Matthew 18:2-4  ² Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. ³ Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴ So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

We often forget this part of the scripture, but it is one of the most important passages in the bible, and I believe a hint to people of more modern heritage.  Now, with scientists proving evolution and how long it took to create the universe, the bible still holds true!

Have you ever taken a child aside and tried to explain something they normally wouldn't learn until college?  (Say, quantum physics...)  If you have, did they understand?  Absolutely not.  Did you try to explain how a rainbow is made?  They understand this quite a bit easier, as you can give them an example they can actually see.  This is similar to God's trying to teach us how He created the world.

To God, all time is similar.  If He told His children how long it actually took to make the universe, or tried to explain something they've never seen before (such as a dinosaur) they simply wouldn't understand.  We take advantage of the fact that our children know what a Tyrannosaurus Rex is!  Even three-hundred years ago you would be considered a madman for saying such a creature actually existed.

Read the bible as a child would.  Or with the concept of the knowledge people had over two-thousand years ago.  Not everything is black and white.

Psalm 25:8; Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way.

Psalm 34:8; O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

Psalm 135:3; Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto His name; for it is pleasant.

(quoted from http://www.bible.com, KJV)

"Good" doesn't seem to reach quite how much God is better than us.  Nowadays, "good" is simply satisfactory.  However, when the bible was first translated into English, "good" was something that almost none could achieve.  We still see evil as an extreme, but good can be the taste of a cookie, or getting a 70 on an exam.  Since when did "good" mean, "meh, it's passable?"

"Sinning" is also a word that has had it's focus narrowed.  However, it's been narrowed to only the worst of our sins.  To LIE is a sin--we've forgotten that.  To look upon a woman/man in lust is a sin!

"but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell." Matthew 5:28-29 (ASV)

A single person now is not going to rip out their eye or tongue or rip off a hand if they think it will make them sin.  We all say "Jesus saves me."  HE was the one to say "if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better to lose one eye than to go to hell."  We are still held to this.

It is hard not to sin, but just because you can ask forgiveness doesn't mean you can sin without worry.  If you ask forgiveness for sinning, then do that sin again, are you really asking forgiveness?  To ask forgiveness you first have to regret and be set that you won't perform that sin again.  You may slip and commit the sin, even when truly asking forgiveness, but you must again ask forgiveness and try your hardest not to commit that sin!  You mustn't put yourself in a position to sin again, either.

"Jehovah, I'm sorry I had sex with that woman, I was drunk," the first time might work.  But if you go to a wild party again, intending to get drunk, don't you put yourself in a position to sin?  I'm not saying that drinking is a sin.  Jesus drank.  Drinking to EXCESS can cause other sins.  Don't do something if you know it's going to cause you to sin.

Don't sin and expect forgiveness.  If you do sin, ASK forgiveness.  Better to keep yourself away from a place where you know you're likely to commit a sin.

If you have read anything about my sister, you know that she is the epitome of current society.

My sister has $2000 in her savings account.  Know why?  Cuz mom and dad got a loan for $5000 to help her get a house she didn't get after all.  She gave back a bit after mom begged her for it, but she kept about $3000.

She goes out 3-4 times a week with her friends to the movies or dinner or something.  She always eats out.

She spends $900 a month paying to live in a hotel instead of getting an apartment.  (And you can get a good apartment there for about $400.)

She now has my car, since she's broken hers.  (Third car she's broken.)  So say goodbye to Nataku. (My car.)  And Dad and Mom pay for her insurance.

And she has the gall to ask my parents--the same people who have no money cuz they pay their bills, and never go out to play or go out to eat (haven't gone to play in 2 years)--if they'll pay for about $400 in bills, otherwise she's going to jail for writing hot checks.  Of course, my parents being the great people they are, they don't want her to go to jail so they pay it.

The only good thing that's come of this is my dad doesn't yell at me as much because I'm currently his favourite child.  (And this has never happened before since I was born. [He was so proud he kidnapped me right after I had my umbilical cord clipped and ran (well, not ran ran) the hospital halls to show me off.  Mom gave him a good whack for that.])

Dad wasn't able to buy something he really wanted to for his students because his extra money has gone to paying for Jennifer.  His money that he finally had to play with after a long while of only paying bills went toward yet more money thrown my sister's way that she sees as free money and will never pay back.

Mom says that she's not giving Jennifer any more money, but as soon as Jennifer's in trouble again, I know that Mom and Dad will help out.

Is hording money and begging my parents to pay for her, in a way, theft?  I think it is.  She can pay for herself, but she wants money to go out to play.  Something she really doesn't deserve.