Prof: Patrick Hooper
http://wphooper.com
Text: LADW (Linear Algebra Done Wrong)
I think they forgot to put the term "Abstract" in the course title.
Linear map 
: same as an mxn matrix, A.
Columns.
Thus, 
must be in 
.
I shall leave out certain processions of the services for now and focus on the sermons.
I'm not going to repeat similar criticisms on the preachers who constantly make Rev. Tim Keller look good (Either rebelliously or ignorantly - to the congregants' need of God's Word). But I shall analyze their messages justly and learn what I can.
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01/25/2015 @ 5:00PM
4th Sermon in Series: A Leper Healed - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark, by Rev. David Bisgrove [Mark 1:40-45]
v. 40, Bisgrove noted the word "can" is equivalent to dynamite in the original Greek term. That has powerful connotation.
v. 41, Gisgrove changed the word indignant to compassion, not angry, which is used by most translations. I am not sure why it was printed thus. Perhaps the new NIV is really problematic. Nonetheless, σπλαγχνίζομαι refers to being moved as one's bowels.
Thayer: to be moved as to one’s bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)
Interesting note in reflection, prepared by Rev. Bijan Mirtolooi (I need to verify if the Preparation person is the one responsible for the Reflection):
Early Christians did not engage in public preaching; it was too dangerous...Deacons stood at the churches' door...as bouncers...still the church grew...it was attractive. ~ Alan Kreider. I think Tim Keller used this in his sermon.
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02/01/2015 @ 11:30AM
5th Sermon in Series: A Paralytic Forgiven - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark, by Dr. Timothy Keller [Mark 2:1-12]
Mentions of anecdotes about how cloth stains can only be cleaned by the hands of love, analogous to Christ's blood washing away our sins. Keller spoke of forgiveness as a kind of absorption, willingly taking the unjust harm and pain inflicted by others.
Reflection: Preparation by Rev. Bijan Mirtolooi. Quotes from Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1 & 3. Regarding strong smell of blood and ministering a diseased mind. Third quote is from 1 John 1:7.
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02/08/2015 @ 5:00PM
Note on reflection: A quote on Sabbath by Judith Shulevitz from "Bring Back the Sabbath," New York Times Magazine, March 2, 2003. Preparation: Rev. Abraham Cho. I think it is better to reflect on Christian quotes in this case. Unless, one is sure that most congregants here are theologically apt to discern some truth, which I don't think is the case at Redeemer, judging from the classes and such. Whoever prepared this, is obviously not on the reformed emphasis. Even when a Jew credits the Puritans with Jewish favor, I think a strong discernment of similarities and dissimilarities needs to be addressed.
6th Sermon in Series: A New Sabbath - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark, by Rev. David Bisgrove [Mark 2:23-3:6]
Bisgrove noted Christ as the Lord of the Sabbath. Then, I lost him.
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02/15/2015 @ 9:30AM
7th Sermon in the Series: Glory Displayed - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark by Rev. Abraham Cho [Mark 9:2-13]
The glory of God is the theme. I would like to visit Maui too and watch the abundant starry night. I don't see how can one feel terrified by it. Was it simply because of the dark of night?
My own side study:
- v.3 clothes...dazzling white...cannot bleach...comparing to Matthew 17:2's shining face (as noted by Cho in Moses) + white as light.- three shelters...but "This is my Son..." elevating Christ.
- Matthew 17:6-7, Fear, terrified, fell on faces...Jesus touched them...comforted them. A question I shall ask: Is the glory of God only terrifying to sinners?
- v.10 is missing from the Reading printout, but Max McLean read it. Relating to "the resurrection of the Son of Man", the disciples asked "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus answered in v. 12-13.
More than 20 years ago, I was quite fond of IRC (Internet Relay Chat). It coincided with my first experience of the Internet. I believe it was one of the key incentive of selling internet services. I could virtually chat with anyone in the world, in real time. Too bad at the time, the phone bill which the internet relied on was charged by the hour, not flat rate for unlimited usage.
I experimented with it, learned the new world, debated on religions, etc. Wasted a lot of time on it as well. Although, I consider it preferable to movies and the usual American youth hangout (which they are proud of).
