Chaplainmike

Veterans Day: John Gorka – Let Them In

Veterans Day Thoughts 2013

So many dead men. You just wouldn’t believe it. – Donald Sutherland as Christ Johnny Got His Gun (1971) * * * For Veterans Day this year, I watched an anti-war movie. I figured this was a fitting tribute to those who have fought and died in wars. For what they and all of usContinue reading “Veterans Day Thoughts 2013”

The Homily

“I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment” (Ezekiel 34:16, NASB). And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses,Continue reading “The Homily”

Saturday Ramblings 11.9.13

It has been a fun week here at the iMonastery, dealing with light topics like our salvation and how to pray for our leaders. Easy stuff. Now it’s Saturday, and that’s when we do our heavy lifting, dealing with the serious stuff. Yes, we call it “rambling,” but don’t mistake that for any easy-going strollContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 11.9.13”

My Response to Mayor Rob Ford

By now you have probably heard of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. For those who haven’t, let me give you a quick time line. In November of 2010 Rob Ford was elected as Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was elected as a “cost cutting” mayor, someone who would bring fiscal sense to a city whoseContinue reading “My Response to Mayor Rob Ford”

kyle on “sexy christianity”

Each generation has its version of “sexy Christianity.” Kyle Donn has issued a thoughtful warning about the current style, the rage of his own generation, in this post on the subject. Kyle’s “About” page reflects the ethos of today’s young believers: my name is kyle. i want to change the world. for jesus. Note theContinue reading “kyle on “sexy christianity””

Trashing a Treasure

On the nature, worth, provenance, and cessation of New Testament tongues, much is obscure and must remain so. Various interpretations on key points are viable, and perhaps the worst error in handling the relevant passages is to claim or insinuate that perfect clarity or certainty marks one’s own view. The texts (Acts 2:4-11; 10:46; 11:17;Continue reading “Trashing a Treasure”

Simply Living

A man knows when he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live. – Thomas Merton Thoughts In Solitude * * * Most of my life, I’ve been waiting to live. The pattern has been like this: seasons of thinking about what it means to live and waitingContinue reading “Simply Living”

Writers’ Roundtable—Salvation

There is a chill in the air, the leaves are falling, the days are shorter … and there is a sudden gathering of iMonks at my kitchen table. Somehow they think I have leftover Halloween candy. What a surprise for them to learn all I have are some Dum-Dums and Smarties, plus some floss theContinue reading “Writers’ Roundtable—Salvation”

The Perils of Wisdom

Here is the conclusion to the lesson I taught Sunday to the adult class at church. We looked at the Wisdom Psalms, those psalms that are didactic, admonishing believers to walk in God’s ways. There is, of course, a variety of wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible, including entire books, such as Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, andContinue reading “The Perils of Wisdom”