Sunday’s Gospel: God Visits Us in Our Sorrows

By Chaplain Mike

Sunday: Pentecost II (Year C)

Today’s Lectionary Readings:

  • OT: 1Kings 17:17-24
  • Psalm: Psalm 30
  • Epistle: Galatians 1:11-24
  • Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

Today’s Gospel

Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district. (NASB)

Continue reading “Sunday’s Gospel: God Visits Us in Our Sorrows”

iMonk Classic: Dancing at the Fundamentalist Ball

Classic iMonk Post
by Michael Spencer

I am almost through with fundamentalism. Almost.

There are still some places where I want to hang on to my fundamentalism, but not many. After spending most of my life listening to my fundamentalist relation sing their song in the current cultural climate, I long ago quit singing with them. Eventually, I put down my hymnal and left the choir loft. Now I think it’s time to leave the building altogether.

Of course, I realize some liberals will always think I am a fundamentalist because I believe in classically orthodox Christianity, the truthfulness of the Bible (rightly interpreted,) the resurrection of Jesus, miracles, prayer, the church and creation. The somewhat theologically astute will realize that stadiums full of non-fundamentalists believe all that stuff, but among that segment of American culture that finds any serious place given to faith fundamentalist, then I will always be mistaken for one. It’s fine with me, even fun, especially around really angry liberals (who are rather fundamentalistic themselves.)

Continue reading “iMonk Classic: Dancing at the Fundamentalist Ball”

Saturday Ramblings 6.5.10

My, what a fun week it’s been here at the iMonk ranch. We have been busy little beavers, and have left quite a mess around the place. So if you will indulge us for a bit, we will gather up all of the loose bits and toss them in the box we call Saturday Ramblings.

We are all poorer today without John Wooden. Wooden, known as the “Wizard of Westwood” for his great UCLA men’s basketball teams, died last night at the age of 99. He was not just a great basketball coach, he was a great man. There are too few of them already. Now there is one less.

Rick Warren told those who attend his Saddleback Church in Southern California that there is no room in his church for fake Christians. The Christian Post reports that “during his weekend sermon, Warren laid out a plan for Saddleback’s next Decade of Destiny in which he’s anticipating exponential growth. And the plan has no room for fake Christians, he indicated.” Perhaps he will make Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality required reading.

One book we know Warren won’t be passing out to his congregation any time soon is his own forthcoming volume, The Hope You Need: From The Lord’s Prayer. His publisher, Zondervan, announced this week that it has been indefinitely delayed. You will just have to read Purpose Driven Life again until this book is released.

Continue reading “Saturday Ramblings 6.5.10”

IM Book Review: The “Radical” Approach: Missio Dei, or Wretched Urgency?

By Chaplain Mike

I both loved and was troubled by David Platt’s bold, clear book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. It’s an impressive first effort, but I have my concerns.

For starters, the author must be deemed a prodigy. I mean, the guy was in his mid-20’s when he was called to pastor The Church at Brook Hills, in Birmingham, AL, which now has over 4000 members! Platt has two undergraduate and three graduate degrees, has served as Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Expository Preaching and Apologetics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and as Staff Evangelist at Edgewater Baptist Church in New Orleans. Now he pastors a wealthy suburban megachurch. He’s 31.

Michael Spencer expressed appreciation for Platt’s words to a national meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention last year, calling him, “one of the young lions in the SBC who are changing the face of a denomination by dealing with the denominational idolatry that is our greatest problem.”

Continue reading “IM Book Review: The “Radical” Approach: Missio Dei, or Wretched Urgency?”

Done with Wings

By Chaplain Mike

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NRSV)

I think, and sometimes fear,
I may be done with wings.

Continue reading “Done with Wings”

Consider It All Joy

My family and I were missionaries in Kyrgyzstan for some years.  Our furloughs in America were busy and tiring.  We had to pack too frequently, try to keep the children sane, and say the same things a hundred times to people we’d mostly never see again.  The summer I’m thinking about was a particularly difficult one.

