{"id":18409,"date":"2025-06-30T17:05:19","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T21:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=18409"},"modified":"2025-11-21T23:20:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T03:20:09","slug":"journal-of-the-week-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=18409","title":{"rendered":"Journal of the Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>7\/2\/2025<\/strong> Stephen Tong on Hebrews 5:13 <em>\u51e1\u53ea\u80fd\u5403\u5976\u7684\u90fd\u4e0d\u719f\u7ec3\u4ec1\u4e49\u7684\u9053\u7406\uff0c\u56e0\u4e3a\u4ed6\u662f\u5a74\u5b69 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tong: <strong>Those who only preach the love of God, he has never truly loved his own church.<\/strong> Those who preach the righteousness of God, always come before God in holiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\uff03\u70ba\u4f55\u53ea\u80fd\u5403\u5976\u4e0d\u80fd\u5403\u4e7e\u7ce7\u7684\u57fa\u7763\u5f92\u6bd4\u5916\u90a6\u4eba\u66f4\u4e0d\u5982\u2753\uff08\u5e0c\u4f2f\u4f86\u66f8\u8981\u7406\u554f\u7b54 \u7b2c752\u554f\uff09\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y9IUmc8HU6g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tong: Why the pagans come before God in fear in the face of disasters while [childish] Christians, instead of \"opportunity to suffer for God\", blaming God, why? <em>\u4e0d\u719f\u7ec3\u4ec1\u4e49\u7684\u9053\u7406<\/em>. What did Paul say in Acts 24:25 before high officials, \"<em>...of righteousness, temperance, and <strong>judgment to come<\/strong>!<\/em>\":<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\uff03\u3008\u8a6990:11\u3009\u5982\u4f55\u7e3d\u7d50\u4e86\u300c\u5c0d\u4e0a\u5e1d\u4ec1\u7fa9\u9053\u7406\u7684\u719f\u7df4\u300d\u2753\uff08\u5e0c\u4f2f\u4f86\u66f8\u8981\u7406\u554f\u7b54 \u7b2c753\u554f\uff09\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MzrZBh-hnn4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7\/1\/2025<\/strong> So <strong>Tesla celebrated their first driverless<\/strong> Y-model car \"<strong>delivery<\/strong>\" service. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/06\/28\/tesla-first-driverless-delivery-new-car-to-customer.html?utm_source=tldrnewsletter\">This link<\/a> includes the <strong>3 minute video<\/strong> of the whole process. My only problem with this demo of theirs is how is the end transaction of so called \"delivery\" done? The end of the video only shows the arrival of destination where the crew claps and opened the driver's door. This is just a demo of robot\/driverless auto driving from point A to point B. There were other videos of driverless taxi on Youtube already, chiefly pertaining to Waymo's self-driving taxies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6\/30\/2025<\/strong> I had <a href=\"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=13167\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=13167\">another entry<\/a> about this piece <strong>Czardas by Vittorio Monti<\/strong>, now again I'm reminded by the same Timothy Chooi, the famous part is around @2:00:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Timothy Chooi: Czardas with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Yo_GnnQx6Ig?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6\/30\/2025<\/strong> Art of the day: <strong>\"The Broad and the Narrow Way\"<\/strong>, English version of the German pietist image \"<a href=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/b\/b2\/Der_breite_und_der_schmale_Weg_2008.jpg\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/b\/b2\/Der_breite_und_der_schmale_Weg_2008.jpg\">Der schmale und der breite Weg<\/a>\", Print made by Anonymous artist, Published by Gawin Kirkham and Printed by the Headly Brothers, Issued in 1883, Lithograph on paper<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/christian.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/matthew-8-18-22-reflection-anonymous-artist.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This piece is referencing Matthew 7:13-14. When I saw this in my inbox I immediately was reminded of the same photo I took at Clyde's Deaconry, now in my 2023 General album: 20231014_160053.jpg. It was on sale for $10. I didn't buy. I didn't expect it to be a popular piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By Fr. <a href=\"https:\/\/christian.art\/daily-gospel-reading\/matthew-8-18-22-2025\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/christian.art\/daily-gospel-reading\/matthew-8-18-22-2025\/\">Patrick van der Vorst<\/a>, using Matthew 8:18-22 \"Follow me\" theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Our moralising print issued in 1883 offers a vivid allegorical panorama, illustrating the stark choice between worldly pleasure and virtuous living. The composition is divided into two contrasting paths. On the left, a grand, wide gate opens to the enticing road of earthly delights. Its path is smooth and alluring, but drawing crowds toward distant mountains consumed by fire and destruction. The sky above this side grows increasingly ominous, symbolising the ultimate ruin that follows a life of indulgence. In contrast, the right side presents a narrow, humble gate, barely noticeable, leading to a steep and arduous road. This path winds past a cross, traversing bridges, valleys, and rocky terrain, symbolising the trials of a virtuous life. Yet above it, the heavens glow with peace and light, revealing that this difficult road leads to eternal joy and union with God. The contrast between darkness and light in the sky above each path powerfully underscores the eternal consequences of our choice: to follow Christ or not.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6\/29\/2025<\/strong> We have a missionary, <strong>Barry Schutter<\/strong>, who was from GCC long ago, whose work is in London, preaching at our church today. His Sunday School presentation was great, one of the few best from the list we have so far of missionary ministries our church support. Because it looks like he really go out there on the streets to do evangelism, an active role. His sermon also displayed such calling. They have this program called LEAP where <strong>they take visiting Christians such as us to experience their London ministry alongside them<\/strong>. His sermon was on the Great Commission of Matthew 28, and on the missionary <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Gibson_Paton\">John Gibson Paton<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I finally got the chance when the pastor has another round of congregant's choice of hymns today. I immediately shouted out <strong>#42. Which is the Charismatic favorite modern piece: El Shaddai<\/strong>. My favorite as well, which I discovered, surprisingly in our PCA hymnal the last time the pastor did this hymnals by request thing. I've practiced it on piano ever since. The funny thing is I wasn't aware that the pastor was unfamiliar with this piece (this is popular in the early 90s, mainly among Charismatics) so he was shocked as well @8:00 when most of the congregation (I wonder who) were able to sing