Chaplainmike

Not Ladies in Nightgowns

Yesterday was the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. I’ve alluded to this already in the post for St. Michael’s Day and how in the popular imagination angels look something like this. Apart from anything else, I think this arises as a degradation of the artistic tradition depicting angels carrying souls to Heaven, where theContinue reading “Not Ladies in Nightgowns”

iMonk Classic: East Of Eden

Editor’s note: With today being something called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” (see yesterday’s Saturday Ramblings for more on this), I thought it good to revisit what Michael Spencer had to say about Christians and politics. This essay first appeared in October, 2004, and has been edited for length, and it is still long. But it’s worthContinue reading “iMonk Classic: East Of Eden”

The Descent to God

This month, while Chaplain Mike is on sabbatical, Jeff has asked me to provide some Sunday meditations. I find that daunting. I’m not a scholar or a preacher, but I’ll give you the best I have. Ironically, the best I have is other people’s words, but these are words that have taken up residence inContinue reading “The Descent to God”

Fifty Years Ago

By Chaplain Mike 1:46 pm. October 1, 2011. One of the greatest feats in baseball history was accomplished at 1:46 pm on October 1, 1961, as Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single season record. That’s when Maris walloped his 61st home run at Yankee Stadium in the year’s final regular game. A dramatic race forContinue reading “Fifty Years Ago”

Saturday Ramblings 10.1.11

October? It’s October already? Spring Training just ended, didn’t it? What happened to my beloved Reds? What? Really? Sigh…ok…welcome to the Cincinnati Reds-less baseball playoffs edition of Saturday Ramblings. Grab your mitt and get ready to ramble. Oh my. Not only is it the baseball postseason, it is the wackiness known as presidential campaign time.Continue reading “Saturday Ramblings 10.1.11”

Third Quarter Listening Report

Here we are at the end of September already, and it is time to give my reviews of some of the popular music that was released during this third quarter of 2011. As I say in each of these posts, I don’t have the resources to check out a lot of music, so I generallyContinue reading “Third Quarter Listening Report”

Fullness and a Future

Ordinary Time Bible Study 2011 The Book of Ruth (12, conclusion) All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in EphrathahContinue reading “Fullness and a Future”

My Secret Place

Dear Chaplain Mike, I am really excited for your sabbatical, though the thought of filling your shoes, even for a month, is rather daunting. I will do my best not to drive away too many readers in your absence. And I am really excited you can spend a week on retreat at once of myContinue reading “My Secret Place”

The Feast of Michaelmas

For those of you whose name is Michael (or Michelle), congratulations! Your patronal feast day is 29th September, the Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel. This feast also honoured all the other angels as well (under the name of the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels) up to the start of the 17th centuryContinue reading “The Feast of Michaelmas”

Looking forward to “Sabbath”

If there is no Sabbath — no regular and commanded not-working, not-talking — we soon become totally absorbed in what we are doing and saying, and God’s work is either forgotten or marginalized. When we work we are most god-like, which means that it is in our work that it is easier to develop god-pretensions.Continue reading “Looking forward to “Sabbath””