December 7, 2009
Canada Best for Expats
I was claiming that Quebec was the best part of the world for a long long time.
The latest study by HSBC gets pretty close to validate that!
Posted by ma at 5:47 PM | TrackBack
December 1, 2009
Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of 'SixthSense' technology
Absolutely amazing work! Have a look at the presentation online.
Posted by ma at 3:39 PM | TrackBack
November 27, 2009
Detailed Description of the Mumbai Attacks
Sixty Hours of Terror offers a good description of what happened during 26/11 and the next few days of terrorist-fighting. A good read if you haven't followed the details on TV.
Posted by ma at 6:57 PM | TrackBack
November 21, 2009
Gamer
This looks really awesome:
Posted by ma at 8:18 PM | TrackBack
November 13, 2009
Teens not as sexually depraved as we think
Here some interesting tidbits from a report in La Presse:
- 50% of 18 year-olds are virgins
- First time is part of a couple relationship in 83% for boys, 85% for girls
- Average sex partners over their life: 4
That is still too much, agreed, especially considering the impopularity of marriage in Quebec, but that's reassuring in a way... the world is not as dark as we think!
Posted by ma at 8:02 PM | TrackBack
October 29, 2009
Domestic Violence in India
Have a look at "Working women face more domestic violence in India: Study".
The survey was limited to the Bangalore area. It would be interesting to have the same survey done in other parts of the country. I would also like to see the distribution relative to education and socio-economic level. I'm guessing that wealthier and higher-educated couples would be less likely to have domestic violence
Posted by ma at 12:31 PM | TrackBack
October 20, 2009
Reverse Brain Drain
It looks like the Indians and the Chinese in the Silicon Valley are returning home, and its because of a mix of personal matters and better opportunities, says a recent survey.
Of course, it doesn't cover the case of Quebecois IT professionals coming to work in India ;)
Posted by ma at 9:51 AM | TrackBack
September 4, 2009
Men Getting Dumber Around Good-Looking Women
Now its scientifically proven, men don't perform cognitive tasks as well after chatting with a pretty woman.
Of course, everybody already knew that. The interesting part is that the result is not symmetric: women are not affected by men's good look.
That's why the Bible teaches women to be modest (1 Peter 3:1-4, 1 Ti 2:9), but never told the same about men. God isn't sexist, he's just accurate!
Posted by ma at 6:28 PM | TrackBack
August 26, 2009
Why I'm not in Grad School
Posted by ma at 5:19 PM | TrackBack
July 28, 2009
The Maker's Schedule
Very good article about different ways of scheduling. I agree with that the author says: techies need long uninterrupted moments to tackle technical problems. A couple of uninterrupted hours of work mean wonderful productivity.
And also some tidbit of advice, extending on what the author say: bunch together all the little things that are distracting and do it in one shot, so that you can focus on the real work after.
Posted by ma at 3:18 PM | TrackBack
July 23, 2009
Yes, they landed on the moon
In case you've heard conspiracy theories, here's something to help you see that indeed, people went on the moon, and it wasn't Michael Jackson :)
Posted by ma at 4:31 PM | TrackBack
July 17, 2009
Finally, a Court with Sense
Its finally official: marriage is not the same as a de-facto relationship.
Of course, the matter is going to be appealed.
In my opinion, these relationships have already too many rights given to them. If you want to live together, you should get married. End of story.
It takes about 5-15 minutes to do that at the courthouse and its not too expensive, so nobody really has the right to complain...
In India, its even cheaper... just tie the yellow thread (AP) or exchange the garlands (North India) and the matter is over. Then you need the pandit to give you the certificate. Done!
Why is it that people confuse tradition with principle? You don't need a fancy banquet to get married. There is no financial reason not to get married. It boils down to a 5 minute thing that makes your couple legitimate and protected. I have many friends who want to wait until they are more settled in life before getting married... what stupidity!
And in the meantime, they'll live together, and every time they'll sleep together, they'll add one more sin to their already tall pile of sins. All of it for what? Impressing people? Some stupid tradition they don't care about? Fear of commitment?
In the article, they mention that the man who was with her didn't want to get married, because he didn't believe in the institution of marriage. Interestingly, he got 3 kids... looks like someone believed in the institution of family... Go figure.
Posted by ma at 4:53 PM | TrackBack
July 9, 2009
Air New Zealand Pushing Nudity
If you didn't know we live in a dark world yet, here's something that might be a wake-up call:
Air New Zealand has safety measures explained by naked stewards and stewardesses with body painting! How ridiculous and depraved!
If I don't watch the safety instructions when I fly, that's because I fly enough to know them by heart! I don't think that the airlines should worry about that...
Posted by ma at 12:19 PM | TrackBack
July 7, 2009
Joseph Kony and the LRA
If you've never heard about this issue, then its really really time you watch this video.
Posted by ma at 12:02 AM | TrackBack
July 6, 2009
Indian Economic Survey
Times of India, 3 Jul 2009
Economic Survey 2008-09: Over 60% Indians live on Rs 20/day
Posted by ma at 9:21 PM | TrackBack
July 2, 2009
Stats About The Québécois
Two survey summaries worth reading (use Google Translate if you can't read French).
