Branden was born on August 31, 2010. He is the biggest baby I have ever made...10 lbs 2.4 oz and 21 inches long at birth.
Branden likes to eat and play. He doesn't like to sleep....
At 3.5 months, Branden is already outgrowing his size 2 diapers. He is wearing the 6 month old clothes already too! Branden is incredible, smart, and funny!
I love my son, Branden Nicholas...named after his beautiful Mommy, Brandee Nichole. She is the love of my life!!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
That Big Guy!
When he looks into my eyes, I can see a sparkle...a smile...a sound of laughter. That big guy is so gentle and kind to me. I look forward to playing with him every day. I look forward to when he feeds me, tickles me, and lifts me up... Someday I hope he knows how much I enjoy his company. I think I really love him...that big guy is my Daddy!--Branden
Friday, October 22, 2010
Love, Peace, and Eternity
When will this toil and trouble end LORD? I long for the peace that passeth understanding. I long for the happiness that only your Love can bring. My life is in your hands. When I try to manage things, nothing goes right. I give up! You take over; I don't know how to do it on my own.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Humans at Church
In my experience in dealing with people, I have discovered a group of people who attend church, take charge as spiritual leaders, and make the biggest mistakes. They are only human and imperfect. They are the elders, pastors, deacons, presidents, secretaries, treasurers, and other office holders. Often, they feel as though it is their mission to run everything their way...and they even believe that their way is the only way. Imagine that!
A couple of thousand years ago, the founder of Christianity, Yeshua bar Yosef, aka, The Messiah--Jesus Christ told these leaders that the perfect one can throw the first stone when it comes to passing judgment on a sinner. Back then, they were called the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and the Saducees...Temple leaders and teachers....
Did Christ say they were correct in how they handled their daily duties and their relationships with the rest of humanity? Not at all! So why then do the Church Leaders continue to live and pass judgment on others as they were told not to do back in the Gospel?
The reason is, we are human beings and we continue to return to our vomit like the dog, or the mud wallow like the pig. Without that divine relationship, we will continue to fail, and fail again. Does that mean we are all doomed? Of course not! What did Jesus teach us?
Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jew!" He taught us to pray to the Holy Father. He always deferred to God the Father. He was not about standing there like a "holier than thou" jerk to remind us of our frailties and other weaknesses. The accuser, Satan already has that job.
The Church or Congregation are His people. He saves them because He wants to. Those who are annointed or ordained to be leaders for us are supposed to guide us, and lead us closer to the Father, not to condemn us and make us run away from the Father.
To know Him is to Love Him, not to hate our fellow created beings for their less than perfect lives and actions. I pray that I can be a better leader for my family. I pray that I will not elect to condemn others. I am not the first to throw any stones. I am but a Sinner, hoping that I will be a member of the Elect who will be Saved in the End.
How can this happen? Can I earn it by doing good deeds? Of course not! We do good deeds because it is in our hearts to help others, and that is the Way that Yeshua taught us. Can fancy ceremonies, or nice clothes get me to Heaven? That's plain idiocy. Be true to yourself, and true to God. Character is how you are when only God is your witness.
If I follow the Law of God, will I then be saved? No way! If that were the case, nobody would be saved at all. Salvation is God's choice...and a lifestyle that the Saved only are able to live by. If you are finding it difficult, then pray and read the scriptures...ask for understanding and search the Book.
I could go on and on. I will end this blog now. Hope this got you to think about some things. Don't reject the Congregation of the Way just because some of the people don't belong there yet, or should not be leading just because of some kind of degree.
A couple of thousand years ago, the founder of Christianity, Yeshua bar Yosef, aka, The Messiah--Jesus Christ told these leaders that the perfect one can throw the first stone when it comes to passing judgment on a sinner. Back then, they were called the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and the Saducees...Temple leaders and teachers....
Did Christ say they were correct in how they handled their daily duties and their relationships with the rest of humanity? Not at all! So why then do the Church Leaders continue to live and pass judgment on others as they were told not to do back in the Gospel?
The reason is, we are human beings and we continue to return to our vomit like the dog, or the mud wallow like the pig. Without that divine relationship, we will continue to fail, and fail again. Does that mean we are all doomed? Of course not! What did Jesus teach us?
Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jew!" He taught us to pray to the Holy Father. He always deferred to God the Father. He was not about standing there like a "holier than thou" jerk to remind us of our frailties and other weaknesses. The accuser, Satan already has that job.
The Church or Congregation are His people. He saves them because He wants to. Those who are annointed or ordained to be leaders for us are supposed to guide us, and lead us closer to the Father, not to condemn us and make us run away from the Father.
