part of these DVDs and would like to hear any questions you might have on:

    1. Having and doing it all…
    2. Traveling preacher chick ministry stuff…
    3. Effective communication…

    So, this isn’t just open to the ladies. Guys, if you have questions you’d like answered, rock them out below.

  • Church Sleeping Man

    Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak at several Sunday morning worship gatherings. Recently, I was thinking about one when a guy fell asleep (I’m pretty sure before I took the stage — I hope…) during the service.

    It was a wide room, and he was a rather large man, seated somewhere in the middle. In otherwords, it was impossible to miss him as I would scan the audience to make eye contact.

    I won’t lie. Deep inside, something in me wanted to stop what I was talking about and ask someone to wake Church Sleeping Man up. When I would raise my voice a bit to make a point, I would focus right on him, hoping he’d snap out of it.

    Nothing.

    He was practically in a coma.

    When I travel, I spend a lot of time in reflection on my flight home. I usually don’t read or write, but pop in my earbuds to some Album Leaf, Explosions in the Sky (sounds like a death wish, I know), or Sigur Ros. No real lyrics, just music and mumblings. I allow myself to nod off a bit into that lucid state where I’m able to just allow thoughts to enter, I process them, and tuck them away.

    On this flight home, I found myself not being able to move on from Church Sleeping Man.

    Now, I don’t know Church Sleeping Man personally. And what I feel inside (I’m tempted to call it anger, but am too chicken to actually do so) isn’t directed specifically at him. But I do find myself getting really, really upset.

    Because Church Sleeping Man represents so much of our culture today. Although we may not actually fall asleep during a church service, many of us are sleepwalking in our faith.

    Myself included.

    God has so many words for us to hear, so many opportunities to pursue, so many visions to chase, so many people to love, so many lives we can physically save with the resources we have and yet…

    We sleep.

    We live for the moments when we find ourselves alive, awake, and fulfilling a purpose. But those moments have become special because they are exceptions to our normally sleepy lives.

    Sure, we dream a lot…but what do we do with those dreams after we wake up?

    I truly believe that God has wired humanity the other way around. When our norm is constantly living in that state of being alive – fully, abundantly. While we’re asleep — and dare I say it…only dreaming — we are being robbed of our very purpose in life.

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  • BOOK GIVEAWAY – 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One

    200-pomegranates

    One of the ?second opinions? in Mad Church Disease was written by my friends Shawn Wood. I met Shawn at a conference three years ago. Shawn did a talk called ?Brand Schizophrenia? which he ended with what he called ?the artist?s mandate.” The mandate was pretty simple and as an artist right up my alley.

    Here is how Shawn puts it: We are all artists (Moms, web developers, baseball players, single dads, CEOs, Authors, Pastors etc.) and we have a mandate from God to be Great at the art we produce. The mandate is simply living a life of influence and meaning in a way that will affect others and leave a legacy that all shines back to the master artist that saved us all – Jesus.

    There was a publisher at that conference and that simple mandate turned into a book that encourages everyone to be artists called 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One.

    Shawn is a story teller. It?s a great story. I like great stories. So, I wanted to give away ten copies of a great story.

    As with all book giveaways I would love to give you all one, but alas I only have a limited number?so here is how you can win.

    Leave a comment to this post with your favorite book that we should all be reading this summer and a few of you will get the chance to have a autographed copy of 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One sent your way soon!

    Use Tweet This below to double your chances!

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    **MORE FREE BOOKS**
    Shawn?s second book Wasabi Gospel comes out in August and I heard a rumor that he is setting up a book bomb and blog tour for July 8, 2009 – contact him at [email protected] if you want score a free copy of Wasabi Gospel (and an advance digital copy to boot) by being a part of the tour! Only 100 free books available so act fast!

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  • Be a Lab Rat and an Early Bird

    Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to host Catalyst Backstage – a behind the scenes look at Catalyst with interviews with speakers, pastors, and conference attenders. You can see some of those interviews here.

    This year, I will be hosting Backstage again, and also will be speaking at Catalyst Labs with Los and Jon. As much as I love the Catalyst experience as a whole, the Lab day is secretly my favorite part of the event. Smaller environments, people sitting on the floor, up the walls, wherever there is space hearing exclusive and intimate conversation and thought by the Lab speakers. So…I must highly recommend you not only register for Catalyst, but please register for the Lab day. You will NOT regret it!!!

    Anyway, today (Thursday) is the last day you can register at the cheapest rate. And rumor has it if you use the word “TONY” when you register you save even more money.

    I personally wonder what other four letter words will get you a discount.

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  • BOOK GIVEAWAY – Just Courage by IJM Founder Gary Haugen

    just-courage-haugenSix months ago, I had the opportunity to chat a little with Gary Haugen, the founder of International Justice Mission. My friend Bethany, who also works at IJM, set up the call and I blogged about it here.

