Stations of the Cross: The First Station

A Series for Holy Week
Thanks to Jeff Dunn for leading us in these meditations

THE FIRST STATION
Jesus is condemned to die

Scripture
The governor asked, “Which of these two do you want me to pardon?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
“Then what shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?”
They all shouted, “Nail him to a cross!”
He objected, “But for what crime?”
But they yelled all the louder, “Nail him to a cross!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”
The crowd answered, “We’ll take the blame, we and our children after us.”

Matthew 27:21-25, The Message

Continue reading “Stations of the Cross: The First Station”

Bruce Waltke on Staying in the Discussion

Posted by Chaplain Mike.

Bruce Waltke is a renowned conservative Old Testament scholar. He served on the translation committees for the NASB and NIV Bibles. Waltke is a professor emeritus of Old Testament studies at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia and a former president of the Evangelical Theological Society. His commentary on Genesis is one of my favorites.Continue reading “Bruce Waltke on Staying in the Discussion”

Update on Prayer Beads Sale

By Chaplain Mike.

I think we’ve overwhelmed our dear friend Alan Creech. As of tonight, he has raised $1,444.75 $2,275.25 $2305.25 to help the Spencers with their needs! (This is the final tally.)

As Randy Jackson would say, “Dawg, that’s dope!”

Alan, you are the best. We will pray for an extra measure of finger strength as you tie those holy knots!

P.S. The sale is now over. Anyone contacting Alan to order for the iMonk sale will be encouraged to give to the Spencers directly. In addition, if you would like to help Alan by chipping in to help reduce his costs, feel free to contact him at his blog.

iMonk Update—3/23/10

Update from Denise Spencer, posted by Chaplain Mike.

There has been another change in Michael’s situation, and I would like readers to know so you can better pray for us.

At the encouragement of our oncologist, we have opted to discontinue treatment. He said the chemotherapy was not working, and it would actually be doing a disservice to Michael to continue. We are now receiving help from our local hospice. We know we are in good hands with them, and we are at peace that we have made the best decision under the circumstances.

Several people have already suggested various alternative treatments. While we appreciate their concern and helpfulness, we have discussed this possibility and Michael does not want to try anything else. Please pray for strength and acceptance, for trust in God, for minimal pain and for a peaceful passing.

“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Thank you, one and all, for your continued prayers.

Denise

Practice Resurrection, continued — On Grace and Works

By Chaplain Mike.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of the key passages Christians use when trying to help people understand that salvation is by God’s grace, a gift that we receive by faith without adding any good works of our own. When someone freely gives us a gift, it is of the essence of the exchange that we have not done anything to earn that gift. Nor when the gift is offered do we offer payment for it in return. That would insult the giver, who desires only to express his or her love by giving us something special to enjoy and have as our own.

Eugene Peterson renders these verses like this in his Message paraphrase:

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.

We usually stop at this point and encourage people to receive God’s gracious gift of salvation. Simply trust Jesus. Simply accept the gift by faith. Remember, it’s not about works, it’s about faith alone. Simply believe.

Except that we’ve not read the entire passage, for 2:8-9 are followed closely by 2:10. Again, here’s Peterson’s paraphrase:

He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Continue reading “Practice Resurrection, continued — On Grace and Works”

Update on Art Auction

Just notified by Michael Buckley that $200 has come in so far from the art auction for Michael and Denise. The auction ends tonight at 9pm, so check it out before it’s too late!

And thanks to all who have participated.

Even more thanks to Michael.

UPDATE— 11:00 PM, March 21

THANK YOU iMONK FRIENDS! You’ve raised $371 for the Spencers.

Nice job, everybody.

-Michael Buckley
Kansas City

While We’re on the Subject…

By Chaplain Mike.

Since we’ve been talking about eschatology, the end times, and Jesus’ return lately, we might as well take a look at one of America’s foremost prophetic prognosticators.

You’ve probably heard something about the enthusiasts who think a great catastrophe that might lead to the end of the world will happen in 2012, based on the Mayan calendar, ancient prophecies, and certain natural phenomena that are predicted for that year.

Not so! says Harold Camping, citing a complete lack of Biblical support for the date. Instead, Camping is convinced the rapture will take place on May 11, 2011, and the end of the world on October 21, 2011.Continue reading “While We’re on the Subject…”

Practice Resurrection, continued — Why I Love Eugene Peterson

Noted by Chaplain Mike.

I’ve been distracted lately from my reading of Eugene Peterson’s new book, Practice Resurrection, a conversation about spiritual maturity from Ephesians.

Tonight, I came back to it, and found this story. Sublime illustration.

Two friends, Fred and Cheryl, went to Haiti twenty-five years ago to pick up a child they had adopted. Addie was five years old. Her parents had been killed in a traffic accident that left her without a family. As she walked across the tarmac to board the plane, the tiny orphan reached up and slipped her hands into the hands of her new parents whom she had just met. Later they told us of this “birth” moment, how the innocent, fearless trust expressed in that physical act of grasping their hands seemed almost as miraculous as the times their two sons slipped out of the birth canal 15 and 13 years earlier.Continue reading “Practice Resurrection, continued — Why I Love Eugene Peterson”

iMonk Classic: Wilkerson Warns/iMonk Rants

From iMonk in March, 2009. Replayed by Chaplain Mike.

David Wilkerson (Cross and the Switchblade, Times Square Church) is predicting a world changing disaster, and advises that you dust off those cans of Spam you still have from Y2k. It’s getting serious coverage by the unhinged conservative media.

I wrote about Evangelical anxiety about the end of the world in the “Evangelical Anxieties” series in February of 07. Not only have I not changed my mind, I’m more bothered by this than ever.

If eschatology were a multiple choice question, with answers like this:

a) be Christ centered
b) proclaim the Gospel
c) do missions and evangelism
d) look forward to the new heaven and the new earth
e) be idiots

…guess what a large chunk of Evangelicalism would choose?

Continue reading “iMonk Classic: Wilkerson Warns/iMonk Rants”