4/11/2025 2025 AI Index Report gives a good overviews of different AIs and their status in the world from various perspectives.
Painting of the day: The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Painting by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano (active 1459 - about 1518),Painted circa 1502-4 Oil on synthetic panel, transferred from poplar, National Gallery, London
I bolded the only interesting part from Fr. Patrick's excerpt of this painting which he relates to John 10:31-42:
This moment is powerfully depicted in our early 16th-century panel by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, showing Saint Thomas reaching out to touch Christ’s wounds, confirming His resurrection. The painting was commissioned for the Confraternity of Saint Thomas for their altar in the Church of San Francesco in Portogruaro on 28 May 1497. Payments to Cima da Conegliano began in 1502, and though the altarpiece was nearly complete by 1504, the artist deliberately left it unfinished due to unpaid fees. It was later completed and installed that same year, but Cima had to resort to legal action before finally receiving full payment in 1509. This beautiful work captures the transformative moment when doubt gives way to faith; when Thomas, and through him, all believers, acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God.
4/10/2025 Never play smashing shots against Adam Bobrow in Ping Pong. Best way to beat him is snake against snake:
Painting of the day: Scenes from the Story of Abraham, An English linen needlework panel, Worked with silk thread; tent and couching stitches, Mid 17th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
An excerpt from Fr. Patrick relating this painting to John 8:51-59: (I bolded the important lines in the excerpt especially the last one as an important reminder of the contrast between the Jewish's traditional believe of their forefather Abraham introducing monotheism against his culture's polytheism to Jesus saying before Abraham, I AM, which would be a revolutionary response from Jesus)
This beautiful 17th-century English needlework panel illustrates key moments from the story of Abraham, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. At the centre, we see Abraham receiving a divine message from a host of angels, informing him that his wife, Sarah, will bear a son despite her old age. Other significant scenes include Abraham banishing his servant Hagar and their son Ishmael (lower left corner) and the near-sacrifice of Isaac, Sarah’s son, as a test of Abraham’s faith (upper right corner). In Jewish tradition, Abraham is honoured as the first Patriarch of the Jewish people, the one who introduced the belief in one God, in contrast to the polytheistic beliefs of the time. Therefore, when Jesus proclaims in today’s Gospel, “Before Abraham ever was, I Am”, his audience would have been deeply shocked by such a statement.
4/9/2025 Painting of the day: Freedom of Speech, Painting by Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Painted in 1943 Oil on canvas, Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, United States
Patrick van der Vorst (John 8:31-42 If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed): This is one of 4 paintings titled the Four Freedoms, series of Rockwell inspired by FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt)'s 1941 speech:
1. Freedom of Speech – Depicts an ordinary working man standing and speaking at a town meeting, illustrating the right to express opinions freely.
2. Freedom of Worship – Shows people of different faiths praying, emphasising religious freedom and tolerance.
3. Freedom from Want – Portrays a family gathered around a Thanksgiving dinner, symbolising the right to basic needs like food and shelter.
4. Freedom from Fear – Features parents tucking their children into bed, representing protection from war and violence.
I shall post all 4 paintings here, starting with the main one:
4/8/2025 Painting of the day: Carved wood Panel, depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus, flanked by the two thieves, Santa Sabina, circa 430-32 Carved wood, Alamy
Patrick van der Vorst placed this piece with John 8:21-30 ... When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know… This piece isn't interesting to me but what's interesting is the fact that this art focuses on Christ's triumph, salvation and victory over sin and suffering and physical torment, reminding me of a recent Presbycast Podcast on critiquing Stephen Wolfe's Christian Nationalism: that he had no doctrine of suffering but only doctrine of glory.
4/6/2025 Painting of the day: Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery, Painting by Vasily Polenov (1844-1927), Painted in 1888, Oil on canvas, The Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Fr. Patrick van der Vorst, drawing from Joh 8:1-11: Polenov's associated with the Peredvizhniki (Wanderers) movement. Known for his landscapes & historical-religious scenes with historical accuracy and a sense of everyday realism authenticity. Christ was looking straight at the woman who seems mortified. Vorst argues for Catholicism that the sacrament of confession is important from this pictorial reminder of potential redemption. Of course, in truth, we do not need the sacrament of Rome but we do need to repent before our God.
Today at church, we have the Japanese missionary visit (Jason Kueh and his wife and 3 children), PCA minister serving under SERGE. They gave a talk during Sunday School and we chatted with his wife who sat at our table during our first fellowship meal after the flood. Jason was born in Singapore and moved to California at 8, his father's Malaysian and mother Taiwanese.