Purpose-Driven Hostage?

According to Rick Warren, this is how God works.

Now, it doesn't pose all that much of a public relations problem for Ashley Smith and her publisher since she's just a poor, confused recovering drug addict and mental patient who has been through so much in life that nobody with a heart and a hanky is about to hold her responsible for anything prior to her kidnapping, and probably after - especially if she continues to repeat the line that has helped so many busted celebrities over the years: "Yes, I've made some mistakes in the past; but I'm putting it all behind me now and moving on with my life" - which happens to be in keeping with Rick Warren's "accept yourself, love yourself, forgive yourself, believe in yourself and be true to yourself" gospel of self-esteem that he so courageously proclaimed in the March 2005 issue of The Ladies Home Journal.

This does, however, present a potentially explosive public relations nightmare for "America's Pastor" and his Purpose Driven Premise among more biblically minded evangelicals since he specifically used Ashley Smith's "miracle" to help market himself, his books, his programs and his Peace Plan to fellow Christians, many of whom believe that crystal meth is not a fruit of the Spirit. In fact, I believe the hostage crisis was even called the "high water mark" for his book; and this, my friends was the point of my Purpose Driven Hostage commentary that some seemed to miss.{emphasis mine}

[originally at News With Views.com, noted at The Wittenburg Door]