Burky's Blog

I am including few new readers that wrote back to me in response at times. I am not asking for reply every time, but at least at times. One exception is Joel Reed, because I can read his blog on his website. He can just notify me every time his new blog got posted.  Same true of Andy Willard, as he email me at times.

Recently I got a letter from Philip Mack. It has been a long time since I heard from him or any rest of his family. I remember how insecure and how selfish I was while I was in Bible School, and he is very gracious toward me in spite of all that. I am truly indebted to his forgiveness and I want to tell you, Philip, that I forgave you for grabbing that personality list! Perhaps, he is one of the reasons I noticed that children from larger families are more accommodating and more fun to be around than those from smaller families. Hence, ever since I was at Messiah Bible School, I always want 15 children myself, so my children would have a better life than me. Recently I read that children from large families, especially if they are born so close in age, are better adjusted to social and public life than those from smaller families. O that's right; I read that in one of three books in one volume of Tim LaHaye's writings.

He (Philip Mack) started his letter by dating back to 2005, but I remember I met him for short time at his brother Joseph's wedding. I was kind of disappointed that I wasn't invited to his brother Noah's wedding, but I know we are still friends. Plus, he probably didn't want a large wedding, especially on his teacher's salary.

Also, I am welcoming my Facebook friends to read my notes. I have been importing my blogs right into my Facebook for a long time already, perhaps since February 2008—oh that means it has been a year! One thing, though, I never heard from them if they ever read my notes. And I don't know how many people read my blogs on http://deafdemophile.blogspot.com. On there, I have many interesting stories, poems, or other tidbits than just my periodical blog posts as this one. Some of them I just posted, because I want to save them as I really liked them.

I was disappointed that I couldn't find that collection of emails I had in my computer. I copied all files from the floppy disks into my computer and I was trying to sort through. One day, when I want to email to Susan the interesting comparison of Heaven and Hell as well as funny stories and inspirational stories that others have email to me over years. Today, I couldn't find that file anywhere, and I wonder...did I deleted that by accident? Or did I misnamed it? I was disappointed, but thank God for Internet, because I can just Google and find similar stories.

In fact, while I was googling for that story of Heaven and Hell, I found other interesting comparisons! They all have different perspective, but they do all have same idea!

My friend replied back about that email about Heaven and Hell. He said he didn't believe that is true, but he thought that could apply to our earthly life. My point exactly! Since I am a physical being, I have struggled so much in my Christian life, trying to understand the spiritual level.

Then one day, I noticed so many similarities. Like for example, a picky eater often are a picky believer as well. Many people don't see the connection, but I see the same spirit. That's why I believe that by observing the hidden forces and try to connect the physical, you would get the idea of spiritual.

Like for example, if all Bible believers decided to get together and want to unify the Church into One True Church as the Bible talked about, what would be the first to go? Since self-denial is taught by the Bible, and I believe a true Biblical Christian would understand that we have no rights whatsoever to ourselves, so who are supposed to give up their rights? Conservative or Liberal? Obviously, there would be a lot of give and take, and that would be like a refining fire. All believe in the absolute authority of the Bible which is also eternal and applies to today's lifestyle as it is written and inspired by I AM THAT I AM not I WAS THAT I WAS or I WILL BE THAT I WILL BE. Acts 15 is an obvious example and I am sure Philip Mack and Susan Burkholder remember Gilbert Steria taught the class, studying the book of Acts at Messiah Bible School. When we got to Acts 15, he said he wish all church problems would be solved by the same way. It is very interesting to notice that many traditions and practices, which can be considered same as church standards or traditions, are the first to go. What they kept is very reasonable and well within the Biblical teachings.

It is only those who think in grander scale by trying to harmonize everything (because we believe that God creates everything and that Satan's doings are really all about rebelling against God's established law) would see everything in black and white and that with ease. It is only those who focused on their pet doctrines or how they understand one part of the Bible that would feel they don't see everything in black and white as they don't accept or think about the conflicting Scriptures. Let us all think about the whole Scriptures and leave nothing out! Of course, we must not forget that, because of Jesus, the New Testament supersedes the Old, and that includes living by the law.

I tried posting videos online, and for some reason I face difficulty. I do wonder if the library has strict security on their Internet access. I didn't have much trouble elsewhere, and I haven't gotten around asking that deaf couple just hop and skip away if they have Wi-Fi. When Julia and I went over to visit, she did say I am welcome to use the VideoPhone, for which I am thankful. But for some reason I didn't get around to it. Well, I do prefer Gmail chat and email than VideoPhone and webcam use, although I realize that most deaf friends prefer VideoPhone, because ASL (American Sign Language) are easier for them to understand.

I was disappointed because I was hoping to include my deaf Belizean friends on my E-newsletter list. I have hard time trying to call this letter...is it blog, email, fax, or just a letter? It is all four, and what do you call something that would work as all four? Document? (E)Newsletter? Whatever, I would just call this a letter. How powerfully handy is the computer that can synchronize everything!

I thought how interesting that every time when Susan have off, I didn't think about it or I didn't know about it, thus I never got around to chat with her online. So please, dear Susan, please email me whenever you know you would have off. I will try to check emails a bit more oftener. When I was at CDI (Cayo Deaf Institute), we had a schedule when we will have off and when we have to work. Don't you, Susan? We have a monthly schedule, so that means we have up to 4 weeks in advance, so you don't know far ahead enough to be able to email me and let me plan for that day when we can chat together? Or are you always busy, living in the spar of the moment?

While I do believe we should live in the present, we should also plan for our future. At same time, we shouldn't hold on our future plans too tightly or we will be upset if something come up and put us at sea. I know what I told you, Joel, but that was for you only. It is just that I prefer everyone to enjoy planning for the future, but at same time enjoy the now. If we don't plan the future, we won't have much purpose, plus we won't have much order in our life. But if we focus on our future plans, we lose our pleasure in now. In short, just say let's plan our future, but don't focus on it.

