By Chaplain Mike. Back in the early 1990’s a simple act of heroism caught the imagination of those who learned about it. On May 27, 1992, Vedran Smailovic, principal cellist for the city opera, was practicing his cello in an upstairs apartment in Sarajevo, in the former Yugoslavia. It was a time of war, andContinue reading “Making Music in Midst of Chaos”
Category Archives: Parable, Metaphor and Illustration
Classic iMonk: The Boat in the Backyard
A note from Chaplain Mike: We will be running some posts from the iMonk archives that deal with the subject of depression. This classic post that Michael Spencer wrote in 2004 tells the intimate story of a father’s depression and a boy who finally understands. When I was twelve years old, my father bought aContinue reading “Classic iMonk: The Boat in the Backyard”
Choose Joy
Today’s post is by Chaplain Mike. Tim Hansel was a strong, risk-taking, all-out-effort kind of guy. He climbed mountains and led wilderness expeditions. One day, on the way back to camp after climbing on the Palisade Glacier with friends, his foot slipped and he fell a long distance down into a crevasse, landing directly onContinue reading “Choose Joy”
The Pre-Schooler and the Pistol
Today’s post is by Chaplain Mike. Last year, here in Indianapolis, a four-year-old was taken by emergency personnel to the hospital with a gunshot wound. At first, it was not clear what had happened. The family told police the child had shot himself. The police weren’t sure that the preschooler was strong enough to haveContinue reading “The Pre-Schooler and the Pistol”
Who Is My Neighbor?
Chaplain Mike presents this original story, based on real events. Lee was a writer and photographer, the kind of person who drew strength and energy from being alone and working on her arts. She and Frank had been married twenty-four years; it was a second marriage for both of them, each having divorced from unhappyContinue reading “Who Is My Neighbor?”
Sin and Sickness
There was a pear tree close to our own vineyard, heavily laden with fruit, which was not tempting either for its color or for its flavor. Late one night — having prolonged our games in the streets until then, as our bad habit was — a group of young scoundrels, and I among them, wentContinue reading “Sin and Sickness”
A Picture of the Father’s Grace
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/video/videoplayer.swf A wonderful picture of the Father’s grace toward us. If you have been told that God is not like this, remember that in Jesus he is more like this than you could ever imagine. Let go forever of the scolding, punishing God who demands perfection. Embrace the Father who blesses us and delights inContinue reading “A Picture of the Father’s Grace”
A Note To Weed-Eaters
Some interesting discussion on “watchbloggers” on the blogosphere this week. The verdict is that we need them. I agree. A bit like weed-eaters. Our school has a student work program, and one of the most popular jobs is working on the yard crew. Our boys love to work with the tractors, mowers and weed-eaters. EspeciallyContinue reading “A Note To Weed-Eaters”
The Rose
Courtesy of Trevin Wax, but from a sermon by the inimitably wonderful Matt Chandler: Pastor Matt Chandler gave this illustration during his sermon at a recent Desiring God conference. I think this illustration powerfully communicates the difference between moralism and the Christian gospel. During my freshman year of college, I sat next to a 26-year-oldContinue reading “The Rose”
“It Was There, So I Ate It”
Philippians 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 TheyContinue reading ““It Was There, So I Ate It””
The Internet Monk Archives 