veni vedi legi 5-9-5

     I recently finished Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. A look at the twelve disciples, whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary men - fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots - and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from utter uselessness. I'm planning on writing a review of it for another website.    
I've also been reading King Arthur and His Knights, a bunch of selected tales by Sir Thomas Malory, edited by Eugene Vinaver. This particular book includes English Arthurian fiction directly attributable to Malory's original tales; including thoroughly readable accounts of the exploits of King Arthur, Merlin, Sir Lancelot, Gawain and the Green Knight, and the legend of the Holy Grail. This book is particularly entertaining, as it is much more graphic and tragic than any of the Arthurian Fairy tales I've read/watched before.   
 I also got some books to read today. One I bought some time ago, but had been busy readin other stuff and never got to it. The Annals and The Histories by Tactitus. That should be a fun read. I also picked up The Documents of Vatican II. I've heard alot about Vatican II in seminary, but never got a chance to read through it myself. I also picked up the Literary Study of the Bible by Richard G. Moulton (of Moulton and Milligan fame) circa June 1899. I read through most of what I've wanted to in that already, but the foreward is just amazing...

The Month of May

     That the month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom and to burgeon. For like as trees and herbs burgeoneth and flourisheth in May, in like wise every lusty heart that is any manner of lover springeth, burgeoneth, buddeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May, in some thing to contrain him to some manner of thing, more than in any other month, for diverse causes: for then all herbs and trees reneweth a man and woman, and in like wise lovers calleth to their mind old gentleness and old service, and many kind deeds that was forgotten by negligence. The Knight of the Cart by Sir Thomas Malory.

Read 4-26-5

     I finished reading Thomas Jefferson on Democracy, which was an interesting read. It's a bunch of quotes taken from Jefferson's letters and such. Since he never bothered to deliver any large documents outlining his thoughts on such matters, other than the obvious group effort documents. It's some keen insight into how Jefferson viewed America and democracy. He is valued himself a Materialist, and his Humanism and Rationalism are quite evident. In light of his skepticism of everything, he still has that deistic 18th century worldview, that the founding fathers are famous for.     I also finished The Great Gatsby. As the inventor of the 'Gat,' Gatsby will always be remembered in that aspect. Actually, it was a fun read. The style of the author was a bit interesting at first (being written in the twenties and all). There were a few prepositions and pronouns more than I expected.This reliance cannot deceive us, as long as we remain virtuous; and I think we shall be so, as long as agriculture is our principal object, which will be the case, while there remain vacant lands in any part of America. When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become corrupt as in Europe, and go to eating one another as they do there. (Jefferson, 70)

Balm of Gilead (24-Apr-2002 - 24-Apr-2005)

As of 04-24-2005, the Balm of Gilead will cease operations under the address of balm-of-gilead.org. This website will continue at it's current address of hettinger.us. The reason for this is the three year run of that domain name will be at an end, and the board of directors have decided not to renew this address.

Indian Bathtub Hotsprings

      The hotsprings of the month this month is Indian Bathtub again. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, as it has been raining off and on for the last two weeks. It was a sunny day and everything was green! This hotspings is only about an hour out of Boise, so I'm surprised at how low traffic it is. I guess you have to know where it is to go visit it. This time, I went from the westward approach. I drove part of the way, but I don't have a 4x4 Mustang convertible, so I decided to walk part of the way. The hotsprings was in excellent condition, and the bottom was substantially clearer, with less mud all around. Perhaps the rain had something to do with that.

Reading 4-16-5

     I finished up The Hunchback of Notre Dame. A very interesting book. You can see how Hugo pitted oposite characters in this stroy, and it worked well. Though it was rather dark and brooding, much like Toilers of the Sea.
      I also finished Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, which was a fun read. It had some great historical information (coincidentally, 2006 is the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birthday), as well as a little bit about his relationship with George Whitfield. There were definately some good quotes in it...

Shoshone Falls 4-7-5

     I had a few extra minutes this morning, and decided to explore around Twin Falls. So, driving along, I saw a large cement slab in the Shap of Idaho (perhaps in case you forget where you are). Anyways, after driving down to the falls, I stopped at the booth and footed it the rest of the way. The Guard gave me a handout entitled "Shoshone Falls: Niagara of the West""Springtime is the best season to visit Shoshone Falls. In years of heavy precipitiation, the Snake River swells with snowmelt, creating an awesome display at the waterfall. Swirling mist, swooping birds, and rainbows rise from the sheets of water."