Then there is another meaning of self-denial that I also learn since August. If what you are planning for make you feel excited and alive unto God, then stick to it! My see-saw feelings can catch wind of the moment, and forget what is my final goal. It may feel good or fun to do this, but would the end be as fulfilling as achieving my present goal or dream? Richard Lehman, the deacon of Meadow View Mennonite Church, said at last Bible Study that if you don't start practicing devotional times with your girlfriend on first date, often it don't take root later on into the courtship. That's true for all facts; often if we live by default, we will go wherever the wind blows rather than to adjust our sails. So, adjust your sails NOW.

I am planning to reinstate my church membership at Meadow View, the church where I grew up, but at same time, I am holding that loosely. I did that in purpose that "Pharisees" would not judge me by what I say or do. Plus, I also did that to make physical what was the spiritual (I am a member of One True Church in spiritual life). I am willing to submit to all standards, except where it kills. (See 2 Corinthians 3:6b in context with verse 3 and 5) Thankfully, Bishop Larry didn't ask me about giving up Internet usage. If they ever will, I will have to ask them to be fair and give up their phone usage as well. If ever they ask me to stop visiting other churches, I will have to stand against that using James 2:1 in its context.

Rules against Internet usage is understandable, especially if too many members didn't find and want to stay in that quickening power of the Spirit. When a person is living by the flesh, and use the church standards as his means of holiness, he is still living by the flesh. All those trash on Internet is too tempting for him. For those who are intense about serving the Lord won't find those trash tempting. Truly, "a conscience at peace is a continual feast," so why would I want to go back to that heart-throbbing thrill that give me a bad taste (guilt) afterwards? Especially since there are plenty of other websites that can excites you and can cause you want to draw closer to God. Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis. I think his life story can apply well here. Note also that Joseph lived in the moment or he wouldn't function well in the prison.

We are having interesting Bible Study every Wednesday thus far, and I was surprised to see that last Wednesday evening the attendance is so slim. Apparently, it is only young people that want to learn about courtship and no one else feel the need for it. I believe the only times when the Bible Study attendance was so full was the first evening, which is during the Christmas vacation week and when the topic is about the church. Am I right, Janet and Julia?

The topic about church is interesting. I must admit that there are few points that makes me wonder...what would they say about that scripture that they never mentioned? Or was it mere oversight? I really think it was mere oversight, because the focus is on the church and its teachings or practices.

When we as humans focus on one point, we very often miss the other points of the Scriptures that can apply to such situations. God is all-seeing, so let us try to be all-seeing as well. By being all-seeing as our goal, we will be open-minded to all truths because we can trust and know that God's truth will survive the refining fire. It is the only thing that stands from eternity past, so let us stick to it.

I still work in my parent's bakery from 3:30 AM to 7AM, or whenever I am done making bread. I think making bread is fun, and I am thinking maybe I should run a bakery in Belize. It is just that I didn't want to be working with all those girls. Perhaps, if I am married, I may feel differently. I don't feel comfortable trying to be reserved among the girls. I like to be ME, to be blatantly honest by being just me! So if I am married, I will not try to be trite.

Besides, if God never force us to choose Him, then why should we force ourselves to choose what is right? That's why we have church standards and Pharisees among us. We can tell by how loudly they may protest against differing ideas and practices that don't openly violate the Bible itself. Rather, let us love passionately that we will naturally want to do what is right. If we love passionately (by that I mean try loving like God would love which we know would be pure and intense), the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22,23) comes naturally. Think about this and try it, you would find it to be very true. That's why Love is listed first, and it is interesting to note that self-denial (temperance or self-control) is listed last....against such there is no law. Amen!

Don't it boggle our mind how God can think of everything?! He is God of perfect order that He has His Word written in perfect order. (Ever think about the Bible isn't in chronological order? God's name is I AM!) The same true of the only verse found in the Bible that mentions our trinity, which shows we are created in image of triune God: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Spirit first!

I am reading Tim LaHaye's books. I have three books in one volume. I am done reading Spirit-filled Temperaments and Transformed Temperaments. Now I am into sixth chapter of Why You Act the Way You Do. One thing I don't agree with Tim is that he said we can't change our temperaments. I like Dr. Rohm's idea better: try leveling out our DISC personality. Think about it: if there is only ONE Jesus as our Perfect Example and we can't change our temperament, how can this be? Rachel Raber and I discussed once which DISC Jesus is of. We agreed that He has the perfect balance. Besides, available from Rod and Staff, there is a book, The Christianized Teachings on the Temperament. I don't recall if I ever read that book, and Dale Horst suggested me to read that book after I am done reading Tim LaHaye's books. I think I will, but I did skim through it a bit, and I got the note that the Bible did not teach temperaments. All it say that we are born with sin.

So that make me think: oh then that means our temperament or our personality are flawed! Then let us balanced out our personalities, focus on improving on the good points. Yeah, like Dr. Rohm in Who Do You Think You Are...Anyway? and also Postive Personality Profiles (I think I go that title right), I believe that you can strengthens your good points and develop more of other positive personalities. You can find his information on www.personalityinsights.com. For those who don't enjoy reading books, I challenge you to focus on good points of other people and pray God to help you to be more like that. It is that simple, really. After all, we are all created in image of God, so all of us have some of His goodness, and none of us have all of his goodness, because we are born with sin. So let us duplicate each other's goodness. First, of course, let us love passionately! That way, changing and improving ourselves wouldn't seem so burdensome. DON'T allow yourself to think you are the way you are! Rather, let us think what we can do to improve toward godliness.

I see I say some of you who don't enjoy reading. Oops, then this letter is too long for such people. Ok, have a nice day. <Grin>

I gotta run anyway, and help Julia clean up the bakery. It is Saturday, and Mama went to be with Grandmother so Uncle Ellis and Aunt Helen can enjoy the seminar at Penn Valley Christian Retreat. On Saturday, late mornings, I usually help clean up the bakery, after all those girls left. (Of course, they must not be there when I am there!)

