The Current YouTube Economy Is In Peril - Things aren't looking so bright in "new Hollywood."
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Snippets of News From Around the World (4/9)
The Computer That Teaches People How To Be Social - A computer to teach people how to be social? What an irony.....
The Current YouTube Economy Is In Peril - Things aren't looking so bright in "new Hollywood."
15 Really Strange Beaches - These unique beaches are some of the best treats nature has to offer.
World Joyland - World Joyland is an amusement park located in China unofficially designed after Blizzard video games like World of Warcraft and Starcraft.
How Does a Gas Mask Protect Against Chemical Warfare? - Assuming an attack is anticipated, a full-faced gas mask has two features that prevent us from inhaling potentially toxic contaminants in the air. They are barriers placed in the filter located on the snout of the mask.
5 Surprising Cultural Facts About Syria - From its ancient cities to the current conflict, here are five cultural facts about Syria
The Current YouTube Economy Is In Peril - Things aren't looking so bright in "new Hollywood."
Book Review: Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows
Previously I posted a kindle deal on this book. The deal is now over, but you can still get The Real Face of Atheism
at $3.99 for a short time. So if you're interested in getting a book by Ravi Zacharias, this should be a good place to start.
As I read through this book, it was a good read, not too long, with chapters was spread out well and it was an engaging read.
at $3.99 for a short time. So if you're interested in getting a book by Ravi Zacharias, this should be a good place to start.As I read through this book, it was a good read, not too long, with chapters was spread out well and it was an engaging read.
While reading, I saw how Ravi Zacharias grew up in India where living standards aren't as good as mine. Also, how he grew up in a nominal Christian family, faithfully attending services but not pious.
In the book, Ravi talks about his own childhood, his relationship with his dad (who he is quick not to blame), his mum and his grandmother, his education while he was young, his own struggle with his own loneliness which ended up in a suicide attempt. One surprising fact was that he was a rather good cricket player and still is excited about this sport.
One verse that was stuck with him whist on bed recovering from his suicide attempt was John 14:19b "Because I live, you also will live". Which nearing the end of the book gives a surprise about the significance of this verse in his own (family) life.
In the book, Ravi talks about his own childhood, his relationship with his dad (who he is quick not to blame), his mum and his grandmother, his education while he was young, his own struggle with his own loneliness which ended up in a suicide attempt. One surprising fact was that he was a rather good cricket player and still is excited about this sport.
One verse that was stuck with him whist on bed recovering from his suicide attempt was John 14:19b "Because I live, you also will live". Which nearing the end of the book gives a surprise about the significance of this verse in his own (family) life.
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Snippets of Christian News from Around the World (3/9)
Singleness - Some thoughts on singleness
King Jesus on Your Campus: Resources for Effective College Ministry - Check out this website for many resources on campus/college ministry.
Connecting Evangelism and Church - Is evangelism an individual sport or a team sport? Really, it’s both. Think of fishing. There are times you might saunter down to the dock by your lonesome, dangle your feet off the side, and cast in a line. But ask the men on an ocean trawler what it takes to haul a ton of wriggling mackerel out of writhing seawaters. They desperately need one another.
Leisure and Labor—Two Gifts from God - Christians understand labor as a duty, but miss the fact that it is also a gift.... Most of us have an even harder time with leisure. Some of us make work of leisure time, even as we are supposed to be served by a myriad of appliances and technologies that “save” us time. But leisure is one of God’s gifts too.
Oh Sweet Lorraine and Missing Hope - Yet I couldn’t help but see that Fred’s love only reaches back. He looks back in time to precious memories, but does not look forward. He expresses wishes, but not hope.
King Jesus on Your Campus: Resources for Effective College Ministry - Check out this website for many resources on campus/college ministry.
Kindle Deals (3/9)
Lots of kindle deal today.
Do take a look at them and get them soon!
