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Me, Myself and I
- Mateo
- I am a Mormon...married to Lisa. We have 5 awesome children. I am a gun rights advocate and believe the 'right to keep and bear arms' refers to an INDIVIDUAL right, as affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. I like to hunt big game, although I have only ever killed a single buck deer. I am an actor of sorts and have been in many local plays and musicals.
Books to Read
- The Gift of Fear
-
30 April 2012
Sail Away
I've lived in Utah my whole life and have never set foot near the Great Salt Lake. Perhaps it's the stink that emanates from that bad boy with each and every storm. Some days it's downright pukey. This is a picture of me sailing a 30-foot sailboat. Sailors speak of their experiences and tell of feeling a "pull" back to the water. As if the ocean was calling to them. It's true. It really happens. Mesmerizing and SO relaxing.People Who "Get It"
You know who I'm talking about, right? Certain people just have a great head on their shoulders and they just "get it". They have a solid understanding of life and their place in this world. They are plenty ambitious and kind and generous and forgiving. You know....THOSE people.
I made a decision to start looking for another job quite a while back. Had I continued with that company and their current health benefit structure, I would have been forced into debt for my health insurance needs in less than 6 months. In fact, I told my boss, straight up, that if I were to receive a job offer for the exact pay I was receiving THEN, and they had a better health package, I would run with it. It wasn't that I didn't like my job. I LOVED IT. The people were absolutely awesome and, from a technological standpoint, a lot of fun. Banks have lots of money and cool toys to play with for IT geeks. The fact that I had recruiters banging down my door didn't make things easier. So I went on a few interviews. Once I saw the pay they were offering and their benefits packages....well, the writing was on the proverbial wall.
In my exit interview I completely roasted the HR department for their horrible benefits. No, seriously. I have friends who are independent contractors who have better health insurance than what I had. The benefits others companies offered was completely shocking. So I left. And so did others. IN DROVES. The IT department is currently hemorrhaging employees. My bet is no less than a 25% turnover rate in the last 12 months.
That was five months ago.
I still keep in touch with my many friends. When I said they were great people, I meant it. We talk often and go to lunch. I am concerned about these people and their families. The company had gotten SO much heat about their insurance from employees, that they decided to do a few things to improve morale - like putting an Xbox in the lunch room.
Really???
Take the $400 you spent on the Xbox and put it into my pay check, and you'll see my morale improve. Duh.
Last week they held an "All Hands" meeting for all employees. When someone brought up health care benefits, the "executive" on the call basically said, "Tough luck. This is what we have and it ain't getting any better."
Really???
You thought you were hemorrhaging employees before? You're about to see a biblical mass exodus. I'm talking Moses-leading-the-children-of-Israel type of exodus.
THEY JUST. DON'T. GET IT.
Certain folks just seem to be in tune with what happens around them. They're aware of others' needs and see the bigger picture. They can sense happiness and sadness and are good listeners. They can sense danger and evil and know how to avoid it. They get it.
I have a certain skill. Lisa might call it that "guy" feeling. I believe I may have spoken about it before on this blog. When her sister was dating guys, I could generally tell, right off the bat, whether this guy was marriage material or not. Certain guys would evoke a good feeling. Others, not so much. But some would evoke an immediate emotion akin to the "fight or flight" response. Something like a "DANG-stay-away-from-that-guy" feeling. For the most part I'd come away from those meetings saying to myself, "man, that dude's a $@#%&*!"
Anyhoo....what is it that makes certain people clueless and others more sensitive? I have my own opinions, but would love to hear your thoughts first.
13 January 2012
Your Mama and Other Jokes
One time at work, I made a technical change to something and one of my co-workers asked "Who said you could do that?"
My reply: "Your mom."
He was shocked, to say the least, but I said it with a smile, both of us knowing it was a joke. It was also my way of saying "I know what I'm doing, so kiss my tuchus." (Tuchus is Yiddish for "butt".)
Lest we digress...
Another time, a different co-worker asked a similar question and I replied in like manner by referencing something about his mama. Even though I said it with a smile, it was made known clearly to me that I should not ever again make a "mama" joke around that individual. He was not happy.
Recently, I went on a "Your Mama" joke spree at work. Here are a few choice ones:
Your mama is so fat, I swerved to miss her and ran out of gas.
Your mama is so fat, every restaurant in town says "250 Patrons or YOUR MAMA."
Your mama is so fat, she puts her belt on with a boomerang.
Anyhoo...feel free to share some of your favorites.
And now for some more random thoughts....
