Scrutiny of a Paragraph from "Hard Times"

 

 

          The following six sentences are from “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens…

 

“The scene was a plain, bare, monotonous vault of a school-room, and the speaker’s square forefinger emphasized his observations by underscoring every sentence with a line on the schoolmaster’s sleeve.

The emphasis was helped by the speaker’s square wall of a forehead, which had his eyebrows for its base, while his eyes found commodious cellarage in two dark caves, overshadowed by the wall.

 The emphasis was helped by the speaker’s mouth, which was wide, thin, and hard set.

The emphasis was helped by the speaker’s voice, which was inflexible, dry, and dictatorial.

The emphasis was helped by the speaker’s hair, which bristled on the skirts of his bald head, a plantation of firs to keep the wind from its shining surface, all covered with knobs, like the crust of a plum pie, as if the head had scarcely warehouse-room for the hard facts stored inside.

The speaker’s obstinate carriage, square coat, square legs, square shoulders,—nay, his very neckcloth, trained to take him by the throat with an unaccommodating grasp, like a stubborn fact, as it was,—all helped the emphasis.”

Those six sentences, italics mine, form one paragraph. I have separated the sentences here so as to help identify the usage of the words “emphasized” and “emphasis”, within those sentences.

In sentence one we see the word used as a verb applying to “observations”.

In subsequent sentences we read how the emphasis was aided by some opprobrium of personal trait of “the speaker”.

I am convinced that Dickens, a master of opprobrium, did not, in these sentences, exhaustively apply opprobrium, but did so sparingly so as to avoid reaching the point of intolerance of the reader.

I hope, in my scrutiny of this paragraph, to have helped the reader grasp an appreciation of Dicken’s style of over-emphasis of garrulous detail.

Envious of his writing style since first reading “Hard Times” in 1969, I have tried to emulate to some degree his expertise of adjuring words and imagery such that my reader would respond with either chuckle, chortle, or well-chosen opprobrium.

In Which I Celebrate Herman Melville's "Burglariously"

 

  

artist:Joseph Oriel Eaton

  Being an appreciant of the complex sentence structure, labyrinthine grammar, and plenteous punctuation, adjective, and adverb, of 19^th century literature, I decided to read some short stories by the acclaimed Herman Melville so as to humor my pining for such literary device.

    While reading “Temple First” (of “The Two Temples”), I adventured upon the word “burglariously”.

I have noticed other 19^th century wordsmiths of grandiose application take nouns and adverbalize them for the effect of eccentricity.

I particularly enjoy this particular term for its unwieldy enunciation. “Burglariously” just doesn’t roll off the tongue in ease. One must decidedly take a moment of tongue-taming to coax it forth from the lips.

But, indeed, once practiced twice or thrice, the word does respond in obedience and thereby arouse attention from unexpectant hearers and, invariably, critics of creative, albeit, somewhat nugatory prose.

In Anticipation of the Season of the Unraveled Mummy

 

 

   Neighborhood porches sport candle-lit Jacko’ lanterns along with store-purchased ghosts and skeletons which dangle from hooks and sway in the evening breeze.

Television sitcoms, advantageously scripted for the approaching holiday, celebrate the theme of Halloween.

The aroma of pumpkin spice is seemingly ubiquitous and mocked even more so.

Yes, the accoutrements of autumn attend to our spirit of celebration and festivity.

But let us not forget the tradition of expertly launching a roll of toilet paper such that it decoratively drapes upon tree limbs and other items upon a lawn while homeowners sleep or pretend to do so.

Yes, some homeowners know that it is coming and, perhaps having no other entertainment for the evening, inconspicuously watch from a darkened room while sipping on pumpkin spice tea and quietly playing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, chuckling as some launched rolls fail to cooperate and thus fall with a thud upon the moist blades of grass.

Ah, to remember our teen years when our preference for double ply was due to its tolerable quality of ductility.

The morning after such act of tradition I drive by and, seeing the display of toilet paper hanging from trees, I think…” There’s a bunch of unraveled mummies walking around nekid out here somewhere!”.

And I hope that they are smart enough to stay off the roads.

Eternal Defender of the Queen's Humour!

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

All of my life there has always been Queen Elizabeth II. I was born in 1955. Her coronation was June 2, 1953.

