THOUGHTS FOR 100 SABBATH DAYS VOLUME 2

The proof copy of Volume Two of Thoughts for 100 Sabbath days just arrived - it looks fantastic - I can't wait till Kathleen has it proof read and I can make the corrections and it will be available!!!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED 6

Monday, October 27, 2014: Many times failure is just one step closer – to being successful!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014: Is there any reason why we can’t learn from our successes – as well as our failures??

Wednesday, October 29, 2014: One of the surest pathways – which lead us to feeling free and peaceful – is to take more steps while carrying others!!

Thursday, October 30, 2014: Anger and love will never travel together very long – each quickly tires of the others companionship!!

Friday, October 31, 2014: It is difficult to stay angry – with someone you are trying to help!!

Monday, November 03, 2014: The meaning and the volume of ones blessings – changes dramatically as one is blessed with many years of mortality – the increase or decrease of the accumulated blessings – will correspond with the amount of love one feels for and receives from their fellowmen!!

Tuesday, November 04, 2014: If your life is more bitter than sweet – don’t blame the chef – remember who was in charge of the order!!

Wednesday, November 05, 2014: If your association with another is based on status, opportunities, wealth, power or physicality – it would be difficult to call it a friendship!!

Thursday, November 06, 2014: The only bases upon which lasting friendships can be based – is the willingness to share trust, caring, love understanding and forgiveness!!

Friday, November 07, 2014: If you want to see someone more clearly with your physical eyes – allow your spiritual eyes to do the focusing!!

Monday, November 10, 2014: In spite of care and concern – our physical eyes and ears – our vision and hearing – often diminish with age – but with special care our spiritual eyes and ears can be kept sound – and in many cases increase in their ability to see and hear with greater clarity!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014: When one stops and tries to count how many people have contributed to the blessings – they have enjoyed during their lives – they gain a greater understanding of the vastness of the community they have been involved with.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014: There is a definite connection between enjoying a healthy, happy, stress-free life – and the amount of love and compassion we feel for and give to others!!

Thursday, November 13, 2014: It may be true that temporal success is gained in the arena of competition – but everlasting success is gained in the cathedrals of cooperation!!

Friday, November 14, 2014: Cooperation – will always build stronger bonds – than competition!!

Monday, November 17, 2014: Pictures may mobilize memories – but the will never replace reality!!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014: Political leanings – should never be allowed to override – compassion, kindness and brotherly love!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014: Governments as well as nations – have proven to be rather temporary entities – while the brothers and sisters we spend our mortal span with – are eternal souls!!

Thursday, November 20, 2014: It is not hair, shape, pigmentation – or any of the physical attributes that we should wish to be judged by – but character and integrity!!

Friday, November 21, 2014: The ‘good news’ – should be a daily read – and action taken when needed!!

Monday, November 24, 2014: All seem to be seeking happiness – the problem seems to be – a lack of a common definition of what happiness is!!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014: Even if we were given more than one mortal life to live – it would be difficult for us to find a positive purpose for anger!!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014: It all begins with hope – without hope we will never be moved to strengthen our faith – without faith it will be difficult to develop the attributes of the love of Christ – which after all is said and done – is the purpose of our existence!!

Thursday, November 27, 2014: Computers are not alone among those things – which work slower – as they accumulate more bits and are invaded with malware!!

Friday, November 28, 2014: Shortsightedness seems to be an incurable ailment – which causes suffering – to both the infected and to those who are exposed to them!!

THE MAGIC GENIES OF LIFE 2

Hugs to all who have bought my book Thoughts for 100 Sabbath Days!!



The Genie turned the Nephew into a milkshake … pause … ooooh, I get it … polite laughter – It is always a sign of a bad joke when it has to be explained!

Besides being part of my MC routine I occasionally used this joke as an introduction to talks I would give at youth fire sides. So that this thought isn't a total waste of your time let me highlight some of the teachings which were given during those firesides.

It doesn't take a very exhaustive investigation of the scriptures to find similar conversations between the Lord and His children.

