Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Ground Rules: The Decision To Make It Personal

Ground Rules is a series of posts on some of the issues raised in my interactions with my critics in the blogosphere. Imagine with me, if you will, the following strange story. Imagine that I make a blog post taking issue with some point made by Ravi Zacharias. I rarely disagree with Ravi, but let’sContinue reading “Ground Rules: The Decision To Make It Personal”

Blogs I’d Like to Read (or How To Perk Up A Boring Blogosphere)

I’m not one of those constantly offended, hand-wringing bloggers who has to run a monthly post complaining about the Christian blogosphere or tell you ten rules for the Christian blogger. That may be because, as some frequently note, I’m part of “the problem” in the Christian blogosphere. (Yawn) Well too bad. I’m happy to doContinue reading “Blogs I’d Like to Read (or How To Perk Up A Boring Blogosphere)”

Evangelism: Resources, Methods and Content

This post is a survey of some thoughts about evangelism that I’ve wanted to share for some time in response to several discussions and posts in the blogosphere. I hope they are helpful in some way to those of you who do evangelism. When I came to work at the ministry where I serve 15Continue reading “Evangelism: Resources, Methods and Content”

Riffs: 1:08:07: Mark Galli: Liturgy Beyond the Rat Race of “Relevance”

Thanks, Mark Galli. If these two paragraphs summarizing the thoughts on liturgy in your current book project are any indication, I may buy twenty. Why do post-evangelicals like myself find such a comfort and a shelter in liturgy? Because liturgy refuses to be part of the various rat races that evangelicals conduct under the guiseContinue reading “Riffs: 1:08:07: Mark Galli: Liturgy Beyond the Rat Race of “Relevance””

Passive or Passionate?: Francis Chan and the God of the Gospel Offer

UPDATE: Kiwi and an Emu has some thoughts. UPDATE II: Frank Turk has some outstanding thoughts on this topic, plus a great Spurgeon quote. This is a dialog that will be very helpful to many SBC leaders wondering if Calvinism is the anti-missions theology they’ve been told it is. UPDATE III: Frank keeps it upContinue reading “Passive or Passionate?: Francis Chan and the God of the Gospel Offer”

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #39

My favorite Christmas gift. A Sara Groves song for New Year. Financial integrity for churches. Epiphany. Encouragement from Hebrews. Sara Groves Embezzlement at Amy Welborn’s blog (Not what it sounds like.) The Internet Monk Radio podcast is available at itunes. Search “monk” and experience the magic. Write a glowing review and receive a special blessingContinue reading “Internet Monk Radio Podcast #39”

Recommendations and Reviews: J.F. Powers, “Wheat That Springeth Green”

Just finished J.F. Powers’ novel of the life of an ordinary suburban priest, Wheat That Springeth Green. Maybe I’m starved for a good novel, but it was fine. Great character. Understated, excellent humor. A simple, even profound, vision of the priestly life and ordinary people. Powers seems to have mastered the small, almost invisible worldContinue reading “Recommendations and Reviews: J.F. Powers, “Wheat That Springeth Green””

Remembering The Stutterer

When I was a child and a teenager, I stuttered. For several years, quite badly. Those who know me will notice that I can still get into some stuttering patterns when I’m nervous or stressed, but for the most part, my stuttering left me around age 15 when I started preaching regularly. There are differentContinue reading “Remembering The Stutterer”