Why Google Reader?

I began to use Google Reader recently to organize and read my RSS feeds. I used to use Safari, and I thought I would use Mail 3 when I got Leopard to view my feeds. Nothing was wrong with Safari, and Mail worked good too. But then I thought, "I could check these throughout the day while on my iPhone if I use Google Reader."

As a result, I switched to Google Reader. I can check them all throughout the day on my iPhone. Something interesting comes up, and when I have a moment to read, I check it out. I don't have to wait until I get home. Plus, Google Reader enables me to set up a blog roll, which you see in the right column of this blog. This comes as an advantage, for I used to have to manually update my own blog roll when I would add feeds to Safari, but now Google Reader does it for me.

Google Reader is nice also because it can be accessed anywhere--from any computer, phone, or gadget, provided the device is connected to the internet.

Overall, Safari and Mail have good RSS capabilities, but in terms of my own needs, Google Reader suits the job quite nicely.

Gmail's IMAP, Leopard

I know I have stated before that Gmail's IMAP didn't work very well with Tiger's Mail 2, but now I would like to update you on Leopard's Mail 3 and its use of Gmail's IMAP.

It works.

As I hoped, it works similarly as the iPhone Mail application. It updates appropriately and makes adjustments on my iMac when it checks for new mail. Now I don't have emails waiting for me at home that I have already seen and archived with my iPhone.

Time Capsule is Currently Incompatible with XBox Wireless

I have purchased Time Capsule for its wireless functionality. However, when I went to connect my Xbox 360 to the Time Capsule, I ran into some connection issues. My Xbox could not connect with the Time Capsule.

To the forums I went, and I found out some disheartening information. Time Capsule is currently incompatible with the Xbox wireless adapter. No one is able to use the Xbox wireless adapter with their Time Capsule unless they force Time Capsule to broadcast at 802.11b, and without WAP2 security. Since these two settings were undesirable, I decided to connect my Xbox with an Ethernet cord to my Time Capsule.

So who is to blame? Apple? No, Microsoft. The wireless adapter needs to be updated to support WAP2 security. Since it does not support that technology, I cannot secure my Time Capsule and play Xbox 360 Live at the same time. But WAP2 is a necessary technology. Former wireless security measures do not secure the network nearly as well. It is time for Microsoft to get their products up to date.

Upgraded to Leopard

It is going well so far. I have successfully upgrade my iMac, PowerBook and MacBook to Apple Mac OS X Leopard. I like Leopard a lot. Safari 3 seems to be faster in Leopard than in Tiger. I like the new desktop features--a new-looking dock and especially Stacks. Also, Quick Look in Finder is a very helpful deal. Time Machine has successfully backed up all three computers and my information is protected on a 1 TB Time Capsule. Mail seems to be doing just fine. I was having difficulties with Gmail's IMAP with Mail 2 in Tiger, but Mail 3 in Leopard seems to have it down good. It is still early on; there is plenty of time to find frustrations with this system. But overall it is going well and I am enjoying the upgrade.

Ephesians Sentence by Sentence: 3:20-21

τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ ὑπὲρ πάντα ποιῆσαι ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ ὧν αἰτούμεθα ἢ νοοῦμεν κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν, αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν. And to the one who is able to do infinitely more than all that we ask or think according to the power which works in us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of eternity, amen.

Continuing on from his description of what he seeks the Father for on behalf of his readers, Paul gives a doxology. The Father is the recipient of this glory offering. The Father is the one who is able to do infinitely more than what we ask or think. However, there is a comparison being made. The Father is able above all others to exceed what we ask or think. No one else can do what the Father does. He surpasses everyone as he surpasses our preconceived notions. The phrase is repetitive to underscore how much God surpasses our expectations. Not only does he go beyond what we ask, but he goes infintely beyond our preconceived ideas.

But now we have to ask a question. Is the phrase κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν supposed to go with the infinitive to do or with the verbs to ask and to know? In order to answer this question, we need to determine how κατὰ functions in the phrase. The word κατὰ marks the standard of similarity. The object of κατὰ is power. The accusative δύναμιν is linked not to the two verbs but to the action of the Father. The phrase κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν ties in with the infinitive, not the two other verbs. The Father is able to do more than what we can imagine. How? In accordance with the power he works in us. This power is the norm between his doing and working. The Father accomplishes things by his power, and his power is at work in us.

Paul continues his praise offering to the Father. The Father is still the recipient. He calls for glory to be directed towards the Father. In what sphere should glory be given to the Father? Glory should be given in two spheres: one, in the Church; and two, in Christ Jesus. For how long should glory be given to the Father? Throughout all generations for eternity.

To the One who is able to accomplish infinitely more than all that we ask or think by the power which is working in us, glory to him in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for eternity.

The Father deserves to be praised for the great work that he has done in us. He is able to do far beyond what we can conceive of and imagine, and therefore he deserves to be praised. We would do well to praise the Father for the work that he has done and point all the glory to him. Glory does not belong to us, but to him. We would also do well to rely on the Father, for no one else is capable of doing what he is able to do. No one else compares to the Father. All glory belongs to him, and likewise, all faith, hope, and trust belong to him.

Ready to Switch to Leopard

I am ready to switch to Apple's latest operating software, OS X Leopard. I would love to be able to do it right now, but I need to wait due to funding.