Torn to Heal: God's Good Purpose in Suffering
($0.99)
God is radically dedicated to our ongoing growth in spiritual maturity and holiness. This is both glorious and terrifying. It is glorious because the Lord of heaven and earth is for us. But it is terrifying because we are idolaters. This means that when God brings greater redemption into our lives he also brings a death sentence to our fallen desires. In love, God will do whatever it takes - even tearing us to shreds if necessary - to replace our feeble pleasures with lasting desire for himself.
Sadly, in our culture two false responses to suffering have become deeply embedded in the Church: deadly dualism and shallow stoicism. Each can effectively hijack God’s good purpose in suffering. Torn to Heal equips us to understand and reject these false and self-defeating approaches to suffering, and to embrace God’s good purpose in our trials.
Modest: Men and Women Clothed in the Gospel
($0.99)
Modesty is about freedom, not rules.
Does that seem off? What we mean is that what you say or do or wear is not really the point, not ultimately. In a sense, we don't even care what you choose. But we care a lot about why you make the choices you do regarding clothing or speech or behavior. Because what really matters here is your heart.
The point of this book is that true modesty does not come from following a list of rules. It flows naturally from a solid grasp of the gospel. That means modesty doesn't need to look the same from one person to another. It's about your motivations, not your wardrobe.
Do take a look at them and get them soon!
Torn to Heal: God's Good Purpose in Suffering
($0.99) God is radically dedicated to our ongoing growth in spiritual maturity and holiness. This is both glorious and terrifying. It is glorious because the Lord of heaven and earth is for us. But it is terrifying because we are idolaters. This means that when God brings greater redemption into our lives he also brings a death sentence to our fallen desires. In love, God will do whatever it takes - even tearing us to shreds if necessary - to replace our feeble pleasures with lasting desire for himself. Sadly, in our culture two false responses to suffering have become deeply embedded in the Church: deadly dualism and shallow stoicism. Each can effectively hijack God’s good purpose in suffering. Torn to Heal equips us to understand and reject these false and self-defeating approaches to suffering, and to embrace God’s good purpose in our trials.
By Mike Leake
Modest: Men and Women Clothed in the Gospel
($0.99)Modesty is about freedom, not rules. Does that seem off? What we mean is that what you say or do or wear is not really the point, not ultimately. In a sense, we don't even care what you choose. But we care a lot about why you make the choices you do regarding clothing or speech or behavior. Because what really matters here is your heart.
The point of this book is that true modesty does not come from following a list of rules. It flows naturally from a solid grasp of the gospel. That means modesty doesn't need to look the same from one person to another. It's about your motivations, not your wardrobe.
By Tim Challies & R.W. Glenn
Snippets of News From Around the World (3/9)
Tipping Etiquette Around the World - This is interesting, how much does one need to tip in other countries?
Top 15 Converted Hotels - Everyone loves a great vacation, including you. Whether it’s enjoying the scenery, exploring the culture or partying in the night scene, you come to love the dream destination because of your experience of enjoyment and luxurious comfort while visiting the place. Do you want to stay somewhere a little bit different on your next holiday? Converted hotels is another growing trend: buildings that were once used as something completely different, now renovated and refurbished as a hotel. These unconventional buildings have been wonderfully converted into hotels, retaining the spirit of the original structure, while offering luxurious accommodations and modern amenities.
10 World Biggest Holes on Earth - This is interesting, but gets boring after a while......
A Private Suite on Wheels - Introducing: The Opera, a mobile holiday package combining tent accommodation, optimum travelling pleasure, convenience and comfort, and of course a modern look. This spectacular travel companion will open a world in which you can enjoy the luxuries of a comfortable boutique hotel against the backdrop of your favorite natural settings
16 surreal landscapes found on Earth - Real destinations that you might want to see for yourself.
