Rest in Peace, My Friend Michael Spencer, 1956-2010

update on my friend, michael spencer

I received this update from Denise Spencer about her husband and my friend Michael (the Internet Monk):

It is with a heavy heart that I bring my latest update on Michael. We have learned that his cancer is too advanced and too aggressive to expect any sort of remission. Our oncologist estimates that with continued treatment Michael most likely has somewhere between six months and a year to live. This is not really a surprise to us, though it is certainly horrible news. From the very beginning, both of us have suspected that this would prove to be an extremely bad situation. I don't know why; perhaps God was preparing us for the worst all along by giving us that intuition.

The combination of the cancer and the chemotherapy is keeping Michael in a very weakened state. He is in bed all day, getting up once or twice only to eat a "meal." His meals consist mostly of Ensure, with occasional mugs of soup, dishes of ice cream and milkshakes. He's still taking fluids well, currently preferring Sprite and ginger ale. His tastes do change slightly from time to time, and I try to be ready to jump in whatever direction they seem to be moving. He is in no pain at all, for which I am unspeakably grateful.

Michael went through a period of depression, as I'm sure you would expect. He seems to have come through that now, for the most part. He knows he is dying, and he says he is at peace. Though he will still say with unashamed honesty, "I don't want it to all be over at age 53!" he has the confidence of knowing that he has run the race God set out for him. He believes he has done the work our Lord intended for him to do, and if the last task God has for him in this life is dying, then he will do that to the best of his ability.

Through all of this, in every phase of illness, diagnosis and treatment, Michael's faith has not wavered. I know most readers love Michael for, among other things, the transparency of his writings. If I may be allowed such honesty for just a moment, I will confess that I have been amazed at how strong Michael has been spiritually and emotionally from the very beginning of this ghastly journey. Day by day I continue to see the Holy Spirit at work in him, molding him, softening him, giving him a more childlike faith than I believe he has ever known. When the moment comes, I am assured Michael will be ready. I am the one who doesn't want to let go.

Words can never express our gratitude for every thought, every gift, every note, every prayer you have blessed us with. Please pray for continued peace and strength for Michael, for me, and for Noel and Clay. This is the most difficult thing we have ever been through, and only with God's help can we make it.


michael has been a unique and extraordinary voice for the christian community for many years now. if you have not read his writings, i encourage you to go to internet monk and peruse the archives. you will be encouraged.

and as god brings him to mind, pray for peace for michael and his family.


today's van gogh
the end of the day (after millet)
november, 1889

available now for pre-order

michael spencer, aka "imonk," has written a book, and now the publisher and amazon.com has posted it for pre-sale. 

it will be available to purchase in september, 2010. 

i am convinced this will be one of the best books of the year, filled with insightful commentary on the impoverished state of american evangelicalism and wise counsel for better ways forward.

i encourage you to pre-order it today!

praying for the imonk...

good friend michael spencer begins radiation treatments today at the markey cancer center in lexington, ky.

michael, aka "the internet monk," was diagnosed with colorectal cancer recently and had a brain tumor removed. today he returns to the cancer center to begin follow-up treatments.

you can read michael's latest update on his condition here.

please pray for michael and denise and their children at this time. and lift up all who feel the burden of his illness—friends, co-workers at their ministry, and those who have come to appreciate michael's "voice of sanity in the midst of the evangelical wilderness".

o god, 
the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers:

mercifully accept our prayers, 
and grant to your servant michael 
the help of your power, 
that his sickness may be turned into health, 
and our sorrow into joy; 

through jesus christ our lord.  amen. (bcp)

today's van gogh
old man in sorrow (on the threshold of eternity), 1890

for awhile...visit internet monk

i'm trying to help my friend, michael spencer, aka the internet monk, as he goes through some health problems and consequent adjustments in his work.

so, i won't be posting as much here on "weak on sanctification" for awhile.

i will continue the sunday posts so that we can all keep up with the church year together, but will not add much more until it becomes clear that michael is back for good.

thanks for your interest in the blog. you can still read what i write...you'll just have to go to the internet monk site to find it.

see you there!

praying for friends who are sick...

for those of you who might be interested...

i am guest-blogging at internetmonk while my friend michael spencer deals with some personal health concerns.

i know he and his loved ones would appreciate it if you would mention his name in prayer to our lord for help in his time of need.


here is a wonderful petition from the book of common prayer that we can pray for those who are suffering sickness:

O God of heavenly powers, by the might of your command you drive away from our bodies all sickness and all infirmity: Be present in your goodness with your servant ______ , that his weakness may be banished and his strength restored; and that, his health being renewed, he may bless your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

today's van gogh
the garden of saint-paul hospital, 1889

blog friend in the flesh

on our week away, gail and i had the privilege of meeting and sharing a meal with michael and denise spencer. michael, also known as "the internet monk," is one of the blogosphere's most read christian bloggers. denise also has a fine blog of her own, at denisedayspencer.

we had a nice dinner together and learned more about them, their family, and their ministry at oneida baptist institute in southeastern Kentucky, as well as discussing various issues addressed on the imonk blog and getting an update on michael's first book, which is in the final stages of revision.

above all, i wanted to thank michael for providing a safe place to discuss my thoughts and work through several theological issues with fellow pilgrims, especially after the transitions in ministry i have experienced in recent years.

i hope you will check out the imonk blog and denise's blog, listen to the internetmonk podcast (available at the blog and at itunes), and look for michael's book later this year. their writings have my highest recommendation, and i'm happy to say that they are just as delightful in person as they are in their internet presentations.

denise & michael spencer with gail & me
september, 2009

today's van gogh
congregation leaving the reformed church at nuenen, c.1885

a friend and partner goes to heaven

prabhakaran george, director of india youth for christ, a man of deep faith, love for his family, and concern for the salvation of his people, died on sunday, september 13, in bangalore, india.

below, you will find a tribute to prabha, written by jenny collins from taylor university, who partnered with iyfc for the past fifteen years in mission projects. our family has participated in these and other projects with prabha as well, and we consider him to be god's channel for some of our most formative experiences in christ and the missio dei.

I am deeply saddened at the loss of Prabha George and very sorry that I am unable to attend his funeral and memorial service. Prabha was a remarkable example of humility and godly leadership. I met Prabha in January 1995 when he hosted a Taylor University Lighthouse mission team I led. I was deeply impacted by Prabha’s unwavering faith, sincere prayer life, contagious joy, absolute dependence on God, kindness, gentleness, and amazing wisdom. He was especially patient and gracious with our group of loud and uninformed Americans. Today I am involved in directing an international mission program for university students largely due to things God taught me through Prabha and my experiences of working alongside him, his family, and the India YFC staff.

Prabha has been one of Taylor University’s most faithful international partners for 15 years. He hosted 11 Taylor mission teams and several other Taylor graduates who visited for longer terms. He helped create and lead powerful three-week learning and ministry experiences for more than 190 Taylor students and faculty/staff leaders. Many of them have shared with me in the past four days how greatly their life was impacted by Prabha’s leadership and example. We have seen Prabha’s ministry and the work of India YFC first-hand and have met many whose lives have been transformed by God through it. We at Taylor are part of that spiritual fruit and we are very grateful.

Prabha was honored as a Distinguished Friend of the University at Taylor’s Homecoming Celebration in October 2007; he visited campus often and shared in chapel services and classes numerous times. Many students who were not able to visit India were also greatly touched by Prabha’s teaching and sharing on Taylor’s campus. I can think of several young people who are in full-time missions work because of Prabha’s influence. Prabha has left a God-honoring, gospel-centered legacy at Taylor and he will be greatly missed by many.

Personally, my husband J.D. and I have considered our friendship with Prabha and his wonderful family one of God’s greatest blessings in our lives. As an educator, I value learning. Today our hearts are heavy because we have lost a great friend and mentor who taught us many things about missions, cultures, following the Lord, servant leadership and friendship. We are thankful to God for the opportunity to know Prabha and experience his passion for Christ and the ministry of the gospel. As hard as it is to accept right now, Psalm 116:15 reminds us that “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” and Prabha is definitely one of the Lord’s saints.

To Nilo, Andy and Dipti, Joanna, and all of the YFC family, we pray that in time your memories of Prabha will bring joy that will ease the sadness you are feeling now. May the Lord’s comfort, hope and peace surround and sustain you. May the ministry of YFC continue to be blessed and flourish. May we all strive to honor Christ as Prabha did, so that like him, we may be welcomed into our Father’s presence as good and faithful servants.

i "amen" jenny's words and join her in her prayers.

today, the world should weep, for a great man in christ is gone from our midst.

Prabha and Nilo George
Son Andy, Dtr in law Dipti, Dtr Joanna

today's van gogh
evening landscape with rising moon, 1889