I have been thinking lately about my approach to faith and hope. Three things come to mind: the faith of Nephi, mellowing out, and the movie, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
First, the faith of Nephi, shows that many times God does not come through for a person that is exercising faith until after the tribulation has occurred. Nephi also demonstrates his faith by his steadiness. He has a firm hope, trusting in his
God, that their is a promised land to inherit.
Second, I believe that staying calm and mellowing out is a demonstration of faith.
Third, in the movie, 'A Beautiful Mind', the main character has to first become aware of and then master his demons. His demons were mental apparitions of individuals that feed his various fears.
So, how do these things help me with my life? At times, the Lord reveals to me what I need to do in advance, counseling me to take a specific action. This might be considered an errand of the Lord. Other times (or during the errand), the Lord doesn't give any direction (counsel or deliverance)until after the crisis has occurred. This is what is meant by the scriptures stating that miracles don't occur until after the trial of our faith. I may want to guided and inspired so smooth sailing will always occur but this is not scriptural. So, what demonstrates that I have faith? That I can remain steady, calm and believing up to and during the 'fire'. Of course, keeping the commandments is a given.
But, how does one stay calm when things aren't going well? How does one not go into despair (unbelief, hopelessness)? Everyone has their own 'demons' that immediately manifest themselves when the going gets rough. Like in the movie, these mental demons can overwhelm us. The man in the movie has to first become aware of their existence and then learn to keep them at bay. He mastered the ability to keep them at a distance rather than letting them control him and his life. In the same way, we too must become aware of our personal demons (weaknesses, emotional states, etc.) and learn to keep them at bay. As we practice (exercising faith and maintaining hope) we eventually become masters at it.
But my tribulation is truly despairing! There is no way out of it! What you are really saying is that God really doesn't exist and cannot help you is this particular case. Your case is special. God helps other but not me. But the truth is that you haven't been granted to gift of seeing your demons. You believe that your particular demons are just part of your personality. They came upon you so fast, when the affliction or trial occurred, that you didn't even recognize what just happened. You believed in the demon (depression, fear, foreboding, paranoia, injustness, shame, jealousy, envying, coveting, anxiety, hatred, rage, apathy, judging, mocking, pride, self-condemnation, etc.) and gave it room in your inn and let it take up its abode inside of you.
Keeping your demons (negative emotions) from overwhelming you takes practice. It may require you to stop what you are doing and immediately reaffirm your faith in God, that the feelings that you are having are neither permanent nor useful. They may seem very real but they serve no useful purpose. My goal is learn to be aware of them coming upon me, keep them at bay, and give them no heed. All they will do is hinder your progress. Nephi had to leave his brothers outside the walls because they were complaining that the errand couldn't be done. We need to put despair and unbelief aside also. When Nephi and his brother were returning home with Ishmael and his family, Nephi wasn't delivered until after he was tied up left to die. The Lord was testing and growing Nephi's faith by bringing the brink. This happens over and over where Nephi keeps the faith, stays calm, trusts in the Lord and stay optimistice (hopes all things).
Where do we start on our journey? The first step is just to believe. Believe you are worthy. Believe that God is aware of your problem. Believe that He will help. Believe that He will at times take to all the way to the edge to see if you will be steadfast in your faith in Him. Believe that faith preceeds the miracle. Be aware that the miracle that was waiting for you will not appear unless your faith is strong enough and that you will probably never realize what the miracle was if you fall into despair and unbelief.
So, stay calm, be believing, trust in God and wait on the Lord!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The World should be sour tasting
Let us, as parents and grandparents, so love, tutor, and train our youth that the sweetness they experience in their Latter-day Saint homes will, thereafter, make the world taste sour to them!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Ed Wk Day One 2009 Abraham Lincoln
Now that was an interesting class! Abraham Lincoln was incapable of duplicity, a lawyer never known to lie, cared little for money, would not criticize, hold grudges or seek revenge; he never smoked, chewed, gambled, profaned, or drank. He served water.
AL talked about God in all his address. He would call America, "almost chosen". He didn't want people to judge the south. The north was the major contributor to the slave trade.
A nation dived against itself cannot stand was his motto. He said he would rather lose the election than not use this phrase. The phase was understood by the south and the north.
The nation was in trouble in the 1850's. Curruption was rampant. AL get back into politics because of this. The the Kansas Nebraska Act would permit slaves in new states. (1854). There was mobocracy, illegal elections, secession issues, the Declaration of Independence was being assailed, the constitution was being attacked and there were 4,000,000 slaves. The Dread Scott Decsion (1857) by the Supreme Court called the black man an inferior order. The Know Nothing party was anti immigration and anti catholic as their platform went from 30,000 members to 1,000,000 members in a year. It was a racist party. There were denials of freedom of the press, speech and religion. There were huge problems in America.
AL started realizing that it this war was the will of God. It would go on until Americans turned from their sins. That's what AL preached! He signed into law the anti slavery anti polygamy bill but said he had no intention of enforceing it.
He used Book of Mormon phrases in his speeches. (I am instrument of God (I think)).
The lost talk of AL: He spoke for an hour and a half. All 40 reporters including his note taker didn't right it down. He was so powerful that everyone put their pens down.
I broke one campaign promise: He said he didn't have the legal right to change slavery in the slave states. He ended up as the executive and commander in chief confiscating the southern states' property calling it the emmancipation proclamation. The civil war was won because 160,000 slaves joined the north as solders.
Most soldiers were fighting for the union, not to free the slaves. AL had to work with the union troops on this matter.
AL talked about God in all his address. He would call America, "almost chosen". He didn't want people to judge the south. The north was the major contributor to the slave trade.
A nation dived against itself cannot stand was his motto. He said he would rather lose the election than not use this phrase. The phase was understood by the south and the north.
The nation was in trouble in the 1850's. Curruption was rampant. AL get back into politics because of this. The the Kansas Nebraska Act would permit slaves in new states. (1854). There was mobocracy, illegal elections, secession issues, the Declaration of Independence was being assailed, the constitution was being attacked and there were 4,000,000 slaves. The Dread Scott Decsion (1857) by the Supreme Court called the black man an inferior order. The Know Nothing party was anti immigration and anti catholic as their platform went from 30,000 members to 1,000,000 members in a year. It was a racist party. There were denials of freedom of the press, speech and religion. There were huge problems in America.
AL started realizing that it this war was the will of God. It would go on until Americans turned from their sins. That's what AL preached! He signed into law the anti slavery anti polygamy bill but said he had no intention of enforceing it.
He used Book of Mormon phrases in his speeches. (I am instrument of God (I think)).
The lost talk of AL: He spoke for an hour and a half. All 40 reporters including his note taker didn't right it down. He was so powerful that everyone put their pens down.
I broke one campaign promise: He said he didn't have the legal right to change slavery in the slave states. He ended up as the executive and commander in chief confiscating the southern states' property calling it the emmancipation proclamation. The civil war was won because 160,000 slaves joined the north as solders.
Most soldiers were fighting for the union, not to free the slaves. AL had to work with the union troops on this matter.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Letter to Mike Bird
Dear Mike,
What I life you live! Someone hit my son's, James, car so he gets $500 and gets it fixed for $50. Julia gets hit from behind so now I have to work the complexity of the insurance companies paying for her whiplash. The totaled her car last month so my insurance goes up $60 for a new high. But, I like her having a car. Less headache for me. Someone hit Steven last week and he trying to work that out.
Everybody came down for the weekend. A full house. We played board games and passed around the grand baby (Steve's).
I am deep into the debt system. It is very hard to get out of vicious cycle. We have too many expenditures and not enough money. And to top it all off, my company is barely able to stay alive. I am practicing faith and believing all things so if I have to look for another job, I might access the my God for assistance.