 During the 1960s, my early years into teens, I lived in Detroit where I listened to CKLW radio station originating in Windsor Ontario. I watched tv stations which came out of Canada. There were many stories about her and her family. During my younger years she became more recognizable to me than American Presidents.

    Queen Elizabeth II has served as Head of State for Great Britain over the course of thirteen American Presidents.

Often spoken of with the title “Defender of The Faith”, Elizabeth is also the formal head of the Anglican Church.

While many people think that the British Monarchy is obsolete in contemporary times, I think that longevity of service as Head of State and Head of Church provides for and supports the national identity, current and historical.

I would not advocate for such an arrangement in the United States, but this arrangement for Great Britain enables them to “know themselves” beyond transient political fixation driven by political party messaging and media headlines.

Queen Elizabeth II has served the Crown and her people with a dedication and sincerity that I describe as admirable.

God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen.

Communion: Yet Another Reason Why I am Staying United Methodist

 

Photo from INUMC.ORG website

In the United Methodist Church, there are two Sacraments. The one is baptism. This is a one-time, most singular moment in the life of a Christian by which we are, at once, purified and freed of sins, and also incorporated into the body and life of the universal church.

The other Sacrament, which I wish to discuss here, is Holy Communion.

Yet one more reason why I choose to remain in the United Methodist Church is our stance of “open table”.

The Rev. Gary Henderson describes the meaning of “open table” very well…: “When we use the term 'open table,' we’re really referring to the Communion table where all are welcome; welcome without regard to difference. It is a table where there are no barriers to community. It is a place where we experience the love of God. ‘God so loved the world that God gave.’ The image that I have is the image of a banquet where everyone is a VIP, a very important person with a special seat at the table.”

There are some churches in which one must be a full member as a requirement to receive the Communion elements. Not so in a United Methodist Church. All in the room are invited, because it is the invitation of Christ.

Our liturgy offers these conditions…

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,
who earnestly repent of their sin
and seek to live in peace with one another.

And even those conditions, loving Christ, repenting, living in peace, are a matter of personal, self-assessment. There will be no pastor who will question or qualify your sincerity in those matters as you approach the table.

May Heaven help the pastor who would interfere with an invitation from Christ and the one approaching.

In fact, in the liturgical word we hear

 “Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.”

Two things I bring to your attention…

I always clarify that it is grape juice that we use rather than wine so that there will be no misunderstanding. But more importantly, I like to emphasize that these Communion elements are offered and made to be the body and blood of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit…not the pastor.

While most United Methodist Churches offer Communion one Sunday per month so as to maintain its special sacred quality in the particular congregation, other churches offer Communion each Sunday as a constant and frequent opportunity to humble oneself in the presence of Christ. Each individual congregation is allowed their own custom in the matter. There is not an imposed schedule of Communion.

In his sermon “The Duty of Constant Communion”, John Wesley (founder of the Methodist movement) said “I am to show that it is the duty of every Christian to receive the Lord''s Supper as often as he can.”

There is no denominational, rigid, schedule of Communion which all churches and individuals must follow. It is a matter of congregational agreement.

I will be staying United Methodist because in this church each congregation has room to approach Communion as Christ calls them to do. In the United Methodist Church, each person in the room is a “VIP” invited to the table. In the United Methodist church each person has room for the Holy Spirit to make the elements for them to be the Body and Blood of Christ.

By the way, at Mishawaka Willow Creek and Granger Good Shepherd, having learned a good thing from the pandemic, we continue to serve the bread and grape juice in small individual cups. This manner of Communion seems most healthy. And you know, as much healing as Jesus did, I don’t think he would mind a bit of precaution.

Sgt. Pepper Crashes a Rolling Stones Tribute Band

 

 

Friday night, August 19. 2022, in Goshen Indiana Satisfaction: A Rolling Stones Fantasy Tribute Band played to a festive crowd at the Goshen Theatre.

Sgt. Pepper crashed the concert in usual style. Mick invited Sgt. Pepper on the stage where Sgt. Pepper declared Satisfaction to be the best rock and roll band in the world.

Satisfaction played from 7:30 until 10:00.

Many folk in the crowd danced during many of the songs.

“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”

“Sympathy for the Devil”

“You Can’t Always Get Want You Want”

And so many other Stones numbers were played convincingly.

