Open Source Icons: These 11 sites to be bookmarked...So I bookmarked. This is useful for free use of icons anywhere, particularly in website designs: 1. Lucide
I should really start pre-read the Sunday Service's Bible reading before hand, now that it's made available online.
An interesting contrast between Pastor Dan & Pastor Chris' sermons, today, Pastor Dan in his sermon @45:08 (my own recording) said: "You don't like your job? Don't just assume that God wants you to find a new one. Seek His will. Don't despair and become bitter. Cry out to your God..." vs. I don't have evidence but I've heard enough of Pastor Chris's (of GCC) sermons to know that he would say something similar with a different direction in "You don't like your job? Maybe it's time to look for a new one...". Now of course these are subtly relativistic, but one has to wonder the philosophy of life each of these preachers hold to differently. One strives for God, while you have to wonder if the theology of the cross is missing in the other one.
Though not my cup of tea with the lower quality CCM, in addition to no display of song titles or name of writers, I should at least play around them with SUNO to learn chords and theories.
Today, it's CityAlight's Ancient of Days (It seems Crossroads use CityAlight music a lot):
2. Hillsong's Cornerstone:
3. Phil Wickham's Living Hope:
4. Kim Walker-Smith's Jesus Paid it All:
5. Ascend the Hill's Be Thou My Vision (oh God be My Everything):
One of Allie's best podcast for sure, this interview with Shahriq Khan:
It's the first time I heard of this guy. Nabeel Qureshi was mentioned in the interview. But Khan is rather zealous of reaching the Muslims, even the hardcore Islam scholars. And his unique technique, not sure if it's developed by him or his other fellow co-workers (Pastor Greg Armstrong, Alex Kerimli, etc.) who run a sort of global ministry (online?) called Christian Underground.
And the unique approach Khan claims was to use only Torah against only Qur'an. Pointing out various odd stories the Qur'an mixed up about the Torah in order to show that there's no reason for the Torah to be corrupted, which consequently could only mean that the Qur'an is corrupt. I would say that this approach is close to the Islamic Dilemma: a theological argument, primarily posed by Christian apologists, highlighting a contradiction between the Quran's affirmation of the Bible (Torah and Gospel) and its denial of key biblical doctrines.
They do run a rather active online community, free sign up at https://www.skool.com/christ. They also seem to be very dedicated to what Khan's motto seems to be: Why deport Muslims? Why hate them? why not convert them?
I just went on their first interactive stream today and Alex (later Armstrong) was giving the lecture on the Passover (the Qur'an completely lacks this concept) and the fact that Qur'an said that Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt without Pharaoh's permission. And I also tackled deeper, primarily with the help of A.I. on this fascinating topic.
If it's good, I'll summarize their Master Key of Deconstructing the REAL 5 pillars of Islam and Constructing the Biblical 5 pillars:
Islam: 1. The Torah was Corrupted 2. The Quran and the Torah have the Same Author (God) 3. Abraham and Ishmael travelled to Mecca and Built the Kaaba 4. Ishmael is the Father of the Meccan Arabs and Muhammad was an Ishmaelite 5. Muhammad Followed in the Pattern of Previous Prophets and Received his Revelation Similarly to Moses
Biblical: 1. Original Sin 2. Blood Atonement is Necessary 3. Theophanies 4. The suffering Servant 5. The Gospel
And of course, there's already attempt to debunk their work.
Learned a few things (Thanks to Google AI's help):
The two main kinds of suras (chapters) in the Qur'an are Meccan and Medinan, classified by whether they were revealed before or after the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijrah) to Medina. Meccan suras focus on faith and the afterlife, while Medinan suras address social, political, and legal issues.
Meccan Suras (Makkiyyah): Generally revealed earlier (86 total). They are usually shorter, with shorter verses, focusing on belief in Allah, Paradise/Hell, and stories of past prophets.
Medinan Suras (Madaniyyah): Revealed after the Hijrah (28 total). They are typically longer and deal with laws, community organization, family life, and rules of war.
On the Passover, since I took a look today, it's interesting that according to Google AI, a Muslim scholars would argue that the lack of Passover in Quranic Exodus was intentional, based on the principle "No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another" (Qur'an 6:164). So by this principle, the whole concept of sacrificial lamb is also removed on top of the 10th plague in Egypt.
