Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Where’s John Piper When You Need Him?

By Chaplain Mike MOD NOTE: I’ve gone back and weeded out some comment threads that got off track. BTW: this post is not about John Piper, egalitarianism, homosexuality, or who goes to heaven and hell. It’s tongue-in-cheek, humor, folks, about a “striking” incident (insert groan here). Oh yeah, and please do buy the book! LastContinue reading “Where’s John Piper When You Need Him?”

IM Book Review: Mere Churchianity—Time to Get Real

By Chaplain Mike It is here, the day we’ve been waiting for here at Internet Monk. Michael Spencer’s book, Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality has been released! Today, I will give you my initial review and reflections. I can easily summarize its main message: It’s time for Jesus’ followers to GETContinue reading “IM Book Review: Mere Churchianity—Time to Get Real”

Reds Roundup–Oh Were Those Good Ribs!

The first annual Internet Monk Day At The Reds was a rousing success! Well, except for the fact the Reds lost to the Kansas City Royals. (Did you know everything’s up-to-date in Kansas City? They’ve gone about as far as they can go…) The Reds’ bullpen melted down in the seventh and eighth innings, noContinue reading “Reds Roundup–Oh Were Those Good Ribs!”

Sometimes It’s Just Plain Hard

Editor’s Note: One of the things that makes the Internet Monk such a strong community is our desire to be real at all times. Sometimes that reality takes us to painful places. Denise Day Spencer, the wife of the late founder of Internet Monk, Michael Spencer, relates her experience with her husband’s death. Be forewarned:Continue reading “Sometimes It’s Just Plain Hard”

Denise Spencer: Sometimes It’s Just Plain Hard

Editor’s Note: One of the things that makes the Internet Monk such a strong community is our desire to be real at all times. Sometimes that reality takes us to painful places. Denise Day Spencer, the wife of the late founder of Internet Monk, Michael Spencer, relates her experience with her husband’s death. Be forewarned:Continue reading “Denise Spencer: Sometimes It’s Just Plain Hard”

Rethinking the Text: God’s “Still, Small Voice”?

By Chaplain Mike Sometimes, as people of faith, we think we know the meaning of a Biblical text. By sheer repetition over the years, it becomes a reliable tool in our vocabulary, a cliché of our faith. We stop thinking about it; we simply utter it at times we think appropriate. We don’t have toContinue reading “Rethinking the Text: God’s “Still, Small Voice”?”

Sunday’s Gospel: Teaching One Another

By Chaplain Mike I’d like to start a new feature on Internet Monk today. We’ll call it “Teaching One Another.” Each Sunday, I have been posting the lectionary readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Then I have taken one of the passages (usually the Gospel reading) and given a devotional message from the text. IContinue reading “Sunday’s Gospel: Teaching One Another”

iMonk Classic: Why Aren’t We Doing Inner City Church Planting?

Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer NOTE: This was originally posted on February 17, 2009 as an “Open Mic” discussion. I thought it would be good to revisit this question today, especially in the light of recent posts dealing with suburban evangelicalism, materialism, and cultural diversity. I’m not dogging any churches here. I love myContinue reading “iMonk Classic: Why Aren’t We Doing Inner City Church Planting?”