Wukei's Xanga

Viewing the Bible Through a Child's Eyes

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:32:42 GMT

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.

Back...Again...

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:14:49 GMT

Due to a sickness and computer problems, I was out again...hopefully I'll get things running by this evening. Probably not, though. Still not feeling well.

Words of Yesterday and Sinning

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:17:43 GMT

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.

His Words of the Day: Murder, and Caring for Others

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:48:28 GMT

B’resheet 4:8-16; Kayin had words with Hevel his brother; then one time, when they were in the field, Kayin turned on Hevel his brother and killed him.

Adonai said to Kayin, “Where is Hevel your brother?” And he replied, “I don’t know; am I my brother’s guardian?” He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood at your hands. When you farm the ground it will no longer yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive, wandering the earth.” Kayin said to Adonai, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. You are banning me today from the land and from your presence. I will be a fugitive wandering the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Adonai answered him, “Therefore, whoever kills Kayin will receive vengeance sevenfold,” and Adonai put a sign on Kayin, so that no one who found him would kill him. So Kayin left the presence of Adonai and lived in the land of Nod (wandering), east of Eden.

Kayin was the first ever to be banned from ever seeing God again. I’d discussed how God had become angry with Adam and Havah because they didn’t apologize, but tried to hide their mistake. Wanting to understand is a far lesser sin than murder, and Kayin didn’t apologize either. He tried to hide his mistake. And once again, God—knowing all—saw right through his lie. He turned Kayin away from Him. He sent Kayin away from his family, because God wished to remain with Adam and Havah, but refused to be with the murderer.

Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who nurses anger against his brother will be subject to judgement; that whoever calls his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the Sanhedrin; that whoever says, ‘Fool!’ incurs the penalty of burning in the fires of Gei-Hinnom!” (Mattityahu 5:22)

If you wish for someone to die, or if you wish you could kill them, you are committing murder in your heart. God still says that murderers do not belong with Him. No one is good-for-nothing, no one is a fool. God doesn’t make mistakes, so He must have made these people for a reason. You have no right to call them a fool. Love them, as God loves them. Ask for forgiveness when you fall short of that love.

Back to Kayin, when God asked him where his brother was--perhaps one of the most famous lines from the bible about an uncaring person—he said, “Am I my brother’s guardian?” The answer is, “Yes, you are.” We all are put here—not only to test ourselves—but to care for others. We aren’t only put here to guard our actual brothers, but all of humanity.

There have been two cases recently of people dying where the people around them just ignored them. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/01/hospital.death.ap/index.html and http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/11/national/main4172680.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4172680) Human beings were set here not just to care for ourselves. We’re also meant to care for those around us. These two people might have been saved had anyone near them actually taken the time to help them. These people deserve our sympathy. If this happened to you, you’d want someone to help you. Why, then, are you not there helping that person?

Every time I see these two news articles, I am sure that many in this world are not able to be saved. I want to know why the people around those injured just ignored them. Would you be late for work? Is that a real excuse? How can people just stand around and watch a dead or dying body without some kind of remorse? Has humanity become so cold that we’ve stopped caring completely?

Those reading this are not the ones I’m worried about. It’s those that don’t believe that God cares whether we’re killed or not. Or don’t believe in God at all. He cared so much about Hevel that He said Kayin was no longer welcome in His presence. He loved Kayin as well, but He wanted Kayin not only to love Him, but his fellow human beings.

We must love others, just as God does. He wants us to reach out to others, and help if we can. We must try our best to do as He does.

God Bless,

--Wukei

Is it Theft?

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:30:19 GMT

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.

Scared of Identity Theft...Maybe Too Scared.

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:41:43 GMT

I like to think that I don't do much that could risk my identity getting stolen. However, you constantly see CHILDREN getting their identity stolen all the time, and where would they use their social for that to be a possibility? Their full name, birthday, and social security number are used less than any adult. Even myself.

A few weeks ago I received a letter in the mail saying "activation notice." Well that usually implies that you have a credit card or phone that's been started, and they're letting you know. It was an advertisement from AT&T. After receiving and being scared of that envelope for the third time, I've decided that I will NEVER use the AT&T services, because they use the danger of identity theft to scare you into opening their ads.

They're not the only ones that have scared me, though. Today I received a letter from Beneficial:

"Dear Valued Customer,

Beneficial wants you to understand how we protect your privacy when we collect and use information about you. Please read the enclosed Privacy Statement that details our commitment to you, our customer, and provides you with valuable information that will help you make an informed decision about sharing your data.

We would like to thank you for your business and look forward to helping you with your financial needs in the future.

Sincrely,

Beneficial"

Enclosed was also their privacy statement. This is usually given to people who have just started service. As far as I knew, I'd never signed up for Beneficial. The only credit cards I currently own are my paypal debit card and my bank debit card. I don't like credit. So I was scared to death that this actually happened; I'd finally had someone leave me with a bill for the stuff they got. Luckily, it was just Beneficial sending me a stupid privacy notice after I closed an account with them over 3 years ago.

