Faith and Hope

I have been asked to speak today about the Savior. We have heard a lot of talks this month about Him. We have just celebrated His birth and in a few months we will remember His death and His resurrection. Each Sunday during Sacrament Meeting we partake of the Sacrament, emblems and symbols of our Lord, and a renewing of the convents that we took upon us at baptism, where we took upon us the name of Jesus Christ and promising to obey His commandments. These emblems are blessed and passed by Brethren who hold the priesthood, God’s power to perform the Gospel’s saving ordinances here on Earth so we, if we live worthily, can return to Him, all performed through the name of Jesus Christ, our mediator with our Father in Heaven.

I would like to speak today about a few groups of people that have very different reactions to the same events and same information about our Savior. I know that the titles I have given these groups are broad and do not fit exactly but the titles are not as important as the reactions of these groups to truth.

The first group is the logic and reason group. This is the group that needs proof and relies on physical evidence; science and philosophy are their mantra. They say that they are enlightened, that it is the 21st Century. They declare that we have moved beyond the myths and legends of our ancestors.

Science is man’s interpretation of what is around us. Science can only be true as long as it is in alignment with the revelations and teaching of God. Science must align with God or it is not true. But if you do not believe in God then a theory is good enough for proof. Joseph Fielding Smith states that “Revelation is superior to Science.” Truth has to firm and solid, it cannot be changeable. Science, as taught by man, is ever changing. It never stays the same. Man’s knowledge is incomplete and often wrong. Man has to restate scientific true over and over again; frequently.

Yet man, in His rejection of God, uses science to be his proof. But man’s proof is flawed. I find it humorous that man will accept the theory that the world was touched by visitors from another far off world or a spore on the back of a meteorite or something similar, and life sprang up but they will not believe that there is a God. They do everything they can to attempt to reason that there is no God. By denying God’s existence they deny the divinity of our nature. They deny the Savior. Without God there is no need for a savoir or any need for commandments. Without God there is no sin, man is just a creature of nature without a soul.

If evolution is true then the gospel is false. If the gospel is false then there was no creation, no garden, no Adam and Eve, and therefore no fall. If there is no fall then there is no need for salvation and no need for a Christ, and no resurrection. Evolution of man from a lower form of life rejects God.

A testimony of the gospel and the Savior cannot be sustained by logic, reason, science or philosophy. The gospel requires the use of faith and hope.

In the Book of Mormon there is a discussion between Alma and Korihor about the existence of God. In Chapter 30 of Alma, Alma says to Korihor:
“…. Believest thou that there is a God? And he (Korihor) answered, Nay. Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true;

And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words. But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses?”

In Joseph Fielding Smith’s book, Doctrines of Salvation Volume II, he says; “Let it be uppermost in our minds, now and at all times, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to lay down his life that we might live. That is the truth and is fundamental. Upon that our faith is built. It cannot be destroyed.”

“We must adhere to this teaching in spite of the teachings of the world and the notions of men, for this is paramount, this is essential to our salvation. The Lord redeemed us with his blood: he gave us salvation, provided – and there is this condition which we must not forget – that we will keep his commandments and always remember him. If we will do that, then we shall be saved, while the ideas and the foolishness of men shall perish from the earth.”

The reason that there is a lack of spirit and force in the religious teachings of the world is in part because they have tried to harmonize the Christian faith with the foolishness of men; and, of course, it will not harmonize with falsehood and the doctrine of men. But we have received the light of the everlasting gospel. It is our salvation. Let us adhere to it and worship the Lord and keep his commandments, as we have been instructed to do, in the name of his Son.” (This comment is from a talk President Smith gave in conference in October of 1921.)

In Colossians chapter 2 Paul warns us “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. “

This brings us to the second group I would like to talk about. Let me first start with some quotes from the scriptures.

Ephesians chapter 4 “….henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; “

2 Timothy Chapter 4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. “

1 Nephi chapter 13 reads: “….for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men. “

Or this group could be like the people Zachariah was preaching to as “they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”

There are well meaning men and women who are preaching the gospel – as they understand it – but the gospel has been changed; there was an apostasy. The gospel was changed by those who came before our time, many years ago. It has been handled down flawed and lacking the authority and power necessary to properly perform the saving ordinances. But men and women still have within them the spirit of Christ and they seek the truth.

In 2 Nephi chapter 26 we are warned about preistcraft; “priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.”

This gospel is called legend, common memory, stories, or oral tradition by those who say they are ministers of Christ. They claim that the Bible is not to be taken literally. Ministers even preach that the resurrection did not happen. The teachings of many the churches today are not even the same as the teachings of their founding leaders when they were first established. We talk about the great apostasy but this apostasy continues today. The church as set up by Christ in the meridian of time was changed and the changes still continue. We read daily of churches that are splitting, disagreeing over doctrine and the nature of Christ. The apostasy is real.

In the Doctrine and Convents Section 123 we read: “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—“

So we have the second group - seekers, asking God for guidance and looking for the gospel because the spirit of Christ that is within them witnesses to them that there is something more. Eventually all men will bow before the Lord and acknowledge Him as Savior and King but for today there are thousands seeking truth but have not yet found it. We need to be aware of our fellow brothers and sisters and their seeking. As individuals we need to be an example to the world and available to share our testimonies. As parents we need to teach our children the mission of Christ and prepare our young men for missions and fatherhood and our daughters for motherhood. As a congregation we need to welcome new members and help them grow their testimonies and prepare them for greater light by attending the temple.

