Journal of the Week

7/2/2025 Stephen Tong on Hebrews 5:13 凡只能吃奶的都不熟练仁义的道理，因为他是婴孩

Tong: Those who only preach the love of God, he has never truly loved his own church. Those who preach the righteousness of God, always come before God in holiness.

Tong: Why the pagans come before God in fear in the face of disasters while [childish] Christians, instead of "opportunity to suffer for God", blaming God, why? 不熟练仁义的道理. What did Paul say in Acts 24:25 before high officials, "...of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come!":

7/1/2025 So Tesla celebrated their first driverless Y-model car "delivery" service. This link includes the 3 minute video of the whole process. My only problem with this demo of theirs is how is the end transaction of so called "delivery" done? The end of the video only shows the arrival of destination where the crew claps and opened the driver's door. This is just a demo of robot/driverless auto driving from point A to point B. There were other videos of driverless taxi on Youtube already, chiefly pertaining to Waymo's self-driving taxies.

6/30/2025 I had another entry about this piece Czardas by Vittorio Monti, now again I'm reminded by the same Timothy Chooi, the famous part is around @2:00:

6/30/2025 Art of the day: "The Broad and the Narrow Way", English version of the German pietist image "Der schmale und der breite Weg", Print made by Anonymous artist, Published by Gawin Kirkham and Printed by the Headly Brothers, Issued in 1883, Lithograph on paper

This piece is referencing Matthew 7:13-14. When I saw this in my inbox I immediately was reminded of the same photo I took at Clyde's Deaconry, now in my 2023 General album: 20231014_160053.jpg. It was on sale for $10. I didn't buy. I didn't expect it to be a popular piece.

By Fr. Patrick van der Vorst, using Matthew 8:18-22 "Follow me" theme:

Our moralising print issued in 1883 offers a vivid allegorical panorama, illustrating the stark choice between worldly pleasure and virtuous living. The composition is divided into two contrasting paths. On the left, a grand, wide gate opens to the enticing road of earthly delights. Its path is smooth and alluring, but drawing crowds toward distant mountains consumed by fire and destruction. The sky above this side grows increasingly ominous, symbolising the ultimate ruin that follows a life of indulgence. In contrast, the right side presents a narrow, humble gate, barely noticeable, leading to a steep and arduous road. This path winds past a cross, traversing bridges, valleys, and rocky terrain, symbolising the trials of a virtuous life. Yet above it, the heavens glow with peace and light, revealing that this difficult road leads to eternal joy and union with God. The contrast between darkness and light in the sky above each path powerfully underscores the eternal consequences of our choice: to follow Christ or not.

6/29/2025 We have a missionary, Barry Schutter, who was from GCC long ago, whose work is in London, preaching at our church today. His Sunday School presentation was great, one of the few best from the list we have so far of missionary ministries our church support. Because it looks like he really go out there on the streets to do evangelism, an active role. His sermon also displayed such calling. They have this program called LEAP where they take visiting Christians such as us to experience their London ministry alongside them. His sermon was on the Great Commission of Matthew 28, and on the missionary John Gibson Paton.

I finally got the chance when the pastor has another round of congregant's choice of hymns today. I immediately shouted out #42. Which is the Charismatic favorite modern piece: El Shaddai. My favorite as well, which I discovered, surprisingly in our PCA hymnal the last time the pastor did this hymnals by request thing. I've practiced it on piano ever since. The funny thing is I wasn't aware that the pastor was unfamiliar with this piece (this is popular in the early 90s, mainly among Charismatics) so he was shocked as well @8:00 when most of the congregation (I wonder who) were able to sing this piece well enough. I also loved the way Patty played it on the piano.

Gn. stayed longer in the fellowship meal and helped clean out garbage, out of my expectation.

Nadia seems to think things are against her today: She talked to E. about Joy but failed to convince her that our church lacks caring heart as Joy would likely have put it.

Met some folks from the founding of this church, Ken & Linda (now at South Ridge Community Church in Clinton, probably non-denominational), and there could be others, who came to visit due to Barry Schutter. There's a family of new comers whom I've forgotten their names, I believe their baby's name was Calvin.