Chaplainmike

16th Sunday after Trinity: Pic & Cantata of the Week

(Click on picture for larger image) The Gospel text about Jesus raising to life the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) gave J.S. Bach the opportunity to write four cantatas on the theme of welcoming death as the path toward being raised into the presence of the Savior. BWV 95, “Christus, der isContinue reading “16th Sunday after Trinity: Pic & Cantata of the Week”

The IM Saturday Brunch: September 30, 2017

This weekend I am cloistering myself away at Gethsemani Abbey for silence, prayer, photography (another form of prayer), and writing. That means the table is yours this Saturday morning. Welcome to our Open Table edition of the brunch! Think of it as a pot-luck, or as they say in Indiana, a pitch-in. That means you bringContinue reading “The IM Saturday Brunch: September 30, 2017”

Ordinary Time Bible Study: Philippians — Friends in the Gospel (15)

Ordinary Time Bible Study Philippians: Friends in the Gospel Study Fifteen: I’m a citizen of heaven, but heaven is not my home • • • Philippians 3:17-4:1, The Kingdom NT So, my dear family, I want you, all together, to watch what I do and copy me. You’ve got us as a pattern of behavior; payContinue reading “Ordinary Time Bible Study: Philippians — Friends in the Gospel (15)”

A Rant on Christians and Psychology

A Rant on Christians and Psychology In the side bar of Recommended Readings at the Internet Monk site is an article from Christianity Today entitled, “Has Christian Psychology Lost Its Place at Southern Seminary?” which reports on the firing from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) of Dr. Eric Johnson. Additional summaries may also be foundContinue reading “A Rant on Christians and Psychology”

Let’s Discuss: Discernment

Let’s Discuss: Discernment On Friday, I’ll be heading south to pray with monks at Gethsemani for the weekend. My main purpose in going, besides spiritual refreshment, is to take advantage of the silence to work on a project about Spiritual Discernment. Before I go, I thought I’d ask for my fellow iMonks’ input. Consider thisContinue reading “Let’s Discuss: Discernment”

In the Spirit, in community, with an ear well trained

Here’s another passage today from Henri Nouwen on the subject of spiritual discernment. By dipping deeply into the well of our own lives, we can discern the movement of God’s Spirit in our lives. Careful discernment remains our lifelong task. I can see no other way for discernment than a life in the Spirit, aContinue reading “In the Spirit, in community, with an ear well trained”

Sermon: It’s hard to live in a world where life isn’t fair

SERMON: Matthew 20:1-16 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in theContinue reading “Sermon: It’s hard to live in a world where life isn’t fair”

15th Sunday after Trinity: Pic & Cantata of the Week

(Click on picture for larger image) • • • Shout for joy to God in every land! All the creatures contained in heaven and earth must exalt his glory, and to our God we would now likewise bring an offering since in affliction and distress at all times he has stood by us. • SopranoContinue reading “15th Sunday after Trinity: Pic & Cantata of the Week”

The IM Saturday Brunch Edition: September 23, 2017 — Planet X Edition

THE INTERNET MONK SATURDAY BRUNCH ”It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” Today’s the day! Wow, it seems like only yesterday that today was the day — Remember THIS? But, no, really, I’m notContinue reading “The IM Saturday Brunch Edition: September 23, 2017 — Planet X Edition”

Ordinary Time Bible Study: Philippians – Friends in the Gospel (14)

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past andContinue reading “Ordinary Time Bible Study: Philippians – Friends in the Gospel (14)”