Good Baggage: Transforming Past Pain into Present Growth with Dr. Ike Miller | Ep. 3 In this episode of The Dr. Jonathan Hoover Show, we sit down with Dr. Ike Miller, pastor of Bright City Church and author of Good Baggage. Dr. Miller shares his powerful insights on how our past experiences—both good and bad—shape us, and how we can turn our "baggage" into tools for growth and strength in our relationships.

We dive into topics like:

• Coping mechanisms from childhood and their effects on adulthood.
• The biblical perspective on pain, healing, and growth.
• How to balance the past's impact without letting it define your future.
• Real-life stories, including lessons from Joseph's journey in the Bible.

📚 Grab Ike’s book, Good Baggage, wherever books are sold!

⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Why "baggage" isn't all bad 04:30 The root canal analogy: Addressing emotional pain early 08:00 Lessons from Ike's childhood and relationships 12:00 Finding strengths in coping mechanisms 16:00 Biblical insights: Joseph’s journey and God's redemptive power 20:00 Balancing pain, redemption, and God's will 25:00 Wrapping up: Practical takeaways and Ike’s resources

Key Takeaways:

1. Baggage often starts as a coping mechanism that served us in the past but may harm our relationships today.
2. Transformation requires honest self-examination, biblical truth, and time.
3. God's redemption works through, not despite, our pain.
4. Your past influences your story, but it doesn’t have to define your future.

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