Anyway, if ever you want to try out a Rolling Stones Tribute band, you can’t go wrong with these guys!!!

And it’s true, you can’t always get want you want, but I think everyone did at Goshen Theatre for a few hours.

You can find out more about this superb band here:

http://www.rollingstoneshow.com

And tell them Sgt. Pepper sent you.

Another Reason Why I will Stay United Methodist

 

Another reason why I am staying with the United Methodist Church is that they respect my conscience as to my hermeneutical approach to Scripture.

I know for sure that the Bible was not written seventy years ago by Billy Graham in America in English.

It was written roughly 2000 (plus) years ago, in different languages, in very different cultures.

I seek the original “on the scroll” context and meaning at the time it was written rather than a prima facia “it means what it says and it says what it means” understanding.

Contemporary translations and cultural conditions can cause us to misread original context and intent.

For example, Jeremiah 8:8 (and this is a truly intriguing verse)…

“‘How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?

If I were to take a literal and prima facia understanding of those words, I would have to conclude that we cannot at all trust the Law as written in Exodus and Leviticus. The words in verse 8, without seeking a proper context, pretty explicitly tell us that the scribes have handled it falsely.

But, if we take into consideration the fuller context of Jeremiah and the idolatry described in that book, we may get to a workable view-point that the King or leadership at the time was pressuring the scribes to write the Law such that it would accommodate the King’s policies.

Another really fun one for the literal and prima facia reader…

Deuteronomy 23 ¹² Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. ¹³ As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. ¹⁴ For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

If your restroom is in your home, aren’t you incompliant with the Law?

Well, as I said, I take into consideration the context, the times, and the purpose of the Scripture, and so I have a restroom at home. Two as a matter of fact.

So, my approach to preaching and teaching Scripture is to first, as best I can without having coffee and discussion with Moses or Apostle Paul, determine the likely original meaning and context. Then, with faithful intent, apply the lesson to contemporary situations.

When I was very young, I was in a denomination that dictated how the Bible was to be read, with no personal room for interpretation or Holy Spirit inspiration.

When I was a teenager and young adult I was in a denomination that insisted that the pastor was the ultimate authority of Scripture.

None of us have Moses or the Apostle Paul to ask clarifying or confirming questions.

But you know, the United Methodist Church also respects the hermeneutical approach of preachers who reach more toward a prima facia understanding of the Scripture. Those folk also may preach from their conscience.

Therefore, I appreciate the humble approach that the United Methodist Church takes toward faithful interpretation of Scripture.

Whenever I compose a sermon, I review it with the Articles of Religion in mind as a measure of quality control and doctrinal integrity.

And for the record, when I read or speak the Apostle’s Creed, I intend the words in their most literal meaning.

I have never met a United Methodist clergy person who believes those words in the figurative sense.

I will stay with the United Methodist Church where we have open hearts that change hearts, open minds that can reason with each other, and open doors that do not close on disputable matters (Romans 14:1).

Why I Will Stay United Methodist

 

    One reason, among many, why I will be staying with the United Methodist Church is that, just as Jesus got out of the synagogue to do the practical work of divinity, the United Methodist Church stands up from the pew and gets out of the sanctuary to heal, feed, and clothe.

   This is in stark contrast to any church, local, or denominational, that would stay in the sanctuary seeking an inward focus such that it could proclaim “Look how holy we are!”

    The United Methodist Church, seeking to be faithful to the teachings and modeling of Christ, operates well connected agencies such as United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church and Society, to achieve on a community, national, and international level what local congregations cannot do by themselves.

Local congregations can do only so much. Most congregations are on incomes as fixed as those of retired folk. And yet most are very faithful with their tithe to Conference and District.

That is why it is helpful to be in a well-connected system such as the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Conference “Diversity, Missions, and Justice” ministry can leverage whatever giving we submit so as to fulfill the teachings of Jesus to help the needy.

The local church cannot, on its own, fulfil the mission of “feeding five thousand.” But, through faithful tithing and contributions, the Conference can achieve the miracle.

For people who seek to do the will of Jesus beyond the pew, the United Methodist Church is the place to be.

If Jesus had stayed in the synagogue reading and speaking the Law regarding stoning adulterous people, he would never have been available to show compassion to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).

