Between the years of 1969-1973, I acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Philosophy from Roberts Wesleyan College. I continued to study theology, ethics, practical ministry and philosophy at Asbury Theological Seminary from 1973-1976. After beginning my life in the ministry, I returned to study more of the same, finally attaining a Master's of Divinity Degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary [1987]. For the record, pursuing a seminary degree necessarily involves you in a constant barrage of classes to initiate deep, philosophical discussions. In addition, required thesis papers abound that call on you to respond to the philosophical schools of thought and your personal responses to them!
I must confess that I never enjoyed the study of philosophy! They were the most difficult books for me to understand. I found myself reading each book two or three times in an effort to comprehend the content. I groaned with each philosophy course that I was required to take.
The following is evidence that I actually did pay attention in my classes:
“Abandon all hope, you
who enter here.” This warning stands etched for eternity over the gates of
Dante’s hell. It is one of the most famous lines in literature, and rightly so.
It marks the beginning of Dante’s descent, following the footsteps of Christ,
into the heart of the earth — a sobering journey that puts both the fear and
fitness of divine justice on full display.
I eventually came to think that these words – “Abandon all hope, you who enter here.” – should have been etched above the doors of every seminary!
I assume that the reason for my dissonance was the mere fact that I am wired toward practical thinking and reasoning. I came from the home of a nail maker and a home maker. Discussions at our dinner table were of day-to-day practicalities. A love for the Church and a love for Jesus was the dominant teaching of my growing-up home! My siblings were considerably older and didn't have much of an impact on my formation.
I was the first of my Grandma Haire's grandchildren to graduate from college. Her brother - James Okey Archer - was the only other pastor on either side of my family tree. I had great respect for him and viewed him more like a grandfather than a great-uncle.
My vocation was set when I received my call to ministry at the age of seventeen. [Click the link to read about my 'Call'.] https://hal-lelujah.blogspot.com/2012/05/call-part-1.html
My years of education finally ended in 1992, when I acquired a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
During my education at PTS, I was challenged by a professor to be a lifelong learner. Actually, he perturbed me in a small, very personal class. He mockingly stated that the last book a seminary student reads for his/her coursework will likely be the last book they will ever read! He expounded on the fact that most graduates that he knew were no longer stimulating their thinking with new thoughts and ideas. His attitude and disdain triggered a resolve in me that I would be different! Soon after graduating, I determined that I would make it my goal to read a book-a-week for the rest of my life!
It was a challenging goal! With the dual ambitions of being a great husband/dad and also an effective church leader, I found that my reading goal would have to be carefully protected! Joyfully, I was privileged to have responsibility for growing churches - which added stress and pressure to my life! However, my young adult challenge maintained a high priority for me.
My books have usually been kept in my church study [with some being kept at home]. I was often asked if I’d read all of my books. My answer: “most of them, but some are reference books that are not intended to be read from beginning to end.”
So, you ask: “Hal, did you read a book-a-week through-out your life?”
Hal:
“Not even close! I fell far short! However, I did read lots of books and they
enriched my life and my ministry greatly!”
Upon my retirement in 2017, I found many distractions to keep me busy. Without the demands of pastoral ministry, I found many other ways to fill my days. Without ever thinking about it, I just quit reading – except for novels. Debbie had coaxed me throughout the years to read novels; I learned to enjoy and appreciate them.
Lo and behold, a plot began to take shape in my mind. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, I – like everyone else – was sequestered. I began to give shape to my novel thoughts! 😉 By the end of that year I self-published my first Christian/Romance novel: LONELY FOR A LONG TIME.
Within the next three years I was able to publish three semi-sequels:
·
A
LIFE REPURPOSED
·
OVERWHELMED,
and
·
NEVER
UNREACHABLE.
There’s still another plot ruminating in my mind, but I don’t feel compelled to develop it at present.
LET’S END THIS OVERLY LONG MONOLOGUE!
In recent months I have been recalled to my original goal of reading. After significantly reducing the volume of books in my study, I am now beginning again to add to its number! Fortunately, as a result of my purge, I have room for new books. 👍
Throughout my retirement, I begin my day in my study reading. Of course it includes scripture! But I have also always tried to stay stimulated by reading history, biographies, and devotional classics. And, by the way, I also try to include something philosophical! I’m currently working through Os Guinness’ THE JOURNEY: Our Quest for Faith and Meaning. Just like the old days, I find myself reading some pages two or three times!
It was actually an article in Guinness’ book that triggered this blog!
One segment was about Charles Darwin, the famed naturalist and author of ORIGIN OF SPECIES. The following excerpt initially raised my hopes – and then immediately crushed them! If you feel adventurous – read on. 🙄
[Darwin writing to a friend] “Another source of conviction in the existence of God, connected with the reason, and not with the feelings, impresses me as having more weight. This follows from the extreme difficulty or rather impossibility of conceiving this immense and wonderful universe, including man with his capacity of looking far backwards and far into the futurity, as the result of blind chance or necessity. When thus reflecting I feel compelled to look to a First Cause having an intelligent mind in some degree analogous to that of man; and I deserve to be called a Theist.”
Up to this point, I was feeling very hopeful – but then, I read on…
“This conclusion was strong in my mind about the time, as far as I can remember, when I wrote the Origin of Species; and it is since that time that it has very gradually, with many fluctuations, become weaker. But then arises the doubt, can the mind of man, which has, as I fully believe, been developed from a mind as low as that possessed by the lowest animals, be trusted when it draws such grand conclusions?” [Guinness, p.151]
Oh, Charlie, so near – and yet so far!
Expand your mind this week – read a good book and challenge yourself!
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