Essentially, the vast majority of Québécois won't care to celebrate Canada Day. But they still like Canada, think its a great country to be part of, and don't see Québec separate anytime soon. The editorialist says it nicely: they love Canada with their heads, but not with their hearts. Whereas, for the rest of the country, both are engaged.
Posted by ma at 5:15 PM | TrackBack
Geek Clock
Posted by ma at 5:12 PM | TrackBack
June 28, 2009
Advice for International Career Moves
I found this article. Nothing I don't know already, but I think it may be useful for you :)
How to manage a working move abroad
Posted by ma at 10:51 PM | TrackBack
Cleaning Up a Country In a Day
I have to say: wow!
Posted by ma at 9:47 PM | TrackBack
May 23, 2009
PhD Comics
I started reading those... and I really love them!
Piled Higher & Deeper
Here are some good ones:
Grad student productivity curve
and motivation curve
Funding
Mapping of the years of work vs the thesis content
Comic Chart jokes
Dr. is informal
Grad Seminar Bingo
Life Plan vs Reality
Geek, Nerd, Dork
Deciphering Academese
The author list
The economic meltdown
Self-realization
Darwin remixed
Humanities
And, best of all, the Matrix version of grad school
Posted by ma at 10:09 PM | TrackBack
April 30, 2009
No martyrs here
Good article in The Guardian. Now you understand why you can't pay me enough to relocate to Orissa.
Posted by ma at 7:04 PM | TrackBack
April 29, 2009
Indian Elections are Fueled by Booze and Cash
I had the pleasure to take a colleague's copy of The Hindu newspaper last week. In the news, I saw that the police arrested and filed cases against hundreds of people in relation to buying votes. It was either with cash, or with spirits. Too bad I can't find the link right now :(
Now that the elections are over in my state (AP), I guess this is over. This year's election went smoothly enough, and there were no riots or anything like that that happened.
That's good news, as I was afraid to be caught by some fundamentalist mob at some point...
Posted by ma at 8:28 PM | TrackBack
April 8, 2009
World's Most Expensive Cities
According to this article
1. Moscow
2. Tokyo
3. Hong Kong
4. Mumbai
5. New York
6. Beijing
7. Geneva
8. Delhi
9. London
10. Singapore
Posted by ma at 6:07 PM | TrackBack
March 17, 2009
Fighting for Jobs in the Current Economy
Very good and very short commentary by Jonathan Browning
Posted by ma at 1:46 PM | TrackBack
November 25, 2008
India Calling
This article in the New York Times summarizes well what it means to make the shift...
The World - India Calling, by By ANAND GIRIDHARADAS.
Posted by ma at 10:45 AM | TrackBack
November 18, 2008
Do not discard your brain
Posted by ma at 11:17 AM | TrackBack
September 29, 2008
Adopting a Country - Embracing Canada
Radio Canada International has made this interesting series about moving from Canada to India. I'm very much behind, but it looks very interesting.
Posted by ma at 2:56 AM | TrackBack
September 20, 2008
Some Great Québec Art
The federal government decided to cut on the cultural subsidies, and that means hitting Québec culture directly. The artists are fighting back:
Also, for your enjoyment, something that Mes Aieux displayed at Céline Dion's show in Québec:
Posted by ma at 10:07 AM | TrackBack
September 8, 2008
More Anti-Christian Violence in Orissa
Yay, that state is not that far from where I'll go :(
Patil assures all help for riot-hit Orissa
Posted by ma at 9:44 PM | TrackBack
August 19, 2008
Campus Chain of Command
That one is funny and pretty accurate...
Posted by ma at 10:53 PM | TrackBack
July 5, 2008
9 NIV Translation Issues
I have stumbled on a nice gem on Douglas Jacoby's website...
NIV errors show 9 problems with NIV translations, and how they can be misread and misinterpreted.
Let everyone beware!
Posted by ma at 8:32 PM | TrackBack
July 3, 2008
Bonne Fête Québec!!!
Québec is now 400 years old! I'm feeling so much pride and joy. Homesickness is a much more powerful disease than I previously expected!!!
:D
Posted by ma at 11:05 PM | TrackBack
May 28, 2008
The XO Laptop into a Hacking Machine
You know what software packages I'll be downloading the next time I put my laptop on the internet...
Turning the OLPC Into a Hacker’s Toolkit - Give One, Get Owned, Part 2
Posted by ma at 11:00 AM | TrackBack
May 23, 2008
More on Emotional Intelligence Issues
I found this CBC article interesting and I think I'll find out more about this Dr. Sax.
The basic thing is about how is it that young men seem to be stuck in perpetual adolescence.
Its kind of sad that Goleman documented that stuff 10 years back and that things have only worsed...
Here are the reasons (I quote from the article):
- Video games. These addictive activities disengage boys from the world. Some young men even seem to prefer online porno to the prospect of sex with another human being.