We Are the Introverts - This is an quick and lighthearted peek of introverts
Top 15 Converted Hotels - Everyone loves a great vacation, including you. Whether it’s enjoying the scenery, exploring the culture or partying in the night scene, you come to love the dream destination because of your experience of enjoyment and luxurious comfort while visiting the place. Do you want to stay somewhere a little bit different on your next holiday? Converted hotels is another growing trend: buildings that were once used as something completely different, now renovated and refurbished as a hotel. These unconventional buildings have been wonderfully converted into hotels, retaining the spirit of the original structure, while offering luxurious accommodations and modern amenities.
10 World Biggest Holes on Earth - This is interesting, but gets boring after a while......
A Private Suite on Wheels - Introducing: The Opera, a mobile holiday package combining tent accommodation, optimum travelling pleasure, convenience and comfort, and of course a modern look. This spectacular travel companion will open a world in which you can enjoy the luxuries of a comfortable boutique hotel against the backdrop of your favorite natural settings
16 surreal landscapes found on Earth - Real destinations that you might want to see for yourself.
We Are the Introverts - This is an quick and lighthearted peek of introverts
Kindle Deals (2/9) - Updated!
Here are some kindle deals for you!
Atheism is a world without God. Its true nature--whether disguised in Eastern mysticism or American cynicism--is despair. In this thought-provoking and witty book, Ravi Zacharias provides Christians a clear apologetic for their faith.
Formerly published as A Shattered Visage, The Real Face of Atheism systematically examines atheistic positions on human nature, the meaning of life, morality, the "First Cause," death, and more. With a new introduction and revisions throughout, The Real Face of Atheism is the perfect text for pastors, students, and thinking laypeople who want to improve their apologetic skill and reach out to non-believers.
What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"? Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments in God's Continent and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. While frankly acknowledging current tensions, Jenkins shows, for instance, that the overheated rhetoric about a Muslim-dominated Europe is based on politically convenient myths: that Europe is being imperiled by floods of Muslim immigrants, exploding Muslim birth-rates, and the demise of European Christianity. He points out that by no means are Muslims the only new immigrants in Europe. Christians from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are also pouring into the Western countries, and bringing with them a vibrant and enthusiastic faith that is helping to transform the face of European Christianity. Jenkins agrees that both Christianity and Islam face real difficulties in surviving within Europe's secular culture. But instead of fading away, both have adapted, and are adapting. Yes, the churches are in decline, but there are also clear indications that Christian loyalty and devotion survive, even as institutions crumble. Jenkins sees encouraging signs of continuing Christian devotion in Europe, especially in pilgrimages that attract millions--more in fact than in bygone "ages of faith."
The Real Face of Atheism ($3.99)
($3.99)Atheism is a world without God. Its true nature--whether disguised in Eastern mysticism or American cynicism--is despair. In this thought-provoking and witty book, Ravi Zacharias provides Christians a clear apologetic for their faith. Formerly published as A Shattered Visage, The Real Face of Atheism systematically examines atheistic positions on human nature, the meaning of life, morality, the "First Cause," death, and more. With a new introduction and revisions throughout, The Real Face of Atheism is the perfect text for pastors, students, and thinking laypeople who want to improve their apologetic skill and reach out to non-believers.
What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"? Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments in God's Continent and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. While frankly acknowledging current tensions, Jenkins shows, for instance, that the overheated rhetoric about a Muslim-dominated Europe is based on politically convenient myths: that Europe is being imperiled by floods of Muslim immigrants, exploding Muslim birth-rates, and the demise of European Christianity. He points out that by no means are Muslims the only new immigrants in Europe. Christians from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are also pouring into the Western countries, and bringing with them a vibrant and enthusiastic faith that is helping to transform the face of European Christianity. Jenkins agrees that both Christianity and Islam face real difficulties in surviving within Europe's secular culture. But instead of fading away, both have adapted, and are adapting. Yes, the churches are in decline, but there are also clear indications that Christian loyalty and devotion survive, even as institutions crumble. Jenkins sees encouraging signs of continuing Christian devotion in Europe, especially in pilgrimages that attract millions--more in fact than in bygone "ages of faith." Monday, 2 September 2013
Snippets of News From Around the World (2/9)
World Leaders Who Killed Their Lovers - From England's Henry VIII, who notoriously had several of his wives beheaded in the 16th century, to current North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, who may or may not have had his ex-girlfriend killed last week, rulers around the world and throughout history have sometimes used their executive powers to execute ... well, their exes.
