Chaplainmike

iMonk 101: Is there Mental Illness in the Bible?

I am continuing reposting the 2005 series on Mental Illness. Is there mental illness in the Bible? This question seeks to move us toward the question of mental illness and the Gospel. The focus of the Bible is Jesus Christ. When we talk about anything else as it is presented in the Bible, we mustContinue reading “iMonk 101: Is there Mental Illness in the Bible?”

Liturgical Gangstas 17: Preaching Ananias, Sapphira and the Gospel

Welcome to IM’s popular feature, “The Liturgical Gangstas,” a panel discussion among different liturgical traditions represented in the Internet Monk audience. Who are the Gangstas? Father Ernesto Obregon is an Eastern Orthodox priest. Rev. Joe Boysel is an Anglican (AMiA) priest and professor of Bible at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. (Ask him aboutContinue reading “Liturgical Gangstas 17: Preaching Ananias, Sapphira and the Gospel”

“Will We Have To Leave?”

I’m supply preaching these days at a small Presbyterian church in town. I usually arrive half an hour early, turn on the heat and just enjoy the silence of the sanctuary until the congregation arrives. Most of my folks live right around the adjacent blocks, some within walking distance. Last Lord’s day, two older ladiesContinue reading ““Will We Have To Leave?””

Riffs: 11:23:09: Required Behavior Modification and the Gospel

Like any and all Riffs, these are simply some of my thoughts inspired by other posts and discussions. Not a throw down, etc. This morning at evangel, Joe Carter voiced some of his frustration at the way the “law/Gospel” distinction sounds to his ears. I’ve wrestled with this myself on this site. Then, in theContinue reading “Riffs: 11:23:09: Required Behavior Modification and the Gospel”

Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: The Portable Christian

I’ve been reading a used copy of a book edited by Christopher Hitchens called The Portable Atheist. Hitchens has selected, edited and introduced 47 various selections from atheist authors, philosophers, writers, journalists and so on. They bring forward a diverse variety of discussions of unbelief in a variety of formats: essays, novels, interviews, book excerpts,Continue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: The Portable Christian”

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #166

This week: Push Advent. The Portable Christian. Dawkins and the Why Questions. Support the IM sponsors: Restoring the Soul.com. Real help for restoring the pastor’s soul. New Reformation Press. Reformation theology for everyone. Rockbridge Seminary. Family, ministry and online seminary all coming together. Alan Creech Rosaries (or aids to prayer. You decide) The Ministry toContinue reading “Internet Monk Radio Podcast #166”

My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel (Part 4): How It Feels In The Strangeness

The comments to the three previous posts have featured a variety of responses and reactions to the idea of “Gospel-less” sermons, teaching, testimonies, etc. I am happy for those of you who are in churches where this is unthinkable, but I assure you that here in the Bible belt, this is not an illusion, particularlyContinue reading “My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel (Part 4): How It Feels In The Strangeness”

My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel: Gospel Articulations (Part 3)

I’ve been trying to emphasize the Gospel as the foundational content of the Christian life for many years. While I’ve worked at fresh articulations of the Gospel, there are a lot of familiar articulations of the Gospel that show up in my preaching and teaching with high school students and the adults in chapel andContinue reading “My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel: Gospel Articulations (Part 3)”

My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel: Scripture Sources (Part 2)

The apparent crisis in giving the Gospel its right and Biblically healthy place in evangelical Christian faith exists on several levels. First, there is the level of scriptural definition. While I can answer the question “What is the Gospel?” it is the Biblical material that should form my definition. Before I give some simple GospelContinue reading “My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel: Scripture Sources (Part 2)”

Misplaced, Taken For Granted and Ignored: My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel (Part 1)

In a recent sermon, I said that I was deeply concerned about the understanding of the Gospel that I hear among adult Christians and especially preachers. I was not just making noise. With every passing year, I’m amazed that the level of Gospel understanding seems to be lower and lower among Christian adults. This isn’tContinue reading “Misplaced, Taken For Granted and Ignored: My Strange Experiences With An Absent Gospel (Part 1)”