I feel like my whole life is interfaced between me and a screen.
The other day we were watching television in the living room. I went downstairs and played video games, all the while texting / facebook messaging on my smart phone. Later I was back upstairs and looking up the recipe for sugar cookies on my phone while making them. I took out my laptop to work on my resume and email some professors. At the store I call my mother to ask about a gift for my dad. Minutes later we are driving somewhere and I use my phone to find out where the store is. I have a dentist appointment; when I return the living room is dark except for the television screen and my dad searching his iphone over the rims of his glasses.
Screens everywhere, and for everything.
Screens connecting me to people al over, and yet disconnecting me from right now and the people who are right beside me.
The odd thing about this connectivity, this virtual connectivity, is that I know many people and have only ever interacted with them through text, or through facebook; 'virtual' friends. Friends that are 'in real life', but not in the 'real life' that I can reach out and touch. The problem being that I can only deal with so many people at once, and typically, only effectively with the people I interact with and see everyday.
So it's paradoxical the way screens offer connectivity and yet divide.
Some of my thoughts.
D.Fa
26.12.13
23.12.13
Hating Sin
Hey,
So over the last while I've been able to speak to a guy and recently we had some really in depth conversations and got to know each other better.
Somehow the topic of video games led to him sharing like his biggest secret with me, and revealing like the thing he struggles with the most that he has carried for the last ten years, since before he was a Christian. Before he told me he made me promise we'd still be friends.
Ultimately, it is a variety of masochism. He desires to be hurt and crushed.
My reaction (to the specifics) was not that he was weird or to start avoiding him. My reaction was first to get a better understanding, but as he continued explaining my reaction was just like heartbreaking. To hear him say he'd love to die by being crushed by an elephant? To hear him desire for others to hurt him? I almost cried.
I hate hearing about the depth of sin my brothers are in; the twisted and corrupted desires which lead them to seek satisfaction in actions that ultimately mutilate the body rather than glorify God. Made in His image and as the temple of the Holy Spirit, how can we degrade ourselves like this?
Interestingly, there is also quite a bit of overlap in our largest areas of temptation, so it's been cool to be fully open with each other. But the cooler thing is that it is really opening my eyes to how disgusting sin is.
Rom1:18-32 really just shows how far we have fallen, exchanging God for images made by man; exchanging natural relationships to the degrading of our bodies; inventing new ways to sin.
But He has made us new in Christ. He has removed our sin as far as East is from West. He has purified us and we now have Jesus' imputed righteousness. May His Spirit truly work in us and danctify us.
May I remember how terrible sin is and that it does produce death, despite the temporary pleasures it may provide.
Not a Bed
Hey,
so I guess I should catch you up a bit. On Wednesday I woke up at 7:20, later than I had hoped, and then packed, took a shower, cleaned the mess in the house that was mine, all that in an hour and then I bussed to work with my suitcase. Got some funny looks.
Later I went to my parents' house. That's how I moved. haha.
But I was only there for an hour before I went bowling with a friend and a bunch of her friends. lol
Anyways, I'm at my parents' house now. When I got back after bowling my parents were asleep. So I just crashed in my old room with a foam pad as a mattress, a towel and my coat as a blanket. The next day I had inflated the air mattress and rearranged the stuff being stored in my room; I didn't have a blanket, I used the foam, but I couldn't sleep well. So I made sure I got like 3 blankets for last night and now I'm all good.
My puppy, Max, is a monster though. He just turned 1 year old today and he's still really bite-y and his teeth are quite sharp. He loves my socks and just put a hole in my hat while I wasn't looking.
My brother can't stay here long since he has to take care of his dog Duke. So only during the day or potentially overnight he thinks would be okay, which is kinda sad. He should be here for the holidays. > . >
Today I 'braved the storm' and went to church. It really wasn't as bad here as my dad was making it sound. Sunday school was interesting. The grade 5/6 class joined us and EC led us in a Bible trivia game about Genesis, which they had been studying. The grade 7/8s didn't do too well. lol
The service was about living in the Spirit and the main thing I got is what it actually means to have your mind set on the flesh; not just on sin, but on pursuits solely within the realm of flesh.
