How to Make VCDs

Posted on March 25, 2017 by timlyg

The Americans are not familiar with this: Video CD. When I first got to U.S., I asked around, nobody in the IT business knew what was a VCD...all they could relate was DVD, which was a new thing at the time, so new that I didn't know about it and actually thought that DVD was the name Americans call VCD.

Now, on to the more serious matter: It is therefore not easy to find a software that deals with VCD conversion. VCD uses mpeg1 (not mpg2) video format. The video file extension is .DAT. There are several folders on the VCD but that is just how VCD's content is structured, nothing important. After many trials and errors, this is the best procedure I've found so far:

Note: I've tried VCDGear & VCDEasy. Neither works properly. VCDGear couldn't read mpeg1 (some claims that it's due to the fact that there's distinction between mpeg-1 & mpeg-1/VCD formats). VCDEasy is useless in the latest Windows version as it somehow requires old version of WMP media player. As for free video conversion, Handbrake is very cool which supports many video formats, however, the only freeware to support mpeg-1 is ANC (Any Video Converter). I've converted an MOV file to a mpeg-1 video file.

Then, I use Blaze Media Pro to burn the mpeg-1 file onto CD as VCD. Done.
(PS. it turns out Blaze has a 15 day trial period, so I guess I'll just have to either buy it or crack it). Finding a freeware is so hard for this.

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CCCNY Directory Database

Posted on March 21, 2017 by timlyg

An interesting attempt. Turning the tedious directory work in Excel & Word into Access GUI.

Cool trick: Round-up / Ceiling of a positive double:
In VB.NET, using the fact that int() = floor()
-Int(-a/b)

It would appear that some MS Word pages do not follow the same line number limit as the rest of the pages. There's a math (or here) to make it work:
Word uses points. 72 points = 1 inch. Single line spacing is 120% of font size. This may be kind of tricky (footer/header margins are not accounted for in the article, which I think they should). For some reason the margins left about 9.3" of writing space per page, taking away 1.6" which I have no clue how it came about. Or I may pursue a different approach programmatically.

There was a problem in my code:

I keep getting Run-time error '462':
The remote server machine does not exist or is unavailable. Debug targets
ObjWord.Selection .Paragraphs.TabStops
.Add Position:=InchesToPoints(1.5), Alignment:=wdAlignTabLeft
Solution: ObjWord.InchesToPoints(1.5)

So far so good, if the spacing calculation for getting every page to start with a new contact is still a problem, then perhaps it's better to program a page break into it.

Posted in Projects, Theologization | Leave a comment

Radical vs. Liberal Muslims

Posted on March 12, 2017 by timlyg

Listening to the International Panel talk at the 2017 Ligonier Conference, the host mentioned 80% of Muslims are non-muslims who do not care about the Quran. Only the small percentage, the radicals are true Muslims.

I'm not sure of the host's intention - diminishing Dr. Tong's claim that Indonesia as most Muslim populous country as greatest challenge to Christian ministry? I hope I'm wrong.

I used to think that way too, that these "moderate" Muslims knows nothing about their religion other than being born in a "Muslim" family. I guess I used to think that way more whenever I hear someone try to introduce me a preacher in the Muslim world, like it's a big deal. Hence, when I came to think of it, nominal Muslims aren't really Muslims, so these so called brave missionaries aren't really facing the fatal challenges of the Muslim world...merely a cheap cop out of the greatness of their ministries.

But if I were to think deeper...it depends on who we meet. I've actually also met non-radical Muslims who are deep into the Quran. These are medical doctors, great family background, etc. Thus, it is narrow minded to be constraint by this false dichotomy of the Muslim world. It is true that there are plenty of liberal Muslims who don't know about the Quran one bit, but the other group is not just one radical group.

However, the "good" Muslims generally stay away from preachers...hence, if one does not engage in a wider social life, I think that's an ignorance that will lead to pride. Although, I do still believe that many missionaries today do not preach to these "good" Muslims out of fear, not to mention the radicals. Of course, Dr. Tong being an exception.

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2017 Ligonier Conference

Posted on March 11, 2017 by timlyg

I was excited when I learned that Stephen Tong was invited to guest speak at the conference.

Although, I am beginning to feel that there was a kind of narrow mindedness in the organization of the conference, based on Dr. Tong's schedule. It appears that his appearance scheduled for the conference is constructed in such a way that he's just representing the "international" preacher. "International" in the Ameristian sense: Where everything is about America while the other countries are merely following the American faith. They think that they have the best preachers in the world, that they have the largest churches, etc.

I wish I'm wrong. But no matter what, I would definitely like to get my hands on the video recordings, chiefly of Pak Tong's speech. The only unfortunate thing for me not being there physically was that I cannot look around at the audience to examine their reactions during the conference.

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Ligonier Class: Church History III: The Reformation

Posted on March 10, 2017 by timlyg

Lesson 1: Introduction

The Holy Roman Empire centered in Germany and Austria became more German and Austrian such that nation states rose. Nothing holy, nor Roman, nor like an empire.

