latria

Letters of passion

2009-06-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

There is always something to learn from the internet. Including love letters. Try googling James Joyce's letters to his wife, and learn how to do it right.

Best Post from Greg

2009-06-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

I really like this post from Geese Aplenty:

Exit Interview

More speech advice

2009-05-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

Notes from Speechwriters' Conference.

From the Guru

Articles from my wife

2009-05-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

The New Cicero
The use of Tricolon, Apophasis, Antonomasia, Anaphora & Epiphora, Modes of Persuasion.

Good times!

Obama's pathos

Good one!

2009-04-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

What one should know about Biblical Inerrancy

2009-04-22T00:47:00.000-07:00

This is from the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy:

"C. Infallibility, Inerrancy, Interpretation
Holy Scripture, as the inspired Word of God witnessing authoritatively to Jesus Christ, may properly be called 'infallible' and 'inerrant'. These negative terms have a special value, for they explicitly safeguard crucial positive truths.
'Infallible' signifies the quality of neither misleading nor being misled and so safeguards in categorical terms the truth that Holy Scripture is a sure, safe and reliable rule and guide in all matters.
Similarly, 'inerrant' signifies the quality of being free from all falsehood or mistake and so safeguards the truth that Holy Scripture is entirely true and trustworthy in all its assertions.
We affirm that canonical Scripture should always be interpreted on the basis that it is infallible and inerrant. However, in determining what the God-taught writer is asserting in each passage, we must pay the most careful attention to its claims and character as a human production. In inspiration, God utilized the culture and conventions of his penman's milieu, a milieu that God controls in His sovereign providence; it is misinterpretation to imagine otherwise.
So history must be treated as history, poetry as poetry, hyperbole and metaphor as hyperbole and metaphor, generalization and approximation as what they are, and so forth. Differences between literary conventions in Bible times and in ours must also be observed: Since, for instance, nonchronological narration and imprecise citation were conventional and acceptable and violated no expectations in those days, we must not regard these things as faults when we find them in Bible writers. When total precision of a particular kind was not expected nor aimed at, it is no error not to have achieved it. Scripture is inerrant, not in the sense of being absolutely precise by modern standards, but in the sense of making good its claims and achieving that measure of focused truth at which its authors aimed.
The truthfulness of Scripture is not negated by the appearance in it of irregularities of grammar or spelling, phenomenal descriptions of nature, reports of false statements (for example, the lies of Satan), or seeming discrepancies between one passage and another. It is not right to set the so-called "phenomena" of Scripture against the teaching of Scripture about itself. Apparent inconsistencies should not be ignored. Solution of them, where this can be convincingly achieved, will encourage our faith, and where for the present no convincing solution is at hand we shall significantly honor God by trusting His assurance that His Word is true, despite these appearances, and by maintaining our confidence that one day they will be seen to have been illusions.
Inasmuch as all Scripture is the product of a single divine mind, interpretation must stay within the bounds of the analogy of Scripture and eschew hypotheses that would correct one Biblical passage by another, whether in the name of progressive revelation or of the imperfect enlightenment of the inspired writer's mind.
Although Holy Scripture is nowhere culture-bound in the sense that its teaching lacks universal validity, it is sometimes culturally conditioned by the customs and conventional views of a particular period, so that the application of its principles today calls for a different sort of action."

Personally, I think this disclaimer is extremely important. But I think the major ambiguity lies in the last 2 paragraphs. The holy scripture is certainly culturally bound. Why then do we eschew progressive revelation?

Lent is over

2009-04-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

It has been a good rest from blogging. Now that I have the time, I will be trying to write one everyday as usual. If you are reading this, drop a comment.

I'm addicted

2009-03-20T01:30:00.001-07:00

This will come in handy one day

2009-03-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

Why I think Obama is good for Christianity

2009-03-18T02:48:00.000-07:00

Village People

2009-03-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

You learn something new everyday.

\o/ |o| o< /o\

Cool, huh?

On the art of chairing meetings

2009-03-06T00:21:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, a simple act of summary and appreciation is helpful. I got to learn this.

"Thank you for sharing that, It helps me understand ... ..."
"So you are saying ... ..."
"I am glad to know that ... ..."

I think I was too curt in my last meeting. Live and learn.

WoW39: Take time to be polite. It beats the time spent repairing relationships.

On Lent

2009-03-05T23:09:00.000-08:00

Apparently, the CAC of the Methodists has a very good Chinese Article on Lent. I found it while I was looking for an article for Pretzels.

Enjoy this link.

"慢慢地，这40天的大斋节期不但是新信徒上洗礼课程或新会友上会友课程的时候。大斋节期也成为一般信徒透过读经、祷告、禁食、施舍救济、重新与主建立亲密关系的时刻，以便落实他们的信仰生活。"

My idol

2009-03-04T01:48:00.000-08:00

I just read this from Scot McKnight in Christianity Today.