1. This is the strangest winter I have experienced in Utah.
2. I like snow because it's cold and covers all the BROWN.
3. I did not get an elk on the hunt last fall, but an acquaintance gave me a deer.
4. I processed that deer and have about 30 pounds of venison in the freezer.
5. I am hoping to go elk hunting in Wyoming this fall.
6. With my friend Jeff.
7. I like my job a lot.
8. It can be scary at times, but it's really cool.
9. Kind of like being an F-16 pilot.
10. But not really.
11. I am going to take more training this year.
12. I'd like to be a certified BCFD.
13. Guess.
14. I was very disappointed in the end of the Ute's season this year, but they won their bowl, so that's a plus.
15. I made a huge snowman last week that used half the snow in my yard.
16. With the next snowfall, I am going to make a snowball large enough that it will THROUGH July.
17. I am thinking of going home early today.
18. My new job is more of a "thinking" job. A fair amount of planning and architecture work.
19. My kids are doing great.
20. We all got sick AFTER Christmas.
21. Blessings.
22. I have spent 2 Christmas Days in Instacares with children before.
23. This was a great year.
24. I made reachable resolutions.
25. This blog post has taken a long time to produce.
26. I think my wife and I are scheduled to have dinner with friends tonight.
27. Excited to get out.
28. Love my woman.
29. She hot.
30. I was recently honored for my "Innovative Designs" at work.
31. I am now the proud owner of a Droid.
32. SO totally cool.
33. I am making Cafe Rio Black Beans for Sunday dinner.
34. MMMMMMM
35. I love Mexican food.
36. Who am I kidding...I love ALL food.
37. Except fish jell-o.
38. I need to go brush my teeth.
40. Blech.
41. Marshall can't hear me.
42. He needs another set of tubes in his ears.
43. He is a cute little bugger.
44. Anyone know the ASIC configuration on a 48-port Brocade DCX bade?
45. I have been YM President for almost 5 years now.
46. Crazy.
47. There's no end in sight, as far as I can tell.
48. I went a solid week without tasting any food.
49. It's surprising that our taste buds only DETECT a general flavor, i.e. salt, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami, I am told.
50. Your nose has as much to do with taste as anything.
51. We are going to get rid of our Comcast TV service. Gonna watch all our TV over the interwebz.
52. And NetFlix.
53. My Droid is like carrying a PC in my pocket.
54. So space-agey.
55. I am getting older.
56. Old.
57. I did not shave today.
58. I hate shaving.
59. At least I have a nice razor to shave WITH.
60. I wear my coat for most my day at work.
61. I also wear thermals every day.
62. Probably because I have to park in NORTHERN WAZIRISTAN.
63. At least I have a job.
64. And I can smell.
65. I've been keeping a "tender mercies" journal.
66. Interesting to see how heavily blessed I am.
67. And how much the man upstairs cares about me.
68. I got a big poofy parka for Christmas.
69. WARM.
70. I sleep better when it's cold in my house.
71. Bryce is on track to be one of the fastest swimmer's in the state.
72. For his age, he's pretty $#%^ fast.
73. And Blake is right on track to follow in Bryce's footsteps.
74. I have a plantar's wart on my foot that I've frozen four times now.
75. I may have to resort to more drastic measures.
76. Anyone have a high-powered laser?
77. Your mom goes to college.
78. No, seriously, she was in my marketing class.
79. I like Your Mama jokes.
80. Eighty posts is all I had the heart for.
My reply: "Your mom."
He was shocked, to say the least, but I said it with a smile, both of us knowing it was a joke. It was also my way of saying "I know what I'm doing, so kiss my tuchus." (Tuchus is Yiddish for "butt".)
Lest we digress...
Another time, a different co-worker asked a similar question and I replied in like manner by referencing something about his mama. Even though I said it with a smile, it was made known clearly to me that I should not ever again make a "mama" joke around that individual. He was not happy.
Recently, I went on a "Your Mama" joke spree at work. Here are a few choice ones:
Your mama is so fat, I swerved to miss her and ran out of gas.
Your mama is so fat, every restaurant in town says "250 Patrons or YOUR MAMA."
Your mama is so fat, she puts her belt on with a boomerang.
Anyhoo...feel free to share some of your favorites.
And now for some more random thoughts....
