As if in answer to the warmer than normal December, today's temperature went down to a feels-like of -8F! Flurries all day, and tomorrow. Little snow powder falling down all day long.
Another news, Bill Meier said he would step down this July, to move on to another ministry. Kinda sad. He is a good man and pastor. He shared that he felt that he had completed all that God had led him to do at TCBC. And this was God's calling for him to move on. May the peace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit go with him.
The Wii is sold out at Target and Meijer's. It is supposed to be selling at $250 USD. Hopefully it will be in stock again in a couple of months. In the meantime, save up.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
What is this thing at the back of the Beckman?
Well, its acherly a liquid nitrogen tank lah. The water tend to steam around the pipe, so when its cold, the ice accumulates like that. See, it accumulate until it come out of the fence.
Winter Shots of Champaign
Here are some pictures I took while walking around. The best depiction is the movie clip in the post a few days back, but these capture the idea pretty well too. From left to right, UIUC Quad facing south, the Boneyard creek in Engineering Quad UIUC, outside my apartment, my apartment parking lot.
Birthday 2007
Aiyah, lau liao lah. Sa chap huei! Acherly hor, is not so bad lah. It was a nice celebration. People many many. And we eat steamboat. Very re nao. And "Wife Swap" was on TV. Good cake, good food, good friends. What more can you ask for?Photos not I take one, but I got them and put them on my photo site anyway, see them here.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
What is consciousness = What am I?
I am a wave of existence/influence in the medium of space and time. I have a defined peak and full-width-at-half-maximum. I change the medium through my existence in it, as it, in turn, limits me.
Walk through Champaign in the snow
Finally ah, the snow all lau chut lai liao. See, white. About 2 inches only lah. So I think not very much...last year got a lot more. So we walk walk through West Side Park and downtown, Champaign, Illinois. Got people making snowman, snow things, really chia bah bo si zo you know. By the way hor, its still snowing lor...on and off. I think this winter is very bu san bu si lah. Like ai chut mai chut like that. I mean, if you want to snow, then let it all out, but if you like that, then people very frus, dunno whether should believe you or not. So in this movie we take a walk and see the pretty sights of this tiny town. Warning, it is a large file. I recorded with my Samsung z230. I make on mac. Also, since it is handphone video, the quality is of course not top notch lah. So watch too long might give you headache. Don't say I never say ah![Download movie]
John 2:13-25
"Zeal for Your house has eaten me up". "Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise".
These events occured after the water to wine miracle in Cana. Thus, we assume that Jesus and His disciple made another trip back to Jerusalem for this Passover, but this was before His final trip to Jerusalem for His crucifixion.
During the Passover, a sacrifice was made. This was the Passover lamb that was eaten in remembrance of the Israelite exodus from Egypt. The lamb symbolized a few things: substitution of the object of judgment on sin (the lamb for the Israelites), forgiveness of sins, identification with God, protection (from God's judgment), grace, providence, cleansing, and probably many other wonderful things. It is therefore interesting to see how Jesus is the complete fulfillment of all these symbols, as the actual thing rather than just a symbol. Back to the passage, a sacrifice was made during the Passover, and therefore, since not all were farmers, and not all could afford lambs, and also, because there were other types of sacrifices to be made at the temple other than the Passover sacrifice, people bought animals from others, conveniently around the temple at Jerusalem.
It is apparent from Jesus' reaction, that this practice of buying animals for the sacrifice was being abused. What was the main problem of buying and selling animals at the temple, since sacrifices were needed? Note, there were also money changers doing business! The sacrifice was a ritual that was to bring about remembrance and worship of God. But in elevating and playing off the role of money, the sacrifice came to be ironically cheapened. It no longer became about God, but about money and men profiting off a holy ritual. Consider this, a family tradition such as a reunion dinner, and the commercialism that surrounds the food required for the dinner, how that affects the meaning of the actual dinner and tradition if we are not careful. Case in point, think about Christmas and Easter, and New Year celebrations.
Futhermore, the temple of Jerusalem is the footstool of God, and the house of prayer, God's house. God of the universe. The Most High. Do you sell and change money for profit in the house of such a being? How atrocious. Men substitute the most holy and meaningful of all things that has intrinisic value, with value of something else that is in fact meaningless, money. What is money that we should want it so much at the expense of the real thing, God? What is any other value in life that we should want it so much at the expense of the ultimate creator and source of all true values, God?
