Another Look: Now in Another Wilderness

By Chaplain Mike

This is the post I wrote after learning of Michael’s death a year ago. I offer it again in the hope that it will help you understand how much Michael meant to those who now write on Internet Monk, and why we write about the things we do.

I had been wandering in the post-evangelical wilderness for a long time. But I never knew what to call it until I began reading Michael Spencer. And I never knew a genuinely safe place to talk about it until I entered the discussions on Internet Monk. Then I knew I had found a guide, and a group of fellow-wanderers.

The site’s popularity testifies to an undeniable fact: I am not alone. There are multitudes of us out here in exile, weary and dry-mouthed, panting for streams from which to slake our thirst.

  • Longing for grace.
  • Longing for some thoughtfulness and common sense instead of the gnostic fanaticism that tries to pass itself off as vibrant faith.
  • Longing for a faith that is not simply another attempt to avoid, escape, or transform our humanity into something else.
  • Longing for real good news of a real Savior for real people.
  • Longing for a Jesus-shaped spirituality.

Continue reading “Another Look: Now in Another Wilderness”

The Forever Frontier

Publisher’s note: Today marks one year since the death of Michael Spencer. Michael was the founder of the Internet Monk, but more than that, he was the husband of Denise and the father of Clay and Noel. This is a remembrance of Michael’s life and passion by Denise. We ask that you pray for Denise at this time, the one year anniversary of her husband’s death.

In cleaning out the shed recently, I came across an old suitcase. Inside the suitcase were several items from long past, including this photo of Michael (on the right) and his boyhood friend, Jeff (no, not Dunn). Their common passion was playing Daniel Boone, and they are depicted here in all their imaginative glory. You might think, by virtue of the fact that Michael’s wearing the hat, that he was the leader. Ah, sadly, no. Michael complained into his middle-aged years that Jeff always had to be Daniel Boone. Michael, it seems, was relegated to the part of “Yadkin,” I believe it was. It seems that Yadkin was Daniel’s sidekick…or second cousin thrice removed…or something. Whoever Yadkin was, he wasn’t “Dan’l,” and Michael always felt a bit cheated.

Yet play they did, in their coonskin caps and buckskin jackets, armed with long rifles and powderhorns. The old neighborhood became the wilderness in their fantasies, and they took on any danger that came their way. It was high adventure, to hear Michael tell it.

“Adventurous” is most likely not a word that would jump to mind if you knew Michael, but in his heart of hearts he was. He followed the space program and watched the news coverage of rocket launches, space walks and shuttle landings. He also loved all those make-believe space adventures: Star Trek, Star Wars and other star-spun stories. It makes sense, doesn’t it? “Space: the final frontier,” began the Star Trek episodes. Outer space was the perfect playground for a grown-up “Booner” of days gone by.

Continue reading “The Forever Frontier”

Denise Spencer: The Forever Frontier

Publisher’s note: Today marks one year since the death of Michael Spencer. Michael was the founder of the Internet Monk, but more than that, he was the husband of Denise and the father of Clay and Noel. This is a remembrance of Michael’s life and passion by Denise. We ask that you pray for Denise at this time, the one year anniversary of her husband’s death.

In cleaning out the shed recently, I came across an old suitcase. Inside the suitcase were several items from long past, including this photo of Michael (on the right) and his boyhood friend, Jeff (no, not Dunn). Their common passion was playing Daniel Boone, and they are depicted here in all their imaginative glory. You might think, by virtue of the fact that Michael’s wearing the hat, that he was the leader. Ah, sadly, no. Michael complained into his middle-aged years that Jeff always had to be Daniel Boone. Michael, it seems, was relegated to the part of “Yadkin,” I believe it was. It seems that Yadkin was Daniel’s sidekick…or second cousin thrice removed…or something. Whoever Yadkin was, he wasn’t “Dan’l,” and Michael always felt a bit cheated.

Yet play they did, in their coonskin caps and buckskin jackets, armed with long rifles and powderhorns. The old neighborhood became the wilderness in their fantasies, and they took on any danger that came their way. It was high adventure, to hear Michael tell it.

“Adventurous” is most likely not a word that would jump to mind if you knew Michael, but in his heart of hearts he was. He followed the space program and watched the news coverage of rocket launches, space walks and shuttle landings. He also loved all those make-believe space adventures: Star Trek, Star Wars and other star-spun stories. It makes sense, doesn’t it? “Space: the final frontier,” began the Star Trek episodes. Outer space was the perfect playground for a grown-up “Booner” of days gone by.

Continue reading “Denise Spencer: The Forever Frontier”

iMonk Classic: There Is Always a Day Before

Self-Portrait, Rachael Ashe

Classic iMonk Post
by Michael Spencer
From Nov 5, 2009

Note from CM: Soon after this post Michael learned that he himself was sick with an illness that would ultimately take his life. These sobering words are fitting in Lent, and a poignant introduction to this week’s remembrance of the anniversary of Michael’s passing.

The news story is strange and tragic. Three college softball players go for a night time drive in the country. On an unfamiliar road, they take a wrong turn and drive into a pond…and drown.

