Burky's Blog

            Everything is green now.  Spring definitely is here.  We did have a cool spell, which remind myself of my own life.  Isn't your life so much like pendulum?  There are days when you want to be so good as gold and have great desire to serve the Lord.  Then there are days when you feel like rebelling and doing everything destructive.  When transiting from winter to spring, it didn't change consistently and gradually, but will give us warm days then cool days then back to warm days again.  Perhaps, it is good to check what cause us to be happy and want to do everything right and see if there is ways we can avoid falling back into sin.  1 Corinthians 11:31 said, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."  Do you suppose that means almost same as "Watch and Pray"?

            Nothing much was new, except I am still learning and discovering exciting truths.  Even if it merely confirms my existing beliefs, at least such confirmation would further ingrained my mind and influence my response toward life.

            I am reading through the Bible in one year.  As you know before, I always enjoy finding contradicting teachings in the Bible and trying to harmonize them without placing conditions on either one.  Few weeks ago, I came across Luke 12 and saw something exactly contradicting within two or three verses from each other!  Notice verse 5 said we should fear God and verse 7 said we should not fear Him.  Of course, we all already knew that the first one is only talking about reverential fear and second one as emotional fear.  Yet, when I checked the Greek glossary in Strong's concordance, I saw that both originals are the same Greek word!  That further confirms my existing beliefs that there are words that can mean different things to different people.  Therefore, let us read and study the Bible with care.  Yes, with watchfulness!

            Since it is warmer out, I again enjoy walking along the river.  It is so relaxing and gives me good exercise to stay fit.

            I found the update that I never finished and it was dated April 7.  Now it is April 16.  So it was over a week.  So much have happened.

            This morning I want walking on towpath along Potomac River and got thinking about when I went to Messiah Bible School.  I remember I took class on how to study and interpret the Bible.  And I also remember I bought a book from CLP on how to study the Bible.  I thought I would have to look at Bible School papers and that book to see if I deviated from proper Bible study methods.  I am suspecting that I did follow the same principles of studying the Bible, but I don't want to precondition my thinking before tacking those writings first.

            I wonder if you, especially my cousin Janet, read the book, Front of the Class.  It wouldn't hurt to check the library to see if they have it, but it sure is a good book.  It is based on true story, and it makes me weep at the end.  Not heart-rending, but overwhelmingly touching.  It is a story about a boy who refuse to let his Tourette's Syndrome win and finally succeeded in becoming into a schoolteacher, despite his father's doubts.  Brad Cohen is a real name and lives in GA—if I remember correctly.

            It made me think.  Am I letting my deafness win?  Perhaps.  Why would I be so obstinate in not going to Writer's Conference, just because I felt burdened about my interpreters having to be obligated to me?

            I also read the book, The Happening, by Harvey Yoder.  It is a story about a neighbor man shooting the Amish girls in schoolhouse that became international news.  What impressed me was that Rebecca Sue remembers the detail when she talked with the milkman the evening before.  She didn't understand why it impresses her mind until after the shooting.

            When I read that part, I thought about there are several times when I felt I should do it or do something, but didn't just because of other reasons.  Later, when it is too late, I wish I had done it.  For example, my friend and I want to tour the factory.  It was very warm, that sandals would be cooler.  Unfortunately, when we got to the factory, we are required to wear footwear that covers toes.  That make me think it could be part of being fully conscious and aware of what is happening around you.  When you are aware of something that keep probing or pricking you, better take heed.  You may even save your own life.  Most importantly, we don't know when Jesus will come again, so let us watch.

            I am slowly but surely inching toward the end of the book, Les Miserables.  It is too detailed and wordy for me to endure for long.  The same is true of Rita Come Home, published by Rod and Staff.  Les Miserables is said to be complete and unabridged, so apparently there are condensed editions.

            I am also reading Whedon's Commentary, and find it very interesting.  What stood out to me the most is its' explanation of the word, "naked".  I have always assumed that Isaiah 20:2,3 is saying that Prophet Isaiah did go around buck naked for 3 years, but Whedon's Commentary explain differently.  It said that, in Biblical culture, if you are only wearing undergarments, you are considered naked.  The undergarment is more like a sack with holes for head and arms.  That would be more sensible and less shocking, that's for sure.  Yet, I wonder how can Whedon be so sure.  I don't doubt that I am not the only one thinking that Isaiah indeed goes around buck-naked.  Of course, we all know that it is less lust-tempting to dress modestly on everyday basis, so this interpretation should not be an issue for us.

            I finally got to go to Lancaster County for weekend.  April 10 was the planned birthday party for one of my friends, and I was invited.  Since my car is not street-legal, I decided to convince Julia to visit her cousin for her birthday weekend (her birthday is April 9).  She drops me off at Nelson Zimmerman's house and I taught sign language there.  Then I went to Jay's and stayed there all weekend, only going elsewhere with Jay. 

