Though complete in trinitarian fullness, God does not choose to be alone. Barth says, “God wills and posits the creature, neither out of caprice nor necessity, but because he loved it from eternity, because he wills to demonstrate his love for it, and because he wills, not to limit his glory by its existence and being, but to reveal and manifest it in his own co-existence with it.” God is bound together with us by choice. This is why he acts in history and relates to creatures. He loves to exist in dynamic relationship with the world. God has pledged himself to this situation so full of promise and of risk. The love of God grounds creation. His purpose for it has always been union and communion. God loved the world before it fell into sin. His initial relationship with it was not a legal but a loving one.
– Flame of Love, Clark Pinnock
Hello Rev. Richard J. Vincent.
This is the first time I’m writing to a reverend! I am impressed and inspired by one of your speeches, and that’s why I’m here.
I found this website after almost loosing hope in finding you by your name on the Internet, and then looking at the details of an audio I stumbled upon on the Internet, I saw the website. And then I got myself here with alacrity.
I’m a true fan of your 40 minute “You have a friend in me” four loves speech.
I’ve listened to it so many times (and I am now), and I talk to lots of people and professionals, but no one I’ve seen and heard has never put these matters as beautifully as you have in your speech!
In that audio file, it says it’s track number five. But, I can’t seem to find any other ones! I would be ever so grateful if you write back and let me know if there’s more!
A true fan and follower (not caring if we don’t share the same religion ?)
Shokoofeh Noori
Hi Shokoofeh,
Sorry for the long delay in my response. I can send you to the folder where all my older messages are. All the four loves series is available for download from there. The files are:
http://www.theocentric.com/audio/
08-06-04-FourLoves01.mp3
08-06-11-FourLoves02.mp3
08-06-18-FamilyLove.mp3
08-06-25-FamilyofGod.mp3
08-07-02-Friendship.mp3
08-07-23-FriendshipWithGod.mp3
08-07-30-FriendshipWithGod.mp3
08-08-06-SpiritualFriendship.mp3
08-08-13-Agape.mp3
08-08-20-Eros1.mp3
08-08-27-Eros2.mp3
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any trouble downloading these. And thank you for your kind and gracious words. May God richly bless you! Rich