DNA errors in thousands...(23K to 30k) from Lung to Skin cancers. A smoker's 15 cigarettes consumption gives him an average of 1 mutation, some but not all of such errors lead to lung cancer. While the errors in skin cancer are largely caused by over exposure to the Sun.
Thanks to this cool trick, by bookmarking this link (right click here, add to bookmark/favorite), it acts as a javascript that when executed at a particular youtube video page, a save as MP4 link will appear in the right panel description of the video.
Matthew 12:43-45
Recently, I conversed with someone from my former church. I gathered that spiritual-wise, he's rather depreciated. Such is the state for those who do not concern about seeking after God. My criticism, of course, is not on him, but on those who lead and hold the position of teaching. For James said that teachers will receive greater condemnation.
The most regret I have of that church was that the pastor or the leader (pastor kicker) do not care about Biblical education. Their priority is turning lazy people into committed co-workers. Which is good but it has its limitation and definitely not to be absolutized.
Therefore, instead of realizing the need to improve, they consider the reluctance or rejection of others to co-work with them as a sign of their persecution or suffering for the Lord.
It is a wonder that they have not indulged fully in the charismatic already. Perhaps, this is the uniqueness of the Evangelicals, whether it is good or bad.
I pray for the sensitivity towards God's word not just in my current one, but in all other churches as well.
It has come to my attention that in missionaries today, the charismatics seem to be the ones more responsible for involving themselves and their families in living the culture of the East, such as Dennis Balcombe, 劉沙崙, 陳明恩, etc. It is rather remarkable.
Although, since the background is charismatic church, certain weakness is expected.
This article reminds me of certain work of some missionaries who target mainly women for conversion in the middle East. It's easier, they said.
So I get to thinking: What about the men? Where is the balance? These cowards, are they really preaching? or are they just trying to find comfort in their glory? Nevermind them, God's work is and will be done nonetheless.
Reading an article on Christian Today: Demonstrators fasting and praying against pornographic industry in Los Angeles, get me thinking.
Getting Christian fellows into marriages to avoid pornography is not the solution, no matter how much the evangelicals quote 1 Corinthians 7:9. It is however a good advice from or for fellow common Christians who know the problems (not skeptical of), but for men of God who serve higher functions such as preachers and pastors, it is their job to teach how pornography is a sin, IT IS NOT THEIR JOB to be a matchmaker in this situation if the former is not accomplished.
Today marked the beginning of a habit for me to dump free food people insist on giving me straight into the bin after farewell.
So, althought I didn't quite do it this time (had to throw away at home):
"No", 1, "No", 2, "Okay give me, thank you". "Bye bye". Walk out, 3-point shot, boldly.
The whole point is to avoid this "come one, take take" annoyance. It has nothing to do with being polite. Offense is unavoidable, but better offense than this "Aiyah! Take Take, No No, Yes Yes" time and energy vanity. The trick is to choose the route to least offense. After all, since they insist, it can be gathered that nobody wants it.
Next, is that I should learn how to obtain free food when I actually want it.
Yesterday, was one of my first lessons for the youth group. The topic was on Reformation. Sideshows prepared, helping them to learn the map of Europe.
I somehow find that it is not easy to teach the subject of Reformation to youth or anyone younger in general. Definitely not easy to light up one's dull interest in history. For this, I felt that I wasn't well prepared.
I could only emphasis on Martin Luther and John Calvin and the principles behind the Reformation.
Next is on Christian Cult. May God have mercy upon me.
A challenge is that I should learn to keep track of a greater number than I'm used to in public teaching. 15 isn't a lot, after all.
As I noted before, there are those shallow minded evangelicals who motivate people to stay in small churches, keeping them from being attracted by big colorful churches, by saying: In smaller churches, one's chance of being selected into "important" roles is higher.
Allow me to ask: Is it really because of God's call to serve? or because of one's pride for not being recognized in bigger churches?
Even St. Francis of Assisi, who communed to beasts, dared not recede himself with a mask of humility in such manner, but boldly went preaching and serving great multitude.
Stopped by New Life Christian Store at Jamaica this afternoon. Looking for gift Bible. $50 for a Macarthur's NKJV study bible is just too much for me...prices must have gone up since the last time I was there. Perhaps the $20 difference is due to a new edition. After checking online with my cellphone, I decided to go with ebay on this, and since it is online purchase now, I might as well go with The Spirit of Reformation Study Bible with its cathecisms at the back and all. Though, I prefer King James to NIV for its lingo and non-copyright issue and Macarthur's commentary's more to the point and all. I'll consider the latter as an advanced "degree" then.
So didn't buy any Bible at the store, but came across a few pens with useful notes on them, good for presents too, only a couple of dollars each.
Noted some good traditional music (Christmas season) playing. Came across the name Don Marsh which led to Linda McKechnie's (of Presbyterian church) works on Hymnworks, which is the album for blending Baroque and Classical with hymns. Though I'm not too impressed, but it's something I had dreamed but never hoped in reality. I also bought CD Volume #2 of America's 25 Favorite Praise & Worship Choruses...this one surely brings back a lot of childhood Sunday School memories.