1. This is the strangest winter I have experienced in Utah.
2. I like snow because it's cold and covers all the BROWN.
3. I did not get an elk on the hunt last fall, but an acquaintance gave me a deer.
4. I processed that deer and have about 30 pounds of venison in the freezer.
5. I am hoping to go elk hunting in Wyoming this fall.
6. With my friend Jeff.
7. I like my job a lot.
8. It can be scary at times, but it's really cool.
9. Kind of like being an F-16 pilot.
10. But not really.
11. I am going to take more training this year.
12. I'd like to be a certified BCFD.
13. Guess.
14. I was very disappointed in the end of the Ute's season this year, but they won their bowl, so that's a plus.
15. I made a huge snowman last week that used half the snow in my yard.
16. With the next snowfall, I am going to make a snowball large enough that it will THROUGH July.
17. I am thinking of going home early today.
18. My new job is more of a "thinking" job. A fair amount of planning and architecture work.
19. My kids are doing great.
20. We all got sick AFTER Christmas.
21. Blessings.
22. I have spent 2 Christmas Days in Instacares with children before.
23. This was a great year.
24. I made reachable resolutions.
25. This blog post has taken a long time to produce.
26. I think my wife and I are scheduled to have dinner with friends tonight.
27. Excited to get out.
28. Love my woman.
29. She hot.
30. I was recently honored for my "Innovative Designs" at work.
31. I am now the proud owner of a Droid.
32. SO totally cool.
33. I am making Cafe Rio Black Beans for Sunday dinner.
34. MMMMMMM
35. I love Mexican food.
36. Who am I kidding...I love ALL food.
37. Except fish jell-o.
38. I need to go brush my teeth.
40. Blech.
41. Marshall can't hear me.
42. He needs another set of tubes in his ears.
43. He is a cute little bugger.
44. Anyone know the ASIC configuration on a 48-port Brocade DCX bade?
45. I have been YM President for almost 5 years now.
46. Crazy.
47. There's no end in sight, as far as I can tell.
48. I went a solid week without tasting any food.
49. It's surprising that our taste buds only DETECT a general flavor, i.e. salt, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami, I am told.
50. Your nose has as much to do with taste as anything.
51. We are going to get rid of our Comcast TV service. Gonna watch all our TV over the interwebz.
52. And NetFlix.
53. My Droid is like carrying a PC in my pocket.
54. So space-agey.
55. I am getting older.
56. Old.
57. I did not shave today.
58. I hate shaving.
59. At least I have a nice razor to shave WITH.
60. I wear my coat for most my day at work.
61. I also wear thermals every day.
62. Probably because I have to park in NORTHERN WAZIRISTAN.
63. At least I have a job.
64. And I can smell.
65. I've been keeping a "tender mercies" journal.
66. Interesting to see how heavily blessed I am.
67. And how much the man upstairs cares about me.
68. I got a big poofy parka for Christmas.
69. WARM.
70. I sleep better when it's cold in my house.
71. Bryce is on track to be one of the fastest swimmer's in the state.
72. For his age, he's pretty $#%^ fast.
73. And Blake is right on track to follow in Bryce's footsteps.
74. I have a plantar's wart on my foot that I've frozen four times now.
75. I may have to resort to more drastic measures.
76. Anyone have a high-powered laser?
77. Your mom goes to college.
78. No, seriously, she was in my marketing class.
79. I like Your Mama jokes.
80. Eighty posts is all I had the heart for.
12 August 2011
Thoughts 'n Random Shiz
1. Shiz is actually a character in the Book of Mormon. He was the 2nd-to-last descendant of a huge civilization that came to North America shortly after the fall of the Tower of Babel.
2. We started substituting the word "shiz" for a similarly spelled swear word in high school. You know...in the same vein as "Fetch" or "Son-of-a-Biscuit-Eater".
3. I am hiking to Duck Lake soon for our annual trip and find myself daydreaming about it often.
4. My sister Melissa fixed my backpack, which I tore a couple months ago while working out.
5. It was filled with 50 pounds of food storage and I picked it up incorrectly.
6. RIIIIIIP......Oops.
7. I'm not real happy about the backpack ripping, since this thing cost a lot o' moola and should easily handle 75 pounds of elk flesh.
8. I need to go buy my elk tag soon. If they run out, I am hosed.
9. I went to Cabela's yesterday. First time in a long while.
10. Bought a new sleeping pad. 2 1/2 inches thick and 76 inches long. Dee-lish.
11. I could live at Cabela's.
12. Seriously.
12.1. I am not kidding.
13. I plan on living on mostly trout while at Duck Lake.
14. I am taking plenty of tin foil and lemon pepper. And butter.
15. MMMMMMM
16. Someone told me that there were still a lot of bugs in the Uinta Mountains of Utah, as of last weekend.
17. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
18. Mosquitoes were invented by the devil.
19. No, seriously. God said, "Hey, Lucifer, wanna do a little creating?" "Sure!", he said. And voila, mosquito.
20. Two of the four weeks I am given for vacation will have been used in the summer months this year, yet it feels like I have not done enough camping.
