Chaplainmike

Civil Religion Series: The Nations as “Babylon”

But the Bible is a profoundly political book in this fundamental sense: It describes a struggle between two kingdoms, the kingdom of God on the one hand and the nations on the other. • Richard Hughes • • • Civil Religion, part three The Nations as “Babylon” Presidential election years in the U.S. provide American Christians anContinue reading “Civil Religion Series: The Nations as “Babylon””

Mondays with Michael Spencer: February 29, 2016

On Mondays we’ve been looking at several things that Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, wrote on the subject of preaching. Today, here is an excerpt from a post in which Michael describes an experience that confirmed what he wrote in a classic article called, On Christless Preaching, and gave him further reason for staying on the post-evangelical path. Past posts:Continue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: February 29, 2016”

Lent III: Richard Rohr on Merton and a Life of Contradictions

Lent III Richard Rohr on Merton and a Life of Contradictions On Sundays in Lent this year I’m sharing some things I’ve been learning from Richard Rohr. Lent (Spring) is such a time of contradictions! Yesterday we were in northern Indiana, where a foot of snow had fallen a few days before. Large piles of plowedContinue reading “Lent III: Richard Rohr on Merton and a Life of Contradictions”

Saturday Ramblings: February 27, 2016

February has been a traditional month for auto shows and car shopping. Wouldn’t it be great if you could walk into a showroom today and buy one of these beauties? We’ll have to settle for rambling ’round the internet today, but as we do I’ll be imagining myself in this brilliant blue Landau, top down,Continue reading “Saturday Ramblings: February 27, 2016”

Another Look: Chris

The chaplain stood in front of Chris’s casket and nodded as mourners filed by. Glancing around, he saw a flower arrangement behind him with an interesting note on it: “From your friends at Green Lake Campground.” It was striking to him that owners of a campground would send such a lush bouquet and that it would be displayedContinue reading “Another Look: Chris”

The Cruelest of Teachings

Kate Bowler is an assistant professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School. She has written an informative book which has put a lot in perspective for me about the origins and development of the “prosperity gospel” in the U.S. I highly recommend it; it’s called Blessed: A History of the American ProsperityContinue reading “The Cruelest of Teachings”

Charles H. Featherstone: Lent – By Grace Alone

Note from CM: I preached on Abraham from Genesis 15 last Sunday. I love what Charles says about the patriarch here, and wish I had said it half as well as he does. • • • What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has somethingContinue reading “Charles H. Featherstone: Lent – By Grace Alone”

Another Look: Lent – Praying with the Exiles

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad. • Psalm 53:6 When we read and pray the Psalms, we enter into the prayers of David and the other psalmists, we enter into the prayers of the exiles who composed, edited,Continue reading “Another Look: Lent – Praying with the Exiles”

Mondays with Michael Spencer: February 22, 2016

This is an extra post on preaching that I’d like to add to the series of 2006 iMonk posts that we’ve been running on Mondays. That series was called “What’s Wrong with the Sermon?” and this particular post (from 2009), that was originally part of Michael’s “Evangelical Liturgy” series, summarizes much of what that series covered, adding some important pointsContinue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: February 22, 2016”

Lent II: Richard Rohr on the Dance of Breath and Soil

Lent II Richard Rohr on the Dance of Breath and Soil During Lent, on Sundays I’m sharing some things I’ve been learning from Richard Rohr. Rohr is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fr. Richard’s teaching is grounded in “Franciscan alternative orthodoxy,” which emphasizes bothContinue reading “Lent II: Richard Rohr on the Dance of Breath and Soil”