Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Music Monday: Bach and the Church Year

Music Monday: Bach and the Church Year For years now, one of my favorite sites on the internet has been the Bach Cantatas Website. This comprehensive site covers all of J.S. Bach’s cantatas and vocal works, and many of the instrumental works as well. Here you will find: detailed discussions, texts and translations, scores, commentaries,Continue reading “Music Monday: Bach and the Church Year”

Pic & Poem of the Week: September 25, 2016

(Click picture to see larger image) From A Dog Has Died Ai, I’ll not speak of sadness here on earth, of having lost a companion who was never servile. His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine withholding its authority, was the friendship of a star, aloof, with no more intimacy than was called for,Continue reading “Pic & Poem of the Week: September 25, 2016”

Saturday Ramblings: September 24, 2016 – Grandpa’s Pride Edition

Look what we got this week! A new grandson! Number 5 grandchild. Little JD broke the tie we had — 2 girl grandchildren, 2 boy grandchildren, and now boys have taken the lead, 3-2. But, God willing, there’s plenty more to come. At any rate, we’re rambling up in northern Indiana to see the little bugger thisContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: September 24, 2016 – Grandpa’s Pride Edition”

Fridays with Michael Spencer: September 23, 2016

Note from CM: Over the next season on Fridays, we will focus on some of what Michael wrote about the church and church-shaped vs. Jesus-shaped spirituality. • • • I am going to disagree in some fundamental ways with the following statement. “My passion isn’t to build up my church. My passion is for God’sContinue reading “Fridays with Michael Spencer: September 23, 2016”

Wednesdays with James: Lesson Sixteen (final)

Wednesdays with James Lesson Sixteen: The Pastoral Community We have come to our final study in the Epistle of James. Here, once again, is our diagram of the entire letter, and as you see, it closes with a group of closing exhortations. Are any among you suffering? Let them pray. Are any cheerful? Let them sing psalms. AreContinue reading “Wednesdays with James: Lesson Sixteen (final)”

Wrestling with Scripture

I was reading Walter Brueggemann’s book, An Unsettling God: The Heart of the Hebrew Bible, today, and I came across this quote: ” “I suggest that a Christian reading of the Old Testament requires, in the present time, a recovery of the Jewishness of our ways of reading the text.” He goes on to suggestContinue reading “Wrestling with Scripture”

Music Monday: Rock Music’s Most Formative Year

Note from CM: We are going to move our classic Michael Spencer posts back to Fridays for a while, and renew our “Music Monday” theme to start each week. • • • Fifty years ago. 1966. I was ten years old. An article in The Guardian asks the question, “Was 1966 Pop Music’s Greatest Year?”  I hesitate to say itContinue reading “Music Monday: Rock Music’s Most Formative Year”

Pic & Poem of the Week: September 18, 2016

(Click picture to see larger image) From Out of Metropolis We’re headed for empty-headedness, the featureless amnesias of Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, states rich only in vowel sounds and alliteration. We’re taking the train so we can see into the heart of the heart of America framed in the windows’ cool oblongs of light. We want cottages,Continue reading “Pic & Poem of the Week: September 18, 2016”

Saturday Ramblings: September 17, 2016 — National League Central Champions Edition!

Step one: complete. Chicago Cubs fans like me are hoping for an end to a 108-year drought in World Series championships this year. I have rambled around for 60 of those years, and it is one of the great longings of my lifetime to see my team become world champs at least once. And what shall I sayContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: September 17, 2016 — National League Central Champions Edition!”