Michael Spencer (aka iMonk 1956-2010)

[Blake]

Denise (Michael's wife) announced that he had cancer. Periodic updates told the iMonk readership his progress in treatment. Chaplain Mike relayed the news that Michael is given 6-12 months to live by his doctors. the update comes that they will discontinue chemotherapy as it is not working anyway. Finally, the news came that Brother Michael has passed on.

Southern Baptists and Baptists as a whole have lost a good brother, Baptist voice and Christian role model tonight. I don't know if anyone here followed iMonk. I thought it appropriate that there be a place for those who did to share whatever they felt lead to.

I've never met Michael. I started following his blog a little more than a year ago. In the short time I've been reading him I quickly realized that I've never read another blog or met another Southern Baptist who I've felt such a kinship with. I cried off and on throughout the week after the announcement that they discontinued chemo. Why did God have to take this Southern Baptist now? God has been faithful to recently give a positive turn of events to Matt Chandler's brain cancer, why not Michael?

I noticed one commenter say that they would be angry at God for a long time for this one. It hadn't occurred to me to be angry with God. I can't share their feelings. Through the prayers I prayed from then on it occurred to me that as much as Michael was loved by his family, friends and readers he is loved infinitely more by God. I can't blame God in His infinite love to be jealous for the fellowship of such a dear brother as Michael. Now Michael is home in Heaven in the presence of his Heavenly Father. I have no more tears to cry. I feel an awkward sense simultaneously of loss, relief and joy. My prayers will continue to be with Michael's family. I await to hear what will happen to his blog.