BCBC Southern Group 巴城华人浸信会南区小组

Visit to Austin 2009 Christmas

2010-01-05T02:20:00.009-05:00

We stayed in Austin during the 2009 Christmas and 2010 New Year holidays. Background in the following two pictures is the state capitol of Texas. This building, similar structure to the Capitol in DC, is quite close to the UT campus. G.W. Bush used to work inside. It is open daily for visitors, with no guards at the door!

A great surprise to us, Uncle Chang's family came to Austin and visited us just two days before the New Year. Of course, we were extremely happy to see them. We had a great time together eating Korean food and chatting! Eric and Alex were also there. I noticed uncle Chang has 3 gadgets on his belt, I guess the 4th and 5th gadgets are coming, haha!

Today Donglei started her new job officially, please keep praying for her to overcome difficulties in the beginning time, and to take good care of Emma.

Emma in Pumpkin Patch 10/17

2009-10-19T02:42:00.003-05:00

商哲, 何婧婚礼照 2/28/2009 Joe's wedding photo

2009-08-27T16:59:00.003-05:00

Click to see whole album

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Abigail in Beijing

2009-08-27T03:36:00.003-05:00

看看我找到的球骑马的感觉很好

2009-08-26T14:15:00.008-05:00

我还在BM时狂爱扫地， Emily, Abigail 妹妹和 JoJo弟弟也会和我一样地热爱劳动。

妈妈带我去公园比比Q, 我总是要妈妈抱着。

Emily's recent photos

2009-08-08T11:50:00.004-05:00

Jason's wedding pictures

2009-07-25T20:09:00.002-05:00

Jason and Biqing finally 'tied-the-knot' on 13rd of July, at Sage Chapel, Cornell University. Congratulation, Jason!

Beautiful coast view of 17-Mile Drive

2009-06-05T19:19:00.007-05:00

We went to the famous 17-mile drive in Monterey, CA. It's indeed beautiful.

Abigail smiling

Emma in front of the Cypress trees

Pescadero Point

See the Mountain of Seals

Browsing Deers

Joe's wedding photo 商哲的婚礼照

2009-06-05T19:15:00.003-05:00

Joe Shang's wedding 商哲要结婚了！

2009-02-26T13:40:00.005-05:00

Our dear brother Joe Shang will end his bachelor's life on this Saturday (2/28), I am so glad for him! A gift from BCBC Southern Group has already been sent to him. Please send your greetings & congratulations to jzshang@gmail.com

Joe and fiancee Jing He.

First Sunday Service in the New Church

2009-02-24T19:03:00.018-05:00

Church Moving

2009-02-24T18:50:00.012-05:00

Thank God for leading us to a lovely church near Cockeysville where we have dreamed for long time. Thank for those sisters and brothers who helped the moving.

Farewell, Jennie and Aik-Choon

2009-02-24T18:41:00.003-05:00

Jennie, Aik-Choon and their lovely daughter have left for Denver this afternoon. We wish them best for their new life. May God bless the family. We certainly miss them!

Birth of John Mark Shang

2009-01-20T14:11:00.004-05:00

Celebrate the birth of John Shang who was born on 1/19/2009 and weighs 8 lb 6.2 oz. This is God's gift to the Shang's in the new year. He is so chubby, that Aik-Choon refers as "Wrinkle free state", :-). Let's wait for new pictures of him.

Emily Yu-Ann Tan (陳宇恩)

2009-01-03T13:39:00.006-05:00

Hello,

My name is Emily Yu-Ann Tan. I was born on the 29th December 2008. I wish you Happy New Year!

bye bye,

Emily

Farewell Zhu Qin and Donglei

2008-12-13T09:01:00.002-05:00

Frank Family Photo 11/14/2008

2008-11-24T15:42:00.001-05:00

Abigail is 100 days old !

2008-11-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

Uncle Chang in Beijing - part 3

2008-11-24T15:25:00.004-05:00

Uncle Chang in Beijing - part 2

2008-11-24T15:20:00.004-05:00

Uncle Chang in Beijing - part 1

2008-11-24T15:09:00.005-05:00

Uncle Chang went to Beijing in October 2008. These pictures were taken on 10/28 and 10/29.

