Learn something new everyday: not all DVD media are the same.
I bought 50 DVD+R blank media. I didn't give it a second thought as it was on sale.
I took them home and tried to backup some data onto a DVD from my Apple laptop and the computer wouldn't and spat the blank DVD back out.
A little hunting around on the Mac Help gave me this revelation about my computer: it only can work with CD-R and DVD-R type disks.
Fortunately, the Staples where I bought the disk didn't mind me bringing back an open package for store credit so I could buy some DVD-R. Alas, the pack of 25 DVD-R media cost a little more than the 50 I returned.
Oh, well.
World: Is it a war or is it law-enforcement?
I suppose at one time the American attitude on terrorists was that it was a law-enforcement matter. It would be like fighting the old style crime mobs.
Indeed, many of the tools of law-enforcement are being used to fight the terrorists.
However, clearly, it is also a war. The latest news from Somalia says it is indeed a global war against terrorists.
When you have the army of one country (Ethiopia) sending its military into another country (Somalia) to combat terrorists I think we left the realm of law-enforcement.
Also, it appears US special forces were also on the scene and when they had the chance to use an AC-130 to hit a terrorist base, they did so.
As a Christian, I am often at a loss on how to pray for these world situations.
Some chant, war is not the answer. Well, what is?
Unfortunately, if we don't fight, these people would have no hesistation to kill me where I sit.
I suppose the best analogy I've heard is from Thomas Friedman: there are dangerous people in the basement cooking up plans and bombs. We have to kill these people. But the other thing we need to do is find a way to bar the door so more people don't go into that basement. That is where we need diplomacy, aid programs and other non-military tactics.
In the prayer closet, I have found myself simply praying, Lord you are the God of peace and justice. Lord bring peace to this world by transforming the hearts of those who would kill and destroy. However, if they harden their hearts then bring peace by bringing justice to those by ending their ability to kill and destroy.
Indeed, many of the tools of law-enforcement are being used to fight the terrorists.
However, clearly, it is also a war. The latest news from Somalia says it is indeed a global war against terrorists.
When you have the army of one country (Ethiopia) sending its military into another country (Somalia) to combat terrorists I think we left the realm of law-enforcement.
Also, it appears US special forces were also on the scene and when they had the chance to use an AC-130 to hit a terrorist base, they did so.
As a Christian, I am often at a loss on how to pray for these world situations.
Some chant, war is not the answer. Well, what is?
Unfortunately, if we don't fight, these people would have no hesistation to kill me where I sit.
I suppose the best analogy I've heard is from Thomas Friedman: there are dangerous people in the basement cooking up plans and bombs. We have to kill these people. But the other thing we need to do is find a way to bar the door so more people don't go into that basement. That is where we need diplomacy, aid programs and other non-military tactics.
In the prayer closet, I have found myself simply praying, Lord you are the God of peace and justice. Lord bring peace to this world by transforming the hearts of those who would kill and destroy. However, if they harden their hearts then bring peace by bringing justice to those by ending their ability to kill and destroy.
Culture: Apple has done it again?
Apple has entered the cell phone and television marketplace.
The iPhone is clearly the big splash and the stock market is going crazy with an 8% rise in the stock price as of 2pm PST.
The iPhone is clearly the big splash and the stock market is going crazy with an 8% rise in the stock price as of 2pm PST.
Money: Asset allocation
I'm told by people who know their money talk that besides diversification (spreading your risk around by buying mutual funds) there is asset class diversification (stocks, bonds, money market and other asset categories).
Every six months or so, I make a determination about what level of risk I'm willing to accept.
During the summer of 2006, I thought it was time to up my exposure to stocks. So I set my 403b inflow to 85% stock. Turned out to be a good guess as the last half of 2006 had a nice run-up in the stock asset class.
As I sit here in the winter of 2007, I'm making a shift. I'm going down to 65% stocks.
My reasons:
(1) Economy maybe slowing down (mainly due to the housing slowdown) and if the Fed has overshot the "soft landing" the market may take a beating.
(2) World situation and domestic political factors suggest to me a bit of skitishness among the people which usual translates to sideways or even downward moving markets.
(3) Interest rates have remained steady which is a neutral signal for the moment in terms of confidence in the economy.
(4) Corporate scandals tend to drag the stocks. When these are beaten out of the system then it might be time to go back to a higher level of exposure.
I'll check back in the summer of 2007 and see if I'll make an adjustment.
Disclaimer: I'm not a financial service professional, I'm just too cheap to pay for one. All advice here should be taken with a grain of salt. Past performance is not a guarentee of future results. People (me included) can and do lose money in the market.
Every six months or so, I make a determination about what level of risk I'm willing to accept.
During the summer of 2006, I thought it was time to up my exposure to stocks. So I set my 403b inflow to 85% stock. Turned out to be a good guess as the last half of 2006 had a nice run-up in the stock asset class.
As I sit here in the winter of 2007, I'm making a shift. I'm going down to 65% stocks.
My reasons:
(1) Economy maybe slowing down (mainly due to the housing slowdown) and if the Fed has overshot the "soft landing" the market may take a beating.
(2) World situation and domestic political factors suggest to me a bit of skitishness among the people which usual translates to sideways or even downward moving markets.
(3) Interest rates have remained steady which is a neutral signal for the moment in terms of confidence in the economy.
(4) Corporate scandals tend to drag the stocks. When these are beaten out of the system then it might be time to go back to a higher level of exposure.
I'll check back in the summer of 2007 and see if I'll make an adjustment.
Disclaimer: I'm not a financial service professional, I'm just too cheap to pay for one. All advice here should be taken with a grain of salt. Past performance is not a guarentee of future results. People (me included) can and do lose money in the market.
Religion: How many types of god could there be?
