Do the right thing

There was a movie by Spike Lee called ‘Do the Right Thing’

I’d like to re-iterate that by saying, in life we have to try to do the right thing.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, we know that this is more akin to following what you know is right in your heart, rather than what everyone else is doing.

Some injustices are perpetrated by culture, for example inheritance.  In most cultures, men inherit and women get nothing.  This, in my opinion, is not right.  It is true men carry the family name, but more often women are the ones that are helping (for example taking care of elderly parents).  Women should receive something, because when they get married, it is not the best for them to not have anything and totally live off the husband’s family money.  That could be a source of tension and conflict.

Second wives were and still are common in many cultures.  But, the Bible shows us that men and women were created for each other to be ‘one’.  So one man for one woman, and vice-versa.

So, be revolutionary and dare to ‘do the right thing’.

Gender roles – just my take

Traditionally, men do certain things and women do certain things.  For example, men don’t do most housework, instead they work in the yard.  These divisions exist for a reason.  Mainly, I believe, as a division of labor, so one person isn’t doing everything, and that each person has their specialty.

I’d like to posit that men and women, instead of drawing territorial lines and expecting each other to do this and that, should work on most everything together.

My example is cleaning.  Okay, in general, women clean.  Men don’t clean.  But, what if something is very dirty.  Like poop all over the place or getting under furniture or around heavy furniture.  You gotta call in a guy.  So, here we see categories are not that clear cut.

Another example is, let’s say a guy has to change a light bulb that is very high up.  The lady could help by holding things or passing him things.  If not, the guy has to go up and down the ladder and hold a lot of things.  This could be dangerous.  Something as simple as holding the ladder, passing things, is very important and makes things go a lot easier.

So, what do you think?  Clear cut division of labor?  Or couples working together?  Its your call.

GOD saved my life, He is real

I remember my life before I let Jesus Christ in.

It was full of uncontrollable strife, I could not do good.

Things went so out of control and down, that I tried to take my life.

…

But GOD, our LORD Jesus Christ is stronger than that.  He saved my life, when I should have died.  And then He made himself ‘real’ to me.  He spoke to me and that started my journey of faith with Him.

This is a story I’ve told many times.  I won’t lie, I sometimes get tired of telling it.  But the main point is that GOD is a GOD of miracles.  He wants to show up big in your life, if you’ll let Him.  He doesn’t mind proving Himself to you, and building up a real relationship over time.  He’ll back up every one of His promises in the Bible with real acts and blessings in your life.  So that eventually, He will be everything to you.  Not just in faith and hope, but in reality.  You can point back to times in your life, when GOD did this and that for you.

Hang in there, and witness the goodness of GOD!

Psalm 91 – GOD Protects!

Psalm 91

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

That’s powerful.  And we can trust this, GOD says it.  Lately, someone came into our little family’s lives and wrecked some havoc.  No problem.  We’ll just undo everything.  But, we are confident that GOD has our backs…and fronts…all around!  No one can touch us unless GOD Almighty says so first.  We will not fear.  Evil will be punished.  And all damages will be restored and even increased.  Just like in the story of Job.

Fear not.

 

Digeus SnapIt – Product Review

The folk(s) over at Digeus, actually approached me to put a link to their website.  How cool is that?

Please visit their site using the above link, or the one in the sidebar.  They make software useful for optimizing your system and other cool software like SnapIt and the Digeus Online TV Player.

They showed me their SnapIt software.  Basically, Mac users, it makes printscreen on the Windows more like ‘printscreen’ on the Mac.  I hope its ok to say that.  While SnapIt is running, when one presses printscreen (Its actually written Print Screen, but me writing it together makes it look more like a button, go figure) a cross appears, and then one can drag to create an area.  That area is what gets copied to the Windows clipboard.  One then can paste it into various programs.  Not all programs will be able to paste.

But, the coolest feature is one can turn on auto save, so that every printscreen is saved to a designated folder.  I created the above picture for this post really rather quickly.  I snapped it, and then I uploaded the picture from the SnapIt pictures folder.  Before SnapIt, I would have to hit printscreen, open my graphics program, wait, then create a canvas, paste from the clipboard, crop the picture, then save it as a .gif or .jpeg.  Whew!

