Burky's Blog

I was sitting with my computer, trying to think what to do next. I am not all that interested in that TV show that my friend loves to watch and he have the remote control. I didn't feel like reading or doing anything else. Then I got curious about that website that I never look at for months. I thought, "No, I don't want to look, because it is sin to look."

However, in few minutes, I was tempted again and gave in and look at that website. Only one or two minutes and it was enough. I lost my enthusiasm for living.

I went to bed and try to forget it.

Down deep into the core of my heart, I gave the message my hearty amen.  What is happening in other people's lives is not our business.  What is my business is what I personally am doing with God.

My friend ask me few questions on what exactly does the Bible teaches, and I tried to explain.  Then I shared with her my experience on Saturday evening, and realize the reason I shared was to emphasize God's goodness and mercy.

When I shared it, my convictions got confirmed and I felt more blessed.  In fact, I was fighting back my tears of joy, because I don't want my friends think I am crying.

All my friends left for their homes, and I just got done reading my email to my sister. Since I am done with my computer and Internet, I decided to go to bed.  I have a good book I want to read.

After reading few pages, I saw what God is working with me all along.  I got so excited that I got out of bed and meditate on the fullness of joy.

Then I remember my experience the evening before.  I was thinking about my debate with atheists and agnostics.  They finally have nothing left to argue with me, and demanded for why my faith is so strong and what experience do I have to prove God's existence.

I thought I just have to share that experience to them.

So at 11:50 PM, I went to computer and wrote my Saturday evening story.  Obviously, that agnostic, or whatever his faith is, must have his mobile phone synchronized with Facebook because he answered to my story very quickly.  He said that was a very nice experience and thanked me for my good experience with God and that I have faith as I do.  I felt that was probably the end of my debate with them.

So I went back to bed, thinking about it.  I wept with joy again and again...THE TRUTH HAS WON!!!!

Then I got thinking different thoughts.

Now, would I experience that glorious feeling if I never sinned? I gave God the greater glory than I did before I sinned. I am not saying we should go out the way to sin so to experience that grace. I am just stating the fact what happens to me last night. It happens this way, my actual experience.

Then I remember what Paul wrote in Romans 5, 6.  I felt I understand that Scripture more deeply than before.  If we sin, grace superabounds!  But we should not sin, so we experience more grace.

I understand that means we should not go out of the way to sin.  At same time, it is like a saying that goes, "WHAT WE RESISTS PERSISTS!"  That short sentence is heavy with meaning.  In other words, the more we try to avoid sin, the more likely we will fall into it.  Then the flip side: if we have nothing to resist, then we have nothing to fight.

That gives me a new perspective.  Some Mennonite churches condemns Internet because they see it as wicked and very tempting.  By cutting off Internet usage, we won't enjoy the blessings of keeping in touch with friends. Emails, Instant Messaging (Chat), and all.  We won't enjoy the blessing of learning different perspectives on life.  At same time, it will help us avoid sins, which can make us fall into other sins like unbelief and pride which is almost more wicked than lustful thoughts.  I say almost, because sin is sin, period.

If we have nothing to resist, then we have nothing to fight.  By that I mean, it don't work to fight sin.  What works better is to focus on Jesus alone.  By thinking positive thoughts as stated in Philippians 4:8, we can more easily resist the devil and he will flee from us.  I learn all that by experience.

I decided to share this experience, because I want to glorify God.  I want to give other Christians more reasons to glorify God.  Falling into sin is embarrassing to share, but it is joyous to share the story of triumph.  I do not share this story because it is okay to sin.  It is not.  It is just that if you happened to sin, you can have rest knowing that God will forgive you the very instant when you confess and ask for forgiveness.  And HE WILL FORGET your sin the very instant too!

We are humans, and we will always sin at times.  There are no escaping the fact.  Trying to avoid sin is ludicrous, because it is impossible.  Purposefully sinning to get more grace destroys the purpose of Jesus' death.  He died only once, you know.

So rather, let us say with Psalmist, "Though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil, for Thou are with me.  Thy rod and staff, they comfort me."  Psalms 23:4

In short, relax.  Yes, just relax and enjoy life.  Just let God do the work.  You will be doing the work of faith by doing exactly that.

I give my readers the liberty to disagree, but these are my actual thoughts and experience.  I shared, because I knew and believed this email will help some struggling Christians out there, so I dared you to pass this email on.

I was thinking about my debate with atheists and agnostics, and how they keep referring to science.  I got a reply to one of my comments about how dumb it is to make believe.  It is like hallucinating.  Science is founded on well-documented fact.  I replied back via message, because they took away the means of adding comments.  I said, yes, I make believe.  Science have psychology and psychaistry.

I was thinking about all that talk about Christianity, so I decided to look around for Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.  I thought about that people are so quick to condemn Christianity.  I would like to know what exactly why.  

One thing, though, I noticed that Buddhists have their Buddha, Hindus have their Karma, Muslims have their Allah, and Christians have their God.  I also noticed that some would talk about Infinite Intelligence, Universal Mind or Higher Self.  What I see that they are basically the same thing, just different names.  "A rose by any other name smell just as sweet."

However, I just prefer my label, because only God can be considered as the FATHER and Jesus is our ELDER BROTHER.  I may be bit biased, but I suspect that believing Christians can have more positive experience than anyone else because of that personal, intimitate relationship.  Just think!  Imagine (or make believe) that father-child/best buddies/romantic lover with God, which we also believe is the Creator of the Universe!

Because there is only ONE GOD, it is easy to see why that this universe is so orderly and why science exists.  It is all based on ONE UNCHANGING LAW.  Astronomgers can predict when lunar and solar eclipses will happen.  We can safely expect that summer will always follow after spring, and winter follow after fall.  That LAW is fixed.  Negative unhappy thoughts produce negative feelings.  Positive thoughts produce positive feelings.  Hence everything remains constant.

I am writing a book, so email me at deafdemophile@gmail.com about it.  I am not done writing it yet, but I can let you know when I am done.  I will have to be sure that e-book attachment wouldn't be too large for some email programs.  I never create PDF file before, so be patient with me until I am done with it.

Also, if you have question about ANYTHING, simply email me.  I am a counsellor.  Of course, I will do it for free.

Written by Omar Burkholder who was saved by grace since November 1991 and became a truly believing and victorious Christian since August 2008.