21. The elk hunt will make up for that.
22. I still love my job as much as I did the first day. Maybe more.
23. My co-worker just had a deviated septum fixed and a bunch of nasal polyps removed. Not here at work.....in the hospital. Yowchie.
24. I have been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest lately and writing this blog entry is seriously cutting into my work.
25. I ran the boys at church through a shooting competition in June.
26. I beat them all.
27. I eat a fresh fruit smoothie made by my own hands each morning. And two pieces of wheat toast.
28. I've been eating extremely healthy for a couple months now and weigh around 184.
29. My weight has fluctuated between 180 and 190 since shortly after I was married.
30. Regardless of how I eat.
31. I think my metabolism is ROCK solid.
32. I *LOVE* Smashburger.
33. More than 5 Guys and WAY more than In-N-Out.
34. I haven't had a burger in several weeks.
35. I didn't bring any lunch to work today.
36. 'Cuz the stuff in the freezer at home didn't look very appealing.
37. Coke Zero Vanilla is my new beverage of the Gods.
38. I still enjoy a good Pepsi Max now and again.
39. But Coke Zero rocketh the proverbial cazbah.
40. I think I might sleep on my new sleeping pad for the next several days so that I am accustomed to it for Duck Lake.
41. Yeah....maybe not.
42. I have not been sleeping well lately.
43. I wake up every morning around 3:30 AM.
44. I had a Red Bull once. I burped a flowery taste in my mouth all day.
45. Bryce just registered for high school today.
46. These posts are just random enough that it might seem like I have been downing Red Bulls by the dozen.
47. I like trout.
48. Fishing is fun.
49. Elk meat is delicious and so very good for you.
50. My wife is a smokin' hottie.
51. I had to look up the word "vein" in the dictionary because I wasn't sure if I should use "vain", "vane", or "vein" in item #2.
52. I am still not sure.
53. I am a pretty good speller.
54. My son's teacher read a hand-written note from me once and was amazed that the writing could have come from a man.
55. She even called in other teachers to show them my penmanship.
56. Someone will inevitably find a spelling or grammatical error on this blog and point it out to me.
57. My sister Michelle dropped off two cases of Powerade at my house last week.
58. She's pretty charitable that way.
59. Sean and Kristi are the same way.
60. Such loving siblings.
61. I cannot type today.
62. Must be a syndrome of Friday.
63. I was asked to be a substitute for a High Councilman in my stake for a disciplinary council.
64. Turned out they didn't need me at the last minute.
65. Big *whew*
66. I haven't taken an allergy pill since June.
67. I have a meeting in 5 minutes and will not likely type another 33 items in this blog before that time.
68. I have major work to do today and should stop soon.
69. I would like to purchase a Spot locator for hiking in the back country.
70. They are expensive-ish. $100, give or take.
71. I am singing in my ward on August 21. It'll be a solo in sacrament meeting. My solo will serve as the closing hymn.
72. It's a lesser-known hymn that is played at the end of the movie 17 Miracles.
73. I am spending less and less time on Facebook.
74. It really doesn't fill any sort of "need" in my life.
75. 75's a good number to stop at.
2. We started substituting the word "shiz" for a similarly spelled swear word in high school. You know...in the same vein as "Fetch" or "Son-of-a-Biscuit-Eater".
3. I am hiking to Duck Lake soon for our annual trip and find myself daydreaming about it often.
4. My sister Melissa fixed my backpack, which I tore a couple months ago while working out.
5. It was filled with 50 pounds of food storage and I picked it up incorrectly.
6. RIIIIIIP......Oops.
7. I'm not real happy about the backpack ripping, since this thing cost a lot o' moola and should easily handle 75 pounds of elk flesh.
8. I need to go buy my elk tag soon. If they run out, I am hosed.
9. I went to Cabela's yesterday. First time in a long while.
10. Bought a new sleeping pad. 2 1/2 inches thick and 76 inches long. Dee-lish.
11. I could live at Cabela's.
12. Seriously.
12.1. I am not kidding.
13. I plan on living on mostly trout while at Duck Lake.
14. I am taking plenty of tin foil and lemon pepper. And butter.
15. MMMMMMM
16. Someone told me that there were still a lot of bugs in the Uinta Mountains of Utah, as of last weekend.
17. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
18. Mosquitoes were invented by the devil.
19. No, seriously. God said, "Hey, Lucifer, wanna do a little creating?" "Sure!", he said. And voila, mosquito.
20. Two of the four weeks I am given for vacation will have been used in the summer months this year, yet it feels like I have not done enough camping.
