Wesley Hill

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Wesley Hill (PhD, Durham University, UK) is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

He is the author of Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality, and Spiritual Friendship: Finding Love in the Church as a Celibate Gay Christian.

He has written for Books & Culture, Christianity Today, and First Things. He co-founded and writes regularly for SpiritualFriendship.org.

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Show Notes

7:12 – Why he wrote his first book, Washed and Waiting

10:01 – Why he decided to come out in college (and who he told)

12:45 – What “the gift of going second” is, and how to give it to others

14:23 – The history of the term “ex-gay” (and what’s unhelpful about it)

16:25 – Why he identifies as a “gay, celibate Christian”

23:05 – How the church can disciple those who are same-sex attracted

26:05 – Why he wrote his second book, Spiritual Friendship

28:27 – The two options he thought he had as a 20-year-old (and the third way he’s discovered today)

30:55 – How to find friendship after college

37:44 – When it might be appropriate to end a friendship

41:57 – How the culture views friendship vs. how Christian history views friendship

42:55 – Favorite book he’s read recently, nerdiest thing he’s into right now, and who he’s planning to vote for

Links

Mark Yarhouse

Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith

Why 30 is the decade friends disappear – and what to do about it

The Lake of Darkness

Stranger Things

in James Lepine • Park Church Podcast

Mike Cosper

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Mike Cosper is the Founder and Director of the Harbor Institute for Faith and Culture, where he works to develop resources for Christians living in a post-Christian world. Prior to that, he served for 16 years as the Pastor of Worship and Arts at Sojourn Community Church, a multi-site church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of Rhythms of Grace (Crossway), The Stories We Tell (Crossway) and the forthcoming Recapturing the Wonder (Intervarsity Press). Mike is married to Sarah, and they have two daughters, Dorothy and Maggie. They live in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Show Notes

7:05 – Practical changes they made at Sojourn to “retell the Gospel story” on Sundays 9:30 – The difference between a building and a church 10:30 – The three categories of engaging with the arts as a Christian 12:30 – How they went multi-site (and why they no longer call them campuses) 15:45 – The one piece of advice he’d give to a church planter today 17:45 – What The West Wing and church planting have in common 23:30 – Favorite movies of all time 25:00 – Best TV show he’s seen recently 27:15 – Best book he’s read recently 29:45 – The first thing you need to do if you want to see change in your life 32:00 – A daily rhythm that you should start tomorrow (only five minutes a day) 34:00 – Why you should through your journal entries away 37:00 – What is new (untitled) book is about (and when it comes out) 39:00 – What he’s doing with The Harbor Institute for Faith & Culture 41:00 – The nerdiest thing he’s into right now, whether he liked the new Star Wars movie, and who he’s voting for

Links

The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long for and Echo the Truth The Godfather 2 Blazing Saddles Billions Yellow Blue Tibia Rhythms of Grace: How the Church’s Worship Tells the Story of the Gospel You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business The Psalm of the Day The Harbor Institute The Thing Itself
in James Lepine • Park Church Podcast

Providence Network Toy Drive: The Results

For the past 2 years, Park Church members have given generously to Providence Network’s Mr. HUG’s Christmas Store through the purchase of new, unwrapped gifts. This year Park Church gave 189 gifts of clothing, family games, toys and sports equipment/gear … valued at over $2,800!

Providence Network is a Christian, urban, transformational housing organization that helps men, women and families heal from poverty, homelessness, domestic violence and addictions to become self-sufficient, productive members of our community. They serve over 150 men, women and children annually in our four homes: two FirstStep homes, and two NextStep apartment communities. Click here to visit their website.

Mr. HUG’s stands for “Hand Up Giving” as our Christmas store gives the residents the empowering opportunity to shop for NEW gifts for loved ones at greatly reduced prices, then donate those proceeds to another charity of their choice. Gifts are sold to our residents for: 3 for $1.00 or $3.00 (the highest price). ALL proceeds go to other Christian charities.

Through the 2014 Mr. HUG’s Christmas Store, the residents gave over $900 to other Christian charities! These gifts helped charities that proclaim the Gospel to underserved communities, give job opportunities to homeless youth and young adults, and on-the-job training for individuals overcoming poverty, homelessness, addictions and domestic violence.

Over 100 Providence Network residents (men, women and children) attended Mr. HUG’s Christmas! While their gifts were being wrapped, residents and their families mingled with friends over specialty coffee drinks and hot chocolate, hot bowls of soup and chili, and Christmas cookies … while surrounded by beautiful Christmas decorations, inspiring music and a visit with Mr. HUG’s! All of these services are provided to the residents and guests free of charge.

Several Park Church members volunteered and attended the Mr. HUG’s Christmas event on Sunday, December 7th! We estimated that between 350-400 people … volunteers, residents, families and friends … celebrated with us!

“We are extremely grateful for the partnership, love and support that we have with the Park Church family!” – Providence Network

in Blog • James Lepine • Love5280 • Partner Highlights

Serve Denver Day

On Saturday, August 24th, 2014, we had our first (hopefully annual) Serve Denver Day.

What a blast.

Just under 200 “Park People” showed up to help serve our neighbors in the Highlands.

So, who did we serve, and what did we do?

North High School
-Washed almost every window
-Organized all classrooms
-Cleaned the cafeteria and auditorium

The facilities manager said, “We truly appreciate the service you all provided here at North.”

Skinner Middle School
-Transformed the community “garden”

It truly looked like a jungle when we arrived. Now it’s a pristine vegetable and flower garden that the students can use and enjoy! 

The Highlands
-Cleaned streets and alleys
-Weeded neighbors’ yards
-Hauled toilets and couches off of properties (with permission)

We covered over 30 square blocks in all. One gentleman, when asked if there was anything we could do on the spot, told the group, I think as a joke, that they could weed his whole yard.

And with 30 hands at work, his yard was weed free in 15 minutes.

Parks
-Picked up trash and yard debris
-Cleaned the streets and alleys
-Met neighbors along the way

BBQ Celebration

When we’d finished the above, we celebrated with a BBQ.

Over 20 of our neighbors showed up, and all in all, we fed about 150 people.

One of the coolest parts about the weekend was seeing two of those neighbors, who had never been to Park Church before, walk through the doors on Sunday morning for worship.

We had countless neighbors thank Park Church volunteers for servicing the community in this way and they let us know that they’d like to join Park Church the next time around. 

All glory be to Christ!

in Blog • James Lepine • Love5280