After service we went for Pho and I picked up the Shadow of the Colossus game. 2 Colossi down, 14 to go.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
so I guess I should catch you up a bit. On Wednesday I woke up at 7:20, later than I had hoped, and then packed, took a shower, cleaned the mess in the house that was mine, all that in an hour and then I bussed to work with my suitcase. Got some funny looks.
Later I went to my parents' house. That's how I moved. haha.
But I was only there for an hour before I went bowling with a friend and a bunch of her friends. lol
Anyways, I'm at my parents' house now. When I got back after bowling my parents were asleep. So I just crashed in my old room with a foam pad as a mattress, a towel and my coat as a blanket. The next day I had inflated the air mattress and rearranged the stuff being stored in my room; I didn't have a blanket, I used the foam, but I couldn't sleep well. So I made sure I got like 3 blankets for last night and now I'm all good.
My puppy, Max, is a monster though. He just turned 1 year old today and he's still really bite-y and his teeth are quite sharp. He loves my socks and just put a hole in my hat while I wasn't looking.
My brother can't stay here long since he has to take care of his dog Duke. So only during the day or potentially overnight he thinks would be okay, which is kinda sad. He should be here for the holidays. > . >
Today I 'braved the storm' and went to church. It really wasn't as bad here as my dad was making it sound. Sunday school was interesting. The grade 5/6 class joined us and EC led us in a Bible trivia game about Genesis, which they had been studying. The grade 7/8s didn't do too well. lol
The service was about living in the Spirit and the main thing I got is what it actually means to have your mind set on the flesh; not just on sin, but on pursuits solely within the realm of flesh.
After service we went for Pho and I picked up the Shadow of the Colossus game. 2 Colossi down, 14 to go.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
21.12.13
Two-Pronged
Mission of the day: get the missing half of my PS2 AC adapter power cord. Check! Had to go to 4 stores.
Double check to make sure everything is good: PS2, complete with memory card, controller, and cords is functional!
Now I just need the game. Was goign to go pick i up at 4, but a few blocks away from my house I got the text that the kijiji guy wasn't going to be home at that time anymore, so I got off the bus and text convo'd him for like 15-20 minutes? He's actually never played Shadow of the Colossus! His friend gave him a PS2 and a pile of games and he didn't really care, so he put the ad up on kijiji like 2 months ago. He's more into PC gaming now. He said he'd text me when he got home, or we'd do the exchange tomorrow. So just a litttttle more waiting.
Before that though I had worship practice. Always good. And afterwards I also did some Christmas shopping. Way too expensive.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
Double check to make sure everything is good: PS2, complete with memory card, controller, and cords is functional!
Now I just need the game. Was goign to go pick i up at 4, but a few blocks away from my house I got the text that the kijiji guy wasn't going to be home at that time anymore, so I got off the bus and text convo'd him for like 15-20 minutes? He's actually never played Shadow of the Colossus! His friend gave him a PS2 and a pile of games and he didn't really care, so he put the ad up on kijiji like 2 months ago. He's more into PC gaming now. He said he'd text me when he got home, or we'd do the exchange tomorrow. So just a litttttle more waiting.
Before that though I had worship practice. Always good. And afterwards I also did some Christmas shopping. Way too expensive.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
20.12.13
No More Patience. None.
So, I am no longer employed. Fun times.
The last couple weeks have been good though. One intense week of cramming for an exam and then cramming a co-op report in a couple days followed by a Secret Barnabas Christmas party gift exchange that I was nearly dying to complete. And now this week with nothing exactly due, so I've been really productive, oddly.
