"An elementary school teacher gave her students some time to color and draw what ever they wanted. She walked around asking her students what they were drawing. She came up to one little boy and asked him what he was drawing. "God" her replied. She told him that that was impossible, for no one knows what God looks like. The child smugly responded with his crayons in hand, "Well they will in a few moments then won't they?"
This story was shared with my class today in church, and I began to wonder, which would God prefer? The lofty theological arguments that many scholars try to use to describe his nature? or the yellow stick figure with a halo around his head? God himself said that it was by small and simple means that he brought to pass great things. So why do people try so hard to define him in large flouncy explanations? Maybe that is why they fail so often, they are weighed down by the weight of their own wings.
Why can't he simply be our spiritual Father in Heaven, who sent us down here to learn, grow, and progress so we can have chance to obtain what we desired when we started our journey? to become like him, having a body and spiritually attuned nature that can live the life of a God. Why does mankind insist that because this life is hard, painful, and often mundane that God must not love us? Isn't it also Fun, Beautiful, and wonderfully exciting? Like using the infinite life cheat on a video game, Life wouldn't be fun if it wasn't challenging. A race would be pointless if everyone was the fastest, skydiving not fun if there wasn't the fear of death, if we'd never have had to eat cold beans for the can, we could never enjoy a meal at Olive Garden. the war of life is full of goods and bads, wouldn't it be best to just stop complaining, put on your protective armor, and charge into battle swinging?
We need to be like the little children, Innocence is bliss, but not ignorance. there is a difference. To be corrupted by the self-centered, self-destructive little bubble that bemoans "woe is me" is not happiness and is not the doctrine of God. To be unblemished, pure, white, and clean. washed in the living waters of repentance, that is to be innocent, that is to be as a child. It starts with the belief that God is simple. It starts with the belief that while we don't understand everything that happens in our life, one day we will look back and see the purpose and understand, and then it will all seem so simple.
There are a lot of niceties of my faith that I don't as of yet understand fully, but I know this, i can except them for what they are worth, and I have faith that one day the larger picture can be revealed to me. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is one founded on Truth, I believe that Jesus Christ is my savior, and I enjoy the internal struggle to learn the things of God.
I'm going to try to write more spiritual posts every sunday, usually on my thoughts either during church or during the week, so you can look forward to that. Thanks to everyone who reads my blog regularly! it motivates me to keep writing when I see that people are interested in what I have to say.
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I Am, a Friend.
To those who are feeling sad, lonely, depressed, and rejected.
I am, your Friend.
I am, your Friend.
To those who are as little children, my love has no end.
To those who once knew me, but have sense turned their back,
I am still your friend, though you see me as black.
To those who are lost and have no hope to be found, I am your Friend.
Though you spit on and curse me, and my heart does rend.
I would end your pain and dry up your tears,
For I do forgive you of all those years.
To those whom I love, and who love me in return,
I give my kingdom, and endless knowledge to learn.
To those who would have me hung on a cross,
your pain is your own, but I have paid the cost.
You don't know me, I lived many years ago,
but my influence doth shine, very much a glow.
I have been beaten, bruised to death,
so that ye may have and enjoy, your breath.
but yet ye do know me,
I created the world,
and it's beauty stands,
as a testimony,
I Am, The Lord.
In this winter season it is very easy to feel sad, lonely, or hopeless, the world gets colder and less friendly. It's easy to get stressed out. How thankful i am that I have so many wonderful friends to guide me in my life. I don't know what I would do with out them. but I know I have a greater Friend then what exists in my friends and family on earth, and that is The Lord, Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, I love him so much; I know that when I turn to him for comfort and aid that he will help me. He has paid the price for my sins, and I know I can come back to live with him someday. I am comforted by the knowledge that what ever affliction I may feel on earth today, will eventually, when looking back on it, feel like a small moment in time, insignificant to the happiness I will feel for enduring to the end and entering into my exhultation. I know these things to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
[edit]
this is the first time i've done this, but I don't think this post is done. I need to share some extra quotes, not my own words, about what it means to be a friend. So here they are:
"A true friend is someone you can disagree with and still remain friends. For if not, they weren't true friends in the first place."
---Sandy Ratliff
"Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being a part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."
---Unknown
"I believe in angels, the kind Heaven sends. I am surrounded by angels, but I call them my best friends."
---Unknown
"Memories last forever, never do they die. Friends stay together, never say goodbye."
---Melina Campos
"A best friend is a sister destiny forgot to give you."
---Unknown
"When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you, and your best friend will be there."
---Unknown
"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand."
---Unknown
"Never forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
---Ludwig Van Beethoven
[edit]
this is the first time i've done this, but I don't think this post is done. I need to share some extra quotes, not my own words, about what it means to be a friend. So here they are:
"A true friend is someone you can disagree with and still remain friends. For if not, they weren't true friends in the first place."
---Sandy Ratliff
"Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being a part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."
---Unknown
"I believe in angels, the kind Heaven sends. I am surrounded by angels, but I call them my best friends."
---Unknown
"Memories last forever, never do they die. Friends stay together, never say goodbye."
---Melina Campos
"A best friend is a sister destiny forgot to give you."
---Unknown
"When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you, and your best friend will be there."
---Unknown
"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand."
---Unknown
"Never forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
---Ludwig Van Beethoven
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
How to Fix A Car... And other things...
Well... recently General Conference was, and now application is. but how does this apply to flying an airplane? that depends on the weather condition. I fixed a car. that's right, no expensive equipment, no mechanic license, next time you need a lube, come to me! for i fix cars for a weekend.
seriously though, while watching Conference at Sean's house with a bucket'o'friends, I found a match-box car that was undouptably broken. hence, the entire front axle was loose and the wheels were sliding all around, I found a simple way of sliding the axle into place and positioning the wheels so that they would spin freely, using nothing but my finger tips, lets see a trained professional do that!!!
on a more serious note, wasn't conference this past week awesome? I may have been fixing a car during the interluding music breaks, but I listened to all the talks. I have to say that my favorite was Hollands talk at the very beginning when he expressed his gratitude towards his parents and the members of the church, I have to admit I shed a tear when he told that story about his parents.
and a new revelation has hit us, they provide cups of water for the speakers! my question, what if more than one person actually needed that cup of water? that's not very good hygiene for all those seasoned young men to be practicing, I never saw them switch the cup after Uchtdorf set it down, what if the speaker after him had needed a sip?
on a more serious note. it seemed that two of the biggest messages they gave was 1: "listen to the prophet, for his word is the word of God" and 2: "wickedness never was happiness" has anyone noticed that the prophets "final words" during the last conference session were short, abrupt, yet encouraging? he asked us specifically to reread the issue of the talks in the new era when it comes out, and told us how magnificent the conference had been. Now i know personally that after conference I always intend to reread to talks, but loose momentum after about the first one... but after a whole conference focused on how the prophets words are directly the words of Christ I thought. if Christ asked me to do something as simple as reread the talks in order for me to gain a greater understanding of the Gospel, would I do it? often times Christ asks simple things of us as a trial of faith, will we trust him or will we look away in disbelief? I personally am going to do all I can to reread the whole conference, because I don't want to miss anything important.
on the other hand, i'm slightly relieved that he didn't stand up and ask everyone to start gathering in Missouri, I haven't even finished my first semester of College yet!!!
seriously though, while watching Conference at Sean's house with a bucket'o'friends, I found a match-box car that was undouptably broken. hence, the entire front axle was loose and the wheels were sliding all around, I found a simple way of sliding the axle into place and positioning the wheels so that they would spin freely, using nothing but my finger tips, lets see a trained professional do that!!!
on a more serious note, wasn't conference this past week awesome? I may have been fixing a car during the interluding music breaks, but I listened to all the talks. I have to say that my favorite was Hollands talk at the very beginning when he expressed his gratitude towards his parents and the members of the church, I have to admit I shed a tear when he told that story about his parents.
and a new revelation has hit us, they provide cups of water for the speakers! my question, what if more than one person actually needed that cup of water? that's not very good hygiene for all those seasoned young men to be practicing, I never saw them switch the cup after Uchtdorf set it down, what if the speaker after him had needed a sip?
