Is It Acceptable To Read The Bible In The Toilet?

The Bible has become very much handy these days because of IOS and Android devices.  There is now no reason for anyone not being able to read the Bible anytime and anywhere.

One ordinary morning as I was heading to the comfort room, the thought of reading a certain passage in Bible came to my mind.  I could have just did it for later but a part of me wanted to urgently read it that very moment.  I could not disagree about reading it right away because there is a big possibility that I would forget it later.  I hurriedly took one my Android devices in my room and head back to the comfort room right away because the need to sit down on the toilet seat became more urgent than anything else.

It was not the first time that I brought my Android phone or my IPad mini inside the comfort room.  I brought them for many a different reasons, but reading the Bible wasn’t one of them.  Realizing what I was about to do and the other thing that I wanted to do, I stopped right at the doorstep contemplating.  Is it alright?  A question I could not easily give a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ answer.  It was not a question about sinning.  It was about respect.

I was reminded of story told by a friend about a certain guy who was given a Bible by his lady friend.  Afraid of being ridiculed or ostracized by his family, he read the Bible in the toilet.  Years later, the guy became a Bible teacher and eventually became the president of a reputable Christian university in the Country.

I am not saying that I will become president too.  The situation I was in was entirely different.  I could read the Bible anytime and anywhere in the house.  Why read it in a very unusual place and in a very awkward situation?  But, why not?  The fact that I have prayed many times in the same unusual place and in a very awkward situation, what makes reading the Bible different?

I needed a quick answer.  I could not hold it any longer especially that the solution to relieve myself of that very uncomfortable feeling is only two steps away in front of me.  When in doubt, say ‘no’.

I didn’t bring the phone inside the toilet.  Fortunately, because the question still lingered in my mind when I got out of the toilet, the thought of reading that certain passage in the Bible didn’t get away.  Unfortunately, the question still lingers. 

Is it ethical or acceptable to read the Bible in the toilet?

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Don't Waste Your Time Worrying About The Future

Don't waste your time worrying about your future.

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Find Out The Benefits And Rewards of Being A Volunteer

I was fresh out of college when I had the opportunity of being a volunteer that lasted for 8 straight years.  Being a volunteer is a rewarding experience more than that of what i was told.  One can never comprehend what is 'rewarding experience of being a volunteer' unless the person becomes a volunteer.  It also enables the person to gain confidence, expands the person's network by meeting new people and develop new skills.  The benefits of volunteering are many and varied for every person, but can include:

• An opportunity to have fun outside the community you usually live
• An opportunity to give something back to your community
• An opportunity to make a difference in the community or someone's life
• Learning opportunities – learn through doing
• Gaining skills or taking part in training
• Gaining work experience and make contacts within a profession
• Personal and social development
• May help increase self-esteem and self-confidence
• The opportunity to become part of a team
• Meeting new people from a variety of age groups: it’s a good way to meet new friends
• Gives you a position within the community – an opportunity to become involved with community activities
• Gives you a sense of pride; feeling needed and valued

Give Something Back

One of the more obvious reasons why people volunteer is because they find something they are passionate about and want to do something good for others. People who volunteer in their community have a personal attachment to the area and want to make it a better place for themselves and for others. People who have themselves struggled with social issues usually have a certain empathy for those in a similar situation and will often wish to help out. Many people who volunteer think that they are very fortunate to live the way they do and want to give something back to society, as a way of balancing the scales.

View A Culture From The Inside

One of the greatest benefits of volunteering is being able to spend an extended period of time in a new culture or community. It's a truly unique learning experience that will see you interacting with new cultures, trying new food, and meeting new people.  . As a  volunteer you will get a real glimpse of the local culture, allowing you to experience the culture instead of just a spectator or reading the culture from books.

Personal Growth

Volunteers often say that the volunteering experience has made them a better person. In most cases, volunteers also become more concerned and aware of the problems facing the world and  many feel that they were ignorant or narrow minded before.

