Remembering college speech class, I was trying to find the opening line for a speech. My father, who passed away earlier this year in March 2011, made the suggestion to begin my speech with this old Chinese proverb. I made an "A" on the speech and learned that 'ole Dad wasn't always as dumb as I thought he was. Not bad! It was the beginning of an awakening ...Dad might be pretty handy!
My objective in this first blog is to explain what a select few of you have asked about the moniker "sdg" you see on my tweets and email signatures. Many of you may not have ever noticed. "sdg" is an acronym for "Soli Deo Gloria." The term is Latin for one of the five solas said to summarise the Reformers' basic beliefs during the Protestant Reformation; it is a Latin term for "Glory to God alone," or in my words, "To God be the Glory!"
The doctrine states essentially that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of humankind's self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God's glory and not their own. (Thank you, Wikipedia!)
Indeed it is my hope that like Handel, all I say and do will be to the glory of God. Like everyone else I know except for the One who lived two millennia ago, we are all sinners and I am no different. Use of the "sdg" helps me to stay focused and true to my faith as much as humanly possible.
I give credit for the idea to my Pastor, Rev. Craig Sanders at Grace Presbyterian in Arlington, for delivering information on the topic in a sermon several months ago. Thanks, Craig, for helping me find something meaningful I could do to express my faith and help me stay on track while living in the Kingdom!
Gee... now that wasn't so bad! ...but hopefully I can do it a bit faster next time!
sdg
