Chaplainmike

Richard

This is Middle America. This is the generation of “older people” that I grew up respecting, the people who ran or worked for local businesses, tended to their families, and were involved in their communities. This is the group of people who essentially built the world as I have known it. They fought in WorldContinue reading “Richard”

A Tale of Christian “Persecution” — One way or another

As Paul Harvey used to say, “Here’s a strange.” Hard to know what to think about it. Is it a story of Christians being “persecuted” or of Christians doing the “persecuting”? The Washington Post reports: A Michigan dentist who streamed contemporary Christian music in her dental office and held prayer meetings for staff members isContinue reading “A Tale of Christian “Persecution” — One way or another”

Trump at Liberty

As I said in comments last week, I’m not terribly interested in politics except as it intersects with the purposes of this blog. Since we like to keep our eye on what is happening in the world of U.S. evangelicalism, I think the following stories at Bloomberg and CNN about Trump speaking at Liberty UniversityContinue reading “Trump at Liberty”

Mondays with Michael Spencer: January 18, 2016

For the next few weeks, I will run iMonk posts that Michael wrote back in 2006. 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 the sermon as it is currentlyContinue reading “Mondays with Michael Spencer: January 18, 2016”

Epiphany II: Grief and Fear

Epiphany II Grief and Fear In the small country church where I am preaching this morning, I will face a congregation filled with grief. A young woman in the congregation died of cancer this week, leaving a husband and family behind. In addition, the pastor lost a relative this week and has been away tending to hisContinue reading “Epiphany II: Grief and Fear”

Saturday Ramblings: January 16, 2016

Ah, I would love to be going to the slopes with these folks in this stylish 1962 Rambler American 400 wagon. The measly amount of snow we received here in central Indiana last week just won’t do. And then the warm winds and rain came, and now we’re back to looking at grays and brownsContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: January 16, 2016”

John Barclay on “Dangerous Grace”

What is distinctive about Paul is his emphasis that grace is not just a gift given generously or in advance, but a gift given precisely without considering [the recipient’s] prior quality or worth. • John Barclay • • • One book on my wish list and reading plan for this year is John Barclay’s PaulContinue reading “John Barclay on “Dangerous Grace””

David Brooks on Ted Cruz and Christian Brutalism

Ted Cruz is now running strongly among evangelical voters, especially in Iowa. But in his career and public presentation Cruz is a stranger to most of what would generally be considered the Christian virtues: humility, mercy, compassion and grace. • David Brooks • • • What is your idea of a “Christian” politician? If aContinue reading “David Brooks on Ted Cruz and Christian Brutalism”

Ark Prejudice or Valuation?

In a recent blog post, Ken Ham continues his ongoing project of trying to justify his new endeavor, the Ark Encounter theme park. It seems like every time we post something on Facebook about the progress of the Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky, someone will charge that we are wasting money—money that instead should goContinue reading “Ark Prejudice or Valuation?”

Fr. Stephen Freeman: An Important Conversation – How Should We Think About the Bible as History?

An Important Conversation – How Should We Think About the Bible as History? by Fr. Stephen Freeman Fr. Freeman blogs at Glory to God for All Things • • • A recent conversation on the blog seemed worth a full article. The question centered around the problem of the historical character of the Biblical record.Continue reading “Fr. Stephen Freeman: An Important Conversation – How Should We Think About the Bible as History?”