A Bricklayer’s Story
To Know Him, to Love Him, to Serve Him: My AmeriCorps Service in Poverty
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Introduction
These thoughts emerged in a dream on September 28, 2008 at 2 am. My dream was influenced by the thinking of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen’s television program Life is Worth Living between 1952 and 1968; the Stoic philosopher Epictetus (70- B.C.); and the teachings of Jesus Christ in the four New Testament Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. A Parallel Path Journey Approach The parallel path journey emerged as two sets of railroad tracks; connected by a moving bridge, named the Love Way Bridge. This bridge allows the traveler to cross from the Rational Track Line on the left to the Spiritual Awakening Track Line on the right; with a token pass earned with the manifestation of Love. The Rational Line: The Rational Line progresses towards the end of the line to a station marked, VIRTUE. Epictetus’s (70 bc.) taught us, “If a man could be thoroughly persuaded, as he ought to be , of this principal, that we are all originally sprung from God, and that God is the father of men and Gods, I believe he never would think of himself meanly or ignobly” (p.11). Adhering to this guiding principal offers the way to live a virtuous life. The Spiritual Awakening Line: The Spiritual Awakening Line proceeds toward the station marked STATE of GRACE. Jesus Christ’s “Washing of the Apostle’s feet.” Is the best example of how to get to the station marked - State of Grace. An imitation of Christ is the truest and straightest path to Salvation. The Bridge of Love: The Bridge of Love, moves along with the traveler as he or she makes their journey and spans the two tracks. This allows one to cross from the ‘Rational Track Line’ to the ‘Spiritual Awakening Line.” In order to cross from the Rationality Track Line to the Spiritual Awakening Line the traveler must first acquire a capacity for Love. The crossing pass, is obtained, by demonstrating, the capacity for love. After crossing over the bridge of LOVE it is expected he or she keep love in their heart and exhibit that love.
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About the Book
Read how trusting in Jesus Christ and calling upon His name helped a fifty-nine-year-old bricklayer to go from bricks to books and beyond. This is an inspiring story about how God’s Word helped a bricklayer gain the courage to overcome obstacles placed in his path. This book is a reminder that life is a journey, and when the Lord closes one door, he always opens another. My message in this book is that we have to turn the doorknob of our hearts to let Jesus in.
Dr. John H. LaManque pushes back against the attack on Christian Church values in foreign lands. Hindu fundamentalists and Muslims who hate Christians have burnt their churches to the ground and killed Christian people. The author sees a greater threat to American Christians coming from within, and he identifies the threat as coming from the secular humanist movement in the form of a new religion. The new religion is led by groups that follow Marxist theology and includes atheists, educators, and the media, who want to sell the idea that sinful behavior is just another alternative lifestyle.
About the Author
Dr. John H. LaManque graduated in 1959 from Utica Free Academy in New York. He worked as a bricklayer for many years. In 2001 he enrolled at Barry University in Florida and graduated magna cum laude in 2004. He earned an MS HRDA degree in 2006 and finished his PhD coursework in leadership education in 2010. Dr. LaManque completed his doctoral degree in Christian education at Newburgh Theological Seminary and Bible College in 2013. John’s awards include Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society in 2008 and the Academic Excellence Award from NTS faculty in 2013.