I am a friend of God, loved fully and loving partially, refracted Light in the prism of life. I’m a wannabe mystic and prophet, husband and father, lover and friend. I’m part of an intentional community in the Southeast US of A. I live here with my wife, Jasmin and little girl, Jubilee Grace.
Vocationally, I’m a journalist and publishing consultant. This stems out of my love for reading–everything from nonfiction spirituality and history and current events, magic realist novels, science fiction, and comic books. Especially comic books. As well as my love for writing, in many of the same genres and mediums. On odd days and leap years I’m an editor with TheOoze.com, emerging churches coordinator with the contemporary abolitionist Not For Sale Campaign, and librarian for what is arguably the web’s most extensive (at 6,000 links and counting!) alt.Christian web directory, zoecarnate.com
I’m also enrolled in the Masters in Strategic Foresight program under futurist and program director Jay Gary. This is made possible by the generosity of the school as well as Presence, an eschatologically adventurous think tank and activist cell living visions of a new reality. Together we’re helping mine creative futures for a world chock-full of the divine.
Thank you for reading. For more see this. Drop me a line and say hello.
Welcome to the blogosphere and congrats on the new baby. It’s interesting that you live in an intentional community. My wife and I are in the very midst of forming an intentional, missional community in Brooklyn, New York. You can check out our “bootleg” Web site at http://www.radicalnyc.com. Sounds like you are doing some interesting work. I look forward to reading more posts.
Peace & Grace!
Jason
http://www.morefire.wordpress.com
Hi, Mike!
I was following links to my site and found one you had almost certainly made by accident… it’s in a script tag in the HEAD section of your page. Check line 15 in your source code… pretty sure you don’t want that there!
Anyway, peace and blessings to you!
Mike, I found you because of my interest in N.T. Wright. Heard him at a conference a few years ago. Seems a bit incongruous that the good Bishop of a fairly well- established outfit would associate with “alternative church” types, except that he seems to “get” what we’re supposed to be about. Hey, if he’s in, Soularize me.
Peace,
Mike
i just realized i suck and never emailed you back at my gmail accounts. then i stumbled across your new blog.
so it’s my rss. hopefully i won’t be as big of a rude stranger now.
if you ever need to email me. use josh at redcowboydesigns.com
i never check email at gmail. and worse yet . . . i’m just not good at doing it anyway.
Hey Mike, I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that the link to your “intentional house church community” isn’t working. I was really hoping to check it out! Much love…
Hello Mike –
I hapened across your post about Pagan Christianity and was caught by te fact that you straddle both the house church and Emergent worlds. I don’t know that I’ve found anyone else yet who’s in that place, though I’m sure they’re out there. For myself, I feel like an eccentric in three spheres: HC, Emergent and denominational (ELCA Lutheran). I’d have one foot in each camp if I only had three feet. So on the one hand I feel like I don’t “fit” anywhere, but on the other I’m very excited by what I see as a “sweet spot” at the intersection of these worlds.
Anyway, just wanted to say hello to another hybrid believer.
Blessings!
Tim
great!!!! well…happy halloween!
thanks for writers and reader of your kind!! impatienty……
Thanks for stopping by my site!
Hey Mike,
Are you a super hero comic man? DC or Marvel? Do you like comic book movies and figures. I am kind of an obsessive compulsive about collecting super hero figures.
Any way, hope I can find my way back here to find out!
what is an opti-mystic friend of Jesus?
It’s a Christian…maybe. Or maybe have that monicker worn too deeply into our mental categories so that it’s shorthand for something meaningless to faithful and infidel alike, eh?
So etymologically:
opti-mystic
The first being optimistic as opposed to pessimistic; the glass of God’s grace is overflowing. Rooted in fulfilled eschatological hope.
mystic being (for my purposes) one who lives by the life of Another; animated by Holy Spirit and a God within, around, and permeating all existence.
friend listener, loyal, confidant. Willing to throw ones lot in with. Not a servant, but not someone who disregards service.
of Jesus What is there to say about this man, this anointed one? Palestinian revolutionary peasant. Harbinger of God’s Renewed Order. Emmanuel–God with us, the government resting upon his shoulders. State-sponsored torture victim. Second person of the Trinity. Bearer of Father’s true disposition for humanity and the cosmos.
You dig?
Oh, and Michael–I like DC and Marvel, as well as many independents, like Flaming Carrot. Comics rule! (I say through my pocket protector)
Hi
I find your site interesting and openminded to the issue of Christianity and I wonder if you would be interested in the work I am doing with Jesus.
