Remembering Michael Spencer - Chaplain Mike & Jeff Dunn on SBE

Erik Guzman April 30th, 2010

Michael Spencer, aka The Internet Monk, was a uniquely honest, thoughtful and gifted communicator. We were fortunate to have him as a semi-regular on Steve Brown Etc. and one of our guest bloggers. Sadly, Michael died on April 5 after a four-month struggle with cancer. He was 53.

Join Chaplain Mike and Jeff Dunn from InternetMonk.com on SBE as we remember the iMonk and talk about his soon-to-be released book Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality.

Also, here� … (Read More)

Comments (6) | Trackback

Are We Worthless?

Michael Spencer October 12th, 2009

Neal, a Christian twenty-something struggling with his faith, says “I know I’m worthless and all that, and that Jesus died for me anyway.”

Skip the rest of the conversation. Go back to that word “worthless.” “I know I’m worthless…”

Stifle your desire to start an apologetics lecture or otherwise instruct Neal in how to be a great Christian.

Think with me: where did he get the idea that he is “worthless?”

Wait, is someone saying “Well….isn’t that sort of what we … (Read More)

Comments (2) | Trackback

The Happiness Taunt

Michael Spencer September 1st, 2009

About twice a year I’ll write something that will get publicized on the “atheist” side of the internet. Usually- not always- they like what I write and will head over to InternetMonk.com in large numbers to talk with Christians. (Right now, there’s a comment thread with well over 250 comments going over a piece I wrote about evangelical young people “de-converting” to atheism.)

These conversations do have a certain “re-runnish” quality to them. Same questions. Same arguments. Sam … (Read More)

Comments (0) | Trackback

Sometimes, I don’t like any of the answers.

Michael Spencer July 28th, 2009

Sometimes, I don't like any of the answers.

Let’s take the problem of suffering. My friend Glenda recently had a serious bleed-out in her brain. It looked for a while like she wasn’t going to make it. After a coma, two surgeries and some miraculous responses to treatment, she’s at a rehab center dealing with a relatively small amount of residual consequences.

This weekend at church, we were rejoicing in Glenda’s recovery. One person kept saying “Thank God for intervening.”

God i … (Read More)

Comments (8) | Trackback

Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here

Michael Spencer June 16th, 2009

OK Let’s get this out of the way early: I’m a Catholic-friendly guy.

I’m a major appreciator of most things Roman Catholic. Nothing you will be reading below changes that at all. OK? I love all of you. Benedict. My buddy Alan. Everyone in between.

So what’s up? I have a lot of friendly dialog with Roman Catholics. No one is really out to convert anyone else, though I do have 140+ emails telling me I need to join the RCC. My Catholic friends and I have a friendly ongoing debate. No one … (Read More)

Comments (3) | Trackback

Grace is As Dangerous As Ever: A Meditation on John 8

Michael Spencer May 12th, 2009

This meditation on John 8 was posted at Internet Monk.com in May of 2007. In these days when Christians are rethinking the "Culture War," it's especially relevant for us to consider how Jesus interacted with the "culture warriors" of his time.

The last few weeks of my men’s morning Bible study has been about “Texts That Will Get You In Trouble,” and we spent two sessions on John 8, and Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go … (Read More)

Comments (3) | Trackback