21. The elk hunt will make up for that.
22. I still love my job as much as I did the first day. Maybe more.
23. My co-worker just had a deviated septum fixed and a bunch of nasal polyps removed. Not here at work.....in the hospital. Yowchie.
24. I have been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest lately and writing this blog entry is seriously cutting into my work.
25. I ran the boys at church through a shooting competition in June.
26. I beat them all.
27. I eat a fresh fruit smoothie made by my own hands each morning. And two pieces of wheat toast.
28. I've been eating extremely healthy for a couple months now and weigh around 184.
29. My weight has fluctuated between 180 and 190 since shortly after I was married.
30. Regardless of how I eat.
31. I think my metabolism is ROCK solid.
32. I *LOVE* Smashburger.
33. More than 5 Guys and WAY more than In-N-Out.
34. I haven't had a burger in several weeks.
35. I didn't bring any lunch to work today.
36. 'Cuz the stuff in the freezer at home didn't look very appealing.
37. Coke Zero Vanilla is my new beverage of the Gods.
38. I still enjoy a good Pepsi Max now and again.
39. But Coke Zero rocketh the proverbial cazbah.
40. I think I might sleep on my new sleeping pad for the next several days so that I am accustomed to it for Duck Lake.
41. Yeah....maybe not.
42. I have not been sleeping well lately.
43. I wake up every morning around 3:30 AM.
44. I had a Red Bull once. I burped a flowery taste in my mouth all day.
45. Bryce just registered for high school today.
46. These posts are just random enough that it might seem like I have been downing Red Bulls by the dozen.
47. I like trout.
48. Fishing is fun.
49. Elk meat is delicious and so very good for you.
50. My wife is a smokin' hottie.
51. I had to look up the word "vein" in the dictionary because I wasn't sure if I should use "vain", "vane", or "vein" in item #2.
52. I am still not sure.
53. I am a pretty good speller.
54. My son's teacher read a hand-written note from me once and was amazed that the writing could have come from a man.
55. She even called in other teachers to show them my penmanship.
56. Someone will inevitably find a spelling or grammatical error on this blog and point it out to me.
57. My sister Michelle dropped off two cases of Powerade at my house last week.
58. She's pretty charitable that way.
59. Sean and Kristi are the same way.
60. Such loving siblings.
61. I cannot type today.
62. Must be a syndrome of Friday.
63. I was asked to be a substitute for a High Councilman in my stake for a disciplinary council.
64. Turned out they didn't need me at the last minute.
65. Big *whew*
66. I haven't taken an allergy pill since June.
67. I have a meeting in 5 minutes and will not likely type another 33 items in this blog before that time.
68. I have major work to do today and should stop soon.
69. I would like to purchase a Spot locator for hiking in the back country.
70. They are expensive-ish. $100, give or take.
71. I am singing in my ward on August 21. It'll be a solo in sacrament meeting. My solo will serve as the closing hymn.
72. It's a lesser-known hymn that is played at the end of the movie 17 Miracles.
73. I am spending less and less time on Facebook.
74. It really doesn't fill any sort of "need" in my life.
75. 75's a good number to stop at.
10 August 2011
Fire Pit of Glory
Bryce and Blake have had several friends invite them over this summer to enjoy some s'mores at their fire pits in their back yards. With the NON-success and complete failure of our garden boxes in the past years, I decided to "remodel" the garden area and build a fire pit of our own. Nothing like making your home a place where all the neighborhood kids want to come to, right? Helps me keep a better eye on my own kids.
The pavers were a little pricey but well worth it.
We've had several shin-digs with friends and have roasted the heck outta some things. In fact, next month I will be cooking a pig in that pit for the ward luau. Totally excited.
The pavers were a little pricey but well worth it.
We've had several shin-digs with friends and have roasted the heck outta some things. In fact, next month I will be cooking a pig in that pit for the ward luau. Totally excited.
Cunningham Muffins
Years ago my boys discovered a YouTube video called "Cunningham Muffins". We've watched it about a zillion times. Marshall even enjoys it.
Mallory decided to do a shortened version of the video as a humorous interpretation for the school talent show. If you haven't seen the video, you can go to YouTube and watch it, or take my little synopsis:
Scene opens upon a little "lady" with a large plate of muffins:
"What would you like for breakfast, Johnny?"
"Muffins!!!"
"That's right! At Cunningham Muffins, we know that muffins make the BEST breakfasts! So why not try all of our exciting new flavors?!?"
