I guess if I were to start making a reflector telescope, it will have to wait for a long time. However, it is entertaining to imagine what mirror blank size I would use for my future-Dobsonian.
Calendar
Categories
Recent Comments
Meta
Job Ads for Christian Workers
http://www.premierjobs.org.uk as announced by Christian Today would just be another job agency that I believe makes no different from secular classifieds. Therefore, not a necessity to be separate. However, it is a good gesture of Christians today trying to keep up with technologies.
I'm amazed at how much salary is offered to some of these "volunteers". They are more luxurious that those who were paid minimum with more labors in the U.S., perhaps even in England.
Posted in News
Leave a comment
Sermons on Job by John Calvin
It would appear that there's no modern English translation for this sermon series. I thought I've seen it before. Perhaps in that case, this would be the first one of all John Calvin's not-yet-available-in-digital-English-work I will copy.
Posted in Projects
Leave a comment
Give Not What is Holy to the Dogs
I find myself frequently revisiting the past, trying to make right what once went wrong with amicable advices.
As I examine these, I do admit that these grew out of some guilty feelings that I didn't do something in the past to correct the situation because I was too overwhelmed by stress as well as fear. When someone is nice to me, I know when to stand against him when justice is call into concern, but when someone is insistently nice to me when I just had a stressful victory over evil, I failed to rise above the stress from the battle to see the darkness on this side of the river, already presuming subconsciously that I would be too lonely if I tried to be a witness to the truth against BOTH sides.
Of course, I shouldn't have tolerated them the FIRST TIME (imagining that they would someone understood and correct themselves secretly), not to mention the second time or the third and so forth.
True rebuke is like lightning, it shames the wicked in the dust and corrects the humble in fear in an instant with its strike. It doesn't delay nor try to find excuses for such. It is not afraid of loneliness in the world for it has the praise of God hidden within mysteriously but not in pride.
Posted in Faults
Leave a comment
Deaths in The Old Testament
Many commentators have tried to justify the seemingly cruel act of God for genocide, methods of destruction, etc., especially in the Old Testament time. They tend to want to show mercy to those whom God has wiped from the face of the Earth by imagining the possibility that these could still be saved, and that the reason they are wiped away in the physical world is for their own good in the afterlife. I find it very disturbing when I recently came across similar interpretation by John Calvin on Uzzah's case in his 2nd Samuel sermons series. It seems as though if there is no slight chance of salvation for Sodomite souls or Uzzah, God would lack love.
I would rather say, that if none of these souls are saved, God is still the same just and merciful God. Thereby refuting the statement "for the good of these sinners so that they can be saved in spirit". I believe it is a irresponsible misuse of 1Corinthians 5:5, which has more instructive teaching value against the blasphemers than a mere excuse for the rest of us to live on our lives comfortably. However, if there's any lesson from all these, it is for the good of others, as an example for us to be mindful of and avoid, but I would never give a satisfying excuse to those who think God is cruel in doing so, and devoid them of appreciating God's immense grace to us who are no better than they and yet still alive today to have the chance to learn from the past.
Posted in Theologization
Leave a comment
The Hidden Testimonies
There are some good testimonies that we work for which are beyond our knowledge. God has intended it this way as His grace upon us, lest we learn of these mysterious fruits before time and grow pride, causing ourselves devoid of His glory and mercy and be damned.
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Stock Market = Gambling
With all the news of stock market crisis, I hear many Chinese love bringing such subject up in discussion at churches.
Sure, they could claim how much these are based on smarts and resourcefulness, in the end, it is just another excuse for gambling. I believe there are just about as much stock market professionals as there are casino professionals. The only difference is, everyone who gambles at a casino admits he is gambling while those gambling the stocks consider themselves investors.
Nevertheless, uncertain riches are still uncertain riches. 1 Timothy 6:17.
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Opera Omnia Calvini on DVD
I am going to start saving so I can buy this DVD, seems that it is the only collection of ALL of John Calvin's known works available. And there seems to be no other resources, including the libraries I've come across. $350 is worth it, but I wish it would be cheaper.
When I get it, perhaps the first thing I would be looking at is translating his sermons on the books of Samuel, which is not available in English.
I supposed the TeleVue or Ethos eyepiece would have to wait.
Posted in Projects
Leave a comment
On Preaching in America
I have stated that preaching in America is the hardest of all in the world.
I would add that:
In America, especially today, being a famous preacher is easy; however, to be a true preacher of the Lord, that is another story.
Posted in General
Leave a comment
The problem of Churches' Internal Affair Today
At least in America, and by my own experience the Chinese churches in particular, the internal problems usually come from pastors not being able to keep up with the expectation of their congregations. And in order to satisfy this expectation, roads that lead to embarrassing ends are taken instead.
Paul insisted the strictness of choosing elders and church leaders. Unfortunately, the strictest judgment the Americans could make these days is based on a piece of paper and signatures.
Posted in Reflection
Leave a comment