Scripture Should Trump Political Allegiance

I am profoundly troubled by the number of Christians supporting Donald Trump. Before anyone brings up Hillary Clinton, I find her reprehensible as well and her character to be just as deplorable as his. However, between the two of them I see more Christians supporting Trump so that is what I am going to talk about,

Trump is antithetical to everything Christian and most things conservative. He is a bully who calls names, degrades people, they cries foul when anyone says anything about him. Trump has repeatedly attacked Sen. Warren calling her “Pocahontas”, “Goofy Elizabeth Warren”, and “the indian” yet when she called him a, “thin-skinned, racist bully”, he responded by saying that she has a nasty mouth on her. He was shocked that anyone would speak that way. He has a long history of attacking people in terrible ways.

I get that we are not voting for a pastor here but there are some things that Christians simply should not tolerate and hatred and bigotry are chief among those.

“If I were running ‘The View’, I’d fire Rosie O’Donnell. I mean, I’d look at her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I’d say ‘Rosie, you’re fired.” I don’t care for Rosie O’Donnell either but is attacking her physical appearance necessary? It is a low class bullying and it is antithetical to the gospel, conservative principals and the dignity required for the office of the President. She is a person made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27)

“Our great African-American President hasn’t exactly had a positive impact on the thugs who are so happily and openly destroying Baltimore.” This is a terribly racist and uncalled for statement that unnecessarily brings President Obama's race into the discussion.

“You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young, and beautiful, piece of ass.” Is this the kind of man you want as the President of the United States?

“Ariana Huffington is unattractive, both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man – he made a good decision.” Again, Mr. Trump stoops to personal attacks and personal attacks about people's appearance. This kind of nasty rhetoric from a President risks starting wars.

"If Hillary Clinton can't satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America?" Statements like these are below the office of the President.

Christians cannot vote for this man under the guise of "the lesser of two evils". A vote for Trump is not a vote against Clinton. It is an affirmative vote for hatred, bigotry, misogyny, and tyranny. If you are voting for those things, I'd encourage you to prayerfully search Scripture. 

Trump is an arrogant man and Proverbs 16:5 is clear, "Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished." (ESV) Do you really want to support a man whom God will surely humble?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:22-26 ESV)

I do not see a way to live in the fruit of the spirit and support and man who is the opposite of each of these and is self-admittedly unrepentant about it.

Here are a few quotes that show he is not a conservative for those who are non-Christians but conservatives:

“He’s [John McCain] not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” This is NOT a man who is pro military. This is a man who has disdain for out military.

"I know Hillary and I think she’d make a great president or vice-president." Just a couple of years ago he was a Clinton supporter (maybe he still is). 

 Hillary Clinton. Hillary’s always surrounded herself with very good people, I think Hillary would do a good job.”  More of his support for Hillary.

He also supports universal healthcare with an individual mandate, eminent domain, and increasing taxes on the wealthy by a higher margin than even Sanders proposed. His position on abortion has been wobbly at best and he continues to praise Planned Parenthood while quoting the erroneous liberal talking points about them. He has been clear about his intent to crack down on the media as well and limit their freedoms. If you are a Trump supporter you are a liberal and there are now two ways about it.  

I Don’t Want to Join Your Community Group

 I’m sure your community group, missional community or whatever clever name you’ve come up with is great. I’m glad you enjoy it so much and I’m glad you think it is the best thing ever. I just don’t want to come. Don’t get me wrong, I believe Christians should get together and hang out. I’m not even opposed to sitting down and talking about a sermon we all just heard.

I’m all for friendship and I’m all for hanging out with people I care about. I’m definitely all about anything that involves food… good food that is, leave your boiled steak mashed cauliflower at home. What I don’t like is that it seems I can’t be a part of your church without joining one of your groups. What I don’t like is that you don’t want to be my friend, you want me to a notch on your spiritual bedpost. You care more about people showing up to your group than you do about the people themselves.

Yes, you’ve come up with very clever names, Community Group, City Group (I’m more of a country boy), Life Group, Fusion Group (what even is that?), Growth Group (I know I’m short and I’m ok with that), Missional Community, and DNA Group (DNA? Is this a needle exchange or something?) I’m not sure how I explain to my normal friends that I’m hanging out with my Fusion Group without them thinking I’m building bombs. Community Group sounds like I’m inviting them to Home Owners Association meeting which no one wants to attend! Maybe just call it hanging out with some friends.

