RIchard's Adventures Upgrading His PS3

Tomorrow (April 1st 2010), Sony will remove the option to install another operating system on the PS3 via an update patch. This will be interesting from a legal perspective, as people (including myself) purchased the PS3 with the full intention of utilizing this functionality. Can a company remove the function of a product once purchased by a customer? But, it is not so clear... since a customer can always opt to not update his or her PS3...but that would remove the access to online play, community, and store.

In any case, the next couple months will be interesting for Sony. And that will be discussed on another day...as this is just the background for Richard's super awesome adventure upgrading His PS3!!!1!!!one!!!!

Tuesday Afternoon
- Realize implication of this whole Sony debacle. Spend time researching what to do and how to install the other operating system (Ubuntu Linux!)
- Rush to Canada Computer's... purchase 500 GB Hard Drive... and an external case.
- On the drive home, realize that I might have bought the wrong hard drive size.
- Silently curse myself.
- Get home, realize I'm okay.

Tuesday Night
- Attempt to start back up process of all games, saves, etc. on PS3.
- Realize external hard drive has to be a certain format to be recognized.
- Run around house looking a hard drive I can use. Re-format the drive.
- Start back up process.
- Wait, impatiently.
- Success!
- Dinner!
- Swap out old PS3 hard drive and put in new hard drive!
- Format hard drive.
- Start restore process.
- [Unrelated side adventure]
- Set up hard drive for new OS installation. Realize you can only dedicated 10 GB to the new OS.
- Silently curse Sony.
- Start other OS Installation process. OS Installation completes, but doesn't work. Furthermore, can't switch back to PS3 mode. I have bricked my PS3.
- Silently curse Sony. Cry.
- Meanwhile, attempt to put old PS3 hard drive into external case. Realize that Sony uses a proprietary format for their hard drives which doesn't let Windows PCs see it.
- Silently curse Sony.
- Fail!
- Give up and go to bed.

Wednesday Morning
- Feel sick, don't go to work.
- Sleep in.
- Reformat old PS3 hard-drive using SystemRescueCD. Success!
- Read a little Romans.

Wednesday Afternoon
- Feel slightly better, make soup... eat soup.
- While eating soup, read Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.
- Success! (of the eating soup and reading!)
- Currently waiting for installation of other OS to complete.

Some other things that should be mentioned...

Did this PS3 upgrade fiasco cause Richard's sickness? No, Richard was sick prior to the engagement of upgrade. On side adventure, NPC #1 mentioned that Richard was sneezing a lot and sounded sick.

What is side adventure? It is what it is. A non-relevant side story to adventure.

Roar! Indeed.

A Biblical Response to Downloading

DISCLAIMER: You probably don't want to read this if you download stuff. This is just my opinion, although I think this is the best way to honour God.

I'm sure you are all aware of the technology revolution that has occurred. People today are very proficient in technology. The Internet is a staple, some even seeing it as a fundamental right. Young people spend more time in front of computers, than the television. They have to be connected all the time.

Technological/Societal issues can be a wide field, so I want to focus on a small section: Downloading. As Christians, I think we have dropped the ball in our approach to this topic.

First of all, is downloading wrong?

It depends on context. Downloading content that is not copyright is perfectly fine. This is rarely the case. Everyone downloads the blockbuster movie, chart-topping song, or hit game which are subject to copyright.

In Canada, downloading is considered legal. Uploading (providing the content) is not. So in one sense, is it okay? No, our standard is not merely restricted to worldly laws, but the law of God.

When we download something that the author has not made available, we are stealing from him.

But, Richard! If it's freely available online... should not the author do something to protect his interests and prevent people from taking his goods? Surely, he must have a responsibility! ...so I am justified in my taking of his content.

Well, no. Would we say the thief who steals a car is justified if the victim left the car door unlocked?

What about streaming videos? That isn't stealing. The content is not stored on your computer.

This one I would suggest is based on context. Is the provider authorized to broadcast the content? If yes, then by all means...stream away. If no, you are enabling evil. The provider has stolen the content and is broadcasting for your benefit.

What about ripping videos from youtube? Without getting into too much detail on the method, it is possible to take legally posted songs or shows and store them from streaming websites. Now is it legal? I would be really surprised if they have defined case law to this extent. So I doubt it is illegal...yet.

But, what of the Christian? If an artist wished to make their content downloadable, I think it is very easy for them to choose a medium that will allow his fans to download his work. So although, there is no specific law in place, and considering that you need special tools to rip youtube videos, Christians should not engage in this activity. I would consider it stealing, others might try to claim it is not. But, in any case it is poor witness.

What about copying a purchased song/movie?

Again, this would fall under distribution rights, which you don't have. It is stealing.

What about a Christian artist? As Christians, we are to do all things for the glory of God. The Christian artist shouldn't be charging the people of God! By downloading the Christian artist's song and distribute it, I spread God's message.

Now this is a tempting message, as it sounds like a good idea. However, I think this fails threefold.
1) The worker is worthy of his wages (Lk 10:7). If you are like Paul, and would forfeit your wages so as to further the gospel... all the more power to you. (2 Cor 11:7-9)
2) If you feel that Paul is a model that we should be imitating in this regard and it is sinful to do otherwise... I'll ask you two questions...
A) When a brother errs and sins... do you not approach your brother and correct him? You can't force him, if he doesn't listen...you expel him from the church. (after following Matt 18). The proper route would be to tell this brother to repent, and that he should be providing his work free of charge. It would not be to acquire it illegally and distribute it illegally, because "he's wrong".
B) The work you do... are you paid for it? If we applied the same standards to your work, would that be fair?
3) Why not just share the gospel? Or buy the song and give it to the person? Support both the artist and spread the Word. Isn't sitting down with your non-Christian friend and reading the Bible together a better form of evangelism?

