Chaplainmike

Cast Your Vote for “The Greatest American…”

UPDATE: Here, at the end of good day of house painting with my family, I have added my votes to the post. * * * Happy Independence Day in the U.S.A.! Today, just for fun and discussion, between hot dogs, we’re taking your votes for “The Greatest American _____________ “ — in seven categories. CastContinue reading “Cast Your Vote for “The Greatest American…””

A Modern Bestiary, Part One

The parking lot of a suburban Central Florida community college was the last place I ever expected to find a peacock, and yet there he was, picking about the dumpster like a rooster and gobbling down stray grains. Looking back in retrospect I probably should have called security and found out where the poor bird had escapedContinue reading “A Modern Bestiary, Part One”

Selt Or Kelt?

This is more or less a rant on a personal bug-bear of mine. While I hope I am not quite attaining to the level of nit-picking as evidenced by Lynne Truss’s book on grammatical errors, “Eats, Shoots and Leaves”, I am about to relieve my mind as to why the use – or rather, theContinue reading “Selt Or Kelt?”

Let’s Discuss: Needing the Whole Body of Christ

I thought we might have an open discussion today on some thoughts by Brian Zahnd. As one who has served in “charismatic flavored evangelicalism,” he found that he had become “arrogantly sectarian,” and that he “needed the riches of the whole church” if his life was to be fully formed in Christ. Click on theContinue reading “Let’s Discuss: Needing the Whole Body of Christ”

The Homily

Come, everyone who is thirsty— here is water! Come, you that have no money— buy grain and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk— it will cost you nothing! Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? Listen to me and do what I say, and you willContinue reading “The Homily”

Saturday Ramblings 6.29.13

It has been a week, iMonks. We hit triple digits for the first time this summer here at the Tulsa wing of the iMonastery. People will say, “But it’s a dry heat.” Yes, and so is my oven, but I don’t like to hang out there. The older I get, the more thankful I amContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 6.29.13”

Reconsider Jesus – The Message of the Kingdom

The following is an excerpt from Michael Spencer’s upcoming book: Reconsider Jesus – A fresh look at Jesus from the Gospel of Mark. For the next number of Fridays, we will be giving you a “sneak peek” into this devotional commentary. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. (Note: There are some edits still to come,Continue reading “Reconsider Jesus – The Message of the Kingdom”

Summer Sounds from CM: That Sunny 60’s Sound

Since it is officially summer in the good ol’ U.S.A. now, I have been listening to some of that happy music that used to play on AM radio when I was a kid, the great summery songs that played over the sound system at the pool. It spoke of freedom, romance, and the idealism ofContinue reading “Summer Sounds from CM: That Sunny 60’s Sound”

Some Thoughts on Our “Reformation” Conversation

Monday, we considered the June 17, 2013 document, jointly published by the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, called “From Conflict to Communion.” I have decided to make this last post in the series, and in it I want to make some comments about how we discuss matters like this. An Admission ofContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Our “Reformation” Conversation”

The Apophaticism Of Persons

I discovered the yellow, fading newspaper clipping at the bottom of a box of my father’s papers after he passed away. “Local Kissimmee girl wins Beauty Pageant.” The clipping was from the Orlando Evening Star from March 1947, and it stated that Miss Emma Mae Scoggins of Kissimmee, Florida won a local beauty pageant andContinue reading “The Apophaticism Of Persons”