How scared are you at the concept that it's now so easy for someone to steal your whole life?

His Words of the Day: Give Him Your Best

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:41:22 GMT

B’resheet 4:2-7; In addition she gave birth to his brother Hevel (Abel). Hevel kept sheep, while Kayin (Cain) worked the soil. In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil; and Hevel too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offering but did not accept Kayin and his offering. Kayin was bery angry, and his face fell. Adonai said to Kayin, “Why are you angry? Why so downcast? If you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door—it wants you, but you can rule over it.”

Whenever someone gave a good offering—the first or the best of his flock or field—it always says so in the bible. So since it neither said of the first or best of the field, I would only assume that Kayin did not give of the best of his field. That would also explain why God did not accept it.

Do you give your ten percent at church? It is really not that much, when you think about it. I don’t work (and yes, I know I complained about people my age not working, but it’s very hard to find a job that you can do when you’ve not finished college and you’re handicapped [but I still look]) but I try to find a way to still give my ten percent. I teach the children at the church. I also try hard to work on colouring books, since God gave me the talent of being a decent artist.

Now, most people give their 10% out of obligation or any donation to the church. I have to admit, sometimes I felt obligated to go to church because of being a teacher. And yes, you are sort of obligated. However, you shouldn’t feel as though you’re obligated. You should WANT to give to God. If you want to give to your parents, but not to God, you don’t really hold Him above them, do you? He should come before everything, even your own wellbeing.

Do you have anything you own that you decided to get instead of giving to the church? How long until you think you’ll lose interest in it? Will God ever lose interest in you? No. He will love you for eternity. He loves us all, even those who don’t love Him. Knowing how much He loves me, I am glad to give my time and effort to teach others of Him, even if I can’t give money to the church.

It doesn’t have to be money. Your ten percent can be going out and spreading word about Him. It is giving food to the poor as you speak His name, hoping that you’ve reached even one of them. It is helping someone you see with a broken down car on the side of the road. You should help and spread His word. Don’t ever force someone to hear His word, but do everything in a Christian manner so that you can spread His love to others.

A lifetime is nothing compared to eternity, and He will care for you for all time if you just put Him first for this short time we call life.

God Bless,

--Wukei

What is your stance on religion? Are you a religious person?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:07:11 GMT

I am Christian. Not Baptist, Catholic, etc. I don't believe in sects. Human laws should never be believed in above God's laws.

I also don't fight against other religions or others' beliefs in the physical world. You have the right to believe what you want. God gave you that right. It is not our place to judge.

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

What are a few of your favorite things?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:16:36 GMT

God is always on my mind. And teaching His word is quite a joy, especially when I can do it through my colouring books.

Writing fictional stories and drawing are second.

Playing video games and reading are third.

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

His Words of the Day: To Work

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:14:46 GMT

B’resheet 3:16-19; To the woman He said, “I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you.”

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, ‘You are not to eat from it,’ the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat field plants. You will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead ‘til you return to the ground—for you were taken out of it; you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

Nowadays, people around my age (25) and younger expect everything to be handed to them. So did Adam and Havah. They still worked, some, by caring for the animals. God gave them a job to do, and they did it. But the garden was also perfect. They didn’t have to kill animals to protect themselves with the animals’ hides, and the trees bore fruit for them without their work. But Adam and Havah worked more than even some people now. They cared for the animals. Now, if a young person is told to do something hard, they throw a fit.

We have been shown that it’s okay to not work. Mom and Dad will take care of anything. Once again, my sister is the perfect proof of our society. She has $2000 in her savings (and it would have been more, but she spent some of the money from her savings that my parents gave her), but instead of paying for her own way in life, she whines at our parents. She goes out with her friends three to four times a week, and expects for us to pay for things she “can’t afford.” The rest of my family hasn’t gone out for any type of fun for over two years now. We occasionally go out to eat, but that’s rare, too. My sister goes out to eat almost daily, sometimes more than once a day.

Over half of the young people of today don’t know how to live in the real world. Every time I think about this, I am drawn back to the words of today’s lesson. Adam probably didn’t know how to work, either. He had no father to show him how to till the soil. He had no predecessor to show him which plants were okay to eat.

However, even though God put him out of the garden, defenseless, Adam moved on. He learned how to till. He learned what plants were safe. He learned to work. It’s about time that our own predecessors remove themselves from their children who are perfectly fit and able to take care of themselves. It’s about time we fend for ourselves, because we CAN. Young people today are not all handicapped. We can move forward, we just need to know we have to. Parents need to give their children a little tough love. They need to ignore our whining, occasionally.

I hope you work as hard as you can every day. Not only for yourself and your wellbeing, but for the glory of God.

God Bless,

--Wukei