lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard: June 2012

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.

Friday, June 29, 2012

HEGEL AND MOLTMANN: TWO PROPHETS SHARING THE "REALM OF IDEATION"

the development of the mind of the self as fulfilled in Moltmann from initial work by Hegel. click on : AUTO LINK to reach lecture. 40 min. only.

http://www.mediafire.com/?5v88fc4z6jq36vr

Monday, June 18, 2012

FLOW-CHART FOR "UNIVERSAL HISTORY":

FLOW-CHART for universal history. click on : AUTO-LINK to reach chart. 8 x 10.5 JPEG format

http://www.mediafire.com/?dyeaote8s68etir

Sunday, June 17, 2012

HEGEL'S THEORY OF "UNIVERSAL HISTORY"

the "crown" of objective mind is universal history. Moltmann's position is deeply rooted in this historical perspective of Hegel's. click on: AUTO LINK to reach lecture. only 30 minutes. http://www.mediafire.com/?f1fd00qnx0iaefk

Friday, June 8, 2012

HEGEL: OBJECTIVE MIND, MP3

here's the second part. only 20 minutes this time. click on: AUTO-LINK to reach lecture. http://www.mediafire.com/?e47vaq85c79zdxe

HEGEL: SUBJECTIVE MIND, MP3

if you want to understand hegel; you may do so in just two lectures: 1. subjective mind and 2. objective mind. click on : AUTO-LINK to reach the first. http://www.mediafire.com/?dxdbim9dke5m5bd THIS LECTURE IS IMPORTANT: for anyone wondering if Moltmann is justified in positing an ontology at all. This was omitted from the "Phenomenology" but explains hegel's transcendental position better, 50 minutes.

HEGEL: MIND,OBJECTIVE, JPEG

the second chart for hegel's presentation of the realm of the spirit.click on:AUTO-LINK to reach chart. http://www.mediafire.com/i/?6pnrfns3f2m69b9

HEGEL: MIND, SUBJECTIVE, JPEG

we will cover paragraphs 440 - 540 in hegel's "philosophy of mind". 42 paragraphs for mind,subjective and 57 paragraphs for mind,objective. a total of 99 paragraphs that represent the heart of the book. click on: AUTO-LINK to reach first chart http://www.mediafire.com/i/?p4y6sixers2xupw

Thursday, June 7, 2012

COMING UP: HEGEL'S "PHILOSOPHY OF MIND"

If thou knowest not Hegel, then thou knowest not Moltmann. Moltmann’s release of the ethics has driven us back into the realm of the spirit. Therefore, Hegel’s presentation of the realm of the spirit needs to be analyzed. Coming soon.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

ETHICS: PHASE THREE

Moltmann's ethics includes three phases: "ethics of hope" -2012; "the spirit of life" -1992; and "the coming of god" -1996. all three should be included for a better understanding of his ethics. HERE IS PHASE THREE. click on : "AUTO-LINK" to reach lecture http://www.mediafire.com/?w3d3oc0vt2ncmc9

Friday, June 1, 2012

"coming-of-god" eschatology - 1996

after the release of moltmann's ethics and his presentation of transformative eschatology; it's time to look at his eschatology as previously stated. did he change????? or remain consistent???? STAY TUNED TO THIS CHANNEL. for "the coming of god".....from 1996

lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard

MY BRIEF TESTIMONY