"As I was reading The Hermeneutics of Doctrine a friend wrote me and said he had heard that Thiselton had died. I knew Tony had a stroke. Rosemary, his wife, wrote a short postscript to the Acknowledgments informing us that her husband "was devastated by a stroke." So I wrote to a friend at Nottingham, where I did my doctoral work and where Thiselton now teaches, and the friend told me that Thiselton had had a remarkable recovery and was now back at work. I am grateful and, Tony, I'm standing in line for your next dense book."

Phew! Anthony Thiselton is the absolute best in the field of hermeneutics. May the Lord keep his health well.

Quote of the year

2009-03-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

Whenever I am faced with a difficult project, there is always a quote I remember. "This too shall pass". No matter how painful is an experience, it will always pass away. That has always gave me comfort and courage on all things I'm facing and what I must overcome. I am delighted to learn the context from Wikipedia.

One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, "Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it." "If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty," replied Benaiah, "I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?" "It has magic powers," answered the king. "If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy." Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility. Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day's wares on a shabby carpet. "Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?" asked Benaiah. He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. "Well, my friend," said Solomon, "have you found what I sent you after?" All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone's surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, "Here it is, your majesty!" As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words "Gam zeh ya'avor" -- "This too shall pass." At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.

On Movies II

2009-03-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

I last commented on the type of preferred storytelling in this entry. While I like movies with a message, it must never be in your face. Strangely, by being more descriptive, the movie becomes more prescriptive because of its ability to convince. I am happy to note that Letters from Iwo Jima is one such movie done to perfection. Without the use of too more gore, the story is strangely shocking to its audience because the questions on war is always there. There is a quote in the movie that is craftily done:
" Do what is right because it's right"
This quote comes from a letter from a mother to an American captive. Yet it was the same order given from a Japanese officer to his soldiers.
Both the American and the Japanese soldiers are "doing what is right", the American is toppling Japanese imperialism, and the Japanese in defending against American invasion. Yet it is blatantly obvious that they are fighting against each other when both are trying to do "what is right".
Shocker, isn't it?

WoW38: Keep the question hanging there. The point will be driven through in the end.

Parenting

2009-02-27T00:05:00.001-08:00

Funny? Too close for comfort.

Are you an "Old Soul"?

2009-02-26T19:09:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure when I first heard the term: old soul.

From Urban Dictionary: "A spiritual person whom is wise beyond their years; people of strong emotional stability. Basically, someone whom has more understanding of the world around them.

Some people even believe an old soul is a person whom has learned from past incarnations, or lives. They acquired certain knowledge from their past lives and apply it to their present life... thus gaining more wisdom than the average bloke. "

While I don't believe in reincarnations, I do think that people who reflect more about life, who relates more with older people and who has been through more suffering, reflects this "old soulness" in them. There is a strange pleasure in communication with such people. They "know" what is going on: what life is about.

Are you an "old soul"?

Funny but informative

2009-02-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

(Click on the pic for the full size)
Which is your favorite?

My most human devotion

2009-02-24T19:10:00.000-08:00

马可福音 5:1-20

5:1他们来到海的对岸，格拉森人的地方。

5:2耶稣一下船，立即有一个污灵附着的人，从坟茔里出来迎着祂。

5:3那人经常以坟茔为住处；再没有人能捆住他，就是用铁链也不能；

5:4因为人屡次用脚镣和铁链捆锁他，铁链竟被他挣断，脚镣也被他弄碎，总没有人能制伏他。

5:5他昼夜常在坟茔和山中喊叫，又用石头砍自己。

5:6他远远的看见耶稣，就跑过去拜祂，

5:7大声喊叫说，至高神的儿子耶稣，我与你何干？我指着神切求你，不要叫我受苦。

5:8因耶稣曾对他说，污灵，从这人身上出来。

5:9耶稣问他说，你名叫什么？他说，我名叫群，因为我们众多。

5:10他就再三的央求耶稣，不要打发它们离开那地方。

5:11在那里山坡上，有一大群猪正在吃食。

5:12它们就央求耶稣说，打发我们到猪群去，我们好进入它们里面。

5:13耶稣就准了它们；污灵便出来，进入猪里去；于是那群猪闯下山崖，投入海里，约有二千，都淹死在海中。

5:14放猪的就逃跑了，去告诉城里和乡下的人。众人就来，要看所发生的是什么事。

5:15他们来到耶稣那里，看见那鬼附的人，就是从前被^a群鬼所附的，坐着，身穿衣服，神志清醒，他们就害怕。

5:16看见这事的，便将鬼附之人所遇见的，和那群猪的事，都对人述说。

5:17他们就恳求耶稣离开他们的境界。

5:18耶稣上船的时候，那被鬼附过的人，恳求要和祂同在。

5:19耶稣不许，却对他说，你回家去，到你的亲属那里，将主为你作了何等大的事，并怎样怜悯你，都告诉他们。

5:20那人走了，就在低加波利，传扬耶稣为他作了何等大的事，众人就都希奇。

这段经文是一段耳熟能详的故事。我每次都会被故事的戏剧性所震动。故事的主角除了耶稣，就是那位被污灵附着的格拉森人。那污灵众多，且大有能力，可以弄碎锁链。耶稣赶它们到猪群，两千多只猪就闯下山崖，掉在海里淹死了。这是何等惊心动魄的场面！

