叶妈妈曾跟我说：其教会牧师从马来西亚远方数次请位唐崇荣布道团的同工传道人，来此教会证道，猜想是想要他以后接班此教会牧养责任。
我第一印象感到怪可怜的，但又很可能。很像这牧师的处事方法。我不需提名这牧师，免得其名发臭。后来，想想也就认了，也许这样至少不会把教会搞成异端。此教会里有谁能接班？四十年的教会历史，不培也不训，只有自毙的下场。
当然，现在再想一想，这牧师屡次请来的年青讲员们，都只是在台上讲了之后就赶飞机飞走了，很少有团契的机会。不知到底请他们的目的是做做样子，还是偷懒自己教会不要争气。还有最后一点，这牧师常夸其马来西亚来的传道人在马来西亚有心对回教徒传福音，那为何要把他带出他有心事工的地方？所以，我想给其牧师怀疑的空间，当作其目的不是要他搬到美国做此教会的接班牧者，也许不过是钱太多，没其它地方花。不然，这牧师的心真是个可恶，自私的马屁精。自私，因为她已经没办法（狗嘴吐不出象牙地）托其他正统接班人了。马屁精，因为自己不好好追求。
I feel that I should build a site/app on rating churches. First in the U.S. and then the world. Thus far I haven't seen such a site.
This site should be simplistic and informative. Showing denomination affiliations, ranking, rating, etc. Preferably, each church is summarized in a one row record. Links to various forums/discussions may follow for each church.
This will also help me in analysis of churches. For example, when dealing with various church sizes, would expectation from different churches be different accordingly. Keller's Redeemer is a large church, so when pastoral care/Sunday fellowship is lacking, one may think it fine for it to be excusable as long as they are active in other areas, viz. HFNY & community groups. But if a church is small, then lack of Sunday fellowship is simply deplorable.
This kind of information should be simplified into the site.
What is wrong with these families? And they got millions of hits?
https://www.youtube.com/user/ehbeefamily?spfreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/user/crazyworldnews4you?spfreload=10
Just my random memory recollection:
He goes by the name TY Koay, Jonathan Koay, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-koay-2762b07/, https://www.facebook.com/jkoay, from Malaysia, husband of (I think) Sandy Ma, graduated from Drexel University in Mechanical Engineering. Claimed to be Christian.
I meet him while I was in Drexel. When he was moving back to Malaysia, he had me help him ship his packages back home since he had to catch his flight. He gave me some money to pay the carrier (probably $100, back in the 2000s), telling me that it's more than enough. But as it turned out, the shipment costed more, probably double what he gave me. I paid the extra for him out of good faith. After that, it wasn't easy to reach him, I would say he's just too busy, instead of hiding from me, I would think I knew him enough to make this conclusion.
Years later, when I could get a hold of him online and told him about the shipping fee he owed me, he denied the extra cost and stopped talking about the shipping fee since.
For someone of his career and character, I don't think he was trying to cheat me out of a little $$$. He would probably think that I was the one trying to rip him off for some extra cash. However, I would say that he is rather irresponsible in such matter.
Bottom line, I should always be open to be his friend, but when it comes to monetary trust, he does not have good credit of faith, and I should be aware of that.
Update (6/19/2017): ...and thanks to my mom's reminder: Always keep the receipt. This matter is so long ago, I really don't remember the exact amount Jonathan owes me, which is not the point of this entry anyway.
Update (6/23/2017): I have actually dealt with this matter before. I was wiser then. So I'm going to categorize this in "Faults".
I understand that Rev. David Tong was invited once again to speak at CCCNY. The title of his sermon was "True Christians". Even though I have not heard it, I believe it was a title aptly suitable for such a church, for the leadership of the church follows the doctrine of "Support for Christianity is never wrong" (Hence, they would never be able to explain Matthew 16:23, 2Sam 6:7, etc. properly). Rev. Laura Lin's leadership is akin to the SEEKING of good moral PEOPLE who SUPPORT Christianity. A serious bias from true doctrine as a result of years of tolerance towards false doctrine in submission to the support of the flesh, despite her proper doctrinal upbringing from WTS, which goes to show that having knowledge of orthodoxy does not imply pursuit of holiness.
