Mike Leake

Can you remember all of the things you were ticked off about last February? Other than the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, I can’t either. But I bet you were outraged about something. The folks at Slate, which by the way is a quite outrageous site, spent 2014 compiling all the instances of outrage. There was something every day that got us worked up on social media. Some of these were serious issues—others were obviously not worth our outrage. I found this comment from one of the author’s of that piece to be telling: …it’s fascinating to look at how our collective responses skipped … [Read more...] about Missing the Outrage of the Day

I’ve been reading The Practical Works of Richard Baxter. It is so lengthy and theologically rich that I’m confident I won’t make it through this before Jesus returns. But I am enjoying what I have read thus far. In one particular section Baxter discusses the controversy of his day concerning good works. The papists, says Baxter, attempt to “persuade their ignorant disciples, that we account them vain and needless things”. Almost 400 years later I believe the words of Baxter concerning good works need to be recovered. In our day I believe the charge could be made that we view good works … [Read more...] about 13 Truths About Good Works

Maybe it was one of felt board lessons I heard in one of the eight to ten Sunday school lessons I endured. Or maybe I was just distracted by the talking donkey. Either way, I’ve never thought of Balaam as a bad dude. I’ve always thought he just had a dark moment where he committed the sin of donkey abuse, but for the most part he was faithful in speaking God’s Word. Numbers 24:13 seems to back up my perception of Balaam being a faithful prophet. I mean what an awesome verse for a preacher to put on his wall: “If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to … [Read more...] about How to Not Follow Balaam’s Error

Better yet, if Jesus walked into a bar would the people there be glad that he came? The popular notion of Jesus is that he’d walk into a bar and all the down and out sinners would greet him by name and give him a high-five. He’d be the most popular dude there—because you know sinners just couldn’t get enough of good ol’ JC. I’m being facetious—but only slightly. My portrait isn’t terribly far off. What we’ve done is taken the insults of Pharisees (Matthew 11:19) and constructed an entire portrait of Jesus as a response. But I’ve yet to see a portrait painted of Jesus dabbling in dark … [Read more...] about If Jesus Walked Into a Bar Would Everybody Know His Name?

We do not deliberate, for we have decided. To be for ever holding the truth of God, as though it might yet turn out to be a lie, were to lose all the comfort of it. –Charles Spurgeon Shortly after reading that quote from Spurgeon I read this sad news of Hillsong Church: At a press conference for the Hillsong Conference in New York City today, Michael Paulson of The New York Times asked Houston to clarify their church’s position on same sex marriage. But Houston would not offer a definitive answer, instead saying that it was “an ongoing conversation” among church leaders and they were “on … [Read more...] about Spurgeon, Hillsong, and “Conversations”

I’ve been reading through Jeremiah during my quiet times. It’s tearing me up. “Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers…” (Jeremiah 3:2) Ouch. There isn’t a single place in all the land that you haven’t defiled with your harlotry. Not one square inch. And then she has the audacity to do this: For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ (Jeremiah 2:27) A woman has just finished giving herself to a man that is not her husband and … [Read more...] about Why Jeremiah Has Been Rocking My Soul

The young man was absolutely smitten by her. But I knew, and I think deep down he knew, that he was stuck in the friend zone. She considered him a dear friend but nothing more. But she never had the painful conversation with him. She never told him that their chances of being together were about as likely as being struck by lightning and winning the lottery on the same day. And so he stayed in limbo. She knew his intentions but she didn’t do anything with them. She left him always wondering about her intentions. As a result he was never sure if he was totally free to pursue … [Read more...] about A Plea to Pastors and Pastor Search Committees

Lord I want more of You Living water rain down on me Lord I need more of You Living breath of life come fill me upWe are hungry We are hungry We are hungry for more of You We are thirsty, oh Jesus We are thirsty for more of you This was one of my favorite songs in college. It summarized the cry of my heart. I wanted to know God more. I wanted to have a deeper relationship with Jesus (whatever that means). I wanted more passion. But I think what I really wanted was some strawberry pie. Strawberry pie is the perfect cap to an awesome meal. It’s sugary sweet goodness on top of … [Read more...] about The Gospel Isn’t Meant To Be Strawberry Pie

I still remember my white-knuckled pew grabbing. When I really wanted to go forward at service and give my life to Christ. Maybe it was a rededication—maybe it was coming to Christ for the first time. I don’t know, but I know that at that time the gospel seemed so beautiful. But I was counting the cost and it seemed so huge. During that time in my life I wrote this rather choppy line: Standing on holy ground With one shoe Caught between a life of me And one devoted to you I deeply wanted to listen and follow the voice calling from the burning bush but I wanted to at least keep a … [Read more...] about Being Gospel-Centered Is A Bloody Mess

If you are a believer in Jesus you’ve likely experienced seasons of accusation. Those are the terrible times when it feels as if we are cursed and gone astray. We feel condemned, wrecked, ruined, and that we have no hope of gaining salvation. I’ve had terrible seasons like this in my own life. This is why one of my favorite songs isEmbracing Accusation by Shane and Shane. In this song they take on these seasons of Satanic accusation and invite us to embrace them. The song ends with this great lyric: Oh the devil’s singing over me An age old song That I am cursed and gone astray Singing … [Read more...] about When the Devil Preaches the Gospel