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.
Many love to interfere, especially the Ameristians or those who embrace their culture. As if they know what God's calling for me is, as if my calling is their calling or vice versa.
I must be watchful lest I be consumed away as did the young prophet in 1Kings 13.
Nay, if God has called me, I will have such conviction that I know I will face the animosity from the majority American christians and those who embrace their culture, as Jesus did the Jews.
If God has called me, I will have such assurance as if when I call a preacher or a pastor to be inflicted with leprosy, they would have no other choice but to repent.
Otherwise, I am called merely to be a good Christian. And may God bless those few others who are assigned that difficult task.
The quality of a teacher: Sometimes I judge it not by how the teacher teaches, but what the students ask.
Connect USB cable to PC -> USB logo will show on top of cellphone screen.
Drag that logo down, touch USB Connected/Connection, and touch Mount to PC.
Sometimes, cellphone may require reboot for things to work (Such as in the case where there's an error message saying SD card has been unmounted):
To reboot cellphone, re-seat the battery by sliding the whole back cover of cellphone vertically to remove cover and take out battery. The micro SD card is also retrievable after that.
I hardly remember any desktop computer of mine that's never made any loud noise by the fan at some point.
Often times, the case fans, sometimes, the power supply fan, and occasionally, the cpu fan.
Thanks to a good tip, I found a very effective way to resolve the situation.
Solution:
Apply the following in order to back of fan (The side that has sticker covering, remove sticker, remove rubber cap)
1. a little pinch of Graphite powder
2. Motor oil (3-In-One SAE 20 Blue brand)
Americans pride themselves of having the most churches.
An advantage for me.
As far a prayer meeting is concern, I can attend and serve well in Sunday services in one church, while I look for a commitment to a prayer group that has a more evangelical spirit, even if it has to be of other churches.
For now, I am considering Tim Keller's Redeemer Presbyterian church in terms of prayer group. They must have one somewhere. Thanks to my current church's rising focus about prayer meeting which is a wake up call for me.