Funny that I was typing that last paragraph and Julia popped in. She wondered if I am going to help in the bakery. That was my plan, of course. My family is always so fast-paced, that we aren't taught to slow down and meditate. I believe we all can discipline ourselves to meditate quietly and observe life as it is. We can train ourselves from being quick-tongued. We can slow down and reflect the end results of what we are going to say. Never mind the excuses we may have like being forgetful of what we were going to say that we have to say it now. I told Julia she must have a patience that can only last 10 minutes. Well, she thought Mama told me to come to bakery at 10 AM.

Ok, that's what I am going to do from now on, whenever Mama is away for the day.

From today's work, we have 3 Raisin Bread, 2 English Muffin Bread, 2 Bacon and Onion Bread, 2 Multi-Grain Bread, 1 Cheese Bread, 3 Whole Wheat, 2 White Bread, 3 Pepperoni Rolls, and 2 Glazed donuts left. Anyone wants some? <Grin>

It is 51 degrees outside, so I think I will go on a walk. Too bad the ground isn't dry enough to walk on, so I might just walk to Burnside Bridge and around back. The sun is so cheery today that I don't think I will wear a coat.

Funny, isn't it, that sun can take off a traveler's coat while the wind can't? I am sure many of you heard of that story. That is why I believe it is important not to force others and ourselves into right doings. Let love warms our hearts and thus makes us a willing servant. It is interesting to notice that Jesus don't use strong language renouncing sin when He talks with the sinners. He only does that to the religious who probably force themselves to live by rules!

I sure wonder why the plainer the group, the less likely they are to practice 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in every sense of the word, follow the example of early church in Acts 12:1-18 (especially note verse 5), obey the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19,20, and experience the works of faith as evidenced in Mark 16:16-18. They are also more negative-prone. Then on other hand, the more liberal the group, the less likely they are to observe 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 in every sense of the word, I mean, both spiritually and physically. Then they are more positive-prone. Is there a way we can find the balance?

My friend mentions that it is sin, not rules and regulations, are the cause of the church splits. How right he is. There could be personality clashes that can influence the church splits. But guess what? Can you think of any church splits that DID NOT includes the differing applications of the Scriptures? I can't think of any. What cause personality clashes? It is because we see the negative side, the fault of our brethren, rather than love selflessly and unconditionally so to think positively about his good points!

Really, I wonder whose idea and how did that idea got started that there are to be Mennonite Conferences. Nowhere in the Bible teaches that. My opinion is that the idea of Conference is same as idea as one-world government. It don't seem to work too well, because if it start a mission outreach (out of obedience to the Great Commission), the members are often not willing to give up their rights to their Scriptural understanding and interpretations as well as their applications. I sure would like to read that book, Have We No Rights? A quick skim through that book gives me the idea that the Bible does teach simplicity and we are not to ask local people to change too much, only to what is reasonable and Biblical within their culture. The kind of idea that Acts 15 teaches. That's also what Brother Yun came to observe, if you read that book The Heavenly Man.

It seems to me that the idea of Conferences are also what cause church splits. Everyone is set in their own way, and they see that people who encourages mission outreaches and Sunday Schools are the same people who don't practices plainer lifestyle as was the case of 1893 split of Weaverland Conference from Lancaster Conference. Then people who encourages mission outreaches and Sunday Schools felt that plainer people are more stagnant in their Christian life. They are busy focusing on each other's negative points that they forgot what the Bible did say and that liberals have their good points.

Now is there is any volunteers in gathering together to move the Bible-believers toward each other and that we are unified before God? I believe by healing our fathers' mistakes, we will remove the blight that people have on the Bride of Christ. As the result, we would have more power to win people back to Jesus. I also believe that if we refuse to let down our rights to our way of life, persecution are surely to come and it will be our refining fire. I prefer the first idea, but I have the strong feeling that the latter will be sure to come before Jesus returns. Either way, I am looking forward to that day when we will know as we are known.

It is Sunday morning, and I am done reading Transforming Your Temperament and The Christianized Teachings on the Temperaments. I am glad I read that book, because it inspired me to write about sin in chapter three in my book, Simplify Your Christian Life. It is easy to see what is sin by considering your weakness as sin.

This surely is into 5^th page and I would have to make the print smaller, so it would fit onto 4 pages. For email, I wouldn't have to worry, because there isn't anything to waste like extra paper and extra ink. But I want to hear the messages at church today before sending this off in mail tomorrow.

Arnold Weber (Richard's son) preached on the prayer of Jabez. I was surprised, but glad to hear that plain Mennonites are finally opening up to new truths of the Bible. I read and owned a copy, The Prayer of Jabez. I decided to read it again while waiting for lunch and then finished it before loaning it Julia to read. (A small book like that only took me a hour or less to read.) If Julia understand what she is reading in that book, she would be more submissive to obvious truths.

If you use Rod and Staff's Sunday School books, you would know on February 22, we study about Jesus' imminent return. I am excited and looking forward to when Jesus would return. While I don't believe Jesus would return any time soon, especially the way things are in comparison to the book of Revelations as well as story of Sodom and Gomorroh, I do believe that I can die anytime. Jesus can come for any of us at any time.

Sunday evening, Mahlon Eby preached. I thought he preached not long ago, so why did he preached again, especially that he is not a minister of Meadow View. Still, that's good, because I really enjoy hearing his message on self-denial. By hearing him, it encouraged me to persevere in doing what I believe is right. I will continue do what is right as taught from the Bible, especially in that how I understand it.

Before leaving for church Sunday evening, Mama and I had an interesting discussion. When I was talking about churches fellowshipping each other, she mentions about ecumenical movement. That is not what I am talking about. Ecumenical movement tends to compromise their standards and practices, so everyone can work together. That is a false kind of peace, the same idea of having Conference where everyone agrees to what should be done.