Europe began to be centralized in the 16th century, politically. However, the notion of a Christian empire was diminishing. The Roman Catholic Church was selling indulgences roughly 50 years before Luther's protest. Indulgences work even for the dead - a good marketing scheme. "As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." - Tetzel

Indulgence satisfies and replaces pious works required in penance, which is a sacrament comprising 3 parts:
1. Contrition over Attrition (feeling guilty only when caught - sorrow for sin out of fear of damnation).
2. Oral confession to a priest in private.
3. Do prayers or giving to the poor (perhaps to the church).

Centralization of power results in absolutism - such as seen in France, which led to the French Revolution.

Reformation failed as opposed by the government: France
Reformation not supported by government but succeeded: Netherlands, Scotland.
Reformation supported by government: England, Scandinavia.

Posted in Projects, Theologization | 19 Comments

My favorite Seminary

Posted on March 8, 2017 by timlyg

When I said if I had to go to seminary, I would go to Rev. Dr. Tong's seminary, instead of giving the impression that I have decided to go to seminary, which appears to be what some told Dr. Tong, it should only show two motives of mine and nothing else:

  1. That if I attend any other seminaries, particularly the ones in the U.S., I am either having too much time on my hand, having nothing else to do, or,
  2. That I just want a certification in order to apply for a job for certification.

Yes, I'm doing qualitative evaluation and making distinctions of different seminaries.

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1 Kings 19:9-19 Geology before Elijah

Posted on March 8, 2017 by timlyg

If God could advance the weathering process before Elijah, that speaks to the simplicity of the law of uniformity in geology, and therefore, the problem with dating in geology.

Here, I supposed God was showing Elijah that there is more dramatic happening in history: rock formations and plate tectonics. Yet, God was not bothered by it. Much less should God care for the rebellious inhabitants in a small fraction of the land.

However, the repetitive call and response shows us that God was showing us Elijah's plea for God's mercy upon his anointed ones, not for their sake, but for God's sake - "I have been very jealous for the Lord".

It could be God rebuking Elijah for not seeing the doctrine of election in verse 18. But, I shall give Elijah the benefit of the doubt, that it could also merely be a comfort to Elijah.

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A Jew Named Ben Shapiro

Posted on February 27, 2017 by timlyg

I was introduced to this clip by Carl on FB. It is rare to find someone so young so energetic and eloquent in the right, pun intended, political stand.

I do wish that he's a Christian, instead of an orthodox Jew. I wonder if he'd care to venture into such discussion with the RIGHT PERSON.

Apart from him and Dr. Tong, I cannot in the pool of people I know, find someone else with the candor (Shapiro's may even exceed that of Pak Tong's) and ability to do spontaneous debates between these two. The others either have one or the other, but never both candor and quick-to-the-point responses. There are more youtube of his I'm going to enjoy listening to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCufm2oMZuE&feature=youtu.be

Posted in News, Theologization | 1 Comment

KJV or ESV?

Posted on February 24, 2017 by timlyg

I have been memorizing the entire Psalms in KJV. But now that ESV is noted to be a better version than KJV, I wonder if I should switch it all to ESV? Or do I memorize both versions. Because I'm sure Whorf's hypothesis may apply here as well.

Perhaps I should do KJV, while using ESV as translation. That way I could appreciate both Victorian and proper translations.

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Men's Monthly

Posted on February 24, 2017 by timlyg

Last night I attended the Men's Monthly for the first time. I thought it was on W83, so I was 30 min late. The size was around 15.

We meditated independently on Psalms 19. Bijan preached on John 16: regarding sorrow and joy (paradoxical implementation = sorrow yet joyful)

It seems that at events like these only, one gets to know the pastoral staffs more personally. Never going to happen in the pulpit.

After Q&A, (which I should have asked Bijan: Would you say that Jesus' rebuking John in Matthew 11:6 as you claimed, was considered what we call today "constructive criticism"?) we broke into groups of 3-4. I love to ask questions to probe my questionees.

One in our group seem to switch topic when I try to ask tough question: how do we tell distinguish suffering as a result of our own faults and suffering out of loving God (1Peter 2:20) - his off-topic response was "there is no punishment for Christians, we should distinguished the consequences of sins from punishment". Perhaps I did not make my question clear enough. But on the other hand, I see no difference between the consequences of sins and punishment, because I do not define punishment as eternal damnation all the time. It seems that the word "punishment" is politically incorrect these days and ought not to be used especially for Christians.

But Dave did make a good point, when I further probed about the suffering caused among Christians - in arguments, etc. Someone must be at fault. When I suggested that if it's materialistic, we just let it go, don't quarrel for it, let the others win no matter what, Dave immediately quoted "Why not rather suffer wrong" (1 Corinthians 6:7).

Excellent!

Michael Rood was mentioned, as an influential evangelist to one former atheist in our group. I had to look him up and there's major criticism on Rood. Although, I'm intrigued at Joey's humility and note-taking attention during Bijan's talk. Connor was the most friendly one, easily to talk to.

Overall, I really enjoyed the small group. Not easy to create a fellowship community, especially in the city.

On my way home, I was greeted by Bill.

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