lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard: February 2013

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, February 26, 2013

BADIOU: THE BEST OF THE POSTMODERNS

here is badiou's 2012 presentation of french postmodern thought. only 30 min.

click on: direct link to access

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?f89ehu31dn4cu8s

Saturday, February 23, 2013

THE POSTMODERN SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD

Stanislas Breton of France, in his book on st. Paul became the founder of postmodern theology today. every postmodern thinker gives him credit for establishing its starting-point. he died in 2005, but left us his book, "the radical theology of st. paul. you won't want to ignore this book. it shook the globe the same way that Moltmann shook the world with "theology of hope".

click on: direct link to access.

http://www.mediafire.com/?055ahkrsxlppw83

Friday, February 15, 2013

generic view of french philosophy

french philosophy within hegel's psychology, but from the far left.

click on: direct link.

http://www.mediafire.com/?9t9svyy9h71cao4

Monday, February 11, 2013

ST. PAUL - POSTMODERN INTERPRETATION

indiana university in 2005 ran a roundtable on postmodern interpretations of paul. a leftist eschatological framework emerged.

click on : direct link to obtain

http://www.mediafire.com/?g4m1cn4b1au53ih

only 20 min.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

THEOLOGY MUST INFORM DEMOCRACY

Robbins tells us that theology informs democracy's content through three generic concepts: 1. "death of god" (post-modern style); 2. "universality"; and 3. "eschatological force". he is another who has benefitted from moltmann's work over the years.

http://www.mediafire.com/?pst8qcrsj334x56

click on: direct link

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

KEARNEY FLOW-CHART

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?x1q1eswvmrc1wp2

click on: direct link

Saturday, February 2, 2013

CROCKETT FLOW-CHART - JPEG

CLICK ON : DIRECT LINK TO ACCESS

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?h7c02ll824vq8d4

HOPE PHILOSOPHY?????

can moltmann's "hope theology" become a post-modern "hope philosophy" without god??
crockett says"yes" and tells us how

click on: direct link to access lecture

http://www.mediafire.com/?37y5nyx848a1970

lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard

MY BRIEF TESTIMONY