The idea I am talking about is practicing Acts 4:31-37, especially note verse 32. Note how that happens. They pray together. They pray fully according to the idea shown in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Acts 12:5, Matthew 17:21, Isaiah 45:11, and James 1:5-7, fully believing in God's promises as James 1:5, John 14:13,14, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, and many other verses.

Well, looks like I am into 6^th page, so I guess I will add more a bit. No small prints! <Grin>

Tuesday is Fashnacht Day, which always comes on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. We have a whole list of donut orders, so we plan to work all night to catch up with all those donut orders. It is nice to have special days so to get extra income.

Saturday, John Dan Burkholder and his friends are coming to visit me.

I would very much like to hear Zac Poonen on March 6-8. At this point, I don't have any promises of interpreters there. I have read his messages online and found his teachings Scripturally sound. At Bible Study, studying Sunday School lessons, and reading spiritual help books, I have repeatedly wonder where does certain Bible verses fit in the whole picture. I have develop this habit, thanks to Tobias Hoover, and I kept in mind that Mennonite teachings, just as much as Baptist and any others teachings, are understood and kept by fallible man. As long as it agrees with the Bible, I will agree with it. But if there are some teachings that cause me think of other Bible verses, trying to fit those Bible verses in such teachings, I more often than not discard such teachings. Not Zac Poonen, the preacher native to India. I believe he understood the Bible the same way I understand it; the Bible is written and inspired by the Creator of this world, therefore unwritten common sense always agrees with the written truth and vice versa. I would like to meet him personally just once. But then, there is one catch: what does he say about 1 Corinthians 11:1-16? I never read what he say about that subject.

The Bible does support the idea of common sense, if you consider James 1:21 (the engrafted word), Ecclesiastes 3:11 (world in their heart), and there is a verse I forget how it is worded so I couldn't get much help from Strong's Concordance, but it is a verse in Old Testament that says God would use anything in this world to convince man and make man think about God. Oh I found it! Isaiah 55:11! At least, that's how I see it. Maybe you see that verse differently.

Also note that Jesus said, "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" before the day of Pentecost! He also said, "Ye are gods."

While I was looking for Isaiah 55:11, I stumbled on other verse. 1 Corinthians 10:33. I was struck how interesting it is. Apostle Paul is evidently flexible! Now, it sure seems like verses 23-33 agrees with 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Oh dear, looks like I have some studying to do, trying to fit those verses with 2 Corinthians 6:14-18!

It is interesting to notice that more liberal churches have less Scriptural violations than plainer churches. Of course, I am not talking about extremely liberal like allowing homosexuality and divorce, I am more on sticking to the Bible and common sense as in receiving with meekness the engrafted word (James 1:21) and obeying God in you rather than man around you. Of course, in most situations, we will naturally want to obey man because it generally don't violate the Scriptures, such as law of the land and ministry or church you find yourself in. It is important, though, that we are to obey from heart than from mind.

I think I will send this to Larry Weber and Dale Horst as they are bishops of our Conference, and see what they say. Not only them, but also Denny Kornelson and Mose Stoltzfus, the main leaders of Charity Fellowship movement, in hope to get their angle of view as well. Yes, I am aware that a prophet often, if not always, is not accepted in his own country (or church).

There were some raised eyebrows last week on the campus of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., when I hosted a special meeting—the day before Valentine's Day—on the subject of fornication. That's not a word you normally associate with a lecture topic, but hey, I had to get attention. And since the hormones on most college campuses are as dense as Florida humidity, I figured the kids would be all ears when I attacked the subject.

I was right. At times you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium, especially when I talked about how most American young people aren't even sure how to define sexual activity anymore. (Today's college seniors were nine years old when President Clinton tried to redefine sex during the Lewinsky scandal.) At other times the students burst into nervous laughter, especially when I told how I gave my son-in-law a lecture about sexual boundaries in front of 700 of his classmates when he was dating my oldest daughter.

I thought it might be helpful to share these key points with a wider audience, since many of the readers of this column are single. And even if you are married, it would be good to take a quick refresher course in self-control—since we live in a nation that is losing all moral restraint. Here's what I told the group at Southeastern:

1. Don't redefine your morality. I've seen Christian young people roll their eyes when I say the word "fornication" because it sounds so much like King James English—sort of like "sodomy," another word we avoid in our PC culture. But we need to be careful how we bend the meaning of words. Terms that are in the Bible should not vanish from our modern vocabulary just because they offend some of the hosts ofThe View.

When "fornication" is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ("For this is the will of God ... that ye should abstain from fornication" KJV), the Greek word is porneia. It's the root word for pornography, but it means a lot more than sexually explicit material. It includes sex between unmarried people, homosexuality, bestiality, prostitution, incest and adultery.

According to the apostle Paul, sex as God intended is limited to marriage between one man and one woman. Period. The Episcopal Church has no right to broaden the definition. Neither do Bill Clinton,Newsweek, Oprah or HBO. Don't let moral relativism infect your brain.

1) It seems to me that peace also has smaller ramifications, not just the global way many folks envision. By that I mean peace can be as simple as taking care of one person at a time. That being said, the short story, The Difference Between Heaven and Hell might fit. You can find the Japanese version in Doorways to the Soul by Elisa Pearmain. It is very short. If you know the basic story in this version the people in hell can't quite reach the tables laden with delicious food. They hold chopsticks three feet long but can't get the chopsticks to their mouths because of their length. There is mayhem and cries of anguish fill the air.

In heaven it is the same scene but they are reaching the chopsticks across the table and feeding each other. Of course, instead of anguish, laughter fills the air. It might work for your needs. 