    As I was flipping through the channels a few weeks ago, I stopped on a Dateline episode with the title “Children for Sale.” As soon as I hit the channel, I saw Gary being interviewed by Chris Hansen. The show was about Dateline going undercover with IJM in Cambodia. It was a couple of years old but the content is timeless. I was instantly taken back to the way I felt after reading Gary’s book Just Courage, and processing the conversation I had with him in December.

    Even though I returned from India a little over a month ago, I find it so easy to let my heart slip back into the mode of oblivion. In the back of my mind I know there are life and death issues and injustice occurring all over the world but I retreat into my to do lists and my calendar and my email and making plans for myself.

    I shove out of my heart the very things that make up the heart of God.

    So, I talked to Bethany and asked if I could give away ten of Gary’s book on my blog today. It is such an important book. I think it’s one I need to read a little every day to simply be reminded that we are called to fight.

    Ever feel like this?

    ?There must be more to the Christian life than this?more than church each Sunday and waving to my neighbors and giving some clothes to Goodwill when I go through my closet each spring.?

    These aren?t bad things, of course. But they?re safe and comfortable and easy. And there?s a reason they?re not satisfying your desire for something more significant and meaningful?we?re created by God for adventure.

    International Justice Mission president Gary Haugen has found that engaging in the fight for justice is the most deeply satisfying way of life. This book shows how we too can be a part of God?s great expedition.

    I wish I could give a copy of this book to all of you. It is one of the most profound books I’ve read. But hey, you can win it. To be entered, leave a comment related to anything having to do with injustice. Your questions, your thoughts, your actions, your desires, whatever.? I?ll pick winners next Thursday and the winner shall be notified via electronic post. (That?s email). Use the TWEET THIS button below to earn double credit.

  • A Video Addressing Some Very Serious Questions…

    Recently, there have been some very serious questions asked about Mad Church Disease, and instead of writing an impersonal post, I thought I’d address you guys a little more formally, via video.

    Please see below:


    (This is what happens when you have some free time and a video camera late at night after the NBA Finals are over. And, just to clarify, no pastors were insulted in the making of this video. Andy Stanley also looks good, and Ed Young knows how to lead. Thankyouverymuch.)

    Autographed?
    Book Cover? (Any book ever!)

  • What Do You Feel You Can’t Say in Church?

    A little over a year ago, I posted a question:

    What’s one thing you feel like you can’t say in church?

    337 responses later, it was clear that there are a lot of things many of us keep tucked inside for some reason or another. The question and overwhelming response was picked up by an Australian radio station, and even floated around in some atheist circles.

    Since it has been a year since we’ve talked about this, and many of you are new here, I’d like to welcome your thoughts on things you can’t say in church. I am closing comments on this post as to keep them all in the original post below.

    What’s one thing you feel like you can’t say in church? (And if you care to add — why do you feel that way?)

    CLICK HERE TO RESPOND or just scroll down to the post below this one called “Keeping Your Mouth Shut”

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  • keeping your mouth shut!

    Censored in Church?

    what is something you feel you can’t say in church, or around other christians?

    for example…mine would be, “sometimes i feel like i can’t share how i really feel inside.”

    funny, serious, whatever…what’s yours?

  • Innovative Ministry Leader Launch & Caption Contest!

    A few weeks ago, I told you about a partnership that I’m very honored to be in with a new web video teaching community called Innovative Ministry Leader.

    Today, they launch! And they’re using a session of Mad Church Disease to kick it off! In this 20-ish minute video, I talk about my own journey through burnout, some principles for recovery, and what Scripture says about sacrifice and rest in ministry.

    You can sign up today and use the promo code FLOWERDUST to get a 10% discount on your membership (any level – one month, six month, or one year) and your subscription is all inclusive meaning you can use it whenever, as many times as you like, wherever. Your whole staff or ministry team can watch the videos all for the price of one subscription.

    Upcoming speakers are Jeff Deyo, Troy Gramling, Sheri Gould, Greg Stielstra, Jonathan Lee, Dino Rizzo, Paul Jackson, Tommy Kyllonen, Aaron Linne, Mark Batterson, Ross Parsley, Glenn Packiam, Skye Jethani, Carl Cartree and Jud Wilhite…they are adding more all the time, too!

    I took a 40 second clip out of my video so you can kind of get a feel for it.

    And, if you sign up now, you get eight of the Leadership Network Innovation Series books through Zondervan. You can see what those books are here.

    Also, here’s a little screen grab of one of my videos (there are two more videos coming – one about pornography addiction and another about depression). I could have totally chose a more flattering photo, but there’s nothing like a little self deprecation.

    iml

    The best caption for this photo wins a copy of Mad Church Disease!