Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Thursday in Holy Week: Love Best Described in Poetry

For Maundy Thursday • • • There are some things that can, perhaps, only be said in poetry, and perhaps this [Phil 2:5-11] is one of them. • Tom Wright PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himselfContinue reading “Thursday in Holy Week: Love Best Described in Poetry”

Wednesday in Holy Week: Following Jesus or Drinking the Kool-Aid?

From 2008 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”….And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and calledContinue reading “Wednesday in Holy Week: Following Jesus or Drinking the Kool-Aid?”

Tuesday in Holy Week: The Abbreviated Jesus

From 2008. The other day a strange feeling came over me. Don’t get me wrong about what I’m about to say here. It was just a feeling. I’m not claiming any powers of discernment or certainty. I got the distinct feeling there’s something wrong with a lot of people who say they are Jesus-followers/believers. IfContinue reading “Tuesday in Holy Week: The Abbreviated Jesus”

Monday in Holy Week 2018: The Jesus Disconnect

Note from CM: Back in 2009, Michael Spencer some posts exploring what he called, “The Jesus Disconnect.” Here is an edited version of the first post in that series. In my experience, one reason people fail to enter in to a deep appreciation of Holy Week and miss its full significance is that they have failedContinue reading “Monday in Holy Week 2018: The Jesus Disconnect”

Palm/Passion Sunday 2018: Naked and Ashamed

Sermon: Palm/Passion Sunday 2018 Naked and Ashamed Mark 14: 43-52 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I willContinue reading “Palm/Passion Sunday 2018: Naked and Ashamed”

The Saturday Monks Brunch: March 24, 2018

FIRST WEEKEND OF SPRING EDITION It’s Spring! Well, sort of. Here’s what our friend Randy Thompson had hanging around his place in New Hampshire as spring began this year. Follow the link to check out more beautiful pictures from the woods and mountains. Thankfully, the big nor’easter that they were anticipating didn’t materialize, but it’sContinue reading “The Saturday Monks Brunch: March 24, 2018”

Live into the “What” not the “Why”

When someone is drowning, the only thing worse than failing to throw them a life preserver is handing them a reason. • Kate Bowler • • • Live into the “What” not the “Why” Religious people (me, for example) are really good at focusing on the “whys” of life. Pastors and theologians, in particular, makeContinue reading “Live into the “What” not the “Why””

Miracles and Science, Part 3 by Ard Louis

Miracles and Science, Part 3 by Ard Louis We are continuing our reflections on Miracles and Science based on a series of blog posts by Ard Louis of BioLogos.  The blog posts can be found on the BioLogos web site archives here.   The blog posts are based on a scholarly essay Louis did for BioLogosContinue reading “Miracles and Science, Part 3 by Ard Louis”

Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart: Contemplative Photography (4)

Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart Contemplative Photography, part four After some time away, we return today to the insights of Christine Valters Paintner, author of Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice, as she helps us learn how photography can become a contemplative practice, helping us “see” in different ways.Continue reading “Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart: Contemplative Photography (4)”