Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Scot McKnight: Justification is about Unification

Note from CM: I saw this on Scot’s blog the other day and requested permission to re-post it here, which he graciously granted. This is such an important issue in understanding the New Testament, a perspective which, honestly, I rarely if ever heard during my days in evangelicalism. I have started reading Thompson’s book, which is an attemptContinue reading “Scot McKnight: Justification is about Unification”

Lisa Dye: Life, Liturgy and Lethargical Dancing

Life, Liturgy and Lethargical Dancing By Lisa Dye I’m not sure of the entire history of liturgical dancing, but it’s irrelevant to my point other than to illustrate my first and erroneous thoughts of the meaning behind liturgy. To get there I have to tell you a little about my dad. He has lived mostContinue reading “Lisa Dye: Life, Liturgy and Lethargical Dancing”

Wednesdays with James: Lesson Twelve

Wednesdays with James Lesson Twelve: Wise Up! We continue our study in the central section of the Epistle of James. In the body of this encyclical, the author takes up the three themes he introduced in chapter one, addressing them in more detail and in reverse order. The second theme James discusses has to do with wiseContinue reading “Wednesdays with James: Lesson Twelve”

Radio Interview: Chaplain Mike on Steve Brown, Etc.

I had a wonderful opportunity last week to talk with our friend Steve Brown on his radio program, Steve Brown, Etc. We talked about my work as a hospice chaplain and my book, Walking Home Together. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation. Steve: Michael, talk about that sacred experience when you sit down with somebody, and there’sContinue reading “Radio Interview: Chaplain Mike on Steve Brown, Etc.”

Mondays with Michael Spencer: August 22, 2016

Religion #1: God is mean, angry and easily provoked. From day 1, we’ve all been a disappointment, and God is–justly–planning to punish us forever. At the last minute, thanks to Jesus stepping in to calm him down, he decides to be gracious. But don’t do anything to mess that up. Peace is fragile around here.Continue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: August 22, 2016”

Pic & Poem of the Week: August 21, 2016

(Click on picture for larger image) August These fields know no idle hours they are kept by wind and by the sudden storms that strip illusion back, which open up creeks among a few stones and send the startled cows to cover. These fields cannot, of course, relax. Through them, all night, all day, theContinue reading “Pic & Poem of the Week: August 21, 2016”

Saturday Ramblings: August 20, 2016

Welcome to Saturday Ramblings for August 20, 2016! In case you didn’t know this about baseball, the Chicago Cubs have never been a post-season juggernaut. The franchise has been to ten World Series, winning only two. And the last World Series the Cubs played in was in 1945. Since then, they’ve made the playoffs only seven times,Continue reading “Saturday Ramblings: August 20, 2016”

Another Look: The Font and the Tiny Casket

Note from CM: This week I am attending a Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) conference at a local hospital, focusing on providing bereavement care for families who suffer perinatal death (death in the period before or shortly after birth). The stories I’ve been hearing from nurses and other health professionals, as well as the bereaved parentsContinue reading “Another Look: The Font and the Tiny Casket”

Damaris Zehner: At the Mercy of an Undisciplined Mind

At the Mercy of an Undisciplined Mind By Damaris Zehner Have you ever sat in church with your mind a hundred miles away?  You look out the window and think about what you need to do in the yard when you go home.  You stare at the outrageous hairdo of the woman in the pewContinue reading “Damaris Zehner: At the Mercy of an Undisciplined Mind”