By Chaplain Mike Headline from Christianity Today: “Multi-Site Churches Go Interstate.” Subject: Megachurches are now expanding beyond their localities and regions to other cities and states. Example: “Pastor Mark Driscoll’s megachurch [Seattle, WA] recently announced plans to expand into Portland, Oregon, and Orange County, California, using multi-site campuses that feature live bands and a sermon [...]
Distressing Disguise or Distraction?
14 Jun by
By Chaplain Mike It finally happened. A church asked Jesus to leave the sanctuary during a worship service because he was being a “distraction.” Jesus was attending Elevation Church in Matthews, NC in the distressing disguise of a little twelve year old boy with cerebral palsy named Jackson. Jackson excitedly got all dressed up for [...]
James MacDonald Needs a Business Meeting
13 Jun by
By Chaplain Mike James MacDonald and I both graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1988. He went on to become a successful pastor, author, and radio teacher. I went on to . . . well, let’s just say, a less illustrious career. So, I will leave it to you as to who has more [...]
The Crossroads
5 Jun by
Last month, at Easter, my family and I joined the Catholic Church. Each of us would phrase our reasons for doing so somewhat differently, but here are a few of mine. I offer them not to preach or gloat, just to share a decision faced by quite a few of us in the post-evangelical wilderness. [...]
Changing Churches
19 May by
I live in a city where changing churches is an art form. Those who have been in their same church for ten or more years are as rare as an Oklahoman who doesn’t like football (which is the unofficial state religion). They are as rare as an Arkansan with a full set of teeth. When [...]
Expecting Too Much
13 May by
By Chaplain Mike Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim. Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification. What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God. Just as the Christian should not be constantly [...]
A “Radical” Example
27 Apr by
By Chaplain Mike At his blog, and also at Resurgence, Justin Buzzard posted the following, called, “The Top 10 Reasons Why People Should Not Join Our Church Plant.” This was a talk he gave at an informational meeting for a new church he is starting in San Jose, California. I think it is a good example [...]
Rachel Held Evans on Evangelicalism’s Future
28 Mar by
By Chaplain Mike There is no doubt that Christianity is undergoing a sea change. The recent and ongoing rhubarb over Rob Bell is yet another example of evangelicalism’s identity crisis. In a few weeks, we here at Internet Monk will be reviewing Michael Spencer’s classic series of articles on, “The Coming Evangelical Collapse.” I encourage [...]
A Conference I Recommend
28 Mar by
By Chaplain Mike “…his reply has been, “My grace is enough for you: for where there is weakness, my power is shown the more completely.” Therefore, I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. I can even enjoy weaknesses, [...]
Open Mic: Why So Little “Impact”?
16 Mar by
By Chaplain Mike I am catching up with some books that I have wanted to read for some time. One is James Davidson Hunter’s, To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, a provocative look at how we understand and call Christians to participate in the church’s [...]