Jesus' anger is obvious and reminiscent of how God chases and drives out the inhabitants of a land who's sin has disgusted Him. Recall, the Israelites war on the Canaanites, driving them out from the Promised Land because of the sins of the Canaanites. Recall, the Babylonians and Assyrians driving Israel out from the Promised Land because of the sins of the Israelites. Now, Jesus drives out the people from the temple. The place is made holy because of God. Unholy men with their deeds have no place there.
And as if they thought they Jesus' actions were unjustified, they had the gall to challenge Him for a sign to appease them since He has done these things! John uses this to illustrate the blindness of the people (the Light has come, but the world did not know Him), and mentions this later on in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. For they did not understand His sign of the raising the temple in three days, nor did they see who He truly was (since He kept Himself from them, v24) even though He performed many signs while in Jerusalem at this time.
How many times, when we are going on with our daily profiteering, as subtle as it can be, we are being in stark opposition to the holy purposes of God? And how often we refuse to believe because we are too proud to acknowledge the higher and most valuable of values, that God has put into place.
These events occured after the water to wine miracle in Cana. Thus, we assume that Jesus and His disciple made another trip back to Jerusalem for this Passover, but this was before His final trip to Jerusalem for His crucifixion.
During the Passover, a sacrifice was made. This was the Passover lamb that was eaten in remembrance of the Israelite exodus from Egypt. The lamb symbolized a few things: substitution of the object of judgment on sin (the lamb for the Israelites), forgiveness of sins, identification with God, protection (from God's judgment), grace, providence, cleansing, and probably many other wonderful things. It is therefore interesting to see how Jesus is the complete fulfillment of all these symbols, as the actual thing rather than just a symbol. Back to the passage, a sacrifice was made during the Passover, and therefore, since not all were farmers, and not all could afford lambs, and also, because there were other types of sacrifices to be made at the temple other than the Passover sacrifice, people bought animals from others, conveniently around the temple at Jerusalem.
It is apparent from Jesus' reaction, that this practice of buying animals for the sacrifice was being abused. What was the main problem of buying and selling animals at the temple, since sacrifices were needed? Note, there were also money changers doing business! The sacrifice was a ritual that was to bring about remembrance and worship of God. But in elevating and playing off the role of money, the sacrifice came to be ironically cheapened. It no longer became about God, but about money and men profiting off a holy ritual. Consider this, a family tradition such as a reunion dinner, and the commercialism that surrounds the food required for the dinner, how that affects the meaning of the actual dinner and tradition if we are not careful. Case in point, think about Christmas and Easter, and New Year celebrations.
Futhermore, the temple of Jerusalem is the footstool of God, and the house of prayer, God's house. God of the universe. The Most High. Do you sell and change money for profit in the house of such a being? How atrocious. Men substitute the most holy and meaningful of all things that has intrinisic value, with value of something else that is in fact meaningless, money. What is money that we should want it so much at the expense of the real thing, God? What is any other value in life that we should want it so much at the expense of the ultimate creator and source of all true values, God?
Jesus' anger is obvious and reminiscent of how God chases and drives out the inhabitants of a land who's sin has disgusted Him. Recall, the Israelites war on the Canaanites, driving them out from the Promised Land because of the sins of the Canaanites. Recall, the Babylonians and Assyrians driving Israel out from the Promised Land because of the sins of the Israelites. Now, Jesus drives out the people from the temple. The place is made holy because of God. Unholy men with their deeds have no place there.
And as if they thought they Jesus' actions were unjustified, they had the gall to challenge Him for a sign to appease them since He has done these things! John uses this to illustrate the blindness of the people (the Light has come, but the world did not know Him), and mentions this later on in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. For they did not understand His sign of the raising the temple in three days, nor did they see who He truly was (since He kept Himself from them, v24) even though He performed many signs while in Jerusalem at this time.