Free Trial Downloads available!  Irreplaceable tool for Designers, Office Workers, Business People, Analysts.  Perfect for Technical Writers who have to describe interfaces, menus, buttons, etc.

Maybe now I can do some Tech. writing?  Maybe! Thanks, Digeus!

Meditations on Ephesians 3:14-19

Prayer for us:

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

First of all, the Ephesians were saints.  If one were to look at how the letters are addressed, most of them are to the church at where and where.  But St. Paul calls the Ephesians, “saints”.  Cool, huh?

Looking at verse 16, we see that GOD’s Spirit strengthens our spirit.  Yes, we have spirits, the ‘inner being’.  Our spirits are strengthen when we are united with GOD’s Spirit.  The goal is that Christ live in our hearts.  This is done through faith, GOD’s Word working with, in, thru us.  Faith allows us to ‘connect’ with GOD.

It seems that we are built up in love.  GOD is love.  But, a main thing, is if we understand just how great GOD’s love is for us, then we know, which has tones of intimacy, we experience GOD’s love, then GOD fills us with himself, which is love, He fills us with His love, to an infinite measure!  Deep stuff, huh?

St. Paul prays for the two things are: Unity w/ GOD (comes power), and to be filled with GOD’s love (power).  Love fuels the pump that is the heart that drives the whole person.

Dear Child or Children

Dear Child or Children,

I raised you up, taught you all I knew, poured my resources into you.  Loved you.

And when you grew up, you didn’t need me anymore.  I gave you more, I gave you inheritance.

Now, I’m 90 years old.  My mind is going…my body was gone long ago.  Now, I need care.  I’m helpless like a babe.

Where are you?  You don’t want me now that I’m old, now that I have nothing to offer you.

- – - – - – - – - -

Comment:  Its sad.  The elderly often don’t have family that cares.  Doesn’t it make sense that dad and mom changed your diapers, so later you change their diapers?  Well, you don’t have to, you can hire a nurse to do it.

I know a family of 5 grown kids.  No one wants to chip in to help take care.  Only 1 kid is caring.  And she’s not a son.  She’s getting old herself and the other kids don’t want to care, they don’t want money from the 1 kid (cause she’s rich).  Sad, sad, sad.

Hallelujah! I just lost 25 pounds!

Since I’ve been back from Taiwan, I’ve been losing weight.  From Oct. 2 til now, Oct.31, I’ve lost 25 pounds!

How did I do it?

Sinner or Righteous?

Jesus Christ himself rather went after the ’sinners’ and harshly rebuked the ‘righteous’.

Which one are you?

Sinners were those unchurched, not going to church.  The righteous were regular, church going people.  But why would Christ be harsh with the righteous?  Aren’t they doing the right thing by religiously going to the (temple)?

I believe GOD looks right into our hearts.  And although both sinners and the righteous, sin.  There is great hypocrisy in many churches, even today.  Many in church leadership, even today, are leading church-goers down, down, down.  As Christ said,”

Get a Girlfriend

This is a message from GOD…”get a girlfriend”

…

Just joking.  Or actually half-joking.

I’m not really qualified, but I’ve done so much of the wrong thing when it comes to girls/women that I now have an idea of what the right thing could be.

I think the problem with some guys and girls is that they take things too fast.  They get serious too soon.

Why not just be a friend to some girl?  Why do you have to show off, buy her a lot of stuff, and try to get into her pants.  Sorry, if that statement offends.

You could talk to her on the phone.  You could meet for coffee.  How about remembering her birthday?  Or helping her when she needs it, like closing her typhoon shutters or helping her move something.

Maybe you could have one, or two, or even three girls that are friends.  Because its not serious.  But, just get to know the person.  Care about her.  And overtime, you will see if she returns your care.  You will see if she responds.  And overtime, you will see if she is right for you.

My Long Testimony

What is a testimony?

It is not really saying something nice about Jesus, the textbook defintion of a testimony is:  A solemn statement made under oath.

So what would I like to testify to today?  That the True Gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Why be Wronged?

The Apostle Paul tells us that instead of taking brothers to court, why not be wronged?

That is an interesting concept.

An Eye for an Eye

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  -Jesus Christ, fr. Matthew 5.

