By Chaplain Mike “Think of it this way. The program of our church is everything all the members are doing between Sundays. The church keeps house, goes to school, teaches, practices law, medicine and dentistry, runs business and industry, farms, works on construction jobs, researches in many fields, sits on school boards, city councils, countyContinue reading “Richard Halverson’s Vision”
Category Archives: Church
What Has Changed?
By Chaplain Mike Today, I want to have us simply compare two statements by pastors of large churches. The contrast between the two was, to me, striking. The first was made by Richard Halverson a long time ago. In his 1972 book, How I Changed My Thinking about the Church, Halverson, staff pastor in aContinue reading “What Has Changed?”
Programs Make Me Kranky
By Chaplain Mike For years, I spent a significant portion of my work life as a minister planning, creating, organizing, advertising, and presenting programs. For starters, each Sunday in our non-denominational church was a “program” of sorts. We approached the “worship” service in that way, at any rate. Our motive was to “make the mostContinue reading “Programs Make Me Kranky”
iMonk Classic: An Ideal Evangelicalism?
Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer From December 14, 2008 Note from CM: In the light of Michael Bell’s thought-provoking and discussion-inducing post of yesterday, I thought this classic Michael Spencer post could aid us in continuing the conversation. Somewhere in the previous orgy of comments I’ve had this week, someone asked me to writeContinue reading “iMonk Classic: An Ideal Evangelicalism?”
Escaping the Post-Evangelical Wilderness?
Michael Spencer wrote a post a couple of years ago entitled “Happy Enough Protestant“. It was his response to many inquiries as to why he did not convert to Roman Catholicism. While Michael was a “Happy Enough Protestant“, he was not a “Happy Enough Evangelical“. InternetMonk.com has been a window into why he was wanderingContinue reading “Escaping the Post-Evangelical Wilderness?”
3-D Christmas
By Chaplain Mike You just can’t stop technology. And apparently you can’t stop evangelicals from thinking that every new or improved technology that comes along should be used to “advance the Gospel.” And so we learn that Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas (Pastor Ed Young) will be offering 21 Christmas services in 3-D at theirContinue reading “3-D Christmas”
Open Mic: Two Big Votes in Washington
By Chaplain Mike Yesterday, the U.S. Congress held well-publicized votes on two controversial pieces of legislation: the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy in the military regarding homosexuality, the “DREAM Act” that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children. Though I normally don’t care toContinue reading “Open Mic: Two Big Votes in Washington”
Ajith Fernando on Pastoral Ministry
By Chaplain Mike In contrast to the “Disneyized” bigger, better, event and attraction oriented approach of much that we call “ministry” today, there are pastors who understand the importance of daily faithfulness, quiet consistency, regular personal interaction with those in their congregations, and ministry activities like pastoral visitation and encouraging people to fulfill their vocationsContinue reading “Ajith Fernando on Pastoral Ministry”
Peterson on Jesus as the Way
By Chaplain Mike Yesterday, in the light of our “Disney-ization” post, a friend reminded me of an interview Eugene Peterson did with Christianity Today’s Mark Galli back in 2005 called, “Spirituality for All the Wrong Reasons.” This discussion between two of my favorite writers examines the “Jesus way” of living the spiritual life vs. variousContinue reading “Peterson on Jesus as the Way”
Is There a Church There?
By Chaplain Mike Last week’s provocative bombing of Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea made us all feel a little more insecure, even as we read words about beating swords into plowshares on the first Sunday of Advent. Those who welcome the Prince of Peace at this time of year should be on the front linesContinue reading “Is There a Church There?”
The Internet Monk Archives 