Burky's Blog

It turns out that I did have enough money to go around.

 

All that worrying for nothing.

 

And that is not all...

 

When I got back home from the cabin in the mountains, I flipped the perpetual calendar and read something interesting.

 

It was in NIV version, so I decided to go to my favorite Bible to see for myself.

 

"Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun."  A bit variation from NIV Ecclesiastes 8:15, but the words are close.  Now, what does "mirth" means? 

 

"Joyfulness or gaiety, especially when shown by laughter."  So goes that Webster New World Compact Office Dictionary.  I decided to check the root word in the Greek dictionary in the back of Strong's Concordance.  "blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival):--X exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing)"

 

Ah!  Is that what we experienced the whole weekend in Smoky Mountains?  We sure had a lot of fun and laughter.  Is that good or bad?  I remember hearing one pastor saying that God created the world for our pleasure.  I tried finding where in the Bible that would give such notion.  So far, no success.  But Ecclesiastes 8:15 is close.

 

Psychologists would tell you that a good humor would get remembered long after the criticism would.  If you would try to memorize the Bible or anything, try mixing in a bit of humor, and you would remember it with delight than with a burden.

 

I remember the second lesson in Nonresistance from Lamp and Light.  I had that with the ministry.  We study the words and the Greek meaning of them.  Richard Lehman point out that the fruit of the Spirit shows the state of calmness while the works of the flesh have the touch of extremism.  I could see that Leon Hoover and I enjoyed the state of calm.  Even through we went crazy at times to have fun, there would be times when we are simply contented to just sit in the lovely cabin, enjoying the lovely scenery outside as well as the fellowship of just talking with friends.

 

Paul said, and I have heard that from different people so he is not alone, that after the vacation is all over, then you feel "blah".  I thought that was interesting, because I don't recall ever feeling that way.  I enjoyed going home loaded with good memories and feel ready to go back into a good ol' routine that provides security.

 

Friday morning at 1 AM on October 30, I got into Paul's truck and we started a long trip to the mountains.  It took me 7 hours to get there.  We got to where some want to ride horses at 8:30.  We got there first to our disappointment.  So we did some gadding around in the town of Gatlinburg.  We tried mirror maze, and it was interesting.  Then we had a quick breakfast at Pancake restaurant.  The food was good.  We went back to the horses, but no one there yet.  So we decided to drive through the mountains.  Beautiful scenery!  I wish I had a camera, but Ashley and Jay did take pictures.

 

Again we went back to where the horses are.  We waited a bit until the carload finally arrived.  Now all of us are here, except for Ricky and Alma.  Most went horseback riding, then the rest of us who aren't interested went shopping for food.  Then we went to walk around in the town.  We got prices and I got bunch of brochures.

 

We went to Dixie Stampede.  That place is famous to all I know who went to Smoky Mountains.  It is a lovely place.  We waited until everyone got together and then got tickets.  Then we went hunting for the cabin.  We found everything really fine.  We got to the cabin about 5pm.  We unloaded and then when we are all ready, we went to the indoor swimming pool.  So much fun trying to play a combination of soccer and volleyball in water.

 

Because it was bit cool outside, it was cold to walk from pool to the cabin.  It sure feels good to relax in hot tub.  We were disappointed that the hot tub couldn't hold us all, but some of us went for shower and then we relax in the living room.  We ordered pizza.  Yum!

 

We played Black Trump late into night.  I think it was about 12 when we finally bunked.  I slept on the sofa in living room.

 

Saturday morning is cloudy.  While Friday and Sunday weather was gorgeously sunny, Saturday is  cloudy and drizzle most of the day.  That was too bad, because that is the day we plan to go around in town and see sights.  Still, it went well, though.

 

Saturday evening we went to Dixie Stampede.  It is the highlight of the vacation.  The stunts they do with horses are really beautiful.  The mind-boggling puzzle they pulled on us is how did they make the girl disappear and put her back into the stands without us seeing her go from buggy to there?

 

Sunday morning Rodney shared his thoughts about Judgment.  It is thought-provoking to think where we could be going.  Only a simple faith in God and trust in Jesus' blood can we have assurance to go to heaven.  I want to add that if we truly believe in that, then why do we need to have fun, so to speak.  While I may like having fun, I am just saying that we don't need to depend on anything to make us happy.  Jesus makes us happy, and that is enough.  Once when we experience happiness "for no reason", then we can live moderately and live according to what the Bible commands us.

 

Sunday at 11pm, we got out of the cabin.  Some went home, while Paul's truckload went to Aquarium.  I wish I could have my sisters with me there.  We would enjoy live fish swimming overhead!

 

Now this coming weekend I plan to go to PA.  I plan to attend Youth Bible School Friday evening and most of Saturday.  If nothing else happens, I probably would go on Sunday as well, which I doubt it.  Timothy Fisher called yesterday, saying that I am to bring my own interpreter to his wedding this Saturday.

 

This Saturday!

 

I thought it is on November 11, Wednesday.  How strange that my mind play tricks on me.  I went to check the wedding invitational and found it is this Saturday.  Here I was thinking it is on 11th all along.  Seventh and Eleventh sure can play tricks on your eyes!  O well, I don't have interpreter that I would feel free to ask to go to Tim's wedding, so I am going to Youth Bible School for sure.

 

I always hate it,when I ask for interpreting service, they tell me to bring one.  That is the "burden" of being Mennonite.  I ask for interpreters at Writer's Conference at CLP and also at Rod and Staff.  They all say the same thing.  It is a stark reminder that the Bible did not have anything to say about deaf believers.  No man of God in the Bible is deaf.  While I don't allow that fact to stop me from being a Christian, I still think about it at times.  It also make me feel it is totally unnecessary for people to worry about me for not being a Christian.  Besides, if Mennonites are to be law-abiding, they do well to recognize that there are ADA laws that requires deaf to have full access to services as everyone else.

 

 --
Omar Burkholder
"Burky"