My mom a while back, said this is hard to do.  My wife tells me its kind of dumb.  But, this is Jesus’s way.  And He is the Way.

The point is do not be afraid to be ‘taken advantage’ of, to be wronged.  Be a giver for the LORD.  Give your body, your belongings, your time, your energy, your money…to win people for the LORD.   Don’t be afraid to give your all to the LORD.  After all, He can fill you up, again and again.

Elijah the Prophet, Well to Do?

Elijah the Prophet is an interesting character from the Bible, 1 Kings.

He bursts on the scene w/ no introduction, performs wonderous miracles and signs, and then after a few chapters is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.

But here’s a question – what did he do to feed himself?  Was he rich?  Poor?  Some people would say he totally depended on the LORD as shown by being fed by ravens and being fed by the widow of Zarephath.  But I’m not so sure.  These are just my thoughts.  Some musings, if you will…

Can Men and Women Be Friends?

For those of us who remember When Harry Met Sally, the movie…remember that question?

‘Can Men and Women be friends?’

My answer is yes.  I’ll say why I think so.

Be the light, To Be p.5

Jesus Christ, told us to be the salt and the light.  I’d like to talk about being light this post.  What do the scriptures say?  Let’s see:

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:14

also:

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. – John 1:3-9

Say Yes to Your Wife

To all the young, unmarried ones out there.  Might I pass some of my experience to you?

In the beginning of our marriage, my wife and I were two individuals who got married mostly for selfish reasons.  But, as the LORD would have it, we had a baby almost right away.  And so, we blessed each other greatly, and our love for each other grew.  There were times when I could see, that my son, only wanted my wife to comfort him.  I could see that my wife was so important to the family; necessary.  And so my respect and love for her grew more.  It’s only been two years, and we still have our share of fights, but we’re very happy.  A big part of it was learning how to love and respect each other.  Also, learning who this other person is, and celebrating their gifts but also learning how to get along despite differences and shortcomings.

Now, comes the saying ‘yes’ part.  I get selfish and lazy too.  After working hard all day, and helping others.  Quite often, I’ll shut off when I go home and fail to serve my wife.  That just doesn’t make sense.  I used to not want to help around the house, do things she asked, or just spend time talking with her.  Why not?  After all, she and I (and GOD) make up the main part of the family.  When the communication and caring break down, the family unit will break down.  I’ve learned to always say ‘yes’ to what my wife says.  Not because I’m whipped.  Sometimes I’ll say ‘no’, but then change my mind and say ‘yes’.  I say ‘yes’, because it shows that I care about what she thinks.  It also shows that I care about her needs.  Sometimes, my wife will ask for too much.  But I say ‘yes’ anyways, because, quite often, she thinks about it and changes her mind.  So, I don’t have to be a bad guy.  I just agree, and always say ‘yes’.  After all, she said ‘yes’ or ‘I do’ to me…and it changed my life!  So much better now!  I pray the LORD keep us together always, and happily together!

Be Generous – To Be p4

Generosity is easy to talk about, but hard to do consistently.  Basically GOD gives to us, so we can enjoy life, but also so that we may help others.  Be blessed to be a blessing.  Here are some Bible verses and comments:

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

2 Cor. 9

Love your Women

Love women.  We should all love one another.  But today, I’d like to talk specifically about women.  Women are different from men.  Not better, not worse, just not the same.  That doesn’t mean men have to be like women, or women have to be like men.  But, men and women should work together in harmony, as a team.

We should appreciate each other’s differences.  After, we complement one another.  We should appreciate each other’s talents and contributions.  GOD put men and women together because they can help each other.  Since I’ve been married, my wife has helped me make smarter decisions.  Major decisions we always make together with prayer and consideration.  GOD’s opinion counts the most.  We often wait for an indication, usually through circumstances, of how He wants us to go.  Back to women, guys usually make decisions very quickly, which can be detrimental.  Women, at least my wife makes me slow down and think about it, because they are usually by nature more cautious.  Funny to say, usually I’m right.  But, not all the time.  And taking time to do things right is usually the best policy, because things get shaken out, and turn aright over time, by GOD’s grace.

