Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Honest Thoughts On The Catholic Discussion: Is This The Best We Can Do?

NOTE: Commenters should read the commenting rules in FAQ 10, especially those who plan to write me a long appeal to become a Catholic. COMMENTS CLOSED No one reading, writing or commenting on the posts in this interview has ever been as angry as yours truly over the claims of the Roman Catholic Church. InContinue reading “Honest Thoughts On The Catholic Discussion: Is This The Best We Can Do?”

Bryan Cross Interview (Part 5): Mary, Purgatory and the Eucharist

COMMENTS CLOSED My sincere thanks to Bryan Cross and all the commenters in this discussion. The majority of our discussion has been constructive and helpful. Of course, there are deep feelings at work in these issues and some commenters reflect various levels of understanding other traditions and various levels of being able to communicate withoutContinue reading “Bryan Cross Interview (Part 5): Mary, Purgatory and the Eucharist”

The Evangelical Liturgy 21: The Invitation

For our liturgical friends looking in on this series, the public invitation will be a strange animal indeed, conjuring images of the sawdust trail and weeping sinners pleading at the foot of a stage while an evangelist urges them to pray through. In fact the invitation is simply a portion of the service where worshipersContinue reading “The Evangelical Liturgy 21: The Invitation”

Bryan Cross Interview (Part 4): What Should Protestants Know About Vatican II?

My continuing interview with Bryan Cross now covers something very important: the Second Vatican Council and its implications for Protestant-Catholic relations. 9. What should every Protestant know about Vatican II? The Second Vatican Council took place from 1963-1965, and was the twenty-first ecumenical council, following the First Vatican Council in 1869-70. Vatican II produced sixteenContinue reading “Bryan Cross Interview (Part 4): What Should Protestants Know About Vatican II?”

Bryan Cross Interview (Part 3): Anglicans, Evangelicals, Convert Apologetics and Books

5. What is your assessment of Pope Benedict’s opening the doors of the church to disaffected Anglicans? Will this speed up the path into the priesthood for men in the Anglican ministry? For a number of years now, thousands of Anglicans have been asking the Holy See to allow them to enter into full communionContinue reading “Bryan Cross Interview (Part 3): Anglicans, Evangelicals, Convert Apologetics and Books”

Bryan Cross Interview (Part 2): Unity, Reformation and Tensions in Catholicism

My interview with Bryan Cross continues with questions about how Protestants hear talk of unity, tensions in the Catholic Church and how Protestants and Catholics should view the Reformation. 2. Does Christian Unity mean “Protestants becoming Roman Catholics?” In the Creed we refer to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Those are the fourContinue reading “Bryan Cross Interview (Part 2): Unity, Reformation and Tensions in Catholicism”

Catholic Philosopher and Blogger Bryan Cross: The IM Interview (Part 1)

REMINDER: Commenters should remember that the future interview segments will cover many topics. A few days ago I asked Catholic blogger and philosopher Bryan Cross to do an interview here at IM on the subject of Christian Unity. Bryan blogs at Principium Unitatis. Bryan is a prolific writer and was gracious to do the interview.Continue reading “Catholic Philosopher and Blogger Bryan Cross: The IM Interview (Part 1)”

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #163

This week: Review of Collision. Culture War Story. Lessons Moving from Church to Real World. Support the IM sponsors: New Reformation Press. Reformation theology for everyone. Rockbridge Seminary. Family, ministry and online seminary all coming together. Modern Reformation Magazine. Featuring my current article on discipleship. The Ministry to Children blog is “information central” for children’sContinue reading “Internet Monk Radio Podcast #163”

Sin and Sickness

There was a pear tree close to our own vineyard, heavily laden with fruit, which was not tempting either for its color or for its flavor. Late one night — having prolonged our games in the streets until then, as our bad habit was — a group of young scoundrels, and I among them, wentContinue reading “Sin and Sickness”