A sermon today brought up the case of Joshua Bell, a famous young violinist whom the Washington Post arranged to play in the metro station as an experiment on social perception.
It got me thinking...we know a lot of answers for the reponses of those in the subway, but how about those who paid hundreds of dollars to attend the official performances? What are their true reasons?
Though I can serve with/support her as per Matthew 23:3, para justificar la mentira, Rev. Laura Lin no se permite servir con el mi ministerio, as per Matthew 23:3b, 1 Kings 13.
Dr. Tong would be coming to New York for Gospel Rally this year and our church will be responsible to oversee the process. Though I am part of the group planning this, I would also have my own distribution of the flyers, without their hand, like last year. If they really do wish to distribute, they may spare whatever excuses they have in "partnership with me" and distribute.
I see the pastor, some elders of my church trying so hard and so much to please me in every "right" way they see fit. What humbug!
There's nothing I need to be appreciative of them other than a building to worship in. And even that, is of God's grace and if they watch not themselves, it is their hay-and-stubble-built principles that's going to get burned.
I had criticized Americans adopting children from other countries, I needed no proves nor expected one.
Yet, inevitable consequences such as this reveals American hypocrisy before my lifetime.
In matters of adoption, Americans have "made" so much money they don't know where to spend. Or they've grown so lonely without admitting it. What better way to continue this iniquity than being a "hero"?
Misunderstanding, misconception, misinterpretation are sins, not excuses.
Great evangelist John Piper has decided to take time off for 8 months, to do some self-reflection.
What others see as respect, I see as escaping from responsibility.
If a leader of faith could take a vacation for mortification of sinful pride, what is given to those criminals in prison?
In my work, I've often found myself having trouble to be punctual. Which isn't quite a big deal. Though, I need to be.
Last week, I failed to deliver a project, a TOEFL iBT test clone program.
This is my problem. I tend to promise a tough project which I was sure I could deliver if I put my full effort into it in an obsessive manner which is how I see myself ahead of the competition in this line of work (plus asking for lower rates than others), but I seemed to fail all the time.
Though at the same time, I was wondering why I didn't even bother to reject this kind of project in the first place. I've told the teacher in charge, that I'm not a professional programmer, yet she'd always either overestimated me or just wanting things done the easy way (without having to go through channels of budget and discussions with the manager herself) like a spoilt brat. At times I thought:" You've asked for it".
Nonetheless, despite my constraint from blaming on others, I have learned to look at my own fault first. I do need to be sober. Did she purposely pick the time while I was busy so as to easily "sign the contract/promise" of what she wants, since I would be eager to get rid of her annoying request. So I should learn to reject.
As for productivity and efficiency, I should also learn to outsource my work, which is something I've begun to do. This way, my business will expand and hopefully I will learn enough to have a new direction of working with others instead of just on my own.
This incident should bear deep impression on my decision on keeping promises, even minor ones. At the same time, I should also refrain myself form using terms like "maybe", "perhaps", etc. in the goal towards efficiency.
There's only two reasons for a person not wanting to judge:
1. Either he doesn't know what or who to judge, or,
2. He's a hypocrite.
Elder Lyna Lim dared to challenge me today if "Bible Study" is important.
After countless emphasis on QUALITY of fellowships, Bible study in the past to this same dear lady, I immediately retaliated by answering this charismatic-in-reformed disguise person: It is important, but I'm not interested in your Bible study for it is low quality.
I can easily prove it: If you don't even know what my view is about Bible study, why did you even ask me to lead? Shows what quality you have for fellowships.
Reading a letter from Redemeer church, I noticed the mention of her vision: "Not to build a great church, but to build a great city". If I coincide this with their very active "volunteering" promotion which has flourished in almost all areas of servitude, it gets me worry.
In a way, our oriental church structure is very different because there are a lot of volunteers so to speak; while the western culture has made almost all aspect of church serving a full time job, from music to administration, which has gradually seen its degradation.
At times I wonder if this was Tim Keller's way of standing out differently. But promoting volunteering works, even with supervision, there is a danger of convictions in fellow-workers.
To gain more understanding of the problem of this type of "Social theology", perhaps I should read up on A Theology For The Social Gospel by Walter Rauschenbusch. Study it from the view point of the opponent.
