Chaplainmike

Open Forum on America (Independence Day Special)

Update: One of our commenters pointed us to a good article that I would commend to you this Independence Day. It’s by Brett McCracken, and is called “Place, Patriotism, and Sehnsucht”. * * * Cue “Stars and Stripes Forever”. After you light the grill and while you’re waiting for the coals to heat up, why notContinue reading “Open Forum on America (Independence Day Special)”

Open Forum for Readers around the World

I know, I know. Internet Monk is USA-centric. With the exception of our sister Martha o’ Ireland, we tend to look at things from a rather red, white, and blue perspective. But one of the reasons we love the worldwide web so much is that it’s so…well, worldwide. We love to hear from readers allContinue reading “Open Forum for Readers around the World”

Open Forum for Pastors

Callin’ all Rev’s! Today is the day for you: padre, pastor, preacher, priest, parson, minister, rector, reverend, bishop, vicar, or whatever else your title may be. It’s the day we’re asking clergy to lead the way here on Internet Monk. We want reports from the front lines of church ministry. We want you, whom GodContinue reading “Open Forum for Pastors”

Open Forum Week on IM

You folks continue to impress me with the discussions we’ve been having lately, particularly on our monthly Open Forum posts. So… This week we will be having an Open Forum Week on Internet Monk in a way we haven’t tried before. Each day we will have an open discussion, but it will be on aContinue reading “Open Forum Week on IM”

Classic Film Review: Grand Canyon

Simon: “Man, the world ain’t supposed to work like this. I mean, maybe you don’t know that yet. I’m supposed to be able to do my job without having to ask you if I can. That dude is supposed to be able to wait with his car without you ripping him off. Everything is supposed toContinue reading “Classic Film Review: Grand Canyon”

Follow Up: Jesus and Health Care

One of our good readers, Rick, made some comments yesterday that I both reacted to and rejoiced in. In the end, I agreed with him that the discussion needed to be directed more toward our purpose here at Internet Monk — to promote a Jesus-shaped Christianity. He wrote: “…It was just that I didn’t seeContinue reading “Follow Up: Jesus and Health Care”

Saturday Ramblings 6.30.12

Welcome to the birthday edition of Saturday Ramblings. It was the birthday week for the Synonymous Rambler. Hey, the SR takes birthdays seriously. One day isn’t enough! Wednesday was my son’s 19th birthday. Friday was the birthday of my friend Mike Davis—and I am still recovering from his party. (He said it was BYOLS: BringContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 6.30.12”

Recommended: A Diary of Private Prayer

John Baillie was a leading Scottish churchman of the twentieth century. Professor of divinity at Edinburgh University from 1934 to 1956, he has been considered a “mediating” theologian, one who tried to take the best of Protestant Orthodoxy and liberal theology and combine them. He was a prolific writer, but is best known for two devotionalContinue reading “Recommended: A Diary of Private Prayer”

A Few Thoughts on the Affordable Care Act Decision and Health Care in the U.S.

I’m no expert, I’m not an overtly political person, and I think about 90% of political debate is bluster and posturing. But I am on the front lines when it comes to health care, and I thought I should share some thoughts on yesterday’s historic decision by the Supreme Court regarding the Affordable Care ActContinue reading “A Few Thoughts on the Affordable Care Act Decision and Health Care in the U.S.”

Visiting Heaven

[Sorry this is late today. As Chaplain Mike often says, sometime real life intrudes … ] This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or outContinue reading “Visiting Heaven”