2) Here is a version I snatched off the web.
A rabbi was talking with God about Heaven and Hell.
"Come," said God. "Walk with me, and I will show you Hell."
And together they walked into a room of cold, rough stone. In the center of the room, atop a low fire, sat a huge pot of quietly simmering stew. The stew smelled delicious, and made the rabbi's mouth water. A group of people sat in a circle around the pot, and each of them held a curiously long-handled spoon. The spoons were long enough to reach the pot; but the handles were so ungainly that every time someone dipped the bowl of their spoon into the pot and tried to maneuver the bowl to their mouth, the stew would spill. The rabbi could hear the grumblings of their bellies. They were cold, hungry, and miserable. 
"And now," God said, "I will show you Heaven."
Together they walked into another room, almost identical to the first. A second pot of stew simmered in the center; another ring of people sat around it; each person was outfitted with one of the frustratingly long spoons. But this time, the people sat with the spoons across their laps or laid on the stone beside them. They talked, quietly and cheerfully with one another. They were warm, well-fed, and happy. 
"Lord, I don't understand," said the rabbi. "How was the first room Hell; and this, Heaven?"
God smiled. "It's simple," he said. "You see, they have learned to feed each other."
•••••

3) I've heard/told it as a very devout man asking to see heaven and hell, and traveling with an angel in a blur of colors and sounds -- in hell everyone is starving because their elbows won't bend (I've also heard long chopsticks); then heaven, which at first looks the same, but all are happy because . . . They are feeding each other.

It's one of my favorites. I used it early in the school year to emphasize the importance of helping one another. At one of the conferences someone used it in a keynote to symbolize our storytelling community, then went on to talk about the complaining and fussing -- and then emphasized that regardless of the personality conflicts, we still feed each other.

There was once a samurai who wanted to learn the difference between heaven and hell. He sought until he found a master from whom he thought he could learn. He stood before the Master and asked him what was the difference between heaven and hell. The Master took the samurai's sword and, turning it to the flat of the blade, struck the samurai on the head. The samurai was surprised at this but chose to ignore it. He thought that the Master had failed to understand his question. He once again asked the Master about the difference between heaven and hell. Again the Master struck the samurai on the head. The samurai staggered back and puzzled over this. He approached with his question for a third time and, before he could utter a word, the Master struck him a third time. The samurai was now so enraged at this behaviour that he grabbed his sword from the Master, raised it over his head and was prepared to bring it down on the Master's head when the Master raised one finger and the samurai paused.

"That is hell," said the Master.

The samurai was instantly so overcome by the courage of this frail old man - to have risked his life for the sake of a stranger's question - that he fell to his knees and bowed before the Master.

"That is heaven," said the Master.

I was reading some prophecies about the end times, and it says that we are entering the last times now. While I have no reason to fear, and neither should you, if you trust yourself in the Lord, still it is good to be more aware of what is happening about you instead of being blind to the news. While we cannot know what is happening in the future unless if God choose to reveal to us (which He mostly don't), it would be good if we are sure of heaven.

After Sunday morning of paradoxical (oxymoronous would be more like it) teaching, both Sunday School taught by Ronnie Eby and the message by Dale Horst at Pinesburg, it is refreshing to hear the message of encouragement by David Halteman at Meadow View. The just shall live by faith. After hearing the message, I started thinking. Is the message on faith my favorite? Since I understand about Christian living, it is exciting to think about what is living by faith all about. To think that "...the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Think how much we would accomplish by believing boldly!

I do forgive Dale Horst and Ronnie Eby as they are mere human, because you, being human, would often think of few things you miss, or wish you would have said, when you explain your beliefs or convictions to others. I have that experiences many times, which makes me begin to suspect that I may have that "I-C" personality.

I noticed that slow learners, or people who seems hard headed, and if you are puzzled what personality to fit them in, most likely they are "C". If you think they seems to have "D", but then seems to have "S", more likely they are "C". One way I detect it was because it is task-oriented people who seems to be selective in their tastes. They are the ones who know what they believe and what they like to eat. It is "D" personality that makes it more pronounced, though.

I often prefer to know something before trying them or experienced it. That is very part of "C" personality. Perhaps, that is why I felt I can balanced out all 4 personalities in myself.  By God's grace, of course.

And because of that observation about myself, I think I will be a mail-order or email counselor as my livelihood. David's message about living by faith make me want to move forward boldly in that area. What intrigues me is that Russel mentions you have to be mature Christian to be a counselor. I never thought of myself as mature; it is just that I felt confident that God will bless me if I become an counselor. After all, I noticed that my spiritual life gets stronger, and I feel more blessed, when I discuss spiritual things.

Last Friday, it got warm. Saturday, it got warmer. I am glad for a warm weather, so we can enjoy washing two cars in the sun. I should wash my car, but I am not taking my car anywhere to impress anyone and I have no inspiration or reason to wash my car. The only reason I should wash my car is to keep the body well-maintained.

Mama and I decided to walk around the block. She showed me where Tom Clancy lives (No, it is not that famous author!), and it so happens that Debroah was outside enjoying her time with her neighbor. So Mama, Debroah, and that Jewish neighbor had an interesting conversations. I am not included in that conversation very well, but Mama did interpret some about Debroah talks of Albania, the country neighboring to Greece, being open to gospel, and how they cried when they receive the Bible.

I say, we are certainly in end times. So many people are opening up to the Gospel. It is truly God's love and mercy that all shall be saved, despite of what that author of end-time prophecies may believe. It is often "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 1:5) It is possible, but rarely, that an American politician or president to be saved, because having much money and power in the world gives one prestige and lack of feeling need for God. Self-sufficiency is our greatest sin against God. I believe that is the kind of pride which the Bible condemns.

Mama told me that Jewish lady makes a comment once in the bakery that she will miss her dogs if they didn't go to heaven with her. Mama told her that she won't. She said that Grandfather said once that if you go to heaven, and you have an unbelieving son that didn't go to heaven, you won't miss him. If you miss him, it would spoil the supreme happiness in the heaven. The Bible clearly said the peace and joy in heaven beats what we experienced here on earth.

