iMonk 101: The Magnificent Young Men and Their Pastoring Machines (Revisited)

Our wayback machine today takes us to the first year of Internet Monk.com, where you’ll find a lengthy essay called “Those Magnificent Young Men and Their Pastoring Machines.” (Excuse the spelling errors. No proofreading in the old days.) It’s my original rant about what was happening to the practice of the pastorate at the time. I could have hardly imagined where we’d be today. (Warning: this was written almost 8 years ago, when I was a self-identified Calvinist in the ranks of the SBC. I am NOT a Calvinist today, but little has changed in my view of what it means to be a pastor.)Continue reading “iMonk 101: The Magnificent Young Men and Their Pastoring Machines (Revisited)”

The Internet Monk Resolutions for 2009

Reading all these spiritual resolutions all day has made me feel so ashamed of myself. I need to set better goals.

So I may be a little late, but here they are: The Internet Monk’s 2009 Resolutions. (In your face, Jonathan Edwards.) I hope they inspire you.

1. I really need to stop stubbing my toe on the kitchen chairs. Anyone have any ideas?Continue reading “The Internet Monk Resolutions for 2009”

Denise Day Spencer: It’s OK to Pretend + Chaplain Mike’s Journey

My wife, Denise, is a great writer. Her blog isn’t updated as often as this one, but when it is, it’s worth it.

If you are a lover of animals, then get a kleenex and read her latest narrative.

If you folks will encourage Denise, maybe we can get her to write more. I’d especially like to get her poems up here more often.

Read: It’s OK To Pretend

You also want to check out a series of posts on the spiritual journey of frequent IM commenter Chaplain Mike. You’ll find those posts at his blog.

Bonhoeffer and Making the Best Use of Everything

I generally enjoy the Kindlings Muse podcast from Dick Staub, but the episode I listened to today was especially good. It was a full introduction to the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and martyr. This presentation was done by the outstanding Presbyterian preacher and author, Earl Palmer. (What a great blessing Earl Palmer has been to my life. Get all his books that you can still find.)

Bonhoeffer has been an influence on my life since high school. His Letters and Papers from Prison was the only theological book my parents ever bought for me: Christmas 1976. His provocative and elegant writing give a beautiful witness to a man who developed a wonderful theological mind, was not afraid to move forward to the unknown in his journey with God and taught all Christians of our time to be faithful to Jesus in the midst of the claims of the “powers” of this world, even unto death.Continue reading “Bonhoeffer and Making the Best Use of Everything”

A Time To Run Away and Look Back: Frank Schaeffer’s Calvin Becker Trilogy Considered

UPDATE: Here’s my review of Crazy For God.

I’ve been reading quite a few novels and autobiographies. Some of you need to shut off the theology and read something else. Maybe read Calvin’s Institutes for a year or something.

That was joke. Anyway…

I just finished Frank Schaeffer’s Calvin Becker Trilogy. (I talked about them a bit on the last podcast.) This includes Portofino, Zermatt, and Saving Grandma. All are available cheaply in used copies.

I won’t rehash the books for you beyond this: Schaeffer turned his adolescent life into three novels about a teenager boy being brought up by Presbyterian missionaries in Switzerland. The whole family is there, and so are all the typical issues of a 13, 14 and 15 year old boy. If you are looking for a mixture of absurdity, comedy and honesty about growing up fundamentalist, these are your books. Calvin Becker is as good a narrator as Huck Finn. If you’re an evangelical with roots in the last 40 years of evangelicalism, you are going to laugh, cry, get angry, throw the books, be amazed, pray, applaud and generally have a good time.Continue reading “A Time To Run Away and Look Back: Frank Schaeffer’s Calvin Becker Trilogy Considered”

Good-bye to 2008

Well 2008, here we are. The dance is almost over and it’s very nearly time for you to go.

We’ve been together for 12 months now, and there’s something I want to say before we go our separate ways. Something special, just for you.

2008…..I know you’re just a way of marking time, and I know there’s nothing all that personal between us. You didn’t know what the year was going to be like. It was as big a surprise to you as it was to me. The writing from day to day wasn’t there when we first met. It unfolded, a day at a time, for you just like it did for me.

But there is something I want to say, and I’m searching for the right words.Continue reading “Good-bye to 2008”

Just Beyond The 100th Time

Dedicated to all of you on the same journey. Keep faith and keep going. You’re not alone.

It’s time for one of your favorite programs here at Internet Monk.com: “Secret, Terrible, Unspoken Thoughts…REVEALED!”

Today’s secret thought was uttered by a commenter in a recent discussion thread, but it’s the kind of terrible thought that lurks in the minds of many of you reading this post. What terrible, shameful, embarrassing secret thought am I referring to?

Frankly, I’m to the point where there isn’t that much a pastor/teacher is going to be able to say that I haven’t heard 100 times already.

I know, I know. Shameful. Can you believe there are people like that out there? Someone call the watchbloggers.

Well…..I’ve thought about his kind of statement a lot. I preach about 10-12 times a month, and have preached as often as 20 times a month at my current ministry. I’ve listened to thousands of hours of sermons on tape, mp3, cd. I’ve read sermons- thousands of them. I’m on both sides of the comment, both criminal and consumer.Continue reading “Just Beyond The 100th Time”

iMonk 101: Mainlines….We’re Having A Moment Here

I wrote this piece in July of ’07. It garnered 70 comments and some grousy updates on my part. (You can read the original here.)

I’m reprinting the post with a clear comment thread because I feel the sentiment I expressed in this piece is even more true now than ever: there are thousands of evangelicals who would give a serious look at mainline churches, traditional worship and the riches of Protestant heritage IF some good brothers and sisters could recognize our journey and meet us somewhere halfway along the path.

It seems that at the moment there is the most interest in the broader, deeper more serious heritage of Protestantism and a growing discontent with worshiptainment, there is a strong prejudice against evangelicals within those communities that could reach out to them. Evangelicalism needs what Protestantism has always done right…..at least in those places where they still remember what was right all along.

Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Anglicans….Continue reading “iMonk 101: Mainlines….We’re Having A Moment Here”

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #122

podcast_logo.gifNew Year. Review of the Becker Trilogy.

NOTE: Some may have downloaded a shortened version. Cut out at 16. You missed 4 minutes.

Our sponsors are: New Reformation Press. Order your copy of the Treasury of Daily Prayer from NRP. And do it soon.

Zaccheus Press– Fine Catholic Books, including Priestblock 25487.

Lawrence Feingold’s Lectures. I recommend those in sections 3 (esp on the four Marks of the church) and 1.

Want to be an IM advertiser? Want almost 400,000+ unique visitors with close to 4.5 million page views so far this year to see your ad on the sidebar? IM has the most diverse readership in the blogosphere. Contact me if you are interested. Rates available on request.