Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Riffing On Me: Jared Wilson’s “The Hard Stuff of Real Lives.”

I don’t usually link people who riff on my work, but I have tremendous respect for Jared at Gospel Driven Church, and his use of one of my better pieces “To Know We’re Not Alone,” is a real honor. Take a moment and read “The Hard Stuff of Real Lives.” I want you to readContinue reading “Riffing On Me: Jared Wilson’s “The Hard Stuff of Real Lives.””

The Eugene Peterson Book That Turned My World Upside Down

I’d read Eugene Peterson for a while in his IVP Old Testament books when I purchased and read a book on pastoral ministry called Working the Angles. Wow. No book in my library is more underlined. This is what I needed to hear in seminary. It’s what I needed to hear from older men inContinue reading “The Eugene Peterson Book That Turned My World Upside Down”

iMonk 101: A Parable for our Church-Growth, Seeker-Sensitive Friends

iMonk 101 reruns posts from the IM archives. This is the first “parable” post I ever did at IM. (I actually wrote it back when I was on michaelspencer.us.) “A Parable for Our Church-Growth, Seeker-Sensitive Friends.” This kind of story illustrates what happens to us when “boredom” becomes the big problem, and we take theContinue reading “iMonk 101: A Parable for our Church-Growth, Seeker-Sensitive Friends”

Christmas Program Resources for Your Church

My wife Denise is an excellent dramatic writer, and every year she creates wonderful Christmas programs that any church could use to put together something really classy. She’s posted a free creative ministries Christmas program, since now is the time some of you may be in the market for a similar program. It’s a groupingContinue reading “Christmas Program Resources for Your Church”

Riffs: 08:20:07: The White Horse Inn on Dying With Unconfessed Sin

The August 19th edition of the White Horse Inn contains a large segment of interviews asking people at a Christian conference what happens to a person if they died with unconfessed sin. Whatever you do, get this podcast/mp3, listen to it and keep it around. The answers may or may not shock you, depending onContinue reading “Riffs: 08:20:07: The White Horse Inn on Dying With Unconfessed Sin”

Can You Give a TULIP to the Hurting?

I love the word “juxtaposition.” If you don’t know it, it means the placing of two things side by side. Often, the connotation refers to two things that are not usually put in proximity to one another. Because of the way I live my life, I seem to have many experiences of unusual juxtapositioning. IContinue reading “Can You Give a TULIP to the Hurting?”

What Is The Prosperity Gospel?

I’ve mentioned the “Prosperity Gospel” in some presentations recently, and I’ve had some questions about what I mean when I use the term. I’m going to outline some very basic responses- and have a little to say about them- so that I can refer others to them as a more complete answer than I canContinue reading “What Is The Prosperity Gospel?”

Recommendation: Can We Trust The Gospels? by Mark D. Roberts

This recommendation will be short for three reasons: 1) Mark Roberts is a fantastic pastor/apologist/scholar, and if you don’t already know that, what blogosphere are you living in? 2) Much of this book has already appeared on Roberts’ outstanding web site. 3) If you need this book to answer your questions, someone is probably goingContinue reading “Recommendation: Can We Trust The Gospels? by Mark D. Roberts”