Frank Zhu's Farewell to BCBC

2008-09-25T17:00:00.004-05:00

Frank attended the bible study on 9/20/08 at uncle Chang's home, the last one before he left to California. He cherishes the time he's spent with his brothers and sisters in the last 8 years. He will miss them a lot. God bless BCBC and the Southern Group!

Jinni, AC, Frank & Donglei

Feng, uncle Chang, Frank & Donglei

Donglei & Jasmine

Shih-Jung & Donglei

Southern group

Southern Group

Pastor Shang, Frank & Donglei

Mable's Letter and Picture

2008-09-10T10:09:00.002-05:00

Mable又给大家写信了，还附了照片，愿神祝福她的身份办理顺利。

Black Rock Retreat 2008

2008-08-18T16:12:00.005-05:00

We had a good time at the Black Rock Retreat. I hope more bothers and sisters will attend the retreat next year.

The Book of Matthew -- Joseph Wang (notes of Shih-jung Pan)

2008-06-27T15:50:00.004-05:00

Sister Shih-Jung took very detailed notes in the gospel class given by Joseph Wang, I am totally amazed by her devotion. She's very kind to share the notes with us, click the following link to download the file. Thanks to her, great job!

The Book of Matthew -- Joseph Wang (notes of Shih-jung Pan, 143kB)

Mable's wedding

2008-06-13T12:55:00.002-05:00

Our dear sister Mable sent us another letter, announcing her wedding in May. (a little late, isn't it?) I feel very happy for her. Congratulations! I thought over a better Chinese translation for her husband last name, "诺恩"， close to the pronunciation of "Nguyen", what do you guys think? I look forward to seeing her wedding photos.

Uncle Chang's Trip to Taipei

2008-05-19T16:54:00.009-05:00

Reunion of the BCBC Southern Group in Taipei

2008-05-19T16:50:00.001-05:00

New Photos of Joe in Beijing

2008-05-19T12:11:00.001-05:00

Here are 3 new pictures from our brother Joe Shang in Beijing, he asked me to bring greetings to everyone!

Mable's touching and humorous letter to our group

2008-04-27T22:45:00.004-05:00

(click to enlarge)

Emma in Longwood Garden 2008

2008-04-21T11:43:00.002-05:00

Farewell to Mable 咏梅

2008-04-18T22:37:00.005-05:00

Our dear sister Mable moved to Florida on 4/13/08 for a new job. She attended the last Friday Fellowship on 4/11/08 in our pastor's home. She also attended the last Sunday service, bringing to us delicous and gorgeous looking fruit plates. Then she made a succesful trip to Florida with someone, her car with two hundred thousand something miles!

We all miss her very much! I hope she can adjust to the new job quickly. May God bless her always. Please visit this blog often and keep in touch with us.

2008-04-12T12:45:00.000-05:00

2008-04-12T11:10:00.000-05:00

2008-04-12T11:02:00.001-05:00

Grandma passed away

2008-02-21T10:53:00.005-05:00

My Mom passed away peacefully at 9:15 pm last night (Feb. 20)at the Howard County General Hospital. She has been hospitalized at ICU for more than 5 weeks. With God's blessing she could not remember what has happened to her. Now she is with our heavenly Father and with Ray and enjoys the eternal life of joy and peace.

Photo of young Jason

2007-12-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Jason sent us these photos taken 13 years ago, one word -- handsome!

Seeing Joe in Beijing 在北京遇见商哲

2007-12-24T11:49:00.000-05:00

I went to Beijing earlier this month. What a pleasure seeing Joe in Beijing! We went to a nice restaurant on Dec.10th, and climbed the Great Wall on Dec.14th.

He is doing great in teaching Physics in a high school. He misses our fellowship and the friends in BCBC. He asked me to forward his warmest greeting to all of you.

Jinni and Aik-Choons' baptism

2007-12-12T18:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Jinni

2007-12-12T17:53:00.000-05:00

White Mountain Natl Park, NH

2007-10-18T17:13:00.000-05:00

Acadia National Park, Maine

2007-10-15T05:33:00.000-05:00

Apple Picking at the Maple Lawn Farm, 2007

2007-09-16T06:14:00.000-05:00

It was a great day, sunny and cool. We had a lot of fun. Many unfamiliar friends joined the field trip. Everybody has a great "harvest" of apples.