(1 Kings 3:5, 9) In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God Said: Ask what I shall give thee.

Solomon: Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad…

(2 Chronicles 1:7, 10) At Jerusalem in the night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto
him: Ask what I shall give thee.

Solomon: Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

(3rd Nephi 27:2, 3) Jesus came and stood in the midst of them and said unto them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?

And they said unto Him: we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church?

(3rd Nephi 28:1-7) Jesus spake unto them one by one saying to them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?

Nine disciples: That we live to the age of man (72 years)

Three disciples: Never taste of death, but remain on the earth until all things shall be fulfilled.

(Helaman 10:3-5) And a voice came unto him saying: Blessed art thou Nephi, for those things which thou hast done…Behold I will bless thee forever…I will make thee mighty in word and in deed…all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

The following are some of the thoughts and ideas I would then share about the personal petitioning/granting experiences which each of us have the possibility of enjoying and which each of us should seek after. I want to assure you that I would never try to cover all of these points in one late evening fireside with adults let alone with teenagers. But since you are reading these at leisure I have tried to include those thoughts which were accumulated over decades of presentations.

It is interesting to note, in most instances in the scriptures, the fulfillment of requests by a child was preceded by the Lord’s invitation to petition and the request would be granted.

All of Heavenly Father’s children are born into this world with a genie which the scriptures call the Light of Christ and which is often referred to by men as a conscience.

This initial gift has the propensity to grow and expand as we go through the developmental processes of life.

Prayer, scripture reading, pondering and other spiritual exercises need to be made a constant and continuous part of our lives if we are to reap the full benefit of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Physical eyes must be trained to see clearly with the aid of our spiritual eyes.

Physical ears must be made to hear even the whisperings of the still small voice through the aid of our spiritual ears.

Physical hearts must be made to feel the sensitive touches of the spirit.

The degree of difficulty involved with our request never seems to be the determining factor involved in the request being fulfilled.

We must come to realize that the most magical of potions can only be efficacious if they are applied or consumed. Thinking about becoming a prayerful person or making goals to read one’s scriptures or setting apart time to ponder and do other spiritual exercises will result in little growth until we actually make them an active part of our daily lives.

We alone have the ability to stop the growth and use of this powerful aid in our lives.

Guidance of the Holy Spirit will only come about when both the things we are petitioning and the answers we receive are clearly understood and communicated.

As with most of the gifts from God to His children, Satan is forever trying to counterfeit those gifts. Therefore, we must be diligent that we are not subtlely led away by his false genies.

We can only begin to imagine the wondrous blessings which await us as we wipe the dust from the gift which has been given by a Loving Heavenly Father unto all his children and open up the communication between ourselves and the Holy Spirit.

I am sure with just a little imagination all of us can add numerous other Thoughts to the list of correlations between the story of the Genie of the Blue Light Bulb and the Gifts of light and understanding our Father desires to give us all.

THE MAGIC GENIES OF LIFE 1

Just didn't want you to forget that Thoughts for 100 Sabbath Days can be purchased on Amazon!!


There was a time in my life when I was asked to be the Master of Ceremonies during amateur productions on the stages of Cultural Halls found in the chapels of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in such renowned places as Garden Grove, California; Taylorsville, Utah; Tooele, Utah and Reno, Nevada. It was never a task I sought after and I was never able to totally get comfortable while involved with this chore, enough to get past the increased anxiety which came with such opportunities. There was, therefore, a degree of relief which came into my life, when Kathleen and I returned from serving our mission in Colombia and moved to Mission Viejo, California, where I discovered this part of my past life was gratefully buried somewhere in the wastelands of Nevada.

Lest I fall into that trap of having an introduction which turns out to be longer than the Thought I had intended to share, let me get on with it.

One of my favorite jokes which I liked to share during my very amateur stand up career was entitled ‘The genie of the blue light bulb.’ It was one of those prolonged jokes which even when accompanied with antics and gestures ended with a period of silence and then laughter as the audience recognized what had happened and came to the realization that – oh, yeah – now I get it. I always had to have an uncomfortable pause while I said to myself ‘wait for it’ – burst of laughter – proceed…

THE GENIE OF THE BLUE LIGHT BULB (author unknown)

There was once a young man who received from his uncle the inheritance of a small corner drug store in a small town.

