Comments on: Dear Internet Monk Readers…

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:27:00 +0000

Michael,
Blessings on your journey. Whatever forum you choose to continue to write we will be encouraged and discontented for good measure.

Peace.

By: John

John — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:04:54 +0000

I have read, commented, and lurked. I agree with much of what you say, but I must add my voice one last time. The entire evangelical world is not tainted. The entire older church was not pure. Each contains both good and the not so good. I am not accusing you of “painting them all with one broad brush”, but it seems that many of your readers do that very thing. That, in my opinion, is wrong. To anyone who would revile me for that comment, save your vitriol, since I won’t be returning here anymore, it would be a waste of your time.

Personally, although I will miss reading your posts, I believe with your recent revelations about your life, maybe it would be a good thing for you to “start anew” as it were.

Peace.

By: AT Chaffee

AT Chaffee — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:47:47 +0000

IM,

I am a devotee of your blog, am glad it will be archived, and look forward to seeing what you will write now. God bless your ministry and thank you.

Will there be blogs in Heaven?

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:10:31 +0000

I also held me breath and my heart sunk when I started to read you were going to discontinue this blog that has meant so much to me. But in reading further I did completely understand your reasons and I am very excited for you to start your new venture.

God bless you on your sabbatical and may God clearly lead you in the direction he can best use you.

Looking forward to seeing what comes next for Michael Spencer.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:52:20 +0000

Michael

My internet life is quite simple these days. I manage through visiting a football site theworldgame.com.au (round ball football!) and internetmonk. While I am a football tragic it is IM that has helped me more than I can say.

My relationship with the institutionalised church is tenuous at best. I can honestly say that IM has been my lifeline to Jesus. At this point in my life hanging on to Jesus is all I have and even then its just the hem of his garment at best. Your site has kept me close to reality and for that I thank you.

Its funny but suddenly I realise the extent I have come to rely on your site (yes yes I know I need to be relying on Jesus yadda yadda but God uses all kind of things in our daily work to show us his son). Maybe its time to begin a journey less reliant on a daily dose of your honesty and searching and more on a Jesus shaped spirituality.

Any ay thanks. Am really going to miss internetmonk. Is there a virtual resting place for dearly departed blogs?

Adrian

By: Wilson

Wilson — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:32:24 +0000

I literally hold my breath in horror. *sighs* Your blog was the first blog I ever read. The only Christian blog I read daily. At the time my notion of Christianity shaken to the core, your blog gave me balance. I have no spiritual home in my own community – Muslim surrounding- ; your blog is the place to go to find some solace.
I usually don’t post comments. I posted a comment once a while ago. I feel the need to comment to say thank you for your ministry all these times. A huge humungous Thank You.
I wish you all the best in your new direction and I will look forward to your new site.

By: steve martin

steve martin — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:25:42 +0000

Now wait just a dog-gone minute!

If you go, then who the heck are we gonna discuss Law and Gospel issues with!?

This is one wacky Lutheran who would miss you very much.

Thank you very muchly!

– Steve Martin

By: eitheror

eitheror — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:31:17 +0000

thanks for a great site. it has meant a lot to me, my wife, and my community of lost post-evangelicals. we left a church about 5 years ago after a painful and disillusioning experience with a church. particularly the existential moments in your writing have been a balm on some wounds for me.

By: The Guy From Knoxville

The Guy From Knoxville — Sun, 18 May 2008 00:40:51 +0000

May 17, 2008

Michael,

I want to be among the many to thank you for the
IM blog and I don’t have words to express what all
of your writing, your wisdom, your insight and knowledge
have ment to me since I found this site about three
years ago and quite honestly, it has been the one
thing that has challenged me in every aspect of my
christian walk – especially as related to evangelicals
and their churches – I are one – SBC born and raised
but realizing that there’s so much more than SBC and
more than evangelicalism out there.

Thanks for putting the challenge before all of your
readers to have a closer walk with Christ to move
towards a Jesus shaped spirituality – Jesus as the center of our lives – of all we do. I hope that, perhaps, you can continue here but I also understand
the need make a change at this time and I look forward
to the new blog as well and look forward to more
excellent writing and insight into a Jesus shaped
spirituality.

My best to you on your sabbatical – hope it’s a truly
wonderful time of rest and renewal and I look forward
to having you back fresh, rested and focused. Hope
to meet you sometime – I find myself near the area on
occasion with the pipe organ work and will send you
a note sometime when I’m going to be close enough to
stop in.

Peace to you – and my thanks again!

The Guy from Knoxville

By: iMonk

iMonk — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:24:48 +0000

A post evangelical is someone sorting through the evangelical circus with the resources of the larger, deeper, older church as his/her guide.

Can I go now?