Anne Marie Miller

Category: Writing

  • Thank You!

    Thank you all for your hard work yesterday blitzing the internet! I think technorati picked up most of the blog reactions: ALMOST 200! That is amazing. That is mindblowing. Almost 200 reactions in 24 hours. Wow. I cannot thank you enough! I could not possibly mention every single person/organization who shared the cure by blogging or emailing but I thought I’d post a couple of things I weren’t expecting!

    Check out the Technorati blog reactions here & click on a few of them to get to know some other awesome bloggers!

    1) At 6:30 yesterday morning, I noticed in my Google Reader that FriendlyAtheist.com had posted it. At first, I was honestly a little freaked out. I love Hemant’s candor & honesty and there have been many, many times he has made me think about the way I think. Anyway, knowing he is as honest as he is…I opened up the link and was floored by his graciousness to help. I guess they don’t call him friendly for nothing! Thanks, Hemant!

    Read Hemant’s post about the survey here.

    2) ChurchMarketingSucks.com posted an interview. It’s not that I wasn’t expecting it, but I appreciate the fact they were concerned about the affect Mad Church Disease would have on potlucks.

    Read the CMS interview here.

    3) I got an IM from RagamuffinSoul asking me for a hi-res copy of my cover. Interspersed with “hahaha” and “Muahahahah” and “Just trust me” I sent him the cover. What was produced was nothing short of a work of art. You can watch it below.

    At this point, I have about 500 survey responses…so…give or take 10%. If you haven’t posted or emailed or taken a survey…please help spread the love. 5000 is looking like a pretty big number…but 500 responses in one day is AWESOME and couldn’t have been done without you!

  • FIGHT MAD CHURCH DISEASE!

    It’s here……….
    MadChurchDisease.com     is live!

    How can you help fight Mad Church Disease?

    1. Take a survey here.

    2. Email all your friends, your staff, your small group, the people you volunteer with, and have them take the survey.

    3. Fight by spreading the CURE! Post a link to the survey on your blog, and keep an image link in your sidebar (images here)

    I can’t WAIT to see how God uses this! Thank you for all your support and prayers over the past week! I am so lucky to have such awesome friends (even if you do just lurk and I have no idea who you are…you still rock, baby!)

    A special thank you to the group of about 100 people who signed up to be “Trailblazers” — these people tested the site, promised to post content today, committed to emailing over 4000 people combined, and are from over 25 states and six countries! Words can’t express how grateful I am!

    So, let me know – How did you help fight?

  • i am really bad at keeping secrets

    alright, so a few times in the last week, i mentioned i am working on a little project and was planning on telling you about it on friday. well, i can’t wait to tell you anymore!

    there is one condition – and that is that YOU must keep it a secret (via means of blogging and email) until July 2, and then that is where i’ll need your help.

    deal? … okay.

    i am writing a book. not “oh, i want to write a book” but in the sense that things are already written, interviews are being scheduled and conducted with people, some art direction is complete, i am in some very early discussions with a couple of publishers, and there’s even a website that will be launching on july 2.

    the book is (currently) titled mad church disease, and discusses the ministry burnout epidemic that is killing church staff, volunteers and their families left and right.

    (why is it called mad church disease? read here.)

    it will also have insights from pastors (and not just “famous” ones), but volunteers, families, and stories of redemption and healing. THIS EPIDEMIC HAS TO BE STOPPED!

    as i mentioned earlier, the website will be publicly launched july 2. but what i am really looking forward to, and WHAT I NEED YOUR HELP WITH is this…

    a big part of the book is research. there have not been any comprehensive, indepth studies that take the temperature of “ministry burnout” for all three groups: church staff, families/spouses of church staff, and volunteers.

    on the mad church disease website, these three surveys will go live and it is my goal to get 5000 respondants to the surveys.

    (you can read more about the surveys here.)

    what god brought to my attention the other night (here) about getting the “right people” to help drive people to the survey site on july 2 was that although there may be some made up “A LIST” of bloggers and leaders – how BLIND i was for not telling you guys about this project.

    why would a pastor of some top 100 listed “well known” church who doesn’t know me get involved (and why should i care if he doesn’t care?) when right in front of me i have YOU…you who have prayed for me, laughed with me, challenged me, encouarged me? YOU are MY “A LIST” people. so i apologize to you for being blinded by my own desires!

    this is the deal. i am asking anyone that would like to fight mad church disease, to sign up as what i call a “trailblazer” – pretty much these trailblazers are people who are committing to blitzing their universe (by posting a link to the site/survey on their blog on july 2, emailing their friends, etc.).

    to read more about becoming a trailblazer, you can go here to this link and if you want to, sign up.

    on sunday, i will send everyone who’s signed up some graphics, text, and links to use (as much or as little of) so you can help direct people to take the surveys. it would me SO much to me if I had your help!

    i know that’s a lot of information, and i do ask you wait until monday, july 2 to post anything or write anything but if you have questions or comments, i’d love to discuss them with you so feel free to comment below on this post.

    and for your quick reference:

    Book Site

    Trailblazer Page (it’s hidden)

    phew! now that it’s off my chest, i really look forward to your feedback.

  • oil change

    i am learning how fickle i am. how easy it is to sing praise and rejoice when an email filled with good news arrives; and then how only hours later, with the news of a road block, my heart crumbles and i allow all the joy to be replaced with despair.

    like getting an oil change; only backwards. i drain out all the clean oil, the oil that makes my engine run smoothly – with dirty oil, which will only clog all those moving parts and cause them to freeze up.

    some people take things as they come and can keep a great attitude about them. i can…but it is really hard for me to do that. each time one of these obstacles leaps in my path, i choose to pour in some more dirty oil.

    god, give me the faith to understand the trials which face me now, and will continue to come…and help me keep my eyes focused on you, your blessings…and to consider it pure joy.