One thing the world has seen and will continue to see is false Christs and those that claim they know when and where Christ will return. Many times in my own life I have seen friends and neighbors go off, leaving their home, jobs, and school, hoping to meet a returning Messiah only to return disappointed. Christ will return. He has too; the prophets and scriptures say He will.

In Matthew chapter 24 Christ himself warns us by saying: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”

I am not sure how much clearer the Lord could be when He states – Believe them not. When He returns everyone everywhere will know.

Then there is the third group I would like to touch on – those of us that depend on faith and hope, or at least we should. We waiver, we are weak and sometimes we falter. We should be like the wise men who built his house on a rock so when the storms came it stood firm. A house built upon a foundation of apostles, prophets, and teachers; with Jesus Christ being the corner stone.

In the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi chapter 8 Lehi describes his vision of the tree of life and in part of the vision he says; “And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.”

Matthew chapter 8 there is a story about the Lord and His disciples. “And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

It is scary out in the world. The rains fall, the wind is like a hurricane, the waves are high and wolves are everywhere. There are a lot voices; all claiming to know the truth or the way to Christ. We sometimes may feel weak and unable to stand firm. Our testimony must be strong; we must stand strong even in the face of the storm. We have to reach a spot where we are comfortable with our testimonies. We cannot be influenced by the scoffers and unbelievers or seduced by the silver tongue philosophers. If we follow the Savior, obey His commandments, He will take care of us. This is not to say we will not have problems and trials, but He will take care of us. Remember Him and keep His commandments – sounds like the sacrament prayers.

I have said a lot today and I do not want to end without making sure I am clear in what message I want to leave with you.

God lives and there is a Christ. Any teaching that denies there is a God or Christ is a false teaching. Any teaching that denies our divine nature is a false teaching. If teachings deny God, play down the importance of the Savior as the Son of God and make Him no more than a man, if our divine nature is rejected, if any of the teachings run contrary to the gospel then they are not true. We should not fret about this. Men have been teaching false doctrine since the time of Adam and Eve. It will continue until Christ returns.

We should always keep the Spirit near us. We do this through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. We continue our journey through obedience, magnifying our callings, study, fasting, and prayer; but I have found that the most important of all is – listening.

1 Kings chapter 19 “And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

And finally Brothers and Sister I would like to end with Psalms 46 where the Lord says;”Be still, and know that I am God.”

My Christmas Gift List

Okay some of you said that my wish list was - unrealistic - that I should not expect to see any of my wish list this Christmas.

So here is a more realistic gift list.

A router (with plunge capability please).
A router table (workbench type would be great).
Router bits
A pressure washer (or similar)
HO scale steam locomotives
Wind chimes
A post hole digger
An edger
A halogen work bench light

.
.
.

What did I read in 2009

What did I read in 2009?

Man - His Origin and Destiny by Joseph F Smith
Beautiful Evidence by Edward Tufte
Community by Peter Block
Why are some people healthy and others not? by Robert Evans
Purchasing Population Health by David Kindig

Papa's Present List

Okay this year I am posting my gift wish list - no excuses for not knowing what I want.

1. A Painter
2. A Carpenter
3. A plumber
4. An Electrician

The painter needs a 20 foot ladder and a couple of days to paint the foyer, dining room, and living room.

The carpenter needs a miter saw and skill with crown molding and building fences. Then the painter can paint the molding.

The plumber will be laying a line to the back of the yard for my pond.

The electrician needs to run a line to the back of the yard for my pond.

Count your blessings

Count your blessings - name them one by one.

A friend today was very somber. His unit has just had it's 10th death this year in operations overseas.

Another friend was heading up the highway - to visit his son who is in a rehab center and has been there for over a year for drug addictions and related crimes.

A friends husband has a mass in his brain that is totally inoperable. Luckily is is indolent and grows very slowly.

Two colleagues last week were given unfortunate news - one has already had surgery and is starting chemo this week for breast cancer and the other has a mass in her panaceas and has to have surgery.

My daughter has been experiencing pain for weeks in her jaw and finally went to see a doctor. Being uninsured she went to a federal health clinic, waited 8 hours, and was given Motrin.

My other daughter has just had her husband deploy to Iraq - for the fourth time. And his father has recently started having seizures.

A lady I know is willing to suffer the emotional rollar coaster, massive vomiting, and all the rest of the side effects of pregnancy to bring a child into her family.

There is no one who is without needs.
We need each other.
I cannot imagine travelling through this life alone.

I count my blessings.
And there names are Debbie, Kristen, James, Dad, Mom, Linda, Melanie, ....
.
.
.

She Knew

I was walking into a pharmacy to pickup some prescriptions. As I approached the front door I saw an elderly couple. He was pushing his wife, who was in a wheelchair, through the parking lot to their car.

I walked in the front door and stopped. A small voice said that I was supposed to be outside helping that couple. Of course that small voice was right so I turned around and went back outside.

As I approached the couple, who were now at their car, the lady looked at me and smiled. "I knew you would be back."
.
.
They would not let me help them. As I talked to her while she got into the chair he had taken the wheelchair to the back, had it folded and was putting it in before I could get back there. "We have this down," he said smiling.

I waved and wished them well as they drove away.
.
Why was I to go back? How did she know I was coming back?
Someday I will find out.
.
.

No e-mail program with Windows 7

.
There is no support for Outlook in Windows 7.

You will have to use another program.
..
..

It's a good thing

I was at a meeting today where they were giving out door prizes. I had supplied a few totes with some goodies inside. When one of the ladies won one of the totes I had supplied eveyone was anxious to see what was in it. As she went through the bag one of the other ladies said "Money? It has money in it?"

No I had not put money in it. The lady who had won had just take some bills out of her wallet and they were between her fingers. It just looked like she had taken it out of the tote.