To know Him is to Love Him, not to hate our fellow created beings for their less than perfect lives and actions. I pray that I can be a better leader for my family. I pray that I will not elect to condemn others. I am not the first to throw any stones. I am but a Sinner, hoping that I will be a member of the Elect who will be Saved in the End.
How can this happen? Can I earn it by doing good deeds? Of course not! We do good deeds because it is in our hearts to help others, and that is the Way that Yeshua taught us. Can fancy ceremonies, or nice clothes get me to Heaven? That's plain idiocy. Be true to yourself, and true to God. Character is how you are when only God is your witness.
If I follow the Law of God, will I then be saved? No way! If that were the case, nobody would be saved at all. Salvation is God's choice...and a lifestyle that the Saved only are able to live by. If you are finding it difficult, then pray and read the scriptures...ask for understanding and search the Book.
I could go on and on. I will end this blog now. Hope this got you to think about some things. Don't reject the Congregation of the Way just because some of the people don't belong there yet, or should not be leading just because of some kind of degree.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Fatherhood--New Perspective of Pain
Many have said that the way we relate to our human fathers reflects how we relate to our Heavenly Father. It was revealed to me that can be a two way street.
I was at one of those places between waking and sleeping...I was aware of my surroundings but something was demanding my attention and I had to take notice of it. The Bible stories of the Prodigal Son as well as the Fall of Man remind me somewhat of what I was seeing.
My children are away from me. The longing to be part of their lives is heartbreaking. When I see what reasons they are away from me, I realize that some would try to blame me. The facts reveal that there are other things that took place which made it all happen. Some of my children acted on poor judgment. I was implicated as being a bad person. All of us suffered...not just the children who did what they did. I suffered, and the innocent ones suffered as well. I considered allowing my children to communicate with their estranged and absent deadbeat mother...and I was forced to take the blame for them following their mother's ill spirited advice.
This story is not about me. It is about the dynamic interactions that lead to my current situation with my children, and how it made me feel and think about life and our Heavenly Father. The two older children followed some terrible advice and temptation. The World looked at the Father to blame for all of it. Why did God allow Satan to enter the Garden of Eden to tempt His two Created beings who were not fully aware of the knowledge of Good and Evil? Bible scholars probably could answer that one. The consequences...now all of God's children have to wait for the day when we can be reunited with Him.
The pain I feel in my heart every day and night...with tears in my eyes and sadness. My human lack of infinite knowledge lead me to make the choice to allow my children to communicate with someone with selfish motives that lead to the problems which prevent me from freely interacting with my beloved children. They all live so far away. I am not sure if they even remember me.
Astonished with the revelation I received. Our Heavenly Father did the same thing and feels so much worse than I do. How often do His children blame Him for the bad things in their lives? Our first earthly parents made the choice that ruined our World initially. Like the Prodigal Son, He longs for us to return to Him. Just as with my own children, I long for them to be able to be with me without someone saying things to make them feel unwelcome or at risk of messing up a relationship with the other person. When a person makes the attempt to get closer to God, the World ridicules him or her, trying to further break down that connection between our Maker and ourselves...We are afraid of being rejected by Our Father, and Our World (Society). Which of these will bring Redemption? You can make your own conclusions about all of this.
The bottom line is...I know the pain of God's heart when He longs for His children, Us.
I was at one of those places between waking and sleeping...I was aware of my surroundings but something was demanding my attention and I had to take notice of it. The Bible stories of the Prodigal Son as well as the Fall of Man remind me somewhat of what I was seeing.
My children are away from me. The longing to be part of their lives is heartbreaking. When I see what reasons they are away from me, I realize that some would try to blame me. The facts reveal that there are other things that took place which made it all happen. Some of my children acted on poor judgment. I was implicated as being a bad person. All of us suffered...not just the children who did what they did. I suffered, and the innocent ones suffered as well. I considered allowing my children to communicate with their estranged and absent deadbeat mother...and I was forced to take the blame for them following their mother's ill spirited advice.
This story is not about me. It is about the dynamic interactions that lead to my current situation with my children, and how it made me feel and think about life and our Heavenly Father. The two older children followed some terrible advice and temptation. The World looked at the Father to blame for all of it. Why did God allow Satan to enter the Garden of Eden to tempt His two Created beings who were not fully aware of the knowledge of Good and Evil? Bible scholars probably could answer that one. The consequences...now all of God's children have to wait for the day when we can be reunited with Him.