Men, loving your women means valuing them.  And making them feel loved and secure.  If that involves working another job, then so be it.  Your priorities, on this earth, after GOD, is to take care of your own, your family.  That is true religion.  Speak words of love.  Words that will lift her spirit, make her feel cherished, and never say things to tear her down.  As husband, you have responsibility to look after her – even rebuking her, when she is in the wrong, when that time comes.  Care for her as you would care for your own body.  Is her hair nice?  Is she in shape?  Wearing nice clothes?  Does she look like a queen? Is she eating, drinking, and sleeping well?

Women, you have to love your men, too.  Love involves a lot of things.  But I’d like to say respecting his leadership is part of loving him.  GOD create man before woman.  That order means something.  Leadership in GOD’s eyes is actually not lording over but a loving, servant type leadership.  A gentle, patient leading…not pushing or forcing.

Just My Take – Parable of the Sower

I’d just like to say a few things about this parable:

Many preachers get it right by saying this is about your heart condition.  Is your heart in a good condition to receive the seed of GOD’s Word’s of Truth?

Your heart condition is how sinful is your heart.  If you have a very sinful heart…you will not be able to understand Words of Spiritual Truth.

God ‘knows’ everybody

I was thinking one day.  ‘Doesn’t GOD know everybody, since He is Omniscient, and yes, He created everyone and everything?”

That’s true isn’t it?

And aren’t we supposed to be like our Father?

Then why is it, that someone whom you met, or are acquaintences with gets a ‘look away’ from you.  Or maybe you don’t take the time to say hello, when you know you should?

Doing Life

After watching, Uncle Nino, a movie about doing life with more concern for the people in our lives.  I was prompted to post.

What a great message to some of those living in the United States of America.  Those of us chasing the American Dream.

In the movie, we see the father of the family, too busy to take care of his family.  His heart is good.  He is working hard to provide good things for his family.  But, what the family also needs is his presence.  They need his leadership.  They need his love.

Corruption

Here on Guam, the front page news is sometimes quite often corruption in the government.

It’s always a shocker, but I’m here to say that our world has long been corrupted.  It’s pretty much all marked to be destroyed in God’s fire at the end of the age.

Is there anything safe from this fire?  No, sadly no…wait!  There is…

(joking)

The spirits of men that have been faithful to the LORD Jesus.  The souls of men that are in the Spirit of Christ.

This is not to say that true believers should give up on the world.  Sure, its not perfect.  But its the only one we’ve got for now.  Let’s do the best we can with what we have.

On a different note, look around.  Have you been looking through rose-colored glasses?  Corruption and impurity may lie where you least expect.  Ask GOD to give you wisdom, and to open the eyes and ears of your heart.

What can you do to help?  Again, ask GOD.  He knows all the answers.

Spiritual Songs

Colossians 3:16

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

I’ve heard the voice of the Spirit when someone preaches.  I’ve also ‘heard’ the voice of the Spirit reading someone’s blog.  Might it be possible to hear the voice of the Spirit during a musical performance?  I did while listening to the music of Planetshakers, from Australia.

The Spirit is GOD, and He is like the wind.  So I don’t think the Spirit is captured by medium.  How the Spirit works is amazing.  He works with spiritual men and women.

The Spirit is truth.  And those who like to hear the truth and love the truth will be attracted to His voice.

Lyrics from Planetshakers, ‘I’m Yours’:

Oh Lord, when I think of all you’ve done,

my heart sings of your love that saved my soul and made me whole.

My life is yours.

Cause you paid the price.  I give you my life.  I’m yours. *2

- – - – - – - – - – - – - -

So no matter what the cost, I will go for you.

No matter what it takes, I’m yours.

Because you paid the price at Calvary,

I give you my whole life, I’m yours.

- – - – -  – - – - -  – - -

Oh Lord, my everything.  To you I give My heart and soul.

I live for you alone.  I’m not my own.

My life is yours.

Cause you paid the price.  I give you my life.  I’m yours. *2

- – - – -  – - – - -  – - -

So no matter what the cost, I will go for you.

No matter what it takes, I’m yours.

Because you paid the price at Calvary,

I give you my whole life, I’m yours. *2

- – - – -  – - – - -  – -

Cause you paid the price.  I give you my life.  I’m yours. *4

- – - – -  – - – - -  – -

So no matter what the cost, I will go for you.