Knowing David Tong to still be an evangelical, I trust his sermon brought out God's message. May God bless this church and Rev. Lin.
Some parts of Europe I'm sure, but as I came across this YouTuber: Hobo Ahle, I've learned somewhat more about Hobo lifestyle especially in the U.S.
I believe I first came to be aware of such lifestyle from my father, a long long time ago, when he pointed to a travelling foreigner with huge backpack back in Penang, and explained to me how such person would likely get by his life of travelling by either begging or working for money along the way.
Hobo is generally a derogatory term. "Ho" usually means Homeless. But people defined it in various ways. Ahle used the definition "Homeward Bound". I suppose that this is referring to nature being the home.
After seeing some of Hobo Ahle's videos, I did find that it had been a past dream of mine, one that is not feasible anymore, if ever. Hobos like her sleep in cars/vans of their own and travel around with their vehicles. Though it is interesting to find that many Americans, especially youngsters, are engaging in this sort of lifestyle. Their main reasons are: Saves money and a love to do things in the nature full time while you were still young.
It's good to learn how these people live. After all, it's more common than most would think. Some people do it for financial reason, some just do it for fun, like Ahle. Most of these teenagers/youngsters have family and friends they can always depend on. So, in Ahle's case, I wouldn't really call it a homeless lifestyle. It would be quite hard for her to do this if she wasn't in Western lands such as U.S. or Sweden. When she needs a break from such lifestyle, she could always hit a pause button and return home. So, I wouldn't quite call it full independence, even though she does exhibit independence, but with insurance: having supportive family nearby she could always turn to anytime.
On top of that, it is also fun learning where they have been. These people would show us interesting spots and tips in their tour we don't usually find in a tour guidebook.
Another thing I learn is the amazing list of websites Ahle listed to look for jobs. These are highly customizable jobs which one can work online, in the parks, for temporary period of time. I haven't checked out these sites but I'm sure with someone as resourceful as Ahle, the sites are legitimate:
✧ WEBSITES MENTIONED ✧
► 1 - https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites
► 2 - https://www.Shopify.com
► 3 - https://www.upwork.com/
► 4 - https://www.flexjobs.com/
► 5- https://weworkremotely.com/
► 6 - https://www.fancyhands.com/
► 7 - http://www.sugarbeetharvest.com/
► 8 - https://www.coolworks.com/
► 9 - https://www.usajobs.gov/
► 10 - https://www.nps.gov/yell/getinvolved/...
Last but not least, they are able to live this kind of lifestyle due to the benefit of the Western Heritage: Christian culture, huge national lands, kind neighbors, etc.
Interesting journal forwarded by my dad.
Cheap train...rare, as trains are more costly than planes nowadays.
Let me start with an illustration of these two verbs:
"I believe in the Gospel"
"I trust His promises"
After a simple Socratic Method I did on LigonierConnect, and reading Peter Enns' Why I Don’t Believe in God Anymore, I come to the conclusion that (yes semantics is important because we are human beings who communicate with words):
Believe: Relates to truth. Any representation of truth.
Trust: Relates to action.
Trusting a person means I am about to do something very specific according to that person.
Believing a person however, is more general if not specified. It can be an easy cop out. "Yes I believe you...good bye." Instead of "Yes, I trust you with my life, tell me what to do."
So, ironically, I have to agree with Enns:
I see the Bible focusing a lot more on something far more demanding: trust.
However, I do not agree with the way Enns discard the word "believe". Believe can be used as a foundation. Thus, "Believing in the Gospel" is necessary as a foundation. "Trusting the Gospel" sounds vague, but "Believe" here would cut it. Now, "Believe in His Promises" sounds too complicated, as if we are making room for many interpretations of these "Promises" of His. "Trust" is more simplistic and hands-on.
So each word has its own emphasis and use. To simply discard this as semantics is rather irresponsible, as the commenter (Terry) did at the Ligonier course I participated in. This is also something the charismatics often overlook. They conclude that they already have the right heart and any scholastic investigation that challenges their heart or their words is an affront to God. Hmmm...Come to think of it, that sounds like some extremists from certain other religion.