The pain I feel in my heart every day and night...with tears in my eyes and sadness. My human lack of infinite knowledge lead me to make the choice to allow my children to communicate with someone with selfish motives that lead to the problems which prevent me from freely interacting with my beloved children. They all live so far away. I am not sure if they even remember me.
Astonished with the revelation I received. Our Heavenly Father did the same thing and feels so much worse than I do. How often do His children blame Him for the bad things in their lives? Our first earthly parents made the choice that ruined our World initially. Like the Prodigal Son, He longs for us to return to Him. Just as with my own children, I long for them to be able to be with me without someone saying things to make them feel unwelcome or at risk of messing up a relationship with the other person. When a person makes the attempt to get closer to God, the World ridicules him or her, trying to further break down that connection between our Maker and ourselves...We are afraid of being rejected by Our Father, and Our World (Society). Which of these will bring Redemption? You can make your own conclusions about all of this.
The bottom line is...I know the pain of God's heart when He longs for His children, Us.
Shabbat Shalom!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Relationship with Society
I have written a few blogs about relationships with individuals. I am interested in how people relate to society as a whole as well. Do we have a responsibility to society in some way?
For the most part, I tend to think of myself as an individual with ideas and beliefs somewhat different from the rest of the people I know as society. My beliefs are different in that I believe the Holy Bible and the Laws of God to be more valid to guiding my lifestyle than the consensus of the general public. Using the argument 'everyone is doing it' does not make it right for me.
As a Christian, or follower of the Way, I believe that the Messiah came, and we call Him Jesus Christ in English. I am not perfect by any means, but I hope to become more like Him. I read in the Word how He interacted with society...and I think His Way is the right and true Way that we should follow. Be kind to everyone, help those you can, obey the law, and share what you know with those who want that happiness you have. When you have that kind of clarity, you understand the "Peace that passeth understanding". I know there is much more to it. I know that we have to be responsible to ourselves, our families, and to the community. With that in mind, I have thought about writing a new category of blogs related to the law, our economic problems, and some of the ideas I have that would work if the rest of society was willing to break out of some archaic thinking. I have already started that new blog...the site is called Our World--My Thoughts. http://houziwang68.blogspot.com/
For the most part, I tend to think of myself as an individual with ideas and beliefs somewhat different from the rest of the people I know as society. My beliefs are different in that I believe the Holy Bible and the Laws of God to be more valid to guiding my lifestyle than the consensus of the general public. Using the argument 'everyone is doing it' does not make it right for me.
As a Christian, or follower of the Way, I believe that the Messiah came, and we call Him Jesus Christ in English. I am not perfect by any means, but I hope to become more like Him. I read in the Word how He interacted with society...and I think His Way is the right and true Way that we should follow. Be kind to everyone, help those you can, obey the law, and share what you know with those who want that happiness you have. When you have that kind of clarity, you understand the "Peace that passeth understanding". I know there is much more to it. I know that we have to be responsible to ourselves, our families, and to the community. With that in mind, I have thought about writing a new category of blogs related to the law, our economic problems, and some of the ideas I have that would work if the rest of society was willing to break out of some archaic thinking. I have already started that new blog...the site is called Our World--My Thoughts. http://houziwang68.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Fatherhood
Women have told me their male partners or spouses don't seem to show their emotions about their children well. The problem is, society calls on men to be strong and supportive. While we are not sure what that means, we don't know if it's OK to cry when our child is hurt, or says something hurtful to us...we don't know what our reactions are supposed to be so we try to hide our feelings.
An acquaintance of mine, a few years back, was excited about being pregnant. When she had a miscarriage, she was devastated. She thought the father didn't care. She asked me what I thought about the situation. I told her to talk to him and be open...tell him how you feel about losing the baby, and that you were wondering how he felt as well. She told me later that he broke down and cried to her...he too was extremely sad about losing the baby. All he needed was permission to let loose.
A book I have read explained a few things about fatherhood and being a husband. The book was called Tender Warrior, by Stu Weber. He has some biblical insight about how men can be tender, as well as protective without falling prey to the confusion that our society has about men. Although the author is not a member of the church I have attended, I would consider him to be more Christian than many I have met in my own church. If you are a man, get the book and learn what it is teaching. If you are a woman, get the book and learn with your man how he and your sons are supposed to be, according to God.