No matter what it takes, I’m yours.

Because you paid the price at Calvary,

I give you my whole life, I’m yours. *2

- – - – -  – - – - -  – -

I’m yours.  Jesus I’m yours. *2

Nuances of Taiwanese Culture

I just came back from a trip to Taiwan and I am Taiwanese, so Taiwan is on my mind right now.

Just some of my observations about Taiwanese:

1)Some Taiwanese don’t like cold, cold drinks.  It goes back to the belief that you have ‘heat’ or energy in your body.  Drinking cold drinks would extinguish the fire within you.  Not good for your health according to some sources.  In the US, most everyone likes ice cold drinks.  It’s refreshing!  I went to Taiwan when it was hot.  Its a dry heat.  And that makes your throat drier.  When I desperately wanted a cold, refreshing drink, I sometimes got a meagerly cool one.

2) Taiwanese are on the whole thin people.  I weigh 250+ pounds.  So I stood out like a sore thumb.  Mainly, its diet.  Taiwanese eat small portions.  They eat a little rice, mostly veggies and tofu.  Taiwanese also like to walk a lot.  Many Taiwanese like to go to parks in their free time and ’sanpo’ (walk around).  They also drink a lot of tea.  Black tea and green tea.  Although there are soft drinks galore in Taiwan, the local taste is still iced teas.  There are many shops that serve refreshments including iced teas, iced drinks, shaved ice, and ice cream.  Tea ups your metabolism, curbs appetite, and also is generally good for your health.

3) I did not know that the cost of living in Taiwan is much lower than the U.S.  Salaries are lower too.  The average salary is about $1000 USD per month.  You can have a meal for $1-2 dollars.  Rents are about half the cost in the U.S.  The lower tier workers usually make about $4-$5 dollars/hour.  In my opinion, this makes Taiwan a good place to own a business.  Even commercial rents are low.  There are a lot of people in Taiwan.  Lot of competition, but lots of people.

4) Taiwanese families like to live together.  I think Filipino and Mexican families are a like.  It is not strange that a 30 year old unmarried person would still be living at home.  It is expected that you take in your aged parents.  They raised you and took care of you, so when they are old its time to return the favor.  These can be a cause of tension.  Usually, say if a 30+ unmarried man is living at home (confession: that was me), the Dad usually wants him out as soon as possible.  About grandpas and grandmas living in a home, sometimes husbands and wives will fight over whose parents will live with them.  Usually wives (daughters) want to be ’shao’  (孝, a Chinese virtue) or ‘good, honoring kids’ so she wants to take care of the parents.  Women are so good.  Usually the men are not fulfilling their responsibilities to take care of the parents.  It is the responsibility of the oldest son to take care of the parents.  The oldest son gets the largest inheritence as well.  But, if he fails, then the next in line are the other sons.  It is kind of shameful if the daughter is taking care of the parents, because she is ‘married out’ to her husband’s side.  But quite often, the daughters do the most work, cause they’re just good.

5) Taiwanese love David Hasselhoff.  Oh wait…that’s the Germans.  :)

Chinese (Taiwanese) Culture, p2

If you’re following along, I posted mainly on bowing last time.  Have you mastered that yet?  No?  Don’t worry, it takes a while.  I believe there is an ‘art’ to bowing.  Ha-ha.  I’m half joking.

Today I’d like to talk about drinking at meals.  I am reminded of this because just recently I returned from a trip to Taiwan, where I had some drinks at a meal with my wife’s relatives.

It’s really rather interesting and in my opinion considerate.  Here’s how it goes.

Superpost, Matthew 25 – Be prepared, be working, be helpful, To Be p.3

Remember, I’ve been thinking of what we might be doing while we’re waiting on the LORD.  I posted ‘Be the Salt’ and ‘Be Religious’.  Now we have a superpost.  Hope you’ll follow along.  Matthew 24 talks about waiting for Jesus Christ to return.  We will not know when.   JC will come ‘like a thief in the night’.  Our LORD and GOD, Jesus Christ, will come in power!  It will be a glorious scene with Him and his angels coming to harvest the world.  He’ll be in the sky, and his angels will come wisk you away.  So JC wants us not to be decieved.  When He returns you’ll know how and there will be no confusion that, yup, that’s GOD!

