Lately,a friend on Facebook shared a video on a dramatic account of a allegedly true story: A young Muslim fanatic assigned to reveal Christian Bible's errors. but while doing so, he became Christian.
This video is a production of www.morethandreams.org. there are more video testimonies from different individuals who grow up in a heavy Islamic society.
What i found it peculiar and maybe too much charismatic elements is that every testimony definitely has an encounter with Jesus in their dreams and visions.
Finally, just when i thought no theologians noticed this, especially after reading Tim Keller's short review in the Redeemer newsletter, i came across this. I couldn't have said it better.
Joe Rigney calls Victor's Les Miserables, a subtle seduction in Hugo's story for the divination of "the people":
The Subtle Seduction in Hugo’s Story
And lest this condemnation of the ruling class in Les Mis be taken as an endorsement of the “angry men” and their revolutionary ideology, let me just say that I regard the glorification of revolutionary violence as one of the central and most subtle seductions of Hugo’s story, and one that discerning Christians will recognize and reject.
Les Mis romanticizes the Revolution and the utopian radicalism it rode in on: the divinization of “the People,” the glorification of “the barricade,” the obsession with overthrowing the past and recreating the world. The “angry men” make it to “heaven” by their blood and martyrdom for the Cause and “the People,” but the real “angry men” (or rather, their predecessors in 1789) gave us the guillotine and the Temple of Reason in their quest for “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.” The ancien regime was awful, but the revolutionaries were arguably worse.
What does it mean when someone is causing harm to the church, the company, the organization unintentionally...Do such people exist?
Sure, when the organization faces structural and administrative problems, those who cause these unintentionally would not admit it. But they are leaders.
Solution: It is better someone brings them to light of the errors in wisdom, one way or another, before too late.
Obstacles: Sure, they ignorance can at many times be intimidating, despicable, immature and foolish, but if we are on God's side, what fear do we have?
There's a video version of a book "The Magician's Twin" by John West of the Discovery Institute.
It talks about how science is very similar to magic, where the scientism's pursuit of power is no different than that of a magician's goal.
Of the Lewis books recommended in this are:
1. The Pilgrim's Regress
2. The Abolition of Man3. The Hideous Strength
I shall not put these books on my reading list, as I already has a huge list and that when I get the chance I shall browse through all of Lewis' books, particularly in the nonfiction section.
Today, a Sunday morning, marks the first Sunday of the year 2013. The time I and my wife focus on attending Redeemer church. Though we still ended up going to the other church's morning choir rehearsal in the morning. Not likely so next week, we did not attend the evening choir rehearsal. Any good choir master knows commitment is crucial in choir rehearsal. Regardless of countless persuasion for me to stay for the evening, I finally got the chance to respond: "I have given you more than 5 months notice, I am beginning to think you do not care for the choir!".
While attending Dr. Tong's Romans video series, the pastor gave me a letter from an online free seminary (Ekklesia Theological Seminary), suggesting I consider enrolling. It was interesting. I looked into it. I believe it is affiliated with the reformed baptist denomination. Not bad, though I may have to hold my conviction when it comes to infant baptism. However, the requirements are a bit tedious...not only that they require recommendation letters, but a mentor as well (That I need to find some qualified mentor...viz. pastors, etc. who will be responsible for my progress). Though I understand their need for such discipline, I do not know the school well enough to have such pursuit (If it is Westminster Theological Seminary or Dr. Tong's, I would consider otherwise). With the advent of coursera and edx, it is just a matter of time we see good seminaries like WTS doing the same...perhaps? Nevertheless, I must note that ETS offers Masters of Divinity, which is offered to anyone. Certification upon completion of undergraduate degree which they do not offer, yet. I also know of a couple of free online seminaries...like The North American Reformed Seminary, of which I have not looked into, only that I am aware that its enrollment is now full house and closed.
I now find the source of Piper's calling Sproul not baptized. However, the idea to agree to disagree peacefully is what makes a good ministry among ministries.
Piper in his debate with Wayne Grudem on church membership; I'm sure I've heard of a sermon by Piper on Sproul's baptism but I have yet to find it:...
No, Wayne, this is not true. I would gladly admit Ligon Duncan or Sinclair Ferguson or R. C. Sproul or Philip Ryken to membership at Bethlehem (if I were allowed by our constitution), and in doing so I would not be giving up my view on the proper nature of baptism.
I would say to them: “Brothers, I think you are not baptized. But you believe on biblical grounds as you see them, with as much humility and openness to truth as God has given you, that you are baptized. Your understanding of baptism does not imply that Christ’s command may be neglected or that infant sprinkling is regenerating. You give good evidence of being born again and that you embrace Christ as your Savior and Lord and Treasure, and you manifest an authentic intention, on the basis of that faith, to follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings. Therefore, since there is good evidence that you are members of the Body of Christ, you may be members of this local expression of that body. But understand this: I will spend the rest of my ministry trying to persuade you that you and your children should follow through on the full obedience to Jesus and be baptized. In admitting you, I do not give up on my view of baptism. That is the whole point. We are finding a way to work on this disagreement from inside the body of Christ in its local expression.”
The most qualified members in the Church to teach the young are the parents. It is unfortunately that we see in so many churches only youth teaching youth, kids led by nonchalant bachelors.
What's worse, is such imagery is promoted, and with a rotational roster. Calling it language barrier solution and diversity as excuses. So many common sense and scriptural principles broken. (From 1 Timothy through James 3).
It is interesting to note that on any debates, whether it be on politics, science, religion, the doctrine of trinity, predestination, etc., at least one side will always indirectly or directly assume, or worse, accuse, the opposing party against a common ground, on which both sides are already in agreement, in order to procure victory. Such recklessness reveals the wickedness of humanity. But then, who is prepared to lose in a debate?
In many case, there's no chance of booting into an option that will allow recovery mode. One main cause is the main hard drive is formatted, corrupted, etc.
However, the HDD Recovery partition is still present. How then should one utilize that partition?
It's not software controlled anymore. The good news is that machines (particularly laptops) are hard coded to access these partitions.
Each manufacturer seems to have their own way of recovery. For Toshiba, it is pressing "0" zero before booting.