I thought about that a bit, and realized that was where I get my thinking cap from. That teaching is not in the Bible, yet it compliments the teachings already given in the Bible very well. That is exactly how I have been doing for a long time, maybe years. I hate the inconsistency in me while teaching at CDI, punishing my students just because I wasn't too happy with them, rather than punish them to teach them to improve themselves for their future betterment. So in order to seek consistency in my life and in my beliefs, I became as I am and what I believe today. In pursuit of consistency, I start noticing inconsistencies in most Christian churches.

That's why I became a honest sinner after I left Belize, because I hate the yo-yo experiences in my Christian life. I purposed to be honest with myself, thus putting my Christianity on back-burner. It is after I read the book back in August, that I slowly wake up and start to understand more and more perfectly. Indeed, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day!" (Proverbs 4:18) What excites me the most is that my Christian growth mushroomed after I moved back in with my parents!

No, it has nothing to do with going to church and socializing with Christians, although it may have helped it. It is more like that I start to purpose my heart like Daniel did and the more I purposed to do different things with commitment, the more I understand about life.

That's why I believe, if you act upon your faith, you will understand more and more. Hence, the reason I kind of stopped talking about my spiritual experiences here, because I know most of my readers don't really want to understand more about Christian life. Richard Lehman taught at Bible Study (we have that every Wednesday evening at Pinesburg Mennonite Church and Richard Lehman is a deacon at Meadow View, my parents' home church) that we must not force our convictions on others. After all, I do believe that serious Christians among the Mennonites would go to heaven their way. We all believe in Jesus as our Savior and our only means of getting in heaven, so how we do about living is basically up to our individual beliefs.

No, I am not talking about anarchy, or the idea of self-expression. I am more like, if we all believe in Jesus and His Word, we will all have same basic lifestyle: honest, pure, selflessness, and so on. If not separation from the world in physical visible attire, they certainly would be separated from the worldly spirit, which is basically all about getting rather than giving.

This morning Mama ask me to take down the spouting, so they can put up a new spouting. I was kind of glad for something different to do.

I also want to do the bulletin in the kitchen as well. I want to put on there the cure for February blues!

I am done reading that e-book concerning end-time prophecies, and I am reading the Spirit-filled Temperament. I think "I" is Sanguine, "D" is Choleric, "C" is melancholy, and "S" is phlegmatic. I still think I prefer "DISC" personality study much better than Tim LaHaye's work, because it makes more sense and follows the universal law of polarity: outgoing and reserved, people-oriented and task-oriented. However, I like Spirit-Filled Temperament, because it explains about Christian lifestyle much better. "DISC" personality book, Who Do You Think You Are...Anyway?, is more like trying to appeal to all faiths, while Spirit-Filled Temperament focus on improving Christian life.

I am trying to sort through all my pictures, documents, e-books, and other stuff on my computer. So for e-book, I am in 177 Quote Book. One that stood out to me is "Faith doesn't make sense; that's why it makes Miracles." AMEN!

Here's another good one: "Decision+Action=Results" I prefer to say it this way, "Faith+Work= Living Faith."

"Few things in life has as much power as Commitment." Point well taken! It is same idea as having faith and acting upon it.

"Take control and authority over your lack of commitment in past and recommit to your achievement of your goals and dreams." While this sounds selfish, it has the same basic idea of giving your past over to God, and confess them. He will forgive and forget them completely and encourage you to start afresh. If we truly believe we are forgiven, then we will not be affected by our sinful past. We believe, therefore we conquer. Yes, naturally, because Jesus dwells in us!

Did I mentioned the last Bible Study was about church? The next one will be about relating to inconsistencies of others. I thought that whole study is pathetic, because we should not focus on inconsistencies of others. Yet, I am aware that, if we observe, then we can "expound that person more perfectly." (Acts 18:26) Still, I prefer to make sure of my salvation and trust God will take care of details.

Sorry, friends, that this went into 5 pages, so hold this until you have time to read it, or print it out. If you had enjoyed the book, Who Do You Think You Are...Anyway?, or enjoyed listening to Dr. Rohm speak, whether it is in recording or in person, or through the work of John Maxwell, maybe you would enjoy the following thoughts I have on such subject in spiritual level.  (If you haven't read that book, maybe you can look at www.personalityinsight.com)

D – Dominant

Direct

Demanding

Decisive

Determined

Doer

Pros: "D" personality makes wonderful leaders and makes lives easier for everyone. They are often the ones that makes the rules or guidelines to prevent further mishaps. They also make job seem easy or simpler and make things happen. They are movers and shakers of our world. They makes a wonderful defenders of any cause.

Cons: "D" personality can put undue yoke on their subordinates and made life difficult for others. Most, if not all, church splits or difficulties occurs over the practical applications of Mosaic Law or Paul's guidelines. They are often picky eaters as well. They often tend to act like we must work for our salvation, if not actually believe in it.

Conclusions:

Lacking "D" personality often cause one to hesitate and not move in faith. In short, they often lack commitment to put works to their faith. For such people, it would be good to develop more "D" to make life easier for them. Consider many messages in the Bible insisting, "FEAR NOT!" We all make mistakes, so why fear making them? God is very longsuffering, so if we make mistakes, we can always pray and repent. In fact, people who acted boldly often get greater blessing than those who didn't, which impress me that God would rather that we do what we feel right anyway now. We must make best decision now, not later—and act upon it! If the end result didn't turn out very well, repent and change your actions. God is very forgiving, so don't think about regretting it, if you already repent of it, of course. Forgive yourself and forget it! Satan loves to pester us about our evil past, just so to drag us down and leave us feeling discouraged.

Having "D" personality too strong can make one very lopsided. It makes one an extremely picky eater as well. For such people, it would be good to moderate out the "D" personality. For an easy start, you can train yourself to learn to like all healthy foods. Just think: It is God's goodness and for His glory that He created them and gave them their flavors they have. God also creates people and gave them creativity to cook them. All that theory of certain food is repulsive is overruled, if you determined to learn to like them. Some say most of diseases all started in the mind. So likewise, you can control your mind to make right choices and learn to like anything that comes your way. That is for starters.