All to often, especially in Western society, families have this thing called divorce. It is detrimental to society as a whole. Most often, the courts and the Gestapo known as CPS (Children's Protective Services)assume that the mother is the best parent to raise the child. I for one do not agree. The CPS workers are most often women, and according to statistics they don't want you to know...the majority of individuals who get into the industry of CPS in some way feel as though at some point they may have been abused or even molested. (Those two facts leave little room for objectivity.) Unfortunately, our liberal courts like to take the opinions of these people as fact...our liberal society reflect this ungodly attitude as well. Because of these opinions, fathers are not considered to be important enough to be part of their children's lives. The same thinking tells us that our Heavenly Father is also not important enough to be part of our lives. It is a fact that our relationships with our human fathers reflect how we relate to our Heavenly Father.
I know several people who have poor and dysfunctional relationships with their male parents. They have strained relationships with God as well. One lady always has felt uncomfortable talking to her dad...she feels totally uncomfortable praying. Another lady I know has an extreme 'love/hate' relationship with her dad. She also feels like she was always forced to go to church, and resents anything having to do with God. A young man I know waited for his dad to die so he could start attending church. I wonder how he will do going to church...I have not heard if he has started or not, and his dad died earlier this year. Another man is frustrated with his dad, and the church he has been part of for years...is it a reflection of how he feels about God? Sometimes we blame God, or hold Him accountable for things that are actually not as bad as they could be...part of the refining process. Heat melts metal as it tests our mettle.
I love my children 100%. Their mothers selfishly prevent me from being part of their lives. I pray they understand the situation someday soon. I hope their mothers will learn the role they play in the bigger picture of their children's lives...because I do not want my children being lead down the path to destruction. It is a wide and winding path...with many people travelling that way too.
An acquaintance of mine, a few years back, was excited about being pregnant. When she had a miscarriage, she was devastated. She thought the father didn't care. She asked me what I thought about the situation. I told her to talk to him and be open...tell him how you feel about losing the baby, and that you were wondering how he felt as well. She told me later that he broke down and cried to her...he too was extremely sad about losing the baby. All he needed was permission to let loose.
A book I have read explained a few things about fatherhood and being a husband. The book was called Tender Warrior, by Stu Weber. He has some biblical insight about how men can be tender, as well as protective without falling prey to the confusion that our society has about men. Although the author is not a member of the church I have attended, I would consider him to be more Christian than many I have met in my own church. If you are a man, get the book and learn what it is teaching. If you are a woman, get the book and learn with your man how he and your sons are supposed to be, according to God.
All to often, especially in Western society, families have this thing called divorce. It is detrimental to society as a whole. Most often, the courts and the Gestapo known as CPS (Children's Protective Services)assume that the mother is the best parent to raise the child. I for one do not agree. The CPS workers are most often women, and according to statistics they don't want you to know...the majority of individuals who get into the industry of CPS in some way feel as though at some point they may have been abused or even molested. (Those two facts leave little room for objectivity.) Unfortunately, our liberal courts like to take the opinions of these people as fact...our liberal society reflect this ungodly attitude as well. Because of these opinions, fathers are not considered to be important enough to be part of their children's lives. The same thinking tells us that our Heavenly Father is also not important enough to be part of our lives. It is a fact that our relationships with our human fathers reflect how we relate to our Heavenly Father.
I know several people who have poor and dysfunctional relationships with their male parents. They have strained relationships with God as well. One lady always has felt uncomfortable talking to her dad...she feels totally uncomfortable praying. Another lady I know has an extreme 'love/hate' relationship with her dad. She also feels like she was always forced to go to church, and resents anything having to do with God. A young man I know waited for his dad to die so he could start attending church. I wonder how he will do going to church...I have not heard if he has started or not, and his dad died earlier this year. Another man is frustrated with his dad, and the church he has been part of for years...is it a reflection of how he feels about God? Sometimes we blame God, or hold Him accountable for things that are actually not as bad as they could be...part of the refining process. Heat melts metal as it tests our mettle.
I love my children 100%. Their mothers selfishly prevent me from being part of their lives. I pray they understand the situation someday soon. I hope their mothers will learn the role they play in the bigger picture of their children's lives...because I do not want my children being lead down the path to destruction. It is a wide and winding path...with many people travelling that way too.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thankful to God
Why do we know deep inside that there is something more than this? A lifetime of self reflection and Bible study has helped me to understand that the picture is bigger than me. The picture is bigger than my job, my city, my state, my nation. The picture is far bigger than this Earth. We are a cosmic drama for the rest of the Created to learn how not to be. According to the Words of Promise, it won't be long. We will be leaving here. Not permanently, but for a short time, in the span of eternity. Later, we are supposed to return to our Earth...the mass of dirt and water and other elements with the perfected bodies our Maker intended for us to have...on the Re-Created New Earth. I must say all of that is surely something to look forward to. There was an old song with the words, "This World is not my home, I'm just a-passin through...if Heaven ain't my home, Oh LORD what should I do? ...." It just reminds me how brief our time here is. Are you ready for this life as we know it to end yet? Are you ready to surrender to the Will of God? Some would say, "Not yet Lord, I am having too much fun..." or "Not yet Lord, wait for me to be good, then you can come." Those who know the truth about reality will say, "How much longer LORD? I wanna come for that little visit you promised us." Are you ready? Can you be thankful to God, our Creator?