Farewell Blue Crab Party for Jason

2007-09-15T07:33:00.000-05:00

We are so happy to have Jason back to Baltimore this summer. We wish he will come back next summer and lead the Bible study again. May God bless him and guide him.

More pictures from Black Rock

2007-08-20T12:37:00.001-05:00

Black Rock Retreat

2007-08-19T19:19:00.000-05:00

Justin & Wynnie in Boston

2007-08-17T09:54:00.001-05:00

想念Justin和Wennie吗？以下的照片展露他们在Boston的幸福生活。看他们形影不离的样子，真是由衷感谢神对他俩的祝福。（照片由Justin提供）

Paul and Grace Lin's visit

2007-08-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

We thank bother Paul and sister Graces' testimonies at our fellowship. They are our role models.

Special Testimonies on 8/11

2007-08-09T22:09:00.000-05:00

Location: Uncle Chang's Home

講員簡介：「臺灣鄉村福音佈道團」宣教士，在台灣彰化縣芬園社口村教會事奉

歐以南姊妹，美國威廉天道大學青年事工學士，服事教會青少與姊妹四十年。
林博弟兄，1949年生，美國福特汽車總公司設計學院經理，2006年提早退休﹔「鄉福」壯年事工同工。

分享題目：有福氣的人

分享大綱：

簡介「臺灣鄉村福音佈道團」及雙語營事工
我們在臺灣鄉村的生活與宣教
Q&A

經節：

馬太福音 5:3~12
5:3 虛心的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。
5:4 哀慟的人有福了．因為他們必得安慰。
5:5 溫柔的人有福了．因為他們必承受地土。
5:6 饑渴慕義的人有福了．因為他們必得飽足。
5:7 憐恤人的人有福了．因為他們必蒙憐恤。
5:8 清心的人有福了．因為他們必得見神。
5:9 使人和睦的人有福了．因為他們必稱為神的兒子。
5:10 為義受逼迫的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。
5:11 人若因我辱罵你們、逼迫你們、捏造各樣壞話毀謗你們、你們就有福了。
5:12 應當歡喜快樂．因為你們在天上的賞賜是大的．在你們以前的先知、人也是這樣逼迫他們。
5:14~16你們是世上的光．城造在山上、是不能隱藏的。人點燈、不放在斗底下、是放在燈臺上、就照亮一家的人。你們的光也當這樣照在人前、叫他們看見你們的好行為、便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父。

Speakers' Bio:
Missionaries of Taiwan Village Gospel Mission serving at a village church in southern Taiwan

Aunty Grace, BS of Youth Ministry, William Tyndale College. Served 40 years as Sunday school Principle/teacher, youth director, youth ministry deacon, and second mom to many youth.
Uncle Paul, born 1949, manager of Ford Design Institute of Ford MotorCompany. Retired early in 2006 to serve with VGM.

Sharing Topic: Blessed life

Sharing Outline:

Introduction of Village Gospel Mission and Bilingual Camp Ministry
Our life and ministry in the village
Q&A

Bible verses:
Mathew 5: 3~12, 14~16

Lois and Franks' Wedding

2007-08-09T19:12:00.000-05:00

Congratulation! Lois and Frank.
May God bless you.

Riding on a camel

2007-08-08T11:27:00.001-05:00

Our dear brother Joe sent me this gorgeous photo of him riding on a camel. Picture was taken in Dunhuang (敦煌), a western city in China. He looks so cool! Look at his hat, boots and the backpack, is this "Joe Wayne"? He asked me to post this photo, and forward his greetings to everyone in our group, especially Jason. He will finish the summer vacation soon and go back to Beijing to teach. All my best wishes with him.

BCBC 讲道录音

2007-07-06T22:22:00.000-05:00

欢迎访问我们教会主日信息录音, http://smithzhu.googlepages.com/. 你可以在线聆听, 也可以下载MP3声音文件.

为了方便你记住网页地址, 在我们Blog右边的"相关连接"里, 增加了一项"主日信息录音".

目前有2007年四月份到现在的录音.

Barbeque party for Justin and Wynnie

2007-06-19T15:49:00.000-05:00

Our dear brother Justin and sister Wynnie will leave to Boston in the end of this month. We held an outdoor barbeque party, suggested by Justin, on June 16 in uncle Chang's home. No doubt, the food was great, and the Wii game was amazing! It was an unforgettable farewell party. Justin and Wynnie have been with us for many years. Last Friday, Wynnie led a very successful bible study of the Ephesians ch3. I feel happy that they are going to have a bright future in Boston. God bless you always! If you have more pictures, please upload them too!

2007 Picnic of BCBC

2007-05-27T22:42:00.000-05:00

This year's picnic was in the beautiful Gunpowder Falls State Park. Our cell group helped to prepare the delicious food. We all had a great time over there! (5/26/2007)

Joe In Beijing

2007-05-15T20:17:00.000-05:00

Dear Brothers and sisters, here are several pictures I should have posted earlier. These pictures taken in Beijing with my parents.I have been missing everyone of you, and our group life.

Pictures of 2007 Easter Choir

2007-04-19T13:55:00.000-05:00

人生的意义与价值

2007-04-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

讲员：唐佑之牧师
日期：2007年4月20-22日
地点：蒙郡华人浸信会

出发时间：4月21（周六）下午4点，在张永年家集合。

Garden of dandelion

2007-03-18T22:07:00.000-05:00

Uncle Chang used to say that the Southern group at his place was just like the garden of dandelion. As the season of approaches (e.g., graduation, landing a new job), we, as the seeds, were always distributed by winds to different places. Separation has been tough for most of us, but I really want you (YN and Feng) know: it is your love and care, so I have the courage to step out; and it's your support and hospitality, so I learn to give before I ask and take.

I am blessed to have the chance to meet such a great couple in Christ while staying in Baltimore, which made my memory of studying abroad exceptionally colorful and meaningful..

Love,
Happy Fish...

Life Applicable Seminar 3/24

2007-03-16T13:09:00.000-05:00

更美的生活

主讲：郑慧儿 牧師
10 AM – 3 PM
March 24th, 2007 (Saturday)

Baltimore Chinese Baptist Church
4014 W. Overlea Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21206

人生好像一場競賽，保羅常以運動場上的比賽(game)來比喻基督徒生命的成長。在這個運動場上，基督徒所較力的是心意與生命的轉變。轉變的過程中，需要許多的努力，鍛鍊，與付上代價。你的日子如何？你力量就如何？你的人生是充滿朝氣，盼望，還是暮氣沈沈？藉著這一天的特會，相信你的生活更成功美滿。講員信息包含：克服憤怒與苦毒，走出憂鬱的低谷，完全的饒恕，你可以從新開始。

下载PDF(806KB)

Thinking something different

2007-03-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

March 8, 2007

Thinking something different
by John Fischer

“Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.”
— Roger von Oech

I love this quote. I found it in the sign-off of an e-mail from a friend and it has provided a good deal of reflection, some of which I offer to you today.

First is the use of the word “discovery.” You could replace that word with “worship” and the quote would still work. “Worship consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.” I have found a good deal of worship is discovery. As we find out more about who we are and why we are here, we discover that God is more involved than we thought. When you find out the truth about God, it's like discovering what was always there; we just missed it somehow.

C.S. Lewis coined the phrase “of course” to describe the discovery of God's presence in the world and in our lives. Worship is the uncovering of God at work in the world. It's all about discovery. For instance, when you find out you were made for God, it's not like some radical thought that never crossed your mind. It's almost as if you knew it, but you forgot. The phrase “of course” seems to capture this discovery aspect perfectly. A purpose driven life rings true because it confirms something we all knew deep inside; it's just that no one put words to it for our generation until now.

Secondly, I like thinking something different. A follower of Christ looks at things differently. Learning to “see” is a lot of what it means to be a Christian. Christ gives us new eyes, and nothing looks the same to us anymore.

A follower of Christ looks at:
death and thinks life,
losing and thinks winning,
tragedy and thinks opportunity,
brokenness and thinks humility,
accidents and thinks purpose,
coincidence and thinks destiny,
despair and thinks hope,
poverty and thinks wealth,
wealth and thinks poverty,
failure and thinks success,
the seen and thinks about the unseen,
history and thinks God's story,
science and thinks God's laws,
psychology and thinks Christ's wisdom,
anthropology and thinks God's image,
astronomy and thinks God's heavens,
the human body and thinks God's dwelling place,
war and thinks man's rebellion,
the cross and thinks everything made new,
truth and thinks Jesus.

The list is certainly not exhaustive. You can add to it I'm sure. In fact, that would be a good idea – to add to this list your own observations. You might surprise yourself at what you come up with. A lot of what we know, we don't know until we think about it. You might just discover you think something different!

30 Days as a Muslim

2007-02-28T17:51:00.000-05:00

"30 Days as a Muslim" made by Morgan Spurlock, the director of "supersize me".
http://blog.pixnet.net/asyurawar/post/2958914#comment-4441439

Jason's family picture

2007-02-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Southern group family,

I am posting a family picture taken at Chinese new year eve. We were eating out with very nice meals. James, of course, is in the picture and I believe you can guess who are my mom, dad, and sister.

I will post a new picture when any new member join our family:)

Jason

Unforgettable Moments in 2006

2007-02-20T11:55:00.000-05:00

Hi, I've uploaded a lot of old pictures in Flickr.com, click the following links to see, enjoy!

Emily's Last Sunday Service in BCBC

2007-02-20T11:34:00.000-05:00

1/14/2007 Emily attended the last Sunday service in BCBC. Happy New Year, Emily!

For all pictures, click EMILY.

Jason's last Sunday service in BCBC

2007-02-19T18:52:00.000-05:00

2/11/2007 was the last Sunday service Jason attended in BCBC.
For all photos, click JASON LAST SUNDAY
.

Hot Pot Farewell Party for Jason

2007-02-19T18:36:00.000-05:00

We held a farewell party, featuring hot-pot, for our dear brother Jason Chen on 2/9/2007. For more pictures and discussions, here is the link HOT POT PARTY.

God bless you, Jason!

God Thinks You're Wonderful

2007-02-13T11:41:00.000-05:00

...It may be difficult for you to believe that God knows your name... but He does. Written on His hand. Spoken by His mouth. Whispered by His lips. Your name.

"I have written your name on My hand." Isaiah 49:16

You have captured the heart of God. He cannot bear to live without you. God's dream is to make you right with Him. And the path to the cross tells us exactly how far God will go to call us back.

"It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending His son to be the way to take away our sins." - 1 John 4:10

If you want to touch God's heart, use the name He loves to hear. Call him "Father." He thinks you're wonderful!

Old pictures with Joe

2007-02-01T22:46:00.000-05:00

Pictures taken by Donglei during the July 2006 Retreat in Skycroft Mountain

Farewell Joe

2007-01-30T20:06:00.000-05:00

It is so sad to say goodbye to Joe at the BWI airport. Joe is such an innocent and kind guy and I appreciate very much his love to Ray while Ray was fighting against cancer. I wish God give him wisdom so that he will be kind as a dove and smart as a snake while he is in a society much different from here. May God bless Joe.

Two Shangs!

2007-01-29T23:36:00.000-05:00

Bye bye, Joe!

2007-01-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

We will miss you. Our best wishes will be with you all the time. May God bless you and guide you all you life.

2007 Chinese New Year

2007-01-29T13:12:00.000-05:00

Direction to China Town in Philadelphia

2007-01-28T14:23:00.000-05:00

Dear All,

Here are the detail directions to Philadelphia on 2/3. We will leave at 11 am and go to China Town first and then go to the Seminar place. See more info, please read this previous post.

Step 1: BCBC to China Town, 95 miles - 2 hr (Google directions)
117 N. 10th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

Head east on W Overlea Ave toward Ashley Ave 0.2 mi
Turn left at Belair Rd/US-1 1.0 mi 3 mins
Merge onto I-695 E via the Beltway/I-695 E ramp to Essex 1.5 mi
Merge onto I-95 N via exit 33B to New York 57.6 mi 57 mins
Continue on I-495 N 11.3 mi
Merge onto I-95 N 21.7 mi
Take the Callowhill St exit 22 to Independence Hall, keep following signs 0.6 mi
Slight right at N 3rd St 233 ft
Slight left at Callowhill St 0.4 mi
Slight left at N 9th St 0.2 mi
Turn left at N 10th St 0.2 mi

Step 2: China Town to Sharon Baptist Church, 6.3miles - 15 min (Google Direction)
3955 Conshohocken Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131

