Proverbs 13:12 Hope

Pro 13:12  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

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Ruth Bell Graham - The other kind of Conversion

Today I heard Tim Keller preached on different conversions (a dramatic one and the one that seems to flow naturally in a Christian home like that of Ruth Bell's.)

I have heard Samuel Ling taught on the same issue, even using the same example of Ruth Graham.

I understand there is no need for drama in a person's conversion, like the Charismatics or many evangelicals would have us believe, however, the language used on Ruth Bell's redemption raises suspicion on my part.

For it raises questions by me. How did Ruth see herself as a sinner or as enemy of God, as scripture ascribed?

Or perhaps, this is only to silence the drama queens of personal conversions.

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B&N Got it right indeed

Posted by Wretched on Twitter:

Barnes & Noble

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmhKKLOCIAIgJME.jpg

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German Priest Asks Pope for leave from celibacy vow for marriage and reunion with secret daugther

The answer to this is simple, convert to protestantism. The Vatican would not know how to properly tend its sheep here.

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Jewish Slavery View

After comments like those made by Kevin Rudd about biblical slavery (popular argument for homosexuality) is liked by God in the Old Testament, I suddenly curiously believe there must be a term already...one single, soundbite terminology to defeat people like Kevin Rudd. But on the other hand, read the Bible much, Mr. Prime Minister? Or do you actually not believe the Bible as a Christian?

I looked and voila! It's called Indentured Servitude. These people have such a poor understanding of history they could only fake their science according to popular fad.

As for Hebrew slavery system:

...slavery in antiquity among the Israelites was closer to what would later be called indentured servitude.[15] Slaves were seen as an essential part of a Hebrew household.[18] In fact, there were cases in which, from a slave's point of view, the stability of servitude under a family in which the slave was well-treated would have been preferable to economic freedom.[19]

- Wikipedia

Footnote 19: Tigay, Jeffrey H. "Exodus" Introduction and Annotations. The Jewish Study Bible. Ed. Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. 102-202. [page 153]

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Sermon of the Week @ Redeemer

Tim Keller gave his homily at West Side today, all 4 sessions. It was titled: Encountering the Risen Jesus.

The name Dick Lucas was mentioned. A bachelor, Oxcam gentlemen who gave a lecture on John 21. While complaining in his heart about the young girls attending his ad hoc counseling sessions, he was brought down humbly by Jesus' "do you love me" passage. He had rather go to a pub or storm at the girls who asked "...and he does not realize I exist".

Keller mentioned "...stretch out your hands" is referring to crucifixion in Greek idiom. Hence, relating to Peter's upside down crucifixion. However, I found no such idiom. I am not sure how to follow this. But I shall call it nonsense for now.

Peter's declaration in Mark 14:29 & 31 shows that he's proud = "I love you more than others, Lord". It's an interesting take. However, I am unsure of comparison of this sort by Peter as "all the others said the same". They were just like Peter.

I noted an interesting connection between "You will all fall away...But after I have risen" (28) and "...Even if all fall away..."(29).

Keller noted in John 21, 15-19, Peter was embarrassed for his "you know that I love you" response hinted "I'm a failure".

Keller's 4 point of the day:

On Death and Resurrection of Christ: a). Believe (that it's real - alluding to his stand against the liberals), b). Understand it, c). submit (to its pattern), d. live it.

 

Side notes:

I attended the first class on The foundation of the New Testament today. I tried Craig's class(es) before, so I did not attend the apologetics one. I'm guessing he would be reading from his ipad again. I appreciate his Q&A sessions at the end of his classes. But, Omari Hill is a new experience. I'm surprised in the NT class, his uses resources from Mark Robinson (fired from Redeemer - or so I read) and Peter Enns' controversial book in his notes. That means I had to look into these stuff.

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Steven Furtick

People like Steven Furtick is what's wrong with the sociology of churches today.

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George Washington Bridge Suicide Jumps

Multiple times. Not to sound discriminatory, but I would like to know the ethnicity reports on such. My theory is that in NYC, this usually happens to blacks or latinos.

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Estimate your website's worth

My nycphantom site is worth $800+.

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Serving God (2 kinds) vs. Ministering to the People

事奉神,服侍(服事) 人。

A. δουλεύω (service - Ephesians 6:7) vs. B. διακονέω (minister - Mark 10:45)

Some consider the two similar. If A. then B. must be true.
I would point out that vice versa is not true.

As for serving God, the term δουλεύω is connected with slave. Which is why Paul used "I'm a slave of Christ, etc.".

In many churches today, specifically Chinese Immigrant churches, in my own experience, I have seen many church members love to use all kinds of works in church as "Serving God".

I see a problem in their understanding of it. This misunderstanding, is perhaps due to the improper motive they would have behind "serving God". They often use this phrase to insist everyone in the church to do something at church, or else, they would not be "serving God".

To counter that, I shall point out that listening to sermons is also considered "Serving God". This means, that everyone who attends church is already serving God. Therefore, as I had mentioned before, there's no such thing as "consumer Christian", another phrase churches love to use to make congregants do church works.

Now, due to this wicked motive and serious misunderstanding of "serving God". There could be two kinds of serving God that can be good (The bad kind of serving God would be to serve God passively or negatively such as the slothful servant who hid his master's talent, Satan, Judas Iscariot, etc.):

1. Serving God alone. (This also may sometimes look like serving with fellow church members or in agreement with church members that one is serving God, but due to their misunderstanding in the doctrine of servitude, one is said to be serving God alone).

2. Serving God with the fellowship of the Saints.

So, when I go and help a non-Gospel Centered church like CCCNY in teaching their Sunday School, I am serving God. But I am serving God alone. If I do the same at Redeemer, it is likely the 2nd kind of serving God, which could be more joyful.

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