Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Swimming against a Tide: Doctrine (part two)

Swimming against a Tide Ways I’ve changed in my evangelical faith Doctrine, part two: What doctrine can’t do This week I want to push back against some articles written by others — not because I have a chip on my shoulder or animus toward any particular writers, but simply to try and express some of theContinue reading “Swimming against a Tide: Doctrine (part two)”

Swimming against a Tide: Doctrine (part one)

Swimming against a Tide Ways I’ve changed in my evangelical faith Doctrine, part one: Definitions This week I want to push back against some articles written by others — not because I have a chip on my shoulder or animus toward any particular writers, but simply to try and express some of the ways IContinue reading “Swimming against a Tide: Doctrine (part one)”

Sundays with Michael Spencer: October 11, 2015

A debate is going on several places on the blogosphere around this question: “Are the doctrinally obsessed missing the heart of Jesus?” My answer is a simply “yes,” and the reason is one word: obsessed. You said it. Not me. Obsessed isn’t doctrinally interested, doctrinally aware or doctrinally correct. Doctrinally obsessed isn’t someone who makes doctrineContinue reading “Sundays with Michael Spencer: October 11, 2015”

We all need a little “crazy” time

Sometimes you just gotta do something a little bit crazy. Gail is away on a retreat this week, giving me a little freedom to do some different things, and I’ve been feeling “blah” for as long as I remember. I thought it was time to get out of the doldrums by doing something to wakeContinue reading “We all need a little “crazy” time”

Open Forum: What are iMonks reading?

Note from CM: We are devoting this week to reviewing some recent books that have caught my interest and attention. Today will be an Open Forum day for you to share what you have been reading. ???? What have you been reading lately? What has caught your interest and attention that you would like to shareContinue reading “Open Forum: What are iMonks reading?”

Searching for Sunday: We make the way by walking

Note from CM: We are devoting this week to reviewing some recent books that have caught my interest and attention. Thursday will be an Open Forum day for you to share what you have been reading. ???? IM Book Week Book Three: Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church, by Rachel Held Evans We makeContinue reading “Searching for Sunday: We make the way by walking”

Everlasting Is the Past: A pastor’s preparation and first church family

Note from CM: We are devoting this week to reviewing some recent books that have caught my interest and attention. Thursday will be an Open Forum day for you to share what you have been reading. ???? IM Book Week Book Two: Everlasting Is the Past, by Walter Wangerin, Jr. A pastor’s preparation and first church family •Continue reading “Everlasting Is the Past: A pastor’s preparation and first church family”

Accidental Saints: A review and a review of a review

Note from CM: We will devote this week to reviewing some recent books that have caught my interest and attention. Thursday will be an Open Forum day for you to share what you have been reading. ???? IM Book Week Book One: Accidental Saints, by Nadia Bolz-Weber A review and a review of a reviewContinue reading “Accidental Saints: A review and a review of a review”

Sundays with Michael Spencer: October 4, 2015

Yesterday, I experienced the great part of being a teacher; one of those experiences that make all the others worth it. It was in my advanced placement English IV class. Our brightest seniors. I’m fortunate to be able to work with them. A few days before we’d taken our final exam, and with two daysContinue reading “Sundays with Michael Spencer: October 4, 2015”