By Chaplain Mike I had to take a couple of sick days this week. That’s unusual for me. Our entire family has been blessed with good health, and even the sicknesses we’ve had have not been serious. It becomes easy to take that for granted. Two years ago I had an experience that opened myContinue reading “Sick Days”
Category Archives: Exploration of the Self
It NEVER Helps
By Chaplain Mike …the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:20, NASB) In my experience, it never helps. Anger never improves a situation. Anger doesn’t work. Anger always make things worse. And anger has a multitude of unwanted consequences besides. Anger does not enable us to take forward steps inContinue reading “It NEVER Helps”
Surrendering To His Teeth
He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Psalm 91:15,16 NIV) It was turning out to be one of the hardest days in what was the hardestContinue reading “Surrendering To His Teeth”
Fear Not, Little Flock
By Chaplain Mike Last Sunday, my wife and I entered the side door of the old church building. The small entryway had a few steps that led up to two vintage oak doors. The one on the left led to the back corner of the sanctuary. Next to it, the right door led to anContinue reading “Fear Not, Little Flock”
The God of Second Chances
In the early 90s, when I was a fairly young seminary student, I was working on a paper for one of my New Testament Greek courses. I had gathered up all the commentaries and journal articles that I could find on the topic, and was starting to write my paper. While reading one journal article,Continue reading “The God of Second Chances”
One Last Gasp
A few nights ago, I passed through the room where my husband sat watching television. I stopped and stood mesmerized – gripped by the depiction of a woman drowning. It was so graphic that I had a sense of struggle within me as I saw her fight against the sea that wouldn’t let her surface.Continue reading “One Last Gasp”
iMonk Classic: Jesus, Mom and Michael
Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer Originally posted Oct 22, 2005 Note from Chaplain Mike: In the light of recent posts about life’s messiness and ministering to people with unimaginable stress from the problems they face, I was struck when I went back and read this profoundly insightful article Michael wrote about caring for hisContinue reading “iMonk Classic: Jesus, Mom and Michael”
Depression Is Selfish
Can someone tell me what a sign in front of a church means that reads “Depression is Selfish”? –from a Facebook post This was the “status update,” or whatever it is called, posted by a good friend of mine on his Facebook page the other day. At first I just wanted to chalk it upContinue reading “Depression Is Selfish”
The Life God Is In
By Chaplain Mike “…he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17.27, NLT) As I have talked with friends throughout this year, I’ve noted that we’ve been using a phrase regularly: “This is the life God is in.” OK, it could be better grammatically, but it’s punchy and makes a clear point.Continue reading “The Life God Is In”
Drought
By Chaplain Mike We haven’t had a good day of rain where I live for over two months. Our lawns are past turning brown. Now they are brittle, straw-like. Weeds provide the only green at ground level. They proliferate. Hardy, demonically so, they thrive where all that is desirable dies from thirst. Farmers are cleaningContinue reading “Drought”
The Internet Monk Archives 