- Teaching methods. Girls develop intellectually up to two years ahead of boys. Boys in grade school are naturally rambunctious. They need ways to express their native energy. They are being taught to read and write too early. Their mostly female teachers prefer compliant, dutiful girls.
- Prescription drugs. Hyperactive, frustrated boys are increasingly being medicated. This we all know. What Sax claims is that these drugs shrink the motivational centres of the brain and that the effect of this lasts years, well after these kids stop taking their meds. I hadn't heard this before but if it's true, it is truly frightening.
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals from plastic bottles, canned food linings and some shampoos mimic natural estrogen, the female hormone. Boys' testosterone levels are half of what they were in their grandfathers' day. Also, their bones are significantly more brittle.
- The devaluation of masculinity. Boys don't know how to become men. They no longer have appropriate rights of passage. Once Father Knows Best was the paternalistic model but now he has been replaced (and mocked) by a dopey Homer Simpson. Sax likes the old virtues of courage and temperance, with a good measure of intelligence.
I would add to that that there is a lack of mentoring in general, since we live in an individualistic society. This has major impact, since noone is really calling anyone back to reality. Sometimes, you really need a 'shut up and back back to Earth' talk, but do you have anyone to give it to you?
I'm so glad that, as a disciple, I had the help of brothers and of the Holy Spirit to make a man out of me. There is still A LOT to be done, but the transformation is radical already, and its only going to get better.
Posted by ma at 6:01 PM | TrackBack
May 14, 2008
India is Not a Safe Place
And I was thinking of booking my tickets for a trip in North India very soon...
But, then, there are skirmishes between the Indian Army (technically, the BSF, but you get the point) and 'militants' (some rumours of Pakistani Rangers are there...) near Jammu... so here goes the 'Kashmir' part of the trip.
And then, terrorist blasts in Jaipur... so here goes the 'Rajastan' part of the trip.
Those were two places I really wanted to go :(
Posted by ma at 11:17 AM | TrackBack
May 4, 2008
Birds Singing Nice Songs in my Electric Box
No comment necessary:
Posted by ma at 10:57 AM | TrackBack
April 24, 2008
The Gap Between Bollywood and the Real India
I was reading Set Apart, and it was talking about the impact of the media on culture and 'norms'. India is an interesting example of the same.
Ex 1) Dress style
There are many dress styles in India, but you'll see a few trends: kurtas for the boys who dress traditionally, trousers and shirts for male office workers. For the ladies, either Western-style office dress, or kameez... sometimes a saree, but that's rare to see a saree at work.
On Fridays, you'll see jeans and t-shirts in the office, no shorts, no skirts above the knee.
In the media, there is a lot of West love going, even as far as having Hindi rap. Of all things! There will be some traditional clothes for sure, but you feel the general direction to be away from there.
Ex 2) Modestry
When I was at the corporate picnic, I found something interesting: nearly noone was wearing a swimsuit at the beach, and only guys were showing any flesh. Girls were dressed as if they were in a park, frankly.
Not so in the Hindi movie arena. The girls are sexy, very sexy, wear short skirts, show a lot of cleavage, show off in bikinis, you name it, its all fair game! The guys have mandatory 'six pack' moments, it sometimes feels.
Ex 3) Music
At that party, I noticed one thing... domination of the Hindi movie songs. The games we played, the songs sang in the bus, it was all bollywood. The movie music directors have more or less hijacked today's Indian culture.
Now, what's happening to the young generation? Go to a college in Mumbai, and you'll see folks that will make you feel as if you're in Montreal. The teens at church could be NRIs attending the Montreal church in many cases.
Many colleagues (a large chunk barely out of college) are a bit 'in between', where they'll be glad to switch to jeans and t-shirt on Friday, but really don't mind dressing more traditionally.
It seems like that, for ever 5 years of age difference, you see less Indian and more Western in a person...
There are a few lessons from this: don't rely on the media's corporate, profit-making arm to show you what real life is all about. Also, what you watch with your kids is likely to be what your kids will become like. The example is powerful in North America, but its crazy and saddening here.
And so, the gap between Bollywood and the Real India is very wide in a way, but very narrow in another, for better and for worse.
Posted by ma at 9:08 PM | TrackBack
April 20, 2008
Global Famine and Bio-Fuels
Living in India removes a good bit of the North American bubble.
The fact remains that I am "rich", meaning that I'm not struggling for survival, in a country were people are giving up on that. A good reason is the food prices jumping lately, and India has been hit hard.
Here is a good article in French, and how bio-fuels are messing up the global food situation. I'm glad that I switched to mostly-veg a year back (if not more). I did it for health reasons, but what food we eat pretty much becomes a moral decision now.
If you want something along the same lines in English, but with a focus on bio-fuels, the Seattle Times is there for you.
And it is creating a political mess too!
Edited to add: Le Soleil has a great cartoon about this
Posted by ma at 8:53 PM | TrackBack
April 4, 2008
Story of Stuff
The Story of Stuff is a documentary about what's not working with the industrial system and its impact on human lives and the environment.
This one is well-worth the watch. Its a good view on the problems with the current consumerism system, and how its just not fitting with the way the world works.