"Apple."
"Pecan."
"Nut."
"Date-Nut."
"Orange."
"Banana."
Gooseberry."
Etc., etc.
She goes on and on with all their muffin options and then the list takes a turn for the weird.
"Bullfrog."
"Paperclip."
"Elephant."
"Fish."
"Newspaper."
Then she pops up with a flaming muffin: "FIRE!"
"Ink."
"Bird."
"Bits o' Glass Muffin! (chew-chew) OOOWWW!"
So here are our version of Cunningham Muffins. Mallory is quite the little actress and has good poise on stage.She had the kids rolling in the aisles.
Starting near Noon we have: Rock, Bits o' Glass, Carrots, ???, Pencil, Newspaper, Nut, Choco-Choco-Chip, Blood....paper clip is in the middle. Star Wars is next to paper clip. Fun stuff.
Mallory decided to do a shortened version of the video as a humorous interpretation for the school talent show. If you haven't seen the video, you can go to YouTube and watch it, or take my little synopsis:
Scene opens upon a little "lady" with a large plate of muffins:
"What would you like for breakfast, Johnny?"
"Muffins!!!"
"That's right! At Cunningham Muffins, we know that muffins make the BEST breakfasts! So why not try all of our exciting new flavors?!?"
"Apple."
"Pecan."
"Nut."
"Date-Nut."
"Orange."
"Banana."
Gooseberry."
Etc., etc.
She goes on and on with all their muffin options and then the list takes a turn for the weird.
"Bullfrog."
"Paperclip."
"Elephant."
"Fish."
"Newspaper."
Then she pops up with a flaming muffin: "FIRE!"
"Ink."
"Bird."
"Bits o' Glass Muffin!
So here are our version of Cunningham Muffins. Mallory is quite the little actress and has good poise on stage.She had the kids rolling in the aisles.
Starting near Noon we have: Rock, Bits o' Glass, Carrots, ???, Pencil, Newspaper, Nut, Choco-Choco-Chip, Blood....paper clip is in the middle. Star Wars is next to paper clip. Fun stuff.
Bear Lake Scout Camp
I've been the young men's president in my ward for nearly 5 years now. I've been on various camps and even try to go with my sons on their week-long camps when I can. The boys and leaders have raved and raved about Bear Lake for years. This year I finally went to Bear Lake with Blake and his troop. The Scout Master makes sure to secure THE premier spot in the whole camp, which has a large double-pavilion with 2 tables and a wide area for sitting. It also sits RIGHT next to the lake. Seriously, it's about 50 feet from the water's edge.
My blasted SD card reader is lost and I have yet to secure another, so all you get to see is a single grainy picture I took with my BlackBerry from our camp.
I cannot say enough good about the camp. It was as relaxing as any camp I've been to. We swam in the lake to our hearts content - like 4 times a day. The boys had plenty of free time between merit badge classes to just have fun. The only drawback is that there is REALLY good cell coverage, so I wasn't TOTALLY removed from civilization - which is what I prefer. There is a "leaders" building which has Wi-Fi and a bunch of large sectional couches. Somehow I found myself napping in them every day at 10:00 AM. Nice and relaxing. Just my style.
My blasted SD card reader is lost and I have yet to secure another, so all you get to see is a single grainy picture I took with my BlackBerry from our camp.
I cannot say enough good about the camp. It was as relaxing as any camp I've been to. We swam in the lake to our hearts content - like 4 times a day. The boys had plenty of free time between merit badge classes to just have fun. The only drawback is that there is REALLY good cell coverage, so I wasn't TOTALLY removed from civilization - which is what I prefer. There is a "leaders" building which has Wi-Fi and a bunch of large sectional couches. Somehow I found myself napping in them every day at 10:00 AM. Nice and relaxing. Just my style.
01 July 2011
Justice and Mercy
Justice and mercy are religious principles. In trying to understand justice and mercy more, I propose this little scenario which is mostly based off of Alma 42. Justice and Mercy are constantly playing a balancing act with each other. When we are born into this world we are guiltless and not accountable for our actions. Once we pass the age of accountability and commit a sin, we are immediately within the grasp of justice and we are subject to spiritual death. Our perfect spirits have been dirtied and “no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God.” (Alma 40:26) Unless repentance is made and we are provided a savior, we are lost to Heavenly Father. The price of the sin must be paid to satisfy justice and bring the scale back into balance. However, mercy cannot rob justice. (Alma 42:25)
This scenario might help to explain further. If an intruder comes, uninvited, into my house and threatens to hurt or kill my wife or children and I defend them by slaying the intruder, I believe I am justified and without guilt or blame. The intruder was punished for his actions by losing his life, which is fair and just. (D&C 98:31) I stand balanced on the scales of the Lord. I would still be permitted to enter the Kingdom since I have met the "minimum" requirement and have not tipped the scale in the negative.