  • commentomundo

    the other day someone asked me, “how come so many people comment on your blog?” then, someone else mentioned it to me again today.

    i really can’t answer that because you guys are the ones commenting…

    so, what about this little blog here inspires you to react, to comment?

    i think i’d kind of like to know too! :)

  • top secret design challenge

    yes, i am a graphic designer…but i have a challenge out there to those of you who dabble in the arts. if you are interested in mocking up a book cover for a top secret but very valid book project, please use the contact me link on the right or email me here for the details.

    hush hush.

  • good vs. evil

    last week, i got to meet with published author, lake pointe member, and overall amazing woman, mary demuth. and recently, we added to our staff the knowledgeble kurt bruner, who was previously on staff at focus on the family, and an author of several books.

    both mary and kurt graciously read over the articles i’ve written in the last year, and responded with encouragement and feedback. something that has impacted me the most was something kurt noted:

    I encourage you to try telling a few uplifting stories to test your craft. Strange as it may sound, it is easier to write about evil characters in drama, murder in fiction and painful situations in non-fiction than it is to portray the good and beautiful as truly appealing. That is why Tolkien is considered by many to be the greatest writer of the 20th century ? he managed to portray the heavy darkness of evil without blinking, yet makes you yearn for the light of goodness.

    Yeah, he totally nailed me on that one.

    I have a little over a month until my next article is technically “due” and at this point, I know I must venture into the realm of uplifting. Easier said than done. I am by default a melancholy soul, and although consider all things joy, and realize God wants to give me abundant joy, it is easier for me to write about my mistakes and shortcomings (because they end with redemption).

    I would really appreciate your prayers as I listen to the Spirit’s voice while determining what I am supposed to write about next month. And if any of you have advice or encouragement or even writers you love that have a more positive slant to their writing, feel free to share their links or articles.

  • Confessions of an Affirmation Junkie

    Ok, so, Lori just posted a comment on the entry below about the book I am supposedly writing. Earlier last week, our new Scottish (Ok, English…but currently Scottish) friend Geoffrey asked something similar on his blog. The few links I was missing in my head were connected on the flight back from Scotland, and I’ve decided to do it. For real this time.
    I am going to write a book.

    It’s probably going to be targeted more towards girls, but guys, you are more than welcome to chip in as well on this question. I read Every Man’s Battle and skimmed through Wild at Heart, so surely there are guys out there who would read something to get inside a woman’s head, right?

    The temporary title and direction I am going is…

    Confessions of an Affirmation Junkie
    (and other taboo topics good girls don’t discuss)


    which is going to encompass the idea of loving God with all our hearts, minds and strength (physical, mental and emotional) – and how there are areas most women struggle and find temptation, yet no one ever talks about…such as porn, emotional affairs, wondering if you married the wrong person, dating and sex, etc., etc.

    That is where I need your help. What are some topics YOU think should be written about that aren’t talked about??? If you’d like to post anonymously, just type in “anonymous” and a fake email for your comment.

    Also, I am sure there are tons of people who read your blog (because you are way cooler than I am…) that would have extremely valuable input on this conversation. I would be completely humbled if you could post this request for people to respond to.

    Thanks for your never-ending support!!

  • An Emotional Affair

    If you’ve watched TV recently, you would have noticed emotional affairs is a problem being recognized even outside of our little Christian bubble. On the Today show, they had their resident psychologist on talking about emotional affairs. The show created so much buzz, they had her on again…and again.

    With the introduction of internet communication as well as overworked career minds and the fallout of under met needs, it’s no wonder so many people are struggling getting a grip on their emotions and their thought lives. No longer is it just the stereotypical vice president sleeping with his secretary; but it’s the stay at home mom hooking up with her newly divorced neighbor. The assistant pastor messing around with the woman whose marriage is falling apart.

    And maybe they’re not even having sex.

    As a woman, this is an area in my life I have to constantly guard.

    There’s a book out there called Every Woman’s Battle: Discovering God’s Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillment.

    This book has some valuable information in it. Whether you’re single or married – emotions are something that need to be guarded. They have to be guarded.

    If you’re young – learn how to now. Learn the warning signs early. Guys can have emotional affairs too, so this doesn’t just apply to us girls

    • Are you thinking about someone constantly. Does he or she pop in your head more than a few times a day?
    • Do you dress yourself based on who you are going to see (need to impress?) that day? If you know you might run into a particular person, do you make sure you look good?
    • Are you always anxiously awaiting a phone call or email from a certain person that isn’t your spouse?
    • Do you find yourself thinking, “I wonder if he (or she) finds me attractive?”
    • Do you dwell on thoughts of what it would be like to hug, touch or kiss a certain person?

    Those are some of the red flags mentioned in Every Woman’s Battle that show you might be leaning on the line of an emotional attraction that isn’t healthy.

    Especially if you’re married or with someone and you’re having these thoughts – talk to someone right away (but not the person you’re having the thoughts about!)

    The Bible talks about sex (including thoughts or actions) outside of marriage like this:

    “There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact.” (1 Corinthians 6:16a – The Message)

    and a few sentences later:

    “Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does.” (6:18 – NLT).

    Run away-Fast!

    Not just from having sex with someone you shouldn’t be having sex with?but from your thoughts and your emotions.

    We were created to follow our hearts and the desires we feel, but when they lead us away from God’s plan and into someone else?s arms instead (even if it’s just in our imagination), nothing?nothing good can ever come from that.

    This is serious business…and not something to be blown off as just a crush or infatuation.