Friends, that is what it’s all about right? Well maybe not. It seems that you only want to be my friend if I join your group. I’m not where you are at right now. I’m going through different things than you are. My church of 14 years just shut down and disappeared from the face of the earth. That still stings for me. It’s ok that it doesn’t for you but that’s what I’m processing right now. I’m healing right now. I’m not trying to do it alone, I have great people around me. I’m ever happy to hang out with you, I just don’t want to join your group. It’s not my thing.

I've lead community groups, I was once completely bought in on the whole concept. I was a vocal champion of Community Groups by any name. I even volunteered as an assistant to the director of Community Groups at a large church because I believed so strongly in the “mission”. In many ways I still do. I still believe Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (ESV)

What people want, what people crave is relationship, real relationship. People don’t want to sit in a circle and talk about a sermon, they don’t want to be your “friend” because they are in your group, and they don’t want to be given a two hours a week where they matter. People want real relationships. People want Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (ESV)

I recently went to a friend’s son’s baseball game. My friend and I chatted a bit, I chatted with some other friends that were there and we all just had fun. There was no agenda, no topic, just friends hanging out. Here’s the thing, I left that feeling loved, cared for, and I got to watch baseball! What’s not to love about baseball? If you asked me what my plans were I could easily say, “I’m going to a baseball game with some buddies.” That’s much easier to explain than, “I’m going to a life group.” A life group? You need a group for that? Please spare me the Christianese explanation of why that’s such a cool name. I get it, you “do life together”. That makes no sense to most people.

I’m not saying what you have is bad, in fact, in most cases it’s probably good! I’m saying, I just showed up at your church, BACK OFF psycho! I’m saying, I don’t need another church function, I need real friends. If you’ll only be my friend if I come to your group, you aren’t my friend. Thanks for inviting me, ONCE. I really appreciate that first invitation, I’m not so thrilled about invitations 10-200. I kind of feel like you are trying to make your quota now. I’m waiting for you to say, “What’s it going to take to close this City Group deal today? I can get my manager on the phone and get it done right now.”

I’m thankful for the people I have around me and I’m thankful that your church has the best cell groups but I really don’t want to join something that sounds like I’m in prison. Especially since I know if I was in prison, none of you would visit me. I’m pretty confident in that fact since my friend is in prison and no one has visited him and some people have even laughed about it.

So this week as you head off to your Family Missional Life Community Small Fusion Group this week, think about what your real purpose is. Are you just there to check something off your spiritual to do list? Did you only invite someone to fulfill your outreach requirements? When you invited someone did they get confused about something called a Redemption City Home Growth Connect Group? Get together with people! Love people! Just don’t force everything into a box with a silly little name stop hounding people! 

I'm Thankful for My Family

I’ve been writing blogs all this week on things I’m thankful for. Today, I’m writing about family. I’m very thankful for my family. I hope you enjoy hearing about the people I enjoy most in this world. This blog may not make complete sense to this who do not share my Christian worldview but please read it anyway because I think my family is worth reading about.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

Before I talk about the amazing people in my family I need to define who my family is and which family I am talking about. I have a biological family, the one I was born into. My biological is important to me as well but I want to talk in this blog about my blood family, the family I have because of the blood of Christ. This is where I’m asking you who are not Christians to hang with me; I promise it won’t get too weird. Give me one or two paragraphs and I’ll get to the pictures of the cute kids.

As a Christian I am a child of God. John chapter 1 talks about God giving those who believe the right to become children of God. John is specific that these are people who did not chose this but were born of the will of God, He picked me and He picked my family.

The family of God is one of adoption. The apostle Paul talks much about this adoption and our being children of God (Ephesians 1:5, Eph. 2:19, Eph. 5:1, Galatians 4:5) and in 1 Timothy 5 Paul continues the narrative of family when speaking of the church. So as I write today, I'm talking about the people God has given me as family in Him.

The picture up top if from a family photo shoot we did a bit earlier this fall. Sylvia and Sarah are not my daughters but my heart sure doesn't know that. I think of them and treat them just like my biological children. They are a tremendous gift to my life and I love them will all my heart. Sylvia challenges me to think of those less fortunate than me and to love the unloved. Sarah inspires me with her wit, snark, intelligence, and drive. 

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity
Sarah and Sylvia at UW

Saphyre is my 14 year old and she is one of the most enjoyable people I've ever known. People tell me that having a teen daughter is hard work and that I should be scared. They were wrong, dead wrong. I love this girl! We have a ton of fun together. She is smart, funny, silly, teachable, beautiful, addicted to coffee and a pleasure to be around. She even still snuggles her daddy from time to time.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity
This is one of my favorite pictures. I was teasing her and she was striking her best teen pose.