Unfortunately I am now craving video games. Specifically 'Shadow of the Colossus' for PS2. I've been listening to the soundtrack all week and reminiscing about how frightening it was. You are this guy with a sword, a bow/arrows, and a horse. That doesn't change in the slightest. And you are supposed to go defeat these 16 monstrous enemies to like bring this girl back to life. But these monsters.These Colossi... They are SO BIG! and you are so small. and..... Those EYES! So terrifying and you have no power and need to think through how to beat them, not just charge in and get trampled. I've also been reading about how much of a masterpiece it is, so I cannot wait another second to play it.
Today when I got home it began, my hunt and quest for the game in our old playroom, which has become somewhat a storage room.
In this quest my brother reminded me of how we used to be EB Game traders, i.e. we often traded our old games for new ones. o.O . . . we. traded. in. Shadow of the Colossus?????? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
TT.TT
And now I am meeting up with a guy from kijiji to buy it tomorrow afternoon. lol. Pretty desperate. lol.
All week I was listening to it, but as much as I wanted to look at the monsters and everything I was like "no. that'll spoil it for when you get to play it Friday night" . . . So I can't wait any longer. lol.
We also appear to be missing half of the AC adapter. > . < hopefully the AC adapter for my old laptop has 2 prongs and can be used as a replacement. and HOPEFULLY the PS2 actually still works.
I'm a little obsessed.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
The last couple weeks have been good though. One intense week of cramming for an exam and then cramming a co-op report in a couple days followed by a Secret Barnabas Christmas party gift exchange that I was nearly dying to complete. And now this week with nothing exactly due, so I've been really productive, oddly.
Unfortunately I am now craving video games. Specifically 'Shadow of the Colossus' for PS2. I've been listening to the soundtrack all week and reminiscing about how frightening it was. You are this guy with a sword, a bow/arrows, and a horse. That doesn't change in the slightest. And you are supposed to go defeat these 16 monstrous enemies to like bring this girl back to life. But these monsters.These Colossi... They are SO BIG! and you are so small. and..... Those EYES! So terrifying and you have no power and need to think through how to beat them, not just charge in and get trampled. I've also been reading about how much of a masterpiece it is, so I cannot wait another second to play it.
Today when I got home it began, my hunt and quest for the game in our old playroom, which has become somewhat a storage room.
In this quest my brother reminded me of how we used to be EB Game traders, i.e. we often traded our old games for new ones. o.O . . . we. traded. in. Shadow of the Colossus?????? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
TT.TT
And now I am meeting up with a guy from kijiji to buy it tomorrow afternoon. lol. Pretty desperate. lol.
All week I was listening to it, but as much as I wanted to look at the monsters and everything I was like "no. that'll spoil it for when you get to play it Friday night" . . . So I can't wait any longer. lol.
We also appear to be missing half of the AC adapter. > . < hopefully the AC adapter for my old laptop has 2 prongs and can be used as a replacement. and HOPEFULLY the PS2 actually still works.
I'm a little obsessed.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
4.12.13
Biased
Yo,
so, for the last couple days, like, Monday and Tuesday I didn't go to work. Well, kinda. I was actually at Health Canada's Science Forum. I completely do not consider this 'work' in the same sense. lol. It was good for a change of pace and a change of location and a change. I pretty much considered it two days off. I only had, well, I didn't have to be at it at all, but it was only from like 9-4 instead of my recent 6-6. lol. so it was a good change. Got to hear a bunch of cool things and kinda relax. Got to chill with EJ too, so that was good.
One thing I've been thinking today is that idea that with the same set of data you can come to a very different conclusion than another person. You may put a different emphasis on certain parts of the data, like subsets, and find different conclusions. Or you could only get part of the data and get conclusions that aren't fully formed. But my real thought is about how sometimes you go into the project with a certain outcome already predicted. You are so sure that the conclusion will be such that you actually unconsciously, or consciously, skew the data and leave out certain things and mold the data into the outcome you wanted. There couldn't be another answer. This makes so much sense. Sure there a few things that don't quite make sense, but there are always exceptions, right? So instead you kinda try really hard to get your theory to work around them. Your theory seems to work and is applicable. There may be some issues, but it sounds like the most reasonable idea and it slowly turns into a personal truth.