Would the intruder also be justified and qualified for Heaven, since I meted out his punishment? No. His physical punishment might have been received at my hands, but he still has to repent and take the atoning offer from the Savior to make spiritual payment by obedience to the commandments. Mercy has no claim on the unrepentant. (Alma 42; Mosiah 2:38-39)
If the same intruder comes into my home and poses a threat to ME ONLY (my wife and children are out of the picture), I believe I would still be justified in defending myself. My salvation would be "balanced" still. I receive no reward in Heaven, but I am still not “in the negative” with the Lord.
However, if I were to turn the other cheek and NOT take any action against the intruder, two things occur:
1. My reward in Heaven is greater for having shown mercy to the intruder, even if it means giving up my life. I will not have simply qualified for Heaven and kept the justice/mercy scale evenly balanced, but would receive a greater reward for bringing no harm to him. I have returned mercy for evil and the mercy scale tips in my favor. (Romans 12:17-21; Matthew 5:7) “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
2. The punishment of the intruder (by the Lord) is equal to the reward which I am promised. The amount of joy I receive after this life from my decision will equal the amount of punishment the intruder will receive as well. Otherwise, mercy would rob justice.
How much greater would my mansion be if I were to extend mercy all my days to my fellow men by "turning the other cheek" and forgiving them 70 times 7? The reward in heaven would be immense, to be sure. An hundredfold or more, is what the scriptures say I will receive if I bear it patiently. (D&C 98:25-26) If I turned the other cheek in relation to my wife or children, and let others bring harm to them, the reward can be great as well, but I am also commanded to protect my family. (Alma 43:47; 48:23-25, D&C 134:11, The Family: A Proclamation to the World – paragraph 7; D&C 98:23-48)
For those in the "we must ALWAYS be merciful” crowd, they might cite the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and even use the Savior himself as an example of ALWAYS turning the other cheek. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies were a vile people: A people who delighted in the shedding of blood. They had committed numerous murders before being converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once they were converted, they felt that if they were to raise their swords against another, even in defense of themselves or their families, that they would lose their salvation and be eternally damned. They apparently felt that the sins/murders they had committed in their lives were as much as any person could commit. (Alma 24:10-13) Perhaps they felt that the atonement "barely" covered their former sins? In this case, they had already tipped the "justice" scale so far into the negative, that their conversion and repentance and faithful obedience to the commandments for the duration of their lives was barely enough to tip the mercy side of the scale back to an "even" place. They spoke as if one more sin would send them to eternal misery. Thus, they buried their swords and even forfeited their lives to the Lamanites and refused to defend themselves. I am sure they experienced, as Alma the Younger had, that feeling of complete and utter joy in their conversion. The thought of killing a Lamanite while he was in his sinful state and sending his soul to hell was something they could not bear.
And what of the example of the Savior himself? He was spat upon, abused, and ultimately killed. He never once defended himself against abuse. He always turned the other cheek. (1 Peter 2:23) Did Christ ever defend another’s safety physically? Yes. Peter drew his sword and smote off the ear of the man who was going to lay hands upon Jesus. (Matthew 26:51) The Savior rebuked Peter and told him to put away his sword. He even went so far as to heal the wounded servant. (Luke 22:51) He saved a woman from being stoned. (John 8:1-11)
The scriptures contain stories where killing is justified and even commanded of the Lord. (1 Ne. 4:10, 1 Samuel 15) Prophets that obey are not only justified, but blessed for having obeyed these commandments.
Needless to say, it behooves us to judge correctly in times like this. Does carrying a gun around all the time to defend myself and my family mean that I am relying on the arm of the flesh? (2 Ne. 4:34; 28:31) No. I believe that scripture reference is in relation to where we gain knowledge. That we gain truth and wisdom from the Spirit of God and not from mankind and putting trust in the Lord and His will, not our own. I refuse to walk around defenseless in this world. I do not want to see my family suffer more than is necessary for their Salvation. If I have to shoot a baddie or two to keep my family on earth with me a little longer, then so be it. I do not fear man. I also do not fear that I will be judged in the wrong for taking a man’s life in self defense. Killing is always a last resort – like war. I seek not to destroy anyone. I renounce war and proclaim peace. (D&C 98:16)
Therefore, If you, like me, choose to live your life meting out justice to bad guys instead of turning the other cheek, you’d better make damned sure you have a heavenly bank account chalk-full of good works to make up for it in the end.