Those of the current generation would have to go to a movie which took place in the 1950’s or earlier to get a real picture of the type of business corner drugstores were in those days. Upon entering you would see just a few rows which held stuff which was sold in drug stores. (Bandages – Iodex – and a lot of other stuff the computer doesn't even recognize as being real). There would also be a fountain with a counter and stools with no backs which revolved, where you could order such delights as cherry coke and malted milk shakes. My personal favorite, when I went to the corner drug store, was a coke with a squirt of some very sour stuff. At the back of the store was the pharmacy which looked like what we now see in vintage banks as a teller’s window.

Anyway, after relocating his family to the small town where the small corner drug store was found, the young man set about wiping the accumulated dust from the shelves, fountain area and pharmacy. When he had completed his task he set about cleaning the storage room which was behind the pharmacy.

In the storage room there were shelves which lined the walls and went from floor to ceiling. There was a rail with a suspended ladder which could be moved easily to get to the upper shelves. While he was hurriedly cleaning the room, on one of the top shelves he discovered a very large blue light bulb. It was quite a clumsy task to wipe the big blue light bulb and retain his balance. He had just about completed the cleaning of the bulb when it slipped out of his hands and exploded on the storage room floor.

A thin line of dust started to escape from the remains of the big busted blue bulb and continued to grow until it materialized into a gigantic blue genie.

The following conversation ensued between the terrified nephew and the Genie of the Blue light bulb. You have to use your imagination at this point to hear the booming voice of the Genie and the shaky voice of the new drug store proprietor.

Genie: I am the genie of the blub light bulb – you have freed me of my prison – your three wishes are my command!

Nephew: I really don't have any wishes.

Genie: Surely you must have some desire!

Nephew: I have always wanted to go on a vacation.

Genie: Your wish is granted!

Nephew: Who will watch the store?

Genie: I will – you now have one last wish!

So the quivering nephew showed the genie around the store and taught him how to run a drug store business.

Whereupon the genie replied:

Genie: I have it!!

Nephew: In a voice which was even more quivering – sat down at the counter and said – please make me a malted milk shake.

Appropriate pause ………. followed by my envisioning that you now get it and are rolling uncontrollably on the floor.

(To be continued)

PRAYER

It would be difficult for me to recall a time when my world wasn't bringing questions to my mind. From my prejudiced point of view I never felt myself to be skeptical or negative, but just curious and desirous to have answers.

As far as I can remember I have always had a question about prayer. Not the same question, but there has always seemed to be ‘a’ question.

If memory serves me correctly some of the first questions that were found on lips just learning to vocalize such thing went something like this: Why do we bow our heads and fold our arms when prayer is said? Why do we always pray before we eat? How come none of my friends pray all the time?

As skinned knees and worn out sneakers chased puppies and kicked cans down the street the questions seemed to be: Why do we have to stop playing to say prayers? Why can’t I just say ‘ditto’ and climb into bed since I always pray the same thing every night? How can Heavenly Father listen to everyone who is praying right now?

When acne and popularity determined every crisis and triumph, the questions were usually initiated by someone else: How long has it been since you prayed? Do you feel anything when you pray? Do you ever remember having a prayer answered?

As my life continued along the mortal continuum the questions became less vocally expressed and more of an internal struggle as pondering replaced interaction as a manner of questions and answers.

As I walked down the steps with my graduation folder in one palm and my other hand switching the tassel on my mortar board, celebrating my graduation from Garden Grove Union High School, the questions which filled my mind in those day were: Do Glorious Beings really have any interest in listening to mere mortals? Why is it that some people seem to always hear or recognize interactions from praying while others don't? Will I ever have such a powerful experience while praying that it causes me to boldly proclaim that I know God exists?