Head south on N 10th St toward Arch St 144 ft
Turn right at Arch St 0.5 mi
Turn right at N 16th St 0.3 mi
Merge onto US-30 W via the I-76/I-676 W/US-30 W ramp to International Airport/Valley Forge 2.0 mi
Continue on I-76 W 1.2 mi
Take the Montgomery Dr exit 341 to W River Dr 0.3 mi
Turn left at Montgomery Dr 0.5 mi
Turn right at Belmont Ave 0.7 mi
Turn right at Monument Rd 0.4 mi
Turn right at Conshohocken Ave

Step 3: Return to BCBC, 100 miles - 2hr (Google Direction)

Head west on Conshohocken Ave toward Cranston Rd 0.3 mi
Turn left at Monument Rd 0.4 mi
Turn left at Belmont Ave 0.7 mi
Turn left at Montgomery Dr 0.4 mi
Slight right to merge onto I-76 E 2.4 mi
Slight left at I-676 E/US-30 E/Vine St Expy toward Central Philadelphia 1.6 mi
Take the exit onto I-95 S toward Trenton/Chester 22.4 mi
Merge onto I-495 S via exit 11 to Port of Wilmington/Baltimore 11.6 mi
Merge onto I-95 S 57.1 mi
Take the exit onto I-695 W toward Towson 1.8 mi
Merge onto Belair Rd/US-1 via the US-1 S exit 32A to Overlea 1.4 mi
Turn right at Chesley Ave 0.3 mi
Turn left at Cedonia Ave 348 ft
Turn left at W Overlea Ave 92 ft

Francis Collins: The Scientist as Believer (from NGM)

2007-01-27T12:23:00.000-05:00

I read this article on this month's issue of National Geograohic Magzine and found many answers, at least clues, to the questions I've been asking in these years. So I copied this article to our blog. To see original article, click here.

The often strained relationship between science and religion has become particularly combative lately. In one corner we have scientists such as Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker who view religion as a relic of our superstitious, prescientific past that humanity should abandon. In the other corner are religious believers who charge that science is morally nihilistic and inadequate for understanding the wonders of existence. Into this breach steps Francis Collins, who offers himself as proof that science and religion can be reconciled. As leader of the Human Genome Project, Collins is among the world's most important scientists, the head of a multibillion-dollar research program aimed at understanding human nature and healing our innate disorders. And yet in his best-selling book, The Language of God, he recounts how he accepted Christ as his savior in 1978 and has been a devout Christian ever since. "The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome," he writes. "He can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory." Recently Collins discussed his faith with science writer John Horgan, who has explored the boundaries between science and spirituality in his own books The End of Science and Rational Mysticism. Horgan, who has described himself as "an agnostic increasingly disturbed by religion's influence on human affairs," directs the Center for Science Writings at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Interview by John Horgan

Horgan: As a scientist who looks for natural explanations of things and demands evidence, how can you also believe in miracles, like the resurrection?

Collins: I don't have a problem with the concept that miracles might occasionally occur at moments of great significance, where there is a message being transmitted to us by God Almighty. But as a scientist I set my standards for miracles very high.

Horgan: The problem I have with miracles is not just that they violate what science tells us about how the world works. They also make God seem too capricious. For example, many people believe that if they pray hard enough God will intercede to heal them or a loved one. But does that mean that all those who don't get better aren't worthy?

Collins: In my own experience as a physician, I have not seen a miraculous healing, and I don't expect to see one. Also, prayer for me is not a way to manipulate God into doing what we want him to do. Prayer for me is much more a sense of trying to get into fellowship with God. I'm trying to figure out what I should be doing rather than telling Almighty God what he should be doing. Look at the Lord's Prayer. It says, "Thy will be done." It wasn't, "Our Father who art in Heaven, please get me a parking space."

Horgan: I must admit that I've become more concerned lately about the harmful effects of religion because of religious terrorism like 9/11 and the growing power of the religious right in the United States.

Collins: What faith has not been used by demagogues as a club over somebody's head? Whether it was the Inquisition or the Crusades on the one hand or the World Trade Center on the other? But we shouldn't judge the pure truths of faith by the way they are applied any more than we should judge the pure truth of love by an abusive marriage. We as children of God have been given by God this knowledge of right and wrong, this Moral Law, which I see as a particularly compelling signpost to his existence. But we also have this thing called free will, which we exercise all the time to break that law. We shouldn't blame faith for the ways people distort it and misuse it.

Horgan: Many people have a hard time believing in God because of the problem of evil. If God loves us, why is life filled with so much suffering?

