Category Archives: The Second Half of Life

Where have you gone, Thomas Merton?

This essay would be appreciated most by those who read my essay recounting my history of appreciating Roman Catholicism. Sadly, I could not write that essay today. I took an hour out of my time this afternoon and reread a large section of Thomas Merton’s outstanding spiritual biography, The Seven Storey Mountain. I was lookingContinue reading “Where have you gone, Thomas Merton?”

A Big Announcement

Went to the post office this morning (where Crazy For God and an Exodus Commentary by Peter Enns were waiting for me) and got my mail. Last letter in the stack was from the Louisville Institute. It opened with the usual “Thanks for applying…..400+ applicants….lots of deserving people….” And so on… And then the secondContinue reading “A Big Announcement”

Sanctification and the Only Child

Yesterday my wife told me that she wanted to make a suggestion on how I could be a better person. That’s a bit like shooting at a target the size of North Dakota, but she had a helpful, truthful criticism combined with some encouragement about a behavior I often overlook. Of course, my feelings wereContinue reading “Sanctification and the Only Child”

Repenting of The Wrong Kind of “Male Leadership”

Here’s the answer to the trivia question “What is the closest the iMonk came to becoming a Muslim?” In October of 1995, Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan sponsored what was called the “Million Man March” on the mall in Washington, D.C. While probably less than half a million men attended, the march wasContinue reading “Repenting of The Wrong Kind of “Male Leadership””

Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

UPDATE: 4:37 p.m. As good as promised….even with the out. Tomorrow is opening day in Cincinnati, in case you didn’t know. So here’s a baseball post. Sometime tomorrow afternoon, I’m going to tear up at a baseball game. It’s a certainty. I’m going to tear up because of a moment that is going to happenContinue reading “Tomorrow. Tomorrow.”

Fifty Things You Didn’t Know….and one outright lie

UPDATE: Blast you Kyle Potter! You’ve read this blog for 7 years. You’ve read my confessional essays. You’ve got the bio memorized. Your iPod has the podcast all the way back to episode 1. You’re confident you could pass any quiz on the life and times of the iMonk. You’re wrong. Welcome to fifty thingsContinue reading “Fifty Things You Didn’t Know….and one outright lie”

Thirty-Two Rooms and No Way Out: Adventures in Bookstore Claustrophobia

This post is an odd soup. Call it one part “Second Half of Life,” for just getting old and pathetic; one part “In The Study,” for the sermon idea I’ll get out of it; and one part “Parable, Metaphor and Illustration” for what you can do with it. Laugh at me, with me, and thenContinue reading “Thirty-Two Rooms and No Way Out: Adventures in Bookstore Claustrophobia”

Honor to Whom Honor Is Due: Dr. Timothy George

Dr. Timothy George gave a presentation at Union University last week called “Is Jesus A Baptist?” (It was renamed. Ignore the title.) The entire talk is a compelling and outstanding exploration of what Baptists are facing in the post-denominational age. The first part, which is autobiographical, is deeply touching and relevant to anyone who caresContinue reading “Honor to Whom Honor Is Due: Dr. Timothy George”

Thoughts For a Young Poet

That’s not Clay. Sorry. I have a son who is showing signs of being a poet. He may be a teacher or a writer, but as of today, his most evident gifts are poetic. Everyone who has read or heard his work has been impressed. I’m not exactly unbiased, but I’ve found some of hisContinue reading “Thoughts For a Young Poet”