 Olivia is 9 and will likely rule the world some day. She is a natural leader and a total daddy's girl. She is brave, confident, and strong. I often joke that Olivia will either be the CEO of a major corporation of a despot dictator. She is generous and kind but she also has a mean streak. She brings unspeakable joy to my life.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

Abigail faces many challenges in her but does it with smile. She's visited more specialists than I can count and has to try harder than her peers just to keep up in class but she puts in the effort. She is one tough little girl. I love to laugh wit her and hear her silly jokes. She is the idea 7 year old daughter.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

Chaucer, my son, my only son. This boy has scared me more than I ever thought possible. He leads with his head but not in the way you are thinking... He leads his falls off bunk beds, out windows and into walls with his head. He runs around and plays Avengers all day, he practices protecting the family and he curls up and snuggles his daddy.

Tessa, my baby! I've spoiled this little girl like crazy, She's my baby and she knows how to wrap her daddy around her little finger. Her giggles and squeals are a delightful noise to my heart, not always my ears, but my heart. She is silly and girly and hopelessly addicted to M&Ms.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

Karina, my wife. She is ties all f the above together. She spends her day managing the above listed personalities and putting up with me and my last minute changes of plan and spontaneity. She loves Jesus, mentors women, speaks truth, loves Scar (the Disney villain) and One Direction (the "band"). I married WAY out of my league and I'm thankful that she was willing to marry a single father and immediately take on the role of mommy almost 10 years ago. I love her very much. I'll stop there because I'll soon be writing a blog dedicated to just her.

Photo Credit: Karina Tinsley

Aly, or Allee as Starbucks calls her. I love this girl dearly. This girl is part of my family for sure. I don't know where exactly she falls but she is one of the biggest blessings I've ever known. She is smart, wise, talented beyond comprehension (at everything), a better friend than anyone deserves and amazing with all kids. In the toughest season of my life she's been a great encouragement. She is beautiful inside and out and I am thankful to know her. She's also the best drive I know.

Photo Credit: Karina Tinsley
We were hiking and though she was injured at the time she joined me on the path less traveled.

Aly's entire family is a huge part of my life and a huge blessing to my family. I don't have a photo of all of them but I'll just tell you about them. Paul, the dad can build anything, he is a bold man yet a kind, gentle and generous man. He works hard and loves his family and mine well. Amy is Paul's wife and though she is still quite young she lets my kids call her Grandma Amy. She loves them and does all sorts of fun things with them. She is also an incredible baker. Her cookies will leave you speechlessness because you'll just keep stuffing your face with them. Jacob is the oldest of their kids and he is a loyal and faithful friend. He dropped everything this summer to take a group top high school guys to a summer camp with me. He suffered a 12 hour bus ride and kept a great attitude. Logan is the baby of their family (he's 14) and like the rest of them he is crazy talented. He's a solid athlete, an actor and a musician. My kids adore Logan and hang on his every word. He is basically a rock star in their minds. 

The final member of the Perrigo family isn't a Perrigo at all, she's Amy mom, Mary. Also quite young, Mary allows my kids to call her great-grandma Mary. This sweet woman loves my kids and delights in getting to hang out with them. She is wise and always seeking more knowledge. She is humble and servant minded. She is hospitable and generous. I am so thankful for all of these people.

Jordan and Alicia, these two chose to be my kids aunt and uncle. They, along with their son, Liam, are a constant source of joy to my heart. We don't see each other quite as much as we used to but I really love them. This year since Liam was so young they were unable to join us on vacation and their absence was noticeable. I'm so thankful to call them family.

Ashley is one of my co-leaders in our churches youth group and a dear friend. She's in many ways like a little sister, snotty and snarky, yet loving and loyal all at the same time. I love her and I love getting to do ministry with her. She is great at connecting with teenagers and making the Bible fun for them. She's a talented communicator, athlete and artist.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

I have the best people in the world around me. I could go on for hours talking about what all these people mean to me but I'm just going to remind you that these people are a gift from God to my life, shut up, and post a few pictures. In the additional pictures you'll see Reagan and Darbee, who I love dearly, Kadi Dawn who I miss terribly since she moved back to Texas and the man behind the camera, Matt Kennelly who is one of the best men I know.

