Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Christ and the Public School Let me get to the point quickly: If Christians left the public school sector – it would fall apart at the seams. Opinion you ask? No! That’s a fact! In my twelve years in an inner city, multi-racial public school I have witnessed personally the desperate need public education hasContinue reading “Christ and the Public School”

The China Syndrome by Michael Spencer On my way out of Kentucky Wesleyan College, I took a course in the history of Asia. The capable Dr. Wayne Metz managed to get me through the torture of names I couldn’t pronounce and a formidable level of ignorance to an “A” and, more importantly, some appreciation ofContinue reading “The China syndrome”

Common Decency Butchered by Michael Spencer In her withdrawal speech, Chavez surrounded herself with people whom she had helped, allowing each one to put a human face on the Democrat spin. No matter what the Jesse Jacksons of the world may say, Americans will recognize in Chavez the same kind of neighborly compassion that isContinue reading “Common decency butchered”

Mariah in Oz by Michael Spencer Celebrity might arguably be called America’s favorite religion. The amount of energy, money, time and trouble invested in the adoration of celebrities surpasses almost any public display of religion in America. Secularists and humanists may wince at the shenanigans of religious fanatics, but the sort of hoopla that accompaniesContinue reading “Mariah in Oz”

What I Saw at the Revolution Trading a heritage of Worship Music for a lukewarm bowl of CCM by Michael Spencer NOTE: It is now apparent than some people cannot read this article without applying it to their church and getting mad at me. Listen, forget about your church and forget about me and justContinue reading “What I saw at the revolution: trading a heritage of worship music for a lukewarm bowl of CCM”

Choosing the Better Wounds by Michael Spencer Having been involved in ministry with teenagers for twenty-seven years, I read the recent reports of child sex abuse and a wide-spread cover up by the Roman Catholic hierarchy with more than passing interest. I have always lived with the uncomfortable awareness that even one charge of inappropriateContinue reading “Choosing the better wounds”

Why Calvin Is Cool An Infomercial for Calvinism by Michael Spencer UPDATE: Even though I am no longer a Calvinist, a lot of this essay is still true. I know that’s Calvin Coolidge, but if I put a picture of John Calvin up there, most people won’t read the column. The hostility towards Calvinism isContinue reading “Why Calvin is cool: An infomercial for calvinism”

When I am Weak Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians by Michael Spencer The voice on the other end of the phone told a story that has become so familiar to me, I could have almost finished it from the third sentence. A respected and admired Christian leader, carrying theContinue reading “When I am weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians”