My book notes

A short time ago, I read Peter Brown's biography on Augustine of Hippo and decided to write up some notes. They won't be excessively long, but enough to just breeze over the main points.

There is not much known about his father. He died shortly after saving enough money to send Augustine off to Carthage for education. Throughout his years growing up, he was eager to study "higher" and more knowledgeable things then the rest of the people. We can see this throughout his life. He did not dabble with lowly or meager issues or subjects. He was always advancing toward more higher and educating subjects. As a young boy in a simple town with peasants and farmers, he felt trapped and secluded from the real world. His mother, Monica, was a devote Christian and always sought to make a strong Christian out of him, but he wouldn't have any of it. At age 28, he snuck off to Rome to avoid having to have his mother cling to him and beg him not to go. It is very evident that Monica loved her son very much all throughout his life although he was known for sneaking off to places without letting her know on purpose. His father was known to be hot-tempered but hard-working. Augustine was very fascinated and held captive by the thought of wisdom. He always sought it out. He looked to the Bible to find Wisdom, but turned away disappointed. Soon enough, he found Manichaeism and found his long-sought out Wisdom. I think I've already explained Manichaeism, but if you don't remember I will revisit it real quick. Any Manichaenist believed that there was always a struggle between the good and spiritual world of light and the evil, dark side of the world. Throughout the course of life, light is increasingly taken out of this world to be returned to the real world of light. God is the ruler of the good and spiritual light world. Augustine often struggled with the trouble of sexual sin himself. Because of this, he focused on this within the surrounding areas. Back then, it was considered normal for a man to have concubines or mistresses. It was, however, considered wrong for a woman to have numerous husbands or relationships with men. He was deeply involved in the debate between the Catholic Church and the Donatists. He said that drunkenness was a compulsive force of habit. People couldn't help becoming drunk because it was just a habit that they couldn't stop. An interesting fact was that he ruled that it was alright for men in the church to wear earrings. He eventually rose to be the bishop of Hippo with great power. He was one to speak fear and the terrors of hell into the hearts of his congregation. His mother kicked him out of the house when she discovered that Augustine had turned to Manicheanism. He lived his life as "Populus Dei". He acted as a judge to the people in his community. During the later years of his life, he had physical disabilities and couldn't travel well. He was opposed to the death penalty saying that in such a case there was "no chance for repentance". He was also violently opposed to gossip. Within the course of 15 years, he wrote 33 books. He loved the Psalms and used "Psalm language" in writing the Confessions. Augustine greatly emphasized spouse faithfulness, family life, and education. He also set a solid foundation for Catholicism. One of his books, The City of God, has also been referred to as his magnum opus. Augustine did believe in demons. He fled to Rome to escape the Donatist's persecutions while at the same time Pelagianism.

Two bad boys

Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, are excessively mischievous.
They are always getting into trouble and their parents know if any mischief occurs in their town,
the two boys are probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. The mother sent the 8 year old in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon. The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Do you know where God is, son?" The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open. So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!" Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD?!" The boy screamed & bolted from the room, ran directly home & dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?" The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time!" "GOD is missing, and they think WE did it!"

Another poem

Tell me that I'm special
Tell me that you care
Make it show that you are near
So I know that I'm loved

Prove to me I'm worthy
Of this life I'm given
Because without your constant love
My life is not worth living

Your always gentle, caring touch
So close and yet so far
Now is farther then the sea
And all that lies beyond

Gone for all eternity
Never to me return
Forgive my ever loving glance
Because I've yet to forget

I must forget that you exist
That you don't really care
You'll never hold me in your arms
The way you did that night

That night when all I needed
Was comfort; someone there
You wouldn't leave my side
But stayed with me to help

Think of all the memories
That we have ever shared
The songs, the words, and pictures
You'll never erase from mind.

Poem

If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue.

If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own;
A place to find serenity,
A place to be alone.

If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea,
But all these things I'm finding
Are impossible for me.

I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best,
A friend who's always there...