Secondly, you can learn to be flexible. Guidelines are okay to give us ideas where we may deviated, but they should not be enforced with fear. Note all guidelines that Apostle Paul wrote down did not, I mean, did not have any eternal punishment linked to it if you don't practice them. He just expressed why they are reasonable; for example, consider headship veiling, he said in 1 Corinthians 11:3, "...I would have you know..." and also in verse 14 of same chapter, "Doth not even nature itself teach you..." Which is why I felt it is very inconsistent when the church don't practice "pray without ceasing" where it exactly said it is God's will for you in the very next verse! Especially when we know Jesus clearly said in Matthew 7:21, 22 that if you don't do God's will, you will be cast out of heaven while in that same chapter (verse 7-11) talks about praying! Then that same church would not take women who don't practice headship veiling as its members. Don't you see how inconsistent that is?!

Too strong "D" can be moderated by being open-minded in everything that excites them. They can train their minds to view life at all angles. They can learn to listen, and try to make their speakers more right than not. If they cannot make it right, then it probably isn't. Truth are often same as common sense. Still, most importantly, try practicing agreeing to everything as well as consider that God is not particular in any area! After all, God only forbids what hurts you at the end.

I – Inspiring

Influencing

Impressionable

Interactive

Impressive

Interested in people

Interesting

Pros: They are party animals; people have no difficulty loving them. They make life fun. They are wonderful entertainers, and extremely creative. They like living with mountaintop experiences and will try to stay there! They would be wonderful missionaries, because they are adaptive to any culture they find themselves in.

Cons: They tend to be unstable and go with the flow. They don't always have a goal in mind, and if they do, they don't always finish achieving their goals. They based their life on their feelings, and often live for pleasure. In short, they are often disorganized. Many would say they are spineless.

Conclusions:

People who lack "I" personality tend to be less adaptive to change. They often don't really understand relationships. In fact, they don't highly value social life and relationships. That's why people often felt they are indifferent, yet they would be more predictable, which makes them more dependable in work expectations. For such people, one way to develop more "I" personality would be hosting more parties or attend more activities or events. Celebrate diversity and thank God for His goodness and His glory in creating a great variety of personalities. Accept people as they are, rather than wishing they are this and that. Try to observe people and include yourself in their lives. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Don't be afraid of spilling your feelings. People love honesty, so people tend to flock around those who make themselves human. It will be hard at first, but it will be worth it! Again, be flexible. Try to understand that people have differing viewpoints in life and don't judge them for that. Voluntarily work with people, such as participating in ministries with people. It is easy to stay in a quiet corner, or with your family, where you have control over your situations and where you have the feeling of security. However, that's where Jesus busted: "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division..." (Luke 12:51)

People who have "I" personality too strong tend to be too unstable. They also live too much for pleasure. They prefer positive attributes of God, rather than accepting that God does have some negative side. They aren't careful in whom they want to frequent with or rub shoulders with. For such, it would do them good to learn that work can be a pleasure! Think end results rather than now. Live for the consequences rather than feelings. Set goals, and find someone to be accountable to. They have to learn self-denial. If they consider that they are dead to sin, they would be more immune to their wishy-washy feelings or to whatever barbs or negativity that others cast to their way. By thinking beyond their feelings and believing that they themselves cannot be trusted for anything, they can rise above their feelings. Refuse to dwell on discouragements, or on whatever you want now, but think about what you want at the end!

One way to build on stability is to be accountable to someone. Be strong enough to pick the very one who pick on you for your inconsistency! For starters, if you are overweight, be obstinate in following the strict diet and exercise program! Don't eat anything that taste good, only foods that will help you! Be stubborn in budgeting your money, instead of buying whatever you want. Build on determination and commitment to succeed in anything that excites you, and you would eventually moderate out your "I" personality overload.

S – Supportive

Stable

Steady

Sweet

Status Quo

Shy

Pros: "S" personality are such an angel. They make wonderful servants in God's kingdom. They can be depended on for any help you need. They make a good cushion in church life or in any ministry. They can sooth out your ruffled feathers. They give you a feeling of stability. They are more easily pleased or less irritable (or so it seems!) with whatever happens to them.

Cons: They can be such a sucker. They don't have much creativity, and if they do, they don't act it out much. They don't question the reality of their upbringing. They don't study to improve the world. They can become as puppets of the society. They live to please others more than remembering that they are responsible for their own lives. They blow up the idea of submission too much.

Conclusions:

People who lack "S" personality tend to run the show. They want to control everything around them. The very idea of submission is disheartening. They tend to favor anarchy without realizing it; then they won't accept accountability if they break their own rules! In short, they are extremely inconsistent and selfish! The whole world revolves around them according to their actions. For such, self-denial is not a option; it is a must! Such people should go to Marines. They have to be constantly reminded that they are made from the dust, which means they are a piece of dirt! People who work with them should not lament with them whenever they fretted in not getting their own way. Rather, their true friends should approach their very self-pitying action with a sharp rebuke and love. Remind them that the world was here first, not them. Dear readers, I cannot stress this teaching hard enough. This is very reason I struggled in my Christian life so much all those years. To think all this suffering is very unnecessary. Of course, I need a friend who would love me unconditionally and invite me to participate in their life and fun at times in order to feel included, but at same time don't allow any selfish thinking or action to be carried out whatsoever! If you detect that you have such problems yourselves, good for you! Realizing your own problems is a first step, the best step! If submitting to rules make you unhappy, remember that if you are Christian and truly repented, you are dead to your flesh and sin, which means you are immune to whatever happens to you. So what? It happens, so let it happen! Remember Golden Rule? If you do, then you won't be chasing after things that you want, but rather what others want. When catering to others' wishes (as long as it is sensible and right, of course), you would eventually and unsuspectingly win them to cater you to yours! Believe, and it will be your experience!

