Welcome to my deserted island of church.

I know that I've said it before but, in roughly two-and-a-half years of attending (and as a member) of Mars Hill I have found it incredibly difficult to feel connected, get plugged in, or otherwise be a part of the community. And at this point, being without that community for so long is just wearing me down and making me feel alienated. From my own skewed opinion, I have matured light years in my personal relationship with Christ. I have almost daily "banter" and prayer life that has become increasingly Christ-centered and is fantastically edifying. In every aspect I truly am becoming a new, worshipful person from the inside-out. But the lack of Christian church community has me feeling like I'm wandering the desert alone and dang if I'm not thirsty. And it's not for lack of trying either. I haven't been in a community group since two moves ago, and since I now live in east Pierce county the closest one is in Auburn ...about fifteen miles away.... at seven in the evening...... on a Wednesday..... could it be less convenient? I volunteered in the Children's Ministry for a year and met some great people but still never felt like a member of the clique. We now live fifty miles away from my church making even attending an undertaking that is more than we usually care to burden ourselves with considering that I do nearly that same commute everyday for work. Is this the point where I give up in even trying? Not to mention that fact that with Aimee's advancing pregnancy, it limits our traveling.

Watching the sermon video and occasionally popping on to the member's site would seem to be great ways to stay in contact with the community but it just reminds me that I'm not there. Which sucks I tell you.

It sucks because Mars Hill is a freakin' awesome church and Mark Driscoll is a freakin' awesome pastor. The doctrine, the focus is like a spotlight on the person and work of Jesus. But the bureaucracy that is involved with a six thousand member, six location church has been slowly starving me and something needs to change now.

Such is my complaining for this day.