So why do we download?

Downloading touches on something that is very prevalent in today's culture: A sense of entitlement. I want what I want for free, and when I want it...for free. As Christians we are to be holy and blameless, that our opponents would be ashamed that they can level no argument against us. Would it kill you to not download the newest hit by Taylor Swift? Would you not be a greater witness to Christ, if you possessed integrity in this issue? Stealing is stealing; regardless, of it being physical or electronic.

If you are reading this post, you can probably afford to pay $1 for an mp3. The issue is you don't want to. The concept of sacrifice (and this is a considerably small sacrifice) is lost on you. Our steadfastness for the LORD crumbles at the altar of Mammon. This is what it is..is it not? We worship money more than Christ. Rather than be obedient to His Law (Jn 14:15), we compromise. We steal, then we rationalize.

My Prayer
LORD, may we use our lives to give You glory. It is all about you, LORD. I pray that the life I live, I would live in integrity that my life would be a pleasing aroma to You. God, awaken us to the stench of sin, may we look to rid ourselves of it as we cling to the cross.

Bow to Jesus

Everyone will bend their knee to Jesus....
Some will bow in celebration...
Some will bow in damnation...
Some will bow as a friend to Jesus...
Some will bow as a foe to Jesus.
-Mark Driscoll

I am not ashamed.

Reading the whole Bible on video!

http://iamnotashamed.org/

"Depart from Me..."

²¹"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

²²"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

²³"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Matt 7:21-23

One of the most scariest set of verses in the Bible.

The Faithful Craftsmen

Have you ever built something with your two hands? It is one of the most satisfying activities a man can take part in. The planning, design, the crafting, and building all lead to a sense of accomplishment as you gaze upon your completed product.

I built a metal DDR pad five years ago. At the time, I was pretty enamoured by the game. I remember I spent a considerable amount of my time regardless of what I was doing rotating the objective in my head. I was constantly thinking about how to build a good DDR pad. Countless scenarios ran through, articles read, designs done and re-done. It turned out great.

As Christians, having been purchased...we are no longer our own. We are slaves to righteousness, sons of obedience. His will be done. Our lives are to be marked with fruit giving praise to His name, as well as continually increasing in the knowledge of God.

We know that when He asks something of us, we are to be obedient to His command. But, let's take a second to capture that moment. When He asks of you something that is difficult or hard, do we accept the task joyfully, longing to be a God-glorifying servant or are we like the rebellious child or the ungrateful servant? How often do we take lightly His mercy, doing His work halfheartedly, exclaiming "God is sovereign" (yet, whispering "so I don't need to do my best.")?

Your motives betray your action. Although you are obedient to His command, you neglect the message the action speaks. Your actions speak "Look at me be obedient to God's command" instead of "Look at God". You claim to give your first fruit, you give a pittance. You say "I submit to God", yet there is no joy in your submission to Him.

There needs to be an entire shift in our psyche. From self-glorifying to God-glorifying. Everything must be about Him. We must continually rotate this idea in our minds. Jesus Christ. The Cross. God's Love. His Sovereignty. We must turn from the things of the world, and look to God alone. So when the time comes to act on His command, our actions exclaim His splendor.

Reminder

“Be careful how you treat God, my friends. You may say to yourself, ‘I can sin against God and then, of course, I can repent and go back and find God whenever I want him.’ You try it. And you will sometimes find that not only can you not find God but that you do not even want to. You will be aware of a terrible hardness in your heart. And you can do nothing about it. And then you suddenly realize that it is God punishing you in order to reveal your sinfulness and your vileness to you. And there is only one thing to do. You turn back to him and you say, ‘O God, do not go on dealing with me judicially, though I deserve it. Soften my heart. Melt me. I cannot do it myself.’ You cast yourself utterly upon his mercy and upon his compassion.”

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival (Westchester, 1987), page 300.

VOD

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..." Eph 1:18

I don't know about you, but I found this verse rich and deeply satisfying. Oh, how I long to know You more, Lord! Maran atha!

Money

“I fear there are some Christians among you to whom Christ cannot say ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.’ Your haughty dwelling arises in the midst of thousands who have scarce a fire to warm themselves at and have but little clothing to keep out the biting frost, and yet you never darkened their door. You heave a sigh perhaps at a distance, but you do not visit them. Ah my dear friends, I am concerned for the poor, but more for you. I know not what Christ will say to you on the great day. You seem to be Christians, and yet you care not for his poor. Oh, what a change will pass upon you as you enter the gates of heaven! You will be saved, but that will be all. There will be no abundant entrance for you. ‘He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly.’

And I fear that there may be many hearing me who may know well that they are not Christians, because they do not love to give. To give largely and liberally, not grudging at all, requires a new heart. An old heart would rather part with its life-blood than its money. Oh my friends, enjoy your money. Make the most of it. Give none of it away. Enjoy it quickly, for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity.”

Robert Murray McCheyne, Works (New York, 1847), II:482.

The best types of day

Are the random days!