Life

Well, I apologize for not posting something decent on here in forever. I promise I have not forgotten about you. I am, however, thinking of deleting this blog. I am feeling like it is very dead. No life whatsoever. I am not writing anything of true interest on here, and as such, I am not having a very alive audience. It is my fault, but nevertheless...until I begin to be responsible about this blog and post worthwhile things that people would enjoy to read, I find that this blog is no longer worth keeping around.

History of Christendom notes - 12/20

In order to convert in masses, missionaries used to go to the king or chieftain. This way, you convert a nation instead of individuals. This is federal headship. Christ is to be our federal headship, and if we don't follow him, Adam is our federal headship. This form of conversion isn't adapted in modern times, and is looked at with scorn. People are skeptical about it, but in essence, this is how a culture should function, based upon strong religions led by the king or ruler.

Part of the reason the Irish saved their civilization was the fact that they copied the great classical books. They kept them in print and so saved them for us. We would not have the literature we have now without their dedication to copying.

They took the gospel to the least likely and they were met with amazing reforming results.

Patrick was born around 385 into a Roman family who lived near water. They weren't super rich, but they weren't poor at the same time. He was captured around 406 by invading pirates who sold him to be a shepherd. He experienced hunger, nakedness, and loneliness throughout the time he spent watching the sheep. It was out there, however, that he finally came back to God. He began to recall what his parents had taught him of God and the Bible. He spent whole days praying to God out there in the fields. The Holy Spirit gave him full recall of all the Scriptures he had been taught as a child. He grew to love those who had enslaved him instead of hating them. He saw an angel in a dream telling him that his ship was ready. He left his flock and walked two hundred miles in six weeks not knowing where he was going to finally come to a harbor with a ship sitting there waiting for him. He was invited aboard and was soon on his way home. He was greeted with great enthusiasm as he was supposed lost forever or dead. He had been gone for eight years. Soon after, he felt the need to return to Ireland and convert the same people who had captured him and sold him. He did so, and through him a great many people were converted. It has been said that he was the tipping point for Ireland's conversion.

There is a huge difference between conversion and assimilation. Conversion is truly taking up the robe of a new belief. Assimilation is simply acting like it; becoming like it; imitating it; absorbing it. There is a difference between being Christian and being American. Many people say they are the same, but it is not. The Celtics were a primitive and earthy people before they were converted. Once they were converted, a primitive and earthy Christianity emerged. Christianity transforms that which it converts if it is rooted within the Word.

Eucatastrophe - a catastrophe with a purpose. An example of this would be the cross, or Joseph being sold as slave, or St. Patrick. Patrick's faith was incarnational.

Christians had a zeal to take the Word to the world. The Irish Christians had a Celtic adventurer spirit. They took the Great Commission to heart. They didn't have many adversaries so they didn't have a chance to be martyrs. Instead, they became green martyrs. Christians who would leave and give up their homelands in Ireland to go among the world and spread the gospel.

We are allowed to be different. Every culture's church will look different. Unity within diversion.

The Irish church should look different from the American church and the Spanish church etc. We can look different as long as we have Christ at the center.

The barbarians crossed the river and the Irish changed the world through it. "We may not know what's going on, but we can be confident that God will remain faithful to His Word." - Pastor.

Poets sprang up from the Irish Christians.

Brenden set out as an adventurer. He journaled his journey and wrote poetry. He was born in 485 and when he was about 17 he gathered a group of his friends together and sailed around making trips. He sought out new lands. He inherited his wild spirit from his parents. He found vast lands. Some say that he even discovered America.

Columba - was born in 521 and was a member of the royal family. His parents were Christians and he attended school. He took twelve companions with him to go convert the Iona Community. The people of that community were fierce. They were also very druidic. Christianity spread to them. Christ alone was the head of the Church there. Missionaries from there went to Germany, Scotland, and Holland. More then seventy kinds have been buried at the Church in the Iona Community. They are thought to be what converted Europe.

