Chaplainmike

A Long Way from the Lake

As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net. Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” At once they left their nets and went withContinue reading “A Long Way from the Lake”

Saturday Ramblings, January 25, 2014

A student in Canada has renewed discussion about how far universities and other institutions should go in order to honor religious viewpoints. The young man in question refuses to attend classes or discussions where women might be present. “One of the main reasons that I have chosen Internet courses to complete my BA is dueContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings, January 25, 2014”

When Science Changes…

In the year 1543, just before he died, Nicolaus Copernicus published “De revolutionibus orbium coelestium”. This treatise, in development for nearly 30 years, advanced the idea that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism), rather than the long held idea that the earth was the center of the universe. It is unclear whether Reformer JohnContinue reading “When Science Changes…”

Ken Smith on the David Jang Controversy

Note from CM: Ken Smith is an independent journalist from Washington state who was gracious enough to send us a post on a subject we thought might be of interest to iMonk readers. In September 2012, he teamed up with Ted Olsen at Christianity Today to publish two articles on what they called “The SecondContinue reading “Ken Smith on the David Jang Controversy”

A Poorly Developed Picture

I have seen an article promoted in recent days around the web called “The Church’s Frightful Kodak Moment.” After reading it, I posted the link on the IM Bulletin Board and today I will say a few words about it, not because I agree with the piece, but because it is important for all ofContinue reading “A Poorly Developed Picture”

iMonk Classic: To Do the Best with What We Have

To Do the Best with What We Have A Classic Michael Spencer Post From January 2008 The following incident is fictionalized from real experience. I look at my watch. It’s time for a counseling appointment. I clear my desk, bring in the extra chairs and wait. My appointment arrives and the conversation begins. This isContinue reading “iMonk Classic: To Do the Best with What We Have”

MLK on the Church

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 20, 2014 Today, we present an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, written April 16, 1963. King wrote this in response to a public statement that had been made by eight white Alabama clergymen, who disapproved of Dr. King and his methods of civilContinue reading “MLK on the Church”

Homily for Second Sunday after Epiphany

John Testifies to Jesus A sermon for the second Sunday after Epiphany, 2014 The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of meContinue reading “Homily for Second Sunday after Epiphany”

Saturday Ramblings 2.0 — 1/18/14

Hello, iMonk friends. This is Chaplain Mike and I have asked my good friend Daniel Jepsen to lead us in our weekly clean-up of the monastery. Dan used to be the youth pastor in the church where I served, so I am fully persuaded in his ability to both make and clean up messes. NowContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 2.0 — 1/18/14”

One Foot In The Wilderness

Michael Spencer kept looking over his shoulder. He was willing to express views that were not popular among others of his denomination and he expressed concern that there were individuals out there who were looking for opportunities to “report” him to the administrators at the school where he worked. I got a real sense ofContinue reading “One Foot In The Wilderness”