A Sense of Accomplishment

Many people choose to volunteer simply for the pride that comes from completing something.  Even if this isn't the main motivation for volunteering it is certainly a major bonus!

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The Reason That Stopped Us From Helping Other People

Children like Kesz Valdez, the 13-year-old Filipino awardee of the International Children's Peace Prize really makes me fell very small.  There are many like him doing great things still unnoticed and they are making me feel I have done nothing in my entire life.

In my younger years, most of dreams were all about me and for my family with a few whispers at the back of my head and in the deepest of my heart that I should also do something for other people.  I easily get moved when i see people in need but in most cases i felt like i can't do anything because i thought i needed help too.  But, as i grow older, i learned that the people who has done great things are those people who have the least in life.

It is not expensive to help according to the guardian of Kesz.  I have to agree with him.  It also made me realized that in most cases i think that helping people is always about having money to do it.  It's been a long time that i have stopped praying to have money so that i may be able to help others because i realized why should the money be handed through me when it is best to hand it directly to the people that needed it.  If i have to give monetary help, it should come from my own budgeted need - a sacrificial giving.  This is probably what David meant when he said 'I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing'. 2 Samuel 24:24'  It may be costly to help people but i am pretty sure it is not expensive because helping people is not always about money.

The very reason that stopped many of us from helping other people is the thought that we ourselves needed help.  This is the kind of mindset that imprisoned us including me for the longest time already.  Realizing the situation is just one step and it will not lead me any direction.  Taking one step will not change my position as i am still standing on the same spot and it will only change if i will make another step.

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Basic Life Skills That Were Least Taught When I Was I Child

First heard of life skills when I worked in a children's home last year.  I probably must have heard or read it before but never really take time to know what is it all about.

What Are Life Skills?

I found this simple definition of life skills in wikipedia:

Life skills are behaviors used appropriately and responsibly in the management of personal affairs. They are a set of human skills acquired via teaching or direct experience that are used to handle problems and questions commonly encountered in daily human life.

Life Skills are all the non-academic foundational skills human beings learn and use to thrive individually and live optimally in community with others.

Basic Life Skills For Children

There are five basic categories of life skills necessary for children.  They are:

1. Personal care
2. Organization
3. Respect for self and others
4. Communication
5. Social skills

I could very well remember  that I was taught of the first three basic life skills (Personal Care, Organization and Respect for Others).  I grew up being constantly reminded by my parents, older relatives and even from people in the community of those skills.  They probably didn't know that those were named as 'life skills' but they knew that those were necessary and should be taught to their children.

Least Taught Life Skills

I was born in the province and mostly lived there when I was young.  During my time, children were not encourage to talk to older people especially not joing conversations with adults.  We were even told to go to our room whenever there are visitors, or better go outside.

Communication and social skills are most needed to further learning.  They are bridges to the unexplored world of a growing child.

Me and my siblings grew up generally shy it makes living more difficult.

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What Is The Difference Between Hope and Faith?

Hope and Faith Illustrated Simply

I found this very simple illustration of Hope and Faith 4 years ago.  There are times when we need to be reminded of the truth the simplest way when we tend to make them complicated.  Sometimes we don't need to read chapters and chapters of books about Faith and hear countless hours of teachings about Faith.

Thanks to Church Mice for this cartoon.

Christians often use the word 'pray' instead of 'hope' if you really want certain things to happen.  Personally, i use hope and pray in different ways.  I usually use hope when the things that i wanted to happen are not really important - when it is okay for me if they don't happen but it's still better if they do.  I use pray when i really wanted things to happened or really wanted to have them.  This is the time when I seriously ask God for it.

Having Faith Is A Big Leap

Believing that I already have what I have prayed is the most difficult thing.  How would I know that I made the right request or that the thing that I requested is good for me when I also know that God knows me better and similarly what is good for me?  I will have to go back again with my old aged question - Faith and God's Will.

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