Graduation day! It has arrived!
Number #1 on Amazon
According to one commentator, “RON PAUL’S BOOK is the greatest bestseller in Libertarian history. It is #1 ON AMAZON, CNN reports.
Paul’s book is No. 1 on Amazon.com
(CNN) — Ron Paul’s loyal supporters helped him set campaign fundraising records and capture more delegates during his presidential run than some of his high-profile Republican rivals. They even managed to briefly shut down Nevada’s GOP convention earlier this month over a rules change controversy.
Now they’ve taken his latest book to the top of the Amazon.com bestseller list.
“The Revolution: A Manifesto”, released earlier this month, is currently No. 1 on the Web site’s list of top sellers, besting even Oprah’s latest Book Club selection.
“Despite a media blackout, this septuagenarian physician-turned-congressman sparked a movement that has attracted a legion of young, dedicated, enthusiastic supporters . . . a phenomenon that has amazed veteran political observers and made more than one political rival envious,” boasts the book’s product description, adding: “Candidates across America are already running as ‘Ron Paul Republicans.’”
Glory be to God!
This morning, by God’s grace, I passed my Westminster Shorter Catechism exam. Though I ended my academic requirements at RTS in December of 2007, RTS requires that before any student graduates, they are to pass a comprehensive Bible exam and a shorter catechism exam. Today, marks officially, the completion of my Master’s Degree from Reformed Theological Seminary/Orlando. One of the advantages of RTS grads is that they are able to audit any class they have already taken for free. So, if God should keep me here in Orlando for the summer, I intend to audit a few classes. Graduation will be on May 23rd.
God has been gracious and faithful to me in these last four years. His loving kindness endures forever.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to Professor John Frame who continues to be–after seminary–a refreshing and insightful voice in my thinking about the church and theology. And a happy birthday to my dear friend Pastor Frank Cavalli, who has been an example of a true shepherd and a faithful, passionate Bible expositor. May God grant you many more years in His service.
Free Credenda Subscription…
In the last seven years I have subscribed to probably 20-30 magazines, newsletters, etc. Most of them were free subscriptions, but only a few of them were worth reading from cover to cover. I am glad Credenda’s prosperity has become our gain. The witty, astute, and serious scholars at Credenda Agenda are now offering free subscription to their magazine.
If you benefit from the content, I heartily encourage a contribution to their work.
I am an uncle…
It has been a long day. My wife and I traveled to visit my sister early this morning. At 11AM this morning my sister bore a healthy little boy. We will be here this evening and leave early Saturday, and I will be preaching on Sunday at New Life (PCA) on the topic: The Dark Night of the Soul based on Psalm 42-43.
He is Risen Indeed!
The Lenten Season has been a refreshing time. Far from an indolent period, it has been very productive in many respects. A few updates are in order. First, I have concluded my academic requirements for RTS leaving me with a Bible and a Catechism exam before graduation in May. Second, due to some considerations I decided to postpone my licensure exam until August. Third, my lovely wife and sister are both expecting and my mother has arrived from Brazil. It has been almost three years since I have seen her. I will be traveling to see her and my sister as often as possible.
I will not make any lofty plans for this blog in the months ahead. Much of my concentration in the next few months will be in preparing to be a father and studying for my licensure exam in August. Hence, if you combine both areas of preparation it may be possible that the following posts may be largely about the theology of children.
I will be spending most of this week preparing for my sermon on the 30th at New Life Presbyterian (PCA). My text will be Psalm 42 and 43. They were originally one psalm, so I decided to treat them as such. I shall post a few notes along the week. The Lord is risen indeed!
Lent: 40 Days of Preparation
I ask that you will keep me in prayer in these next forty days of Lent as I fast and prepare for my license exam in April. As a result, I will not be blogging until the 23rd of March (Easter). Pray also for my dear wife’s pregnancy as we expect our first child in July. May the Lord be with you in all your labor and love for the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Personal Update…
There are many things going on which has prevented me from blogging consistently. In the end of January, I came under care of the Central Florida Presbytery. It is my first step towards ordination in the Presbyterian Church in America.
