Vocabulary: 媚外

Xenomania. I've used xenophobia before. Inverse racism was my own made up term.

It is interesting that in Chinese the characters have a feminine touch. I haven't quite seen as many Chinese/Asian guys displaying such attitude in public.

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The Measure of Humility

It can be measured by how one takes criticism.

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Bipolar vs. Depression for the Post-Modernists

According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN on Student News today, bipolar or manic disorder is caused by hyper active amygdala in the brain while prefrontal cortex is blocked from activity. The reverse case would be for depression.

I do wonder, how people have often confused the difference between the Why and the How. "How" is pertaining to the definition of the matter, the obvious, that which scientists love, while "Why" has little if not nothing to do with the How because the interest of it has to be beyond the How. The Why is something the liberals today are disgusted by.

Thus, they could believe in a gay gene without concrete evidence, since the how is same as the why to them. Bipolar & depression were also considered by them as mental disorder in general. All this because the Why imploded into the How for them, they were confused of the Why. Yet, they call the Bible fairy tale because they cannot discern the How in the Bible, the How exploded beyond the Why for them.

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On Liberal & Star Trek

The "evolved" men often love to think of their future optimistically "advanced" in the future to a point that things such as gender will have no meaning. That God is dead.

A lot of them are fans of Star Trek, some even influenced by Star Trek. Yet, the highly evolved form: Q, has both males and females.

In the end, it is what is more appealing to their minds. And we can never totally abandon the essentials from God's creation.

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Israel map throughout history

These time lapse map view of history is very educational. Provided the data is accurate to every topological detail.

Now, if I could only find the one for China, which I've seen at the Discovery Museum one time.

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8 cool alternate uses for an Android smart phone!

Some ideas are not bad. Hints on what apps to use for smart phone as webcam or GPS locator. Though I have not tried them to evaluate it. Thus, categorized as project.

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Redeemer Sunday Service Today (11/02/2014)

It was Tim Keller, on "Reality: Forgive Us Our Debts". I am rather certain, it is because of Tim Keller, and perhaps only because of him, that Redeemer holds its orthodox reputation.

The second orthodox pastor at Redeemer, is Bijan Mirtolooi, I'll have to say. The rest of the pastors, unfortunately, are mixing too much of extra-biblical stuff into their theology, in spite of proper seminary training some of them came from.

Today, I couldn't believe what I read in the Reflection page of the service bulletin. Was it David Bisgrove (who's listed in Preparation) who posted that:

The simple fact is that as soon as you accept yourself exactly as you are - then all these character flaws: anger, selfishness, stress, aggressiveness, dependence - begin to fall away, for these 'flaws' have their only existence in non-acceptance, in self-hate.
Student: What if I want to do something that is harmful?
Guide: Your question comes from a belief that you are inherently bad, and that if you don't control yourself, you will do bad things. But bad things don't happen from lack of self-control, but only because you don't realize your goodness. When you realize you are goodness, and let yourself live from that, you will not want to do harmful things.

~ Cherie (Cheri?) Huber.

When I first read this, I felt funny. Then it sounded like the kind of things I've been learning from my Chinese Philosophy class this semester. Student asks, Guide responses. I also recall lots of Bisgrove's theology sounded like Buddhism, though not as severe as Scott Sauls. Then, after looking up Cheri Huber, if it is the right person, I realized I hit the jackpot. She is a Zen teacher! Are you kidding me?!? And I thought someone promoting Yoga in the Redeemer Newsletters a couple months ago was bad.

I underlined words in the quote as the original posting in the bulletin did. Though I am unaware of the point of it. The other quote was by Ernest Becker, which was not as bad. It seems that Redeemer staffs love to promote non-Christian materials to show off their open minded Christianity. There is a way to do this, but not the way they go about it.

Just to comment on the quote a little bit: We are not "goodness", but sinners. That's it. That's enough to debunk these Arminians or worse - Buddhism admirers, in disguise.

Nonetheless, Keller's sermon made me think a lot on my sins that I do need to truly repent of. Time management, in particular.

 

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A couple of marvelous hymns were sung at the service. The King of Love My Shepherd Is, an elaborate work on Psalm 23 by Baker. Below is the complete lyrics, from which Redeemer picked 4.

Second favorite hymn being "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" by Bernard of Clairvaux.

Last but not least, though sung frequently, I have just learned that the doxology: All Ye Who are of Tender Heart, which written by St. Francis of Assisi in his "All Creatures of Our God and King". It has been heavily paraphrased from the original text yet it remains the most popular version in hymns. The tune is based on Genevan Psalter 68 or later known as LASST UNS ERFREUEN.

Also

Hymn: The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Author: H.W. Baker (1868)Composer: J.B. Dykes (1868)

1 The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever.

2 Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.

3 Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.

4 In death's dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still, thy cross before to guide me.

5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!

6 And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

 

Hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Author: Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)
Translator: James W. Alexander (1804-1859)
Composer: Hans Leo Hassler (1601)

1 O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame bowed down,
Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

2 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, Was all for sinners' gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour: 'T is I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favour, Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

3 The joy can ne'er be spoken, Above all joys beside,
When in thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
Lord of my life, desiring thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy Cross expiring, I'd breathe my soul to Thee.

4 What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine for ever; And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never Outlive my love for Thee.

5 Be near when I am dying, O show Thy Cross to me;
And for my succour flying, Come, Lord, to set me free.
These eyes, new faith receiving, From Jesus, shall not move;
For he, who dies believing, Dies safely, through Thy love.

Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 1871

 

Redeemer's version
Doxology:
All ye who are of tender heart, Forgiving others take your part. Sing his praises, Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on him cast your care!
O praise him! O praise him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their creator bless, And worship him with humbleness! O praise him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, Three in One,
O praise him! O praise him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Right Thinking about Metrocard Financial Management

With taxes, card fee, etc., the default values of Metrocards (excluding unlimited rates), always result in small change remaining at the end of usage. In order to avoid this waste or hassle of refilling the remaining value, mathematics comes to play:

The key is to use the OTHER AMOUNTS feature (Thanks to MTA for being this considerate, at least).

Currently, with $2.50 per ride (I should revisit this entry and adjust the rates accordingly as MTA always raises the fee from time to time), the magic numbers are:

$11.90, $19.05 or $30.95

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Islamic Fundamentalism Rising in Malaysia

Now even Malays are troubled. I would say "Hak Keistimewaan" is the root cause.

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Mark Zukerberg Speaks Chinese

Not bad. Not as good as Kevin Rudd, but the Facebook founder is still very impressive.

I think this is the good side of most geeks.

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