I am looking forward to a better Spotlight, from which I can launch applications and will no longer need Quicksilver, a third-party application. I am looking forward to the cool iChat and Mail features for viewing chat sessions and emails. I am looking forward to Quick Look. I am looking forward to a lot of stuff in Leopard, but most of all, I am looking forward to doing a trial run with Mail and Google Mail's IMAP.

So far, in Tiger, as I already reported, I am having issues with Mail and Gmail's IMAP. Mail does not update correctly. I will look at an email in my inbox on my iPhone, and the IMAP should show the email as already read, but when I get home, Mail has not updated and the message appears unread. A minor issue, but a pesky one still. I am hoping that Leopard will operate similarly as the iPhone, so that I won't give up on Mail altogether.

The 300+ features that come with Leopard will be nice. But most of all I am looking forward to testing out Mail and Gmail.

Professional Blogging is Hazardous to One's Health

New York Times has an article on professional blogging and the bad effect it has on bloggers' health. The round the clock business is starting to take its toll on the lives of bloggers; two have died suddenly. Weight issues, sleep disorders, and other ailments are common health issues that professional bloggers report to be suffering with. The blogging environment is very stressful. It's highly competitive. Demands for new posts and comments on current events is in fact strenuous.

I have a difficult time coming up with my own posts. It's easiest when I run series on my blog. When I am not writing on a series, individual posts are hard to come by. I can only imagine what it is like for bloggers who are making their living off of fast-paced media.

To be sure, the two bloggers that died suddenly have not been said with evidence to have died from blogging. But the stress level caused by the business has been noted. I am not stressed to the point that I am experiencing problems with my health in coming up with posts, but I understand how it could be strenuous for those who are making a living with this kind of business.

Biblical Studies Carnival XXVIII

Chris Weimer was in charge of The Biblical Studies Carnival XXVIII, and it was released yesterday. There are a lot of links to translation topics, one of which, belongs to a blog called En Epheso (ἐν ἐφεσῷ). I think I will be taking some extra time to read through that blog and see how it might inform my Ephesians translations.

Ephesians Sentence by Sentence: 3:14-19

τούτου χάριν κάμπτω τὰ γόνατὰ μου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἐξ οὗ πᾶσα πατριὰ ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς ὀνομάζεται ἵνα δῷ ὐμῖν κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ δυνάμει κραταιωθῆναι διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν ἔσω ἄνθρωπον κατοικῆσαι τὸν Χριστὸν διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι ἵνα ἐξισχύσητε καταλαβέσθαι σὺν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίαοις τί τὸ πλάτος καὶ μῆκος καὶ ὕψος καὶ βάθος γνῶναί τε τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν τῆς γνώσεως ἀγάπην τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἵνα πληρωθῆτε εἰς πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ θεοῦ. For this reason I bend my knees toward the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, in order that he might give to you according to the richness of his glory in power to be strengthened through the Spirit of him in the inner person, Christ to dwell through faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and established, in order that you might be fully capable to process with all the saints what is the width, length, height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that is surpassing knowledge, in order that you might be filled in all the fullness of God.

As a result of his suffering on behalf of the readers, Paul said that he was bowing down to the Father. He says that the Father is the one who gives every family a name both in heaven and on earth. Paul was bowing down to the Father for the purpose that He would give to the readers according to his glorious riches. Paul followed this statement with two infinitives of purpose. The Father would give them according to his glorious wealth, with the purpose that they would be strengthened in power inwardly through his Spirit, and Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith. Following the first infinitive, κραταιωθῆναι, comes a genitive prepositional phrase expressing agency. It is through the Spirit, the agent that accomplishes the action, that the readers are strengthened in power. Following the second infinitive, κατοικῆσαι, is a genitive prepositional phrase expressing means. Faith is the means that for Christ to dwell in their hearts. Without faith, Christ could not dwell in their hearts.

Paul continues with two participles, ἐρριζωμένοι and τεθεμελιωμένοι. These participles are perfect passive, meaning that the action is done to the subject, rather than by the subject, and while the action did happen in the past, its effect are still felt through the present. The former participle means to be deeply rooted or firmly grounded; the second means to be established, and this by God. Paul is moving on from the idea of God giving and is focusing now on what God has done and continues to do in their lives. God has firmly grounded and established the readers in the foundation of love. But this grounding and establishing continues. God has not left the readers to their own demise. He continually tends to them. God has done and continues to work in their lives for the purpose that they should be fully capable of processing information, information regarding the width, length, height, and depth, and the love of Christ that is surpassing knowledge. The purpose of the two infinitives, καταλαβέσθαι and γνῶναί, to process and to know, is for the readers to be filled in all the fullness of God.

For this reason I bow down to the Father, from whom every family is named in heaven and on earth, with the purpose that he might give to you according to his glorious wealth, in order for you to be strengthened in power on the inside through his Spirit, in order for Christ to dwell in your hearts through means of faith, having been grounded and established in love (and continue to be), with the purpose that you might be fully capable to understand with all the saints what is the width, length, height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that is surpassing knowledge, with the purpose that you might be filled into all the fullness of God.

Despite his suffering, Paul bowed down to the Father. We need to be equally devoted to the Father in our suffering. We need to recognize that God is in charge; he has given everyone their name. As we devote ourselves to the Father, God will be faithful to grow us in love, giving us deep roots that dig deep in the richness of love. Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, and we are strengthened inwardly with power by the Spirit of God. In light of this gracious blessing, we need to process in an effort to comprehend the vast love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge.