Adultery

It is my opinion that all Western/American culture influenced civilizations have high rate of adultery.

Therefore, it is also my opinion that Taiwanese males have high tendency of committing adultery than most other asian cultures.

Personally, I believe it is their misuse of the concept of girlfriend, boyfriend. In a way, they have treated such as an excuse from marriage. In THEIR christianity, as long as boyfriend girlfriend don't share the same house before marriage, and of course, no sex, everything else is accepted.

To correct such, I would say, one's motive must be towards marriage, no matter how you treat your boyfriend girlfriend relationship. And be honest, so that you won't fool around. All these are Biblical stated, and I'm sure many of those "adulterer" christians would concur. Unfortunately, they only know the talk, but they can't do the walk.

Am I really being too critical? Do I judge too harshly? Nay, the news everywhere speak for itself. I'm just reporting the facts.

Perhaps this is why so many Taiwanese girls find their Taiwanese males unworthy. So they indulge their curiosity somewhere else...Hollywood perhaps...hence, the westerners. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love mix relationship. After all, isn't our great ancestor, Noah, the source of all races? Nonetheless, how many failed marriages you see from these? American culture? Taiwanese culture? Really... Give me a break.

I am not claiming other cultures are better. I'm simply showing how far worse these western influenced cultures are.

As for the rest, they are no better, if Christian value is considered. For they put family before God while hypocritically praising God. Why would I say so? If one examined their Christian life from youth, actively serving, to adulthood, the expected rising enthusiasm seemed to have dropped. But I supposed it is good that this is so. For less is given, less should be expected. Had they continued to be actively serving as they were before, they may have destroyed their own family.

When one follow the reformed institute, it is a resources for one's conscience, to return to the path of our Lord. The western Christianity may seem like a giant today, but it cannot do any better but harm. 

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The Importance of Apologetics

I recently had a phone conversation with Rev. Serena Lin. I brought up the news where one of our church brother joined another church called United Church of Christ, UCC. She immediately accused that church to be cult. When I asked her why, she could only say that...oh...they like to brainwash people, she seems to be at lost if I interrogate any further.

I feel her apologetics is rather weak. So is many other Taiwanese American pastors. Personally I think this is due to the influence of Pentecostal movement, a little bit of new age, etc. The only conservative part that's left is their title, or their church name.

Apologetics is the defense of Christian doctrine against all kinds of misleading interpretation of the Bible. Simply saying "they are brainwashing people" is not apologetics, it's pathetic. 

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Finding Keys to CCGC's Cure

Of many problems, I believe the main problem in CCGC is psychology. I do not care who, which pastor or scholar holds a degree in psychology, or even if it's Ph.D. How many prisoners have the so called Ph.Ds cured? How many drug addicts have the federal centers set free? Is it not only by the power of God? And that all glory His?

When someone's emotionally hurt or seems to be so, everyone else automatically become psychologist. All these little Uzzahs, thinking that they are giving God's stumbling Ark of Covenant a hand. Hence, the authority of a church, a truly called representative of God, such as the pastor, has no simple task in this matter.

The so called Christian Psychology today I've seen and experienced, especially in the West, is that of the kind that replaces Happy Pills.

"As long as they are happy", "as long as they don't cry", ....PRAISE GOD! It works!

This kind of principle is Absolutely contrary to Biblical teaching.

If this error is to continue, perhaps it is better for the patients to take the pills. Because pills don't have to face God's judgment.

I remember a saying by Rev. Dr. Stephen Tong: "Academic study is the slave of conviction." Just because the field of psychology is in every colleges and universities, doesn't mean we should be so naive towards its credibility. Psychology is practically founded by people who do not believe men sin by nature since the fall. So today, a psychiatrist can prescribe all kinds of medicine to anyone with mood problems, emotional disorientation, etc.

So if asked, could human problems actually be SIN and therefore making sinners be accountable to God? Many so called experts would say, "No, we just haven't found a better solution/treatment for this and that, don't worry, that's why we have researches for...", "Oh...this is called Bipolar, it has nothing to do with sin", etc.

If Christian Psychologists today can easily be duped by spreadsheets of data and laboratory experiments on human behavior, failing to differentiate between mental illness and spiritual illness, then it is better they don't call themselves Christians. 