And the Christian response would generally be (Google AI):
Proportionate justice (Genesis 12:3, Exodus 1:22, the sin of Egypt), Divine sovereignty (original sin is unavoidable, everyone eventually dies, God choosing the timing of that death is not an act of injustice), and Redemptive foreshadowing (The plague was not restricted by ethnicity, any Egyptian who feared the God of Israel and followed the instructions to put blood on their doorposts would have been spared.)
Someone in the discussion also mentioned that his Muslim friends gave him a hard time about the fact that in Joseph's time, Pharaohs do not exist, only kings in Egypt. Which is true, that Pharaoh was not a title used before the New Kingdom in Egypt. But this would just be anachronism in literature (like King David longed for his Coca-Cola from his hometown), and the Bible use "Pharaoh" and "king" interchangeably (i.e. Genesis 39:20 and Exodus 1:8). The word Pharaoh literally means "Great House" and thus could just be descriptive of supreme authority of Egypt.
Interesting take by the Holy Post Media in analyzing speeches between King Charles III and Donald Trump:
Google Gemini:
King Charles III: His address to Congress referenced his Christian faith as a "firm anchor" that inspires a "generosity of spirit" and a duty to foster pluralism and peace among all faiths.
Donald Trump: In his welcoming remarks, Trump framed Christianity as a "cultural identity" linked to Anglo-Saxon heritage, presenting it as something fragile that requires protection and walls to preserve.
The Contrast: Skye Jethani observed that King Charles' vision was rooted in love and outward service, whereas the vision promoted by Trump and J.D. Vance was driven by fear and inward preservation.
In politics and social commentary, a dog whistle is an expression that has a secondary meaning intended to be understood only by a particular "in-group"
The Literal Origin: Actual dog whistles emit high-frequency sounds that dogs can hear, but humans cannot. The Figurative Meaning: A speaker uses words that sound neutral or "innocuous" to the general public—like "traditional values" or "inner city"—but signal controversial or biased messages to a specific group. This allows the speaker to maintain plausible deniability if they are accused of being offensive.
"This talk had more dog whistles than a canine construction site."the critic is accusing the speaker of being highly manipulative, filling their talk with so many secret signals that the subtext has become almost impossible for "those in the know" to miss.
On 5/3/2026, I received an email from YouTube regarding a video of Stephen Tong I posted long time ago, I appealed and still got overruled. Whoever that was policing this must have only half a brain in the leftist self-righteous justice-oriented delusion:
Hi Timothy Law, It looks like Stephen Tong Romans Series: Disc 045 with Subtitle didn’t follow our Community Guidelines. We removed it from YouTube.
What we found We think your content violated our hate speech policy.
Content that incites hatred against individuals or groups based on their protected group status isn’t allowed on YouTube. This may include inferiority claims and/or conspiracy theories. We review educational, documentary, artistic, and scientific content on a case-by-case basis. Limited exceptions are made for content with sufficient and appropriate context.
You can see an example around 00:06:45, although there could be other instances.
This is what's said @06:45: 希腊的民族是很伟大的，所以他们的国家早就被罗马所消灭掉，但是罗马人只能吞他们的土地，他们却侵吞了罗马人的头脑。所以这两个民族是人类的代表。
So which historical fact is hate speech? The part about Greek conquering Rome's mind? Or the part that Rome sacked Greek?
By standard economics, people with this kind of job at google or living standard won't last. Whoever that is must be some kind of purple-hair culture Western anti-Christianity Atheist. Unless it's all A.I.
This is Google Gemini (from same company as Youtube)'s response when I asked it to examine this video:
@50:40 Michael, I have found that because our modern generation, our youngest generation, is very justice-oriented, they are really justice-oriented. I'm not sure the idea of hell as judgment of God on evil is going to be quite as offensive to them as it was to my generation of therapeutic baby boomers. So, first of all, I would say that I'm not sure to bring out the idea of hell as a way for God to judge evil and injustice is going to be quite as offensive as it used to be.
After coming across titles posted by Youtuber "Learn Chinese Now", I think I need to start taking a list because these historical Chinese films seem quite interesting:
孔子 Confucius (2010): Chow Yun Fat 周潤發
武松 Wu Song, multiple versions but 2013 is the one promoted by the youtuber, I just can't find the streaming online for now.
