Chaplainmike

Fall, or Folly? (3): Paul Reads the Story

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whoContinue reading “Fall, or Folly? (3): Paul Reads the Story”

Fall, or Folly? (2): A Wisdom Story

St. Irenaeus (2nd century) described Adam and Eve as “adolescents.” They were not “perfect” in the sense of “complete.” They represent a beginning and an intention – but something that not only remained unfulfilled – but even something that had deviated from its intended path. From “mud commanded to become Gods,” they became beings unableContinue reading “Fall, or Folly? (2): A Wisdom Story”

Fall, or Folly? (1)

Whatever else one might say about Genesis 2-3 (the text actually goes from 2:4-4:26 and includes Cain’s story) and the account of Adam and Eve and the “fall,” it should be noted that, in its final form, this is a wisdom story. It is the first in a series of narratives that encourage the post-exilicContinue reading “Fall, or Folly? (1)”

Preparing for the New Church Year (2)

Last Sunday I gave five primary reasons why I think it advantageous for Christians to form their spiritual lives — their walk with God through Christ — around the liturgical year. It enables us to live in God’s story. It keeps the main thing the main thing. It recognizes that one’s calendar forms one’s life.Continue reading “Preparing for the New Church Year (2)”

Saturday Ramblings: Nov. 8, 2014

Saturday Ramblings, November 8, 2014 What a great week it has been on Internet Monk, just the kind of week I enjoy — filled with interesting topics and a multitude of voices. We had five different authors writing on subjects as varied as the Church Year, salvation, premarital sex, prayer, the love of dogs, andContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: Nov. 8, 2014”

How I Became a… Church Growth Disciple

First of all a confession. The title is really just an attention grabber, and a weak attempt to get Miguel to sputter coffee through his nose. Although a second confession would be that in the eighties and nineties, I did read all I could get my hands on from the Church growth movement. There areContinue reading “How I Became a… Church Growth Disciple”

Lisa Dye: Jack

A few weeks ago in August, my husband and I moved our youngest daughter and a truck full of too much stuff into a tiny dorm room at a large state university 90 minutes away. It was the culmination of 32 years of uninterrupted child rearing. When we got home that night, we shut theContinue reading “Lisa Dye: Jack”

Marci Alborghetti: Lessons from Jonah (and the Ninevites) on Prayer

“Oh, look!” I sneered to my husband, the Sunday paper set out before me. “Pope Francis is calling for the world to pray about ISIS slaughtering every non-extremist in its path. That oughta do a world of good.” Almost immediately I was hit be a wave of shame so powerful that it swept my breathContinue reading “Marci Alborghetti: Lessons from Jonah (and the Ninevites) on Prayer”

Guest Raises Questions about Premarital Sex

Note from CM: One of our regular commenters asked permission to engage the community in a sensitive but relevant discussion. Contemporary culture is saturated with sexuality, and younger people today have grown up in a world where access to sexual materials and depictions of all kinds is remarkably easy and former societal standards regarding sexualContinue reading “Guest Raises Questions about Premarital Sex”

Miguel Ruiz: How Do You Become a Christian?

I feel like sometimes we begin to take the basics of our faith for granted. Often when we get tunnel visioned on the peripheral responsibilities of our mission, the Gospel itself even gets assumed, confused, or forgotten. But here is something I have not heard discussed in a good while: If somebody expressed interest, orContinue reading “Miguel Ruiz: How Do You Become a Christian?”