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).