Just typing off the cuff here ...
(1) God doesn't exist, i.e. atheism. Thus, all conceptions of god (listed below) are false.
(2) God exists and created the known universe but hasn't been heard from since. This sounds a lot like the deist god.
(3) God exists, created the known universe and will judge our lives at death but other than that won't be heard from until after death. Historically, this description might be applicable to some deists but I suspect some would be more in the #2 camp.
(4) God exists, created the known universe, will judge our lives at death and has made some effort to communicate.
What do you believe?
Is that belief based on reason, faith or some combination of the two?
As a Christian, I would be in catagory four. The basis for that belief would be some combination of reason and faith. Though people in catagory #1 would say people in #2-4 are engaged in faith without reason.
What do you think?
(1) God doesn't exist, i.e. atheism. Thus, all conceptions of god (listed below) are false.
(2) God exists and created the known universe but hasn't been heard from since. This sounds a lot like the deist god.
(3) God exists, created the known universe and will judge our lives at death but other than that won't be heard from until after death. Historically, this description might be applicable to some deists but I suspect some would be more in the #2 camp.
(4) God exists, created the known universe, will judge our lives at death and has made some effort to communicate.
What do you believe?
Is that belief based on reason, faith or some combination of the two?
As a Christian, I would be in catagory four. The basis for that belief would be some combination of reason and faith. Though people in catagory #1 would say people in #2-4 are engaged in faith without reason.
What do you think?
Devotional Thoughts: Day-to-day living
Some parts of the Bible are harder to understand than others. Some parts are straightforward. Am looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 today and this is one of those how you should live straightforward passages. Not always easy to live out but very clear on what is the right way to do things!
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
The first batch of challenges in regards to how people should treat those who are in leadership in the church setting:
respect those who labor among you ...
esteem them very highly in love because of their work ...
In the English language, I don't sense a huge difference between those two words. Any English majors out there reading this blog? 8-) Both words, to me, don't convey a lot of emotion but more thoughtful reflection. For instance, one might have respect for a tough-as-nails drill instructor but might not have much feelings. Would a Greek lexicon help?
Respect is Strong's word number 1492. The definitions listed are to see, to ascertain and to know. Esteem is Strong's word number 2233. The definitions listed are to lead and to consider. Did that help?
Anyway, seems to be similar words and in any case the thing we should do in regards to those who lead in the church.
Then Paul gives a series of exhortations on how to live with one another:
Be at peace among yourselves
admonish the idle
encourage the fainthearted
help the weak
be patient with them all.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil
seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Very much in line with the teachings of Jesus.
Then Paul has challenges about how to face the circumstances of life:
Rejoice always
pray without ceasing
give thanks in all circumstances.
Tough ones for me to do consistently as I can, at times, be a whiner!
Finally, Paul has some commands in regards to things of an explicitly spiritual nature:
Do not quench the Spirit
Do not despise prophecies
but test everything
hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil.
I often wrestle with the question of how does the Spirit work in our lives? How personal should we expect God to be? In what ways does the Spirit intervene in our lives?
As for prophecies, what does that really mean?
We have "special revelation" in the form of the guidance in the Bible. We have "natural revelation" in the form of conscience and reason. Is there "personal revelation" in the form of prophecies? If so, in what way does this happen?
In any case, it would seem Paul is from Missouri (the Show Me state) with his admonition, test everything.
Lord, I look over this list of things and I know I fall short every day. Forgive me when I think only of myself and lose sight of the needs of others. I need help to live this out. I often get discouraged by life's circumstances. Yet, I should know better because I can walk in your wisdom. Grant to me insight into what happens day-to-day to see where I can grow and develop in me a better BS meter that recognizes what is good from what is evil. Amen.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
The first batch of challenges in regards to how people should treat those who are in leadership in the church setting:
respect those who labor among you ...
esteem them very highly in love because of their work ...
In the English language, I don't sense a huge difference between those two words. Any English majors out there reading this blog? 8-) Both words, to me, don't convey a lot of emotion but more thoughtful reflection. For instance, one might have respect for a tough-as-nails drill instructor but might not have much feelings. Would a Greek lexicon help?
Respect is Strong's word number 1492. The definitions listed are to see, to ascertain and to know. Esteem is Strong's word number 2233. The definitions listed are to lead and to consider. Did that help?
Anyway, seems to be similar words and in any case the thing we should do in regards to those who lead in the church.
Then Paul gives a series of exhortations on how to live with one another:
Be at peace among yourselves
admonish the idle
encourage the fainthearted
help the weak
be patient with them all.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil
seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Very much in line with the teachings of Jesus.
Then Paul has challenges about how to face the circumstances of life:
Rejoice always
pray without ceasing
give thanks in all circumstances.
Tough ones for me to do consistently as I can, at times, be a whiner!
Finally, Paul has some commands in regards to things of an explicitly spiritual nature:
Do not quench the Spirit
Do not despise prophecies
but test everything
hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil.
I often wrestle with the question of how does the Spirit work in our lives? How personal should we expect God to be? In what ways does the Spirit intervene in our lives?
As for prophecies, what does that really mean?
We have "special revelation" in the form of the guidance in the Bible. We have "natural revelation" in the form of conscience and reason. Is there "personal revelation" in the form of prophecies? If so, in what way does this happen?
In any case, it would seem Paul is from Missouri (the Show Me state) with his admonition, test everything.
Lord, I look over this list of things and I know I fall short every day. Forgive me when I think only of myself and lose sight of the needs of others. I need help to live this out. I often get discouraged by life's circumstances. Yet, I should know better because I can walk in your wisdom. Grant to me insight into what happens day-to-day to see where I can grow and develop in me a better BS meter that recognizes what is good from what is evil. Amen.
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