Rumor has it that it is Pastor Mark and Jennifer Horne’s tenth wedding anniversary.

I am still reading What Saint Paul Really Said. To be honest, I have been reading everything but that. I have been distracted by every other book that has crossed my path. So far Wright hasn’t impressed me with anything. I am about halfway through the book, and it’s not really keeping my attention. Maybe it is because of all the hype it got. In any case, I’ll finish it and hope it gets better. One thing I have noticed is that a lot of the techniques of scholarship he brings out are things I learned from one of my favorite professors, Lea Olsan. I think I had trouble accepting these techniques of scholarship at first, but I’ve really learned to benefit from linguistic study and anthropology. They’re subtle things Wright is slipping in there, and I am glad to see him slip them in. Of course, my reading is limited, but Peter Leithart also does a good job of bringing that kind of stuff to light. Is this a Cambridge thing?

I enjoyed David P. Henreckson’s article on Music at New Christendom journal. I also enjoyed David P. Cassidy’s article on Temperance but couldn’t help but cringe every time he insulted one of our Baptist brethren. Am I becoming a softie? In any case, he brought out some good points, and it was very well written. There were also some articles by Sproul Jr. and Sandlin, but the lesser-knowns got my vote this issue.

I received an email the other day from a list. It was “You know you’re a postmillenialist if…” This one cracked me up…”You know you’re a postmillenialist if…you think that ‘a thousand generations’ is meant to be a wryly ironic understatement.” heh heh heh

Well school is out. My math students did well on their final. I was overjoyed. One of my students, Jordan Wilkins, bought me a new shirt for Christmas. I can’t believe he got my neck size right! He didn’t even ask anyone. For anyone else buying me a shirt, it’s an 18.

However, my accomplishment of the week came in a game of hacky-sack. We play hack any chance we get at the Geneva Academy. It’s the official sport. Well, I created a stall called the Bean Dance this week. I caught the hack on my back and began to dance around in a circle in a semi-crouched position before popping it to someone else. The boys got a kick out of it, and I got recognition for a new stall. I am still trying to perfect what is affectionately known as “The Rick Stall.” The Rick Stall consists of catching the hack on the back of your ankle, and keeping it there for at least a few seconds. I am still poor at hack compared to my students, but I am getting better. Oh, you might find this interesting. I also invented a new form of hack a few weeks ago (How did I ever get away from the computer without telling you, oh sweet, sweet blogger?). This version is called “Converting the Nations.” This developed when we were trying to keep quiet while one of the students was finishing his test. Normally, we call a game called “Pressure,” where the person who drops the hack gets pegged. Those who didn’t drop the hack, throw the hack at the hackdropper’s backside. Well, we had to move to an adjacent room (the nursery) across the hall, which was quite a bit smaller. It was too small to throw the hack very hard, so I got creative (ah, all those gifted classes paid off!). I found a small bowl from a toy kitchenette set. I put the bowl in the middle of the circle. If you could stall the hack and then put it in the bowl and get it out, you got an extra throw. The person who dropped the hack served as the one we tried to convert. The hack turned into the gospel and we the bowl was worn on the head as either a mitre or yarmulke. The object was to knock off the yarmulke/mitre and win a convert. I can see all my friends analyzing this game right now. “So is he saying that the evangelizer wins the convert?” “So, you’re saying all Catholics go to Hell, huh Rick?” It was a game, and we were trying to Christianize it. Kinda like Christian music, right?

Oh! Oh! I can now quote from my favorite show without bringing it into my blog for no apparent reason. “Christian rock. Now there’s an oxymoron!”–Loralie Gilmore (i.e. Lauren Graham) from Gilmore Girls.

Fact for the day: Lauren Graham was an English major at Barnard College. Ten points goes to the one who can name the Florida writer that also went to Barnard College. Hint: She was re-popularized by Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple and one of my least favorite people, in the 1970’s. And if you know me very well, you also know I have written three papers on this Florida writer. Oh, and The Color Purple’s “Shug” is modeled after this Florida writer. Okay, enough hints. Let’s see how literate we are.

Back to N.T. Wright. One thing I thought was wonderful was Wright’s definition of the gospel. At least in one certain way. Wright notes that the “gospel” is not how one gets saved, but rather the proclamation that Jesus Christ, the King of the Nations, has come. Too often I hear Calvinists spouting how Arminians are not saved because they believe a different gospel. Calvinism is not the gospel my friends. I do believe it is the most correct form of soteriology, but that does not mean it is the gospel.

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Revelation 15: 3-4

My chanting is getting better. I think I have the Venite and the Te Deum down. Here’s our closing hymn. If anyone knows anything about it, tell me. It is very fast and upbeat. I had a hard time keeping up with the words when I first started singing it. I am wondering if it is one of them “Genevan jigs.” If anyone wants to know how it goes, call me, and I’ll sing it for ya.

Rise Again Ye Lionhearted

Rise again, ye lionhearted Saints of early Christendom,
Whither is your strength departed, Whither gone your martyrdom?
Lo, love’s light is on them, Glory’s flame upon them,
And their will to die doth quell E’en the lord and prince of hell.

These the men by fear unshaken, Facing danger dauntlessly;
These no witching lust hath taken, Lust that lures to vanity.
Mid the roar and rattle of tumultous battle
In desire they soar above All that earth would have them love.

Great of heart, they know no turning, Honor, gold, they laugh to scorn,
Quench desires within them burning, By no earthly passion torn.
Mid the lion’s roaring Songs of praise outpouring,
Joyously they take their stand On th’arena’s bloody sand.

Would to God that I might even As the martyred saints of old
With the helping hand of Heaven, Steadfast stand in battle bold!
O my God, I pray Thee, In the combat stay me.
Grant that I may ever be, Loyal, staunch, and true to Thee.