Author Archives: Chaplainmike

The Rite and the Wrong Way to Live

I commute half an hour each way to work, and there are no decent radio stations in the wilds of western Indiana.  I’ve discovered college courses on CD as an antidote to boredom while I drive.  Recently I listened to a series of lectures on Hinduism.  It occurred to me as I listened that everyContinue reading “The Rite and the Wrong Way to Live”

Some of the “Most Discussed” Posts from 2013

2013 was another banner year for Internet Monk, and thanks belongs to you, our readers and commenters. Readership numbers have never been higher, and though we didn’t have spectacular numbers of comments, we did have consistently strong participation representing a high level of thoughtful and interesting discussion. The following lists represent some of the mostContinue reading “Some of the “Most Discussed” Posts from 2013″

Homily for Christmas I: “Banish all thoughts of peaceful Christmas scenes”

“Banish all thoughts of peaceful Christmas scenes” A sermon for first Sunday in Christmas 2013 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod isContinue reading “Homily for Christmas I: “Banish all thoughts of peaceful Christmas scenes””

The Sentimentality that Blinds Us

A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more. – Matthew 2:18 Churches and Christians in the U.S., by and large, focus on all the wrong battles. In our relative prosperity and ease, we are concerned about minor irritationsContinue reading “The Sentimentality that Blinds Us”

Why Ending the Slave Trade and Apartheid Worked, and Prohibition Didn’t – Implications for the Culture Wars

Last week I posted about how I stepped out of the culture wars. A number of comments were made comparing the fight against abortion with the fight against slavery. Prohibition was also mentioned as one battle that didn’t go so well. I have been thinking about that a lot over the past week, and haveContinue reading “Why Ending the Slave Trade and Apartheid Worked, and Prohibition Didn’t – Implications for the Culture Wars”

iMonk Classic: On Another Shore, In a Greater Light

A Classic Michael Spencer Post From Christmas 2008 My favorite piece of liturgy in the world is a sentence in the opening section of the Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast round the world on the BBC. Why is it so moving? Because it is beautiful and true. Each year, as more andContinue reading “iMonk Classic: On Another Shore, In a Greater Light”