Burky's Blog

 Dear Friends;

It is just another day. Yesterday we did 85 quarts of apples. Now we have peaches, pears, and apples behind us. I am so glad for that. I told Mama that I think it is more fun and easier to keep a garden than to harvest and store it. I ask her how she could survive this annual thing of canning. She say that you just have to. I ask her if she have to or if she really want to. She say, well, both! <Grin> Personally, if I have a large greenhouse, I probably could have a indoor garden that would give harvest all year around. Just think. Fresh veggies and fruit, year after year. No need to store it on the pantry shelf.

I just finish reading the book, The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. I really like that book. It is interesting how a holy man like Jesus would expose his evil history, while we sinners like to cover up our evil history in order to make us look good. It is interesting that the history book about Mennonites seldom have anything negative about them. Although some histories would expose why church split occurred, but otherwise it is all good.

I also got done reading the book: Building on Gospel Foundation. It is a book about the history of Washington-Franklin Mennonite Conference from 1730 to 1970. It is very fascinating book. I have read the book, Mennonites of the Washington County, Maryland and Franklin County, Pennsylvania Conference by Daniel Lehman, when I was 14 years old. Now that I have read the newer book, I have the sudden interest to re-read the older book. History have always fascinates me. Like I told my friend once, "They say, he that have no history have no future."

I took some time to figure out my family tree. Although I feel there is more to my family tree, but now I figured how much my parents are related. I even went as far to figure how my grandparents and my great-grandparents are related! I traced my family ancestry to Civil War Era.

I must admit that it somewhat excites me to read about my ancestors in the church history book. Bishop Peter Eshleman is my direct ancestor as well as Bishop Michael Horst and Abraham Horst. Bishop Michael Horst is my direct ancestor on both sides of my Grandpap Martin Burkholder's parents. Then Michael Horst's nieces married to Abraham Martin's sons which both sides of my mother's parents came from. In short, through Horst's, my maternal grandparents are third cousins to each other, and through Martin's, they are second cousins.

We had a nice family reunion at Uncle Ellis' and they have a book about Abraham Martin's family records. Now that Abraham Martin is different than the other Abraham Martin whose family fills out a serial of family records. They are fourth cousins to each other, but I wonder if Mennonite intermarriage may get them related closer than that. Through Martin's family, they are fourth cousins.

It surprise me to find that Paul Bange does have Mennonite history. I thought that name comes from non-Mennonite background. It does, but it is Paul's father who must be from that background. He married to Bishop Denton Martin's descendant and now I heard that his own son, Rodney Bange, is a deacon at Meadowgreen Mennonite Church. Surely, God's ways move in mysterious ways.

Anyway, it makes me want to write few biographies pertaining to Mennonite history. It would be fun to write a biography about each of Abraham Martin's fourteen children and then I would have a series like Little House books or Love Come Softly series. I even went as far to think about writing a biography like Annie's Day of Light which have the family record in the end. One thing, though, I figured it would make it a very thick book, especially if I want to include the updated family record.

But of course, I have no inspiration to start writing—at least not yet. Right now, I am all fired up to read about Mennonite history.

I am done reading all this, so now I am reading End of the Spear by Steve Saint. Apparently, Steve Saint's father must work with Jim Elliot. I understand there is a biography about him, but his wife Elizabeth Elliot is a good writer. I have read few of her books, and owned at least one: Mark of a Man.

I got an invitation to Timothy Fisher's wedding on November 11. I told my mother that I don't suppose that wedding is going to start at the 11^th hour. If it starts at 10, I wonder if the ceremony would finally be at the 11^th hour. I guess I will find out. I am glad it is only at Pike Mennonite Church, which is in VA. That means only 2 hours' drive for me and I can lodge at any one of my friends in the area. Certainly, I wouldn't lodge at any Pleasant View members, because I am sure they are all full from friends from Guatemala or some distant states.

So at this point, I have two weddings to go to. October 10 is Mike Musser's wedding and that is in Lancaster, PA. November 11 is Tim Fisher's wedding and that is in Harrisonburg, VA. I had wedding in Wisconsin, but it is too far, and plus, my friend that I hope to see won't be there, so I didn't go.

I am now done reading all the borrowed books, except maybe you could call that one book "borrowed" since it is my mother's. I didn't call it borrowed, because we are living in the same house. It is Getting Along With People God's Way by John Coblentz.

I just got done reading End of the Spear by Steve Saint and The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. Few weeks ago, I also got a book from the library, The Shack by Philip Young. I find those books very fascinating.

In fact, I wish I could be like Waodani. Talk about having no structure of government! Of course, having liberty isn't the primary idea why I like their lifestyle. I like their freedom of allowing each other to be. That part I envied.

In this civilized country we are part of, it is hard to completely allow each other to be. We are so competitive that we tend to lose the feeling of belonging, or being the part of the whole. I hope—and I do feel—that is not the case in our church life. At least, not that I know of. Although one tiny point I am aware of is that why do we tend to think the church leaders had pedestal than we do? I mean, if we got nominated into lot, why do we feel something is wrong with us if we aren't ordinated? My best guess is that we still have human nature lurking within us that we tend to think that having some important position makes us more valuable. Actually we all are valuable, whether we realize it or not. We all are equally valuable or indispensable.

Anyway, I find End of the Spear very inspiring. I also find The Jesus I Never Knew very inspiring too. In fact, all what Philip Yancey say in his book did not surprise me. He simply gave me some fresh perspective on Jesus.

Now I am reading Getting Along With People God's Way. John Coblentz was always an interesting writer. I have quite a collection of his books.

I start writing this letter on September 8 and today is 10. I want to record a small highlight—I got zero points while playing Hearts.

I got a message that one deaf boy in Belize went to Deaflympics. I wish I knew who it is, but if it is Rancey, I'm proud of him. In fact, I do hope he can become successful that he may get into the major Deaflympics. I may be wrong, but I think Europe is hosting Deaflympics this year. I wish I could go witness it. It would be very interesting to see all players talking in sign language—and to see how different sign languages from different countries!

I don't remember if I wrote in last letter that I read Building on Gospel Foundation, the history of Washington-Franklin Mennonite Conference. I finish it, and find it very inspiring and fascinating. Little later, I decided to check out Moses Horst in the book of John Horst's family records. I found he is a nephew to my great-great-great-grandfather Bishop Michael Horst through my Grandmother Burkholder's side. Through my Grandfather Burkholder's side, Michael Horst would be my 4 greats instead of 3 greats. Not only that, I also find that Bishop Moses Horst is great-grandfather of my favorite cousin!

Now it is Friday, September 11. Ah, everyone is talking about 8 years ago. I wonder who would have forgotten about it. Perhaps it is those who don't have much significance on 9/11.

This evening, my family went to Meadow View for singing. Since I am deaf and I don't particularly enjoy singings, so I stayed home. My family took advantage of that by leaving behind Grandmother for me to babysit. My family do need a break of attending a church service without having to take Grandmother with them. After all, tomorrow is preparatory service at Reiff's where Grandmother is a member. My parents need to take her there.

While sitting in living room to take care of my grandmother, I read all the way through the book, Getting Along with People God's Way by John Coblentz. I am so impressed with the Scriptural ideas he presented. In fact, I felt he is saying exactly the same thing I am trying to say in my book. While he is focusing on interpersonal relationships, I am focusing more on religion. The fundamentals are still basically the same. In fact, I have a notion to review my book third time before sending it to Jean. Yes, third time since she email me requesting the updated copy. And this time I would have to settle once and for all.

Sincerely,

Omar Burkholder

September 11, 2009