Chaplainmike

Hearing iMonk: (1) Embracing the Church on the Corner

One of the treasures we have not tapped much in the past few years since Michael died has been his podcast ministry. If you go through the archives, you will find posts that offer those podcasts, but the links no longer work. I am trying to get all the podcasts I can find into one locationContinue reading “Hearing iMonk: (1) Embracing the Church on the Corner”

The “Realest” Michael Spencer (Jeff Dunn)

One of my biggest regrets was not meeting Michael Spencer in person. I was his literary agent and, like many of my clients, he communicated with me via email and phone. We never were in the same state together, let alone the same room. I first got to know Michael in 2008. I came acrossContinue reading “The “Realest” Michael Spencer (Jeff Dunn)”

Easter Sunday 2015: “God’s future has arrived in the present” (N.T. Wright)

If Easter makes any sense at all, it makes sense within something much more like the classic Jewish worldview…: heaven and earth are neither the same thing, nor a long way removed from one another, but they overlap and interlock mysteriously in a number of ways; and the God who made both heaven and earthContinue reading “Easter Sunday 2015: “God’s future has arrived in the present” (N.T. Wright)”

Holy Week 2015: “Amazing grace, it reached as far as me” (Daniel Jepsen)

Note from Dan: The chorus after verse 4 is not original. The poem can be sung to the tune of Londonderry Air. That tune has been used for a wide variety of songs, including Danny Boy, and the beautiful hymn, I Cannot Tell. • • • When time was young, and glory filled the garden, TheContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: “Amazing grace, it reached as far as me” (Daniel Jepsen)”

Holy Week 2015: Long Barren (Christina Rossetti)

Thou who didst hang upon a barren tree, My God, for me; Though I till now be barren, now at length, Lord, give me strength To bring forth fruit to Thee. Thou who didst bear for me the crown of thorn, Spitting and scorn; Though I till now have put forth thorns, yet now StrengthenContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: Long Barren (Christina Rossetti)”

Holy Week 2015: A Call to Greater Remembrance (Mike Bell)

Over the past several years I have read through the Gospel of Mark many times as I have been working through editing Michael Spencer’s commentary. (For those who have been eagerly awaiting this, I am afraid it has been slow going.) One thing that strikes me as being of particular interest each time I readContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: A Call to Greater Remembrance (Mike Bell)”

Holy Week 2015: The Coup, the Queen, and the Resurrection (Damaris Zehner)

This is a good year: Orthodox Pascha and Catholic Easter are on different days, so I can go to both liturgies. My daughters and I, though not Orthodox, love the marathon of song, prayer, procession, and candlelight that begins on Holy Saturday and continues until the small hours on Sunday. We also love the three-in-the-morningContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: The Coup, the Queen, and the Resurrection (Damaris Zehner)”

Holy Week 2015: The Way of the Cross (Lisa Dye)

“The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross.” • Paragraph 2015, Catechism of the Catholic Church • • • Five years ago, Internet Monk offered a series during Holy Week on the Stations of the Cross as Michael Spencer was struggling through his last days here on earth. I was new to theContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: The Way of the Cross (Lisa Dye)”

Holy Week 2015: Glorified (Rob Grayson)

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” • John 12:23 According to John’s gospel, Jesus utters these words shortly after entering Jerusalem at the beginning of this holiest and darkest of weeks. The atmosphere is heavy with speculation that Jesus could be the one to spearhead the revolution that will finally throw offContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: Glorified (Rob Grayson)”

Holy Week 2015: The Yes or No (Michael Spencer)

Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you willContinue reading “Holy Week 2015: The Yes or No (Michael Spencer)”