If Jesus had fortressed himself within the synagogue seeking to comply with synagogue official’s views on the Sabbath, he would not have broken with tradition to heal a man with a shriveled hand (Matt. 12:10).

If Jesus had sequestered his spirituality to the gentile-exclusive synagogue, he would never have healed a demoniac gentile in the region of the Gerasenes (Luke 8: 26-39).

Like Jesus, the United Methodist Church gets out of the sanctuary and meets people where they are!

The United Methodist Church…transforming the world.

And so yes, I will continue to participate!

Celebrate the Declaration of Independence

 

 

A gift from my wife, Sherry

   There are listed in the Declaration of Independence twenty-seven grievances against the King of England which served as justification for the colonists to separate from England. These twenty-seven, profoundly serious, conditions were offered to “a candid world” so that the world may know that the colonists were not merely “political hotheads” in revolt against proper authority. These collective grievances proved that the ruling authority had lost its moral integrity and thus the people were right in freeing themselves of mistreatment.

The United States Constitution is to be measured by how well it serves to remedy the grievances listed in the Declaration.

One such grievance stated in the Declaration which the Constitution gives remedy follows:

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

A diligent reading of history will reveal that during colonial times the King of England would allow the military to move soldiers into personal homes, with or without the consent of the homeowner. That is not just an inconvenience imposed by government, it was a serious intrusion upon a person’s property and privacy.

Thus, in composition of the Constitution, we have Amendment 3 which protects against such intrusion…

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

We often celebrate the first and second amendments which provide us with rights of free speech and possession of arms. But also, we see here in the 3^rd amendment a right that we so often take for granted.

The other amendments also serve to provide a relationship between government and the people such that liberty may be preserved while avoiding anarchy or oppression.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, let us be aware of the direct connection between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

An Appeal to Christians Who Pray

 

Today the U.S. Supreme Court found in favor of petitioner Joseph Kennedy regarding his right to pray. The Bremerton School district had terminated him for having publicly prayed at midfield after a game. Congratulations to Mr. Kennedy.

But also, I put forth this appeal to Christians, especially Christians who are in a position of prominence, such as politicians, actors, ball players: resist the temptation to make a public spectacle of prayer and personal piety.

I remind you of our Lord’s words in Matthew 6: ⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

 

In the same chapter Jesus speaks of the personal practice of fasting…we should not make our piety a show of “look how good I am.” We should be humble in our practices.

It is acceptable for a public figure, or anyone, to be incidentally photographed in a candid moment of prayer. People pray before consuming dinner. They pray before surgery or making decisions. But when I see notable people, all facing the camera, in a posture of prayer, and even holding objects of religious veneration, then I know that the moment was planned, choreographed, and posed. It lacks genuine piety or humility and seems only as a self-serving opportunity to make some political or cultural point or comment.

There are no political solutions to spiritual matters.

Jesus taught us in Matthew 4: 8-10 that gaining control over earthly kingdoms is not the means by which one worships and serves God.

The Supreme Court of the United States, is an earthly kingdom. That this body of interpreters of the Constitution, not the Bible, has decided that a person has the political right to pray on the fifty yard line of a high football field before a general public, does not mean Christians should abandon the teachings of Christ to instead make a public display of just how much right we have to show how pious we are.

Let the Supreme Court decide what are and are not our citizen rights.

Let Jesus instruct us as to how we may best live out those rights in authentic Christian manner.

Those that care enough to know what the case was all about and how the justices decided, the opinion of the Court can be found here:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-418_i425.pdf

Marie Osmond with nephew David at Blue Gate Theater

 

Marie Osmond stage shot (all photos mine)

Most folk know that the kind of concert I attend is constructed of reverb-base driven, guitar-fugue infused, sweaty, over-the-top Mick Jagger-like front men running from one end of the stage to the next in fear that he might "miss a beam of theater light” characteristics.

And so, you can understand my self-befuddlement a couple of weeks ago when I called Sherry and said…

“Hey, wanna go to the Marie Osmond concert at the Blue Gate Theater in Shipshewana?”

After a brief chuckle she replied “Why not. It will be like revisiting our childhood.”

It was indeed a fun concert as Marie sang “Paper Roses”, songs from her latest album “Unexpected”, show tunes, and more.

