LinuxLefty's personal blog - Christianity

Praise and Prayer

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:00:06 -0600

I had a good conversation with a student today at dinner. He was talking about the Olympics and mentioned the Beijing Olympic slogan of "One world, One dream". I asked him what the world's one dream was. We talked for quite a while and he told me that I have a lot of wisdom. I told him the source of all my wisdom.

I have one prayer request: please pray that I have a good attitude about things. God reminded me that every moment is a choice. Everything that happens to me I have a choice on how to respond to it. Please pray that I will choose to have a positive attitude. Thanks!!!

Prayer Request and Bible Program

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:09:49 -0700

I would really appreciate your prayer as I try to determine what God wants me to do in the future. In addition to teaching English, I also do PAGELINK:@/solutions|freelance work@ to supplement my income. I just completed work with a client and I'm trying to decide what to do next. Should I seek out another project or go back to school? I've been wanting to get a master's degree as I feel the education would be helpful with future ministry. I'm also thinking that it would be good to complete a significant portion of schooling before I get married. However, I'm not crazy about suspending / scaling back my freelancing work and spending a lot of money in education right before marriage.

The second area that I need direction in is what to do after my time serving in EXTLINK:@http://teachoverseas.org|T.I.P@. I'm planning on coming back next year but probably not for a third year. I want to say in the ministry and I think I want to stay in a Mandarin-speaking country. Please pray that God would direct me to a ministry and that I would know which one He wants to serve in.

Thanks so much for your prayers!

On an unrelated note, I found a EXTLINK:@http://www.biblephone.net/|Java-based Bible software@ that I can run on my phone. So now, I can have the Bible wherever I go!

Sarcasm

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:40:58 -0700

I saw this pin today and I agree with it completely. Sarcasm is definite a survival skill here in China.

God is preparing a place for us!

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:24:29 -0600

Sunday's sermon was really good! The passage was on John 14:1-3:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I cam, there ye may be also.

Jesus had just dropped a bomb on the disciples by telling them that he was going away. However, he also told them that he was going to prepare a place for them. I have heard this many times. However, I always assumed that the places would all look the same and be same. However, I began thinking, with the diversity of people, each person unique and different, why would God create our places all the same?

God is creating a place for us. However, he is creating a special place with us in mind. Every place will be different and unique, just for us!

Idea For a Book

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:35:35 -0700

I just got an idea for a book! After finals, hopefully I will have some time to start writing.

I've wanted to write a book for quite a while. However, it has been centered around fiction. I enjoy reading and have often been intrigued with the possibility of writing a novel. I've started countless ideas, but they usually end up in some dead end where my characters are rather unbelievable and the plot even more so. So, I put the ideas away until I see something that sparks my imagination which I attempt to work into my plot, but nevertheless it results in yet another paradox which I am unable to resolve.

However, I got an idea for a non-fiction book, which I am really excited about. I watched a video on youtube presented by an atheist and septic. He didn't present any arguments against Christianity, but rather demonstrated how he, as an atheist, was able to convince people that there was a God by playing on their emotions and manipulating them psychologically. This really opened my eyes and revealed to me the problems in today's church and our society as a whole.

In this sensationalist and individualist society, feelings are valued very highly and are often taken advantage of. When people in the Church are asked how they know God exists, they often respond by referencing a feeling. In addition, people today widely accept debunct theories such a global warming and evolution which uses shady evidence at best and contrived stories at worst. They accept such things due to feelings of peer pressure and intimidation from scholars. However, people simply do not research and find out facts for themselves. Rather they allow themselves to be manipulated by others.

It is a ironic that in this individualist society we are allowing our minds and emotions to be controlled by others instead of seeking out truth for ourselves.

They book that I plan on writing will be dealing with these issues and strive to motivate Christians and non-Christians alike to roll up their sleeves and find out the facts for themselves, instead of checking their minds in a the door.

NOTE: Obviously there might be some flaws in the logic that I'm using in this entry. Once I write this out formally, it will be given much more thought. 2AM is not condusive to thinking

I'm thinking about titling the book "Trusting Echos"

So Long Self

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:23:25 -0700

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:21-24,

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

"So Long Self" by MerceMe in the album EXTLINK:@http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Up-Breathe-MercyMe/dp/B000EU1PM8/|Coming Up to Breathe@ puts this in a witty song. The format is the same as many love / breaking up songs. However, it is a song about how were are to forsake our old selves and follow Christ.

