On this last day of the year, I was fortunate to receive two Kenneth Gentry classics: Before Jerusalem Fell and The Beast 0f Revelation. Happy New Year!
Final Week of Exams…
I have just finished my last week of classes at Reformed Seminary. In a week or so–when exams are over– I plan to write a lengthy article on my 42 months at RTS.
Unfortunately, my exam preparation has slowed down since I suffered a painful back injury yesterday at work. As I type, I am barely able to sit. Back to icing…please pray for me in this last week.
Glorious Reformation Day…
This Reformation Day has been exceptionally refreshing and stimulating. As the day is coming to an end, I checked my blog stats and was surprised to find out the greatest amount of views in the fours years of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (272 views). Many of those thanks to my loyal Ron Paul readers. I make no apologies for bringing together into one blog both Ron Paul news and distinct Reformational subjects. My intention has always been from the beginning to labor on presenting ideas on a variety of subjects from a distinctly Biblical and Reformational perspective.
While my wife spent the evening with her students, I spent the evening with a dear friend, a nice Scotch and a smooth cigar. We spent the majority of the evening talking about our service in the church and our futures. It was a refreshing, and yet an encouraging time together. We finally spent some of our time talking about two issues we deeply care about: Preterism and Austrian economics. A glorious Reformation Day indeed!
My experience at an AA meeting…
On Monday afternoon I drove to “Happy Hour.”[1] A group of about twenty, gathered to share their experiences under the deadly addiction of alcoholism. I walked in quietly to a room filled with the stench of cigarette. The ceiling was blackened with mold and the carpet stained almost at every spot. My first thought was how much that room reflected their lives: stained and darkened. The meeting began as Luke read about the purpose of the AA. Hi, my name is Luke and I am an alcoholic. “Hi Luke”, everyone replied. Some introduced themselves in the same manner. One young man introduced himself explaining that it was his first time with the group.
The first part of the meeting was a reading from the big book as they call it. The first reading summarized the AA creed and the second was a passage from the “book.” I noticed that almost everyone had a copy of it. It looked just like a Bible, and indeed, they treated it as such.
After the reading, Luke opened the time of discussion by sharing his own testimony. It appeared as if he had shared it millions of time. The group nodded and affirmed him as a congregant affirms his pastor with an “amen.” Luke, then, left the discussion open for a topic. A young woman in her 40’s broke the silence by speaking about the powerlessness of alcoholism. After that, everyone spoke. There was no fear! Some had been sober for over 30 years, others, for 30 days. The group was diverse, but their stories were so similar that it sounded like it came from a textbook. One spoke about how everyday he would promise to stop and everyday like it for 10 years. Another spoke about her sobriety for 3 years until unexpectedly being offered a drink; she though that she had overcome it, but that one drink led her to another 10 years of addiction. The power of that first sip was overwhelming.
They looked tired and worn beyond their age, but all had overcome alcoholism, even it had been just an hour. They were at the right place. They appeared strengthened by each testimony, each word of encouragement. It was almost as if every time they met they were fit to live one more day sober.
That community was a striking resemblance to the community God calls us to enjoy. Their commitment to one another and their sincere desire to see their brothers and sisters overcome this miserable evil was the most genuine expression of self-sacrifice I have witnessed outside the church.
It is true that God the higher power is unable to help them in their need, but it is also true that a community is able to thrive when united for a common cause. Perhaps for some Christ is their God. Only Christ can bring true serenity and only Christ can heal their diseases. Nevertheless, in the end, who am I to judge their success. It was God himself who instituted the community. In or outside the church, the world benefits from loyalty and commitment.
In the last part of the meeting we all stood in a circle, held hands, and recited the Lord’s Prayer. Yes, Lord, deliver me from the evil one and strengthen me in my own addictions for thine is kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.
[1] Happy Hour is the name of the “Alcoholics Anonymous” group that meet 3 times a week. As part of one of my assignments for Introduction to Counseling, I had to attend one of their meetings, in order to understand a little better the nature of addiction.