Sarah and Karina at Disneyland

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity
Reagan and Darbee hugging Aly

The man who is Fort Vanity is also my dear friend, Matt.

Photo Credit: Fort Vanity

At the zoo with Sylvia

Christmas Pajamas 2013

If you know Karina you understand this.

...and this

Kadi Dawn was only in Seattle a short time but she made a huge difference while she was here.

Karina and Aly

Karina, Aly and some guy

We went on a Jungle Cruise

Sylvia and Sarah with their Fairy Godmother. 

Chaucer and Tess have a great relationship

A munch of people I love

This picture is missing Ashley because she had to leave early to educate young minds as a teacher. 

Tess, Aly and Ashley

Chaucer the protector with his sword

Family, I really love my family.

Finding Joy in Youth Ministry - A Question

This week I'm writing blogs about things I'm thankful for. One of the things that I’m most thankful for is that I get to teach the Bible. I love the Word of God and I love getting to teach it to teenagers. This blog explains my feeling toward youth ministry and for that matter, ministry in general. It is also a good example of why you shouldn't ask me a simple question unless you want a long answer.

I was recently asked if I found joy in youth ministry. That word, "joy" stuck with me all night and into the next morning. What is joy? Sure I like doing youth ministry and I’m happy to be with the students. Our Wednesday night youth group is a highlight of my week and I truly love the students I get the privilege of serving. Is that joy though?

In writing to the Christians in the twelve tribes who had been scattered everywhere by the oppression of the Assyrians and Babylonians James charged them, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds," (James 1:2 ESV). He of course goes on to tell us the benefit we receive in the testing of our faith.

The word joy (χαρά; chara in the Greek) is the same throughout the New Testament and means gladness. It comes from the verb χαίρω; chairō which means to rejoice exceeding, to be glad, to thrive. James is telling us to have the same response to persecution as the wise men had to the announcement of Jesus birth (Matt. 2:10).

Joy in the Holy Spirit is what Paul tells us the Kingdom of heaven is about (Romans 14:17). Again, however this isn't a fun situation. People are bickering over what they can eat. The vegans and the bacon lovers are coming to blows at the church potluck and Paul rebukes them saying, get over it! Heaven is about joy in the Holy Spirit! We see joy listed as the second in line of the fruit of the spirit which I as a Christian possess.

Paul rejoices that he gets to pour his life out for the faith of the Philippians (Phil. 2:17) and he invites them to join him in his joy. So do I have joy? HECK YES I DO! Is it because of youth ministry? No, it’s because of Christ but it is out of that joy that I love others as He has loved me (John 15). Do I look forward to youth group every single week and love hanging out with, and teaching the Bible to this crazy, group of suburban, knife wielding, home schooling, maniacs? Oh, HELL YEAH! You better believe it! I love these students. I love their families! I love teaching the Bible! So my answer isn’t a simple, “Sure, it’s cool”. My answer is an emphatic, “YES!” There is much joy from Christ in seeing what the Holy Spirit is doing in the lives of the teens at this church.

I’m not just here because it’s a good place to do something. I’m here because I love Jesus, I love these students, I love Jesus' church and serving His church is worship and it is joy filled, worship! 

Thanking God for Mars Hill and Pastor Mark

With Thanksgiving approaching, I've been thinking a lot about what I’m most thankful for in life. I’m in fact working on writing a blog about thankfulness…. which I’ll probably never post but that’s ok. Heck, I’m typing this. and I don’t know if I’ll post it or just send it to a few close friends.

Psalm 95:2 tells us, “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Luckily for you this is a blog and you don’t have to hear my dreadful singing you just get to read my thanksgiving.

There is one area of my life that I've given much thought lately and have wanted to write about but I just haven’t had the words, or maybe I've just had too many words and needed to sort them out. It’s hard to write about being thankful for something when you know many of your friends do not share your thankfulness and in some cases are even hurt by what you are thankful for. With that said, if you are one that was hurt by Mars Hill, please know that I do not mean to throw salt in your wounds but I do wish to publicly thank God for what He has done for me through Mars Hill and maybe even process some of my pain over Mars Hill’s demise.

I've spent almost 14 years of my life at Mars Hill. I've been trained, loved, disciple, rebuked, challenged, and blessed during these years. I've learned more about Scripture, ministry, community, family and most importantly Jesus than I even did in Bible College. Week after week I sat under the best Bible teaching I've ever heard. Pastor Mark brought the words of Scripture to life and ignited in me a fire, and a passion to search out more for myself.

