\nI have three conclusions to make for this week:\n<\/p>\n
\n1. Saturday
\n(5\/12\/2012), I visited Christian Life Bookstore once again (had to use
\nthat $10 off coupon). The "manager", Richard, came, as they always do,
\nto ask me if I needed anything. I have hanged around in the store long
\nenough (almost 2 hours, I think), so I asked him about the two books I
\ncouldn't find: John Piper's Bloodlines and some Q&A reference book
\nthat I used to see on the commentaries shelves.\n<\/p>\n
\nSo when he
\ncouldn't find them himselves, unlike before, he appears to be more
\nobnoxious this time...asking me why I wanted the book for, and then like
\nthat preacher I remembered Rev. Tong once spoke of when he was young
\nand bought an encyclopedia of the world and received the comment from
\nthe preacher-why waste this money on such worldly books...buy books
\nthat's related to the Bible...\n<\/p>\n
\nMay God pardon this fella...for he
\nknew not what he said. I hardly make any attempt to converse with this
\nguy, but he wasn't willing to admit defeat, as if he has been defeated,
\nso he went on to ask me what books am I studying, and then he talked
\nabout how I should be "systematic" (whatever he meant), reading the book
\nof Acts (to which I calmly asked...so by system I should start with the
\nbook of Acts?), then he switched the subject talking about how I should
\nread commentaries but his goal of course, was to discriminate me by
\nasking "English is not your first language isn't it" to which he
\nfollowed with quizzing me some baseball terminology "hitting out of the
\npark" (which could apply in out of expectated success in carreers, like
\nhitting a homerun). Of course, I admit I did not know...but we learn
\nsomething everyday. Still not a fan of baseball, unless I get the chance
\nto play it. It was as if he thought to himself that he had deviated
\nfrom "Only talk about things related to the Bible" motto, so he tried to
\nquiz me about the meaning of the phrase "Day and Night", to which he
\ngladly answered for me "it means good times and bad times to the Jewish
\nculture". And I answered that's a bit far fetched to say this is what
\nthe Jews understood because Day and Night was about constant diligence. I
\nthink he realized how far he had gone but afraid to admit it so he just
\nreplied "it's not about studying the Bible for long hours" (which
\nwasn't at all what I meant), and he continued "but it's okay, you don't
\nhave to defend yourself", at which point I figured he was like many
\ndegreeless Bible enthusiasts today in America (I think people like John
\nMacArthur has a hand in creating such group, though indrectly or unaware
\n- Just what the Bible says, not science, not social study, no
\nacademic), of course, the likes of MacArthur has seminary degree to show
\nfor, which also led them to certain crucial academic discipline, so
\nthey are easily off the hook.\n<\/p>\n
\nSo are these really that Bible
\nenthusiasts? I have concluded not. Otherwise it would be like calling
\nany poker professional a mathematics enthusiast. I've seen many of such
\nare filled with pride...but they wanted to strike first by calling
\nothers proud. Whatever their shortcoming is, they would cover it by
\naccusing others of the same.\n<\/p>\n
\nHere's what one has to say about him (I think we refer to the same person):\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/em><\/a>Tracy<\/span><\/a> - <\/span> 2 years ago<\/span><\/em>: Great Variety of Gifts<\/span> I \nRude? I would say there could be a better description. But condescending is right on the money.\n<\/p>\n \nAt \nWhat \nI had also recently concluded this type of \nSo to examine these type, \nI just hope this bookstore still \n2. The Sunday Mother's day. I learned from VOA \nThere was \nIt's not a big \n3. Earlier in the morning, I visited Redeemer's new site (not the first time) on 83rd. Which is possibly the church for me and Nadia especially once we are married. It is healthier for married couples and christian families than CCCNY.\n<\/p>\n \nRev. Tim Keller preached on the topic of "let your yes be yes". I remember a key note: That relativism and moralism were shown their folly when they both confronted the Lord, who is the absolute truth. Relatvism for Pilate's "What is truth", and moralism for the Jews striking Jesus for not wanting to hear the truth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have three conclusions to make for this week: 1. Saturday (5\/12\/2012), I visited Christian Life Bookstore once again (had to use that $10 off coupon). The "manager", Richard, came, as they always do, to ask me if I needed … Continue reading
\nthink the variety of items in stock is great. Lots of great gift items.
\nHowever, there was a particularly rude and condescending manager, will
\ncall him "r". He's a perfectly bad example of a Christian bookstore<\/strong>
\nmanager. If you go to the store, don't waste your time asking this guy
\nanything...but definitely look around and you will find something you
\nlike, the store is definitely worth the visit<\/span> <\/em>\n<\/p>\n
\nchecking out, I asked him..."so you are some seminary student or
\ngraduate?", the way he answered no, gave me the idea that he was
\nprobably part of the Churches of Christ denomination<\/a>, or the ICC<\/a>. These simpletons have "Evangelists", no preachers, no pastors, as they think it is a title of pride.\n<\/p>\n
\nI wonder was that I believe I have seen Richard before, and he wasn't
\nlike that (not that much anyway). So what changed? Did some cowboy
\ncustomer challenged him to a duel and shamed him? Did he clash with his
\npastor, some preachers? Because what he is ultimately doing in the
\nstore, is like those who cannot show official qualification to be a
\npastor, but want to shepherd over a herd of sheep, so he just does it in
\na bookstore.\n<\/p>\n
\n"christians" similar to the irresponsible type you see in cash giving
\nscammers, email\/website spammers, etc.\n<\/p>\n
\njust look into their fellowship of the saints...who are their friends,
\nteachers and students. Because if I am right, I would say they have
\nserious fellowship problems.\n<\/p>\n
\nprovide good books...because if this guy had his way, one could only
\nfind commentaries and his recommended lists in the store, to which I'll
\njust ask, which I could have just easily summarized this whole chapter
\n"who is he?". I'd like to see him pull the same stunt on a pastor. But
\nwith the shelves they are heading - under this guy - I doubt any pastors
\nwould visit.\n<\/p>\n
\nthat the founder of mother's day is Anna Jarvis, following her mother's
\nfootsteps of caring for civil war victims regardless of sides. Anna was
\nalso the same person who tried to remove Mother's day as she realized
\nhow business people commercialized the day for profit.\n<\/p>\n
\nalso this incident when at church, I was handing out music folders to
\nall the guys (Annually, all men sing in place of the choir for Mother's
\nday, and women for Father's day). And when I get to a perhaps
\nquinquagenarian, who and his wife always seems a little off in the sense
\nthat they may worship moralism, he refused to sing saying hesitantly
\n"I'm sick", of course I saw him went up to sing later...guilt? or was it
\njust depending on who's asking him to sing? The other was a youth, whom
\nI believe may have something to do with his father (who is an
\nunbeliever), whose wife also pulled herself away from choir after some
\ninconspicuous dramatic episode from her husband. I am interested in the
\nworking of their psychology but I really don't give a damn about the
\nrest because it is the way the pastor run things. Nothing to do with me.
\nWhen I am married, we are moving out of this church. They should take
\nheed how they build on the foundation (1 Cor 3:10).\n<\/p>\n
\ndeal to me because should I discipline them in the truth and get myself
\nin unecessary trouble, I could easily point to their irony: Hey...they
\ndon't have to sing if they do not want to, it is perfectly fine with me if they want to be girls<\/strong>.\n<\/p>\n