But then you find out that someone else sees a very different picture. They see a conclusion that, after hearing them explain, is as obvious as could be. All those little issues there were before fade into this amazing explanation.
You have two options:
Admit you were wrong and try to better understand the new theory.
OR
Fight it and defend your position, despite the little issues.
But sometimes these theories get so widely publicized and known that people stop treating them as theory and treat them as law. What can be done now?
so, for the last couple days, like, Monday and Tuesday I didn't go to work. Well, kinda. I was actually at Health Canada's Science Forum. I completely do not consider this 'work' in the same sense. lol. It was good for a change of pace and a change of location and a change. I pretty much considered it two days off. I only had, well, I didn't have to be at it at all, but it was only from like 9-4 instead of my recent 6-6. lol. so it was a good change. Got to hear a bunch of cool things and kinda relax. Got to chill with EJ too, so that was good.
One thing I've been thinking today is that idea that with the same set of data you can come to a very different conclusion than another person. You may put a different emphasis on certain parts of the data, like subsets, and find different conclusions. Or you could only get part of the data and get conclusions that aren't fully formed. But my real thought is about how sometimes you go into the project with a certain outcome already predicted. You are so sure that the conclusion will be such that you actually unconsciously, or consciously, skew the data and leave out certain things and mold the data into the outcome you wanted. There couldn't be another answer. This makes so much sense. Sure there a few things that don't quite make sense, but there are always exceptions, right? So instead you kinda try really hard to get your theory to work around them. Your theory seems to work and is applicable. There may be some issues, but it sounds like the most reasonable idea and it slowly turns into a personal truth.
But then you find out that someone else sees a very different picture. They see a conclusion that, after hearing them explain, is as obvious as could be. All those little issues there were before fade into this amazing explanation.
You have two options:
Admit you were wrong and try to better understand the new theory.
OR
Fight it and defend your position, despite the little issues.
But sometimes these theories get so widely publicized and known that people stop treating them as theory and treat them as law. What can be done now?
2.12.13
The Best Sleep Ever
Yo.
Well, I don't think this is a secret, I hate closing doors, and I moreover hate locking doors. So, since first year I haven't closed the door when I sleep. Not going to lie, to a degree, it was about decreasing temptation to sin by minimizing 'privacy', but really it was mostly about air circulation. lol.
The downside to this though is that people can be loud. In first year my housemates would shoot each other, and other people in Halo quite often. They weren't on the same floor, so no big deal. In second year I went to sleep much later than my roommate and everyone else was two floors up. Now? Only a couple feet from both of their rooms.
Additionally, is light. I hadn't noticed, but light makes it difficult to sleep. In first year I had a small light from the streetlight outside (I don't close my blinds either, or the window when it is warm outside), no problem, everyone else on the floor was asleep = dark. Second year, I lived in a basement (I hated the lack of natural light / waking up in darkness every morning) so there was no light. I got to go to sleep in the darkness. Super easy. My roommate always semi-complained about how easily I fell asleep. lol. Now? No. they stay up later than me and the light is significant.
So a week or so ago I realized I could close my door. It had never occurred to me. lol And now it's so much easier to sleep and my room is warmer. lol.
Anyways, I need to sleep. xP
Ttyl.
D.Fa
PS. Sleeping in hotels is a whole other level of best sleep. Control of noise, temperature, light, and an amazingly comfortable bed and sheets. Zzz...
Well, I don't think this is a secret, I hate closing doors, and I moreover hate locking doors. So, since first year I haven't closed the door when I sleep. Not going to lie, to a degree, it was about decreasing temptation to sin by minimizing 'privacy', but really it was mostly about air circulation. lol.
The downside to this though is that people can be loud. In first year my housemates would shoot each other, and other people in Halo quite often. They weren't on the same floor, so no big deal. In second year I went to sleep much later than my roommate and everyone else was two floors up. Now? Only a couple feet from both of their rooms.
