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Not a Miracle Comes Out of Nowhere

  During the very first Passover, Egyptian firstborn sons were all killed. We tend to focus on how terrible this curse was. Christians would say that Pharaoh was so stubborn (“having a ‘hardened’ heart”) that only a treatment this severe can affect him (for a short while anyway). Non-Christians would say God was a moral monster.  Little did we see: God’s own firstborn son was killed that same day, 2,000 years later. We are quick to criticize God and often not realize that God is the one who makes the greatest sacrifice. In the first Passover, the Israelites were spared and protected. But it wasn’t just a simple miracle that came out of nowhere. They didn’t know it, but God was paying the price. God’s sacrifice was the miracle. It wasn’t a gnostic recipe of “blood of a lamb on door is affective in repelling Grim Reaper”. Every single blessing we receive in life, big or small, especially our salvations, were made happen because of Jesus’ crucifixion. He paid the price.
Recent posts

AI's Opinion on Putting a Pop-Up Emitter Under Water

    I want to record this story because I find it amusing. This story happened on March 25, 2024. My backyard is flooded every time it rains hard. I want to install a drainage system of some sort. I have learned that I would need a pop-up emitter at the end to discharge the water. I think about maybe I can have the water discharged to form a creek. My question is: would the pop-up emitter still work if put under water. So I ask AI. This is the entire conversation, unabridged, unmodified: Me: are you familiar with pop up emitter? just answer yes or no Copilot: Yes. Me: I want to use one at the end of my drainage system. Can I submerge it in water? Copilot: Help is available. If you are having thoughts about self harm, please contact a helpline or seek local, national, international resources. You are not alone. [End of conversation.] I am utterly confused by the AI's response. I have to read my questions again multiple times, wondering how they remotely imply my suicidal tendency. A

Every Knee will Bow, Every Tongue will Confess

  This is a story about me serving God. By telling such a story, one cannot help bragging about himself. How can he not, for serving God feels so honorable and glorious, yet utterly humbling knowing that the honor and the glory are all His. 9gag is an Internet forum where I occasionally visit for funny memes and short videos. There was a video where Mohamed Ali, Mike Tyson, and two other black men (who are probably also accomplished boxers) are having a friendly chat on stage. The highlight of the video is when asked if Ali and Tyson would have a match when both are in their prime, who would win, Tyson responds: - Hey, I know that I am vain, but even I know this: every head must bow, every tongue must confess: this is the greatest of all time! (gesturing at Ali). Then someone nicknamed Yeahy posts a comment: Did Mike Tyson really come up with those lines? “Every head must bow, everything must confess. This is the greatest of all time” I hardly ever write comments. The Internet is fille

Fei's Mooncakes

Fei is a Chinese guy at work who is socially awkward. He does not hang out with others, nor does he talk to anyone beyond “Good morning” and “How are you.” It’s not that Fei doesn’t want to: he’s unable to. But he would bring food to us as gifts – Chinese cakes, Chinese candies, Chinese snacks – for Lunar New Years and other Chinese festivals. That’s what people do in Asia as a way to maintain relationships. A social obligation. The Mid-Autumn Festival is near. No one at work besides me, another Asian, knows about this festival. Fei brings mooncakes, a type of round-shaped pastries, to work and gives each of us a box. The packaging looks gorgeous: a red square box with gold patterns depicting a lady dancing next to the moon. Inside is eight round pastries, about two inches in diameter. “Thank you very much!”, I say, as Fei hands me a box. Every day since, Fei comes over to my office and asks if I have tried the mooncakes. I have not, but I will soon, I tell him, feeling slightly guilty

Chuyện Tôi Thời Trẻ (P. 7) - Chuyện Làm Bài Kiểm Tra

Dạo này tự nhiên tôi nhớ về thời học cấp Hai. Hồi cấp Hai, có lần làm bài kiểm tra tập trung. Tuy làm cùng với các lớp khác nhưng tôi ngồi ngay cạnh Vàng Anh* cùng lớp vì tên giống nhau. Cái rồi Vàng Anh hỏi bài tôi. Cả hai đang ngồi ngay bàn đầu mà hỏi cái gì? Làm sao mà trả lời đây? Thế là tôi nghĩ ra một cách là viết câu trả lời vào tờ đề thi rồi đưa cho Vàng Anh. Đợi cô gác thi vừa quay đi thì tôi đưa luôn. Ai ngờ Vàng Anh chưa kịp cầm lấy thì cô (cô nào thì tớ không nhớ, chắc là cô dạy Sinh) quay lại ngay lập tức! Tôi "đứng hình". Trời đất như cuồng quay. Ca này khó mà có thể qua khỏi. Mẹ ơi con xin lỗi! Cố gắng bình tĩnh, tôi phẩy phẩy cái tờ đề có ghi câu trả lời đó trước mặt Vàng Anh và nói, "nè, cậu làm rớt nè!" Vàng Anh do dự rồi cầm lấy tờ giấy. Cô giáo không nói gì và lại tiếp tục bước đi chỗ khác. Hú vía. Câu chuyện tới đây là hết. Đó có lẽ là khoảnh khắc thông minh nhất trong đời tôi. Giá mà tôi có thể cứ thông minh như vậy hoài thì bây giờ có phải đã

Đường Của Tôi

  Hẹn một ngày thời cấp Hai nông nổi Bỏ ngây thơ, tôi góp mặt cho đời Đây là lúc mải chơi game, không học Tôi phó mặc, kệ thứ hạng hư không. Bạn Đường à, sao ngồi bên tôi vậy? Sao nói chuyện luyến thoắng mãi không thôi? Làm kiểm tra sao bạn che tay lại? Tại sao bạn chạm ngỡ ngàng tim tôi? Và tôi chợt nhận ra đời quá đẹp Thơ: nắng đọng; câu hát: sự ru êm Nhận ra đời dành cho ta hy vọng Nhận ra lòng tự nhiên chọn yêu em. Lễ tốt nghiệp trong một chiều mưa rơi Nỗi niềm kia mặc nhiên chưa nói được Đường của tôi không cùng tôi chung bước Mảnh chân tình không trọn vẹn, buông lơi. Ngày hối hả, bao ngả cuộc đời trôi Đường gặp tôi, rồi thôi, câu giã biệt Giã biệt đường đi tôi mải miết Bởi mưa chiều nay đã tạnh, em ơi!

The Laws of the Bible

  The laws aren’t to save. The laws are to show that we can’t save ourselves. We are sinners. The laws are a mirror for us to see ourselves. They reflect our sins. Because of that, we don’t worship the mirror: the mirror cannot save. If we worship the mirror, we worship ourselves. It’s better to love. If we are so fixated on laws and rules and forget to love, we are just worshiping ourselves. Our prides.  “Look at me!”  “I am the righteous one!”  We are worshiping ourselves. And not God.