SO before then what else are we supposed to be doing?

The Law of the Tithe

I feel this information is so important so I’m posting.  And I’ll regularly repost this material.  I have an e-book on tithing that is downloadable to the right.  It was very well written by Graeme Carle from New Zealand.  And don’t worry I got permission for him/his wife to host it.

Have you ever been confused about the tithe?  Then let’s look at Deuteronomy 14:22 -29.

Be Religious, To Be p2

What does it mean to be religious?

Does it mean you go to church, say ‘Praise the LORD’, raise your hands in church, sing hymns, and Bible study like a maniac?  Those things are good, but can also be abused? 

I think religion has to do more with how you live your life?  Everyday things.  In my experience, it is through your everyday life that GOD shapes you.

After searching Biblegateway for ‘religion’, here is what I came up with:

Be the Salt of the Earth, To Be p1

Lately I’ve been wondering…what are we supposed to be doing here on earth while our LORD is gone.  Is it to be religiously going to church and doing Bible studies?  That’s part of it.  But let’s look at the words of our LORD.  He said during His Sermon on the Mount, ‘You are the salt of the earth’.

What does that mean?

After doing a keword search for ’salt’ on Biblegateway.com, I found numerous uses for salt.

Motherhood, My New Perspective

I realized that for some time now, I’ve been underappreciating what my wife does as a mother.

Somewhere down the line, our culture has devalued the role of mother, and instead elevating the role of careerwoman.  There is nothing wrong with women working alongside men in the workplace.  Some single mothers need to work to support their families.  But, what I’m talking about is the reaction you get at parties…

“So what do you do?”

“I’m a stay-at-home mom”

“Oh”

*End of conversation*

I know that often people don’t understand this role, and thus the reaction.  So I’d like to try to fill in the gaps and show how much work I’ve seen my wife do for our little son.

6am – Baby (hes now 20 months) wakes up.  No sleeping in.  Baby sleeps at 8 or 9pm so hes up now. 

6:15 – Make baby breakfast, usu. some cereal or bread and warm milk.

Wait…

7:00am – change poopy diaper.

fr. 7-11:30 – Playtime, time to teach him something, maybe they go out.  But keep in mind, where ever baby goes, he makes a mess.  He touches things.  There are snacks and drink times within this period.  Where there’s eating…there’s pooping and peeing.  Baby goes through 6-8 diaper changes a day. 

11:30 – 12:30: Lunch.  Mom usually makes lunch for baby.  That means clean ups from the floor, on the baby, and dishes to be cleaned.

12:30 -2pm: Naptime.  Babies don’t usually nap on their own.  They need to be put down.  Mom has to sleep with him.    But she doesn’t actually sleep.  She waits til he sleeps.  Dad watches him, and Mom goes out to try to get something done for herself.

2-6pm: Playtime, teaching, maybe playdate or just going out.  It’s easiest if there are two watching him at all times.  I help my wife, b/c I have a very flexible job as a resident manager.  But it must be very difficult for wife when husband goes to work, if mom’s mom doesn’t help out.  Then the mom is stuck at home basically.  The mom also has to try to squeeze in time to clean the house and do laundry, and do dishes.  Very difficult when you have to watch the kid.  They can get into all kinds of trouble.  So the house is usually a mess.  Something to get used to.  You also learn to read your baby.  If he’s cranky, hes either hungry, thirsty, needs a potty change, sleepy, or wants something else.  All the crying and misbehaving is trying.  Something else to get used to.

6-7: Dinner.  Mom makes it usually.  We don’t usually buy food, it’s cheaper and healthier to make dinner.  That means more cleanups.

8pm: Time to put baby to bed again.  This mean making warm milk, singing to baby or telling him a story. 

By this time, mom is exhausted, mentally as well as physically.  The house is usually still a mess.  And mom hasn’t had time for herself all day.  My wife usually claims the tv as her ‘me time’ til ten.  She tries to clean, and then goes to bed by 10:00pm.  Mom doesn’t have time for nice clothes, makeup, exercise, spas, nails, pedicures, much time for her old friends anymore.  Sad.  It’s a big sacrifice to be a mom.