There was a day before. A day with no thought of drowning. A day with family and friends. Perhaps with no thought of eternity, God or heaven. There was a day when every assumption was that tomorrow would be like today.

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Preaching Grace Is A Risky Business

I don’t normally do this. Three posts in one day is a bit much, I know. And I love what Chaplain Mike just put up about The Giving Tree. (If you have not read that, please do. It is a great primer on the whole topic of grace.) But there is such an uproar going on because I said God’s grace is total and complete without our needing to help it with our additions—whether it be Paul’s words or my words or anyone’s words. Grace is very tough to swallow for a people who are addicted to controlling their own lives: and that would be all of us.

This is an essay from our founder, Michael Spencer, reacting to criticism he received whenever he wrote on or preached about grace. Please read it carefully and with an open heart. God really does love us completely and freely and fully. And that is the message of grace.  JD

Preaching Grace is Risky Business

Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that if we didn’t get complaints that we’d gone too far and said too much, then we probably haven’t really preached the Gospel of grace. That’s been my experience. Almost every time that I preach a strong sermon on justification by grace through faith, by Christ and apart from the works of the law, I get complaints. I just thought I would say a few things about that.

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My Favorite Children’s Book

By Chaplain Mike

Well, I guess I failed in my effort to “move past analysis and argumentation,” huh? Comments are closed.

With all our discussions about grace lately, I thought I might move past analysis and argumentation to have us consider a story. Not a Bible story, a story for children. My favorite story for children, in fact.

It’s the story of a tree who loved a boy. When the boy came to visit her each day, the tree gave him a place to play and things with which to play—leaves, branches, a trunk to climb, apples to eat, dark spaces in which to play hide and seek. The tree provided a quiet, shady place under which the boy could sit and dream, and sleep when he was tired. The tree loved the boy, and the boy returned her love. They were happy.

As the boy grew, he spent less and less time with the tree. And when he did come to see her, he wanted different things. Branches and leaves and apples and shade were no longer enough. He wanted money, for example. So the tree bid him take her apples and sell them for money. He did, and seeing the boy’s happiness, she too was happy.

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Lent IV

By Chaplain Mike

Today’s Gospel: John 9:1-41

a sonnet

he spat and made a muddy mash of clay
and smeared it smartly on my long-blind eyes
then bid me bathe in waters of siloam
i splashed the muck away and saw the skies!
from birth i’d borne the slanderous slur of sin
and sat and begged my bread as one outcast
but here today some stranger stepped aside
and drove away my darkened days at last!
before i knew it i was on the spot
a crowd began contending, casting blame
religious folks were fixin’ for a fight
but all i knew was i was not the same!
their arguments are only talk to me
for that man touched the blind and made him see!

iMonk Classic: The Long Dark Night Is Over

Classic iMonk Post
by Michael Spencer
From Feb 26, 2008

Note from CM: In honor of the opening of the baseball season, and in remembrance of Michael Spencer’s love for the game, we present this classic post today.

“Baseball is not really as much a sport to me as it is an alternate universe where I am welcome to step out of whatever role I’m playing or responsibilities I have and discover something deep, true and innocent.” (iMonk)

The long, dark winter of the soul will be over here in the Spencer household.

My life runs on three calendars. The first is the calendar of the ministry where I work, a school calendar full of breaks and beginnings, graduations and finals. I enjoy the academic calendar and the rhythm it provides for my life. If I had to give it up, I’d be sorry for all those lost opportunities to enjoy grace and sabbath.

The second calendar is the Christian year. If you read this site you know how I feel about that. My faith journey is formed around the time-keeping of the church’s way of marking time. No single thing has been more helpful to my own growth as a disciple and worship leader. I always know where I am with the people of God, and it’s always relevant, despite the fact that Baptists don’t understand it. (I’m kidding.)

The third calendar is the informal, but thoroughly religious and essential calendar of the baseball universe.

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Saturday Ramblings 4.2.11

Your Rambler has returned from his trip to the desert with his allergies intact. I had a great time getting to meet with some iMonks including Richard and his wife and family (hope you had a good birthday, Gail), and Jim from the Great White North who had maybe the coolest Cincinnati Reds hat I’ve ever seen. I took in four baseball games and two trips to In N Out. All in all, I would call the trip a success.

This is a special week here at the iMonastery. It is the one year anniversary of the death of our founder, Michael Spencer. I cannot believe that it has been a year already, and yet in another way it seems like a lifetime. You will want to check back first thing Tuesday morning for a special word from Denise Spencer, Michael’s wife. This is one of the best essays ever written for Internet Monk. You will be encouraged, you will get to know Michael so much better, and you will cry like a baby. Please remember to pray for Denise and her children (Clay and Taylor, Noel and Ryan) this week as it will be a difficult and challenging week for them all.

And since we are in the mode of announcements, we will start a series of fourteen devotions based on the Stations of the Cross next Saturday, running through Good Friday. Lisa Dye and I will be taking turns exploring the Stations. We hope to make this an interactive series.

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