My friend, who has helped me with my spiritual life more than any other person, died last evening at his home in Oneida, KY. I never met Michael face-to-face, but his passing makes me long a little bit more for the resurrection so that I may.

Michael had been a prodigious blogger for many years. He was not well received by those on the Reformed right, whom Michael called the Truly Reformed. They saw him as a turncoat. He, instead, saw himself as a post-evangelical, wandering in the wilderness, looking for a Jesus-shaped spirituality.

Michael also was father to a group blog known as The Boar’s Head Tavern. The BHT brought together Christians of many types — Reformed, Lutheran, Wesleyan Arminian, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and more — for robust discussions of just about anything. I was privileged to be invited to join the fellows of the BHT a few years ago, after having followed the discussions for years. These gentlemen — and a few ladies from time to time — have also been formative for me. I’ve been proud to represent a minority view there: Arminian, Wesleyan, partial preterist, open to openness.

Michael Spencer live a sacrificial life. He could have been the pastor of a large and successful evangelical church, if that had been his calling. Instead, he labored in a Christian boarding school in Appalachia, teaching and ministering to young people who needed his guidance and help. His ministry relied on the donations of the faithful, and Michael never had any of the finer things in life. But he does now.

Michael discovered he had a massive cancer just after he had finished writing his first book. I hope you will pre-order his book, Mere Churchianity, which will be available this fall. Many of us were praying that Michael would survive to see his book published, but God had other plans. Please help his family with the lingering medical expenses by ordering a couple copies to give as gifts. I promise that you will be challenged and not disappointed.

I thank God for Michael Spencer. I will never forget him.