Collins: That is the most fundamental question that all seekers have to wrestle with. First of all, if our ultimate goal is to grow, learn, and discover things about ourselves and things about God, then unfortunately a life of ease is probably not the way to get there. I know I have learned very little about myself or God when everything is going well. Also, a lot of the pain and suffering in the world we cannot lay at God's feet. God gave us free will, and we may choose to exercise it in ways that end up hurting other people.

Horgan: Physicist Steven Weinberg, who is an atheist, asks why six million Jews, including his relatives, had to die in the Holocaust so that the Nazis could exercise their free will.

Collins: If God had to intervene miraculously every time one of us chose to do something evil, it would be a very strange, chaotic, unpredictable world. Free will leads to people doing terrible things to each other. Innocent people die as a result. You can't blame anyone except the evildoers for that. So that's not God's fault. The harder question is when suffering seems to have come about through no human ill action. A child with cancer, a natural disaster, a tornado or tsunami. Why would God not prevent those things from happening?

Horgan: Some philosophers, such as Charles Hartshorne, have suggested that maybe God isn't fully in control of his creation. The poet Annie Dillard expresses this idea in her phrase "God the semi-competent."

Collins: That's delightful—and probably blasphemous! An alternative is the notion of God being outside of nature and time and having a perspective of our blink-of-an-eye existence that goes both far back and far forward. In some admittedly metaphysical way, that allows me to say that the meaning of suffering may not always be apparent to me. There can be reasons for terrible things happening that I cannot know.

Horgan: I'm an agnostic, and I was bothered when in your book you called agnosticism a "cop-out." Agnosticism doesn't mean you're lazy or don't care. It means you aren't satisfied with any answers for what after all are ultimate mysteries.

Collins: That was a put-down that should not apply to earnest agnostics who have considered the evidence and still don't find an answer. I was reacting to the agnosticism I see in the scientific community, which has not been arrived at by a careful examination of the evidence. I went through a phase when I was a casual agnostic, and I am perhaps too quick to assume that others have no more depth than I did.

Horgan: Free will is a very important concept to me, as it is to you. It's the basis for our morality and search for meaning. Don't you worry that science in general and genetics in particular—and your work as head of the Genome Project—are undermining belief in free will?

Collins: You're talking about genetic determinism, which implies that we are helpless marionettes being controlled by strings made of double helices. That is so far away from what we know scientifically! Heredity does have an influence not only over medical risks but also over certain behaviors and personality traits. But look at identical twins, who have exactly the same DNA but often don't behave alike or think alike. They show the importance of learning and experience—and free will. I think we all, whether we are religious or not, recognize that free will is a reality. There are some fringe elements that say, "No, it's all an illusion, we're just pawns in some computer model." But I don't think that carries you very far.

Horgan: What do you think of Darwinian explanations of altruism, or what you call agape, totally selfless love and compassion for someone not directly related to you?

Collins: It's been a little of a just-so story so far. Many would argue that altruism has been supported by evolution because it helps the group survive. But some people sacrificially give of themselves to those who are outside their group and with whom they have absolutely nothing in common. Such as Mother Teresa, Oskar Schindler, many others. That is the nobility of humankind in its purist form. That doesn't seem like it can be explained by a Darwinian model, but I'm not hanging my faith on this.

Horgan: What do you think about the field of neurotheology, which attempts to identify the neural basis of religious experiences?

Collins: I think it's fascinating but not particularly surprising. We humans are flesh and blood. So it wouldn't trouble me—if I were to have some mystical experience myself—to discover that my temporal lobe was lit up. That doesn't mean that this doesn't have genuine spiritual significance. Those who come at this issue with the presumption that there is nothing outside the natural world will look at this data and say, "Ya see?" Whereas those who come with the presumption that we are spiritual creatures will go, "Cool! There is a natural correlate to this mystical experience! How about that!"

Horgan: Some scientists have predicted that genetic engineering may give us superhuman intelligence and greatly extended life spans, perhaps even immortality. These are possible long-term consequences of the Human Genome Project and other lines of research. If these things happen, what do you think would be the consequences for religious traditions?

Collins: That outcome would trouble me. But we're so far away from that reality that it's hard to spend a lot of time worrying about it, when you consider all the truly benevolent things we could do in the near term.

