Doing advanced MongoDB updates in Lithium

I wanted to change a nested array value without first loading an entire MongoDB document in Lithium, but the documentation wasn’t clear. One of the developers on the #li3 IRC channel pointed me in the right direction.

Since the “atomic” option is defaulted to true, the $set is implied. The following example is with a model called “Lesson”:

$conditions = array('_id' =>  $_id); //conditions for document(s) to change
$data = array(('page_list.123.title') => $title); //nested value I want to change
Lesson::update($data,$conditions);

I hope that points you in the right direction. It’s like the native MongoCollection::update but with the first two parameters switched. You can also include a third parameter for options. Soon the update method will be patched to allow for MongoDB upserts.

Romans 9-11 as Varied Layers of Explanation for Israel’s Unbelief

Why did Israel fail to obtain righteousness?
Because they pursued righteousness as though it were by works, instead of by faith in the risen Jesus.

But didn’t they have a zeal for God?
Yes, but not according to knowledge.

What is so bad about righteousness that is based on a law of works?
People end up establishing their own righteousness instead of submitting to God’s righteousness.

What was the purpose of the law?
To point to Jesus.

Where is God’s righteousness found?
In Jesus.

Where can I find this Jesus?
The word of Jesus is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.

Why does that matter?
With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Had Israel even sufficiently heard the word of Jesus so as to believe in him?
Yes, they had a preacher sent to them from whom to hear the word of Christ.

Why did they reject the word of Christ?
Because God hardened their hearts; he gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see, and ears that would not hear.

Have God’s promises to Israel failed?
No, he never promised salvation to all individual ethnic Israelites.

Is there proof he never promised salvation to all individual ethnic Israelites?
Yes, from the very beginning there was a winnowing among Israelites, such as with Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau.

What was that winnowing based on?
Not on anything good or bad they did, and not on human will or exertion, but on God calling people to himself in accordance with his purpose in election.

Doesn’t unconditional election make God unrighteous?
No, his righteousness was declared to Moses: he reveals his glory in dispensing and withholding mercy with sovereign, unconstrained freedom.

What proof do you have that God sovereignly withholds mercy from someone in order to reveal his glory?
We have the example of Pharaoh, whom God raised up by the hardening of his heart, so as to show his power and make his name known.

If God’s sovereign will is unstoppable, then can he still blame us?
Yes, God can still blame us.

How can he do that? That’s not fair.
You, Mr. Clay, have no right to level that kind of accusation against the Potter.

Why did God harden the hearts of the Israelites?
So that their obedience would lead to the gracious salvation of Gentiles.

Does Israel still have a privileged future?
Yes, the privileges are real, and the prophecies are still certain. Someday Israel’s sins will be taken away.

Why did God ordain that Gentiles be included?
So that in the end, the Jews would be angry and jealous at the Gentiles, and thus be aroused to faith and be saved.

Why did he design it all this way?
To show mercy to both Jews and Gentiles, and to maximize the display of his glory.

What about the glory of God is revealed?
The wideness of his mercy to anyone who would call upon his name, and the depth of his mercy by way of contrast.

What kind of contrast?
Vessels set aside for mercy and vessels set aside for destruction.

Why does God tolerate vessels set aside for destruction?
To make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy.

Was this God’s plan all along?
Yes. From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

How to install mod_pagespeed on Ubuntu

cd ~
# 64-bit
wget https://dl-ssl.google.com/dl/linux/direct/mod-pagespeed-beta_current_amd64.deb
#32-bit
# wget https://dl-ssl.google.com/dl/linux/direct/mod-pagespeed-beta_current_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i mod-pagespeed*.deb
rm mod-pagespeed*.deb

Now configure the module:

nano /etc/apache2/mods-available/pagespeed.conf

You only need to worry about setting ModPagespeedDomain to your domain. Make sure you restart Apache:

sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

Refresh your site a few times (yes, multiple times) and then look at the source to confirm it’s working.

How to Sort Through a Theological Controversy

  1. Pray for wisdom by the Holy Spirit in your pursuit of understanding God’s word (Psalm 119:18).
  2. Avoid reading any substantial work on the issue and avoid engaging in any opinionated debate on the issue until you have become familiar with the basic Bible passages in question (and their basic context). The scripture is your primary source, so don’t let it be obscured. Let it land on you in a raw way.
  3. After you have done this, hear the strongest arguments from both sides, and learn to be a kind of advocate for each position.
  4. Don’t be rushed, especially if it isn’t a heaven-or-hell issue,  yet neither let that dissuade you from being disciplined and thoughtful in your inquiry. Some of my favorite teachers remain undecided over controversies they would otherwise have been pressured to take a side on, yet when they do come to a compelling conclusion, they promote it with vigor.

I’m not saying I do this like I should, but I do aspire to.

Stop relying on your future self

“Our future self is pretty unreliable, too. He/she doesn’t think that the task in hand sounds like much fun, either, and he/she is just as likely to put it off as you are. Actually, your future self is even more likely to put it off than you are because you’ve already established a pattern that putting off that important thing is okay… If you want to actually succeed in life, stop relying on your future self to take care of things. Now.” (source)

Romans 7

Even though we desire to keep the law, our sinful passions are stimulated/exacerbated upon exposure to the law. This proves both that the law itself is good, and that sin dwelling in us is overpowering without the indwelling of the Spirit.

“Jesus killed me so he could marry me.” (Andrew G. on Romans 7)