Are we ready?

I have seen this video a couple times and it touches me every time, granted in different ways each time. There is soo much goodness and truth in Elder Nelson's message.



I appreciated most a few of the following:

"I was ready to meet my Maker."

Am I? I am not, I have more to do and accomplish. I have more to master in this life and more to dedicate to my maker. I long for the day when I am "ready," not necessarily wanting to go to my maker, but ready to meet Him.

"If you got a faith, you can handle difficulties. Knowing that with an eternal perspective that all will be well."

Perspective is a wonderful gift. It will keep one from judging, or one from having the ability to approach a situation calmly and perhaps putting oneself in another's shoes.

"Don't demand things that are unreasonable. Demand of yourself improvement."

We all have our strengths. Perhaps I am stronger and more committed in one area of my life than another. However, I am weaker in others. Lets not demand too much of another when we have not walked in their shoes and experienced what they have they experienced. Give them (and yourself) time and support, it may be needed.

21 degrees

The temps keep seeming to drop in the AM. However, Whit and I keep cycling to work.. my bet is we cycle to work more often this winter than any other up to this point. My goal is 4 times a week avg throughout the winter. Today was cold (mainly the face and breathing but not too bad). I did basically double the clothes I had on. This is what I had:

- warm socks
- neoprene booties
- leg warmers
- thermal tights
- boxers
- cycling shorts
- underarmor top
- jersey
- windbreaker vest
- cycling jacket
- winter gloves
- full head cover
- beanie

That's about all I have to put on in my arsenal, lets hope it doesn't need to be added to.

25 degrees

Coldest morning yet to ride in on but it was good to be back on the bike after being sick. Haven't been sick in years.. and the streak quickly changed :). Have a great day and enjoy your warm commute around town or to work!

I am a Mormon..

So much goodness in this video. Dedication, cycling, family, history! I think this job would be amazing... Library of Congress. Sometimes I think I could live on the East Coast.

One of my favorite parts was when he said he was a softy at heart. I used to deny this but I am as well...

"Gaze five minutes into Heaven.."

As of late, I have been studying on personal revelation. I have received it but want to get the incite of others so that I might do this more efficiently and on a more regular basis. I read the talk by Elder Bruce R. McConkie - "How to get Personal Revelation." What I gathered from this talk is that it is not a difficult process. However, it is simple. Our spiritual depth and understanding is gained step by step. I don't believe we can instantly arrive at a spiritual depth and understanding, just as we can't instantly have the spirit with us if we had previously not been doing those things required to have it. The things of the Spirit are gained I believe with consistency and focus.

[http://lds.org/new-era/1980/06/how-to-get-personal-revelation?lang=eng&query=personal+revelation]

Elder McConkie wrote, “But my suggestion is that we need to devote an increasingly large portion of our time in the actual pursuit of knowledge in the spiritual realm. When we deal with spiritual realities, we are not talking about gaining something by reason alone, we are not talking about conveying in some way knowledge to the mind or the spirit that is within us through the senses alone, but we are talking about revelation. We are talking about learning how to come to a knowledge of the things of God by attuning the spirit that we have to the eternal Spirit of God.”

He also said, “Religion is a matter of getting the Holy Ghost into the life on an individual basis." We need to first put ourselves in the right state of mind to receive direction and be touched by the Spirit. We do this by searching the scriptures, keeping the commandments and then asking in faith.

I hope to "gaze" a few minutes into the heavens every morning so that I can go into the world prepared and inspired of the Spirit. As I have focused on doing this as of late, I have noticed the difference.

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I hope everyone has a fantastic day :).

The Morning Mist

It was a brisk morning this morning. Today I added (thankfully) the following to my cycling layers:

- beanie
- full-fingered gloves
- thin shoe covers

I wish I had a pic to post. The morning mist is beautiful over the Yakima river and the valley as I come down from Bombing Range. It also get VERY cold as I dropped down the hill at about 40.

I assume future layers will need to be added as well.. very soon.

Changing the world

I saw this and thought it was an incredible but very simple idea. The fact that it is self-sustaining and growing means that there are good people out there making it work and contributing (and not simply taking).

You pay what you can and "work" for your meal if you can't afford it. Great idea!