this piece well enough. I also loved the way Patty played it on the piano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gn. stayed longer in the fellowship meal and helped clean out garbage, out of my expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nadia seems to think things are against her today: She talked to E. about Joy but failed to convince her that our church lacks caring heart as Joy would likely have put it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Met some folks from the founding of this church, Ken &amp; Linda (now at South Ridge Community Church in Clinton, probably non-denominational), and there could be others, who came to visit due to Barry Schutter. There's a family of new comers whom I've forgotten their names, I believe their baby's name was Calvin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Update 11\/13\/2025<\/strong> This is a long awaited one, a criticism on <strong>Barry Schutter<\/strong>. Upon mentioning to Steve, I think, about our church's need for ministering to the kids, such as Children's Sunday School during sermon session, Barry Schutter interrupted with the term \"<strong>Parenting in the pews<\/strong>\", as if that's the more ideal approach, but he was facing Steve instead of me when he said it, he also stressed that he's not going to be dogmatic about it, as if he's trying to avoid conflict. I didn't respond at the time as I knew about Parenting in the Pews, first heard from some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/churchandfamilylife\">ultra conservative group on Facebook<\/a>(run by Scott Brown) that promoted homeschooling, didn't quite agree with the way they presented parenting in the pews, but also wasn't interested enough to look into it at the time. Now, I could easily point now Barry Schutter's error: \"<strong>Of course it shouldn't be dogmatic, because <strong>parenting in the pews is nothing but an IDOLATRY!<\/strong><\/strong> <strong>If the children aren't learning anything substantial from the Bible after a Sunday Service. Something I call a Baptist oversight\/error.<\/strong>\" I like Schutter's approach in evangelism and he probably taught his children about the Bible at home, but he failed horribly on this one. This is also why I think a lot of children of elders and pastors (especially of the very conservative churches) are hell-bound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A quick AI look up on Parenting in the Pews (ClaudeAI) shows that the origin of such is not Reformed, but <strong>Baptist<\/strong>. If that is true, it's not surprising of the obtuse origin. The idea is to discipline children to worship <strong>corporately <\/strong>from an early age. This is emphasized in the late 20th century and especially from the <strong>homeschooling <\/strong>movement of the 80s &amp; 90s and the <strong>family-integrated<\/strong> church movement in Baptist\/non-denominational churches. <strong>Reformed <\/strong>took a more <strong>diverse <\/strong>approach: <strong>Catechism classes<\/strong> with age-appropriation <strong>alongside services<\/strong>. The <strong>Dutch <\/strong>and the Calvinists (<strong>Geneva<\/strong>) <strong>instructed children separately <\/strong>from adult services; while the <strong>Scottish <\/strong>Presbyterian developed <strong>Sunday School program<\/strong> in the 19th century. It seems that the <strong>conservative Reformed<\/strong> churches that practice family-integrated service are under <strong>Baptist influence<\/strong>. <strong>Continental Reformed<\/strong> generally <strong>separates worship education according to age<\/strong>. Here's Claude AI summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>____________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Baptist emphasis:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Family <\/strong>as primary ecclesiastical unit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parents <\/strong>as primary disciplers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skepticism of \"delegating\" <\/strong>spiritual formation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reformed emphasis:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Church as <strong>covenant <\/strong>community (broader than nuclear family)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parents AND church officers<\/strong> share teaching responsibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Corporate worship AND catechetical instruction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While <strong>both traditions value children in worship<\/strong>, the specific \"parenting in the pews\" <strong>movement and rhetoric<\/strong> is more Baptist\/Evangelical in flavor. Reformed churches traditionally kept children in worship as <strong>baptized covenant members<\/strong>, but were more flexible about age-appropriate instruction methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The modern \"family-integrated church\" push is largely a <strong>Baptist corrective<\/strong> to the perceived excesses of age-segregated programming, which then influenced some Reformed churches secondarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>My conclusion:<\/strong> Parenting in the Pews is only good if some child is wise enough to evaluate the quality between the children catechism class and the preacher's adult sermon, and given the choice to choose the more edifying one. So it's not all bad, but in general, especially the way it's defined in modern conservatism, it's bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Baptist way <\/strong>in this parenting in the pews, if successful (that their children stayed in the faith growing up), would generally lead to an <strong>anti-intellectual<\/strong> route, because it can only become more tribal if the foundation is just family integration. Fools would still run this program. If failure, perhaps it's a good thing, because though some children would grow up being anti-Christian (which is the origin of most American atheists), so now we know this Baptist way doesn't work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Reformed way<\/strong>, if failed, than it's because of the program, which the Baptists fear and are rightly skeptical of. If successful, then <strong>it is certainly way better<\/strong> than the \"parenting in the Pews\" approach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>7\/2\/2025 Stephen Tong on Hebrews 5:13 \u51e1\u53ea\u80fd\u5403\u5976\u7684\u90fd\u4e0d\u719f\u7ec3\u4ec1\u4e49\u7684\u9053\u7406\uff0c\u56e0\u4e3a\u4ed6\u662f\u5a74\u5b69 Tong: Those who only preach the love of God, he has never truly loved his own church. Those who preach the righteousness of God, always come before God in holiness. Tong: Why the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=18409\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-theologization"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18409"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19732,"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18409\/revisions\/19732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}