The Iona Church had a high view of women and the Bible. They had a low view of hierarchy and effeminate men as missionaries.

All glory, laud, and honor,
To thee our Blessed King

Glory to God in the Highest.

Show for the praises of Him who hath made thee

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.

His Love endures forever.

Poem

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity

Through belief in the threeness

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightening,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

My life in a large nutshell

Ah, so it has been quite some time since I posted anything interesting on here. For that I apologize! Monday was HSMA as usual. It was our dress rehearsal. I also had work that day. Tuesday wasn't much of anything. I got to spend a little time with Aimee (I had so much fun plotting around with her!). Aimee is amazing for any of you who don't know her. Yesterday, I had classes in the morning. Those went moderately well. I got to finish my biography on Augustine which made me very happy. It was a beautiful book and I recommend it to anyone! It's just a biography on Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown. After classes, I had work. Rachel came and picked me up and I went straight to my doctor's appointment. He said that I haven't been getting enough protein and that's why I was having the relapse that I was in the middle of. Directly after that, Rachel and I went out and did a little Christmas shopping. That was a lot of fun, but I spent more money than I had expected to. Yesterday was also my brother's birthday (Happy Birthday, Jon!) and so we had our grandparents over for dinner. After that, we watched a new TV show that we found called "Sing Off" which is a show for amazingly talented singers to come and they judge them. It's on Monday and Wednesday nights. Today I have work and I also must get all caught up on my schoolwork. I also hope on spending some time with Aimee this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, I have to get up bright and early to go to work. I work until HPA begins. After HPA, we have Little Women down in Kzoo to go see. That will be amazing. Plus, I get to meet my weird, mysterious ipod guy: Adam Shultz. Saturday, I have my first rehearsal with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra in the morning. In the afternoon we might go out and *finally* get our Christmas tree. That evening, we have the Church Christmas dinner. Sunday morning (instead of church) I have Lansing Symphony Orchestra rehearsal again. That afternoon, I have my performance at Wharton. (COME SEE IT!) Monday, I have work again followed that evening by my HSMA concert (COME SEE IT!). Tuesday is *nothing* (don't call me, I'll be sleeping in). Wednesday, I'm going to CHICAGO with Libby, Aimee, Madison, my dad, and Mrs. Chauvin!! I get to see Izzy and Miranda! Omw, I can't wait for that. Since we'll be getting home so late from that, Madison will just stay the night! Thursday, I am going up to Lansing with Madison to go shopping in the morning. In the afternoon, I get to go to co-ops with her and finally meet Stephen! I get to see all my other friends there too!

And that sums up what happened to me all this week, and what I will be doing for another week!

Thanks for reading.

Argumentation notes

Deductive Arguments:

To have such an argument, you must have 2 premises and a conclusion. If the premises are true, then the conclusion is normally true. There is, however, a difference between valid and true.

True conclusion and false premises = valid

True premises and false conclusion = valid argument but not a true one

Modus Ponens (mode of putting) - If P then Q. If P is true, then Q is true. If it can be proven that drivers on cell-phones get into more car crashes, then there should be a ban against drivers being able to talk on cell phones.

If premises and conclusions are true, then the argument is true. If one is false, it can still be valid. Then you have to defend and prove the premises.

Modus Tollens (mode of taking) - If P then Q. If not Q then not P.

Hypothetical Syllogism - if P then Q, if Q then R, then P is R. If Christian is Abby's brother, and Abby is Libby's sister, then Christian is Libby's brother.

Disjunctive Syllogism - P or Q ~ not P then Q. Libby or Sarah robbed the bank. If it wasn't Sarah then it was Libby! (bad Libby)

Argumentation notes

Argumentation notes:

Arguments about causes:

1) Causes - they start with correlations. Example, "Students who sit in front of the class get higher grades." "The cock crows so the sun rises." While trying to explain "x", you have to correlate it to "y". Two events tied together. This leads to this and so this is the result. What we must look at though, is that it may be really backwards. The sun rises and so the cock crows. Or the students who get higher grades get them because they sit in the front of the class.

