Providence - Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 in Tagaste a town that would now be in Algeria. His mother Monica was a strong Christian who prayed fervently for her son to accept Jesus. His father, Patricius, was a pagan who converted to Christianity and was baptized shortly before he died.

Augustine was not a Christian in his teen years and at the age of 17 he fell in love with a woman that he did not marry but ended up living with for 13 years. He admits in his “Confessions” that he could not control his lustful desires.

He unsuccessfully tried to fulfill his needs in several different religions and philosophies. Each time, however, he reached a point where he realized that what he was practicing was false and he would have to move on to something else. His internal struggles came to a head when one day as he sat overwhelmed in a garden. To the point of tears, he suddenly heard a child’s voice chanting in Latin “take up and read, take up and read.” Whether it was a voice from heaven or in his mind he was not sure, but Augustine took the scroll that was next to him, which was the Epistle of Romans, and read the first thing he saw. The scripture was Romans 13:13-14 which says, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

The rest is history. Augustine remains a central figure in religion and philosophy until this day, and is regarded by many theologians as the greatest Christian thinker since Paul to this day. His writings are vast and provoking, and whether you admire him or not, you cannot discount his impact on western thought and Christianity.

It can be said that it was the writings of Augustine which influenced The Reformation a 1,000 years a later. Strangely enough, it can also be said that it was the writings of Augustine that also inspired The Counter Reformation. B. B. Warfield said that The Reformation was the dispute of Augustine’s Doctrine of Grace against Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church. As brilliant as Augustine was, he is a wonderful of example of how political pressures can influence our religious thinking. (Perhaps I will talk more about that in another blog.)

By God’s providence, he saved a man that is affecting the world to this day. It is hard to imagine what the world would be like today without his work.

Review - How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture

Francis Schaeffer is one this past century’s greatest Christian thinkers and this book really shows why. He has a great knack for describing sophisticated topics in a cogent, interesting manner. I never felt that I was lost in a long complicated explanation of something.

I enjoyed how Schaeffer described the differences between the Renaissance and the Reformation. He describes how the Renaissance was centered on the intelligence of man which led to the Enlightenment which led to Humanism which ultimately led to Hitler. While the Reformation was centered on God and the return to the Scriptures which led to the belief that man was deprived and if a government was to ever be successful it had to have laws greater than any one man (or woman). This of course led to the United States and the first constitution.

At some points it shows that it is dated. Example, he spends a lot of time criticizing Communism which has since been shown to be a complete failure. But all in all a great book.

Lost - The Whole Truth

Here is a synopsis of this episode:
http://www.filmfodder.com/tv/lost/archives/002450.shtml

• I don’t know why, but I believe Sun when she says that she has not been with another man. I think it is for the same reason that I believe Henry. Until they are proven a liar, I trust them.
• It was nice to see Ana-Lucia get redemption.
• If Henry was one of the others he has some kind of crazy plan. “Hey everybody. I am going to get trapped in a net, get shot with an arrow, get captured, get beat up by my captures, and after a couple days draw map and so that you can capture some more people.”
• Sawyer nickname of the week: He calls Sun, “Sun Shine”, and Jen “Dadio”.

Whos The Next Lame Food Network Star?

Last night I watched the “Who Will Be the Next Food Network Star,” and I have to say they better select someone who has knife skills.

One of the drills on the show last night was to demonstrate their knife skills. Some of the contestants could not filet a fish and one did not even try. Some of them even had a hard time dicing an onion.

Are you kidding me?! You are going to actually give some one a food instruction show that cannot even filet a fish or dice an onion?

That’s like the Golf Network asking me if I would do instructional golf show.

I love the Food Network but that whole thing last night was pretty lame.

Providence - Jesus

I suppose the supreme example of providence, is the life of Jesus and the historical setting he was born into.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem which at the time was under Roman rule. Under the reign of Augustus Caesar, Rome had ended its longest, bloodiest civil war. What at the time was called the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome), the Romans were able to vastly expand their borders. North Africa, western Asia, and much of Europe was occupied by Rome and the peace that the Romans enjoyed during that time would also allow for the story of Jesus to spread.

However, that peace would not last for ever. In A.D. 70, the Roman Army in responding to greater provocations from the Jews, who more and more wanted their independence, attacked Jerusalem in a war the historian Josephus would call, “The Jewish Wars”. During this time thousands of Jews are slaughtered, the temple was destroyed, and most of the Jews who survived flee the area.

So it turns out that Jesus is born during the perfect time for his influence to be most greatly felt. Had Jesus been born a few years earlier no one would have ever heard of him because the story of his life would not have been able to spread over the entire area of Rome. Had he had been born later, he would not have been tolerated by a stricter Roman government and would not have been able fulfill the prophecies he made about the temple because it was no longer there.

Finally Finished!!!

I finally finished reading “The Count of Monte Cristo” and man did it take me a long time! I typically read two to three books a month, but this book took me two and half months to read by its self.

Overall the story is captivating; although, I must admit it was hard for me to keep my focus on what was going on. It was especially difficult in the middle third of the book as the details of non-essential events seem to go on for ever.

Edmond, whom if you have read my previous posts emerges from a prison sentence, of which he was innocent, discovers a lost treasure and becomes immensely wealthy. He then uses that wealth to gain revenge on those who falsely imprisoned him. He also uses the wealth to reward those who support him and continue supporting him, even though they do not even realize who he is. Actually, no recognizes him, except for Mercedes who is his former fiancé -- but I digress.

It is interesting that although Edmond sets out for revenge, the men who caused him so much suffering; in the end, pretty much curse themselves on the wait of their own guilt.

Except for the fact that the Count is a stoner (i.e. he smokes pot and takes opium…must have been a cool thing to do for the rich in those days), he is a good and just person and you can’t help but root for him. As a matter of fact, the story is at its best when the Count is focus of the passage at hand. He is one of the most fascinating fictional characters you will ever read in a book.

Overall it was a good read; however, if I were to do it all over again I think I would get the abridged version. I also don’t think I will be reading “War and Peace” any time soon.

Providence

I think I am going to start a new series on this blog titled "God's Providence in History".

It is always fascinated me how God works in history to bring about his purpose. So I thought as I came across examples I would share them with you.

I am thinking they will be example that are contained in the Scriptures and also throughout general history.

keep posted.

Psalm 23

Part of my daughter's curriculum at school is to memorize Bible verses. She is in K4.

This past month she learned the entire 23 Psalm.

How cool is that!

I remember the first passage of scripture I had to learn in 8th grade. It was the 1st Psalm, and to this day it is the easiest passage for me to recollect. Hopefully for her these passage will be with her for a life time also.

Lost - Maternity Leave

View Episode Synopsis here:
http://www.filmfodder.com/tv/lost/archives/002338.shtml

My observations:

• So the girl that help Claire was Danielle Rousseau's daughter. Wasn't she the girl that was the girl-friend of Malcome in "Malcome in the Middle"?
• Mr. Friendly is not as intimidating without his fake beard on.
• John Locke was really cool last season. This season he is turned into a bumbling custodian who takes care of the bunker. Is it me or has he lost his purpose on the island.
• I think Henry is telling the truth. At least partially. He may have ulterior motives but I do not think he is one of "them".
• Mr. Echo is back! What an awesome scene also. Is he building a church?
• I don' find "the others" all that intimidating...Except for the fact that they know more about the island than our stranded cast and there seems to be a lot more of them. They may also have contact with the outside world. How else did that hatch get a brand new washer and drier. Anyway, a half dozen or so have been killed...Not exactly impenetrable.
• I still think Libby is a patient and not a doctor.