A Local and Private Microblog using StatusNet

This is a continuation/additional post for my previous entry "A Local and Private Microblog using Laconica". Please see the previous post as well. Laconica has changed it's name to StatusNet and has been constantly active in improving their open source code.

Best Wordpress Plugins Part 2

This is a part 2 of the list of some of the best Wordpress plugins that I've been using. See Part 1 , which was written last year, December 2009, for more plugins. I'm no longer using some of the plugins in Part 1, and some I have replaced by those listed below.

Advanced Most Recent Posts Mod

Display most recent posts from selected categories or current category or all posts with thumbnail images (optional).

Backupify for WordPress

Backup of WordPress database and all files to your Backupify account.

Facebook Like

Add the new Facebook Like button and Facebook Recommendations widget to your wordpress blog.

Understanding the Bible

Is there a contradiction between James and Paul?

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28)

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

Many do not want to believe in the Bible because they "found" existing "contradictions". They did not really find it themselves, but read it from websites established by atheists. There's no really contradiction in those verses, but rather our lack of understanding. How can we be swayed by atheists who not only do not believe in the Bible but do not understand what was written?

John Piper's sermon entitled "Does James Contradict Paul" helps me understand that the two verses do not contradict each other. Piper did not formulate some explanations or reasonings, he only connected the verses  and helped us to understand what was written. It is the truth and the message in the Bible, rather than the syntax and the characters that try to represent them that matters most.

What's the Problem When Preachers Want Fortune

There's certainly something wrong when preachers want fortune. It's not because they have to make themselves appear poor, but because they are preaching another gospel that reflects their desire to get rich.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Preachers who buy expensive furnitures, build big mansions, and travel using their private jets using donations or gifts from the people only show their excessiveness (lack of contentment) and their love for money. They probably have more in their bank accounts. It really shows their insecurities. They don't depend on God who says "I will never leave you nor forsake you." These preachers are in a hurry to get more money from the people before his/her popularity and reputation is over. It's simply because they are preaching the false gospel which is grounded on nothing but the love for money and deception. They count each day as an opportunity to advertise and to accept more cash.

Sandboxing Applications with Sandboxie

Sandboxing is a security mechanism where applications can be isolated and activities can be restricted. I find Sandboxie the most effective application to provide sandboxing. I have tried many free alternatives, but they were not able to support all applications. The first sandboxing application I know is GreenBorder which was founded in 2001 then bought by Google in 2007. There's already some speculations that GreenBorder will be integrated with Google Chrome. Other alternatives include Returnil and Comodo Time Machine. What can we do with these apps?

Our Questions Only Say We Do Not Know

Our questions only say that we do not know and that we need to know. How can just one question be the reason for someone not to believe in God? Our questions cannot invalidate anything. Our questions need answers. We cannot judge something out of our questions or when we do not know. We need to find and to ask for an answer, rather than taking the question as an opportunity or a reason not to believe. Our questions cannot prove anything, except the fact that we do not know. How can we conclude anything from something we do not know about?

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

True Desire

It's hard to be a Christian when we are still clinging on to so many things where worldly life dominates our life. Are we trusting too much in our money, our position, our career, our talents, our friends, and our dreams? Are we slaves of our own desires?

We should not only believe Christ is our savior, but we need to have complete faith and trust in Christ. We no longer fear death, suffering, and difficulty because nothing is more satisfying and valuable than to be under Christ. The offer of happiness, health, wealth, belongingness, achievements, and recognitions on earth are completely nothing when compared to Christ. Though many will agree that Christ is definitely above those things, we still fear so much of having to surrender these things.