2) Correlations may have alternative explanations. They can be compelling. But the correlation could be wrong. The case could have multiplied answers. The correlation doesn't prove the case just because they're related. Sometimes the end proves the cause. Inverse relationship. "People who meditate are calmer." Flip it. Maybe calmer people are drawn to meditation. Look for a deeper cause for the cause. A cause for the cause of the point. The word, "therefore" shows us the correlation. "The violence on TV effects the society to be more violent." Maybe it is the society that is shaping all the violence that ends up on TV.

3) Work for the most likely explanation. It may not be clear, but there may be a different explanation. It may not be what it first appears to be. Look deeper. Most times, it is hidden. This is what anyone has to do because it is just human nature to hide the truth.

4) Expect complexity. If it's under complex or over complex, you should understand that it's probably wrong or the person is trying to blow smoke. Anything that's too good to be true, or too simple to be true probably isn't. It will be hard to get into a regulation about it, but in order to get the whole story straight, you must always go looking for the truth.

You must ask questions and probe: Is their correlation relevant? What causes this? Why did that happen?

Try to stay away from "always" and "never". Those show huge generalization.

History of Christendom notes

Gregory the Great used the papal lands to feed and give to the surrounding people who were in need. He was greatly known for his hospitality.

He also wrote a book for the clerics mostly derived from the books of Timothy and Titus as a Scriptural standard and structure to their lives. He asked that they be fitted with the correct knowledge for their calling. They were to be physicians of the mind, healing and curing all diseases destructive to Christian thinking. They were also to have a order to their lives. If they couldn't have control and discipline within their own individual lives, how could they do that with others' lives? They were all to be instructed in how to properly teach and admonish their flocks. And the last thing was that they were to remember that they were mortal as well. Often, men in such positions would (and still do) get so caught up with their line of work that they believe themselves to be better and higher beings then the average person. Even though they were holy men, called of God, that doesn't negate from the fact that they could still sin just like any other. They were still subject to temptations.

Gregory sent out several different missionary trips. In one of them, he sent Augustine of Canterbury (not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo) along with forty other monks to England.

He set up the Gregorian Sacramentory which was a school made for monks and priest to school them in doctrinal issues, appropriate art, and how to work through the Church's place in the world. He believed this was made by forming solid liturgy. He was the founder of the Gregorian chant. At his school, the priests would study, and then go back to their monasteries or parishes and then teach what they learned to the people there. Gregory the Great worked tirelessly defending the faith and attacking heresies. He was the one who reset liturgy so that it focused wholly upon God and His Word.

When he died in 604, he was instantly proclaimed a Father of the Church (along with Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome). He believed that Word and Deed were essential to a strong theology. Faith and Works go hand in hand. Faith without works is dead and works without faith is moralism. You think and act upon the thought - this must be worked out throughout life. Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy - right praise, and right thinking. You cannot have one without the other. Gregory helped reestablish many families who struggled with money or food problems. He was known for emptying the monasteries treasury to give to the poor. He lived a life that he didn't plan for or didn't want. The path of being deacon of Rome, abbot, and Pope was not what he wanted, but he coped with it and made the best of it all. He was prepared for it and took it however unwillingly and gave it all to God. Gregory surrounded himself with monks to keep him from stumbling into temptations. They kept him accountable. Gregory was concerned for the strength and integrity of people and the church.

It's time to build a foundation for the future; we must lay the seeds and the groundwork for strong Christians to be formed in days to come. As Christians, we must be conscientiously aware of the future and act upon that.

The Fathers of the Church and their greatest actions:

Ambrose of Milan - he was bishop of Milan and was major in the conversion of Augustine

Jerome - translated the Bible into Latin

Augustine of Hippo - was bishop of Hippo and wrote many great books

Gregory the Great - helped with the conversion of the Angles and reset the liturgy.