Her concluding song before the obligatory encore-send off was a very powerful performance of “How Great Thou Art”. So very rich in vocal quality and stirring of the emotion that I almost anticipated Elvis, unable to resist the urge, momentarily manifesting from the beyond to sing duet with Marie.

Marie performing a show tune

Alas…no Elvis. It would have been no use. No one could upstage Marie last night!

I amend my words…

Not that David Osmond upstaged his aunt Marie, or “Aunty M”, as he referred to her, but I was greatly impressed with his vocal talent, stage presence, and audience-engagement.

Photo of projected image Marie and David duet

David tours with Marie and sings duets with her, and also performs some solo numbers of his own.

Now forty-two, at age twenty-six David experienced multiple sclerosis and was confined to a wheelchair. Having overcome that disability, yet with much pain in his legs, he too moves about the stage in dance evocative of the memory of an Osmond Brothers performance.

He just looks, sings, and choreographically moves, like an Osmond.

It was like being in 1970!

Anyway, he won my admiration!

And also, he referred to us as his cousins!

Never heard Mick or Ozzy do that!

Sherry and I had much fun.

For sure, it was a memorable concert.

I even bought the “Unexpected” CD.

It will rotate along with my CDs of Jimmy Hendrix, Beatles, Stones, and Herbie Mann.

Thank you, Marie and David for a great experience!

And the rest of David's cousins

---

Vittorino’s Cucina, Brook, and the Ephemeral ukulele

 

 A report post vacation in Tennessee. Location: Vittorino’s Cucina 111 North Main street suite B, Sweetwater, TN 37874

  While reviewing my text messages, I ran across this photo which Sherry took whilst I was busy drawing a Ukulele on a napkin for waitress Brook.

You see, I almost always ask the wait- staff what hobbies they may enjoy when not working. Waitresses at the previous two restaurants replied that they were ukulele enthusiasts.

And so, engaging Brook, I said “I suppose you play the ukulele when not working?”

Brook, with one eyebrow raised and the other eye squinted ever so slightly, nonetheless smiling, said “Huh”? as if my question was so irrelevant as to follow up out of sheer curiosity.

I then explained about the previous two.

Chuckling, she said “No, I am studying to become a Real Estate Broker.”

I agreed that such an undertaking might prove a bit more profitable.

But, feeling sad that she had no ukulele at all, I proceeded to draw one for her on a napkin that she may find after our departure.

I suppose that many sensible readers, perhaps most, would think it a bit of a stretch that she valued my drawing of that ukulele sufficiently to have it framed and mounted in a prominent place at her home.

But, I’m gonna assume that I made such a favorable impression that in fact that napkin rests ever so proudly in the pages of her Real Estate study materials as a means of encouragement.

Well, at least, that is truly what I would do if I received such an ephemeral gesture of humour!

Oh yes, the food was great and I recommend the place!

Tell ‘em Mike sent you!

Sister Vickie and Decoration Day

 

My sister and I, when we could share a chair

As Memorial Day approaches each year, I remember an incident that faithfully describes the relationship I had with my sister.

I was very young, maybe four or five. Our family was at Bakers-Forge cemetery in Lafollette Tennessee. We were observing Decoration Day, as we called it in the south.

I found these small colorful strips of cloth attached to sticks poking from the ground to be very attractive and so I began collecting them. Many of them had red and white stripes with a corner of white stars on a blue background. Many of these colorful pieces of cloth had red backgrounds with  crisscross stripes of blue on which white stars rested.

Yes, age five, Decoration Day, I, thinking it was appropriate, was taking flags from the graves of deceased heroes, loved ones, and remembered ones.

As I continued my quest of gathering these flags, by this time an armful of them, I heard my sister, Vickie, yell words at me. Much like the Doppler effect of an approaching train, her voice seemed louder with each uttered syllable... “ Mikie, what are you doin’!”

It was not a question.

It was an accusation…a proclamation of some cultural incorrectness in which I was engaged.

Given the intensity of her yell, I knew that some form of sisterly violence was impending.

And she did not betray her predictability!

As I turned to face her, she tackled me as I were carrying the football and needed to be felled before crossing the goal!