It is under the leadership and preaching of Pastor Mark that I learned what it means to be a godly man, to be tough when defending my family and to be tender with my family. It was here that I first heard the concept of daddy dates, and spoiling my kids as long as they don’t act spoiled. I learned good doctrine, that Jesus loves His church, and that my deepest family is the family I find in the blood of Jesus. I've learned about worship, marriage, legacy, identity, and most of all, I've learned about Jesus. Every sermon I ever heard Pastor Mark preach was about Jesus. I love this church! I love Pastor Mark! Because of Mars Hill and because of Pastor Mark, I love Jesus more, I love my wife more, I love my kids more, I love God’s people more, I love non-Christians more. I’m thankful for this unfathomable blessing on my life.

This year has been a tough one for Mars Hill, one that will see our conclusion. I’m heartbroken about that fact. I've shed countless tears and spend many hours calling out to God in lament over what is a devastating loss to me. Yet, even in my grief my thankfulness for Mars Hill increases. It is here that I learned to suffer well and to share burdens with others.

Pastor Mark said, “Our identity is not in our joy, and our identity is not in our suffering. Our identity is in Christ, whether we have joy or are suffering.” He’s right! In this season of suffering and pain, my identity isn't in Mars Hill or Pastor Mark, it is in Christ.

Pastor Mark also said, “Any Christian who says he does not really need human friends because God is his friend is calling God a liar because He's the one who says we also need human friends.” Again, incredibly applicable to this season, now more than ever I need my friends. I’m experiencing the death of a church I love and I’m not experiencing it alone. With the help of dear friends, I am walking forward through the pain. When I came to Mars Hill I would never have relied on others but I've been well trained.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV)

[9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! [11] Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? [12] And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

No person has had a greater impact on my life than Pastor Mark Driscoll. From the first time I heard him speak over twenty years ago to the last sermon he preached at Mars Hill, he’s been faithful to the Word of God. He’s been a great pastor to me and shepherded me well. Anytime I've run into him, he’s asked with genuine care and interest about my life, and listened and prayed for me. From the stage he’s been a theological powerhouse, from the halls of Mars Hill he’s increasingly been a fatherly figure.

Of course it hasn't all been good, I've seen failure, pride and other sins from Pastor Mark and my other leaders. I've also seen Pastor Mark lead in public repentance, in humility and in grace. I’ve seen him and other pastors and leaders (including myself) fail, repent, and then find a new area to do the same. I've learned that repentance is comprised not just of an apology but rather of confession, contrition and change and I've seen that acted out by many.

However the greatest gift I've received at Mars Hill isn't the teaching, the worship, the discipleship, or all the free books I've accumulated over the years, it’s the people. The people of Mars Hill, past and present are what I am most thankful for. It was here that God gave me a family. People my kids know as grandparents, aunts and uncles and even sisters. It was at Mars Hill that He made us family. The memories of Abigail, now 7 in nursery with Joyce Chester rocking her, Chaucer (4) rushing the stage to hug Batman (Cooper Robinson) during worship, Olivia (9) and her adoration for Pastor Travis Tuttle, Saphyre (14) and her deep friendship with youth leader Ashley Nedervelt, Tessa (3) running with pure excitement to greet Aly Perrigo, these are the memories I’ll hold most dear.

I thank God for the family I have because of Mars Hill. I’m going to miss what was but I’m forever grateful for what God did here and for the blessing of family that I get to take with me long after Mars Hill is gone. We have a six Sundays left as Mars Hill but I have a lifetime of family and fond memories. I owe much to Mars Hill and Pastor Mark, he’ll always be a father figure to me but the greatest debt I own is the one paid by Jesus and it was here that I finally came to understand that. Thank you, Jesus for 14 great years at Mars Hill! 

Isolation Sounds So Good and Other Lies

Proverbs 18:1 "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; 

he breaks out against all sound judgment."

I've been thinking a lot about the concept of solitude verses isolation lately so reading this verse got my mind going. My ESV Study Bible had a helpful note that said, 

"Prov. 18:1 Whoever isolates himself: translates a Hebrew word that refers to someone who is either reclusive or divisive. Either way, antisocial tendencies seem to be implied."

Being the nerd I am, I decided to look up the word and see what it means. The Hebrew word is "פָּרַד" (Strong's H6504)  (pronounced: pä•rad) and it means to divide or separate. I'm done with the nerdy stuff now and moving onto the why I'm writing this.

