So far it is around 10.2.1. Don't even try to upgrade it as Chinese characters will fail in parallel view and the author Rick Meyers, though as generous as he is talented, didn't seem that interested to deal with the fix when I reached out to him years ago. I tried to take a crack at the codes myself, but it's better just to stick with the older version, good thing I saved a copy of the old installer. And I'm not missing out on anything new with this old one.
I need the parallel view with Chinese to not only improve my Chinese but for hermeneutic reasons as well.
Another new quote I have, after much reflection of churches I've been, particularly the Chinese ones: The love of showing we are caring, love God's words/works, is not the same as loving to care, and love God's words/works.
Came across one of Alex's FB posting:
Though I would agree with Alex against WLC's historical Adam argument, I wouldn't go as far as to look down on someone much less a fellow Christian scholar. Secondly, we shouldn't follow the academia restriction of "one should only stick to one's own field of professional expertise". Such hypocritical statement from Alex is not surprising, who sometimes try to prove his expertise in fields outside of his "expertise" by secret googlings.
This is a question I am still wondering. Stephen Tong believes there will not be distinction of man and woman:
I'm likely differ from Tong about this. The way I see it, Jesus only mentioned no marriage, but not no gender difference. And gender creation is prior to the fall, so it cannot be a cursed grace (cursed grace = post-fall grace, that I coined myself, is what I consider things that come as a result of the fall and very likely only as the result of the fall, such as various human languages, money, rain, etc., all of which are not likely to continue in the new heaven and earth.)
I can understand why they would differ from me in this, as they would think there is no sex in the after-life. But that's just based on an assumption, if not false one, that when Jesus said there's no marriage, then there will be no sex. At this point, of course, we must thread carefully, for I am not proposing lascivious sexual conducts, human centered orgies, but that which may be mystery beyond us and as more innocent than animal understood it. And unlike the fundamentalists, I do not here prevent myself to think further as if Deu 29:29 applies here, for what God creates, is holy and beautiful and not to be denied. I only allow my creativity be restrain by the precepts of God's word. Deu 29:29 is not such precepts and doing so is actually breaking the precepts of God's word, for it is a twisting of God's meaning.
It's likely that Tong's version of heaven may not be a bodily resurrected ones. The reformed have argued that in the afterlife our bodies are a resurrected bodies, eternal, as our Lord Jesus' resurrected body is as the prototype. Not as spirits in some ethereal realm called heaven like the movies portray it. I would pay attention to if Tong ever mentions this, for I am only assuming here for now. So I'll leave this topic in QUESTIONS category.
In search of masturbation topic, this is as close as I found, this should be an important discussion on sexual desire in general:
Tong claimed that masturbation is not necessarily considered adultery because there is no partner in crime involved. And it is done out with desire to not disobey God and not denying sexual function and with self control to keep oneself holy and abstain from unholy sexual desire.
Second question of the video also questioned about masturbation and pornography.
3rd question is on incest in the First generation. I must insist here now, after hearing so many experts use genetic diversity as the cause against Later prohibition against incest. Yes, that sounds reasonable. But I do protest, that this is not the cause. The prohibition against incest IS THE CAUSE of genetic diversity. I believe this explanation proclaims better God's power and sovereignty. God decides, not nature decides for God. God prohibits, therefore God designed it this way, not nature is this way, therefore God prohibits this according to nature. I have not heard anyone else explains it this way, but I think this is a better answer. But why then is there such prohibition, the enlightenment that I have is so that God may enrich the human family tree with the richness of various relationships: For bosses are not the same as colleagues, mothers are not the same as wives, sisters are not the same as spouses, and so on in an ever expanding community that build and shows God's greatness more and more. Ever roles in relationships are unique when human kind populates, but not before, these roles are not needed. When two partners start a business, they are bosses, one does not need to be a servant and the other a master, until their company expanded, there we have hierarchy of organizational chart. The bigger the company, the more complex the hierarchy, but never confused.
I was meant to rebel by tagging to the bottom of a very small jet engine of a plane, supposed to be very safe. But somehow kept landing in water that's infested with swamp plants.
2nd dream: I used what others used as food, as chemical to turn sand into transparent platings, like glass.
I find myself along with Nadia to really love this Grace Community Church. The pastor is really into the word of God, and the bonus is, he follows the reformed line. I think having 3 consistent Bible study a week (Thursday study, Sunday School, Sunday Sermon) is unusually blessed. It's not common in U.S. In fact, it is probably not as common anywhere in the world today as it was back in John Calvin's time (multiple times everyday!).
