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“My theology is simply what I read in the Bible.”
Sure it is.
“What I believe and practice is simply what the Bible teaches and nothing else.”
Of course. What else could be simpler?
I’m sure several of you won’t be surprised at all to learn that I meet with a pastoral counselor on a regular basis. It’s one […]

A friend of mine recently said, “It sure seems that you’ve gone through a lot of phases during your time as a blogger.”
I’m sure it seems that way, but most of that is an illusion of the blogging life. The people around me wouldn’t have any major change in my beliefs to report since I […]

Mark Galli: Beyond Smells and Bells: The Wonder and Power of Christian Liturgy
Well….just go buy this book. I know you plan on buying some other book about things you already know, but you need this book, because it’s absolutely a 512 foot home run on the subject of liturgy in worship, and you know how […]

Baseball fans: what are some of your thoughts and feelings as the new season begins? Best memories? Ironies? Tragedies?
Tomorrow at 1:05 EST, the Cincinnati Reds will take the field against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida.
The long, dark winter of the soul will be over here in the Spencer household.
My life runs on three calendars. […]

It’s your Internet Monk and friend Dave, playing Presbyterians two weeks ago at First Presbyterian Church, London, Kentucky. I’ll be there again this Sunday.

UPDATE: I’ve written several things convincing myself to stay. Here’s one of my favorites: Thomas Merton and the Greener Grass That Wasn’t.
UPDATE II: Here’s another one: When Loving You is Killing Me.

I suppose every person in ministry is strongly tempted to quit from time to time. Not quit as in “send out a resume, start […]

It is the tradition of this web site to hear my confessions, my struggles and my emotions. “Confessional” blogging on my part has touched hundreds of readers and convinced one or two that I am unfit to be in the ministry or even a professing Christian. So be it. This is what’s set on my […]

UPDATE:: John H at Confessing Evangelical is the first one in the pool. Jeremy Bouma at Novus Lumen joins in as well. Alan Creech comes through with a Catholic Bible.
UPDATE II: Here is the exact Bible I used. (Pictures at the bottom.)

I wonder if any bloggers out there would like to devote a post (and […]

I don’t take many opportunities to write extended descriptions of the ministry where I serve. There are several reasons for that. I don’t want to involve my ministry in any of the controversies that might be part of this blog. But I hear people talk about their churches all day long, and I have a […]

UPDATE II: Ok. Plunge on ahead.
UPDATE: A number of memorable comments have appeared today, but none more entertaining than this one.
Really, it would be best to stop blogging. It’s the end of the road. Decision time. Carl’s devastating “fisk” has caused an eruption of cognitive dissonance. Deep down, you know the truth, but it’s too […]

UPDATE: Carl Olson fisks this post. Just in case anyone missed it, I’m not trying to talk you people out of your Catholicism or tell you I’m glad I’m not a Catholic. James White’s blog is elsewhere. Comments are closed on this post. Mr. Olson can provide you the space to discuss this one, and […]

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is […]

Every time I feel like I have lost my way in the Christian life, I find myself back looking at monasticism, and the lessons I learned in two decades of reading Thomas Merton.
I’m not attracted to Catholicism, but I am very much attracted to the tradition of self-conscious, disciplined spiritual formation into a disciple of […]

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 things you (probably) didn’t […]

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 cares […]