{"id":1644,"date":"2010-04-06T10:04:35","date_gmt":"2010-04-06T16:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jesusneedsnewpr.net\/?p=1644"},"modified":"2011-05-03T17:03:11","modified_gmt":"2011-05-03T17:03:11","slug":"some-words-about-michael-spencer-the-internet-monk-1956-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesusneedsnewpr\/2010\/04\/some-words-about-michael-spencer-the-internet-monk-1956-2010.html","title":{"rendered":"Some words about Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk (1956-2010)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Michael Spencer is with God this morning. And my thoughts and prayers are with his dear family. I pray that the grace of God be with them in their sadness and loss.<\/p>\n

While I was familiar with Michael’s name and blog<\/a>, I only read it on occasion. I started to regret that the day I opened up the pages of a galley for Michael’s book (his first, I believe) Mere <\/em>Churchianity. <\/em><\/p>\n

One of the editors at Waterbrook Press asked me to read and possibly endorse the book. I agreed.<\/p>\n

By the end of Michael’s first chapter–one called When Church Signs Lie<\/em>–I felt as though I’d met a spiritual soul mate. As I continued to read, unaware at the time that Michael was fighting a vicious battle with cancer, I sat on my couch thinking about the day that I would one day meet Michael over a cup of coffee. I hoped to laugh with Michael, ask him questions, seek out some much needed wisdom for my own journey. Then, later that day I went to Michael’s site and learned of his condition and its severity.<\/p>\n

I’m very sad about Michael’s passing. I’m sad about not being able to meet him on this side.<\/p>\n

But I’m thankful that a portion of his legacy will continue to live through words.<\/p>\n

And the words he wrote for Mere Churchianity are powerful and healing…<\/p>\n

There hasn’t been a book like this in a very long time. For me, it’s been like reading some of the best of Brennan Manning, Anne Lamott, and Philip Yancey all rolled into one…<\/p>\n

I’ll write more about it soon…<\/p>\n

For now, I’m simply grateful to God and to Michael (as well as his family) for giving us the gift of his story, passion, and joy…<\/p>\n

I, for one, will keep reading.<\/p>\n

Purchase Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality<\/em> here.<\/a>\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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