lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard: September 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.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

NANCY: LETS CHRISTIANITY CRITIQUE ITSELF

CLICK ON : link: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ya3gv3cg0qvg2uh/nancyxx1.mp3

2. "Christianity". Pp. 48-72. Remember; even though this is a topical critique; the essays cannot be read out of order. Morin builds as she goes. Especially chapter one. Everything depends on "ontology". Having said that; I found this essay on Christianity to be excellent. A much better approach than others I've read. You can evaluate Nancy here from your own Christian perspective. Morin's writing will allow this. I actually found that I could articulate a Christology of "OPENING", which then led to a Trinitarian approach to positing. And finally a return to "ONTOLOGY". See what I mean: hammer home chapter one. Read it multiple times if need be, but internalize it. Nancy thrives on the ontological question. What A great approach to Nancy's Christianity. Better than anyone writing today; I can assure you. Way to go Marie-Eve!!!

Friday, September 27, 2013

JEAN-LUC NANCY: "ONTOLOGY"

click on link: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/mqotqern8df1o2k/nancyxx.mp3

1. Ontology: by Marie-Eve Morin: A very comprehensive presentation that actually draws a thought-picture, which is what you want with an ontology. The "6" steps of articulation are covered in the "realm of ideation". And positing gets covered on both sides: "differentiation and self-relation". "Mediation" gets most of the attention , as she focuses on the realm of mutual- touch. Excellent ontological analysis.

Monday, September 23, 2013

nancy's: doctrine of transcendence

click on link: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/qek2psemzwjv59d/nancyx9.mp3

7. "Shattered love". Pp. 245-277: Nancy's "doctrine of transcendence". He takes the reader through "5" moments of transcendence: 1. Transport; 2. Transgression; 3. Transparency; 4. Tendency; 5. Transport-return. An extremely important essay ; in that he negates metaphysics and ontology. So what is transcendence? Great essay.
just 20 min.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

NANCY'S PHILOSOPHY OF POETRY

click on link: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/sdpd2ta8wisue2w/nancyx8b.mp3

"The sublime offering". Do not skip this brilliant essay. Nancy addresses the sensate-sense side of his system in an all-inclusive way. This is the sense that must accompany directional-sense. But what is it? Just a work of art? Or more? This issue is discussed in this essay and brings out every level of the emergence of this deeper sense called the "sublime". The "sublime" has its own involved philosophy, even though it is part of the system. For Nancy there is a "philosophy of art" that surpasses or ruptures our usually constructed sense of aesthetics. "Reason" is taken- up within art, rather than an addition that follows art. This essay will make you realize why Nancy is so centered in the fine-arts; even more than philosophy itself. A must read if you choose to fully understand him.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

NANCY'S CONCEPT OF "WRITING"

click on link: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/n2s2vqalnnpd1pq/nancyx7.mp3

B. C HUTCHENS : ANALYZES "WRITING": Every commentator has a speciality; for Hutchens it is the realm of consciousness and its work of "writing" sense. I've said before that I am a fan of Jean-Luc Nancy. And I've come to appreciate Hutchens for his accurate depth of analysis.

Hutchens does not address much in the way of "motivation", but gives a detailed account of "deconstruction" in the unconscious. But; moving on to consciousness, is another matter. A superb presentation of "writing" is given here. This can be difficult for some readers of Nancy, and this material should help. He articulates the "generic-verb" of Nancy's hemeneutic as:
"to interrupt", which is precise and accurate. And he does an excellent job of bringing out the sub-system triads and not just emphasizing the over-arching triads. For example, he gives us the triad of "thinking-through" as: 1. Mechanical-unity; 2. Transitive-unity; and 3. World-sense-unity. In the realm of mediation he gives us the sub-system triad of: 1. Wonder-of-subject; 2. "Surprise-of-event"; and 3. "Leap-of-sense".

"Positing gets attention as "3" moments of ethical-interrogation, which is excellent. The systematic approach enlisted here complements Nancy's same systematic articulations. Therefore, "sense" gets realized as a strong "tandem-of-articulation" in this book.

this book is "post-grad material"; and I would be disappointed if I was anything else. Ths is for the Hegel or Nancy scholar or expert. Very strong recommendation from this reader - "5" stars.

Friday, September 13, 2013

JEAN-LUC NANCY: 25 min. generic introduction

CLICK ON LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/achyy8f5hh71u2g/nancyx6.mp3

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

JEAN-LUC NANCY: presents the Christ-event.

click on direct link: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/orkaas6cbciw51a/nancyx5a.mp3

finally we pin Nancy down on the Christ-event.

Monday, September 9, 2013

JEAN-LUC NANCY: CONCEALMENT

CLICK ON DIRECT LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/mh1z8mmxf3jggbn/nancyx4.mp3

Concealed-thinking is finite-thinking; which is symbolic-thinking ; in the areas of art and “religion”. Fully explains Hegel’s concept of "counter-blow". Central to “all” post-modern thinkers. 30 min.

lectures on jurgen moltmann by barry ballard

MY BRIEF TESTIMONY