It’s a Dumbphone, But It’s the Nicest Dumbphone You Can Buy - Nokia’s newest handset has a Gorilla Glass screen, an eye-popping 38-day battery life, and is constructed of sturdy aluminum. The catch? It runs a 14-year-old operating system, and is about as dumb as a phone can get these days. Although smartphones are ubiquitous in many developed markets, there are still plenty (read: billions) of people who use dumbphones.
Best of August - Some really nice photos.
HotWheels builds highest wall track ever in Barcelona
It’s a Dumbphone, But It’s the Nicest Dumbphone You Can Buy - Nokia’s newest handset has a Gorilla Glass screen, an eye-popping 38-day battery life, and is constructed of sturdy aluminum. The catch? It runs a 14-year-old operating system, and is about as dumb as a phone can get these days. Although smartphones are ubiquitous in many developed markets, there are still plenty (read: billions) of people who use dumbphones.
Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch - Have a look at the newest toy in town.
HotWheels builds highest wall track ever in Barcelona
Snippets of Christian Posts From Around the World (2/9)
You Do Not Labor in Vain - Suddenly she saw that her work made life better for someone. She realized that work is the chief place where we love our neighbors as ourselves.
The Lordship of Jesus 100 Years Ago and Today - The saving Lordship of Jesus Christ over all the peoples of the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ as the one message authorized by God to save the nations from eternal destruction. There is no greater vision, no greater calling.
New Testament Scholars and Comparative Religion Scholar on Reza Aslan's Jesus book - Reza Aslan's book on the historical Jesus is made famous by his interview. To convince his interviewer of his competency to write on the topic, he qualified himself as an expert on the origin of Christianity .... Matthew J. Franck has pointed out Aslan's misrepresentation/exaggeration of his qualification.....
Will You Be a Believer Tomorrow Morning? - Christian, how do you know you will still be a believer when you wake up in the morning? And every morning till you meet Jesus? The biblical answer is: God will see to it. Are you okay with that? Does this make you uneasy, admitting it depends decisively on God?
New Testament Scholars and Comparative Religion Scholar on Reza Aslan's Jesus book - Reza Aslan's book on the historical Jesus is made famous by his interview. To convince his interviewer of his competency to write on the topic, he qualified himself as an expert on the origin of Christianity .... Matthew J. Franck has pointed out Aslan's misrepresentation/exaggeration of his qualification.....
Will You Be a Believer Tomorrow Morning? - Christian, how do you know you will still be a believer when you wake up in the morning? And every morning till you meet Jesus? The biblical answer is: God will see to it. Are you okay with that? Does this make you uneasy, admitting it depends decisively on God?
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Snippets of News From Around the World (1/9)
The Price of a Child - The dramatic changes in how we conceive of childhood and how we value it remind us that ascribing outcomes to “the market” can easily obscure how the inputs of supply and demand are coloured by social and cultural factors that change over time. A cost-benefit analysis of national parks will yield very different answers to a nation of couch potatoes compared to a nation of John Muir outdoorsmen. Space tourism will be viable if people highly value the experience and unviable if risk-aversion wins out.
Pisces III: A dramatic underwater rescue - Forty years ago two British sailors plunged almost 1,600ft into an abyss, 150 miles off Ireland, in a deep-sea submersible. Trapped in a 6ft-diameter steel ball for three days, the men had only 12 minutes of oxygen left when they were finally rescued. The story of Pisces III, which made headlines at the time, is now largely forgotten.
