It's Not Enough: Dustin Kensrue's Turning Away

By Dmileson - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49962067

Background

Mars Hill Church in Seattle was once a surprisingly powerful influence in the Pacific Northwest. In the fall of 2014, the whole thing came tumbling down as the founder and senior pastor of the church, Mark Driscoll, was forced to publicly step down amid controversial financial dealings and interpersonal sin issues. You can read my thoughts about Driscoll and that whole ordeal in one of my blog posts from that time (now over five years ago -- wow!).

Our Adoption: Love Is Not Efficient

"One of my many epiphanies was that love is not efficient. And I was very efficient."

This past summer our church read through the book A Praying Life by Paul Miller. We wanted to get better at being a church that prays and we chose that particular book because it was highly recommended by many trustworthy sources.

In the book, Miller is very transparent and presents his life in a most authentic way. He allows readers to learn from his own mistakes and sins. By the time we were finished with the book, we felt like we knew him.

How Do We Abide?

Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:1-4, ESV)

Christian: Stop Yielding To The Culture god

Introduction

I learned to drive in a rural place. That context didn't allow for some of the scenarios that require a truly heightened awareness, like switching lanes on the interstate or dealing with traffic jams. As I grew up and moved to an actual big city (Kansas City), I encountered those previously unfamiliar situations, as well as the inner-city crosswalk. And I've still not truly familiarized myself with it.

Thinking about a Christian Suicide

Jarrid Wilson's personal Facebook account

Introduction

Earlier this week, Greg Laurie announced through his social media channels that one of the associate pastors at his church committed suicide the night before. The pastor's name was Jarrid Wilson, who was, as described by Laurie, a man who "loved the Lord and had a servant's heart."