Other churches have failed in various crucial ways. Though if I must, I would still hold that there is some hope in certain churches. Rev. Lin's CCCNY by Central Park is not really, but sort of Reformed, only if she tries to associate herself/the church with some famous reformed preachers, so a cheap kind of imitation. But nonetheless, because of the imitation of the right kind, I believe God is blessing them still. Rev. Murphy's Messiah's Reformed Fellowship seemed to be reformed and there are more delving into God's words than CCCNY, in fact, I find that most Chinese churches in America are less into the word of God and theology than the American churches, at first I would think it has to do with language, that Chinese churches leaders don't speak English well in America, but then I realized it maybe something more devastating, that they believed they have struggled enough and have finally immigrated into "heaven", so all work is done, there is no need to seek anymore. But Murphy's church do show some kind of factions and struggle between making themselves a private exclusive club (like that of the OPC - where if you are not a church member you cannot partake Holy Communion - though not enforced) and evangelism. But they were quick to kick people out who's not their members, so after twice being kicked out of their online google group, I gave up trying to get back in, all I wanted was to make sure that they don't cancel the Bible Study when I sacrifice my time and effort just to attend, but I guess joining the tribe is more important for them. The other crucial thing is Murphy's preaching one time, when he tried to justify certain lies, but I assume he was going through something, given his character, not surprising. Overall, I would still recommend CCCNY or Messiah's Reformed Fellowship in New York City. These are the two only ones I can trust doing God's bidding or close to it. So if they are bad, then the image of New York Church is not so great. There are other churches note mentioning, but they are not reformed, just into evangelizing, which is foundational, so if one doesn't like CCCNY, one could try Flushing's Faith Bible Church, but be aware of the poor theology practiced there. As for Redeemer, since Tim Keller stepped down, I don't know how to rate it, very unreliable, even with Michael Keller, the son, leading the Lincoln Center branch. When pastors come and go so often, something fishy is going on. The messages in the sermons were not impressive either. By impressive, I mean displaying the living word of God. And in NJ, we sort of gave up Grace OPC in Westfield, seeing that they held too tightly to fundamentalist ideals (proclaiming virtual service is unbiblical) during Covid-19. The pastor kept saying "I love you" in email format but two families have declared strongly against it. I don't mind revisiting them, but now that we've found a slightly further (30 mins) Grace PCA in Bridgewater, we are going to stick to this, for I choose God's word over any formality or flattery or human care, which were made idols against God by many of these churches.
So a vlogger was found dead, presumed murdered, near Grand Teton, while hobo-ing with her fiancé Brian Laundrie.
There are deaths like this everywhere everyday, so what makes this one so special. Because first, this is a youtube vlogger whose life and death is so connected to what she posted on social media:
People like them call it Van Life, I'll just stick to hobo.
And also, the trouble with now disappeared suspect, Brian Laundrie, the fiancé, was well documented in an hour plus long police recording on youtube:
And then there's a huge social media follow up, trying to find out what happened and helping the investigation, which with the help of another road trip vlogger, stumbled upon Petito's van and consequently led to her body being found.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YQmjam3haI
Soon after Brian returned to Florida, alone, with the van, crowds gathered around his home demanding for an answer. And he then disappeared. Cops said the parents did not cooperate. Australian 60 Minutes called this a dereliction of duty on the investigator's part:
Someone also testified to Laundrie's odd behavior when she picked him up as he was hitchhiking, and dropping him near where the body was found:
All these have also accumulated millions of views. So another way to gain million of views and $$$ is perhaps when capital crime is involved with a sprinkle of mystery. Because there are clues the public can follow and enough recorded drama as evidence for everyone to investigate and come up with their own theories, the interest grew. Perhaps the good looks of the young couples also contribute to the interest of the public. No government nor authorities are able to prevent it. This is one of the use of social media. Information, not wisdom, but just vast knowledge for those who care.
This has been touched long ago in history and the common answer has to do with having witnesses.
What I will add to this, after having to deal with this on FB, is that God authored the Bible not by mere dictation or direct divine scribing because communications and relationships are more than words and writings. Such is His creation and how He relates Himself to His creatures.
This came up in last Thursday's Bible study on James 5:1-6.
It is also the first time I realized this is the first pastor whose father attends church Bible study, actively. Later I also learned that the parents also attended the church service, not sure how often, but it was impressive enough.
The pastor's father responded to the above with disagreement, because there were good honest people making those Lamborghinis and they deserved the money. The rebuttal to that was that he would rather spend time with the frugal kind who give aide to the poor.
I was thinking of asking "So what if this frugal person you like to hang out with, also owns a lamborghini?"
Then on a Sunday later when the topic was brought up again in Revelations regarding the Laodicean church, I figured out a better response:
It depends on the motive. And it is really not a cryptic yes and no answer. Sometimes it's yes, sometimes it's no. Saying Christians are not allowed to buy Rolex or Hermes bags, is like saying Christian men are not allowed to marry beauty pageants or supermodels. Or churches should not have chandelier.
Jesus has even taught us on the wise use of God's blessings, to multiply God's gifts, otherwise, even what you have already will be taken away from you.