Let us not withdraw ourselves

I listened to a talk by Elder Bednar this morning, "That we may always have His Spirit to be with us" (April 2006). He quoted Mosiah 2:36, which I believe applies to any aspect of our lives - as the scriptures often do. "...that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved."

I have definitely noticed this in my life with regard to spiritual matters. One can do this innocently by simply not putting in the time and effort. The spirit slowly can disappear. However, the spirit has always buoyed me up and in a way encouraged me to keep going, even when I am not doing all that I should. I have a thought or desire to do better and show the intent and desire and the spirit tells me that it is right.

This applies to non-spiritual matters as well. We can lose our focus at work, in endeavors and goals we may have. I will always try to focus on what is important and not allow the good things pass me by when I am presented with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxT8id1qYAE&feature=related

... and off topic, I just love this song every time I hear it, "Set Fire to the Rain" -- Ah, what a good song to start the day with. Too early to "share" the song with the walkers outside of my house, nah :).

A couple quotes

"They do not love that do no show their love."
- William Shakespeare

We who hold the priesthood of God cannot afford to drift. We have work to do. We must arise from the dust of self-indulgence and be men!
- Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Miscellaneous thoughts

Packing ~

Who invented packing and unpacking anyway? I want to be able to simply enter the type of trip I am going on and simply have a bag ready to grab and go. On a positive note, to be packing usually means you are going on a *hopefully* fun trip. I just packed for the motorcycle, grouse hunting, trout fishing, trip that we go on every October as the boys of the family. We have quite the crew this year (two uncles, two brothers, and my papps). The weather looks to be sunny/partly sunny for three days. We must be doing something right, then again I should wait to say that until the trip is done. :)


General Conference ~

I had the opportunity to go to General Conference this last weekend. It was incredible as one would expect. However, I learned a little something. I always thought that there was always something lacking when you weren't there in person. The reality is that the spirit was strong being in person at the Conference Center; however, it was equally as strong sitting on a couch (with good company) and listening attentively. Priesthood Conference once again was excellent yet very humbling - love it.


Early Mornings ~

I have tried multiple times to get up early in the morning to study. My dad has done this for quite some time and it has been a challenge to say the least for me to do this. I started again this week in the attempt. I have woken up at 5/5:30 the last three mornings and will make it a 4th day in a row tomorrow (although I have to get up that early to head up to the mountains - also very spiritual, right). I believe I have been able to start this due to a couple factors.
1- Desire to be a better priesthood holder (spoken of often in conference this last weekend, along w/ obedience)
2- A bit of inspiration ;-) -- Moroni 7:16 goes along with this. That which inspires you to do good is of Christ, indeed this is the case with one of the factors that has inspired me.


Life is good when you are trying to be a better person - even though you are far from where you need to be :).

Chasitity discussion with the youth

The Young Men President called me this morning - actually woke me up but I was able to "conceal" the fact I was still asleep, I think. He is giving "the chastity talk" to the priest quorum today. He inquired whether he should show the following video "Watch Your Step" by Elder Holland. He thought it may be too strong but I think it is excellent and appropriate. If they are 16 and older, I believe they are and have been aware of the filth of the world.

There needs to be care in how it is approached; however, if we don't approach them and combat this head on, then who will approach them in our absence?

Busyness of Life

I find it early in the morning and not wanting to go to bed just yet. My day has been full and non-stop and yet I feel somewhat unsatisfied. Here are some of the things that I have done today:

- Mountain biked in the morning (Badger Mountain)
- Purchased dirt bike parts (Hermiston)
- Put parts on bike (Parent's house)
- Waterski'd (Finley Slalom Pond)
- Watched a movie with friends
- Traveled over 200 miles :-/

I spent time with family and friends and a great time but forgot to incorporate the spirit into the day. I have always wanted to study my scriptures in the morning but have never been able to accomplish this - perhaps it is time to finally make it happen. I will start when I wake up later this morning (which should be easy since it is Sunday) and then go onto Monday. I am thankful for those around me and with whom I associate that inspire me to be better and influence me for the good - so much more than they realize and for this I thank them. Hopefully I can do the same for others. Here is to a new goal for the upcoming week and filling my life with more important things.




Funny picture I found - I would be proud to have this as my son, or daugher :).