MY BRIEF TESTIMONY

BRIEF 5 min. PERSONAL TESTIMONY - BARRY BALLARD

On a warm summer day in Washington D.C., I sat in a small movie theater listening to a re-broadcast of a Billy graham crusade that had been previously given elsewhere. I was attending with a Christian group who ministered on the air force based where I was stationed, "Andrews Air Force Base". At the conclusion of the presentation, there was an invitation given to receive Christ and counselors were standing up front to pray with those who came forward. The house lights went up and I went forward and prayed to receive Jesus Christ into my life. This was not the moment of my true conversion, this was "preparation-of-heart", part one.

On a humid pitch-black night in 1969, my plane touched down on the Saigon airfield that was currently under rocket attack. Black-out conditions were in effect and we were rushed to trucks and then transported to our barracks and its inclusive bunker for protection. I was assigned an m16 rifle, two clips of ammo, and given a helmet and flack-vest. I spent my first night in Saigon standing in the bunker, wondering "why?" I was even here. I understood none of it, except that supposedly it had to do with communism and we were protecting democracy. But, I just felt abandoned to the most bizarre and remote assignment I could imagine. I worked "support", so I do not want to give the false impression that I was "combat"; but I did serve some time in the jungle. Only one man died in our group during the year I was there; and he told me beforehand that he wanted to die and never return home. He had received his divorce papers in the mail about a week before my arrival. He was shot down in a helicopter "one" day before he was to return home. My one year in Saigon was a lesson in the deterioration of the human spirit and soul. Eventually, I also learned to hate myself and "living" and could care less about what might lie ahead. I was returning to the states with a crushed human soul, devoid of all optimism. This was "preparation-of-heart", part two.

On a humid gray-dusk-like-evening, I found myself, in 1970, driving through the main gate of Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. I soon settled into my tasks of working in the 7th bomb wing headquarters, in support roles again as usual. I also served on the honor guard for special occasions for fallen veterans funerals, or award ceremonies. Even though my personal psyche was "wasted“; I was considered an admirable employee and respected for my abilities. My inner life however was an absolute disaster that I did not "share" with anyone. Strangely enough; I was visited by representatives of the "Navigators"; the same Christian organization that had approached me in Washington D.C. I began attending bible studies two nights a week and felt a little better about life by receiving this follow-up. I'll call this "preparation-of-heart", part three.

During my term of service at Carswell, I met my wife to be, Beverly, who invited me to her church in River Oaks, "Trinity Baptist Church". They had a young pastor, John Hatch, who was just finishing his doctorate at Southwestern and the atmosphere attracted me. It was in 1973, “4” years after that initial "preparation-of-heart"; that I made an honest commitment to Jesus Christ and immediately followed that with baptism.

From there, the road did not get any smoother, but my “soul” began a healing process that eventually went from healing to true "Wonder and Discovery". The first thing that was revealed to me was my spiritual gift, which is "Teaching". While at Trinity, I ended up writing three commentaries: James, Colossians, and Philippians. All three helped me grow in my commitment to Jesus Christ.

True conversion was preceded by three moments of "preparation-of-the-heart" in my case. Over a four year stretch of time, God never gave up on me. I think the strength of my testimony must be given to the strength of God's loving patience; to lead me along the final path that would secure my faith. Thank You.
















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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

SPINOZA: THE "INTELLECTUAL INSTRUMENTS" OF HIS ""LOGIC""

click link:  http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ygyhuh9khpkg28y/pollock.mp3

POLLOCK KEYS-IN ON SPINOZA’S “INTELLECTUAL INSTRUMENTS”:
I did not expect much from this manuscript. Pollock was only 35 years old when he wrote it; and I honestly did not think he could be equipped enough to write a sound treatise. I was wrong. He must have started philosophical investigation at a very early age. He is solid throughout the text. It is quite a good commentary. It is more of a commentary than an exposition. Pollock is rendering his “opinion” of the “ETHICS”, and its misinterpretations.
But, more importantly; he addresses Spinoza with the intent of keying- in on the articulated “intellectual-instruments” that really serve as the only foundation to Spinoza’s position anyway. Briefly I will list these for you, as given in the text. THEY ARE:
1. CLEAR AND DISTINCT IDEAS
2. SUFFICIENT ORDER OF GENERALIZATIONS
3. SINGULARITIES OF UNIVERSAL CONCEPTS
4. NOTION OF EXTENSION (RATHER THAN NOTION OF THE TRUE)
5. POSITED FUNCTIONAL SIGNS FOR PRAXIS
6. POSITED INFINITE INTELLECT.
In addition to this organizational work-flow; the material is also presented through the functional modalities of: PERCEPTION; REASON; INTUITION; IMAGINATION; & INTELLECT.
Because of Pollock’s background in contract-law; I found the material very systematically presented, which I liked.

NOTE: this is a scanned public-domain document and therefore there are no page breaks; material is run together and you are responsible for developing a habit as to how you can best read the material. You’ll learn how to skip notes after 30 minutes of reading. Bu don’t get too upset. You’re getting real solid commentary for 99 cents. Just overlook the inconvenience. I did. 5 stars for this surprise in scholarship

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