Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Another Look: Jon Henry – Already Compromised, Moon Edition

Note from CM: A few years ago I found this brilliant satirical piece by Jon Henry that exposes the kind of thinking that gets Christians in trouble with regard to Bible interpretation. Is it “biblical” to believe that the moon emits its own light? Read the following, and come to your own conclusion. • • • ALREADYContinue reading “Another Look: Jon Henry – Already Compromised, Moon Edition”

Pete Enns: When God stops making sense (or, my favorite part of the Old Testament)

Note from CM: As you’ve no doubt noticed by now, my favorite OT scholar is Pete Enns. He has helped me so much in furthering my understanding of and love for the Hebrew Bible after seminary. I owe him a great debt, and I’m happy that he is always amenable to sharing articles with usContinue reading “Pete Enns: When God stops making sense (or, my favorite part of the Old Testament)”

Is Evangelical Christianity the Wizard behind the Curtain of America’s Moral and Spiritual Decline?

Note from CM: We welcome a new contributor today. His name is Chris Kratzer, and he blogs at Grace//Jesus//Life, a designation that certainly wins our approval around here. In his bio, Chris says: I am a Jesus guy, husband, father, pastor, author, and speaker. Captured by the pure Gospel of God’s  Grace, my focus isContinue reading “Is Evangelical Christianity the Wizard behind the Curtain of America’s Moral and Spiritual Decline?”

Fr. Ernesto: Oikonomía, a better way to pastor

Note from CM: Today we welcome a longtime friend of Internet Monk, Father Ernesto, who shares with us how we might learn from ancient Orthodox tradition to help people with better pastoral care. Pastors, ministers, priests, and chaplains, I’d especially love to hear from you today, but I think it will also be important toContinue reading “Fr. Ernesto: Oikonomía, a better way to pastor”

Rob Grayson: The judgement of the cross

Note from CM: This week we will feature posts by several guest writers, starting today with our friend Rob Grayson from across the pond. You may find some of these posts to be a bit controversial, and I chose them because I thought they would prompt lively discussion. I ask you to think before you commentContinue reading “Rob Grayson: The judgement of the cross”

Sundays with Michael Spencer: August 9, 2015

The wedge contemporary evangelicals are driving between young and old is incredibly short sighted and deadly. Doesn’t the Bible itself say that the older should teach the younger? We’ve turned things around so that anything new (even if unproven) and appealing to the not yet mature, still developing young is trotted out as appropriate worship.Continue reading “Sundays with Michael Spencer: August 9, 2015”

Merton on Contemplative Prayer (3)

Hence monastic prayer, especially meditation and contemplative prayer, is not so much a way to find God as a way of resting in him whom we have found, who comes to us to draw us to himself. • Thomas Merton Contemplative Prayer, p. 5 • • • In chapter two of Contemplative Prayer, Thomas Merton offers someContinue reading “Merton on Contemplative Prayer (3)”

Teaching One Another: Jesus, Bread of Life

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the sonContinue reading “Teaching One Another: Jesus, Bread of Life”

Are we moving toward “reconciled diversity”?

Two articles about Christian unity caught my attention this week. The first, by Roger E. Olson, captures in its title what I believe is the heart and soul of what the pursuit of unity should actually entail: “True Christian Ecumenism: Reconciled Diversity.” The scandal of disunity among Christians is not necessarily embodied in the existence ofContinue reading “Are we moving toward “reconciled diversity”?”