29 April 2010

Setting up the LinkSys UTA200-TM HiPort to run behind a router

The instructions for the LinkSys UTA200-TM HiPort direct to install it between the DSL/cable modem and your home internet router. However, if you have a Verizon Westell 7500 combined modem/router, or if you simply don't want the HiPort to sit between the modem and router, here is how to do it.

Thanks to colinnwn on the T-Mobile forums for posting this.

I'd suggest not letting the UTA200-TM sit between your cable modem and router. I know it is the recommended way, but it just seems to create problems for people trying to do anything a little bit different than "normal". The way I'm about to suggest is a little harder to set up, but I think is much more robust over the long haul.

First, go into your UTA200-TM and set it to accept a DHCP address assignment (but not to be a DHCP server), and change the routing type from "access point" or whatever they call it, to "bridge". Now rewire so your cable modem is attached to the WAN router port, and wire the UTA200-TM from its internet port to a regular LAN port on your router, just like it was any other computer. Nothing will go into the UTA200-TM's ethernet/pc port. Write the MAC address on the bottom of your UTA200-TM down.

Now go into your router configuation page and find the static DHCP assignments. Put in the UTA200-TM MAC address and pick an IP address for it. If your router is linksys and you go to 192.168.1.1 to get to its webpage, you can use 192.168.1.20 for the UTA200-TM. The last number is the only one to change, and it can be anything between 2 and 253 (and you shouldn't have dupes). This will ensure the UTA200-TM always has the same address on your network.

Next go into the port forwarding section of your router webpage and set UDP 500 and UDP 4500 to port to the IP address you chose for the UTA200-TM. That should get the telephone working.

That was very helpful. However, there are a couple more things to be done. To be exhaustive, these are the ports I had to open up in my router:
  • A Dynamic port forwarding rule for port 123 (NTP)
  • A Dynamic port forwarding rule for DNS
  • A Dynamic port forwarding rule for ICMP
  • A static/host/always-on port forwarding rule for UDP port 500 to the UTA200-TM
  • A static/host/always-on port forwarding rule for UDP port 4500 to the UTA200-TM

After I opened up those ports, it worked.

18 February 2010

The main idea of Matthew 5:1-16

Lord willing, I'll be teaching Matthew 5:1-16 at the local Detention Center on Saturday evening.

I'm listening to the audio lectures of the course "Christ Centered Preaching" by Bryan Chapell, and in one of the first lectures, he talked about how each sermon needs to have one main point -- one "big idea."

He went on to say that a good sermon, that is, a biblical, Christ centered one, must have as its message the meaning of the passage. The message of the sermon is the meaning of the passage.

So, I've been studying and meditating this week to try to come up with the "big idea" of Matthew 5:1-16. This is what I've got. I have to stick with this now, so I have time to write up all my thoughts and notes before Saturday evening. But this is what everything will point to:

Kingdom citizens receive the King's blessing (vv. 3-9), share in the King's suffering (vv. 10-12), and participate in the King's mission (vv. 9,13-16).

03 February 2010

The primary task of the church

This quote by Martin Lloyd-Jones is right on. (I lifted this from the Desiring God blog.)

The primary task of the Church is not to educate man, is not to heal him physically or psychologically.... I will go further; it is not even to make him good. These are things that accompany salvation; and when the Church performs her true task she does incidentally educate men and give them knowledge and information...she does make them good and better than they were. But my point is that those are not her primary objectives. Her primary purpose is not any of these; it is rather to put man into the right relationship with God, to reconcile man to God. (Preaching & Preachers, 30)

01 February 2010

Regeneration and righteousness

On page 66 of The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee says this: "God does not change our flesh; rather, He gives His life to us. Regardless of whether or not a man has been regenerated, his flesh is corrupted just the same."

That reminds me of Philippians 3:8-9:

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

The phrase I want to draw attention to is in v. 9 where Paul says he wants to have "the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." The righteousness of believers both comes from God and is by faith. This means that it exists by faith, which is confidence in the unseen (Hebrews 11:1; Romans 8:25). The holiness of Christ's bride is not yet fully realized (that is, we are not yet holy like God). But, in this life we are progressing toward holiness and glorification, like it says in 2 Corinthians 3:18:

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

And, it's clear we're not perfectly righteous in nature yet. This point should be evident without defense: can we really claim perfection for ourselves? Every time I'm impatient with a family member or coworker, I'm reminded and convicted that, like Romans 3 says, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."

Thanks be to God who gives his church the Holy Spirit, so that we can know Jesus and love Jesus and follow Jesus!

Brain muscle groups

I've heard fitness experts recommend that we rotate through different muscle groups in our body so that our muscles have time to rest and also so that we have muscle everywhere, rather than just a few favored locations.

I think this applies to reading and brain activity as well. I've long disparaged myself that I tend to not finish books, and I commend my wife that she is a "finisher." I tend to read anywhere from 10-20 books at once, a few pages or a chapter at a time. She tends to read one book at a time and finish it in a few weeks.

But, I read this blog post today about How to read a non-fiction book, and the author made a point that intrigued me: "Don't feel that you need to finish." This prompted me to reconsider my It-Is-Foolish-To-Read-20-Books-At-Once policy.

Maybe it's normal for my brain. I have an active brain. Maybe for some people, it's suited to their mode of information digestion that they stay on topic for a long time. Maybe for me, it's not just a tendency but a necessity to switch contexts every so often.

Last night I wanted to read some more of The Meaning of the Pentateuch (to be diligent), but I just couldn't. My brain was screaming "NO!" So, I read a chapter of F.F. Bruce's New Testament History. That sat a lot better with me. Question: What is normal for you?

26 January 2010

Funny videos

It's really dangerous to surf YouTube and other online movie sites, so I appreciate when others share their favorite funny and clean videos. I'll share mine:

You've probably seen most of those. And although SNL and The Onion can be very funny, they can also be very unclean. There are a few jems in The Onion. Generally, I like Bill Cosby, Brian Regan of course, and Red Skelton. They're usually clean.

25 January 2010

References about judging others

Here are some references about judging others that I brainstormed the other night. Remember, don't separate these verses from their respective contexts:

  1. 1 Samuel 3:13
  2. 1 Samuel 16:7
  3. 2 Chronicles 19:4-11
  4. Proverbs 14:12
  5. Matthew 7:1-6
  6. Matthew 7:13-23
  7. Matthew 24:11
  8. Luke 6:37-38
  9. John 7:20-24
  10. John 8:15-18
  11. Acts 17:11
  12. Romans 2:1
  13. Romans 16:17-18
  14. 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
  15. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
  16. 1 Corinthians 6:1-6
  17. 1 Corinthians 14:29
  18. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
  19. 2 Corinthians 13:5
  20. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
  21. James 2:1-13
  22. James 2:12-13
  23. James 4:11-12
  24. James 5:9
  25. 1 John 4:1
  26. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  27. Titus 1:9-16
  28. Revelation 2:2-3
  29. Revelation 12:9

Examples of others being judged in Scripture:

  • 2 Timothy 1:15
  • 2 Timothy 3:8
  • 2 Timothy 4:10
  • 2 Timothy 4:14