Of course, the spiritual components of it are not included, but nevertheless, it is thought-provoking and I hope it helps all of us lower our impact on the planet.
Posted by ma at 7:19 AM | TrackBack
Mr. Deity
Interesting little thing, Mr. Deity.
I just saw episode 1, and I think I'll watch the rest. It is a fascinating display of misunderstanding of God by the World. For instance, episode 1 is the problem of evil, but sicknesses and natural disaster are in the list, although those are morally neutral. Germs causing you to have a cold are not evil, they just happen. Cancer cells are destructive, but they are not evil, they just happen. Tsunamis happen too, but water is not a sentient and moral being, so it cannot be evil.
Holocausts did happen, and you could argue that they are happening still these days. Those were done by humans, and the humans who did it, you can be sure, have sinned. Maybe some will have repented afterwards, but you can be safe to think that a lot of them will enjoy a prolongated "vacation" at a resort that will make North Indian summer look cold.
Praised be God, the Everlasting One, Righteous Judge and Benevolent Creator.
One thing that I like about Mr. Deity is that it might get some people to be thinking again about God.
My concern is that some people's very weak faith will be shaken by that. But I don't mind too too much... maybe that will result in less churchians. And that would be a good thing.
P.S.
I have to say, Celine Dion on the list of evils is not something I disagree with ;)
P.P.S. Maybe I'll do a series of messages on those themes
Posted by ma at 6:52 AM | TrackBack
February 13, 2008
Mob Violence Against Christians in Orissa
"Ton cadeau de Noël, c'est une claque sur la gueule!"
That's what I said to a brother describing what happened...
As far as I understand, it is mostly Catholics who were victims, but don't quote me on that.
Its old news, but I thought I should share.
1 dies, 24 injured in communal clashes in Orissa
Posted by ma at 10:02 AM | TrackBack
Fear of Mob Violence in Maharashtra
Centre rushes more forces to Maharashtra
This crazy politician has been spreading hatred towards north Indians (and I've been told foreigners too). There are reports of his arrest, but its not confirmed. Everybody is afraid of what happens either way...
I had folks at the office telling us to go home early and not leave, coworkers leaving early, afraid to be stuck in that mess.
I asked colleagues, and they told me that they have 'riot season' when elections come... good thing that they're not coming until next year.
Its sad that India hasn't graduated from mob violence yet. You'll see news report of that every now and then...
Posted by ma at 9:46 AM | TrackBack
January 17, 2008
Student Prostitution
Its data from France, but very interesting... about 40000 students engaging in prostitution to fund their studies... wow!
Moi, Laura D., étudiante et prostituée
Posted by ma at 4:38 PM | TrackBack
January 5, 2008
Reading notes: Morison's book on Sanctification
Hello brothers and sisters!
I am not giving up the teaching ministry yet, and I'm sharing my reading notes on this wonderful book. It has a bit of a Protestant bias that one must ignore for a few pages, but its overall very instructive on the nature of our new birth in Christ. I was able to better understand the freedom that Jesus bought on the Cross for me and it gives me great encouragement and renewed strength in the spiritual battle.
The book is now in the public domain, and you can get it at the Internet Archive:
http://www.archive.org/details/stpaulsteachingo00moriuoft
Title: St. Paul's teaching on sanctification : a practical exposition of Romans VI
Author: Morison, James
Year: 1886
Publisher: London : Hodder and Stoughton
(Verse 1)
p.2 Sanctification is part of the big picture of Christian salvation.
p.3 Context is the following of the discussion that says that God's grace is over-abounding compared to sin.
(Verse 2)
We died to sin, and are united to Christ Jesus in His death. We have been absorbed, to a degree, in His being. By death, we are free from penal claims of sin.
p.5 Our understanding of the liberation from sin results in us choosing to to sin anymore
(Verse 3)
p.6 Rephrasing of the previous idea in other words.
(Reader's note: False doctrine of inward baptism)
(Verse 4)
p.11 Imaged, use of transition death -> burial, preparing us to the idea of Christ's resurection.
p.13 The point of all this is that we walk in newness of life.
p.14 Defines glorification as life of infinite bliss after resurrection.
The newness of life is not of ethical nature, but a matter of a new heritage.
The resurrection of Christ was an act of glory of the Father, with participation of the Son.
(Verse 5)
p.16 Complicated Greek. The idea is that we have grown together with Christ, meaning intimately united. We are united in His death as well as His resurrection. This crowns the development of the last verses.
p.18 However, this is not just an association or union. We are united in the likeness of His death.
Likeness is not the same as identification, which means that our death is similar, but is not the exact same.
p.19 Union in Christ's resurrection is a logical consequence of our union in His death.
(Verse 6)
p.20- talks about the old man as the old self, antithesis to the new self expressed at other places in Scripture. The old self is crucified with Christ. Faith comes first, and union with Christ second.
Immunity and inheritance comes after this union. The objective of this union is not for Christians to indulge themselves, but to disable the tyranny of the body of sin.
The author describes Paul's view that sin is tyrant ruling fully a body. But this body is not our litteral physical body, but an illustrative tool. The old man is not precisely the body of sin.
The verse promises a grand divine reality.
The author presents his thesis:
"The aim is this, that by the might of matchless generosity and loving-kindness on the part of God, the delusive and seductive power of sin may, on the part of men, be broken in their hearts. Men's 'sanctification' is God's aim ; and His principal ethical leverage within the heart is the noble principle of gratitude for grace received."
(Reader's note: This is at first glance a reductive view of sanctification, where God's grace convicts us towards a greater godliness. This is certainly true, but is it the full picture?)
The power of sin is crucified, and its authority is gone, yet still is still there. But that was the objective, to disable sin so that we can have freedom.
(Verse 7)
p.26 Reaffirms the previous verse.
p.27 Context is critical here. By he who died, it means the believer who died in Christ through baptism. Liberation is subsumed in the idea of justification from sin. Same is expressed in Acts 13:39. (Reader's note: the idea is not so clearly expressed in Acts)
p.28 The terminology is legal. The Greek speaks clearly that the freedom is a freedom of justification, not the freedom of sanctification. Here, justification leading to sanctification.
(Verse 8)
p.28 Transition to another point of view.
p.29 Death in Christ happens at moment of conversion.
p.30 Is on Christ life after resurrection. The future tense indicates that this life continues forever and thus forces us to look onwards. Weak reference to Rom 8:24, 1 Pet 1:4.
p.31,32 Forgiveness of sins only one half of the blessing. The greatness of heaven is the other.
(Verse 9)
P.33 continues the previous point.
(Verse 10)
p. 34 Splits the idea in two. The death he died was towards sin. The life he lives is towards God.
p.36 The freedom obtained is obtained for perpetuity. This idea is echoed in Hebrew 9:12. The death was momentary, but the life is of continuity.
p. 37 Builds on previous ideas. Freedom from sin and judicial exactions on account of sin. Life is liven to God. This life is about the fruition of rewards of righteousness
p. 38 This life is described. Ps 16:11 talks about the fullness of joy. Phil 2:6,8 talks about his glorification following His humilitation.
(Verse 11)
p.39 There is a parallelism of thought introduced here. This is a parallel between the life of Christ and the one of those who are united in Him. Paul wants believers to realize the privileged nature of our position in Christ.
p.40 In which way we are dead to Sin in Christ Jesus? Not in respect of character or ethical demeanor, but in freedom from the wages of Sin. This state helps build the proper character, but is not the fruit. The essential part of the Gospel is Jesus' death for our sins and rose again.
p.41 In which way are we alive to God? Not an antithesis with the preceding, as both relationships are complementing each other. They are full of morally motivating potential that can be steered to a godlier life.
(note: this ties in to grace very very much)
By life, we can understand Christ's life before death, full of ethical glory, or His life after death, of great exhalation and honour. It is the latter that fits here.
p.43 God is life and has plenty of life to give. See John 26?. This is the everlasting life that Jesus talked about in John 3:16. This verse tells us to really look at this spiritual reality instead of just storing it behind the back of our minds, since it is full of power enabling godliness.
(verse 12)
p. 44 The 'then' bring things back to previous discussions, and is the introduction to sanctification. Sin is personified. It cannot reign in us without us choosing to give him the throne.
p.45 The power of Sin is limited to the mortal body. It is mortal. We are reminded that it will pass away and that there is thus no point in doing so. 2 Co 7:1 also talks about the body, but both body and spirit. 1 Co 6:20 also states that we are to glorify God in our spirit and body, both belonging to Him. The deepest transformations of ethical nature are those that happen in relation to our body, which is also synergic with Ro 12:1-2. We are to prevent sin to reign in the body, so that it may have no hold in the spirit.
*** p.47 The lusts referred to are lusts of the body, which can penetrate the mind. They are not sinful in essence, but are natural desires. "Sin begins when they are no longer controlled, restrained, denied." Those lusts turned sinful must be reined using reason and conscience.
(Verse 13)
Continues on the previous idea. It presents sin as reigning, and engaged in a war. Our body can serve as weapons for either God or sin.
*** p. 50 The Greek is elaborated for the second half. We must present ourselves at once to God. We have to show ourselves for services dressed in our true colours, as paretakers of the life in Christ.
p.51 We must realize that, as redeemed souls, we are alive in a sea of dead people.
"To His all-seeing eye, as well as to their own self-conscious faith, they were alive from among the vast masses of the dead. In their every-day experience they had earnests of the grandeur of their destiny. It well became them, therefore, to be lifted up into a lofty mood of gratitude, and thus to consecrate ungrudgingly their most devoted and loyal service to their infinite benefactor."
In other words, our gratitude for our new life brings us to consecrate ourselves to a full service to God.
p. 51-52 dismisses an alternative reading. This reading suggests that we are not really in a new life. The union would be there in terms of privilege and promise, but it would not be a litteral new life, but was in ideal new life. This is to be dimissed because many authorities are on the side of the traditional reading, and that the likelihood of transcription is not favorable to it. Further, it is more Paulinian.
p. 53 return to the spiritual warfare
(*** Soldier of God is an inherent element of our new selves in Christ Jesus)
(Verse 14)
p. 54 Sin must not be able to lord over you does not mean that you stop sinning altogether (although this is an ideal supported elsewhere)
p.55 It concludes the previous point. We are enticed in the service of God by two points a) immunity to the deadly consequence of sin, b) glorification to come (?)
The reason why sin cannot lord over us is that we are not under law, but under grace. Although all men are, to a degree, under both law and grace (see Tit 2:11, grace is brought to all men, but they have to take it).
p.56 Christians have some privilege under this law+grace pair. We are not under law as we do not die if we disobey, and we have forgiveness of our sins.
Our sanctification would be great if we understood this, understanding that sin is effectively disabled by this.
p. 57-58 Attacks the interpretation that this refers to a dispensation of law that is superseded by a dispensation of grace. This does not fit the context, as Paul is focusing on the immediately practical, and we see that sin lords over unbelievers in all ages.
(Verse 15)
p. 60 Should we go multiplying our sins? No, we are under the authority of grace. All things are ours: forgiveness, eternal life, all of this world we will inherit one day. Of course we shouldn't!
(Verse 16)
p. 62 This verse has no rhetorical finesse and no linguistic fanciness. But great ideas.
"Do you not know" addresses the audience directly. It is about to introduce an obvious and unchallengeable idea.
"The drift of what he emphasises is this, - When any ethical course of conduct is deliberately
chosen and pursued, then the naturally retributive consequences necessarily stereotype themselves in
the experience of the individual. If the course chosen be righteous, then the consequences within
the sphere of consciousness are pleasant and tend to bliss."
The analogy is used to bring the idea,and then used in the rest of the verse to drive the point home. All men are servants and under authority. The choice of man is which ethical precepts he will follow. They are masters in the sense that they give a clear consequence for following them (there is thus no contradiction with the earlier point that Sin has no power over us: here it is us who follow sin and get punished by it). So, we must present ourselves before a master in view of habitual obedience. The reciprocal is not guaranteed, and our treatment will depend on our master, not on our obedience to it.
p. 65 * obedience to goodnes and will of God -> righteousness. Sin = disobedience.
The verse has an antithesis: sin to death, obey to righteouness. The antithesis is indirect and double:
sin -> death, obey -> life eternal + sanctification
(Verse 17)
p. 67 Servants of Sin is a thing of the past. God emancipates us from this bondage and we are to be thankful for that.
p. 68 That is the reason to be glad: revolution in the mode of life and ethical aims.
The teaching received was the Gospel, and it was impressed on the recipient's mind. This impression expresses itself in the believers by conversion and holiness.
p. 70 This teaching was not full-fledged apostolic teaching. It is by giving ourselves most heartily to the Gospel (and you don't need to have a perfect understanding) we are no longer in service to sin. There is another view derived from metallurgy: Christians are poured in the mould at baptism. This would be unlikely, since the idea of freedom is embedded in ethical obedience, but is lost in a mould. This means that no disobedience is possible if we are cast in a metal mould.
*(Verse 18)
p.72 Happy result to obey the message: freedom from sin. The service to righteousness is an ethical necessity from this.
(Verse 19)
p.74 He concedes that this discourse is not of the highest order of thought. Humans are limited to human thoughts, hardly able to go beyond that sphere. But God is a revealer, and thus allows flashes to come accross. In paul's experience, he received these via the Holy Spirit (1 co 2:10,12 2 co 2:6). But many were not having a developped mind to understand (1 Co 3:1-2).
His images of sin as a master and a tyrant are quite improper without considering free choice and responsibility, but that is how he portrayed it to the Romans.
p. 76 The infirmity of the flesh is an infirmity emanating from the flesh. And the infirmity is not of any specific flesh.
p.77 what kind of service? The minimum measure of devotedness: present your members as servants to righteousness unto holiness. Parenthesis on the degress of wickeness that are all, in fact, impurity.
The Apostle has made here a strong contrast, before the dark past life that yield iniquity into the glorious light-filled life, with a focus on a grand ethical imperative.
(Verse 20)
p.81 The "for" it starts with is a link with the previous verse.
'It is as if he had said, "I do well to urge upon you the service of righteousness unto holiness, for assuredly the very fact that formerly ye did nothing of the kind is a reason why you should improve your present opportunity."'
It refers here to evil freedom.
An example is given: In society, we must give away some of our freedoms in order to fit into this society. We could enjoy a freedom by parting with society, or ignoring its rules, but that wouldn't be a blessed freedom.
p. 83 the summary of the argument: not all freedom is good. Only freedom consistent with the social, moral and spiritual principles is.
The verse says: when you were sinners, you were unengaged in reference to righteousness. This freedom for righteousness comes at a price though: slavery to sin.
p. 84 In our case, it is the other way around... we are servants of rightousness, and free from sin.
The word "free" here denotes disengagement, not freedom. This is jargon related to servants.
The Roman's problem was disengagement towards righteousness.
(Verse 21)
p. 85 The 'then' connects with the preceding text. The term fruit here represents what is positively delicious (so many bad results would still be unfruitful).
p. 86 There are two views to translate the text: Question + answer, or a long question. The author sides with the second, which could be read "What good fruits came out of what you are now ashamed of?" Implicitly, it almost says "you had no sweet fruit of happiness at all".
The end of those things is death, but death here means more than just the end of natural life.
p.87 this death is the destruction of well-being, the natural consequence of shameful and shameless doings.
(Verse 22)
Another contrast: when you believe in Christ, you are a new creature. You are no longer slave to Sin, but a willing servant of God. This service is free of constraint and compulsion. The outcome: fruit, in its richest form: fruit issuing into holiness.
(Verse 23)
p. 88 Starts with a "For", as this sentence confirms the preceding affirmation. The future is a pure consequence of the present. The imagery of the master is persisted here too, as masters give wages to their servants. In the case of sin, the wage is the destruction of the soul. However, God is contrasted as that it is not wages He offers, but the grace of everlasting life. This reward was procured by Jesus' death and resurrection. He is enjoying it right now, and we have the same reward the moment we are united in Christ.
'Let any man be so closely united to Christ, that "to him to live is Christ" day after day of his probationary existence, and then there is no evil influence in all the Universe that can separate him from the love of God.'
Appendix 1: The law is dead?
p. 91 Discussion on what "The Law" means...
a) Whole OT
b) Pentateuch
c) Pentateuch + Psalms + Prophets
d) All of duties of Jewish man, in a general sense
e) Authoritative revelation of the will of God
p. 92 Paul shifts the perspective frequently. We must keep this in mind, otherwise, we will have a problem understanding him.
Romans 6:14 and 7:1,6 refers to the moral law (often summarized in the 10 commandments or the two most important commandments told by Jesus). Romans 7:7, 8:8-9 refers to this.
p. 93 the law has dominion over man, as it has the power to give man what he deserves. The law is not dead, as some suggested. The same law is alluded to in 1 Co 15:56. No law, no sin.
What does Ro 6:6 mean then? The KJV did not translate the Greek well, and it looks like the law is dead. But it is believers in Jesus who are.
p. 94 believers now occupy the same situation as Jesus by being in Jesus.
p. 95 History of the error:
The manuscript was not authoritative. Beza misunderstood Erasmus who refered to Chrysostom. He also assumed that Chrysostom's was the universally accepted reading of his age. Many scholars protested, but some further falsely claimed that Origen supported this reading too. Some inferred that not the law, but sin was dead, since the death of the law is foreign to Paul's theology.
Appendix 2: Some other references dealing with Romans 6
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August 6, 2007
The Miniature Earth
This video makes the world's statistics on poverty very tangible. It is touching.
Posted by ma at 2:47 PM | TrackBack
July 13, 2007
How Great is Airport Security
Nice Picture!
A system with access to critical data that is unsecured. Yay!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9831094@N02/755509753/
Posted by ma at 4:31 PM | TrackBack
July 2, 2007
How Cheney Tries to Escape Accountability
Very interesting legal analysis in Findlaw.
Posted by ma at 8:14 PM | TrackBack
Italy Charges CIA Operatives for Extraordinary Rendition
Interesting articles in Wired and the Washington Post.
It looks like the CIA really needs to learn about the wonders of cryptography to secure its communications. On the plus side, we finally have evidence of CIA operations in foreign countries. I hope that law and due process will soon be interesting ideas in the USA.
Posted by ma at 7:46 PM | TrackBack
June 21, 2007
Now a Patent Examiner (of sorts)
I've just registered for the Peer to Patent initiative, allowing the public to examine patent claims. You know how much I don't like software patents, so it will be my pleasure to help investigating these claims while I still have access to the wealth of scientific databases that Concordia lets me reach.
Posted by ma at 3:41 PM | TrackBack
June 10, 2007
Complaints Choir
I just couldn't help but to enjoy this one...
A classically-written and performed song complaining about the most useless things...
Posted by ma at 6:12 PM | TrackBack
May 24, 2007
Special Comment on the Democrat Betrayal
I don't need to add a comment over this...
Posted by ma at 5:12 PM | TrackBack
April 25, 2007
Skulls and Bones: Bush and Kerry in an idolatrous secret society?
I found this piece interesting. I generally trust MSNBC, but I gather that this is based on not that much evidence, so I would keep reservations... anybody knows more about this?
Posted by ma at 10:46 AM | TrackBack
March 15, 2007
Extremely relevant, to-the-point, editorial by Tony Long at Wired
The World? Your Oyster? Why Not?
talk about knowing what's going on in the world, and why Americans, and the new hi-tech generation, is extremely ignorant about current affairs.
Although the article talks about Americans, its been my experience that quite a few Canadians fit the profile well, as well as many Chinese students I was interacting with. I feel its generally something that belongs to our generation... more like a matter of self-centeredness.
Posted by ma at 8:36 AM | TrackBack
January 25, 2007
Mark Osborne's More
I stumbled upon this... its a insightful take on consumerism.
I love it! The sound track is just what was needed to convey the boredom, shallowness, unhappyness of the character's life.
