I’ve been reading a used copy of a book edited by Christopher Hitchens called The Portable Atheist. Hitchens has selected, edited and introduced 47 various selections from atheist authors, philosophers, writers, journalists and so on. They bring forward a diverse variety of discussions of unbelief in a variety of formats: essays, novels, interviews, book excerpts,Continue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: The Portable Christian”
Category Archives: Open Thread
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Who Wants All That Music?
UPDATE: Please post on the question ONLY. Do not use this to complain about styles of music. Catholics, etc can go have a coffee. This is for evangelicals and others to whom it applies. Here’s my question: “Who wants 30-40+ minutes of music in worship? Who? Why? I mean…explain this to me. I seriously doContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Who Wants All That Music?”
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Lectionary Lesson Blahs
Mark 10:46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!†48 “BeContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Lectionary Lesson Blahs”
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Miracle Testimonies
Testimonies about miracles. I’m not much on them. At least once a year or so, I’ll have someone want to tell our ministry of mostly non-Christian kids a “miracle” testimony of being healed, delivered from drugs, saved from prison, etc. I obviously don’t say “no,” but I really struggle with this kind of thing onContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Miracle Testimonies”
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: That Not Exactly Married Couple….
Here’s today’s HYPOTHETICAL topic. A very common situation. A couple asks to join your church. Well…..a non-married, living together 5 years, parenting 2 of her kids couple asks to join your church. They aren’t married because, basically, of not wanting to lose substantial child support. When that runs out next year, they tell you theyContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: That Not Exactly Married Couple….”
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Preaching is….Preaching is not.
It’s a simple question for this edition of open mic. Preaching is ________________. And/Or Preaching is not ________________. Don’t write a novel or even a short story. Keep it compact and to the point. I especially hope that this open mic question will involve as many non-preachers as possible. Preachers might not know everything thereContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Preaching is….Preaching is not.”
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Anyone Willing To Complain About the ESV?
UPDATE II: McKnight on Translation Tribalism. UPDATE: Why the LCMS choose the ESV. I doubt that it was the Piper endorsement. I have this nagging feeling that the English Standard Version isn’t as good a translation as I’ve previously thought. My experience with the NLT has me in major regrets that I’ve got my studentsContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: Anyone Willing To Complain About the ESV?”
Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: What Would You Say to the Marilyn Manson Audience?
First read the story of Christian protestors at a Marilyn Manson concert. (Slow…be patient) Then, savor the irony: If you read Manson’s biography, he’s the product of Christian parenting and fundamentalist education. Marilyn Manson was born as Brian Hugh Warner in Canton, Ohio, the son of Barb Wyer and Hugh Jack Warner. His father wasContinue reading “Open Mic at the iMonk Cafe: What Would You Say to the Marilyn Manson Audience?”
With all due respect….
UPDATE: Piper “clarifies” his tornado comments by referring to his bout with prostate cancer. The message of every event is repentance: “That is the message of every calamity (Luke 13:1-5). And every sunny day (Romans 2:4).” It seems to me we are simply not going to get past the issue of how we can say,Continue reading “With all due respect….”
Open Mic At The iMonk Cafe: The Falwell/Robertson Room Has A New Act
UPDATE: Greg Boyd on Piper’s tornado. BTW, my commendations on excellent behavior by all in the comment thread. UPDATE: From long, but right on point: The Islamization of Christianty by Udo Middleman. UPDATE: Some of my own thoughts on the ’04 Tsunami. Also, Halden Doerge: Why John Piper is Dangerous. I first caught the attentionContinue reading “Open Mic At The iMonk Cafe: The Falwell/Robertson Room Has A New Act”
The Internet Monk Archives 