Friday, November 11, 2011
2 years coming
So today is 11/11/11. I have been looking forward to this day for about 2 years now. And lets be honest I had big plans. But a few of those plans fell threw, but I am out to make this day wonderful, and memorable. So what I am not spending it with my handsome man, surprising him with a kiss on 11/11/11 at 11:11 on 11th street. Thinks change in 2 years, but this day will be a blast because I am going to spend it with my bestest of friends!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The sailor who gave up his son
this is kinda a long story, but well worth reading. A kid in my ward shared this in fast and testimony meeting today, and I love it. It's such great analogy and I encourage you all to read it.
AFTER THE USUAL SUNDAY HYMN, THE BISHOP SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST SPEAKER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING. IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE BISHOP TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.
WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST," HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE MEETING BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY. THE OLD MAN CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY HE WOULD THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS MEMBER AND HAD A STRONG TESTIMONY, AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, "I LOVE YOU, SON!" HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT . . . HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MAN'S MOUTH.
"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."
. . . WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.
THE BISHOP AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A FEW BRIEF WORDS WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE MEETING ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE. "THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THE BOYS, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A MEMBER."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN SCRIPTURES. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE, HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT, I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR BISHOP IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
AFTER THE USUAL SUNDAY HYMN, THE BISHOP SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST SPEAKER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING. IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE BISHOP TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.
WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST," HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE MEETING BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY. THE OLD MAN CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY HE WOULD THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS MEMBER AND HAD A STRONG TESTIMONY, AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, "I LOVE YOU, SON!" HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT . . . HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MAN'S MOUTH.
"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."
. . . WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.
THE BISHOP AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A FEW BRIEF WORDS WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE MEETING ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE. "THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THE BOYS, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A MEMBER."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN SCRIPTURES. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE, HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT, I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR BISHOP IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Road to Life
At first, I saw God as my observer,
my Judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know weather I merited Heaven
or Hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture when I when I saw it,
but I really didn't know Him.
But later on, when I met Christ,
it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike,
and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was,
that he suggested we change places
but life has not been the same since.
When I had control,
I knew the way,
it was rather boring
but predictable...
it was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
up mountains,
at breakneck speeds,
it was all I could do to hold on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious
and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life,
and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to places with gifts that I needed,
gifts of waiting,
acceptance,
and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey,
my Lord's and mine.
And we were off again,
He said, "Give the gifts away,
they're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did,
to the people we met,
and I found that in giving I received,
and Still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him,
at first,
in control of my life.
I though He'd wreck it,
but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorted scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up and pedal.
In the strangest places,
and I am beginning to enjoy the view
and the cool breeze on my face.
With my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just cant do anymore
He just smiles and says...'Pedal!"
my Judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know weather I merited Heaven
or Hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture when I when I saw it,
but I really didn't know Him.
But later on, when I met Christ,
it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike,
and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was,
that he suggested we change places
but life has not been the same since.
When I had control,
I knew the way,
it was rather boring
but predictable...
it was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
up mountains,
at breakneck speeds,
it was all I could do to hold on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious
and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life,
and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to places with gifts that I needed,
gifts of waiting,
acceptance,
and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey,
my Lord's and mine.
And we were off again,
He said, "Give the gifts away,
they're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did,
to the people we met,
and I found that in giving I received,
and Still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him,
at first,
in control of my life.
I though He'd wreck it,
but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorted scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up and pedal.
In the strangest places,
and I am beginning to enjoy the view
and the cool breeze on my face.
With my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just cant do anymore
He just smiles and says...'Pedal!"
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Coming to an end
Well summer is over and I am off to school tomorrow. And I must say it has been a very good summer. I have some very good memories to take with me. It may not have been my most adventurous summer, but it has been the most happiest for me yet. It was very blissful for me. Now off to new adventures and into the unknown (I love the unknown). It will be great. Cant wait for the new memories!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
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