Chaplainmike

Another Look: Spiritual Formation — Some Clarifications

For many Protestants, discussion of the “spiritual disciplines” raises a number of questions. In particular, we have questions about the relationship between God’s grace and human actions in the process of spiritual formation. Today, I’d like to make a few things clear. 1. When we talk about growing through practicing spiritual disciplines, we are notContinue reading “Another Look: Spiritual Formation — Some Clarifications”

For Memorial Day: Another Look — Music of Peace in the Midst of Chaos

With Prayers for Peace on Memorial Day 2013 Back in the early 1990’s a simple counter-intuitive act of heroism caught the imagination of those who learned about it. On May 27, 1992, Vedran Smailovic, principal cellist for the city opera, was practicing his cello in an upstairs apartment in Sarajevo, in the former Yugoslavia. ItContinue reading “For Memorial Day: Another Look — Music of Peace in the Midst of Chaos”

Another Look: Spiritual Formation — How It Happens

We intend what is right, but we avoid the life that would make it reality. – Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines Let’s say I’m in a room with three adults, all seated at pianos. I want to find out their ability to play the instrument. I ask them all to play “Twinkle, TwinkleContinue reading “Another Look: Spiritual Formation — How It Happens”

Another Look: Spiritual Formation — What Is It?

Note from CM: This will be my last week of full time writing for awhile. When it gets to Tuesday of next week, pray for me, because by then the DT’s will probably be setting in hard. As I’ve tried to think about what to share this week, I thought it might be good toContinue reading “Another Look: Spiritual Formation — What Is It?”

Saturday Ramblings 5.25.13

Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. iMonk from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea. Let’s go to rambling … Here is a very good story about a family who lost everything—but say they lost nothing—in the Moore, Oklahoma tornado this week. By the way, this pastor’s new church isContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 5.25.13”

Job and Jacob

I would like to clarify a point I made in the post about the book of Job yesterday. In that piece I said, “One might say that the Book of Job ends with a stand-off.” A few respondents here and elsewhere have disputed that analysis and have pushed back with the more traditional understanding thatContinue reading “Job and Jacob”

Michael Newnham: God and Disaster

Note from CM: We will give the last word on this stormy week to one of our friends. One of the blogs in our Blogroll that I go to regularly is Phoenix Preacher, Michael Newnham’s simple yet provocative and readable site. He is the author of Make Your Own Application. In the aftermath of theContinue reading “Michael Newnham: God and Disaster”

John Piper, Miserable Comforter

@JohnPiper: “Your sons and daughters were eating and a great wind struck the house, and it fell upon them, and they are dead.” Job 1:19 @JohnPiper: “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.” Job 1:20 * * * As expected, John Piper, retired pastor of BethlehemContinue reading “John Piper, Miserable Comforter”

Playing God With Tornadoes

And the idiots have landed. Monday I watched with great terror and shock as a massive tornado roared through Moore, Oklahoma, leaving at least 24 people dead. I was at work when someone said “the City is getting storms.” I live in Tulsa, 100 miles east of the City—Oklahoma City—and was trying to keep anContinue reading “Playing God With Tornadoes”

Midweek Monkery 5/22/13

Yesterday, we learned that some denominations are considering making 45 the age cut-off for ordination. Since I haven’t seen 45 for a few years and am much closer to many higher numbers (that will remain unmentioned), today’s Midweek Monkery features some smiles and laughs I’ve had lately with regard to the subject of getting older.Continue reading “Midweek Monkery 5/22/13”