Annoyance

November 29, 2025

“Alexa, how do you annoy your little brother?” My brother’s family was over during Thanksgiving and the kids were asking silly questions to Alexa. This was its response. “Repeat your brother with a high pitched voice. This has worked since the dawn of time.” 

I think this method works, but I would advise not to do it.

In the Bible, at the dawn of time, the older brother was annoyed by the little brother (it was the other way around). We find the story in Genesis 4, where Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord. The Lord respected the younger brother’s offering, but did not respect the older brother’s offering. And, we know the story’s results, with Cain killing his younger brother Abel. 

While Genesis 4 does not give a clear rationale for why God only accepted Abel’s offering, Paul writes about this in Hebrews 11:4 that Abel’s offering was an act of faith. “By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” This whole chapter talks about the different characters of the Bible that testified of their faith, followed by this particular verse: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1,2. 

In the season of Thanksgiving, may we learn to express faith like Abel did. I know that will annoy the Master Deceiver for sure. Moreover, may we look unto Jesus as we are running with endurance. Happy Thanksgiving!

Judgement

November 22, 2025

The kids at the school write exegesis papers, and this is what Sejin wrote this week. I know she got some help from the teacher, but still, it’s great to know that they are studying the Bible. And, I am learning from the kids’ studies. I reduced the paper to fit here, but I kept the original wording. So, here it is:

In this exegesis paper, we will study 2 Samuel 6. The Ark of the Covenant was in the house of Abinadab. When David became king, he wanted to bring the Ark back. My main focus will be not to judge your own way.

David gathered all the chosen men of Israel and went to get the ark of the Lord. The Ark was in the house of Abinadab. They put the ark on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, drove the cart. David and all of Israel were celebrating. When they came to a threshing floor, Uzzah reached to grab the Ark of the Covenant, and when he touched it, he was struck by the Lord, so he died that day. David was angry and put the Ark of the Covenant in the house of Obed-Edom. Three months later, David heard that the house of Obed-Edom was being blessed, so he went to get it. This time, priests were carrying the Ark of the Covenant. David was dancing with all his might, and he was wearing a linen ephod. Michal, Saul’s daughter, saw David, and she despised him. They brought the Ark to the tent David had pitched. David offered burnt offerings and blessed the people. Later, Michal said to David, Why did you dignify yourself today! So Michal never had children.

My first point is, don’t do something God doesn’t want you to do. When Uzzah touched the Ark, he knew that he was not supposed to touch it. God said that you would die if you touched the Ark of the Covenant, because Numbers 4:15 says “...But they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die…”. Uzzah judged in his own way. My point is, don’t do something that you're not supposed to do, and don’t judge God.

My second point is, don’t get mad at people for doing something for God. Michal got mad at David for dancing. She judged David for praising God. Matthew 19:14 says, “ … Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven”. What I am trying to say is, don’t try to stop people from praising God.

My third point is not to judge others and not to judge your own way. Michal judged David, and Uzzah judged his own way. Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Judging your own way can lead to bad consequences, like Uzzah, who was killed. In conclusion, don’t judge your own way..

Mental Health

November 15, 2025

We have the MindFit Seminar going on this weekend and I know it will be a blessing to us as we join in and listen. It covers the mental health aspect of us living in this time and age. There is so much going on and the stresses of this current lifestyle infiltrates into the mental side of our daily lives. I’m glad we’re able to present this topic to our church family this weekend. The welfare of our mental health is extremely important.

When it comes to mental health, I think about this character from the Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar. “That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” Daniel 4:33. I wonder if the pressures of being a monarch of the greatest kingdom back then brought so much stress upon himself. The continuous attempts of rebellions taking place from the nations that he conquered; the fear that he can be assassinated by food poison or be stabbed at any given time; the countless amounts of administrative tasks, and much more. I don’t think it’s a fun thing to be a king. But the greatest of all the problems that triggered his madness was that he was self-centered. 

It seems that mental health and spiritual health go hand in hand. When the King did not focus on the Creator of the world, but rather chose to self-exalt despite the warnings from the dream and Daniel’s interpretation, the whole world felt upon him. He had everything, but he lost everything. Even King Solomon, the wisest man ever to live, said “All is vanity” in his book Ecclesiastes, after seeing everything and being quite wealthy. He concludes by saying, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. In fact, after seven years of madness, that is how King Nebuchadnezzar gained his sanity: “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever…” Daniel 4:34.

As we consider the topic presented at MindFit, let us also learn to put God in the center of our lives as well. God is our Creator, Father, Healer, and Peacemaker. He will help you and guide you every step of the way.