People who have excessive "S" personality wouldn't have their own life under control. For such, they would have to start considering their life first! After all, the Bible said, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." You are responsible for your actions, so you have a right to say no. Submitting to others, such as church standards, don't help. That is good, but it is better if you seek consistency and follow common sense, rather than trying to be accommodating to those around you.

Following after what makes you feel alive, I mean, alive, you can develop stubbornness to stay within the quickening power of the Spirit. Always submitting to others don't make you feel "high on the mountaintop"; it doesn't make you enthusiastically want to serve the Lord. After all, Jesus said, "I am come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly!" Don't settle for security; settle for premium happiness! Dare to take risks! Move boldly! Don't be afraid of what others think, even if that person or people are Christians! Press toward the mark of high calling; be enthused in all things, and hold nothing back!

C – Cautious

Calculating

Competent

Conscientious

Contemplative

Careful

Pros: They make less mistakes and are more predictable. They can explain exactly what they are thinking, if they have chance and time to think about it thoroughly. They make very good communicators. They are often extremely gifted in what they do, and well learned about their favorite subjects. They observe well to what is happening around them.

Cons: They are skeptical and unbelieving. They have the attitude that if it is not experienced by many, then it may not be true. They have greater difficulty in believing in supernatural or other curiosities that happens in actual world. They would try to explain something rather than accepting it by faith. They are often slow learners or thinkers and slow to act.

Conclusions:

Those who have extremely low "C" personality often are very inconsistent. They are illogical and maybe unreasonable. They are often very undependable in everything. They aren't interested in studying into why they acts the way they do. They don't think. They often acted impulsively. For such people, find some subject that you really love and study it thoroughly. As a Christian, one should find delights in studying the Bible. Be persistent in finding the balance between two seemingly conflicting teachings of the Bible. Don't give up! If you love reading, always, always, always compare whatever you are reading against the Bible, even if it is a book approved by your friend or your church. Always use the Bible as your rule book when hearing sermons and whatever truths that people tell you. Settle for nothing less! Stay open-minded as you go! Be thorough so to be able to answer any questions thrown to you. Know where you stand and stay there!

Too much "C" personality can cause one to be extremely doubtful. God hates unbelief, or he wouldn't include that in the list of worthy of hell (Revelations 21:8 and Hebrews 11:6). Such people often believe after seeing, which Jesus discounted in John 20:29. They stick to what is tried and proven, rather than take risks and act upon their beliefs. Because of their unbelief, they cannot enjoy the richest of blessings that could be theirs. They are too perfectionistic in their work that they cannot enjoy whatever they happened to do or must do. For such people, they must believe in God's promises! They must take God's promises literally! They must act upon what they know and understand of God's promises. Don't hesitate! Don't worry about "what is sin?", but rather worry about what gives yourself a lasting peace and joy. Don't fear mistakes, and don't fear men either. You cannot change them, but you can change yourself. Be quick to apologize when mistake or sin is recognized on your part, but don't dwell on it. Move on. Learn to express your thoughts and feelings about anything, and don't be afraid to share your wrong feelings. You are human too, you know. Accept your mistakes as a growing process and keep on trying. I say, keep on trying! God don't expect us to be perfect; He only expect us to die trying! If you have fears about anything, don't let them stop you. Fear can increase our awareness, but it must not be our master. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but in spite of it." I am sure you notice that God's promises dared you to take risks. Note especially God's displeasure against Moses' hesitancy (See Exodus 4:14). Remember Nike's famous slogan: "Just Do It!" You probably notice many verses throughout the Bible that seems to give you the power to pray for whatever you want. "C" personality often would point out Jesus' words, "Whatsoever you pray in My name, and I will do it." They say that if our prayer don't line up with God's will, it won't be answered. They say that God sometimes say "no" to our prayers. They would be quick to point out that Paul prayed three times, and didn't get answer to his prayers, except that God's grace is sufficient for him. In reality, they may be basing on their experiences and most-heard-of experiences, that people have prayed, but didn't get answers to their prayers. However, they seem to forget about that "Pray without ceasing" is immediately preceded by "...for that is God's will concerning you" and to think about what Jesus said to disciples in Matthew 17:20, 21. Not only that, consider what terror Jesus should have caused us in Matthew 7:21, and that is in same sermon or message where He also mentions of praying (see verses 7-11).

My observations about people and churches:

Conservative Anabaptist churches, Catholics, maybe Lutherans, and other established churches or religions are often more task-oriented, which means "D" and "C" personalities would be more adaptable in them. Set of standards or rites is understandable and dependable as well as provides security for them and, to them, is reasonable to abide by, rather than not being sure about their spiritual equivalences. It is humanly much easier to find something tangible to follow than it is to follow after the invisible Spirit.

Pentecostals and other charismatic movements would be more for "I" personalities. "I" personality often understands that Christianity is all about relationship with their Savior. Because "I" personality usually based on their feelings, they like to talk of spiritual experiences. They also understood grace better than other personalities, because, after all, they are the ones who make most mistakes, enough to discourage "C" personality from trying again!

True Biblical church would appeal to all levels of all personalities. They would host spontaneous worship for the sake of "I" personality. They would pray until they get the answer (see Acts 12:5,16,17 in their context), instead of praying and then accept whatever comes. They would do it collectively, which people-oriented personalities would enjoy. They would do it in few and privately, which "C" personality would prefer. They saw that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, which cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17) It will keep the selfish and win them into selflessness, while loving everybody enough to cover their sins or their faults and keep the sin or impurity out of the church.

They would note that we need the "D" personality to make things happen and make living less burdensome for others by "laying down the law," while "I" personality would keep them thinking about "Today is the day of salvation," and that relationship with Jesus Christ alone is the only means of salvation and entrance into God's kingdom and nothing else! We would need the serving and submissive spirit of "S" personality to keep everything running and the consistency and thoroughness of "C" personality to keep things in check.

"D" makes things simple; "I" keeps things in Spirit; "S" gets it moving; "C" holds everything in check.

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the One I love...."

Believe positively! Love passionately! Live boldly! Give freely!