on a more serious note. it seemed that two of the biggest messages they gave was 1: "listen to the prophet, for his word is the word of God" and 2: "wickedness never was happiness" has anyone noticed that the prophets "final words" during the last conference session were short, abrupt, yet encouraging? he asked us specifically to reread the issue of the talks in the new era when it comes out, and told us how magnificent the conference had been. Now i know personally that after conference I always intend to reread to talks, but loose momentum after about the first one... but after a whole conference focused on how the prophets words are directly the words of Christ I thought. if Christ asked me to do something as simple as reread the talks in order for me to gain a greater understanding of the Gospel, would I do it? often times Christ asks simple things of us as a trial of faith, will we trust him or will we look away in disbelief? I personally am going to do all I can to reread the whole conference, because I don't want to miss anything important.
on the other hand, i'm slightly relieved that he didn't stand up and ask everyone to start gathering in Missouri, I haven't even finished my first semester of College yet!!!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
1 Month Down
it's been about a month since college began, doesn't seem that long to me. When I really think about it though, I realize that 4 weeks of school have already happened and moved on. People say that when you die your life will flash before your eyes, I must have been dying for a long time then because it seems life has been going by in a flash these past few months.
I've been getting better at my clarinet really fast. I think i'm finally out of recovery mode from when I tried to learn to play oboe, and I actually feel like i'm improving. I'm still learning how to play the guitar, it just that I find it hard to pick it up and practice, I'll get around to it-eventually...
I know I shouldn't have, but this week I bought a book at the book store. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, it cost only 8 dollars, but was such good entertainment that it was worth 30, I think I got a good deal. although, his latest book "The Way of Kings" IS about 30 dollars, and somehow I think the same math applies and it's quality is worth about 150, to bad I don't have enough money for either price. I know what I'm asking for for christmas though.
I recently got a job working at the cafeteria on campus, it's usually not that exciting of a job although they told me that most thursday's I get to work the cotton candy machine. Which is Awesome! I get so covered in the stuff its crazy, my co-workers call me 'Ghostbuster' or 'Spiderman' because it looks like I got his with the slime from ghostbuster or one of spiderman's webs. I had students taking pictures of me with their phones!!! it was awesome. besides that, cleaning tables isn't very fun. but I get paid so it's all good.
My ward is great, they have good lessons, speakers, and an awesome ward choir full of virtuoso vocalist majors. (ok, I lied about the last one, there is rarely even enough in attendance to even have a choir). but the rest is awesome. we don't have actual pews so we have chairs. but there are comfortable chairs and plastic ones, to motivate people to come early. and i'd say that our chapel is even more comfortable that way, more leg room.
I've been getting better at my clarinet really fast. I think i'm finally out of recovery mode from when I tried to learn to play oboe, and I actually feel like i'm improving. I'm still learning how to play the guitar, it just that I find it hard to pick it up and practice, I'll get around to it-eventually...
I know I shouldn't have, but this week I bought a book at the book store. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, it cost only 8 dollars, but was such good entertainment that it was worth 30, I think I got a good deal. although, his latest book "The Way of Kings" IS about 30 dollars, and somehow I think the same math applies and it's quality is worth about 150, to bad I don't have enough money for either price. I know what I'm asking for for christmas though.
I recently got a job working at the cafeteria on campus, it's usually not that exciting of a job although they told me that most thursday's I get to work the cotton candy machine. Which is Awesome! I get so covered in the stuff its crazy, my co-workers call me 'Ghostbuster' or 'Spiderman' because it looks like I got his with the slime from ghostbuster or one of spiderman's webs. I had students taking pictures of me with their phones!!! it was awesome. besides that, cleaning tables isn't very fun. but I get paid so it's all good.
My ward is great, they have good lessons, speakers, and an awesome ward choir full of virtuoso vocalist majors. (ok, I lied about the last one, there is rarely even enough in attendance to even have a choir). but the rest is awesome. we don't have actual pews so we have chairs. but there are comfortable chairs and plastic ones, to motivate people to come early. and i'd say that our chapel is even more comfortable that way, more leg room.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Hi, I don't know your name, but i'm really going to miss you!
Today was my first day of church in college. I'm not perfectly sure how the wards are arranged, but I know that all the people in my building are in the same ward. which is pretty cool because then we get a greater chance to get to know each other.
although there is a track-station right next to the institute, its faster to walk because my building is on the same road and the nearest station to board is a circumventional route, then you'd have to wait for the train, and it's just fast to walk.
There are four meeting houses in the institute building, I know that at least 1 of them has real benches, but the one my ward meets in has plastic, stack-able, chairs. I was actually surprised at how packed the room was. I also found it funny to note that the chairs closer to the front were cushioned while the chairs in the back were hard plastic, good old LDS style.
This week was kind of weird, especially as a freshman because the bishopric was being reorganized and all the previous bishoprics and their wives were speaking. It was a very spiritual meeting, but I found it rather funny that they were talking about how much they'd miss being in our ward, when 40% of the ward had never even met them yet. It was really kind of cool to watch just how much they cared for the rag-tag group of college students, and I saw a similar kind of love developing in the new bishops demeanor as well. I think I'm going to really like it here.
although there is a track-station right next to the institute, its faster to walk because my building is on the same road and the nearest station to board is a circumventional route, then you'd have to wait for the train, and it's just fast to walk.
There are four meeting houses in the institute building, I know that at least 1 of them has real benches, but the one my ward meets in has plastic, stack-able, chairs. I was actually surprised at how packed the room was. I also found it funny to note that the chairs closer to the front were cushioned while the chairs in the back were hard plastic, good old LDS style.
This week was kind of weird, especially as a freshman because the bishopric was being reorganized and all the previous bishoprics and their wives were speaking. It was a very spiritual meeting, but I found it rather funny that they were talking about how much they'd miss being in our ward, when 40% of the ward had never even met them yet. It was really kind of cool to watch just how much they cared for the rag-tag group of college students, and I saw a similar kind of love developing in the new bishops demeanor as well. I think I'm going to really like it here.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Day I obtained Divine Power
Today, I obtained the power of God, The Melchizedek Priesthood, I also slept in and missed church, but that's besides the point because it was actually a good thing. See, it goes like this: because I missed my singles ward I was able to go to my home ward, because I was able to go to my homeward I was able to be awarded my Duty to God Award, bless the sacrament one more time in my ward before going to college, connect with my home-teaching companion to go home-teaching one last time, say good by to the Burninghams (my favorite teaching couple of all time who better be reading this), and sit with my dad and brothers for the opening exercises of Priesthood meeting. So in the end it was a blessing that I slept in late and didn't go to missionary prep, so there!!! because if I hadn't then I wouldn't have achieved my Duty to God, wouldn't have been able to do all those good things, solely because I woke up on time, just goes to show that The Lord can make anything into a good thing.
At the actual ordination meeting I got to enjoy having my bishop, young mens leader, grandparents, and high-priest leaders there, along with my family, I couldn't help laughing when Bro. Hull asked my parents to share things about me, I was thinking "share things to embarrass me", and as anyone knows, I have found a way to enjoy being embarrassed, so it follows, I was laughing through the whole thing-silently-but laughing, I felt bad because I was laughing during their testimony parts too.... but it was actually really nice to hear all he good things they said about me, I'm glad people think i'm so good, makes me relate to Nephi, sort of.
It's not often I get to hear my parents bare their testimonies, they don't often bare them in church, maybe that's why I find it so hard to stand up myself? I'm getting better at that. It was really nice to hear my Mom and Dad speak with the spirit, it brought the spirit into the house and prepared me for my ordination.
Now that I have the Melchizedek Priesthood I have a sacred duty to My God to continually be doing good, giving service, and keeping all his commandments, I hope to be successful in these endeavors, and by reading the scriptures I am comforted in knowing that this is possible.
At the actual ordination meeting I got to enjoy having my bishop, young mens leader, grandparents, and high-priest leaders there, along with my family, I couldn't help laughing when Bro. Hull asked my parents to share things about me, I was thinking "share things to embarrass me", and as anyone knows, I have found a way to enjoy being embarrassed, so it follows, I was laughing through the whole thing-silently-but laughing, I felt bad because I was laughing during their testimony parts too.... but it was actually really nice to hear all he good things they said about me, I'm glad people think i'm so good, makes me relate to Nephi, sort of.
It's not often I get to hear my parents bare their testimonies, they don't often bare them in church, maybe that's why I find it so hard to stand up myself? I'm getting better at that. It was really nice to hear my Mom and Dad speak with the spirit, it brought the spirit into the house and prepared me for my ordination.
Now that I have the Melchizedek Priesthood I have a sacred duty to My God to continually be doing good, giving service, and keeping all his commandments, I hope to be successful in these endeavors, and by reading the scriptures I am comforted in knowing that this is possible.
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