CM: I’m sorry I haven’t been able to moderate as closely as I’d hoped today. I’m going to close the comments. I think we’ve covered this enough for now. I’m more convinced than ever that we as Christians are going to have to learn to talk about issues like this in more loving and helpful ways. We’llContinue reading “Open Mic: A New “Emerging” Church”
Author Archives: Chaplainmike
The Merton Prayer
One of the books I will be reading and meditating upon during my sabbatical is Thomas Merton’s Thoughts In Solitude. A well-known passage from this book has been called, “The Merton Prayer” (see below). This prayer acknowledges that, despite our human tendency to think we know what life is about and how we can manageContinue reading “The Merton Prayer”
Key Themes in Merton
I’ve been reading William H. Shannon’s fine book, Thomas Merton: An Introduction, as a way to begin knowing the famous monk better for myself. Shannon wrote this for folks who have little or no acquaintance with Merton, with the intent to show that his life and writings can still speak powerfully to people today. AlongContinue reading “Key Themes in Merton”
Pope Benedict on Common Ground and Present Challenges
Yesterday, we noted the historic meetings the Pope has been having with his Lutheran brethren in Germany. In his address to representative of the Evangelical Church, Pope Benedict XVI expresses his appreciation for Martin Luther, particularly his focus on the most fundamental questions of God, sin, and how human beings can know the grace ofContinue reading “Pope Benedict on Common Ground and Present Challenges”
A Call For Revolution
It was their sixth annual show, billed as Fight Night VI. The card featured twelve fights, each one three rounds, with each round lasting only one minute. Fighters wore sixteen ounce gloves, but also headgear. The referee had officiated many amateur bouts before. And at the end of this Wednesday night circus event at aContinue reading “A Call For Revolution”
Song for Ordinary Time (14): Order My Life
This is a simple worship chorus I wrote years and years ago, linked with two verses from a favorite hymn. Together, they form a prayer that God will bring order to our inner worlds and cause us to cling to him. The recording is by no means professional, but I hope it will not detractContinue reading “Song for Ordinary Time (14): Order My Life”
iMonk Classic: The Monk Who Wouldn’t Go Away
Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer Undated Note from CM: As I prepare to spend a few days at The Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, I am catching up on my Thomas Merton. Merton, as you will read below, was Michael Spencer’s hero. I am not nearly as acquainted with the monk as MichaelContinue reading “iMonk Classic: The Monk Who Wouldn’t Go Away”
Pope Benedict on “The Burning Question of Martin Luther”
On our iMonk Bulletin Board (in the right column) we recently posted news of historic meetings the Pope has been having with his Lutheran brethren in Germany. In an article from the Catholic News Service, Rev. Nikolaus Schneider, head of the Evangelical Church in Germany introduced Pope Benedict XVI and noted his hopes for theContinue reading “Pope Benedict on “The Burning Question of Martin Luther””
Saturday Ramblings 9.24.11
I feel like a kid in a candy shop. This week’s cornucopia of stories is perhaps the best ever. I’m serious that I cannot make this stuff up. Alert iMonk readers sent me emails this week with many of these stories, and I am so thankful. We have unisex squid, cowboy monks, a money-saving web site calledContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 9.24.11”
Watering the Garden
Teresa of Avila, a sixteenth-century Christian, taught extensively about the inner life of prayer and communion with God. She compared it to watering a garden. Without prayer our capacity to love will wither and die. But not all prayer nourishes our souls the same way, just as not all forms of watering a garden areContinue reading “Watering the Garden”
The Internet Monk Archives 