可是，我这次重新阅读这段故事的时候，却是被故事的一句话所感动。当耶稣要离开的时候，那人要求跟随耶稣。耶稣不许，却对他说了这句耐人寻味的话。“你回家到你亲属那里去，把主为你作了多么大的事，并他怎样怜悯你，都告诉他们。”想到这里，我才更深一层的明白这故事的重点。耶稣清楚地讲明他为什么会做这件事。那是因为怜悯。所以，故事的重点超越了离奇的情节。故事的焦点不是匪夷所思的奇迹。故事的中心应该带出神的怜悯。

这位格拉森人，因为众污灵的影响，是疯癫，是狂野的。他昼夜喊叫，用石头砍自己，锁链也绑不住。一般地说，对于这样的疯子，人人都会觉得可怕。这不是人，是凶猛的野兽。我们看到的是他按奈不住的举动，我们想到的是怎么避开他，怎么辖制他到最小的干扰程度。但是神看到的，不是可怕。神感受到的，是可怜。耶稣的一语惊醒梦中人，是啊，这人真可怜！

心魔的缠绕往往比肉体上的疼痛更为难受。我们观察忧郁症的病患者就能够体会心灵的折磨和煎熬的痛苦。这位格拉森人不只受到一个污灵的搅扰。这污灵名叫‘群’，意思就是一个五六千人的罗马军队。几千个污灵附在此人身上，那已经不是搅扰，那是蹂躏。就象一个战乱沦陷后的国家，这个人只剩下一个残骸，赤身裸体，众叛亲离，自我毁灭。这人代表了人面对强大的恶势力的无助。他也代表了被无情的征服后的窘态。他没有了自己，没有了生命。

然而，在人看来是无可救药的境况，在神却是起死回生的希望。此人是外邦人，住在低加波利也就是外邦人的地方，地点是墓地也就是最不洁净的地方，而且又靠近不洁净的猪群。这人简直就是处在离开恩典最遥远的所在。然而，耶稣却是遇见了他，为他施行拯救，把生命还给了他。老实说，若不是彻底的了解这个人原来的处境，看到神千里迢迢的来行大能，我以前还没有真正体会这人所领受的恩典的可贵。很有趣的，连喂饱五千人、平定风浪的耶稣本身都强调神在这里作了‘多么大’的事。

让我们在这大斋节期间，再次被神的爱感动。就象这人一样，把神在历史和我生命所作的大事于人分享。

操练：让我们学习神如何怜悯人。不以人的外表、举动论断他们，而懂得了解人心灵的创伤和需要。

Thoughts on the Oscars

2009-02-23T23:05:00.000-08:00

I like the new presentation. I didn't enjoy the Hugh Jackman stuff though I am impressed with his abilities. But I thought the 5 male and 5 female presentors for the supporting roles were really meaningful. It gives a perspective of history and kudos indeed for a prize that is often awarded for the best actors and actresses.

And I love Steve Martin. He and Tina Fey were indeed the perfect match in comedy.

But the brilliant moment is this:
"

Oh my God. This was, um. This was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco, and our entire cast, my producers, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus, for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story. When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life, it gave me the hope to one day live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married.

(He chokes up, audience begins to applaud.)

I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am, even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches or by the government or by their families that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours. (Wild applause from the audience.) Thank you, thank you, and thank you God for giving us Harvey Milk."

Milk’s screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, after being awarded Best Original Screenplay tonight at the Academy Awards.

Recommendation: La Jetee

2009-02-20T00:58:00.000-08:00

Review: Dead Poets Society

2009-02-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

I watched this show with great expectations and it certainly did not disappoint. There are many of these "great teacher" shows out there, but I think this one deserves to be the best of the lot.

Keating: "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

On Persecution Games

2009-02-17T21:22:00.000-08:00

It is quite common in church camp to play simulation games on the persecution of Christians. I am opposed to such games for a few reasons.
1. The simulation is a far cry of what real people have to go through, so I question the learning value.
2. If it is intended to be fun, why trivialize a very real and important part of our history?
3. The danger that goes with playing and running with the dark.

But my biggest concern has got to do with the psychological impact on the participants, especially the "persecutors". Thankfully, I now know the true backing of my fears: Standford prison experiment.

From Wikipedia: "In psychology, the results of the experiment are said to support situational attributions of behaviour rather than dispositional attribution. In other words, it seemed the situation caused the participants' behaviour, rather than anything inherent in their individual personalities. In this way, it is compatible with the results of the also-famous Milgram experiment, in which ordinary people fulfilled orders to administer what appeared to be damaging electric shocks to a confederate of the experimenter."

Synod Youth Games 2009

2009-02-16T17:12:00.001-08:00