I am back…
After almost a year away from this blog, I have returned…not willingly though. My previous blog: apologus.notsorry.net has been hijacked. My immediate host did everything within his power to restore, but nay, it was too late. So, I am back…I am still thinking through what it will means to re-start when I had been so accustomed to excellence. Due to many encouraging words, I will continue.
What to expect: Weekly podcast on theological and political issues and monthly newsletter. E-mail me your thoughts at: apologus@hotmail.com
Update…
Much has happened in the last few days. My birthday on the 26th was a pleasant time with a fine cigar from a friend and a fabulous dinner from my lovely wife.
One of my great joys this semester has been my preaching lab with the Rev. John Holland. He is a disciple of Richard Pratt, one of the instrumental voices in my theological training. Our class will make some fine pastors and preachers one day. Our group went out for a beer afterwards where we continued our great fellowship.
I was very pleased also with the outstanding performance of the Brazilian girls yesterday as they defeated the US 4×0. Last night I was able to watch a re-run of the match. A fascinating result in light of the fact that these Brazilian girls will go back home (whether or not with the title) to a country that does not encourage a Women’s Soccer League. Some of these girls don’t even have phones in their homes. This is the triumph of perseverance and determination.
Update…
Friday, 7:29AM
Much has happened in the last few days. My birthday on the 26th was a pleasant time with a fine cigar from a friend and a fabulous dinner from my lovely wife.
One of my great joys this semester has been my preaching lab with the Rev. John Holland. He is a disciple of Richard Pratt, one of the instrumental voices in my theological training. Our class will make some fine pastors and preachers one day. Our group went out for a beer afterwards where we continued our great fellowship.
I was very pleased also with the outstanding performance of the Brazilian girls yesterday as they defeated the US 4×0. Last night, I was able to watch a re-run of the match. A fascinating result in light of the fact that these Brazilian girls will go back home (whether or not with the title) to a country that does not encourage a Women’s Soccer League. Some of these girls don’t even have phones in their homes. This is the triumph of perseverance and determination.
End of the week…
Friday, 1:31PM
A long day thus far. I began this morning writing a brief article on Kuyper and Common Grace. Frame just e-mailed me with some thoughts on Kuyper and the response to his ideas. He also mentioned some of his interaction with Gary North’s book on the subject, which is by nature a critique of Van Til.
After that, I spent about three hours carrying boxes of books into a storage unit. My boss is planning a mega-sale sometime in the next few months. It should be a profitable endeavor. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with another fellow blogger for notsorry. We spent three hours carrying boxes in the Florida heat and talking all things Van Til.
I know that after you commit the same error more than once, you are liable to become an idiot, but on my way back home I turned on Rush Limbaugh (who was out for the day) only to find out that the hosts’ guest was boasting in the fact that Republicans and Democrats are very opposite to one another…hmmm…I wonder why the name Republicrats was coined.
End of the week…
A long day thus far. I began this morning writing a brief article on Kuyper and Common Grace. Frame just e-mailed me with some thoughts on Kuyper and the response to his ideas. He also mentioned some of his interaction with Gary North’s book on the subject, which is by nature a critique of Van Til.
After that, I spent about three hours carrying boxes of books into a storage unit. My boss is planning a mega-sale sometime in the next few months. It should be a profitable endeavor. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with another fellow blogger for notsorry. We spent three hours carrying boxes in the Florida heat and talking all things Van Til.
I know that after you commit the same error more than once, you are liable to become an idiot, but on my way back home I turned on Rush Limbaugh (who was out for the day) only to find out that the hosts’ guest was boasting in the fact that Republicans and Democrats are very opposite to one another…hmmm…I wonder why the name Republicrats was coined.
New week…
Wednesday, 3:42 PM This has already been a long week. I have spent Monday and Tuesday carrying over 300 boxes of books. On a more pleasant note, I was encouraged by Renee Altson’s participation in the comment section of my review of her book. I truly encourage all to read through her journal. It will be a difficult, but transformative experience.
This morning Professor Chuck Degroat likened the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 unto eating the dust of our Lord. Faithful disciples of the rabbis would follow so closely to them that it is said that they tasted the dust from their rabbi’s sandals in front of them. Likewise, our call is to follow our Lord so closely that we taste His dust. This life of allegiance and meekness is a hard one indeed.