Note from CM: During my weekend at Gethsemani, some of the most insightful reading I did came from Christian Wiman’s luminous book, My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer. Here is one of the passages that gave me pause, for your meditation today. * * * Religious despair is often a defense against boredomContinue reading “Christian Wiman: Religious Despair as Defense”
Author Archives: Chaplainmike
Merton Musings: I do not see the road ahead…
Note from CM: Here is the prayer I am praying while at Gethsemani this weekend (coming back later today). Full report in the days to come. * * * My Lord God, I have no idea of where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certainContinue reading “Merton Musings: I do not see the road ahead…”
Merton Musings: On Church Bells
Note from CM: This weekend my hours will be marked by church bells. They ring from the tower of Gethsemani Abbey, calling the countryside to pause, look up, and acknowledge that redemption has drawn nigh. The first church I served had a small foyer inside the entry door where one could reach up and pullContinue reading “Merton Musings: On Church Bells”
Saturday Ramblings, March 22, 2014
Happy Saturday, imonkers. Those of us in the states are in the midst of March Madness, that time of year when athletic teenagers make obscene amounts of money for tv networks. And Monday was St. Patrick’s Day, of course. Did you wear green? Drink green beer? You know, if you were Hindu, the day wouldContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings, March 22, 2014”
Himself
Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919) the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance was a leader of the church during the early days of the Pentecostal movement. As a result many of the big debates in the church were around the topics of holiness, sanctification, and the charismatic gifts of the Spirit like speaking in tonguesContinue reading “Himself”
Random Thoughts: Past, Present, and Future
First today, let’s take a look back. It used to be thought that today’s date, March 20, marked the onset of the “Black Death” in medieval Europe. In 1348, King Philip VI of France commanded medical faculty at the University of Paris to determine the cause of the plague moving rapidly toward the city. This wasContinue reading “Random Thoughts: Past, Present, and Future”
Adam McHugh: And God Gave Wine
The Psalms tell us that the Lord gives wine to gladden the human heart. That is one scripture I have absolutely no problem obeying. All kinds of gladdening happen every time I open a bottle of wine. The image of clusters of ripe grapes that will be crushed, fermented, bottled, and poured into glasses makesContinue reading “Adam McHugh: And God Gave Wine”
Goodbye, Angry Young Prophet?
In the last year or two, I have been deeply convicted by God that my angry-young-prophet days are over, to be replaced by a helpful, Bible-teaching spiritual father. Those closest to me have said they recognize a deep change, which has been encouraging because I hope to continually be sanctified by God’s grace. I understandContinue reading “Goodbye, Angry Young Prophet?”
How We Become Human
I know, as a tenet of my faith, that Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection somehow have set me free from death and given me new life. I know that God says that he will take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. But I can’t say I understand how thatContinue reading “How We Become Human”
Lent with Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding
The year 1967 saw yet another reinvention of Bob Dylan. After his early days as a protest singer, Dylan morphed into a folk-pop artist, moving from “Blowin’ in the Wind” to “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and sparking the kind of mixed reactions he has garnered for five decades. Then in the mid-60s, he plugged in andContinue reading “Lent with Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding”
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