Cruella: The State of Ex-Wives
People often say that you need to look at yourself when your marriage fails. After much reflection, I have not been able to find anything that would warrant the way my exes have behaved toward me and my family members.
The first ex killed our son. Slept around with more than a few people when I was in the Army, and possibly even before that. Moved in with some guy when I was in training in the Army, and abandoned our daughters and her son. Later, she took her son away from me (I was trying to adopt him.) so he could live with various relatives for the rest of his childhood. (She only took him to live with her, several years later, following a bout with cervical cancer...(one of the side effects of having more than one sex partner.)) Much later, she contacted our daughters and tricked them into moving in with her, and burning bridges with me...as well as stabbing me in the back. She hates Americans (She's Mien), and prefers to live in Europe...without a passport, somehow she is able to travel to Europe for the holidays. (Her passport is on hold pending her paying me the back-childsupport she still owes me--nearly $18,000 not counting interest.)
The second ex hated my family. She hates her own culture but often holds it above American culture as being far superior. (She's Hmong). She claims to be a good Christian, yet she hates so many people. She manipulates people and does whatever she can to get money from people. She has convinced our younger children to stop contacting me, and calling me Daddy. She denies that she has done all of those things. On Mother's Day, 2004...the last Mother's Day we were together, I had to call the police on her for trying to abuse my older children. She was arrested, and later released since it was the first Domestic Violence call that we had. Her first ex-husband had 100% custody of their kids. They feel alienated by her. After they were all adults, she went to see them and her one grandchild. She didn't even pick her grandchild up and talk to her. She was rude to her son-in-law. They contacted me and told me they still count me as one of their family even though their mother and I are not married anymore. They never contacted her again...after that visit. She is both hateful and manipulative. Her predecessor is a manipulative drama queen. Both of them think very highly of themselves, and have no respect for anyone in authority. I think the first ex should be investigated by Homeland Security and the FBI...maybe even the CIA (because she goes to the Netherlands whenever she wants without a passport.) She always has money, but never any to pay me what she owes for 10 years of back-child support. The second one loves to play "dumb foreigner" when she thinks it will benefit her.
The first ex killed our son. Slept around with more than a few people when I was in the Army, and possibly even before that. Moved in with some guy when I was in training in the Army, and abandoned our daughters and her son. Later, she took her son away from me (I was trying to adopt him.) so he could live with various relatives for the rest of his childhood. (She only took him to live with her, several years later, following a bout with cervical cancer...(one of the side effects of having more than one sex partner.)) Much later, she contacted our daughters and tricked them into moving in with her, and burning bridges with me...as well as stabbing me in the back. She hates Americans (She's Mien), and prefers to live in Europe...without a passport, somehow she is able to travel to Europe for the holidays. (Her passport is on hold pending her paying me the back-childsupport she still owes me--nearly $18,000 not counting interest.)
The second ex hated my family. She hates her own culture but often holds it above American culture as being far superior. (She's Hmong). She claims to be a good Christian, yet she hates so many people. She manipulates people and does whatever she can to get money from people. She has convinced our younger children to stop contacting me, and calling me Daddy. She denies that she has done all of those things. On Mother's Day, 2004...the last Mother's Day we were together, I had to call the police on her for trying to abuse my older children. She was arrested, and later released since it was the first Domestic Violence call that we had. Her first ex-husband had 100% custody of their kids. They feel alienated by her. After they were all adults, she went to see them and her one grandchild. She didn't even pick her grandchild up and talk to her. She was rude to her son-in-law. They contacted me and told me they still count me as one of their family even though their mother and I are not married anymore. They never contacted her again...after that visit. She is both hateful and manipulative. Her predecessor is a manipulative drama queen. Both of them think very highly of themselves, and have no respect for anyone in authority. I think the first ex should be investigated by Homeland Security and the FBI...maybe even the CIA (because she goes to the Netherlands whenever she wants without a passport.) She always has money, but never any to pay me what she owes for 10 years of back-child support. The second one loves to play "dumb foreigner" when she thinks it will benefit her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)