Adolphus Writer's Blog, page 20
February 19, 2015
Deluding Influence
Delusion is defined as:
De·lu·sion /dəˈlo͞oZHən/ noun: delusion; plural noun: delusions
An idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder.
“The delusion of being watched.”
“Was her belief in his fidelity just a delusion?”
The action of deluding someone or the state of being deluded.
“What a capacity television has for delusion.”
And, perhaps more directly:
February 12, 2015
Sanctification
Paul writes to the church in Rome:
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is deat...
February 5, 2015
Assurance
After I was saved from the death penalty that hangs over us all, I memorized a different translation of this verse very early on:
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:10-1...
January 30, 2015
The Upper Hand – Bernhardt Writer
Some people always have to have the upper hand. My father was one of those people. He would do whatever it took to gain an advantage over those he met. He would be proper, humble, a terror, or a fool if it would give him power and control over others. Fundamentally, he both disrespected and feared them at the same time. He was an expert at what he did and I was a rebellious teen who rejected his ways (by God’s grace).
Such recollections remind me of the scripture:
And in his teaching he said, “...
January 22, 2015
Salvation
There is much confusion about this concept nowadays. There needn’t be. Scripture is clear:
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
Neither is there salvation in any other. …And assuredly Christ had showed this one token of his grace, to the end [that] he might be known to be the only author of life. We must consider this in all the benefits of God, to wit, tha...
January 15, 2015
No Rest
We are now planning Mandated Memoranda Publishing’s next novel: Who Shall Be God. We have characters, certain scenes, and even a cover image in mind already. We’re investigating background materials for the theme of the novel. Since it deals with political conflict reflected through two families, we’re reading The Fourth Revolution by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge and Alien Powers by Kenneth Minogue. However, we always have a biblical theme in mind too.
The scripture: Isaiah 57 jumpe...
January 8, 2015
Judgment and Condemnation
I was speaking with someone at church a few weeks back and we both wondered what 2 Corinthians 5:10 meant:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
Are believers judged? Rather than guess, I offered to look into it. Here’s what I found Calvin had to say:
We must be manifested. Though this is common to all, yet all without distinction...
January 2, 2015
How They Love One Another
Lately, I’ve been struck by the distance between my actions and my words. Maybe you have, too? It’s cliché to consider resolutions this time of year. However, resolutions that we set for ourselves are sure to fail. Ask God, with me, that our actions and words align this year. In that spirit, let us consider:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have...
December 26, 2014
Schadenfreude
Have you ever laughed when someone trips up, makes a mistake, or some other calamity befalls them? That’s an example of Schadenfreude.
Wikipedia defines it as:
Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. This word is taken from German and literally means ‘harm-joy.’ It is the feeling of joy or pleasure when one sees another fail or suffer misfortune. It is also borrowed by some other languages.
But it’s not something we should practice towards those we call brothers and sisters.
Rejoice with...
December 20, 2014
A Digital Carol – A Tale for Our Generation – Candidate Press Release
Mandated Memoranda Publishing Announces Fourth Book
A Digital Carol – A Tale for Our Generation, By Adolphus Writer, Exclusively on Amazon as a Kindle Edition, a Mandated Memoranda Publishing, LLC release.
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2014 /PR Company TBD/ — A Digital Carol – A Tale for Our Generation is the old Dickens’s favorite—A Christmas Carol—reimagined. We now face a monstrous egotist who questions the very premise of his existence and ours.
A Digital Carol – A Tale for Our Generation, by Ado...
