Book Review - "Christianity the First Three Thousand Years" (Diarmaid MacCulloch)

TITLE: CHRISTIANITY - the First Three Thousand Years
AUTHOR: Diarmaid MacCulloch
PUBLISHER: NY: Viking, 2009, (1161pp).

If this book can be made into a film, it will be an epic. Comprehensive, scholarly, and thoroughly captivating, I cannot put this book down.

The Book
This is a book of history, in particular, the story of Christianity as told from the knowledge of an Oxford professor of the History of the Church. The author describes himself as a 'candid friend' of Christianity rather than a dogmatic believer of the Christian faith. At the same time, he does not actively assert the existence of God, positioning himself more like a seeker rather than a know-it-all.

His scholarly prowess is demonstrated in 7 parts, multiple illustrations and maps, an extensive chapter by chapter bibliography, over 1161 pages of content.  The title of each part of the book gives a useful summary to inform the reader where the author is going with his story-telling.

Left Behind by Technology

Microsoft has just released its latest reincarnation of its flagship browser: Internet Explorer 9 (IE9). With my trusty old desktop, I go to the download site. The website is spanky. It looks tempting. It even has a new name (beautyoftheweb). The site itself reminds you of the best of the web, with Youtube-like pictures, scrolling photo album, simple layout, and of course that tempting DOWNLOAD NOW button. Eagerly I click on the orange button. I got this:

Top 5 iPad2 Parodies (Ha Ha!)

The iPad 2 is going to be launched soon, March 11th, 2011 in the US, and March 25th, 2011 in Canada, UK and others. With all the hype going on, here is a list of 5 iPad parodies. My favourite is the first one. I like Apple, but sometimes, we need videos like these to remind us to distinguish between reality and hype.

#1 - My Favourite [This is tops!]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeAOh4Ah-t8



#2 - Parody: "Truth about the iPad2" [funny]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5jMrLqdv4I



#3 - The eiAPP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=826jZDyeGZA

- I am curious how they 'cook' the egg on the iPad.


#4 - Bigger is Better?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p97NYPqGXtg


#5 - Parody
- One part contains bad language, which relegates this to last.



Enjoy.

conrade

Book: "Live Like You Mean It" (TJ Addington)

TITLE: Live Like You Mean It
AUTHOR: T J Addington
PUBLISHER: NavPress, 2010.

Three words describe my thoughts about this book: 'Practical, Personal, and Pastoral.' Addington, a survivor of a serious illness, writes this book in a very introspective manner. Having struggled through multiple medical treatments in hospital from Dec 2007 to January 2008, there is a sense of urgency in him, to share what is most important not just for him, but for people in general. (read more on his medical journey here) This is made real not via answers but questions. Through 10 penetrating life questions, Addington guides the reader to consider putting one's life into perspective, and to practically make it count. The purpose is to help the reader 'who desires to understand his or her life in a new way' (14).

The 10 questions are worded in very PRACTICAL ways. Each points to an objective. For example, the first questions focuses one on the pinpointing the purpose in life. The second makes one recognize how one is 'wired.' The third urges the reader to leave a legacy, and so on.

1. Why am I here?
2. What is my sweet spot?
3. What will I leave behind?
4. What really matters?
5. What is my plan?
6. How do I best recharge?
7. How can my life have a ripple effect?
8. How do I relate to God?
9. Will I say yes to God?
10. What shall I do next?

Somewhere through the middle of the book, Addington becomes more PERSONAL, with deeper sharing about his illness and his hospitalization period of ups and downs. He talks about recognizing our most valuable resources (66-7). He probes the need for relationships (82). He makes a strong case for relationship with God, to be 'recharged' (chapter 6). He encourages us to grow in community by becoming a 'ripple for Christ' (chapter 7). He even shares about his personal letdown after a frustrating 3-year role as a pastor in a church. Despite his apparent short-lived stint as a minister, he remains very much pastoral at heart. 

Addington brings this PASTORAL heart into the book as well. This is most evident in the way he approaches the tough matters of life. Addington relates the tragic story of Zach, and how the parents Shawn and Sally responded. Writes the author:

"The question is not whether we will suffer but how we will respond to it when it happens. A proper view of suffering requires a proper view of God and His work in our lives." (145)

Chapter 9 may very well be worth the price of this book. Addington challenges the reader not with scholastic references, or statistical numbers. This book deserves to be on the bookshelf of 'life guides.' The practical tips in the book gives the reader a ready-made reference to guide the reader to plan his own life more intentionally. The personal sharing gives the book a strong flavour of authenticity. The pastoral stance provides a comforting touch to the needs of a world of ups and downs. Praise God for people like T J Addington. I look forward to his next book.

4 stars of 5 

conrade

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I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Learn to Laugh: at Rejection Letter

This is a hilarious video of a little baby. The father has just received a job rejection letter. Look what happens when dad rips the letter..... (link)

Sometimes, when we are down and discouraged, little children has that magical ability to lift us up. For more on the family, go to here.

c

Praying Clicklessly

TITLE: Praying Clicklessly
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 4 March 2011

MAIN POINT: We can click others to fame, but we cannot click ourselves to God.

The current singing sensation is a young Canadian-born girl, whose parents hail from the Philippines. Maria Aragon.Like Justin Bieber and Susan Boyles, thanks to Youtube, this 10-year old girl shoots to fame like Superman. A faster path to Hollywood; A more powerful reach than traditional means of fame; and able to leap tall expectations in a single video clip. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, clicks for fame!

In the age of the Internet, clicks are the currency of fame. Call it blog hits. Call it web shares. The numbers of clicks are the latest definitions of success and fame. Susan Boyles reached the million mark in less than a day after her performance on Britain’s Got Talent was posted. Justin Bieber’s bathroom singing was discovered and cleverly publicized by a shrewd talent scout. Now, Maria Aragon’s shot to fame was given a helping hand not only by Youtube, but Lady Gaga. The latter recently invited little Aragon to her concert! Talk about publicity. You can never get something more dramatic.

It’s the millions of clicks by ordinary people like you and me that transform ordinary people to become extraordinary stars. Faster than Superman feats. The route to fame is now laden with voluminous votes in an American Idol singing contest, or clicks on a Youtube video.

New Feeds to Old Needs

TITLE: New Feeds to Old Needs - beware of new feeds that do not satisfy
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 3 April 2011

“All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8-9)

In 7 days, there will be a familiar new face to an old electronic tablet idea that has developed a cult following. Apple’s iPAD 2 will be launched in the US on 11th March 2011. Filled with ‘new’ features like video cameras, improved graphics, an updated processor, newer software, and a seductive spectrum of eye-candy covers, the new tablet device is not just lighter and faster, it is also sexier. Like hockey players who sleep with the Stanley Cup after winning it, I suppose many who get the coveted IPAD 2 next week will rather surrender their pillows to snuggle up with their new digital darling. The new has come. The old will fade away. In this article, I shall argue that, what looks new is essentially nothing new.