One of my favorite spiritual bloggers, Michael Spencer aka The Internet Monk, is terminally ill with brain cancer. He was just diagnosed in December and now it’s just a matter of time. He’s discontinued chemo, which wasn’t helping anyway, and is seeking hospice help.
I’m just numb. So sad. I’m feeling a bit adrift, thinking he’s leaving us.
I’ve read him regularly over the years and he is real and smart and funny and challenging. He isn’t some rigid legalist — he’s too free. He isn’t some nutso Charismatic — he’s too solid. He isn’t some blind follower — he’s too smart. He’s never been bound by how MEN think the Christian life should be lived but focused on Jesus, on truth, and has helped me — oh, how much he helped me and will never know! — to do the same.
I’m missing his “voice” already.
Prayers for him and his family.
Bah. I hate to hear that. So sorry.
This is very sad. I’ve emailed him a couple of times over the past year and I found him to be very thoughtful and understanding. I will miss his insights.
Will pray for him and his family. I watched someone I respected in the homeschool movement go through that recently. It is particularly tough to watch someone who has dedicated their lives so completely to helping others. I had not heard of his blog before, but I started reading it today. He’s got some great stuff there.
Ugh, I know. This is so sad – this world will be poorer without his beauty and his focus on Jesus. It’s hard for me to even visit the site, just knowing that it will never be the same. He has seriously impacted how I think about theology and mission and evangelism. Praise God for all that He has done through Michael. Still though…it’s not fair.
I am very sorry to hear this.
Patrick — Hi! Hope you’re doing well. I really think you’d like his writing and his perspectives. SO much over there on that site that I haven’t even read yet. And I’ve been reading him for a while.
Katie — /He has seriously impacted how I think about theology and mission and evangelism./
Wow. I didn’t know that. Such an amazing compliment to him.
Kathi — I know, right? I find myself almost …. panicking at moments, thinking his voice will be gone. Which is selfish of me, really. But he’s been a Godsend to me over the last few years.
Thanks for the link to his site. What a terrible loss. May God give his family peace.
I’m sorry, Tracey. Man, cancer sucks. I had heard about his illness via Amy Welborn–I can’t remember a time when she didn’t link to him. He’s got a lot of people praying for him.