I am offering a Christ of understanding to all those who read my book A Pathway Through Jesus and it brings an alternative way for all who read it. The book is a compilation of his channelled writings from 2007, relating to life in the 21st century.
Have a look at http://www.godworldwide.com and see what you think. I am already taking his word forward in seminars. I find people need simple explanations about God, their soul, living spiritually. The church often fails to answer that so Jesus is answering in this way. I believe in putting spirituality into action and not just talking about it. What do you think.
Love and blessings
Frances Munro
O’ Brother!
Frances,
People need Christ-centered preaching and to experience Jesus in elements such as bread, wine and water. This is known as Word and Sacrament.
S2C
Thanks so much for your thoughts and writings on some tough subjects…
I’ve been looking into more of the ‘emergent church’ stuff and have found it to be really interesting. I am currently reading ‘why we’re not emergent’ and it has completely fascinated me.
Again, thanks for your thoughts and I look forward to reading more of your stuff and welcoming any recommendations that you may have as far as good books/articles go….
Being Washed In His Grace,
-Olivia
It amazes me how complcated yet totally simple the Christian walk can be. I was a follower of Christ through my own search for God, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Calvary Chapel, Master’s Collage, Biola. I am now 55 and I am no futher or distant from Christ than went I first began. I just know more stuff. The fileing of it is horendus, in my mind. Yet at the end of the day my prayer is, ” Help me Lord to see you and know you better”. I am so sick christians claiming to be “light”. I hope we can alway discuss our journey as but a stich in the tapistry GOD is making with our lives. Thank mike for your honesty and search for the truth with-in.
Mike-
You are now officially on my blogroll. I am totally enjoying your blog and seeing the different reactions to your conversations with john crowder. (i happen to love John very much haha)
I also love comics! YAY!
=D
Mike- Greetings from Sudan… just wanted to stop in and say I love your heart and your description of who you are… thanks for paying the price to have eyes to see. Our 80 children send their love… Michele
Wonderful work, Mike! Glad just to share the same Web with ya!
Two favors to ask, if it’s not too much trouble- I’d love to get added to your blogroll here, and, second, could you see about fixing my name on the zoecarnate.com site? About half way down the page it has me as Robert Easton. Rob Easton is an Anglican priest who has my respect, but the Lord has seen fit to grace me with the name, Easter, which can be useful.
Blessings abounding on the whole lot of ya!
Hi Mike:
Hey, thanks for the kind review of my book Holy Fools. By the way, my wife doesn’t have a Blog either so that actually makes four New Yorkers who don’t have a Blog. Gosh, I know, as my kids keep reminding me, I am so out of touch. I’m such a neo-Luddite. But there is hope for my redemption: the Blog will be launched soon. I also just finished a small group study guide for Holy Fools which I’d be happy to send to you. And as soon as I get the Blog up and running, I’ll let you know about it.
I loved your site. It’s definitely consistent with holy folly: provacative, disruptive, intriguing, challenging and brimming with Jesus. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Matt Woodley
Hi Mike-
Thanks for the nice review!
Roger Flyer
Hello brother in christ ” we love to see your beautufull site and read about your testmoney its glory to GOD wonderful work . if you able please visit my site and pray for our ministry
GOD bless you
Rev.srikanth
Hi Michael,
I operate a website and blog dedicated to some alternative Christian viewpoints on the whole “Abstinence Until Marriage” concept. I’m a 40 year old Christian man who has never been married so you KNOW I have look at this issue in horrifying detail…lol.
Anyway check out my site and blog if you get a chance. I point out the things Fundamentalist churches will never tell you about premarital sex within the Bible. I do try to have a sense of humor about the issue as well.
-The Scott
Mike,
‘Hope you’ll take a click on our “weekly webzine for the global church.” It’s all free, all the time, to all readers. And free of all advertisment.
Every Monday morning we publish an essay based on the lectionary, a book review, film review, and some poetry. Once a month a buddy tosses in a music review.
Wd appreciate any help in sharing it with anyone and everyone.
dan clendenin, phd
palo alto, ca
Thanks for the interest. An Evangelical.
Hello Mike,
Found Zoecarnate behind The Shack. Interesting!!
Thanks for the site.
DL
Hi Mike, came across your blog through Mr. Tweet! Looking forward to learning from you. I like Ooze, btw.
Hey Mike, I’d love to get a copy of the book to you! Email me at susan at susanisaacs dot net. I’ll set you up with Kelly Hughes (dechant hughes) or Shanon Stowe (hachette book group)