Please explain what you mean by genetic complexity. I believe life is way too complex for those in the system like me. I believe we are making brick without straw. Since both a husband and wife need to work that has to mean that the cost of living has gone up over the past 30 years. The standard has also gone up. But a blue collar worker in 1960 could raise his three kids, put them through college, have a dumpy cabin on Cape Cod and have his wife stay home. Their standard of living was lower but their quality of life was better. And the cost of living must have been much lover since the wife is a home.
A pit is being dug...
Babylon his a twelve headed beast. That says it all. This creature is out of control. Human weakness is that we believe we can solve the woes of the world without God doing it our own way (telestial or terrestrial). Telestial greed is running rampant. Terrestrial mammon seeking (I earned it, it's mine) is the God most cherish and worship (if you have the capacity to prosper in this world).
God says to love each other. Prosper together. Stop competing. Stop fighting. Join together. Make sure the poor are taken care of (give them doles). The rich because the believe in Christ, consider the talents for making money as gifts and share their wealth freely (doles). This is Christ's law. I can prove it throughout the scriptures. It isn't Zion necessarily. But it can be. I call it 'All in Common in Babylon'. Zion or consecration is more an separate economic order in my opinion. All in Common seems to be running a similar order inside of Babylon.
My wife told me in 1989 to mellow out. Nephi stayed really calm during crises. To really trust in God means to relax and let him help. You are not on your own. Until you and I figure this out we are left to our own devises. And we fail.
Love,
Scott
What I life you live! Someone hit my son's, James, car so he gets $500 and gets it fixed for $50. Julia gets hit from behind so now I have to work the complexity of the insurance companies paying for her whiplash. The totaled her car last month so my insurance goes up $60 for a new high. But, I like her having a car. Less headache for me. Someone hit Steven last week and he trying to work that out.
Everybody came down for the weekend. A full house. We played board games and passed around the grand baby (Steve's).
I am deep into the debt system. It is very hard to get out of vicious cycle. We have too many expenditures and not enough money. And to top it all off, my company is barely able to stay alive. I am practicing faith and believing all things so if I have to look for another job, I might access the my God for assistance.
Please explain what you mean by genetic complexity. I believe life is way too complex for those in the system like me. I believe we are making brick without straw. Since both a husband and wife need to work that has to mean that the cost of living has gone up over the past 30 years. The standard has also gone up. But a blue collar worker in 1960 could raise his three kids, put them through college, have a dumpy cabin on Cape Cod and have his wife stay home. Their standard of living was lower but their quality of life was better. And the cost of living must have been much lover since the wife is a home.
A pit is being dug...
Babylon his a twelve headed beast. That says it all. This creature is out of control. Human weakness is that we believe we can solve the woes of the world without God doing it our own way (telestial or terrestrial). Telestial greed is running rampant. Terrestrial mammon seeking (I earned it, it's mine) is the God most cherish and worship (if you have the capacity to prosper in this world).
God says to love each other. Prosper together. Stop competing. Stop fighting. Join together. Make sure the poor are taken care of (give them doles). The rich because the believe in Christ, consider the talents for making money as gifts and share their wealth freely (doles). This is Christ's law. I can prove it throughout the scriptures. It isn't Zion necessarily. But it can be. I call it 'All in Common in Babylon'. Zion or consecration is more an separate economic order in my opinion. All in Common seems to be running a similar order inside of Babylon.
My wife told me in 1989 to mellow out. Nephi stayed really calm during crises. To really trust in God means to relax and let him help. You are not on your own. Until you and I figure this out we are left to our own devises. And we fail.
Love,
Scott
Friday, July 24, 2009
Why I Play Golf
Golf sucks. It drains you of your money and takes too much time. I have three negative reasons why I play golf and a three positive reasons.
First the positive reasons. #1 I wanted to prove to myself and the nay sayers (the boss) that I could venture out and try something new. #2 It's somewhat free if I am careful. I get a free pass for 18 holes for four people. This translates to 4 twosome passes a month. #3 I introduced my sons to golf and enjoy the relationship building with them and others.
Now for the negative reasons. #1 I can't stand being inefficient with my time. I can't stand long, boring things like fishing and.... golf. I am trying re-train myself to do things that force me to relax and take some time at. #2 I hate being looked at when it is my turn to perform. Golf forces me to put out when I am being watched. #3 I am tense and distressed most of the time. I fake it a lot. Maybe people know, maybe they don't. Golf forces me to calm down or I will not be able to play the stupid game. You can't be tense and play golf. Lately when I start the golf game all I say is, I Don't Care (what happens, what other people think, what's happening back at work, etc.). I hum a song. After about four holes I start improving. I then change my mantra to, Swing Freely. Once I don't care I can start to focus on making the ball go where I want it go.
First the positive reasons. #1 I wanted to prove to myself and the nay sayers (the boss) that I could venture out and try something new. #2 It's somewhat free if I am careful. I get a free pass for 18 holes for four people. This translates to 4 twosome passes a month. #3 I introduced my sons to golf and enjoy the relationship building with them and others.
Now for the negative reasons. #1 I can't stand being inefficient with my time. I can't stand long, boring things like fishing and.... golf. I am trying re-train myself to do things that force me to relax and take some time at. #2 I hate being looked at when it is my turn to perform. Golf forces me to put out when I am being watched. #3 I am tense and distressed most of the time. I fake it a lot. Maybe people know, maybe they don't. Golf forces me to calm down or I will not be able to play the stupid game. You can't be tense and play golf. Lately when I start the golf game all I say is, I Don't Care (what happens, what other people think, what's happening back at work, etc.). I hum a song. After about four holes I start improving. I then change my mantra to, Swing Freely. Once I don't care I can start to focus on making the ball go where I want it go.
I haven't even added the main reason why people play golf since this reason hasn't panned out: professional relationship building. I have always been a 'bad old boy' and have never been invited into the 'good old boy' group. Maybe some day.....
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Good Things
I have a lot to be grateful. I have a loving wife that puts up with me. My children are generally doing good. I would be nice if they would do some chores without being asked. I actually have too many things that I want to do. That is a good thing. I have seven books that I am reading and seven more that I want to start. I have goals to set. I am learning to believe all things, hope all things and endure all things. I believe that these aspects of charity are what we call positive mental attitude in our culture. Believe that things will go my way. Believe that a child will make the right decision rather than believing that they are doing bad or going to do bad. Believe that God can help me out of my financial predicament. Believe that God will help me with longevity of income if Vision Bankcard, Inc. were to collapse. Trust in God rather than in the arm of the flesh. Trust that God will make my temporal life right, not that Jeff Knowles (the big boss) will make it right. That would be trusting in the arm of the flesh (Knowles). Trust that the highest good will be the best for all and that God will support me as I trust that His highest good will support me. If the highest good is to bring down the company, so be it. I really don't want that to occur but there are only two planes of living: the natural man plane (worry, fear and dog eat dog) and the spiritual plane (God is my details and cares about me as I rely wholly on the merits of His Son who is mighty to save; deliverance; protection; love; etc.).
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Troubled
I am troubled. I don't have the will power to resist carbs! So, I have been slowly gaining weight of the past two weeks. I need to arrest the trend! Help! We socialize so much by eating food together. I like food. I like simple carbohydrates. What am I to do. I don't want to eat healthy.
If I don't decide on a plan right now, I fear that I will just eat whatever and gain weight. I need to set a serious goal, make a plan a stick to it. What will my plan be?
If I don't decide on a plan right now, I fear that I will just eat whatever and gain weight. I need to set a serious goal, make a plan a stick to it. What will my plan be?
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