Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Riffs: 08:12:08: Ray Ortlund on The Dark Knight

UPDATE: When we get more comments on Ray Ortlund not liking Batman than we get on the Church Membership posts, you folks will have proved my point, and you will all have to buy me a gift. Ray Ortlund says he wasted $6.25 (!) on The Dark Knight. And in short form, as only RayContinue reading “Riffs: 08:12:08: Ray Ortlund on The Dark Knight”

The Church Membership Question: Open Thread on Frank Viola’s “Why I Left The Institutional Church.”

Perhaps the most talked about recent challenge to the traditional, institutional church comes from “organic” church advocate Frank Viola. In a recent article at The Ooze, Frank chronicled his reasons for leaving the institutional church. Think what you want, and criticize as you wish, Viola states his case Biblically and eloquently. And millions of peopleContinue reading “The Church Membership Question: Open Thread on Frank Viola’s “Why I Left The Institutional Church.””

Baptist Holy Days of (Guilt and) Obligation

My wife sent me an email this morning. I keep forgetting to tell you that there’s an obligatory Mass this week (for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.) St. Ann is celebrating Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and St. William Friday at 6:00 p.m. Assuming we are going to the waterpark Thursday,Continue reading “Baptist Holy Days of (Guilt and) Obligation”

The Church Membership Question: Church Basics (An iMonk 101 Post)

Let’s continue with the church membership theme as we wait for two more interviews to arrive via Van Til express delivery. In January of 2006 I wrote a major IM essay on what I believe about the local church. As I said in an introduction that doesn’t appear below, it will clear up forever anyContinue reading “The Church Membership Question: Church Basics (An iMonk 101 Post)”

The Church Membership Question: Interview with Jonathan Leeman

UPDATE: Thanks for the good response and discussion. If you would like to read an excellent defense of the Baptist view of church membership, John Piper has written an excellent article on Church Membership and Accountability. A very good survey of the basics. This post begins several posts on the subject of the church andContinue reading “The Church Membership Question: Interview with Jonathan Leeman”

The Long and Winding Road

Humor alert. I said HUMOR ALERT. Yes…YOU…that means YOU. It’s HUMOR. OK. For those of you that don’t know or don’t remember, my wife is entering the Roman Catholic Church. It’s been rough and I don’t really have anything to say about that. Communication on the relevant subjects hasn’t been easy, and laughter- formerly aContinue reading “The Long and Winding Road”

Recommendation and Review: The NLT Study Bible

Before passing along a brief review of the New Living Translation Study Bible, I want to talk a bit about study Bibles in general in my own experience. I have used a lot of Bibles in my life, and I’ve owned several “study” Bibles, but I have only used two extensively and for particular reasons.Continue reading “Recommendation and Review: The NLT Study Bible”

Recommendation and Review: Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Alsup

Don’t forget to check out my new blog at Jesus Shaped Spirituality. Practical Theology for Women by Mars Hill church Bible teacher Wendy Alsup is a collection of Bible studies emphasizing the practical application of Biblical truth and basic theology in the lives of….women. (A free chapter is available at the Crossway web site.) AdrianContinue reading “Recommendation and Review: Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Alsup”