Chaplainmike

Wednesdays with James: Lesson Eleven

Wednesdays with James Lesson Eleven: Stressed-Out Speech Sinks Ships We continue our study in the central section of the Epistle of James today. 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 doContinue reading “Wednesdays with James: Lesson Eleven”

Difficult Scriptures: Luke 12:49-56

I was pressed into service to preach on Sunday because of an illness, and I was delighted (delighted, I say!) to learn that the Gospel text for Sunday was Luke 12:49-56. Oh boy. I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to beContinue reading “Difficult Scriptures: Luke 12:49-56”

Mondays with Michael Spencer: August 15, 2016

WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH GRACE? Glad you asked. Christians who feel responsible for the “growth” of other Christians. When I was a youth minister charged with turning the rug rats into good little Southern Baptists, my “Grace to Works” ratio was about 10/90, i.e. I talked about grace about ten percent of the time,Continue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: August 15, 2016”

Pic & Poem of the Week: August 14, 2016

(Click on picture for larger image) • • • For is there a thought in the wide world so sweet, As that God has so cared for us, bad as we are, That He thinks of us, plans for us, stoops to entreat, And follows us, wander we ever so far? From The Remembrance of MercyContinue reading “Pic & Poem of the Week: August 14, 2016”

Saturday Ramblings: August 13, 2016

Welcome to Saturday Ramblings for August 13, 2016. Since we looked at the restoration of Elvis’s BMW last Saturday, it made we think, “Surely I can find some pictures by someone who restored an old Nash Rambler!” And that’s when I found Dave Simley’s post, showing how he brought a 1953 Nash Rambler Custom Convertible back toContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: August 13, 2016”

Rob Grayson: Metaphysical Jesus

Note from CM: In the light of some of the excellent discussions we’ve had this week, I thought this piece from our friend across the pond, Rob Grayson, would fit in nicely. Here are some good thoughts to encourage a Jesus-shaped spirituality. Rob blogs at Faith Meets World. • • • Metaphysical Jesus by Rob Grayson TheContinue reading “Rob Grayson: Metaphysical Jesus”

What is unique about the “Christian Life”?

Yesterday, in our discussion about James, Rocky asked some good questions about distinctions that are sometimes made between Christians and non-Christians and how that doesn’t always make sense to him. Christians are called to do “good works,” but many non-Christians do those same works, and it is hard sometimes to know what is supposed toContinue reading “What is unique about the “Christian Life”?”

Wednesdays with James: Lesson Ten

Wednesdays with James Lesson Ten: The Old “Faith & Works” Debate — Completely Unnecessary We continue our study in the central section of the Epistle of James today. 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 firstContinue reading “Wednesdays with James: Lesson Ten”

Another Look: Luther on Good Works

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. • Galatians 5:2, NRSV For Christ at the last day will not ask how much you have prayed, fasted, pilgrimaged, done this or that for yourself, but how much good you have done to others,Continue reading “Another Look: Luther on Good Works”

Mondays with Michael Spencer: August 8, 2016

Note from CM: One of the chief characteristics of Michael Spencer’s life, ministry, and writing was his emphasis on grace. On Mondays for a season, we are drawing from his writings on the subject. • • • For me, the Gospel itself is “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). The Bible is incomprehensible apartContinue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: August 8, 2016”