I was asked to speak to one more women’s group at a church that supported us.  They were lovely people.  They all wanted to know about my work overseas and my spiritual life.  Many of them presumed my spiritual life was triumphant – I was a missionary, after all.  I spoke about the struggles of Christians in Kyrgyzstan and the challenges of our work.  Afterwards they went around the circle and told what they thought about my message.

Again and again they spoke of joy – how joyful I seemed, and how joyful they felt listening to me.

Continue reading “Consider It All Joy”

The Silence Of God

Words are my primary love language. I learned that about myself when I was barely old enough to talk. Other children my age played with dolls and toy trucks; what comforted me most was a notebook and pencil. I couldn’t wait to learn to string words together into sentences and paragraphs and deep conversations. When I did, I never stopped. It’s how I tell people I love them. It’s how I tell God I love Him. Not surprisingly, I enjoy receiving love the same way.

As a new believer, I discovered that Christ is logos, the Word appearing in flesh, a revelation of God to communicate His unfathomable love for us. Astonishment filled me as I studied, memorized and meditated upon Scripture, His written words to beloved sons and daughters. But when He whispers a word of instruction or courage at just the right moment, I am overwhelmed with a fierce gratitude for that more rare and personal expression of His love.

So what am I to make of a prolonged silence from the One I love most?

Continue reading “The Silence Of God”

Open Mic: The Gulf Oil Disaster

By Chaplain Mike

Though I’ve made my opinions clear about “culture war” political machinations, I have also tried to say that Christians should care about public issues.

With that in mind, I’ve been waiting and watching for Christian spokespersons to weigh in about the Deepwater/BP oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico from a Christian perspective. I’ve wondered about the silence of the evangelical community. Perhaps I’ve missed some commentary, I don’t know.

At any rate, today, I found two articles:

I encourage the IM audience to read these responses and step up to the mic to discuss the whole matter of the Gulf disaster.

Are there ways to look at this crisis through “Jesus-shaped” eyes? What should characterize a distinctively Christian response to this tragedy?

It’s Here! (Part One)

The day many of us have been waiting for is here: Michael Spencer’s Mere Churchianity is now available as an eBook. Those of you who have eBook readers such as the Amazon Kindle, iPod Touch or iPad, Barnes and Noble Nook or Sony Reader can download Mere Churchianity as of today.

Download it now, get to reading, and let us know what you think!

For those who are still in the dark ages and are waiting for the paper version of the book, it will be available two weeks from today on June 15. However you want to read it, you need to read it. You won’t be disappointed.

Why I Am Not a “Culture-Warrior”

By Chaplain Mike

In anticipation of the release of Mere Churchianity, Michael Spencer’s book, we have been examining various issues that are affecting evangelicalism, particularly in America. Today, a brief response to the “culture war” mentality.

This past week, in our area we had the culmination of a big to-do about a high school graduation ceremony. The valedictorian had sued the school district in order to prevent his school from endorsing the use of a prayer in the graduation ceremony. The ACLU got involved. The court ruled in his favor. No school-endorsed prayer at graduation. The student in question was not an atheist, protesting the inclusion of religion, but a professing Christian who just happens to believe strongly as an American in a particular interpretation of separation of church and state.

It was classic culture war. As you can imagine, the local newspaper editor’s inbox overflowed. The story ran regularly on or near the front page for weeks, as well as in prominent spots on local news broadcasts. Both sides claimed that they represented what America is all about. Both sides also backed their views with quotes from the Bible. People were hoppin’ mad. Opponents were demonized. Some suggested the students should turn their backs to the podium when the valedictorian gave his speech. That didn’t happen, but some students did show their disdain by coughing loudly and laughing as he spoke. Others removed their graduation caps and bowed their heads as if in prayer. The class president thanked God and quoted a Bible verse in her speech as a form of rebuttal. The newspaper reported the reactions. We all woke up the next day and went about our business.

Just another day in the life of culture war middle America.

I live in one of the more conservative areas of the country. Listening to Rush Limbaugh and watching Fox News is just a part of everyday life for many of my friends and neighbors. When Christians go to church ’round here, they expect to hear the same perspective, from the Bible, of course.

However, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When it comes to the culture wars, I am a conscientious objector.

Continue reading “Why I Am Not a “Culture-Warrior””