Nadia talked about visiting Philadelphia and the Amish Country (it's really the Indonesian food she wants), last Thursday. I did some late night research on Friday for the trip.
I realized that The Sight & Sound Theaters is located right in the middle of the Amish Country between Lancaster town and Intercourse. Then I looked up for a good church (Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, preached by Dr. Liam Goligher) and a good lodging (Comfort Suites Amish Country - $89 and 4.4 google review, not bad for a 2-star hotel), even though we've decided to not to do overnight stay this time. We were also too night for the Amish all you can eat restaurant buffet (for $10-$12 per adult) at Dienner's Country Restaurant. Of course, there could have been more places to visit: Downtown Lancaster, Tanger Outlet (Not sure if it's worth visiting), Philadelphia Premium Outlets (off the main course but could be push on the way), lots of other Amish farms and farm views.
For the right routes to take, I referred to PaulRabe's comment:
I'll give the same advice I've given to the people who come to Philly and want to see the Amish. Drive out US-30 west of Philly until you just enter Lancaster County. When you get to Gap at Hiway 41, go south, and then almost immediately head west on Hiway 741. After doing so, you'll see several Amish farms. Get off the main road and you'll see more. Stop at any one that's selling stuff (quilts, pies, farm products), and you'll get as close as any visitor will do so. Continue doing the above as you go west on 741, and as you go north on Hiway 896 at Strasburg. Go past US-30 till you get Hiway 340, then head east. When you get to Hiway 772 in Intercourse, head southeast until you return to US-30. You won't see a lot of scenery or nature (it's all farmland and shops) or viewpoints (it's pretty flat) or anything mysterious or original (people have been farming here for over 150 years). But the above route will allow you to see authentic Amish farms.
So, here's the actual plan for the three "stooges":
Left home around 9AM. Picked up Willy. Ate Peanut Butter Jelly sandwich A Les Willy. Drove to Costo Gasoline for gas. Ate Indonesian food at Sky Cafe (very good, very authentic and cheap for Indonesian restaurants here). We had Sate Kambing, Mie Bakso, Nasi Lemak Rendang. Went to Pendawa Indonesian Deli/Grocery.
Got to Route 30 West, turned South at Gap. Took Hiway 741, enjoyed Amish scenic farm views. Arrived at Old Windmill Farm. It's family run. Huge property. Had to drive inside the inconspicuous entrance to park by the farm. Sign board wasn't clear, so we went overboard - good thing we kept asking around or we would end up with the Children of the Corn. I could certainly sense that this family like all Amish, live and talk in in their traditional Dutch culture. The farm tour was $10 per person, for no more than 30 minutes. Our tour guide was a 10 year old boy (埃立加姆斯/杰米) and his occasionally following but necessary for cuteness younger sister (埃丽萨贝特) who probably just wanted to hang out with and help out her brother. Though it may not be as informative as the adult tour guide (their father perhaps?) We had a great time, despite one of us couldn't handle the farm smell at some point. I got to milk the cow, play with little chicks and get to be guided by two young Amish children around their family farm. Tour costs $10 per adult, we started from around 4:30PM to 5:15PM.
Then we went North on the scenic farm road again from Route 340 and through Intercourse and returned to Route 30, going back to Philadelphia's Pendawa to get more stuff and Sky Cafe for our dinner. This time I ate just the Sup Buntut - Oxtail Soup. All of Sky Cafe's meal that I had cost around $6-$8. We had dinner around 8:00PM-9:00PM
We filled the gas near the George Washington Bridge, Willy got home at around 11:20PM, We arrived home at around 11:45PM.
Driving routine was: Nadia drove us to Philadelphia. Willy drove until the last gas station, Nadia drove to Willy's, I navigated the whole time and drove both of us home.
We may do this again in two weeks with overnight stay and perhaps the Sight and Sound Show (on Jonah, this season).
I should just compile a list of what many who claim to be Christians today and perhaps in the past as well do not get in their own twisted logic:
