At noon, Hang treated John Cai, Ying-nan, Mike Hong, my brother, and I out to lunch at Great Wall of China buffet. We had a good time eating and fellowshipping. In the evening, my family (minus my bro) went to Christmas service at church. After service I talked with ex-youth groupers who're back.

For a while now I've wanted a way to jump around randomly on this blog, but the closest thing that I've offered has been the random entry list on the left side, that generates a new list of random entries every time I post one. Though the generation is random, the list was anything but dynamic, since it would show the same list of entries for each day.

Today I sat down and wrote up a quick script that offers true random browsing. I've replaced of the random entries in the list with the new link, currently called "Randomized Link". If you click this, you will be taken to a random entry selected from anything I've posted since starting this blog.

The other links are still "static random" links. Enjoy.

Devotion time questions:

Jeremiah 22

What does God consider as doing what is "just and right"?

Helping people who do not have the power to help themselves, and being mindful not to treat people unfairly or do harm to others.

Why would it require the people to be “careful to carry out these commands”? How can I ensure that I do what is just and right in dealings with especially those who are weak?

Since we live in a fallen world, we all have the tendency to be unjust and unrighteous towards others. We must therefore be alert and mindful of how we act in order to ensure just and righteous behavior. I need to carefully consider and examine my actions to see if I am doing something for my benefit at the expense of someone else.

How does this passage show the tragedy of what happens when the people of God forsake “the covenant of the LORD their God"?

While they were faithful to the covenant, they were safe, powerful, and prosperous, but once they broke the covenant with God and rejected him, they were made into a wasteland, with everyone (including God) opposing them.

What was the sin of King Jehoiakim? What should he have done with the power that he had as a king?

He abused his power and used it for his own good rather than the good of his nation and fellow countrymen. He forced them to work for no wages in order to build himself a grand palace. The role he was given was to protect and serve his nation, and defend the cause of the poor and needy, but he was set on dishonest gain, oppression and extortion.

What he should have done was use his power to help those who had none.

Reflect on the statement “Is that not what it means to know me?” In what ways does my knowledge of God translate to my relationships with people, especially those who are needy?

Since we have been shown infinite mercy and love by God, we must turn around and show this same mercy and love towards those around us. By knowing God and understanding what he has done for us, it is natural for us to treat others the same way. We cannot be like the parable of the unmerciful servant, who was forgiven for much but could not forgive for little.

Thoughts omitted here.

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19

In what ways can modern-day people be guilty of “dishonest gain,” “shedding innocent blood,” and “extortion and oppression”?

Enron is a good example of people who abused their power to gain financially at the expense of others. The leaders of that company ruined countless lives in trying to protect their own interests. We can also be guilty of this in cheating other people in the small dealings of life, from selling something on the internet the cheating for a grade and ruining the curve for other students (geeky example).

What is God’s warning to those who feel secure? What are the things that make me feel secure? How can I cultivate a listening ear to God when I’m feeling secure?

It is easy for those who are comfortable, secure, and prosperous to not see a need for God. Health, wealth, and power are all things that can make a person feel secure and no need for God, yet these are all things that can disappear in an instant. God tells us to put our trust in him, for he is unchanging. If we put our trust in things that fail, our trust will surely be failed.

I need to prevent myself from putting my trust in things other than God even when I'm feeling secure in order to continue to rely on him and be attentive to him.

How does v.24 show that God doesn’t show special favors to those who are in leadership? In fact, what warning does this passage have for leaders?

God tells Jehoiachin that even if he were like a signet ring on his hand, as previous Kings like David and Solomon were, he would be pulled off and handed over to those who would take his life. He was being held accountable for the actions of the people under him, not just his own sinful treatment of his people. Leaders need to be extra mindful not only to keep themselves from sin, but to keep those in their power from sin.