            After leaving Jay's, Julia had her first experience in auto accident.  It is unfortunate, as it was her fault, but at least she start to drive more cautiously.  One problem, though, is that it makes her tenser.  Now her back pain is back.  Sadly.  I wish she would learn to be more conscious of what's happening around her so to be preventive, yet at same time relaxed so to enjoy life, trusting that everything will happen for a good reason, whether we cannot see it or not.

            She was crossing the crossroad of Gristmill Road and 322, less than ½ mile east of Christian Aid Ministries building near Ephrata, PA.  It is not far from where Landis Weaver lives either.  She crossed and she didn't see the eastward van on 322, thus she bumped into the van and swiped its side.  There are no black marks on the road, so no one was going fast.  And it can even be saying that no one was really paying attention.  No one got hurt, which is very fortunate.  It is just that Julia got her back pain back, which is unfortunate.  Hope it will alleviate with time—without any future accidents!  Julia only lost her front bumper; nothing else was damaged on her car.

            One day I was looking for explicit quotation from the Bible that Jesus is our perfect example.  There is no verse saying that, but I did find that Hebrews 7 and 8 talks about Jesus as our high priest and our perfect example.  As I got reading the chapter, I came across something very interesting!  If you read toward the end of chapter 8, you will see what I meant.

            When Julia and I went to Virginia to visit Blue Ridge, we also took advantage to visit other people as well.  I got to visit my old friends at Christian Light Publication and we supped with John Dan Burkholder.  I ask John Dan about Hebrews 8 and he said exactly what I noticed: that part sure makes it seem like God don't care.  John Dan gave me his explanations, and it didn't register in my mind.  I do remember that I don't quite agree with him, although he does have a point.

            Another point I noticed in Hebrews 8 is the prophecy that everyone would know about God, from least to the greatest.  I like that.  That is my goal—to present gospel to everyone, regardless of his or her status or his or her previous religion.  Plus, I am also thinking of those who don't have much reading comprehension, such as my Belizean friends who don't read much.

            While I was meditating on Hebrews 8, I remember two places where it imply that common people loves the law more than those who know the law.  Mark 12:37 say that common people heard Jesus gladly, and if you read that verse in its context, you will see that those who know the Law aren't pleased with Him.  Acts 13:48 is another example, as you can see in verse 50 that Jews expelled Paul and Barnabas.  Quite obviously, God is very interested in equality.  After all, He creates every one of us as we are.

            Another thought I had from this perspective is that everything God created is more accessible and more dependable than what man made.  Think about it.  Which is cheaper and even can be free—horse or car?  Herbs or medicine?  One of my Amish friends talk about when he goes to youth events, he often goes home really late, falling asleep while on road.  The horse simply knew he is going home and knew that green light means go, so the horse always take my friend home fine.  You can't say that about cars.  Herbs have no side effect, so they don't have to be prescribed, which means there is no real control.  If you knew what your ailments are, you can know what to take.  So in this perspective, could it be that God is more for common people—even individualism?  Don't limit this perspective to transportation mode or health.  Think about law of the land or church and every other form of structure and see what I meant.  Also notice how some things gained popularity so quickly and its legacy last so long afterwards—they usually have democratic qualities!

            If we think or say anyone as wrong, what are we subconsciously implying about ourselves?  Are we saying that we are better than them?  Notice Romans 2:1-3 is written after the list of sins in Romans 1.  Titus 1:15,16 also show the similar idea or teaching.  Paul wrote both of them, and he probably learn what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1-5.  So let us be careful when we think our church is the only right church.  I have talked about this before, and that means you can see I am experiencing confirmation to my observations and beliefs.  When we resist differences or change, we tend to want to control others in that field.  We become more susceptible to quote Scriptures to defend our views—and make others feel guilty for enjoying such liberties.  At least, that is how I notice in myself, and I don't feel I am any different than anyone else.

            Let us share the gospel, because we want to be used by God to spread the good news.  There are still some people who grew up never knowing about God.  Also, we want to share the gospel, so we can receive correction like Paul have experienced with Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18:26.  This is probably my subconscious way of learning.  I didn't want to start argument, yet I may seem like I am trying to get the last word.  When people have nothing more to say, I often felt bad.  Yet when I look back to those times, I realize those people are teaching me something.  I am trying to curb my "evil appearance" of always saying things in a way that put my listeners or readers in the box.  I am suspecting that is why some people don't like me, although that can be said about Jesus too.  Now I am trying to let others have the last word, even if I feel like I am strangling myself!  It does help if I remember that everyone have to learn his own way, and no matter how I say it, he won't get it unless he is ready to receive it.

            I am back to mowing grass.  I think I like that better than making apple dumplings!  I make apple dumplings through the winter, which we quit selling by now.  Now we are selling rhubarb pies.  In a month or two, we will be selling strawberry pies—mmmm!

            We are building an additional storage space behind the mini-barn.  I sometimes wish I could help, but I hate the thought of working with people who don't know sign language.  Another attack of letting deafness win...hm?  When they put roofing on, it will be Bradley Horst and his brothers.  They are from our church group and they know sign language because I taught them and they have deaf sisters.  Maybe I will help then!  <Grin>