I've had an intense desire to be away lately. Many days hiding in a cave sounds like a perfect solution to life. To be clear in these moments I'm not seeking solitude, I'm seeking isolation, I'm seeking myself and myself alone. It's not a desire to go and recharge, it's a desire to run and hide, to quit, to give up. Even writing that makes me want to punch myself in the nose. Anyone who knows me knows I HATE giving up! Yet for some reason lately, I've been willing to give up and hide. 

So why do I want to run away so bad? Because I never do! Over the past few years I've become increasingly poor at taking times of solitude. I fail to do as Jesus did (Luke 5:16) and withdraw from the constant commotion of life and pray. Because I'm not taking healthy breaks my sinful heart desires an unhealthy break. It wants one devoid of community. The truth is I would be miserable without my community!

I live my life trapped in the business of life. I'm in a suburb but it's much more urban than I'd like. My phone pushes my email to me from 4 different accounts and I check it at ever vibration, phantom vibration and random moment I think I'm so important I need to. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram rarely go long without being checked in on and I rarely let calls or texts go unanswered (unless I just want to annoy someone). I need to build in a few hours a week and one day a month to completely unplug, no technology, no chatter, just me, my Bible and Jesus.

This blog was poorly titled because I only addressed one lie but hey I only got a couple hours of sleep. There are plenty of other lies I believe I live out on a daily basis. Keep reading my blog and I'm sure you'll see more. Hopefully as I sleep more the quality of my writing will increase as well. This particular is a pre-coffee, no sleep look at how I really feel. Get some coffee in me and I'll get a bit more clever.  

Why I Love Mars Hill

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone. I have not run this by anyone at Mars Hill and I am not writing on behalf of Mars Hill and/or any person associated with Mars Hill. No one at Mars Hill has viewed or approved this text.

I am a member of Mars Hill and I have been for about 13 years. Over the last 13 years I have come to love my church not because it's perfect but because it's my family. It's where I know I'm loved, protected and looked out for. Sure when I first came it was shiny and pretty. Much like my marriage there was a brief point where I was enamored with my church and could find no fault. Those days are long gone in both cases and I now see the imperfections but I don't love less because of them. I see opportunity for growth and I as a Christian see a reflection of myself and my sin. I see an example of constant change and repentance being laid out before me.

I'm under no illusion that my church or any of my pastors are prefect. The truth is my Lead Pastor, Mark Driscoll is a broken sinner. I know this not only because Scripture tells me but also because I've heard him confess his sin, I've heard it regularly and increasingly over the years. I know that the charge against him is that he's a egomaniac, maybe he was at some point but I see humility in him, I see a repentant leader striving for Jesus.

As a result of the teaching I've received at Mars Hill I've learned what it meas to be a man. Not a macho man, a tough guy or a stereotype but a real man. I've listened to countless sermons about being tough and tender as a husband and father. Because of this teaching that I've received I take my daughters on weekly daddy dates and do weekly buddy time with my son. I work hard (and often fail) to speak gently to wife and surprise her with little things that let her know I love her. Having grown up without a dad I never saw any of this and I never would have learned it without my church.

I've been called to a higher standard as a Christian, husband, father, employee (never of Mars Hill), friend and church member. I've been trained, rebuked, discipled and told to disciple. I've heard the Gospel week in and week out. I've seen people, many people meet Jesus and have their lives changed. I've never seen any member of church leadership claim to be perfect. I've met many of the pastors personally including the senior leadership and in those encounters I've always found humble, loving, repentant people who showed genuine care for me. I am not a top giver, I am not a pastor, I am not anyone that would be of any benefit to them, there is no reason to show off for me or make themselves look good to me. They are just real loving men. So loving in fact that one of the Executive Elders gets up every morning at 4:00 AM to pray for the people who attend.

Many people lately seem to want to take shots at what we get wrong yet fail to see (or mention) what God is doing. Again, I'm not saying Mars Hill is perfect. It isn't! I'm not saying Pastor Mark is perfect. He isn't! I'm saying in Matthew 16:18 Jesus was telling Peter that he was the rock on which His church would be built yet by 16:23 Jesus is saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." No one is perfect! I don't want perfect, I want real, I want repentant, I want humble. I see all these things at Mars Hill.

My family has been loved well here, taught Scripture, taken care of in times need, spoken to softly, spoken to firmly and called to love Jesus more. I love Mars Hill because the broken sinners that comprise this church love Jesus, love people and love me.