Convict Cultivation: Growing Organic Behind Bars - Woodbourne is a medium-security men’s prison, situated in Sullivan County, New York. You end up at Woodbourne on robbery or manslaughter charges; maybe good behavior gets you transferred in from a tougher facility. It’s a largely conventional prison, for largely conventional prisoners. With one caveat: It’s unlikely you’ll learn to massage and dry kale at most other lockups. Student inmates learn how to garden sustainably, how to cook the harvest and where these skills fit into the bigger sociopolitical landscape (food deserts, industrial farming, etc.)
50 Unbelievable Facts About Earth - Many cool facts about the earth that you probably didn't even know about.
10 Beautiful Places In The World That Actually Exist - How I wish I could visit all these places......
Bookshelves - If you like books and bookshelves, please prepare your heart before clicking it.
P. S. This was my favourite photo.
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Snippets of News From Around the World (31/8)
The Story Behind Stockholm Syndrome - Most people associate Stockholm Syndrome, a situation in which people being held captive feel sympathy toward their captors, with Patty Hearst and her ordeal with the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. But the term Stockholm Syndrome was actually coined a year before in—you guessed it—Sweden.
Why your brain may work like a dictionary - Does your brain work like a dictionary? A mathematical analysis of the connections between definitions of English words has uncovered hidden structures that may resemble the way words and their meanings are represented in our heads.
11 Untranslatable Words From Other Cultures - Somehow narrowing it down to just a handful, we've illustrated 11 of these wonderful, untranslatable, if slightly elusive, words. We will definitely be trying to incorporate a few of them into our everyday conversations, and hope that you enjoy recognizing a feeling or two of your own among them.
The New Coffee Is Made for Your Skin - "Coffee and energy drinks can give you a quick boost, but they come with a ton of issues, and can cause you to crash." That, according to the pitch from Harvard undergrad Ben Yu and venture capitalist Deven Soni, is why we need Sprayable Energy—a caffeine product that the user absorbs through their skin. Creators Yu and Soni recommend that one spray it "in the same places you would a fragrance (like your neck)."
An underground photography mission - One of the tunnel workers, Abu Mohammed, offered to let me see his tunnel. At the entrance, his colleagues were sleeping and having a rest after some hard work while the other shifts were working underground. Abu Mohammed decided to accompany me to help me while I was photographing inside the tunnel. I was surprised and a bit frightened to see a 20 meter-deep hole, and wasn’t so happy about going down into the dark. Abu Mohammed encouraged me, saying that you descend on a rope operated by an electric generator, assuring me that the rope was strong enough to carry heavy construction materials. I tied my cameras around my body and the adventure began.
Why your brain may work like a dictionary - Does your brain work like a dictionary? A mathematical analysis of the connections between definitions of English words has uncovered hidden structures that may resemble the way words and their meanings are represented in our heads.
The New Coffee Is Made for Your Skin - "Coffee and energy drinks can give you a quick boost, but they come with a ton of issues, and can cause you to crash." That, according to the pitch from Harvard undergrad Ben Yu and venture capitalist Deven Soni, is why we need Sprayable Energy—a caffeine product that the user absorbs through their skin. Creators Yu and Soni recommend that one spray it "in the same places you would a fragrance (like your neck)."
An underground photography mission - One of the tunnel workers, Abu Mohammed, offered to let me see his tunnel. At the entrance, his colleagues were sleeping and having a rest after some hard work while the other shifts were working underground. Abu Mohammed decided to accompany me to help me while I was photographing inside the tunnel. I was surprised and a bit frightened to see a 20 meter-deep hole, and wasn’t so happy about going down into the dark. Abu Mohammed encouraged me, saying that you descend on a rope operated by an electric generator, assuring me that the rope was strong enough to carry heavy construction materials. I tied my cameras around my body and the adventure began.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)