The flags, those pretty colorful pieces of cloth, bounced from my arms and landed helter-skelter on freshly cut grass and I too landed with them also helter- skelter in my disorientation and subsequent response to her!

Once I had had my say with her, she then calmly explained to me the reason for her attack upon me. It was to save me from further cultural incorrectness, or insult to the deceased.

Vickie was one year and five months older than I was.

It was she that taught me to read, to understand things in life. Vickie was larger than life to me. She protected me.

Bakers-Forge Lafollette Tennessee

And when she died on August 20^th, 1962…four days after my birthday, I felt an unfillable hole in my heart.

It was then, in the absence of my sister, that I committed myself to this…when school started in just a couple of weeks, all the girls in school would be my sisters!

I have held that sentiment since that year. In school, at work, in church, at a concert, wherever I am, all the women present are my sisters.

They fetch my respect as if they were Vickie!

As Memorial Day approaches, I shall not be stealing flags.

I will take a walk through the rows of gravestones, flags pushed into the grassy ground, and recall the incident in which I learned about respect for the dead, from Vickie.

Still, I look forward to Heaven in which I will get even, ferociously!

Visit Donna's Old Town Cafe in Madisonville Tennessee

 

Down town Madisonville Tennessee

One of the best attributes of Madisonville Tennessee for a tourist to visit is Donna’s Old Town Café.

   Of course the food is great and tasty, but what I want to point out is their quality of “southern hospitality". It is as convincing as the smile on the face of a realtor at closing.

Our waitress, Grace, is evidence of their hospitality as my story reveals…

Upon arrival at our table I asked her what is her name. “Grace” she replied.

Quite unimaginatively I offered…”Amazing Grace?” Then quickly added “I’m sure you get that often.”

With nod and smile she shared her story…

“When I was in fourth grade there was this boy, Josh, who had a crush on me. On Valentine’s day he brought to school a bunch of flowers for me and sang “Amazing Grace”!

She seemed tickled and pleased to relate the story.

The restaurant gives one the idea that all of their food, staff, and clientele are the stuff that “southern hospitality” describes. While other establishments may aspire to this quality, Donna’s Old Town Café has already arrived!

Oh yes…please note the “yall” sentiment on the back of the receipt.

How delightfully charming!!

You can find out more about Donna's here:

https://oldtowncafe.com/

and tell them Mike sent you!!!

Discovery of Salvation

 

 

 

Please know that I do not get into a discussion such as this from the pulpit because it gets too deep into theological and doctrinal weeds.

And more importantly, I do not reach toward a Calvinistic approach to the idea of belief. Rather, I propose a whole different theological animal altogether.

The basic prompter for this discussion is the verse John 3:16…

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV).

Please note that is does not say “whoever chooses to believe. My position is that we, as humans, do not reach out beyond ourselves and willfully grasp salvation as if we, by doing so, can, in effect, save ourselves. Rather, we arrive at belief as a result of an “Aha” moment of discovery that we already are under the condition of salvation.

Perhaps referencing John Wesley’s Aldersgate experience may be helpful.

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading [Martin] Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. (From the journal of John Wesley May 24, 1738)

Nowhere do we get the idea that John was willfully reaching toward this assurance. It was, for John, a discovery of a condition pre-existing, enabled by the Holy Spirit or preaching, or other prevenient graces.

I think much the same regarding John 3:16.

Also, I think this may impact how we witness or evangelize.

The approach to get people to “choose to believe” too often results in folk having an inaccurate understanding of faith such that when things go badly in their lives, they “choose” not to believe any longer.

However, by the witness of those of us who are mature and long in the faith, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit, folk will experience a discovery of salvation thereby having their hearts “strangely warmed”. This assurance, beyond their capability to seize, will be much more convincing to them precisely because it was initiated by Christ, rather than themselves.

Before the discovery we live a life “condemned already” to experiencing a lack of assurance and salvation.

 After discovery of salvation, we then will indeed have a choice to make…

Our choice is whether or not to follow Jesus, to have Jesus as Lord, to attend to his teachings, to forgive others, to love those that hate us.

Yes, following Jesus, and being faithful to his teachings, is a choice to make.

I propose that people make that choice only as a matter of irresistible gratitude and conviction of conscience, having discovered that Christ first loved and saved us.

I close with this affirmation from Revelation 5…

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”