Well if I come across a little bit distant, it's just because I am. Things just seem to feel a little bit different, you understand. Believe it or not but life is not apparently about me anyways. But I have met the One who really is worthy, so let me say

So long, self. Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else. So long, self. There's just no room for two, so you are gonna have to move. So long, self. Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell. Oh well, goodbye, don't cry, so long, self.

Stop right there because I know what you're thinking, but no we can't be friends. And even though I know your heart is breaking, this has to end. And come to think of it the blame for all of this, simply falls on me. For wanting something more in life than all of this, can't you see?

So long, self. Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else. So long, self. There's just no room for two, so you are gonna have to move. So long, self. Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell. Oh well, goodbye, don't cry, so long.

Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad), there'll be better days (there'll be better days). Don't go away mad (but by all means), just go away, go away.

So long, self. Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else. So long, self. There's just no room for two, so you are gonna have to move. So long, self. Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell. Oh well, goodbye, don't cry, so long

Wonderful Water

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:23:51 -0700

We are studying water in my Biology class and I am realizing that water is a very odd thing. It has many properties that are found in virtually no where else. If even one of these properties is missing, life would cease to exist.

This information is based off of chapter 3 of Biology, 6^th edition by Campbell, et. all.

Water is Wet

The majority of "liquids" are not liquid at room temperature. Some, like oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are liquids at very cold temperatures but are gasses at room temperature. Others, like iron are solid at room temperature and liquid at very high temperatures.

Since living organisms are mostly water, they would cease to function if water was a gas or solid.

Water is Cohesive

Water is cohesive, meaning the molecules of water tend to stick to one another. This is why you can drink water through a straw. The water molecules stick to one another and syphon water up the straw. In plants, water evaporates from the leaves and like the straw, syphons water up from the roots. If Water wasn't cohesive, plants wouldn't be able to get their nutrients and vegetation would die.

Water Moderates Temperature

Water has a the strange property of being able to absorb or release a relatively large amount of heat with only a slight change it is own temperature. This helps to stabilize the Earth's temperature and protects the marine creatures by keeping a relatively constant temperature. In addition, since we are mostly water, that water helps to stabilize our temperature as well. If water did not have this property, not only would the Earth's temperature wildly fluctuate like a desert, but we would freeze and overheat much quicker.

Water Floats

Most elements, when frozen, are more dense and sink. However, water becomes less dense and floats. If water didn't float, whenever the surface of the water froze, it would sink to the bottom. This process would repeat itself until ponds, lakes and even oceans would freeze solid, making life impossible. Even in the summer, only a small portion of the water would thaw before refreezing.

Water Dissolves

Water is one of the best solvents in existence. Relatively hard substances such as salt and sugar easily dissolve in water. Our blood is mostly water and relies on this principle to transport nutrients and waste around the body. In addition, with out this, plants would not be able to get their nutrients from the water.

Wow!

There is truly no element quite like water. Water is essential for life; that is why scientists first look for water when looking for signs of life on other planets. However, even if water exists, if any of these many properties changed, life as we know it would cease to exist. The chances that water could have been created with all these properties and with no additional, harmful properties (like radioactivity) is staggeringly low. So what is the chances that all of life could have evolved?

Encouragement and Yearly Goals

nospam@example.com (LinuxLefty) — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:03:00 -0700

Today I learned about encouraging others. Abby tends to be a very slow eater. She tends to eat slow on purpose for whatever reason and can be very stubborn about it. This morning, Abby was particularly slow and I became irritated, upset, and harsh to her. Later, Mom and Dad talked to me about the importance of encouraging others; the way to change people is to encourage them in the right direction, not just punish for wrong doings. I know in my heart that this is the right thing to do (this is how I would want to be treated). However, I have a hard time accepting this. When a little sister is getting on my nerves, it is a lot easier, and gratifying to be harsh. However, I know that this is how God would have me act, so I need to try my best. It sure isn't easy, though!

Encouraging others is one of my goals for the new year. Currently, my list of goals are:

Run, lift weights, and/or swim at least twice a week
Keep diary of things I am learning from the Bible and prayer requests
Graduate from College (yay!)
Start my Master's program
Get to an intermediate level in Chinese speech and a basic understanding of reading comprehension
Be more encouraging, especially to Abby and Amanda.
Brush, floss and use Listerine every day