Lying on a lumpy bed in a one room apartment in Piedras Negras, Nuevo Leon, Mexico while serving as a young missionary, the questions which pounded with urgency in my brain were: Father did you really inspire President McKay to send me to Mexico on my mission? Father did you really speak to prophets so long ago in this land as the Book of Mormon proclaims? Father can you help me to recognize when I am teaching from my own knowledge and when the Holy Spirit is giving me enlightened understanding?

I can't identify the exact moment or the day and probably not even the decade, but somewhere along the way my questions took a sharp turn from the procedural and wondering about the reality of communication with

Deity to pleading sessions with Heavenly Father about priorities and directions of life.

As I walked the hallowed halls of higher learning the question and answer periods between this child and his Father seemed to be a never ending stream of requests for super natural interference: Is there any way that you can replace my lack of study with your omniscience during this test? Are you really sure I should continue my quest toward gaining advanced degrees? Would you strengthen Kathleen and I so we can jump all the hurdles?

When the titles of husband and father were added to my resume my prayer questions centered on asking of ‘The One’ who had passed though these experiences and could surely give guidance on what and how to proceed: Did the prophets of old give proper counsel on how to discipline children or should their teachings be supplanted by the theories and techniques espoused by modern authorities? Although the profession I had chosen would give me fulfillment and enjoyment, would the recompense be sufficient to provide for the ever increasing needs of our family? How does one gain the strength to give their all to wife, family, Church and career?

As roles in these areas of life shifted and expanded and responsibilities and stewardships of shepherding increased, the conversations with my Heavenly Father reached the level where I could understand to some degree what the ancient prophet Alma was trying to say when he counseled us to cry unto the Lord in all things.

During those prayer packed days, there were some interactions that almost took on a humorous tone and would have invoked deep belly laughter if the communication wasn't of such a serious nature. Couldn't we have had this conversation at 9pm rather than at 2:30am? Do you really want my golf partner to be called as my bishop? Do you understand that the earth is still taking only 24 hours to spin once on its axis?

When Kathleen and I were called to preside over the Colombia Bogota Mission for our Church, there were times when prayer seemed like a red phone crisis instrument: I need to call Elder… right now? We just had major transfers in the mission and You want me to move Elder…? Are you telling me that I need to call the area President and not my first contact in the Missionary Department?

In what will probably be my last task outside of the eternal tasks of fatherhood and parenthood, as I have been given the opportunity to frequently spend time in the House of the Lord, I have found that much of the time I find the questions as well as the answers being supplied in the prayer process: Don't you desire to have a clearer understanding of this principle or doctrine? Maybe you should inquire of the Lord whether you should be sharing that or not? Don't you think you might want to ask if you should put that question on a shelf to be asked when you will be much better prepared to gain understanding?

When all about prayer is measured and found in balance, I am sure that there are some elements which must be included if real interaction is to be felt and obtained: For all our blessings, privileges, opportunities and trials we express continual gratefulness. Our sincere confession of willingness to attempt to pass through whatever probationary tasks might be necessary for our progression will become our natural state. Recognition of love felt from and expressed to our Savior and our Heavenly Father will be constant.

Lest I leave you with the impression that my prayer progression was all in a continual upward march, there were many times when I was doing the one step forward and two steps backward dance: When I would ask for things which were obviously not in line with any plans my Heavenly Father had in mind for me. When I would ask for something which would obviously violate the agency of another of Heavenly Father’s children. When my covetous heart would overwhelm the prudence of good judgment.

Although I feel that all these steps were essential and helpful to my personal prayer progression and I am sure that my stumbling steps would have been even more halting and may even have stagnated in some swamp, I am also pretty convinced that each of Heavenly Father’s children will have to find their own way of opening up communication with Eternal Beings.

I have also come to understand that for myself, although there is benefit and satisfaction in habitual and ritual prayer, the real joy of prayer has come when the reality of communication has brought new understanding and been confirmed to my soul as if without words.

I have come to believe that when the Savior said, ‘After this manner, pray ye,’ He was speaking more of the reality of communication than the exactness of words and motions.

My prayer is that each of us will find ourselves constantly increasing in our ability to communicate with our loving Heavenly Father.