lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard: October 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.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

APOCALYPSE 12-21-12: PART 3

eschatological time:

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http://www.mediafire.com/?impgpafdsa5st6k

Monday, October 29, 2012

APOCALYPSE 12-21-12: PART 2

apocalyptic time

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http://www.mediafire.com/?r861gl93od7uw65

Sunday, October 28, 2012

THE APOCALYPSE OF 12 - 21 - 2012

what does moltmann say? the christian doctrine of time - as a biblical study based on moltmann's 1999 lecture. 30 min. part one of three parts....

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http://www.mediafire.com/?usv55p02bw5viuv

Thursday, October 18, 2012

ETHICS NEEDS A PLATFORM

for hegel and moltmann, a platform must exist before ethics can emerge.

"ETHICS, THE BEGINNING"

marking, proclamation, intersubjective contract; and representative language all play a role

CLICK ON: DIRECT LINK to reach lecture, only 24 min.

http://www.mediafire.com/?agf8z03xyu969gy

Monday, October 15, 2012

LECTURE 6 OF 6 FOR MINI-SERIES

"MEDITATION FOR MOLTMANN"

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final lecture to series.

http://www.mediafire.com/?i72ko1z74h003t4

LECTURE 5 OF 6 FOR MINI-SERIES

how "theology of hope" evolved from hegel:

"meditation per hegel"

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http://www.mediafire.com/?fls4334p9lpdpmd

Sunday, October 14, 2012

LECTURE FOUR TO MINI-SERIES

how the "theology of hope" evolved from hegel

"reaching the state"

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http://www.mediafire.com/?f6as73e5s556jqc

LECTURE THREE OF MINI SERIES

how "theology of hope" evolved out of hegel:

"representative positing"

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http://www.mediafire.com/?ru47yedhxcxezba

Saturday, October 13, 2012

LECTURE TWO OF MINI-SERIES

"NOTION" TO "COUNTEBLOW"

lecture two of evolution from hegel to moltmann:

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http://www.mediafire.com/?3cbj29d3isd257e

Friday, October 12, 2012

MOLTMANN EVOLVES FROM HEGEL: WHERE?

counter-blow and split-positing lead to the theology of hope. small lecture series:

lecture one: the basic triad as essential

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http://www.mediafire.com/?dxx8tdowdmsqicw

lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard

MY BRIEF TESTIMONY