Catholicity, Orthodoxy, and Lordship
One of the many purposes of going to Monroe in early January was also to be a part of the examining committee of Faris Paxton. Faris did a fine job answering questions thoroughly and pastorally. May God grant Faris mercy and grace as he shepherds his new flock.
With 2011 in its genesis, this also means lots of new projects for this blog. A few reasons to check this blog often:
First, I have the great goal to read 52 books this year and provide a video review of each one of them. So, check often.
Second, visit our Trinity Talk site, especially the archive section for older interviews with great scholars dealing with a variety of issues.
Third, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam has a new look. I’d love to hear your comments.
Finally, I hope to add this blog into the kindle world fairly soon. Stay tuned!
The Lord be with you.
We returned yesterday from the 20th Family Advance Conference, which concluded with a joint service of Trinity Presbyterian and Providence Church. The lectures this year focuses on Educating the Next Generation. The speakers r were Rich Lusk, Gregg Strawbridge, Sam Nelson, Michael Mosley, David Goetsch, and Jim Jordan. I moderated the Saturday morning Q&A and preached on Sunday morning on the topic of Liturgical Education from Psalm 98. It was a joy to see some familiar faces and meet new conference attendants. I especially enjoyed meeting Gregg Strawbridge. Though we have corresponded over the years, it was a joy to finally meet him face to face and have a meal together. Again, my thanks to the wonderful folks at Trinity Presbyterian.
Our second night at the hospital has been quite eventful. We had many visitors and some great gifts as well for little Ezekiel. The four hours of sleep have done us some good. My mother arrived from Brazil yesterday and should be arriving in Pensacola at noon. Not only will this be her first time meeting Ezekiel, but it will be her first time meeting Abigail. We should all be leaving the hospital later in the afternoon.
My first night here at the hospital with my wife and our new baby was quite peaceful, though I look forward being back on my own bed. The nurses have been very friendly and gracious. Mommy and baby are doing quite well. God has been kind to us.
Several pictures have been posted on my FB page.
This morning Abigail and I worshiped with the saints at Providence and now I am staring at my new son! Blessed be Yahweh!
Our baby boy will be arriving early tomorrow morning…we are heading to the hospital this evening. Please pray for us.
Update: Dinner at Chili’s and a two mile walk with wife and in-laws…heading to the hospital in 45 minutes.
I remember walking into Chuck Hill’s office at Reformed Seminary. It looked lovely and romantic with books scattered in the most unlikely of places. Dr. Hill is a genius. He can afford to be a bit eccentric. I am no genius. I need my books in order.
Concerning The Cross
I remember reading Fr. John Richard Neuhaus in seminary. He said to avoid signs of academic accomplishment, rather show Jesus in the office. So, I followed his exhortation. The cross reveals as much as someone wants to know about the pastoral office. It is sacrificial and utterly service-shaped.
A long, but satisfying Tuesday. I began the day quite early going over some of my notes for my class on the Psalter. Having done some previous work (sermon and lesson) on Psalm 23, I re-arranged a few notes and used them for my class. Among many things, Psalm 23, is a war psalm; certainly a very different picture than commonly observed. Yahweh’s rod and staff are weapons and his table are for victors. The gentle Jesus is actually the warrior Jesus who will do everything to defend and protect his flock. The Psalms are holy war songs. The home-schoolers responded well. We concluded with the famous St. Columba’s tune to The King of Love My Shepherd is. It is quite a splendid tune, though I wish someone will compose a better arrangement of it with a stronger and more upbeat melody to reflect its war-like nature.
I had promised my lovely wife that I would take the day off. We took a tour of the hospital where she will be delivering. The tour was painfully long and the guide repeated the same things over and over again…did I say “over and over again?” At the end Melinda was as ready for lunch as I was. Our meal was tasty and enjoyably caloric. We ate and felt satisfied. After a quick trip to Books-A-Million and a rare–at least for me–caramel apple frappe we headed back to pick up my daughter from a friend’s house.
The evening was quite eventful since we are transporting hundreds of books from my home office–which now is no longer!–to my church office. The result was an almost empty home office and a chaotically filled church office with books everywhere. See for yourself.
I still managed to work out at the gym afterwards. A long, but satisfying Tuesday. If every day could be as profitable.
As I sit down in my office I am staring at hundreds of books on the floor. They–that is the books–all desire an eschatology of hope. They want to be raptured into a shelf and neatly ordered according to author or in whatever way my brain works these days. In light of our new baby who will be arriving in this world in just a few weeks, I have been graciously persuaded that maintaining two offices is not the best idea. Fortunately, my church office is quite spacious and adding a few more bookshelves will not be problematic. My office is little by little being beautified and organized. It will become soon enough a weekly sacred space to think, write, and meditate.