Bike tracked to North East Flushing.
RunKeeper application lost track midway (at the pond), restarted track. So I deleted both entries. Could it be accidentally shut down. Better make sure not to use Back to exit app.
Pond has many turtles, or tortoises as the East calls them. Look like Red-Eared Sliders. Given the nature of the artificial pond, I supposed the turtles are deserted household pets.
By the pond, I also found bed full of Pineapple weeds. Closest abundant source thus far.
Nadia asked me, Pastor John Lin of Redeemer and Rev. Lin of CCCNY, which one is better.
We both went to both services today. The Redeemer in the morning, at 9:15 AM, and CCCNY the usual 11:30AM choir rehearsal before service at noon.
To both of our disappointment, it was not Tim Keller this time but the Downtown Redeemer pastor John Lin. So it is reasonable to say Rev. Keller was scheduled for downtown today. So begins the cat and mouse game at the 83rd ST. new church of Redeemer (Westside).
No matter, it was still...Redeemer. So we stayed.
John Lin, the Korean (I think) pastor, preached on Matthew 6:25-34. He associates worrying to failure to control.
Rev. Lin, preached on Repentance, but all her content is focused on relying on God. On the providence of God. Off topic? Not surprising.
I told Nadia it was very similar, not much different between the two pastors if you combine the pros and cons of their sermons.
When John Lin preached on "Don't Worry, you cannot control anything in your life", I wonder just what is our responsibilities then.
In concurrence with John Lin, Rev. Lin...(So many Lins...Rev. Lin, John Lin, Elder Lyna Lin, and now Minister Wen Wen Lin), also preached on relying on God. But when she defined that as repentance, that it means a total submission to God, I had to wonder a few questions. Touching on sins, she merely said "Repentance is not about preventing sins, if not once and for all, forever", as if should one mention the word "sin" in repentance, one is trying to say that it means a Christian will never sin anymore once he becomes a Christian. Or that one is a hypocrite by covering up obvious sins. Don't ask me, I was confused too, it was as if she has multiple subjects but wasn't sure what to pin point at. If anything, her main content is just simply "Dependance upon God". Unless of course, she wanted to justify her sinful attitude.
Reliance on God is the aftermath of Repentance, not the definition.
The Muslims speak most prominently of submission. Submission to God. It is good.
But they forget, that God not only envelopes all that is good, He also posseses them. And the only best example of submissive quality is protrayed by God Himself, that is the submission of the 2nd person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, to the 1st person, the Father.
By robbing God of any good, is essentially as erroneous as declaring God imperfect.
I will allow cell phones in test room next time, just to see how it would go. All digital devices must be turned off.
Twisted Grace -> Evangelical problem -> Fellowship problem -> Ecclesiastical problem -> Social Problem
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Adultery here is not within the scope of marital issues, but that of idolatry of the world, association and admiration of things not of God. If one argues, sure the good qualities of worldly achievements are attributed to God, then it falls to one the responsibility of glorifying God's name in the world, not just in one self. One has no excuse, of not preaching to one's non-christian friends, in eagerness, in enthusiasm, in agony. One cannot pass this responsibility back to God, nor to others, nor to "time".
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
The true cure in psychology. While the world is using this medicine, that prescription for "symptoms" of the so called bi-polar, manic disease, etc., the God does not blame the problems on nature. It is called sin, as much as today's most prestigious doctors try to explain away how "natural" it is for someone to do evil.
But Romans 5 does not jump to or stop at sin. It starts from we are weak (v. 6), then sinners (v. 8) and finally we are enemies of God (v. 10). This cure is not just for the psychiatric patients, but for all mankind.
If we agree to follow this trail (v. 6, 8, 10), we would have to admit that we were all at one point enemies of God. This is one tool I used to filter out false fellowship: I was asked to teach Calvin's Institutes mainly to only one guy by the pastor one time. Why? Because he shows eagerness to form a fellowship, the pastor said. If I refuse, I'd be in contempt towards to pastor, so I must endure. That means he would have much to proof to me. As a medical staff, he has erratic schedule, so our studies were on and off. I pretend to ignore that (though how he would have his own fellowship with this kind of schedule is beyond me), until we got to Romans 5:10, which he couldn't accept. I am not surprised. Many Chinese "believers" couldn't. "How could I ever have been God's enemy!!??". Thus, ended our supposedly long course, we barely covered 30% of Book I. Of course, knowing the pastor's discernment ability now, I have no reason not to say: "If they truly desire, let them tell me what is substitutionary atonement", take a test, then I'll know if they truly desire to learn, to form such things as a fellowship group. If anyone asks me to teach this or that again, I'll ask them to submit an essay first.
Suddenly, I was emailed by Charles, out of the blue. I was delighted, because we could finally meet again.
They had an extra ticket for me for Yankee Stadium, which was where we went yesterday.
It wasn't about the baseball game (Yankee won by 7-0 against Tampa Bay), but meeting this couple.
I was not allowed in because of my laptop. Charles said that the other only time we went to the stadium a few years back, I had done the same mistake. I think Charles was right. Poor Charles had to bring my laptop to his car, his daugther cried missing his presence. I can't believe I am so absent minded.
American events with security - No laptops, Noted.
This was my first time in the new stadium. Not much difference from the old demolished one next door, except that it looks new.
We had better font seatings this time.
We talked, about the futur of myself and Nadia.
Greetings exchanged, we left for home separately at 10:20pm. I calculated my rides, took Bx6 bus across Bronx from West to East to Hunts Point #6 train. Then on the 6 train, up to Parkchester, and then Q44 bus. In all transfers, waiting time was no more than 20 seconds. So I got home within the hour. I was thankful.
On Problem of Evil
God is responsible for sin/evil, just as the Sun is responsible for shadows - Steve Jeffery
Numerous times the question: Why God allows suffering..., brings me anger.
If one can see a problem, they one should do something about it, not blame it on God.
If one does nothing, one should apologize to God.
If one fails, one should beg God for mercy and guidance.
As for why is there suffering? That is another topic.
Tim Keller in this current Redeemer Report finally voiced his take on Homosexuality, in a more public manner.
His take is impressive as always. Perhaps Keller is better a writer.
When dealing with challenges against Christians on "they pick and choose which of the rules in the Bible to obey", Keller easily defended the case that the accusation is invalid as the rules that weren't followed in the OT were replaced by the person of Christ, such as sacrifices, rituals, etc. And that what still remain in the NT are obviously ignored by the accusers.
Keller mentioned that Jesus' mentioning of marital union of one man and one woman is clear enough to judge any other types of union as sexual imorality.
Keller continued...The case of Nation-State in the old Israel time makes sins severe penalties. The New Testament dealing of sins is exemplified by Christ, through exhortations and exclusion from membership.
