Obtained this insight from Tim Keller's sermon. Yeah, life is so strange. It seems that we are okay and can get on it easily, not bored, if simply we are intoxicated with things, games, movies, fellowships, outings or other activities. But when we turn sober, and reflect, we will find life to be dull, stale, boring, and perhaps we might find it to be a bit meaningless. Perhaps when we don't feel dull its because we're too busy working and playing, and never stop to ponder what our life really meant and what is its purpose.

Then I think, if it is so, then feeling that your life is dull, meaningless, and being bored about life does not necessarily imply that your life is less meaningful than others who feel that their lives are so much fun, happy or even perfect. For if they are just intoxicated by things and never really question their lives, they might feel that everything is perfect while in fact they're doing pointless things throughout. While the bored, dull and seemingly unsatisfied person might be doing the right thing, just that he is not quite satisfied about his life. Hmm....

My personal summary for Tim Keller's sermon (might not truly reflect the sermon message, just my personal reflections.) 

John 11:17 - 11:45

Tears

Why would Jesus weep if He knew what was going on and He had the power to undo things? Ans: Because of His perfect love that would not close His heart even for 10 minutes.

It is nothing wrong with weeping / grieving. People who are like Jesus are people who can't and don't avoid grief, but pulling in the grief. It's no lack of spirituality or faith.

Jesus doesn't believe the ministry of truth is enough, He also believes in the ministry of tears.

Anger

2 things Jesus does not do with His rage and on account of the situation:

1) He does not be Job's friend. (saying God is judging for sins which explains the suffering)

2) He does not demonize anybody.

I think we should not look upon other's suffering and be judgmental, saying that probably its God's judgment upon them or we shouldn't demonize them, accusing them for faults.

Luke 13:5 "Jesus answered 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them -- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Relationships are complicated things. A friend said that yes it is very complicated. Christ died in order to fix the problem of relationship, in this case the relationship between God and mankind.

Obtained few insights, and reminded of few keypoints. First, things are not black and white. Some parts are grey, though not all are grey.

Secondly, I think the slogan 'time heals' is not always correct. For some marriages do suffer from decades of unresolved anger. It is a communication breakdown problem. However, to solve it needs two sides wanting to resolve, which is another complication of relationship.

Thirdly, to understand contexts. Interpretation of things should take consideration of contexts. Even interpreting the Bible we need contexts. A friend said, 'The context behind, the context in text, and the context now'.

I think every academic discipline tends to treat subjects towards the direction of being systematic, categorizing things, developing models, etc. Yeah, and perhaps I thought in this information overload era I certainly need to be systematic! Just like the post below!

Today went for the master class, and yeah, there's a catch! Being systematic is good, it helps you categorize and see things in an orderly manner, and of course helps to understand more when you do that categorization. But beware if being systematic can trap you into a system, so rigid till you can't get out of it. Beware that it is a system that is closed, that it refuses to listen to other insights from outside, especially from God.

Human beings always have the tendency to be proud. Since Adam and Eve wanted to be like God, since human beings built the tower of Babel to reach the skies, and perhaps now many people wanted to build scientific knowledge and a system that encompasses everything, including about theology and God! Thus, if we make such a system, we should be careful that we enclose God within the system.

The key point is: let not tradition, experience, guide us. But truth must guide, correct, or even reject the experience or tradition.

Hm.. thinking along this line, what about political or economic system? Well..again, the same warning applies. Let us not 'make idols' of any system. Let God guide our paths. Views may differ, and no system sustains. But the same Spirit that sustains the whole thing, the Spirit that wants to make God looks glorified in everything, regardless of the means, that is what should be maintained. We should be flexible to the dynamics of the Holy Spirit. But again, this can be abused by people who didn't really search well, but who sloppily say 'This is the guidance of the Holy Spirit!' Hm..so the ideal economic or political system should I think be flexible in some way, though not arbitrarily.. But I believe there is no one perfect but rigid system that is ideal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrgjYh57Y3M

 i'd like to hope that the lyrics are true..