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Not Every Offering is Accepted

Today many find it strange or angry or jealous or regrettable if their offerings of sort are denied, rejected, refused.

For example, when they wished to sponsor someone financially for seminary, they were refused. Or when they tried to buy a church for a pastor, they were denied their offering, etc.

There is of course, not a rule set for which materials are acceptable. Nonetheless, many offered in the wrong motive. Some offered to satisfy their pride and power, some offered to fit in, some offered in order to receive praises while some others offered to show compassion.

Offering is not just acknowledging what's not ours, but the progression of our right relationship with God.

If there needs any Biblical claim to support the above, it is Cain's offering. 

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The Psychology of the Relativity of Time

The more things you do, the faster you feel time flies.

Thus, the sense of the speed of time is directly proportional to the number of activities in one's life. 

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Wolves Among the Sheep

It is the practice of today's churches, to invite wolves into their midst unaware.

A person who wishes to emphasis on human emotions, making wrong right, such as promoting jealousy within the church, should be asked...no...should be instructed to leave, if the church still has authority of Christ. Because if that is the case, Christ love that church, and therefore the congregation not be corrupted by evil.

Those who wish to be holy and those who wish to pervert are very very different categories of people.

It is unfortunate that even Seminary graduates wish to separate theology from the church. Too boring? Too headache? 

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metadatalabs.com Banned from My Site

After detecting this site's robot stealing valuable resources (Dr. Tong's Seminary Lectures) from my site, I have created a ban script in /usr/bin using iptables to ban Metadata Labs from my server.

My resources are free, but those that are password protected are for those who are interested in the pertaining subjects, not for you to leech and build your own database.

But this is not the point of course, there are plenty of methods to steal data. However, it is a motivation for me to start banning IPs from my server, for security reasons such as hackers, crackers, etc. There had been IPs  which I wished to ban stealing my audio files, but it was too minor for me to be eager enough to pursue this subject. I failed to realize the importance of having an easy way to ban an IP until now.

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Halogen Lamp Ban

After long searching here and there to purchase a Halogen Torchiere, I just realized it might have been banned, and I added the keyword "banned", voila!

It is banned due to hazardous issues.

compact fluorescent light, CFL, was recommended better in every way. I haven't tested it out yet.

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Crazy Post Office Lost My Package

I ordered a cheap but worthy book from Amazon.com, "After Its Kind" by Byron Nelson.

According to the tracking number, the book arrived days before. But it was never found in my mail box. I rent a box at the post office no one's at home to accept any packages during the day time.

The staffs searched yesterday...or pretended to search (I really don't think staring at a hive of mail boxes filled with packages here and there searching), they asked to come back this morning to see the one named Roy, who's supposed to be responsible at these. I would rather they told me that it's lost, instead of pushing responsibilities around.

So I went back again, and Roy told me it's been delivered, pointing to the word "delivered" on the form which I brought to him. I feel like I'm taking crazy pill.

I told them that it's no big deal because this is a cheap book, I could just reorder. I realized they just won't admit they lost the package, so I thanked them, and left.

I do believe they have misplaced the package. Of course, they wouldn't even admit that, which did happen before, in my PO box, I had gotten someone else's package, and they thanked me for returning to them. But not admitting their fault, I guess is typical of many organizations, especially for government employees.

I think the fun part would be they making the same mistake again, misplacing someone else's package in my PO Box again. Then, there's going to be a show worth watching, I guarantee. That is, provided that I have the time to perform this.

On the other hand, I must be careful with my orders in the future, especially when ordering something that costs more. 

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Apologetics: God is Love, therefore He Must Save

To clear the confusion of God's Love and Just, which are distinct aspects of God,

I'd say, God is Love, therefore we know we were not worthy since the fall of men. Or else, we would not know how unworthy we were.

So, without the knowledge of our worth, God needs not save us, EVEN IF HE IS LOVE, for by Adam, we all have thrown away His love in the beginning, whether we admit it or not, it is in our fallen nature since Adam.

This makes God's love a sovereign one. And The salvation, particular one. Though salvation is sufficient for all, it is efficient only for the elects.

 

God is Just, therefore He shouldn't save.

God is Love, therefore we have the ability to hope for salvation.

By this, the Salvation in Christ Jesus alone is assured, for God is faithful.

By this, Salvation is not for those who do not hope. 

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