Giving out of appreciation is fine; But giving out of compassion, sympathy is toxic empathy.
Also, Americans (or Americanized folks) who do not understand basic economics, tend to think that everyone in the world should have equal pay (i.e. a waiter in America should get paid the same as a waiter in Thailand).
4/26/2026 Sunday at 5:30AM, Nadia and I took Uber to Newark Airport. This is the Costco deal: Marriott, an All-Inclusive Resort in Cancun, 5 nights, roughly $1,300 per person, including flight, room, unlimited food, airport transportation. We're on 5th foor in Room 5070 with great view overlooking the lagoon (the west side of the Hotel Zone strip) rather than the ocean view which I presume would cost more. Marriott's Cevicheria (Hispanic raw/cooked seafood salad) for lunch was the highlight for me, been want to to try Ceviche ever since learning it on Youtube Geography Now a few years back.
I never thought my introduction to Mexico would be Cancun. I thought it would be a desert cross country ride into the country instead. This Marriott resort is also rather grand. All thanks to Nadia. Hotel staffs' attitude reminded me of Indonesia's service in hotel management, professional friendliness.
It's true, coral reef is not an easy place to find in Cancun if we are talking about public accessible beach side snorkeling. However, Punta Nizuc is known to be the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. Access from shore is tricky because of private resorts around this national park trying to own it's passage, as some on reddit claimed. It's fine for resorts to restrict access through their properties but it's a problem when they overstepped their territory to government property which is the shores to high-tide level being public, not private area. So the trick is to walk 20 minutes from Playa Delphines public beach access. Maybe I'll sign up for the tour to avoid all these hassle (taking R1/R2 bus to Playa Delphines and wall 20 minutes to find the reefs.
It also seems that these past couple of years, the beaches are getting more and more infested by sargassum. Still clean water.
4/27/2026 Monday
Breakfast at Hana Grill. Buffet style. Impressive items are Tuna (smoked?) steak that looks like beef. We like. Waiter Samuel was nice, like many staffs here. He even tried to sell us a $13 USD coconut, I was tempted to ask him if I could climb one of their coconut trees.
We asked about Aquaworld tours (mainly for their skyrider, Subsee, and snorkeling at Punta Nizuc), and Nadia got frustrated with the staff. He seemed frustrated as well. Though this was subtle. But we came back for the three packages with a little discount totaling: $216 USD (Skyrider, parachute ride in sky pulled by speedboat, $75/person, Subsee Explorer+Snorkeling = $78/person, which Nadia is not participating due to motion sickness and interest.) So the Skyrider is for both of us tomorrow and I immediately jetted off to Aquaworld across the street to catch the 10am boat to Punta Nizuc outer reef barrier. After learning that Punta Nizuc is located in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System which is the 2nd largest coral reef in the world (after Australia's), I knew I must go check it out.
I spent extensive time the night before reading reddit and other online sources to compare the free beach access in Punta Nizuc (entrance from Playa Delphines and walk south for 20 minutes along the hightide shoreline which is government public property to avoid private resorts-Westlin & Club Med, in that area where they set up guards to prevent people from using their property to shortcut access the reefs, and take the Aquaworld boat tour. When I learned that with Aquaworld, you can go at the earliest at 10am and return anytime you wish with the 4pm boat being the last for the day. This "unrestricted" time window is golden for me, you don't usually get this flexibility with reef tours else where. I used both GoPro and Insta360 as my underwater camera. Nadia was worried at first but I ended up bringing a backpack with my phone in it. Can't really leave without phone especially when Nadia is around: Communication capability is crucial.
