Chaplainmike

Saturday Ramblings: February 20, 2015 – Pitchers & Catchers Edition

Now, these folks have the right idea. Where does any decent, upstanding, red-blooded American want to be at this time of year? Why, Arizona of course, or perhaps Florida. And for what reason? Why, because it’s Spring Training time. Pitchers and catchers reported this week to their Cactus League or Grapefruit league facilities and nextContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: February 20, 2015 – Pitchers & Catchers Edition”

Every morning is a little Lent

Every morning is a little Lent Lent I The picture above is the second in a series of photos that I am using to focus my Lenten meditations this year. Click on it to see the full size image. I took this picture last spring in Oneida, Kentucky, Michael Spencer’s home, early on a Sunday morning asContinue reading “Every morning is a little Lent”

Let’s Discuss: Mulder and Scully get theological

Mulder and Scully get theological I’m fighting a bad cold as I write this, and find that my mind is not in a state conducive to writing. As I lay on the sofa tonight, blowing my nose and drinking my tea, The X-Files Reopened gave me something to ponder. At the end of episode 5, “Babylon,” inContinue reading “Let’s Discuss: Mulder and Scully get theological”

An epic friendship

If you can’t disagree ardently with your colleagues about some issues of law and yet personally still be friends, get another job, for Pete’s sake. • Antonin Scalia, about Ruth Bader Ginsburg As annoyed as you might be about his zinging dissent, he’s so utterly charming, so amusing, so sometimes outrageous, you can’t help butContinue reading “An epic friendship”

Civil Religion Series: God’s Chosen Nation?

Civil Religion, part two God’s Chosen Nation? Presidential election years in the U.S. provide American Christians an opportunity to reflect upon our faith and how it applies to our lives as citizens and to the public issues that affect us all. We are taking many Tuesdays throughout 2016 to discuss matters like these. We will look atContinue reading “Civil Religion Series: God’s Chosen Nation?”

Mondays with Michael Spencer: February 15, 2016

This is part five in a series of iMonk posts that Michael wrote back in 2006. We have edited them and now present them each Monday. His subject was “the sermon,” and the series was called “What’s Wrong with the Sermon?” Here is Michael’s explanation of the approach he took: In this series of posts I will be examining theContinue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: February 15, 2016”

Lent I: Richard Rohr on Learning How to Love

Lent I Richard Rohr on Learning How to Love During Lent, on Sundays I’d like to share 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,” whichContinue reading “Lent I: Richard Rohr on Learning How to Love”

Saturday Ramblings: February 13, 2016 – Valentine’s Day Edition

We’re pulling the pink Rambler out of the garage for a romantic rendezvous this weekend. Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day! According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there are three martyrs called “St. Valentine” who are associated with February 14, the most familiar of whom was a priest in Rome in the second half of the third century. As forContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: February 13, 2016 – Valentine’s Day Edition”

Another Look: All Fall Down – The Wilderness Within

Broken lines, broken strings Broken threads, broken springs Broken idols, broken heads People sleepin’ in broken beds Ain’t no use jivin’, ain’t no use jokin’ Everything is broken… • Bob Dylan • • • We must first learn that the wilderness is within us. Though we dwell in dry and discouraging places, the barren landContinue reading “Another Look: All Fall Down – The Wilderness Within”

Beginning our walk across Lenten fields

Beginning our walk across Lenten fields For Ash Wednesday The picture above is the first in a series of photos that I will use to focus my Lenten meditations this year. Click on it to see the full size image. I took this in the early morning at Gethsemani Abbey, Bardstown, KY, in March of 2014. IContinue reading “Beginning our walk across Lenten fields”