I blog because it is very therapeutic for me and I hope it means something to someone else.
I make many statements that appear anti-christian. But I am anti christian or any other church because I am a christian. They have become fundamentalists, walking by the letter of the law in a lot of cases they took out of context anyway. Your performance as a human being has nothing to do with Godliness. Christ did not walk by fundamentals, he walked by faith and what he knew in his heart. Though he was very familiar with the law. He broke it all the time. The law of the church that is.
When are we going to get out of Sunday school and start walking by faith? If you spend your life putting yourself in check due to religion you are wasting a life. It has a name. Apeistice (probably misspelled) it is opposing faith.
Every little fundamental opposes faith believe it or not.
Ok, so 2008 started rough. I had a job, barely, and was not able to
keep it long because of the unrealistic hours they wanted. I tried my
hand at being a stay at home mom, and could not do that either. I got a
job at a law firm. I had some bad kidney problems, and a torn cornea
twice. I was on Fox news, and felt much was left out of the story. I stood in a flag line as a widow and newborn sobbed when a hero
came home, to be buried. I cheered from that flag line loud and proud
as many came home alive. I went to California for fun twice, and
neither time was Disneyland. I got drunk, twice - not at the same time
as the trips. John and I had only 1 fight the whole year. Deacon lost
most of his teeth, and grew almost a foot. Mike had his downs, and is
up again now, and grew nearly 2 feet. We burried friends. We lost no
family, all though we had close calls. I met my in-laws after over 11
years with John. I spent the whole year in school. I missed my mom and
my sister. I laughed, a lot. I cried some. I prayed often. I loved
more. I learned about myself. I got to help some families who needed it
more than we did. I got to become friends with a kick ass (wants to be
considered a EDIT even though she is a sweetheart) Army chick who is
active duty in Iraq. I got to help some soldiers have a slightly less
homesick Christmas. I started a project that is still getting its
wings. I got to see life from a different angle for the first time in
my 33 years.
The biggest personal news of the year? I lost almost 60 pounds since 1/1/08, and 16 of that was just last month!!!
Have a wonderful year readers. Strive to make each year better, and
embrace change - no matter what it looks like when it comes to you.
Well just wanted to share some words of encouragement I got at church yesterday.
The Father came out and talked about marriage. Now think about it, for those who are married. Your vows you make to one another...the big one for me was in sickness and health, rich or poor for the rest of my life. Wow that is a total commitment, it was said in church how strong a marriage begins and as time goes by it is easy to forget the words you made in your vows. Look at the statistics of divorce. Sure once it begins its all wonderful until your hit with challenges that can either strenghthen your foundation or start to break your foundation down. It will always be a strugle, life is not just blue skies and rainbows. If you have a situation that leaves you up in arms over your spouse, don't let it go on and on, this only causes bitterness. If it can't be handled that day or if you procrastinate don't let it go beyond 7 days. Be in tune with one another, is it actually possible? Yes, you know how to push the buttons, and you also know how to calm the storm. There is a rhyme and rhythm to keep your relationship strong and wonderful. Find your groove. Respect, love, communicate, find the happiness!
The Father said: "There is always time to change, just like the wind blows!"
Before I went to church yesterday, I prayed that I would know the message I needed to get out of mass on Jesus's Birthday. It was strange leaving the house, and the snow was piled up on the ground, the wind was blowing adding an extra chill to my whole body. But once I stepped inside the church, the outside world just melted away. When I entered the church I was set back by the beauty of the church. The wreaths, Nativity, Poinsetta's, and the christmas trees. My heart was filled with joy, and once I sat down to take it all in, I was overcome and tears began to fall. The church was transformed into the beauty of my Saviors birth, I was also reminded of his painful death. There he was lying in a manger a little baby, you see his mother and father, all the animals in the manger, and an angel watching over them. His humble beginning, check out his mom and dad they traveled many days. Joseph leading the donkey that his beloved wife was sat upon. They finally get into town and nobody would give a pregnant woman a room to comfortably give birth to her child. But at least one person said, its not much but it's out of the weather so she gave birth in a barn. That was an act of compassion that one person showed.
At the service we all sang together, offered peace to one another (my favorite part of church). Then I listened carefully to what the father had to say. Sitting in church I can not help but reflect on that every where I look there is sin, the things people do to each other are unspeakable. How are we going to turn everything around? Everything is such a mess, we are in such despair all around the world. I look up to Jesus hanging on the cross, he died for all our sins, so we can make it back to heaven, what a beautiful sacrifice. There are the poor without shelter, clothing, food. The ones that can save them are blind and can not see them or just don't care. How hard can it be to say hey here is some shelter, a place to lay your weary head. May I give you these clothes that are clean, warm, and dry. Are you cold? Let me give you a warm blanket. Are you hungry? Come I have food to fill your empty stomach.
Then the father spoke the words I had prayed for: "If you want to change the world, you must change only yourself!"
We've been through so much this Holiday season. It doesn't seem like Christmas at all.
Maybe it shouldn't. Maybe that is one of the things in this country that need to change. Toy companies making fools out of us once a year. In the name of WHAT?
I just want people to know that on the news cast last night-12-21-08 I think it was good to let people know about the free formula and food. But-----it would be better to teach the parents how to make thier own formula and baby food. The old saying goes.Teach a man to fish and he will never go hungry again. I had to make my own formula for my two children when they were babies and puree the food for them also. Help these parents to learn, not to go with out. Thank you for letting me speak my mind on this.
IF CHRIST WAS SITTING NEXT TO YOU---CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY ---WOULD YOU FEEL AT EASE---OR, WOULD YOU LOOK AWAY ? HAVE YOU TAKEN TIME FOR OTHERS---DESPERATELY IN NEED? OR, HAVE YOU ONLY THOUGHTS OF PRESENTS AND YOUR SHINING CHRISTMAS TREE? WOULD CHRIST TURN AWAY FROM THOSE---WHO WERE SENT TO THE FAR EAST? OR, WOULD HE TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WORLD PEACE? WOULD HE SIMPLY GAZE AT THE HOMELESS---FEELING SADNESS ---THEN PITY? OR, WOULD HE OFFER THEM WARMTH AND FOOD--IN AN OTHERWISE COLD CITY? WOULD HE TURN HIS BACK ON THE OLD---WHO SILENTLY SIT ALONE? OR,WOULD HE REACH OUT WITH LOVE--AND BRING THEM TO HIS HOME? FOR CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR GIVING--NOT JUST IN A MATERIAL WAY--TO GIVE OF OURSELVES, WITH LOVE UNCONDITIONAL, IS WHAT WE MUST LEARN TODAY!-----------IF CHRIST WAS WITH YOU CHRISMAS DAY--- WOULD YOU FEEL AT EASE? ----OR WOULD YOU LOOK AWAY FROM THE TEARS UPON HIS CHEEK?
Growing up as a Mormon in Utah it was easy for me to take my religion for granted, and while I was growing up I did take it for granted. I went through the motions of seminary as most do but I can still remember one lesson that really impressed me back in the ninth grade.
That lesson was about the, then current, twelve apostles. We talked about all the accomplishment of each one of the twelve, but I was impressed upon the fact that one of them played football in college, that man was Joseph B. Wirthlin. My seminary teacher told us to watch the next conference and see that Joseph B. Wirthlin to the day was a man 'large in stature'. Shallow though it was, it got me to really sit down and watch conference probably for the first time with real intent. Joseph B. Wirthin from that point enamored me with his voice and his stature that reminds me so very much of my own father.
I cried when I listened to the funeral on the radio. I was going to help my Dad that day.
One of the most prevalent features of man in his desire to transcend the present, the profane, the ignorant and the unconscious. One of the best short quotes to express this desire belongs to the nineteenth century British poet, Robert Browning: “…a man’s reach should exceed his grasp – or what’s a heaven for?”
It may be easy to translate this as strictly a religious theme, hence “heaven” and not some other ideal such as science or technology or knowledge of any number of disciplines. The fact is, any of these might be substituted for “heaven” and it is likely that Browning would agree with it and not feel that the line was diminished. Curious, then, that Browning began his young adult life, like a hero of his, Percy Bysshe Shelley, as an atheist and vegetarian. That he later abandoned these principles is not the point.
I maintain that any desire to make of one’s self more today than he was yesterday, to see the future, and the past, to embrace the sacred of any discipline, that is, its purity, to gain knowledge and wisdom and to awaken his consciousness to possibilities of achievement not available to the sleeper is the embodiment of Browning’s verse. That he chose “heaven” as the object of that transcendence is merely metaphor for any of a number of other ideals. The specific goal may not be as important as the making of any goal. Reach for something and shun any who would stunt his reach in the squalor of the cynic.
Fight, fight, fight all you want. But marriage? Do you know how much that institution has cost a lot of people? You happily married people can fight for the institution all you want but those of you who truly love each other would be happy and together without the institution.
Sunsmiles this post is just for you.....though I know that I will receive a lot of stupid comments. On this one. But I feel It must be said. I am assuming you are female but either way doesn't really matter. But I have seen him face to face. You keep believing! It seems most of the time I spend crying from the disgrace this planet has shown. Because you have Faith is why I will come out and say this and take the criticism. But If you ask him he will come. Sincerity is the key. That is why I mentioned orgasm as one of the closest forms of reaching for God. Alright now go ahead and call me crazy all you want. But I'm glad I'm not you.
Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving. A time where we gather with friends and family to express gratitude for that which we hold dear. We all have the images in our minds that we have been taught since grade school of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock and having a great feast of thanksgiving with their Native American brethren.
But the meaning and traditions of Thanksgiving extend far beyond that first day of gratitude offered by the earliest of settlers of the new world. So let us take a moment now and reminisce upon Thanksgivings of old going back to the foundation of our nation and what our Founding Fathers deemed to be the real reason for a day of Thanksgiving.
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress would reserve one or more days of thanksgiving each year. The First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving was given by the Continental Congress in 1777. It read as follows:
"FOR AS MUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the
superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with
Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore
such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased
him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable
Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the
Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and
Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in
that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means
used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most
signal success:
"It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers
of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of
December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and
with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of
their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine
Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and
Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold
Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and
earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS
CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it
may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of
these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole:
To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them,
with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments,
under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United
States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE:
That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the
People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its
Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for
cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his
nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion
and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth 'in Righteousness,
Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.'
"And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such
Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the
Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion."
Following the American victory over the British, the tradition of Thanksgiving continued with Pres. George Washington. On October 3, 1789, he issued the following proclamation establishing the first Thanksgiving by the new federal government of the United States of America:
"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and
humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of
Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to
the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer
to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal
favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity
peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and
happiness.'
"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of
November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the
service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author
of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then
all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his
kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to
their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the
favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the
course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of
tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the
peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to
establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and
particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of
acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the
great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
"And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers
and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech
him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all,
whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and
relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national
government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a
Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and
faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and
Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless
them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge
and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science
among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a
degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
"Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."
Today we continue the tradition of Thanksgiving but there is something that seems to be amiss when comparing the traditions of today with the original intent of Thanksgiving. What is it, you ask? I will tell you: The tradition of the expressed gratitude to Almighty God. As plainly demonstrated by the proclamations quoted above, Thanksgiving was a day to offer thanks and gratitude to God for our preservation as a nation and the many freedoms which we all enjoy.
I don't suppose that a President could offer such a proclamation today as the ACLU and the P.C. police would have nothing doing with that. For some bizarre reason they see that acknowledging God is establishing an official state sanctioned religion and preventing everyone from worshiping who, what, where, and how they wish. Congress and/or the President expressing thanks to the God that gave us life and preserved this nation after the many bloody battles in our history that tried to tear this nation asunder is no longer acceptable. For shame.
I asked my self why don't the politically correct goons out there want a public acknowledgment of God made by our national leaders? I assert the answer is they don't want to face the fact that this nation was indeed established as a religious and God fearing nation. Our Founding Fathers saw the hand of God from the very beginning in establishing this nation as a place of refuge for the oppressed where men and women are guaranteed certain inalienable rights given to us by our Creator. It is that same Creator that guarantees each and everyone the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If not God, to whom do you express your gratitude and thanks?
In conclusion, I hope everyone takes a moment tomorrow to offer gratitude and thanks for everything you have. Friends, family, a job, a roof over your heads, food to eat, a free land in which to live, etc. These are all wonderful blessings that warrant our gratitude, not just at the end of November but every day. Also remember those that aren't as fortunate as the rest of us. There are many that will go hungry tomorrow or have to sleep on the streets. Keep them in mind and take the time to help them out where you can as that spirit of service to our fellow man is what makes us a great nation and, above all, acknowledge to yourself, "but by the grace of God go I."
i think the way we dealt with the vote in california about prop 8 was all wrong we ended up looking as crazy as P,E,T,A wanting breast milk ice cream.
i think religions should have jurisdiction when it comes to these things let people vote for what they want don't go calling some one a state over and tell them the church wants to decided for them.
the Mormons ended up looking like fanatical cultist on a mission.
how do you feel about the way they dealt with prop 8 and do you think they could have done a better job
“For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” – Luke 6:43-45
The 2-million dollar death suit for the child killed last year in federal forest land does not have the necessary preponderance of evidence needed in order to win a civil suit. No proof that the bear was the same one from the previous attack and the forest service did put signs out. Also, any buzzard know that you never enter the forest without being sufficiently trained and armed. Going into the forest unarmed knowing that potentially dangerous animals live there is negligent enough on the family's part to discount any fault of the forest service. The forest service does a great job considering they are understaffed and underpaid.
The whole thing reminds me when about ten years ago that poor guy took his sweet little two-year-old son with him deer hunging. When he came back a short time later from looking, the little boy had already decided to go out himself and explore. He had only foot pajamas or something and died of exposure in short order. The boy simply couldn't be found in time. He and his father are both with God now. That father had lost his most precious person in his life and was suffering probably more than this family as it was largely his fault his baby died. He loved his little child He even took him with him wherever he went. This time it was hunting. As stupid on his part as it was, and it was his fault and prosecutable, he lost his boy. What more could ever happen to him ever. Well, it would be worse if it was rubbed in his face on a daily basis. He could be reminded of it day in and day out - and that's what the press did, including this station. It's true. The press followed him all around. The presecutor prosecuted him. They never let him alone enough to allow his grief to heal. He was hounded by the law and the press and on the day of his 'negligent homicide' trial or whatever it was, he couldn't take it anymore and took his own life. He was suffering a thousand times a day because of the prosecution and the press. After he died, for once the press shut up, for once. The report was made of his death for about a day then nothing. They were guilty of that man's death and they knew it. Maybe they should pray for forgiveness and acknowledge what they did. Too late now. The state and press together took that man's life, plain and simple - and their silence right afterward proves it further. I was really P.O.ed They all made their money -they know who they are - but also, God doesn't forget and they will have to answer for the persecution of that man. I never understand how a prosecution could ever do or change anything when a parent's child is killed. What prison sentence would come close by comparison? - and how much would the family suffer even more when the father is criminalized for an accident? This is a type of tyranny.
This civil suit is very similar in that this family lost a precious son, their baby, and need a way to grieve about it. This law suit is their manner of dealing with it. Now, they didn't commit a crime but are suffering just as that man did when he lost his baby son. That kind of pain seeks justice - even if no justice exists. The state tried to prosecute the negligent father, but didn't acknowledge or see that he was already in hell and for the prosecutor's part added more hell to his life than any prison sentence cwould have done.
Even though this family has no case - they base it on the fact that the government legally had to kill the bear when its first attack occurred, they need something to help with their suffering. They don't know for sure (at least I don't think they have proof) that the bear that killed her son is the same bear that attacked earlier that month and was indeed the one that needed to be put down. Can they put together a bear line-up? "Oh, there it is, with the brown eyes". "That's definetly the one, over there, the one picking his teeth". Sorry, folks, couldn't resist. I don't mean to be rude but it has been a year since it happened. Anyway, signs were also put up warning of bears. Most importantly, WHAT IDIOT GOES INTO THE MOUNTAINS WITHOUT BEING PROPERLY ARMED! IT'S ABSOLUTELY STUPID! I've been out there with wolves howling all over the place. We (us, in our new kind of lives) live in LA-LA Land unusual and relatively new modern life in a paved up and drawn out city, but nature is still nature that can and eventually will be dangerous. Lots of dangerous stuff out there. I know someone who got into a fight with a mountain lion and lived, but took serious hits. There were two guys fighting it off. He was armed but taken by suprise by the lion. All that kind of wildlife is still out there and is the balance of this earth's life cycle. Common sense dictates that you be armed out there, even if the cops and naive child-adults don't like it. Police are protected. You aren't unless you make the decision to be protected.
Now, the suffering of this family needs to be understood. They need to be compforted and loved and their son needs to be acknowledged. They think winning a civil suit will help their suffering, but it can't. Maybe their bank balance, but not their loss. Bandage over a serious wound. Perhaps their friends and family still needs to be close to them and to help them in their grief. His sister seemed particularly devastated. Poor girl. I would say to her that God lives. God just does - and her brother (and mother's son) is with Him right now along with lots of other family and friends. This is religious, but I really don't think our spirit dies when the mortal body does and I take solace in that.
If it weren't for the fact that it would open Pandora's Box, I would have no problem with some kind of lessor settlement to acknowledge their son. If they are just kicked out of the courts on their bundos it'll take them longer to get over this - and they have other younger children too at impressionable ages. I don't think it's good to teach that everything in life is compensated for by court but the do need to feel the compassion of our system at a time like this.
Maybe honoring this family and their dead son is something this particular news station has power to do and would partially make up for the poor media behavior forced upon that poor man and his dead son.
Moral of the story: Know where you are and when near dangerous animals (and some humans), be trained and keep sufficient weapons at hand so as to not end up something's dinner. A loud noise probably would have driven off that bear, or maybe a barking dog. Killing is is always a last resort and even though some wierdos think animals are just as important as humans - kill any thing or anyone that threatens someone in your family. Just make sure it is justified and absolutely necessary.
I wonder if the 'law' in this case has to provide for a 'monoxide gas chamber' for errant bears. It was pretty cruel and unusual for that bear to tear that boy's head off. Animals are just like people, right? Not. This speak to some people just north of Kanab here.
All sarcasm aside. My heart goes out to all those touched by that boy's death. I wish I could find his name but looked in the news section and didn't find it.