Subsee exploration was not bad. It's basically a submarine with V-shape glass window on the left and right, and visitors sat in rows from front to back on seatings that sit 2 max each. I wasn't interested in underwater rock sculptures of any kind. But when later (around 1pm) they arranged a guide to show me around the sculptures, I appreciate that enough (though after a long wait and asking it for a while - that how I could see more sculptures - I actually just wanted to explore further and those areas are not allowed to be done without their guide) that they spared a guide to show me around. So I tipped $100 Mx. I brought $500 Mx + $20 USD because I needed to pay for some docking/platform fee for $20 USD. I was allowed to pay in pesos so the conversion rate they gave was accurate $347 mx, but I forgot to get the chance back from the Aquaworld counter after giving him $400 mx. That's $53 mx = around $2.5 USD. But I'm not sure how much I saved by not paying in USD ($20). And the whole tour they've been looking for opportunity to collect tips. So I gave eventually. Took a photo with the boat crew after returning at 3pm. I was probably the only person who stayed that long in the reef. I am reluctant to say that Punta Nizuc is better than Koh Lipe, but I did find a sea turtle twice (once in Subsee, another while snorkeling with the guide) and the reef space is huge, it's just too bad we are not allowed too far. Koh Lipe's reef are not bad either and no tour/guide needed as the beach has plenty of coral access, plus the point of Koh Lipe was to spend time with my dad (not at first as I was ready to go by myself until my dad decided to tag along, perhaps to make sure I'm safe).
Upon returning to the resort, I lunched at Cevicheria for the last one I wanted but haven't tried: fish ceviche at around 4:30pm. But the fish is not raw so I prefer the mix ceviche (which has octopus) we had the day before. Fish seemed overcooked for me, shrimp ceviche is better. I then went for a swim in the sea hoping to learn body surf but either I did not learn or that the waves weren't strong enough. Checked out their chess tournament (every Monday) where big pieces are on the big floor board by the pool slides, nobody playing there was actually into chess.
Nadia and I dined for dinner at Tuscani restaurant next to the Hana Polynesian Grill. Italian food was okay but Nadia did not like it enough. She saw a waiter carrying a plat of fried large fish and learned that this was for Hana restaurant. We regret that we've made the wrong reservation after learning that Hana only opens on Mondays and Fridays for diner. We missed today, there's no more chance as we leave on Friday.
Walked around the night Gazebo after dinner. Saw some Latino modern dance performance in the lobby. Nadia returned to room to rest. I brought my laptop down to the lobby to type this diary and do some camera file transfers.
4/28/2026 Tuesday
Breakfast at Hana again. Seems to be the only place for breakfast in the resort. By the way, room service is also included, but Nadia doesn't like the food choices.
Then we spent most time sitting out on the hotel ocean deck overlooking the sea. I went in to swim a few times until it gets very hot. Don't want sunburn, despite having sun scream. At 12pm, Nadia took part in their Aquaboxing (learn to exercise in water using boxing technique). Nadia definitely enjoyed their water events. Earlier today they had Aqua Basket Ball game (two teams swim to shoot the hoops).
At 4:30pm, I decided to explore the R1/R2 bus route myself. Both busses will pass Kukulcan Blvd. (The strip with all the major hotels) or Hotel Zone. I took R2 into the suburban area (Paseos Kabah) and I think that was enough, I think the bus would keep going until Villas Otoch per Google AI. But I certainly learned a lot. Where this ferry station is, how Walmart looks like here, and more. I also had to push myself to speak Spanish with the locals. One trip already took about 45 minutes, due to heavier traffic than coming back. These drivers give change only if you paid in pesos ($12 MX), but not in $1 USD according to many sources, including Marriott Resort Receptionist, who broke the change of $100 mx to me in $20's. I had to ask around in Spanish in order to get onto the returning bus (at least catching returning bus is as easy as walking across the streets from where you were dropped off), because there's no bus stop signs, so I could only play by ears and eyes. When getting off at Marriott, I asked "Por favor, paras en Marriott?" (excuse me, do you stop at Marriott), seconds before. "Bahan aqui, por favor" (getting off here, please) would be another way to say it but I didn't get to.
Then Nadia and I went to Casa Madre (mother's house) for dinner as reservation was made two days before via the Concierge because reservation was not working on the app (Marriott Experience app) they asked us to use. We certainly love this dinner more compared to before. Nadia decided to give the waiter Adrian $40 Mx tip.
Now at 10:44pm I finish typing today's diary. Am tired. But want to read some book in our balcony (I have brought light for reading). I brought Charlie Kirk's book (from library) called Stop (it's about keeping the Sabbath) and the Occult Bondage and Deliverance book by Kurt Koch. Or I could just read Kindle.
