Chaplainmike

How 9/11 Changed Me

In September of 2001 I was working for a Christian book publisher in Tulsa as editorial director of a brand new imprint. We were all very busy with our first list—our first books published under the new name. There were 350 employees total working for this publisher, and many would gather on the ground floorContinue reading “How 9/11 Changed Me”

9/11 — Uncertainty

2001 “Did you guys hear this on the radio?” my friend Paul says, walking into the office to start a new day at work. “They’re saying some guy flew a plane into one of the World Trade Center towers.” The rest of the office buzzes while I imagine some nut-job daredevil with a Cessna inContinue reading “9/11 — Uncertainty”

I Still Struggle to Speak of 9/11

By Chaplain Mike On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, I ate breakfast with the pastor with whom I used to work as an associate. We met at our favorite restaurant, the one we used to joke about as a “second office” for people in our church. When I was on the church staff, it wasContinue reading “I Still Struggle to Speak of 9/11”

9/11 — Reflections on Disappointing Reactions

Note from CM: Regular iMonk readers will recognize the voice of Eagle, one of the faithful members of our online discussion community. Eagle says he is an agnostic, and he has certainly been through the wringer when it comes to negative experiences with religious types, including the “fundagelicals.” We love having him here. He keepsContinue reading “9/11 — Reflections on Disappointing Reactions”

How Did 9/11 Affect Christian Faith in the U.S.?

By Chaplain Mike As the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 approaches, I have been reading articles that discuss how this event has affected the church and people of faith in the U.S. What do you think? In general, do you think there have been any significant changes in perspective about the faith here inContinue reading “How Did 9/11 Affect Christian Faith in the U.S.?”

September 12, 2011

NOTE from CM: I was scheduled to fly to Kyrgyzstan in central Asia a week after September 11, 2001, to visit our friends and missionaries, Andy and Damaris Zehner. Because of flight restrictions imposed after the attacks, I had to wait until mid-October. When I arrived and traveled around Naryn and nearby villages with them,Continue reading “September 12, 2011”

Beautiful Music at Ground Zero

By Chaplain Mike At historic Trinity Church in Manhattan, daily prayers for peace have been offered since the days following 9/11. This week, to mark the tenth anniversary, they will turn to the music of J.S. Bach to provide comfort for those commemorating the sad events of that day. The New York Times story reportingContinue reading “Beautiful Music at Ground Zero”

A Hymn for Ordinary Time (11): A Song of Peace

By Chaplain Mike As we look forward to our week of remembering 9/11, I offer the following hymn of peace for your meditation today. This words of the first two stanzas to this hymn, which is sung to the melody of Finlandia, were written by Lloyd Stone in the years between World War I andContinue reading “A Hymn for Ordinary Time (11): A Song of Peace”

Open Mic: No Prayers at the 9/11 Memorial Observance

By Chaplain Mike Have you read reports about the controversy concerning the ceremony of remembrance at the Sept. 11 Memorial dedication next week? No Christian clergy or leaders of other faiths will participate and no formal prayers will be offered. Some in the church and in our culture think that is wrong. Others agree withContinue reading “Open Mic: No Prayers at the 9/11 Memorial Observance”

Saturday Ramblings 9.3.11

Welcome to the kickoff edition of Saturday Ramblings. My Tulsa Golden Hurricane take on my Oklahoma Sooners tonight. Wait a minute. Who am I going to root for? They are both “my teams.” Oh what a quandary. What a dilemma. I have my masters from OU. I have, um, nothing, from TU, but they haveContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings 9.3.11”