My primary intention is to be licensed in April when the presbytery meets again. License examination includes a few written exams and oral exams on the topics of Theology, the Westminster Confession, and the Book of Church Order (BCO).
At the same time, I continue to serve at New Life Presbyterian where I have been for almost three years. My time at New Life has been a marvelous introduction to pastoral work.
Though I am finished with all my classes in seminary, I am concluding a virtual class called Judges to Poets taught by Dr. John Currid. My intention is to have completed all my seminary requirements by the end of this month.
Straight Talk on the Election…
Anyone who knows me well knows that principle always outweighs pragmatism. I refuse to hand over my right to vote my conscience for the right to please the majority. Part of my young life has been dedicated to communicating this message.
This evening was another example of pragmatism at work. The party abandoned all principles and voted for the most electable. My state of Florida decided to endorse Senator John McCain, while Dr. Ron Paul received over 55,000 votes, placing him last among the ever-diminishing pack.
McCain has received the righteous wrath of radio stars like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Limbaugh has observed numerous times that a McCain victory will end the Reagan coalition and the Republican Party as we know it. In my estimation, the Republican Party has been dead for a long time; it is just that the carcasses do not seem to rot as quickly. If anyone put a seal of death on the GOP it was George Bush. Bush did everything Republicans claim to oppose. He grew the government like a spoiled father rears his son: with uncontrolled and unrestricted boundaries. The sky is the limit in this abusive and destructive administration. Nevertheless, if the Limbaugh’s and the rest of the neo-conservatives wish to set a timetable for the destruction of their own party, then let it be at the Convention.
Certainly not all in the GOP is lost. Ron Paul is still in it. Why does he remain in the GOP and not embrace another party? Because the media and the establishment political leaders have too much at stake. Other voices, other parties would conflict too much with the establishment’s agenda, which incidentally coincides with the media’s. Ron Paul still remains as the lonely voice in the political wilderness crying out: Return to the Constitution! Perhaps that is his role at this point in history. Perhaps Super Tuesday may be a surprise for all the pundits who have essentially written him off the polls. The 72-year old is not dead yet; he still has–last I checked– over 300 million people to educate.
Though I am principled, I am also realistic. Here’s my realism: Paul’s campaign is not over and there is much more of Paul left in this campaign. I refuse to embrace the pessimism of some. Months ago Rudy Giuliani was the front-runner. This evening, he has proven to be a complete failure. Result: Rudy is gone. Paul is still in.
The future of this election holds a few interesting developments:
First, Giuliani will endorse McCain. This will enhance the warmongering thirst of some Republicans and will naturally boost McCain’s campaign. Rudy may now be vying for an Attorney General position in McCain’s administration.
Secondly, Huckabee will stay in the race and split the evangelical votes with Romney. Huckabee has played a central role in McCain’s victories. If Huckabee were not drawing the evangelical votes, Romney would be ahead of McCain this evening. Huckabee may now be strategizing–secretly–with McCain for a future VP position, though I do not discount Thompson for that role. Hence, Huckabee is crucial to a McCain victory.
Thirdly, Romney is somewhat doomed. His millions have earned him few victories and new enemies. It is difficult to decipher Romney’s strategy on Super Tuesday. He needs several important victories on February 5th to propel his candidacy in the final states and perhaps take it to the Convention.
Finally, Ron Paul is the unspoken hero. He understands the economy; he grasps the significant philosophical questions of foreign policy, and he understands that this is a Republic, not a fascist state. His future depends heavily on February 5th. Furthermore, he still has money left, which McCain does not.
The Republicans who endorse McCain support him because of his straight talk on the war. Indeed his straight talk has brought him far; far into the center of a party who pleads for more war; a hundred years of war. Republicans may have found a man who can beat the Democratic nominee, but if this is a victory, it is a Pyrrhic victory. The Republican victor will cheer, while the world bleeds and our country suffers with tears of recession.