How many times, when we are going on with our daily profiteering, as subtle as it can be, we are being in stark opposition to the holy purposes of God? And how often we refuse to believe because we are too proud to acknowledge the higher and most valuable of values, that God has put into place.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Winter Trip to Starved Rock
Took a trip to Starved Rock Park about 1 and half hours away. So what happen here is the Indians had a fort on the rock. Then they kena got war lor. Then they retreat to the top of the rock to defend themselves. But then, the enemy surround them and basically they cannot get supplies to eat or anything. So slowly all of them die. I think they dig up about a hundred bodies. Ok, not say the bad part, the park itself is quite good lah. Got canyons and got bluffs. I never bluff you. They is got many bluffs. Is not bluffing. Then the waterfalls in the winter they turn into ice. But then ah, you know lor, this winter is very the gu-niang one, so not cold enough. The waterfall still falling water. Not complain lah. Is still quite chioh looking. Then got nice pub there to get a beer after a long hike. I recommend you to go lah. Oh by the way, entrance is free. Check out my movie and my latest photo album.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Parklab Singapore Trip
Ok ok, so I know this all look like we do nothing but eat and eat, but then, you have to understand lah. Singapore is small country, don't eat then do what? We got work also lah. Anyway, we go Sentosa to relax a bit on the beach, then eat then work then eat and work again. In this movie, you will see the lab people eating various Singapore cuisine. We had sushi at Sushi Tei (Far East Plaza, 5th floor), Frog Legs Porridge (Geylang Lor 3), Tow Huay and You Tiao (Geylang Lor 9), Durian (Geylang between Lor 3 and a bit off), Thai food at Sukothai (Boat Quay), Zhi Cha at corner coffeeshop (off Cantonment Rd), Bak Kut Teh at Ah Hua Rou Gu Cha (Tanjong Pagar). Don't worry, its all good for your brain. All very healthy, cooling and heaty in the right places and in the right amount.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
John 2:1-12
"On the third day... Cana of Galilee..."
The actual location of Cana is not certain, however, we do know that it is situated somewhere around Galilee. Possibly a few kilometers north of Nazereth, Jesus' hometown. Cana is also Nathanael's hometown (John 21:2). In any case, Jesus, His disciples and Mary, His mother, were guests at this wedding, so they must have been at least acquaintences with the wedding party. This event happened the day after Jesus met Philip and Nathanael. So they had made the trip since then.
This is the first miracle sign in John's gospel revealing the divinity of the Christ. The exchange is interesting, almost telling of the relationship between Jesus and Mary as one in which the mother is conversing with her Lord, both familiar and at the same time not. The miracle itself was not made public during the wedding, and unlike other miracles, it was not about healing or a demonstration of authority of nature. Rather, it was simply about providing wine to a party that had run out of it. But this description is still included as a sign that manifested His glory, and that led to belief in the disciples. Perhaps this is related to what Jesus told Nathanael the day before since he is from Cana? Nevertheless, this sign serves as a buttress to testimonials of the identity of Christ.
We are not told what the significance of the six waterpots of stone according to purification manner means. However, John the author states this for the purpose of informing his non-Jewish readers.
Following this wedding, Jesus and His troupe went to Capernaum, a city by the north-west coast of the Sea of Galilee. Interestingly, this was the city of Peter, James, and Andrew (see other gospels), rather than Bethsaida. However, it could be that they moved from place to place around the coast, as these cities were quite close to each other along the northern coast of the sea. Capernaum was the center of Jesus' ministry subsequently, but later on, they rejected Him and He uttered a curse on the city. Note that this city was cursed later, despite the miracle that was done. Consider this for yourself, how quick we are to blind ourselves to what God does right before our eyes.
The actual location of Cana is not certain, however, we do know that it is situated somewhere around Galilee. Possibly a few kilometers north of Nazereth, Jesus' hometown. Cana is also Nathanael's hometown (John 21:2). In any case, Jesus, His disciples and Mary, His mother, were guests at this wedding, so they must have been at least acquaintences with the wedding party. This event happened the day after Jesus met Philip and Nathanael. So they had made the trip since then.
This is the first miracle sign in John's gospel revealing the divinity of the Christ. The exchange is interesting, almost telling of the relationship between Jesus and Mary as one in which the mother is conversing with her Lord, both familiar and at the same time not. The miracle itself was not made public during the wedding, and unlike other miracles, it was not about healing or a demonstration of authority of nature. Rather, it was simply about providing wine to a party that had run out of it. But this description is still included as a sign that manifested His glory, and that led to belief in the disciples. Perhaps this is related to what Jesus told Nathanael the day before since he is from Cana? Nevertheless, this sign serves as a buttress to testimonials of the identity of Christ.
We are not told what the significance of the six waterpots of stone according to purification manner means. However, John the author states this for the purpose of informing his non-Jewish readers.
Following this wedding, Jesus and His troupe went to Capernaum, a city by the north-west coast of the Sea of Galilee. Interestingly, this was the city of Peter, James, and Andrew (see other gospels), rather than Bethsaida. However, it could be that they moved from place to place around the coast, as these cities were quite close to each other along the northern coast of the sea. Capernaum was the center of Jesus' ministry subsequently, but later on, they rejected Him and He uttered a curse on the city. Note that this city was cursed later, despite the miracle that was done. Consider this for yourself, how quick we are to blind ourselves to what God does right before our eyes.
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