Dave Miller

  Have you ever flown on a dreary, rainy day? You taxi down the runway and everything is gray, dark and damp. You pick up a little speed and the front of the plane points up just a little. It tilts a bit more and you feel the wheels come off the ground. The plane rises into the sky and things get worse. As you enter the clouds, you can’t see a thing as the fog closes all around you. That is when it happens. You burst out of the clouds and suddenly, the sun is shining brightly all around you. It is no longer dark or dreary, it is beautiful, cheerful. Everything that seemed to be true … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving: Rising above the Clouds

It was an early Tuesday morning 14 years ago - September 11. Our world changed. It just happened again. This time it didn't happen in New York or DC. They didn't use airplanes. It happened in France, one of our allies - one we like to ridicule. A few moments ago they arrested one of the men who said he was with ISIS that this was a coordinated attack. Who knows what the truth is? As was true on September 11, the truth will not be known for days and even weeks, and maybe longer. It will take time to sort all of this out. Yesterday our forces attacked in Syria. Today ISIS struck back in a … [Read more...] about The World Just Changed

    I did not serve in the US military. I went down to the appropriate office to register for the draft after my 18th birthday and found out they had just done away with the draft. By the time they reinstituted it, I was past the age to join up. I thought about joining the reserves, but finally decided against it. My dad was in the Air Force and served during the Korean War, mostly in Japan. The military was downsizing in that post-Vietnam era and they just didn't really need me. We have had quite a few discussions over the place of patriotic displays in churches during … [Read more...] about Thank You, Veterans! Now, Tell Us Your Story…

I feel like I just gave birth!  Well, since I never actually gave birth, only stood by while my wife did that, I don't suppose I really should pretend that's what it's like. But I have just finished a long, arduous and sometimes painful process of finishing, editing, formatting, and releasing a book called "Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage, and Ministry." About five years ago I published a series of posts here on the topic and they have remained among our most active over those 5 years - almost every day one or more of them is in our top 10 or 20 most active … [Read more...] about “Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage, and Ministry” by Dave Miller – now available

I have been finishing up a book (I'll have an announcement in a day or two) that has been taking just about every spare minute of my time, so I was a little late to the "saga of the red cup." Evidently, the people of Starbucks have sold their souls to Satan and are joining the front lines of the "War on Christmas." Their offense? Their cups  this year, in which they serve their overpriced mediocre coffee and coffee-type drinks to hipsters everywhere will be plain red cups. That's right, folks. PLAIN RED CUPS. The horror. No Christmas trees or snowflakes, just plain red cups. Is their … [Read more...] about Outrage and Disdain: The “Red Cup War” Rages

I'm headed to the Baptist Convention of Iowa on Friday for our annual meeting in Des Moines. We will have a Pastor's Banquet on Friday night with Dr. Jason Allen, a CP breakfast on Saturday with a fella named Frank Page, then our convention has been compacted into a one day event. I have a long drive home so I would try to sneak away early, but they often schedule something big as the finale. I haven't looked, but I suspect Dr. Page's message might be the closing event - no way I'm missing that!  We are electing a all new officers this year and our convention has had some political roiling the … [Read more...] about State Convention Forum: What’s Happening at Your Meeting This Year?

I'm a pessimist at heart. It comes from my theology of humanity - it's hard to read Romans 3 and trumpet the "human beings are basically good" mantra that the politicians love. We are sinners - born that way, live that way, and we die that way unless the Lord Jesus grabs our hearts. And (not to throw an eschatalogical curveball) I believe the Scriptures that tell us the there will be perilous days as the world continues, that this world is not moving toward the liberal utopia many see, but toward a moral meltdown before the return of Christ. So, I guess I will plead guilty to being a glass … [Read more...] about Hopeful Signs, Interesting Elections

I am fully aware that the solution for America's woes is spiritual, not political. But I have been thinking a lot about politics recently and so here are my thoughts. If you aren't interested in politics, feel free to just ignore this one!  Back on June 8, I wrote an article with a tongue in cheek title, "Dear GOP, I Want to Fall in Love, But I'm Playing Hard to Get." I made the point that I wanted to find a candidate I respected, someone I could get excited about this presidential cycle. It's pretty trendy and hip to act like all the candidates are buffoons, like there's nothing but … [Read more...] about Dear GOP, I’m Shopping for a Ring

Three states, small states, relatively insignificant states, play a huge role in determining what the outcome of the national presidential election will be. I live in one of them. In January (the dates are fluid), New Hampshire, and soon thereafter South Carolina, will hold primary elections. On a Tuesday night before either of those, Iowans like me will freeze our cabooses off by driving through our cold neighborhoods to school gymnasiums, auditoriums, community centers, and other such places to gather and discuss who the nominee of our party should be. I’ve already taken a picture with … [Read more...] about Are the Early State Primaries the Best Way to Select Party Nominees?

My dad was preaching in a southern city many years ago, in a city that hosted a rather well known rivalry game, the day after the game. I won’t name the game, but he did eat his cereal that morning out of an iron bowl. My dad is a huge sports fan and he delights in teasing and joking with people. The pastor of the church pulled him aside that morning with a serious look and said, “Lew, please listen to me. Do not joke about the game today. Half of the people will be gloating and half of them will be angry. You cannot joke from the pulpit about that football game.” Dad was befuddled. Most of … [Read more...] about Sports and Idolatry: Drawing the Line between Fan and Fanatic