Author Archives: Chaplainmike

The Choice, The Treasure: Calvinism and the Language of Believing

When I first encountered Calvinism in a Southern Baptist Church, it was with several of my church members criticizing the use of the public invitation. Particularly, they objected strongly to my use of any appeal to “decide” or “choose” in any way. [I generally avoid the use of the public invitation in the way IContinue reading “The Choice, The Treasure: Calvinism and the Language of Believing”

Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

UPDATE: 4:37 p.m. As good as promised….even with the out. Tomorrow is opening day in Cincinnati, in case you didn’t know. So here’s a baseball post. Sometime tomorrow afternoon, I’m going to tear up at a baseball game. It’s a certainty. I’m going to tear up because of a moment that is going to happenContinue reading “Tomorrow. Tomorrow.”

Riffs: 3:31:07: “The People Formerly Known As The Congregation” or Why Some Christians Are Not On Your Ego Trip This Time Around

My friend Bill Kinnon is one of those people who, by most reasonable assessments, shouldn’t be in church. He got ahold of a bad one, got burned and you can still feel it in posts like this one: The People Formerly Known As The Congregation. It’s a Must Read. So go do that. Then comeContinue reading “Riffs: 3:31:07: “The People Formerly Known As The Congregation” or Why Some Christians Are Not On Your Ego Trip This Time Around”

Recommendation: “I’m OK- and You’re Not”

UPDATE: Here’s the whole and entire introduction to this book. In I’m Ok– And You’re Not, John Shore has a big idea. Jesus gave the Christian movement two major pieces of instruction: The Great Commission to reach all people with the Gospel and the Great Commandment to love one another. In Shore’s opinion, American evangelicalsContinue reading “Recommendation: “I’m OK- and You’re Not””

Blogging from “Worship and Arts” Part 3

I’d like to thank Campbellsville University for hosting this conference. It’s been great and I hope they have many other similar events. At his third session on “Lament,” Michael Card spoke about Jesus the Lamenter. These are a few thoughts I wrote down in my notebook as I listened. Scripture reading: Isaiah 53. Then heContinue reading “Blogging from “Worship and Arts” Part 3″

Blogging from “Worship and Arts” Part 2

I want to run through some of the highlights of Michael Card’s teaching sessions on “The Lost Language of Lament.” These are all short summaries from my notebook. On 9-11, Calvin Seerveld called Michael and said, “See….you have no songs to sing.” The language of Lament is the lost language of worship, and that lossContinue reading “Blogging from “Worship and Arts” Part 2″

Blogging from “Worship and Arts” Part 1

I’m going to try and blog the conference a bit. (Thursday morning, 9:09 a.m.) I’m at the “Worship and Arts” conference sponsored by Campbellsvile University. (Actually at a local church) Small crowd. Michael Card is the main teacher. John Mark Macmillan- who I’ve never heard of- is leading worship. He brought a band. It’s prettyContinue reading “Blogging from “Worship and Arts” Part 1″

Riffs: 3:24:07: A “Post-Christian” Confessional at The Parish

BHT fellow Tom Hinkle reposts this confessional piece from a blogger at “The Parish.” If you want to read 1) the TR version of where the emerging church is going or 2) my opinion of what much of evangelical fundamentalism is producing, then this is your piece. It’s a rant, it’s honest, it’s harrowing, it’sContinue reading “Riffs: 3:24:07: A “Post-Christian” Confessional at The Parish”