Horgan: I'm really asking, does religion require suffering? Could we reduce suffering to the point where we just won't need religion?

Collins: In spite of the fact that we have achieved all these wonderful medical advances and made it possible to live longer and eradicate diseases, we will probably still figure out ways to argue with each other and sometimes to kill each other, out of our self-righteousness and our determination that we have to be on top. So the death rate will continue to be one per person, whatever the means. We may understand a lot about biology, we may understand a lot about how to prevent illness, and we may understand the life span. But I don't think we'll ever figure out how to stop humans from doing bad things to each other. That will always be our greatest and most distressing experience here on this planet, and that will make us long the most for something more.

AC and Jinni Running with Legs Tied Together

2007-01-27T12:14:00.000-05:00

Picture taken on July 8th, 2006.

2007-01-27T09:07:00.000-05:00

This is Hsin-Yi. This picture was taken in Hong Kong. Which of the three is the most lovely?

Happy Birthday to Chang Feng 生日快乐!

2007-01-27T00:07:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHANG FENG!
Video clip showing Chan Feng cutting the delicious cake at her birthday, Jan. 26, 2007.

Farewell Joe

2007-01-26T23:33:00.000-05:00

We are a Family 我们都是一家人

2007-01-26T11:27:00.000-05:00

Party at Uncle Tsai's House

2007-01-23T19:47:00.000-05:00

Seminar in Philly 唐崇荣费城布道大会

2007-01-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

讲题：基督是谁 Who is Jesus
时间：Feb. 2nd, 7:30pm/Feb.3rd, 6pm/Feb.4th, 7pm
地点：Sharon Baptist Church (web)
3955 Conshohocken Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 (map)
我们出发时间：Feb. 3rd, 星期六，下午3pm，在BCBC集合。
路程：98.3英里，约需1小时50分钟到达。

Happy Birthday to Pan (2006)

2007-01-19T23:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Feng, Qiong-Qiong, and Xing-Xing

2007-01-19T23:29:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Feng

Happy Birthday to Feng, Qiong-Qiong, and Xing-Xing

2007-01-19T23:23:00.000-05:00

Thanks

2007-01-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

Thanks for Frank's effort to make this blog possible. Can anyone invite Rev. Cheng (Lois' Father) also into this group?

Justin playing as a news reporter

2007-01-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

More pictures on 1/14/07

2007-01-15T21:39:00.000-05:00

Here are some more pictures taken at the Farewell party on 1/14/07. It's a unforgettable party. We will miss you very much, Joe, Jason and Emily. Though we wish that you can stay in Baltimore, God has his own plans on you. Please remember to contact us, sharing with us your stories, photos etc.

May our God lead your way in your future life!

Farewell party for Emily, Joe, and Jason (01-14-07)

2007-01-15T20:27:00.000-05:00

Nice job, Frank and Uncle Chang.

2007-01-15T14:32:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Frand and Uncle Chang. This blog is excellent. With you guys time and effort, we can enjoy those pictures and memories behind them.

Farewell Emily

2007-01-14T23:23:00.000-05:00

We will miss your sweet smile.

God's light

2007-01-14T23:18:00.000-05:00

This beutiful picture was shot by Huang Rong-Chan.

Farewell party for James (9-17-2006)

2007-01-14T00:18:00.000-05:00

Shan Xiu's baptism (4-16-2006)

2007-01-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

Chun-Chun and Zhang Chen's baptism

2007-01-13T23:08:00.000-05:00

Wen-Chun's Baptism, 11-20-05

2007-01-13T22:18:00.000-05:00

别忘了，周日下午6点

2007-01-13T21:25:00.000-05:00

Please remember the Farewell Party for Joe, Emily and Jason is at 6pm on this Sunday, at uncle Chang's home.

Birthday

2007-01-13T00:56:00.000-05:00

Best wishes to Joe.

Happy birthday to Joe!

We are a happy family.

Happy birthday to Jinni, Wynnie, and Frank!

Birthday Cake

2007-01-13T00:37:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Jinni, Wynnie, anf Frank!

Christmas play practice

2007-01-13T00:32:00.000-05:00

Santa Joe said: I am going back to China to see my "good friends".

Men! it hard to remember what to say.

Emily and Jason

2007-01-13T00:10:00.000-05:00

We went to Ray's grave after his formal memorial was installed.