You can see The official website
And someone on has posted it on youtube too:
A must watch!
Posted by ma at 4:18 PM | TrackBack
January 22, 2007
That's why you need to keep your computer patched
Just watch the video and you'll understand why I'm studying in my field...
Posted by ma at 7:42 PM | TrackBack
January 6, 2007
Global Warming is Worst Than You Think
It looks like that our pollution had a cooldown effect that wasn't accounted for, so global warming is in fact worst than generally believed. This BBC documentary, added on top of an Inconvenient Truth packs a lot of punch. We need to fix our lifestyles NOW.
Posted by ma at 11:40 PM | TrackBack
January 3, 2007
Authoritarian Figures in Conservative Politics
I'm tempted to read that book, especially if it is as academically strong as they claim it is.
Posted by ma at 5:27 PM | TrackBack
December 23, 2006
Why the USA is no longer a democracy...
Keith Olbermann says it the best:
At least there's a Democrat Congress now... lets hope that this Bill gets revoked soon...
Posted by ma at 12:09 PM | TrackBack
December 15, 2006
Another cool Colbert Snippet
"American Orthodox"... another one about religion and politics.
Posted by ma at 11:15 PM | TrackBack
December 14, 2006
100% Re-use Product
I stumbled upon this today...
TerraCycle is some kind of plant food/fertilizer made out of organic waste. Their packaging is made out of reused pop bottles. That's the way to make a product!
Posted by ma at 8:36 AM | TrackBack
December 5, 2006
Brilliant Spiritual Illustration @ sinfest
Hi folks!
I couldn't resist blogging this. Ishida tends to mix Christianity with orientalism sometimes... but this illustration is right on the mark!
The road with good intentions
http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2282
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November 7, 2006
Good analysis by Olbermann
Remember, if you can still vote, vote Democrat!
Posted by ma at 6:26 PM | TrackBack
October 30, 2006
Strong Evidence on Bush Administration's Unpreparedness for 9/11
This is something well researched and very strongly presented by MSNBC... how the current US government has been lying and has simply not taken care of terrorism at all
Posted by ma at 10:20 PM | TrackBack
October 24, 2006
Nice Linux Wallpapers
Have a look at some beauties:
http://www.coresis.com/extra/penguin/
http://www.tigert.com/wallpapers/
Posted by ma at 3:55 PM | TrackBack
October 20, 2006
Spin, Media and Fading News...
I loved Colbert!
Very smart commentary on how the hot stories just fade away...
Posted by ma at 4:04 PM | TrackBack
October 11, 2006
Couldn't Help It...
This was too funny to pass! See what happens when you don't learn math right?
Posted by ma at 3:34 PM | TrackBack
September 6, 2006
Strong Commentary on The Dismissal of the African Situation
This is something I scanned from Le Soleil of August 5, p. 29.
This is a great commentary. I think it should be shared with the world.
Oh, and its also online too if you want to save yourself this not-that-great jpeg.
Posted by ma at 4:59 PM | TrackBack
August 25, 2006
Interesting Argument in Favour of Paulinian Autorship of Pastoral Epistles
You probably faced someone already who told you that some parts of the Bible were fake...
Some scholars will say that, but with fancier words... and one of their likely tarted will be 1 Timothy, 2nd Timothy and Titus (known as the Pastoral Epistles).
I read something interesting that I stumbled upon by chance today, a websie dedicated to their study. Its author has a blog and brings some interesting arguments against the claim of stylistic difference between the unanimously agreed Pauline corpus and the Pastorals. Warning: I didn't double-check his facts though.
So, there you go Rumors of Pseudonymity Greatly Exaggerated
Posted by ma at 9:49 PM | TrackBack
August 16, 2006
Contre les Chats
Funny advertising parody. As a sidenote, I looooooooooooooooove cats.
Posted by ma at 5:12 PM | TrackBack
August 13, 2006
Guide for Geek's Girlfriends
Some friends told me about this website Saturday... both in French and English. Mandatory reading for my future wife!
En français: copinedegeek
In English: geekgirlfriend
I do admit that some of it is using stereotypes... but only so much!
Posted by ma at 3:43 PM | TrackBack
August 10, 2006
Something to think, something to smile
Disclaimer: I don't hate people from India. I just liked how the video was portraying the living conditions (although in an exagerated way) of some of the poorest there.
Go see The Singhsons!
Also, this is interesting, although sad... both the newscast and the person interviewed went overboard. It starts with a weirdly framed question (asking to justify... that's not his role to do that), and a very condescending reply. Still, when you cut through the name-calling, this guy has interesting information on the conflict in Lebanon.
Posted by ma at 6:19 PM | TrackBack
May 18, 2006
Humorist Blenderizing the White House
That is a nice lunch break to have!
See on Google Video
Posted by ma at 3:39 PM | TrackBack
May 17, 2006
I need a cat like that!
A cat that does massage... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Posted by ma at 4:43 PM | TrackBack
May 15, 2006
Funny one..
Here's a link to the meeting of Bush with an impersonator before the press. Will bring you a smile for sure :)