Monthly Archives: December 2010

Another Look: Now in Another Wilderness

[Originally posted April 6, 2010, the day after Michael died] By Chaplain Mike I had been wandering in the post-evangelical wilderness for a long time. But I never knew what to call it until I began reading Michael Spencer. And I never knew a genuinely safe place to talk about it until I entered theContinue reading “Another Look: Now in Another Wilderness”

The Most Discussed Posts on IM in 2010

By Chaplain Mike Looking back on 2010, our first full year of writing on Internet Monk, I am humbled and grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to explore topics of interest and discuss them together. And I’m more convinced than ever: You make Internet Monk the great conversation that it has become. I remember talkingContinue reading “The Most Discussed Posts on IM in 2010”

Difficult Scriptures: The God Who Smites

God loves us.  We learned that in Sunday School.  So how do we explain God smiting people? I’m thinking of four incidents, three in the Old Testament and one in the New.  In each case people were struck down, usually with death, once with leprosy.  The Bible is very clear that judgment was from GodContinue reading “Difficult Scriptures: The God Who Smites”

Biblical Narrative and History

By Chaplain Mike One of my primary New Testament professors in seminary was Grant R. Osborne. I loved his infectious enthusiasm and approach to teaching, especially with regard to Greek. He believed that seminaries should be training pastors, and so our projects and examinations were always exercises in taking a passage in the original languageContinue reading “Biblical Narrative and History”

Joseph and the Way of Kindness

By Chaplain Mike “What is desired in a man is kindness” (Prov 19:22). If there is one major lesson I’ve learned in my six years of being a hospice chaplain, it is the importance and power of kindness. Basically, it’s my job to show kindness. I visit with patients and their families and offer toContinue reading “Joseph and the Way of Kindness”

Mary and the Contemplative Life

By Chaplain Mike “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). The American evangelical church is renowned for its activism. We are a “can do” people, and in the Christian context that often means we see ourselves as “saved to serve.” We commend “being about the Lord’s business,” and valueContinue reading “Mary and the Contemplative Life”

Shepherds and the Doctrine of Vocation

By Chaplain Mike As I outlined yesterday, in Luke’s Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20) there are six verbs describing the actions of the shepherds in response to the Good News the angels spoke to them. The shepherds went (with haste). They found. They saw. They made known the saying that had been told them. They returned.Continue reading “Shepherds and the Doctrine of Vocation”

Christmas I: An Ordinary, Humble Story Set on a Great Stage

By Chaplain Mike In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, toContinue reading “Christmas I: An Ordinary, Humble Story Set on a Great Stage”