Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Sundays with Michael Spencer: November 22, 2015

From Thanksgiving, 2006 Around hundreds of thousands of Thanksgiving dinner tables, millions of Americans will take a moment and share with one another what they are thankful for in the past year. Because Thanksgiving doesn’t require any particular confession of faith, it’s close to a universal experience for Americans, and one that most of usContinue reading “Sundays with Michael Spencer: November 22, 2015”

Saturday Ramblings: November 21, 2015

I’m in Nashville and feeling a little sporty today. How do you like this hot little number from 1966? Sweet, huh? We’ll have to take turns riding together, but I’ll be glad to have anyone who wants a wild ride to join me for a ramble this Saturday. I’ll take anyone, but my wife gets theContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: November 21, 2015”

Another Look: Peter the Pastor

I have written several posts on the subject of pastoral visitation and the importance of church communities taking seriously the responsibility for the personal care and tending of their members. In a comment I received to one of those posts, a church leader wrote that some pastors should not be considered responsible for pastoral careContinue reading “Another Look: Peter the Pastor”

Church Growth: Pastoral Care

One thing I have noticed about people who promote church growth ideology, and the pastors who who “lead” churches by its principles: They really don’t like pastoral care. And yet, they still want to be called pastors. Take the eight-point list on why churches don’t grow by Carey Nieuwhof that we referenced yesterday. The first andContinue reading “Church Growth: Pastoral Care”

Church Growth: the Organization

Church growth thinking is alive and well, and in the eyes of many, successful. And I suppose it is from a certain perspective. Here is Outreach Magazine’s list of the ten largest churches in the U.S. in 2014: If my calculator is right, these ten churches claim that nearly 244,000 people are affiliated with them. That’sContinue reading “Church Growth: the Organization”

A Parable of Wrestling

For your meditation and contemplation today, this parable told by Ron Rolheiser: In his autobiography, the renowned writer Nikos Kazantzakis shares a conversation he had with an old monk named Father Makários. Sitting with the saintly old man, Kazantzakis asked him: “Do you still wrestle with the devil, Father Makários?” The old monk reflected forContinue reading “A Parable of Wrestling”

Doing Jesus’ work in Jesus’ way

The Beatitudes Jesus taught come to us in two parts. The first four Beatitudes describe the surprising recipients of God’s favor. Blessed are the poor in spirit Blessed are those who mourn Blessed are the meek Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice These are the ones most people consider at the bottom of society’sContinue reading “Doing Jesus’ work in Jesus’ way”

Sundays with Michael Spencer: November 15, 2015

Today in chapel, one of my co-workers told his life story. That’s pretty common at our ministry, but this was anything but common. Doc [not his real name] came to us about three years ago, along with his new bride. Middle-aged and a recent Bible college graduate, looking for a beginning in ministry. Of course,Continue reading “Sundays with Michael Spencer: November 15, 2015”

A Day of Silence and Prayer for Paris and all Peace-loving People

We will not have Saturday Ramblings today. Instead, we urge silence and prayers for our friends in France, who have suffered tremendously over the past 24 hours. Sadly, we could do this every week, because it seems that every moment somewhere in the world peace-loving people are under attack. Prince of Peace, have mercy onContinue reading “A Day of Silence and Prayer for Paris and all Peace-loving People”