But I made a big mental note; money is a good door prize. I will remember that.
..
..

It's that time of the year - again

Yes - it's that time of the year again; Halloween. It has become a source of great angst to our community over this 'holiday'. And if everyone would be honest about it - this 'holiday' has been a source of angst for a very long time.

I am not an expert but this goes to the point of the matter. An examination of the roots of the holiday and the very name of the 'holiday' show us what this holiday was and demonstrates what we have been warned about by the scriptures. It does not take an expert to seek out the simple basic truths of a matter.

Hallow, by definition is something set apart to be holy and sacred. the ending 'een' changed over time but it comes from a root meaning evening. The definition is easy to find; an holy evening.

In Germany I experienced All Hallows Eve in a way I had never seen before. A night devoted to Mass and visits to the local cemeteries where candles and luminaries are placed on the graves of beloved friends and relatives who had past on. There are similar traditions in China and in Japan. The tradition crosses all boundaries and cultures. There is a reverence and devotion to our ancestors that is sometimes expressed on special nights.

So where does this tradition come from, what is the source. I am not sure and I am sure most experts are not sure either. Traditions seldom have a clear source. We do know in the Bible, in Matthew Chapter 27 verse 52 an amazing event occurs.

"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. "

I am not saying this is the source of the tradition but I am saying that this had to be a frighting event. But it became an event that demonstrated the power of God and sealed the testimony of many of the Saints.

It seems to be in America we tend to take customs and traditions and distort them. We have this uncanny ability to strip off all the spiritual elements and leave the baser elements and even add more. Halloween is an excellent example. In America this night has become a celebration of all that our spiritual leaders, of many sects, have warned their members to avoid. But this side of the holiday only exists in America.

We can choose what we do this night. Is it a fun night of candy and costumes or a celebration of the darkness.
.
.

We can always learn

We can always learn. Such is the case this morning as I apologize to my true Facebook friends.

I got wrapped up in the Mafia Wars game and was on a quest to conquer the game. This is when I learned some things about Facebook and relearned some things I had already known but had fallen into the deep recesses of my mind.

1. I did not understand that all my friends, and not just the Mafia friends, received all my posts. I realized this in talking with my wife. I had assumed that if someone did not play the game or if they had deselected the application from the authorized apps list, that they would not get the notices. Wrong!

2. Facebook and Mafia have been around for a long while. New players are at a disadvantage. This is a common occurrence in all of the multi player games and the older experienced players do love to take advantage of you. Mafia says the maximum number of game friends is 501, it says so right on the game page. I have run into Mafias that have over 24,000 players.

3. Money. You really are setup and tempt you to spend money. And they make it so easy. You don't have too and it really does you no good but it is there. Guess even Facebook has to stay profitable.

4. Waste of time. Real time clocks with limited time play. Makes for a quick jump into the game, do your moves and jump out. Ha! That never happens. Pretty soon your 5 minute move has turned into 30 minutes and your doing this 5 or more times a day. Hey I love computers and games but this is a waste of time. (Or I am totally undisciplined.)

5. Games are not the reason I got onto Facebook. I have been sidetracked. And the games have minimal sounds and graphics. Mafia is a number cruncher. That type of game has been around since computers were invented. It is nothing new. Anyway this is not why I joined Facebook. I have gotten off into the weeds.

I apologize and I will behave properly in the future.

"I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught." ~Winston Churchill
.
.

Wishes do come true

A mother and child came out of a store and were walking through the parking lot. It was late at night and pretty empty. In one of the parking spots was a lady sitting in her van.

"Look Mommy", said the child, "A car you sleep in."
"Yes", said the lady.
"I want a car like that when I grow up."
"So did I when I was your age", replied the lady.
"Well", the child exclaimed,"I guess your wishes came true."

Conversations

Overheard at a store:
Mom - We need some bread.
Daughter - Oh not this one - too seedy.
Mom - That's rye bread dear.
Daughter - How about this one - its chocolate.
Mom - No dear, its pumpernickel.

A thread on Facebook:
K - I have a migraine.
Her Mother - not likely if your on the computer.
Grandpa - Stop paying the electric bill
Mom - LOL sounds like a plan
K - No don't listen to him
Mom - Your always on the computer - I never see you.
K - Did you have to say that on my wall?

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

I have often wondered what the local Georgians think about the Battle Hymn of the Republic. We sing it every now and again in church - it is in the hymnal. I am not sure most people know the background or the strong connection the song has with the Civil War.

(Of course that could be the War of Aggression depending on your point of view. It is the Republic's battle song - ie the North. The South's song is Dixie.)

I have noticed that it tends to be the non-southern members who led or play the music in church that select the song.

There was a letter to the editor in the Savannah Morning News a few days ago that expressed how the local people feel about the song. It was played at a September 11th ceremony and many attendees were offended.

Well all I have to say is this letter expresses the attitude and feelings of only a portion of Georgians. The white ones with roots to the past as a southerner. As a black Georgian the attitude is completely different. I guess the letter expresses the lingering feelings left over from an event that defined America. The war freed the slaves but alienated the whites in 13 states. It has been connected to carpet baggers and federal strong arming states.

The discussion of states rights and sovereignty continues even into today's court rooms. The latest example are the health insurance reform bills in Congress. Congress cannot pass a health insurance bill for a national plan because existing law clearly states that health insurance is under the oversight and control of health insurance. It is codified in the ERISA laws. (But that is another discussion for later.)

The Battle Hymn was written and published in 1862 and was a key song of the abolitionist movement. He song was sung by Union troops as they marched.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,


Our God is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Update on Deb and the crazy worl of health care

I got Deb home. It took five pharmacies to fill her discharge medications and we only got a partial fill on the pain meds. A pharmacy here in Guyton ended up filling the remainder but only after having to get on the phone and overriding a block Debs insurance had put on the prescription. The manager was worried about her being on so many pain meds and refilling so fast. That's right the prescription for the remaining pain meds was considered a refill. I like the checks but I am also glad the pharmacist was so proactive.

I think I should state here that it was locally owned pharmacies that got the meds filled. The chain folks were not so willing to help out.

She is doing better. She gets up every day and does something. The therapists are glad and they only came by twice. I think she is doing too much but it is good to see her laugh and working on her projects.

Prescription Musical Chairs

Deb came home from the hospital today.

One of the duties I next had to do was fill her discharge prescriptions. As with a lot of large hospitals now a days they sent the prescriptions to their hospital out patient pharmacy via the electronic messaging system for the hospital. They had all but one script.

Five pharmacies later we found one that had the drug but they could only fill 108 of the 150 tablets. I went over to pick it up. The pharmacists came out and said it was all ready to go but the nurse had given me the hospital in house prescription and it was not signed by the physician. I then drove across town, got it signed, and returned to the pharmacy.

When the pharmacists gave me the drug she said she was sorry but they could give me 65 of the 150. I would have to call the prescribing physician and get a second prescription for the remainder. She also said that all pharmacies would need at least 3 days to order the drug and I needed to plan for that with the next script.

But Deb is home and doing better good.

Deb's Surgery

.
Deb was having a lot of increasing pain with the pain and some numbness going down her legs. After several MRIs and mylograms (a special CT with contrast that has been injected into the spinal cord through a spinal tap) it was decided that surgery may be the best course of action.

We know that surgery will not fix what is wrong - Deb has spondalosis. All we were hoping for is less pain and maybe she could do more.

She went into surgery at 12:30 and was in recovery at 4:30. Longer by 2 hours from what we had been told to expect. The doctor talked to me and said he stopped the surgery when he finished what was needed (one additional flexible vertebrae with a decompression). The surgery was 'complicated' and Deb was bleeding too much. She was given two units of blood when she got to her room. Of course she was not in her room until nearly 8:00.

We did all the pre-op last week and this week she went to surgery. Now they (the hospital) knew that she was going to be admitted since last week but was not actually admitted until she was ready to be released from recovery. Of course this meant no pain meds for over 2 hours. The nurses could not order it because the admission folks had not completed her admission therefore the pharmacy had no order.

Her pain meds did not work and her doctor ordered more. Her pain doctor saw her today and ordered additional 'enhancing' meds. Deb has been on pain meds for so long that they do not work like they would for you and me. The extra med seemed to work and she is finally sleeping - nearly 48 hours since her surgery.

She still has her IV, leg compressions, and catheters. No one has even mentioned going home. She was supposed to be up and walking and doing the 'daily tasks of life' by now. Seems no one read the doctors notes or the pre-op work up. They were not aware that she uses a wheelchair or a walker. She will start in-patient rehab sometime next week.

Deb has three complaints - yep the food is one of them. (It is pretty bad.) The rehab tech is another (she is a meanie, won't take no for an answer), and the nurses being so busy that they cannot delivery meds on time.

She does have a TV with the Hallmark channel. She would really be mad if she had to do without her Little House or Golden Girls.

"I love you Deb."
.

o k a y

.

I promise I won't fall asleep in school tomorrow.

.

I can never retire

At a lunch meeting today the speaker was talking about the new employment laws and how the aging boomer workforce will be impacted by those laws.

(Yawn).

Without missing a beat he started talking about how this aging work force cannot retire because either they lost their savings in the down market, never put anything in the market to loose, or have adult children sucking the life blood out of them.

(Delayed laughter that got louder.)

"And I can tell from your response that you understand the situation."

He never cracked a smile or changed his laywerly demeanor.
.
.

The Beatles are overrated!

Yes that's right - The Beatles are overrated!

And now that Rock Band has released the Beatles module the radio stations are again playing Beatles. Ahhhhhhh!!

Yes they were popular when I was growing up but I never liked them - not then and not now.

I don't care about Abbey Lane, or Maxwell, Prudence, or Sergeant Pepper (he was not a real Sergeant and I don't think he even was a real pepper). I didn't care then or care now if the album was Blue, Red, or White. I never dated a girl from Russian, or anyone named Eleanor or Madonna.

Give me Doors, Savoy Brown, Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin, Mother's of Invention (remember Frank?), Cream. I was into the Hendrix Experience and Uriah Heep.

Loud, in stereo of course, and with headphones (if you had them.)

Don't ask why - Just thank Him

It is always man who seems to ask why, we want answers, explanations. It is not enough to accept things as the are, to just realize that they happen because He is aware of you, He knows what you need.

We are told to knock, ask, and receive. Of course we have to make the effort; we must knock.

Small voices, counsel of friends, comments seemingly unconnected to our needs spoken by people we do not know.

But we always want to find a non spiritual answer to things. I wonder if Job or Enoch or any of the Old Testament prophets ever had to worry about explanations. If they had the knowledge of modern man, would it have clouded and interfereed with the mystery of God? If, today, we had angels appear to us and teach us would we be as reluctant to believe? Would our modern lives reject the visits? Would we even recognize the visit? Would we hear the still small voice. ?

Are we so busy avoiding the wind, watching the earthquake, and worrying about the fire that we miss the voice?

I wonder sometimes. I worry that I am not listening. I worry that He does not talk to me.
Maybe I should be more worried about why I think this way because I know He talks.

(I wonder how much I have missed.)

.

Why Lithium?

I have been asked "Why the lyrics to Lithium?"

Hmmm - how do I answer that question?

Lithium by Nirvana

or

Seven Nation Army by White Stripes

or

Not Exactly - Deadmau5

or

Iron Man by Black Sabbath

.
.

Lithium

I'm so happy 'cause today

I found my friends

They're in my head

I'm so ugly, that's okay'

Cause so are you

Broke our mirrors

Sunday morning is everyday

For all I care

And I'm not scared

Light my candles, in a daze'

Cause I've found God

Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah

I'm so lonely, that's ok

I shaved my head

And I'm not sad

And just maybe

I'm to blame for all I've heard

I'm not sure

I'm so excited

I can't wait to meet you there

And I don't care

I'm so horny, that's okay

My will is good

Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah

I like it I'm not gonna crack

I miss you I'm not gonna crack

I love you I'm not gonna crack

I killed you I'm not gonna crack

I like it I'm not gonna crack

I miss you I'm not gonna crack

I love you I'm not gonna crack

I killed you I'm not gonna crack

I'm so happy 'cause today

I found my friends

They're in my head

I'm so ugly, but that's okay'

Cause so are you

Broke our mirrors

Sunday morning is everyday

For all I care

And I'm not scared

Light my candles in a daze

'Cause I've found god

Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah

I like it I'm not gonna crack

I miss you I'm not gonna crack

I love you I'm not gonna crack

I killed you I'm not gonna crack

I like it I'm not gonna crack

I miss you I'm not gonna crack

I love you I'm not gonna crack

I killed you I'm not gonna crack

Nirvana - Lithium

UPSsssssssman

(I was told this story by my Daughter.)

A friend saw the UPS truck stop in front of her house. She got up to see if he was delivering a package to her house and saw him walking back and forth in the driveway. Then he placed the package on the trunk of her car.

That is odd she thought and headed for the door. Just then the phone rings, "Hello?"

"This is UPS. We tried to deliver a box your house but left it in driveway. There is a big rattlesnake on your front pouch. We thought you should know."
.

Peek a Boo

I was leaving a very long meeting up at the City yesterday and decided to stop in the Men's Room on my way out. I also wanted to re-tuck in my shirt since sitting for hours really messes it up. I stepped over to the little area by the stalls and unbuckled.

Have you ever felt like someone is watching you but when you look around no one is there? I did. I looked. I decided I was just crazy. So I straightened out my shirt, re-buckled and headed out to the lobby to get the elevator.

About 10 seconds later a female City employee (carrying a book) came out of the Men's Room. Guess I was not crazy.
.

No More Coffee...

My daughter works at a restaurant in Savannah's Market Square. She came home and told me this story.

She was taking an order when a small child asked if they could have coffee. "No more coffee for you," replied the man, "You had enough already." The man completed the order which included a martini with extra olives.

When she brought the martini to the table the man took the olives and gave them to the boy. Seems he had enough coffee for the day but a few vodka marinated olives were okay.

.

.

.

(Sung to the tune of Pease Porridge Hot)

.

Cinnamon Bun Oatmeal hot,

Cinnamon Bun Oatmeal cold,

Cinnamon Bun Oatmeal in the bowl 4 hours old.

Some like it hot,

Some like it cold,

Nana likes it in the bowl 4 hours old.

.

Pasturized

There is a story going through the community today about an elderly lady in a wheel chair who attended the Hinesville town hall meeting with Congressman Kingston. At the meeting she asked "Is it true about the new health bill?"


"Is what true," asks the Congressman.
"That under the new health bill I would be pasturized," she states.

"I am not sure I understand what you mean by pasteurized," replies the Congressman.

The elderly lady says, "Pasturized. You know - put out to pasture. Is it true?"

I am Grey

"I am Grey.
I stand between the candle and the star.
We are Grey.
We stand between the darkness and the light."

Light meaning knowledge.
Darkness meaning the lack of knowledge.

The candle being representation of our home and what we have now.
The star being a representation of what God's home is like.

All Light originates from God the Father. Light is pure knowledge. Light is the knowledge of all things. Light is the priesthood. Here on Earth we do not have all the light, it would be too much for us as mortals. God only allows a small portion of His light to be available to man. Only the most righteous are trusted with its use. Its power is beyond our comprehension. The scriptures are full of examples of men and women who had the power and the miracles they performed with the power are indescribable.

I am grey because I am here on Earth. I am not in heaven, the place where God dwells, the source of all light. I am not in darkness because I have confessed my belief in Christ. I read the scriptures. I pray. I seek light. I seek knowledge and in small portions God has given me knowledge. It comes through the Holy Ghost. It is sometimes called inspiration, or intuition but it is the small still voice of the Holy Ghost whispering to our spirits the knowledge of things that God is willing to share with us.

We all have this small kernel of light within us; a spark of pure light, given to us by God. It knows its own when in the presence of light. It senses the light. If we are listening we hear it. It calls us. It reveals to us truth and knowledge. It keeps us safe. It warns us. It tells us when our children and loved ones need us. It can sense light in others. We sometimes call it the spirit of Christ. It is part of our spirit. It grows, taking the light God gave us and it grows, expanding to full us with more light.

If we do not stay pure, if we do not stay worthy of the light it will leave us. Light can only dwell in holy temples. We must stay worthy of the gift or God will take it from us. We must use the light or it will grow dim. We walk a fine line in this world between the dark and the light. We walk in shadows. We prefer the light. God prefers that we walk in the light but we are not prefect so we must try harder. Good thing God loves us and has given us a guide. Now if we can only learn to listen.




(Not that I try to find religious meaning in works of fiction but every once in a while you do find it. After all people write the books and people are religious. Many of you may recognize the quote at the beginning of my blog as being from Babylon 5.)

Who will find me?

James, the Bishop of Jerusalem, laid out a discourse in the Book of James of what it means to be a Christian. Alma, in the wilderness, taught the people what means to be baptised and how we must take care of each other. Lehi, in his tree of the Tree of Life, yearns for his family to eat of the tree.

The path to that tree begins with the opening of a gate, the gate of baptism. The path is marked and it has a iron rod for us to use on our journey. But sometimes we let go of the rail, we wander off the path and get lost in the mist. We get overly concerned about the people in the mansion and what they say about us. We become the sheep that has wandered away from the flock, we leave the 99.

Who will find me?

I could be a young man or women leaving home for the first time, going to college or the military. I could be the young mother with her first baby. I could be a new member wondering whats next. Or I could just be tired, worn down by life and all the things it throws at you.

What the Church needs are leaders, teachers, and members. Those that care about each other, who love us and express charity. That is what all three of these; leaders, teachers, and members, have in common. They care about us.

Ezra Taft Benson in a priesthood meeting talk in 1987 stated, "I rejoice in this opportunity to say a few words to you tonight. I feel impressed to speak to you about a priesthood program that has been inspired from its inception—a program that touches hearts, that changes lives, and that saves souls; a program that has the stamp of approval of our Father in Heaven; a program so vital that, if faithfully followed, it will help to spiritually renew the Church and exalt its individual members and families.

I am speaking about priesthood home teaching. With all my heart, I pray that you will understand, by the Spirit, exactly my feelings about home teaching.

Brethren, home teaching is not just another program. It is the priesthood way of watching over the Saints and accomplishing the mission of the Church. Home teaching is not just an assignment. It is a sacred calling."

The Lord set the example; he was a teacher and loves us unconditionally.

In Doctrine & Covenants Section 20 the duties of the priesthood are set out.
"Watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;
"And see that there is no iniquity in the church. ...
"And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty."
"And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties."

President Benson continues;
"It is the heart of caring, of loving, of reaching out to the one—both the active and the less active.
It is priesthood compassionate service.
It is how we express our faith in practical works.
It is one of the tests of true discipleship.
It is the heart of the activation effort of the Church.
There is no greater Church calling than that of a home teacher."

As I reflect on my first experiences with the priesthood I realize that a majority of it happened because of home teaching. I went home teaching with my father who often found ways for me to provide service. It started as cutting lawns, feeding dogs, watering flowers. I collected fast offerings, gave blessing to the sick, blessed babies, dedicated graves. I shared the joys and the sorrows of the families.

President Benson states that there are three fundamentals that are essential to home teaching. The first is to know your families. Be a friend, who cares, loves, listens, and reaches out. The second is know the message. Have a testimony and bare it, use the Holy Ghost. Home Teaching insures that the priesthood is in every home at least once a month. Third is magnify your calling. Do not settle for mediocrity, be the Shepard and keep track of your families.

There is an old African story of the warrior who was travelling down a path when he encounters a lion. No matter how brave or strong he was, the warrior knew he could not beat the lion , so he backed off. The next day he again was travelling the path, again he encountered the lion. This time however he did not back down. He was with other warriors and together he knew they would all stand their ground and together they could beat the lion. The lion knew this too, so the lion backed down.

We are all part of the body of Christ, the church. We are all different and have different roles to fulfill. Each of us has different skills, talents and abilities but we are one. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 it states that the head cannot say to the feet, I don't need the feet. And the feet cannot say to the head, I do not need the head. There is place for everyone.

In Ephesians chapter 2 verses 19 and 20 it reads "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; "

In Christ and the church there are no strangers or foreigners. We are all His children. We are all Brothers and Sisters. We have responsibilities given to us by Christ to each other. I pray that we may strive to fulfill these responsibilities.

In the name of Jesus Christ;
Amen.

I would rather wear out than rust.

Its all in the meaning of the word

On July 1st 1863, General Lee asked his Generals very politely that, if possible, to please occupy Culp's Hill. Being involved in other matters and the men being tired, an attempt at occupying Culp's Hill was not attempted. Turned out the General Lee was right about that hill and IF he had been more direct in his orders or IF other Generals had tried things may have turned out different back at Gettysburg in 1863.

I have had several incidences this week where people misinterpreted my words or expected me to use a kinder interpretation of their words. Words are funny things. You would expect them to mean one thing but even Webster has multiple meanings for the same word. So how are you supposed to know what a word means?

Take for example the word early. To a teenager early is Noon (if they are waking up) and it's Midnight (if they are going to bed).

At work I was asked to sign a letter by one of our many National partners in support of health care reform. They said the letter was neutral. We declined to sign on. Funny thing about political statements and contracts, words can mean many things. In contract you start with defining the words.

Is a peanut a nut?
Is a strawberry a berry?
Is early Noon?

Goodbye is not goodbye - its hello, safe journeys, I'll hear you again, or God's speed.
(Depending on what language you speak.)
.

Family pandemic

I was sitting in the lab looking at the order my primary care doc had ordered. The reason for the tests was listed as N/V/D. What is NVD? I thought and thought - then it hit me - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Talk about a pandemic - we had one in the family this month!

Swept through from my two granddaughters (daycare?) then their mother, on to Deb, then to my other two daughter's families, then to me (I was gone for the initial round of NVD).

Then Joseph, Kelsey, and Michael show up. (I am so sorry! I thought it had all gone - it had been over a week - guess I was still a carrier. Call me Typhoid Gary.) Kelsey passed out on the plane she was so dehydrated.

Then Cheron's kids went to visit their other granny and BAM! the other granny gets NVD too.

I had two rounds and now my doctor is telling me that I may have low gamma gobluin levels and may need an infusion. More tests.

.
.

Lady becomes a Man

.
Sydney - She better shave her under arms!
.
Mother - Why?
.
Sydney - She's becoming a man!
.

.
Procrastination
.
Lazy
Bored
Despondent
Depression
Distracted
.
Anyone can do any amount of work,
provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.
~Robert Benchley
.

Just one more question - I promise

.
Pork or Beef?
.
Spare or baby?
.
Frozen or thawed?
.

Remember Kindergarten?

Wash your hands!

.
Cover your mouth

when you cough.
.

Wash your hands!

LOST is lost

4 8 15 16 23 42

Crazy

I made you crazy

I drove a man crazy

and yet I dont know how I made him crazy

it wasnt fair for him to be crazy

Im sorry for making you crazy

I wish I could take your place and I be crazy

tell me a way show me a way and make me crazy

my heart hurts cause I made my friend crazy

Please change I dont want you to be crazy

Someone help him, help him, he's crazy

take away his pain that made him crazy

I dont like how I made him crazy

I didnt do it on purpose, I didnt even know I was making him crazy

I wish I could take it all back and he leave me crazy

By "Stay out of my Life"

(Yes this is the poets name)

Polar Bear Poop -- Got It!

It occurred to me - and I may be well off course here - but people come to the island in one of three ways. First - you are from the Island, Second someone causes a time disruption and you crash there, or Third one of the Island folk hires you to go there.

And with this in mind it seems like a lot of folks have ties to the Others even if they crashed there or were hired. Ben and his Dad, Claire, Jack and their father, Miles and his Dad.

I also remember way back that Kate, all she had of her Dad was an little airplane.

Hurley got there by following numbers from a crazy guy who heard them during WW2.

And what is with Juliette being brought there to help baby's to be born? Since we went back in time there were lots of baby's connected to the Island. And some of those were conceived on the Island too.

And wasn't Claire told to raise her own baby?

What happened to Rose and her husband?

Welcome back Faraday.

Two down

I finished reading my second book of the year. I am only reading a chapter a night and only about 5 nights a week so its taken a little while. (In addition to the 30 plus magazines I read, scan, and review each month.)

I enjoy reading and I had slowed down quite a bit lately. I had to rearrange things (like my chair), get a new light and recover my reading blanket.

It is amazing how bad the eyes get as you grow old. I need reading glasses (only 1.5x) and light. I find myself getting up and walking over to a window or lamp just so I can see the words (Glossy paper is the worse). Where is sit in a meeting, at church, and conferences is all dictated by light. You think you were not allowed to make notes in some conferences the lights are so low.

"I am at a education conference not a play! Turn up the house lights! "

I think I can get 6 this year. Anyway I am trying.

Oh - What did I read?

The first book is 'Beautiful Evidence' by Edward Tufte. I was given this book as a gift for doing a present ion at the Georgia HIMSS meeting. Very interesting; about how data and information is presented in print. He has numerous good and bad examples. The failure of Challenger and the PowerPoint they used and why it failed to to communicate the danger. The excellent diagram of Napoleon's march to Moscow and the death of his Army. The book is marvelous especially the way the book was printed and bound - I guess he had to have an example of what he was preaching.

The second book is 'An Approach to the Book of Mormon' by Hugh Nibley. The level of presentation is very high, graduate level at least and it is amazing how the English language has change in style since the 1940's and 50's. I liked his comment toward the end on how people accept things without full knowledge. He states "even a schoolboy from a previous generation would have known." Americans do not have nearly the depth of knowledge as our ancestors did, even one or two generations back. We have become lazy.

Okay so now I am on to my third book of the year - 'Man His Origin and Destiny' by Joseph Fielding Smith. I have 4 more books waiting in the queue.

Hmmmm - quite reading time.

Even on the Island Dead is Dead

"I have never seen the Island do this before."

"Tell Desmond I am sorry."

"You will do everything Locke tells you to do."

"Is that what Jacob wanted?"

So some folks cannot come back and some cannot?

There are rules?

Who made these rules and where did I agree to them?

And what would these rules be?

.

.

Arrrggggg - They be more like guidelines then rules.

Spring Flowers

I walked out of the IGA and was walking to the truck, I stopped.
The air was sweet and full of Wisteria.
I smiled.

Then as I drove into my driveway I smiled again.

My fruit trees have done wonderful.

I looked out the window and what did I see?

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!

Spring has brought me such a nice surprise

Blossoms popping right before my eyes

I could take an armful and make a treat

A popcorn ball that would be so sweet

It wasn’t really so, but it seemed to be

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!

SpaceTime

So if I am in the past its not really my past because its my future but it is their past because this is their present, my past is really before their present, then anything I do now in my present will impact my past but not my future because their present is also my future and I cannot change my past, their present, but it requires me to do everything I did before, now in my future, their past so their future will be like my past is supposed to be.

Huh? Dude where is Faraday?

Want a bite?

A Horse of a different color

Now this is a horse of a different color.

(Photo by Sydney)

Sarah, Sydney, and Olivia at the Savannah 2009 St Patrick's Day parade.

A child's eye view of the parade. (Photo by Sydney)

New meaning to fresh and fruity

Driving down the road I heard a little one break gas in the back seat.

I looked in the rear view mirror and saw her taking a deep breathe and sigh,

"Smells like eggs and sausage."

Lost ... the baby

Okay so who was born on the island?

Curious that Juliette was brought to the island to deliver a baby since no baby had been born alive. And here we go she delivers a baby in her past that will eventually impact her future.

Where did Juliette learn to shoot? Pistols and rifles?

No Sawyer - don't do it.

Papa - Did you forget....

"Papa! Did you forget Nana's birthday?"

Now I know I was running late on getting a present and a card but I had not forgotten. What made her think I had?

"You have no balloons or twisty things. There is no cake. You forgot Nana's birthday!

No I did not forget.

But older people would like to somethimes forget their birthdays.

If....

"If you and Deb won the lottery would you give us some of the money?"
.





After I picked myself up off the floor and and after a few moments of trying to process the question I was no clearer than when I fell off the chair. Give some one money? Now I have long and colorful history of loaning money, and giving money and paying for things, and bailing folks out of tight spots and never getting it back, or not getting thanked, or it just plain not working so the whole IDEA of PURPOSELY giving someone money was very difficult to grasp.


Okay this is a joke, or maybe a carefully crafted ethics dilemma then I realized that she was serious. I also realized that I was taking a very long time to answer. Before I could answer she continued...


"Well I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I have decided that if we win the lottery we would give you and Deb some of it."


I was not sure how to react to such a honest, innocent and wholly open gesture. "Why?" (Can you believe all I could muster was "Why?")


We had a long discussion and yes we would give them money; after all they have us on their lottery list (among other very serious and well founded reasons).


I wonder if my children have me and their mother on their lists. Hmmmm.

George Washington

"Papa while you were gone I turned on the CD and it was George Washington!"

"George Washington?"

"Yes. I wanted Lenka but it was George Washington."

"Well I did not know George Washington had a CD."

"See George Washington."

"Sydney this is not George Washington this is Mozart."

"Oh."

"Did you like the music?"

"It's okay but I wanted Lenka. I have heard some of the music before at a concert when I went with Aunt Rachie. I listened for a while but changed it to Lenka."

We're not going to Guam are we?

Is Jack's father really Jacob?

.

What is the connection between Jack's father and grandfather to the island?

.

Who are the two new folks and who do they work for?

.

Where is Syiad?

.

Who beat Ben up?

.

Does Walt have to return to the island too?

.

Did Ben kill Saiad's wife?

.

You stay classy, San Diego

While in San Diego I thought about going to see the places I used to go. But then I said No!

Things have changed; the town, the place, the memory will change if I go now. I am not the same, I am different, I am not the person I was when the memory was made; I have the memory, it changed me and if I go, I will change, the memory will change. It will not be the same, I will not be the same. Let it be. Let the memory in me remain as I remember and not change.


Oh history is a friend of mine
She comes over to my place
And we have a good time
But the memories
She sometimes brings with her
Get out of line
They’re out of line
Show me things I don’t want to see
Remind me of who I thought I was gonna be
Take me places I used to go
A long long time ago
A long long time ago

~A Long Long Long Time Ago
Proclaimers

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes.

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes.

A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.

And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.

~Richard Bach

I am back home in Savannah. The ride home on the plane was strange. I wanted to come home but did not want to leave my Mom and Dad. I had been away from my wife for two weeks. Oh I have been gone longer in the past but not recently. It was a long two weeks.

My Dad has good days and bad days but for me they were all sad days. He can look at most pictures and tell you the stories and in 10 minutes he repeats all the stories. He no longer has a concept of time; days and hours have no meaning. He will take a small nap after lunch and wake up and want breakfast. (He naps a lot.) But then some things are still the same; he wont eat egg salad but will eat a boiled egg. He has his hot chocolate morning and evening. Dad has taken up drinking soda. Other than homemade root beer I don't think I ever saw Dad drink a soda. He still likes his candy especially Tootsie Rolls. He has a drawer full of candy and soda.

He loves Mom and told me one night when I was driving him back to the home; "I'm worried about Mom. I don't know what I will do if something happens to her." On my last day he asked me if Deb was ready for me to come home. I said yes and he laughed, "She was ready for you to come home the first day you left." Very true and I wish Deb had been able to be there with me.

Someone was reading the inside of a candy wrapper and the quote was "Be Spontaneous." Dad quipped, "Spontaneity is over rated." Another quote of my Dad's that I heard many times over the years and he stills says is as someone is leaving, "Don't do anything I wont do. And if you do name it after me."

Linda and I went through Dad's files while I was there. Income tax files from 1965, monthly home budgets for the past 30 years, records of every house and property they ever owned, and genealogy notes. I retrieved Dad's genealogy notes and Linda keep the relevant financial records. So for my brothers and sisters and other family members; if Linda and I don't have it we don't know where it is.

I love you Mom and Dad.

Did you ever marry that girl?

My Father is in a home now; Mom was having a hard time taking care of him. After 3 strokes he has little use of his left side. Luckily he does not have any other serious health issues. I have not had to take care of people to this level before. Getting up, bathroom, dressing, it is all very difficult. They were living in Redding but moved back to San Diego. He did not like the first home; he said it was full of 'nutty buddies'. The new home only has 6 residents and he likes it much better.

It is very hard to see people you love approaching the end of their days. I am working on trying to reconstruct his life. I know he has experienced a lot and very little of it is actually known by anyone. He turned over the genealogy to me a few years back and he is not able to recall very much any more.

He steps back into time and often asks me, "Did I ever married that girl?" Well yes I did. I married her 34 years, we have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. I show him pictures of the children and the grandchildren but I have to do it every day. Its all very sad but he knows me and is not happy that I will be returning back to Georgia.

He likes to joke around and they are the same jokes but he was always did.

Somethings do not change.