Additionally, is light. I hadn't noticed, but light makes it difficult to sleep. In first year I had a small light from the streetlight outside (I don't close my blinds either, or the window when it is warm outside), no problem, everyone else on the floor was asleep = dark. Second year, I lived in a basement (I hated the lack of natural light / waking up in darkness every morning) so there was no light. I got to go to sleep in the darkness. Super easy. My roommate always semi-complained about how easily I fell asleep. lol. Now? No. they stay up later than me and the light is significant.
So a week or so ago I realized I could close my door. It had never occurred to me. lol And now it's so much easier to sleep and my room is warmer. lol.
Anyways, I need to sleep. xP
Ttyl.
D.Fa
PS. Sleeping in hotels is a whole other level of best sleep. Control of noise, temperature, light, and an amazingly comfortable bed and sheets. Zzz...
1.12.13
Logarithms
Hey guys,
today was really interesting. I really like it when the whole day just fits together so well. lol.
This post is about what it means to be taken captive by a philosophy. In our BaD guys Bible study (which I may not have explained is the 'Becoming a Disciple' study I am doing with some guys that go to OCBC sometimes) we were looking at the first principles, what that concept means. Basically, building blocks to build upon in our faith, elementary concepts or things to apply. Best analogy is math: without basic addition and subtraction you can't do algebra, so we have to figure it out first. (Vi Hart's video that breaks down logarithms: (http://youtu.be/N-7tcTIrers) mind blowingly simple.)
Anyways, the point, we looked at Col 2:6-8 and verse 8 contained the idea of being taken "captive by philosophy". Which, I didn't really get, and still don't fully get, but I do fully understand this one: being taken captive by an idea.
Today's sermon was on Romans 6. Literally the whole chapter was read out loud. xP So good. What really hit me was that we need to see ourselves not as who we were, but who we are in Christ now. No longer to 'hate the sin and not the sinner' in such a way that you are still a sinner, but to love regardless of what has been done since we are new in Christ.
Over the last few months I've really been held captive by just thinking of myself as a sinner. Like, each and everything thought, action, or whatever, that could point to me being a sinner to the core and that being my identity would make me think and act like it was fully true. But in Him we are new, set free, and it's mind blowing to have such a change in attitude and thought.
May His truth renew our minds and free us to the reality of the future He has for us and the fullness of the plans He has prepared.
D.Fa
PS. There was also stuff from Sunday school that tied into BaD guys really well. xP
today was really interesting. I really like it when the whole day just fits together so well. lol.
This post is about what it means to be taken captive by a philosophy. In our BaD guys Bible study (which I may not have explained is the 'Becoming a Disciple' study I am doing with some guys that go to OCBC sometimes) we were looking at the first principles, what that concept means. Basically, building blocks to build upon in our faith, elementary concepts or things to apply. Best analogy is math: without basic addition and subtraction you can't do algebra, so we have to figure it out first. (Vi Hart's video that breaks down logarithms: (http://youtu.be/N-7tcTIrers) mind blowingly simple.)
Anyways, the point, we looked at Col 2:6-8 and verse 8 contained the idea of being taken "captive by philosophy". Which, I didn't really get, and still don't fully get, but I do fully understand this one: being taken captive by an idea.
Today's sermon was on Romans 6. Literally the whole chapter was read out loud. xP So good. What really hit me was that we need to see ourselves not as who we were, but who we are in Christ now. No longer to 'hate the sin and not the sinner' in such a way that you are still a sinner, but to love regardless of what has been done since we are new in Christ.
Over the last few months I've really been held captive by just thinking of myself as a sinner. Like, each and everything thought, action, or whatever, that could point to me being a sinner to the core and that being my identity would make me think and act like it was fully true. But in Him we are new, set free, and it's mind blowing to have such a change in attitude and thought.
May His truth renew our minds and free us to the reality of the future He has for us and the fullness of the plans He has prepared.
D.Fa
PS. There was also stuff from Sunday school that tied into BaD guys really well. xP
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