Then, when the WWW became popular with Java applets and similar technologies, IRC gradually died out. The peoples connected to the IRC were robots, doing nothing.
Now, after long decades, I stumbled on one of IRC's new network: Freenode. This network is unlike the classics (Undernet, Efnet, Dalnet, etc.). It has all the technically/academia relevant channels and they are very much alive. Just last night, I've learned new ways to solve some simple C++ exercises, and more. In the old days, there were bots that do cool things, even I have once programmed bots such as the Bible bot using mIRC scripting. I must admit, some bots I made were a waste of time - despite the fact that they were well designed. But now, the revelation of this new C++ INTERPRETER on the IRC channel and many other features and experts online could really help me in my study.
When I spoke of problems with American proms - the Ameristians laughed. When I talked about Hollywood and Western sexual immorality, the Ameristians thought it was none of their business.
Now, when the book and movie: Fifty Shades of Grey came out, ALL Ameristians were shocked and I am trying very hard not to laugh (this is never not funny) at but pray for them.
I don't see how a normal person would not like kids.
However, those who love children, I place them in 3 categories:
1. Those who love children of their own.
2. Those want children but couldn't have their own.
3. Those who don't want their own children, but love to play with others' children.
Each group has their pros and cons. But I purposely order them from the better to the worse group.
I wrote this recollecting the fact that many single women and married women who love to travel around the world, minding their own selfish lifestyles, dressing their pet puppies and playing with others' children, but never wanted the burden of raising children themselves.
Seeing how the study of humanities have become in the Western academy today, I believe, if I have the opportunity, I would rather be a philosophy professor than a pastor. From there, I could impact the young minds or even colleagues as a witness of Christ far greater than any preachers/pastors in the West could.
Fools: It is God who influence young minds...not you!
Humble Inquirer: Do you not think that it was God who gifted me with such foresight? and thus requiring me to fulfill my duty and responsibility as his faithful servant?
Fools: You must use capital "H" for "his" when you refer to God.
Me: Get out of my sight.
Nevertheless, this is but a dream. One to be kept in my heart.
Today I woke up from a dream that is about me stumbling a shop selling lingerie, which made me thought of Valentine's day, contemplating buying something from the shop for my wife. Then, it would seem that I met Nicholas from upstairs and for some reason, we were going to a cinema. And then, I took him to John's old house on Long Island where we met Emily, I think she would be his wife in the dream. I revealed to Nick that John's second house was just across the street, as if I were very impressed with what I said. Then John appeared, we shook hand and I woke up. I felt like I entered John's house uninvited. Emily didn't seem too happy about it. John was surprised when he first saw me.
Perhaps I need to focus on thinking productive thoughts.
Recently, at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama compared the Crusades to Jihad. He has since been ridiculed for being inept in history, etc.
The Crusades comprise of good and bad. The bad, including the doers, was certainly evil and rejected by Christians.
A good take on the comparison was done at least a year ago by professor Bill Warner, courtesy of FB Alex. It is revealing that contrary to majority believe, the activities of the Crusades were astronomically lesser than that of the Islamic Jihad.
What would I do if I were sitting next to Obama? I don't know, perhaps I'd just give him a banana. It's time for him to believe in devolution.
Main point aside, I would still not regret opting for Obama as president. It is not because how good Obama was, but because how bad the Conservatives have become. A sort of necessary evil, which I hoped to give an alternative term, but this would suffice for now.
On world religions, I group them into two.
1. Cultural religions:
- For those who follow the religions of a particular culture, family, crowds, etc.
- Theists, Atheists, Agnostics.
- Believers are generally very shallow in knowledge of their religions. Proving otherwise usually results in nonsense.
2. Doctrinal religions:
- For those who believe truth matters.
- Theists, Atheists, Agnostics.
- Believers tend to study their religions thoroughly.
Once the above has been established, I shall disregard the first category and focus on the second.
From the second category, it is easily broken into yet another two groups:
2. Doctrinal religions:
A. Grace based
- God revealed, perfect, truth
- Christianity
B. Work based
- Men made, imperfect, false
- All religions except Christianity
Now, one can start reading Calvin's Institutes.
"The best way to prove that a stick is crooked is to set a straight one beside it. No words need to be spoken." #AWTozer
— A W Tozer (@TozerAW) February 7, 2015