This scenario might help to explain further. If an intruder comes, uninvited, into my house and threatens to hurt or kill my wife or children and I defend them by slaying the intruder, I believe I am justified and without guilt or blame. The intruder was punished for his actions by losing his life, which is fair and just. (D&C 98:31) I stand balanced on the scales of the Lord. I would still be permitted to enter the Kingdom since I have met the "minimum" requirement and have not tipped the scale in the negative.
Would the intruder also be justified and qualified for Heaven, since I meted out his punishment? No. His physical punishment might have been received at my hands, but he still has to repent and take the atoning offer from the Savior to make spiritual payment by obedience to the commandments. Mercy has no claim on the unrepentant. (Alma 42; Mosiah 2:38-39)
If the same intruder comes into my home and poses a threat to ME ONLY (my wife and children are out of the picture), I believe I would still be justified in defending myself. My salvation would be "balanced" still. I receive no reward in Heaven, but I am still not “in the negative” with the Lord.
However, if I were to turn the other cheek and NOT take any action against the intruder, two things occur:
1. My reward in Heaven is greater for having shown mercy to the intruder, even if it means giving up my life. I will not have simply qualified for Heaven and kept the justice/mercy scale evenly balanced, but would receive a greater reward for bringing no harm to him. I have returned mercy for evil and the mercy scale tips in my favor. (Romans 12:17-21; Matthew 5:7) “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
2. The punishment of the intruder (by the Lord) is equal to the reward which I am promised. The amount of joy I receive after this life from my decision will equal the amount of punishment the intruder will receive as well. Otherwise, mercy would rob justice.
How much greater would my mansion be if I were to extend mercy all my days to my fellow men by "turning the other cheek" and forgiving them 70 times 7? The reward in heaven would be immense, to be sure. An hundredfold or more, is what the scriptures say I will receive if I bear it patiently. (D&C 98:25-26) If I turned the other cheek in relation to my wife or children, and let others bring harm to them, the reward can be great as well, but I am also commanded to protect my family. (Alma 43:47; 48:23-25, D&C 134:11, The Family: A Proclamation to the World – paragraph 7; D&C 98:23-48)
For those in the "we must ALWAYS be merciful” crowd, they might cite the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and even use the Savior himself as an example of ALWAYS turning the other cheek. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies were a vile people: A people who delighted in the shedding of blood. They had committed numerous murders before being converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once they were converted, they felt that if they were to raise their swords against another, even in defense of themselves or their families, that they would lose their salvation and be eternally damned. They apparently felt that the sins/murders they had committed in their lives were as much as any person could commit. (Alma 24:10-13) Perhaps they felt that the atonement "barely" covered their former sins? In this case, they had already tipped the "justice" scale so far into the negative, that their conversion and repentance and faithful obedience to the commandments for the duration of their lives was barely enough to tip the mercy side of the scale back to an "even" place. They spoke as if one more sin would send them to eternal misery. Thus, they buried their swords and even forfeited their lives to the Lamanites and refused to defend themselves. I am sure they experienced, as Alma the Younger had, that feeling of complete and utter joy in their conversion. The thought of killing a Lamanite while he was in his sinful state and sending his soul to hell was something they could not bear.
And what of the example of the Savior himself? He was spat upon, abused, and ultimately killed. He never once defended himself against abuse. He always turned the other cheek. (1 Peter 2:23) Did Christ ever defend another’s safety physically? Yes. Peter drew his sword and smote off the ear of the man who was going to lay hands upon Jesus. (Matthew 26:51) The Savior rebuked Peter and told him to put away his sword. He even went so far as to heal the wounded servant. (Luke 22:51) He saved a woman from being stoned. (John 8:1-11)
The scriptures contain stories where killing is justified and even commanded of the Lord. (1 Ne. 4:10, 1 Samuel 15) Prophets that obey are not only justified, but blessed for having obeyed these commandments.
Needless to say, it behooves us to judge correctly in times like this. Does carrying a gun around all the time to defend myself and my family mean that I am relying on the arm of the flesh? (2 Ne. 4:34; 28:31) No. I believe that scripture reference is in relation to where we gain knowledge. That we gain truth and wisdom from the Spirit of God and not from mankind and putting trust in the Lord and His will, not our own. I refuse to walk around defenseless in this world. I do not want to see my family suffer more than is necessary for their Salvation. If I have to shoot a baddie or two to keep my family on earth with me a little longer, then so be it. I do not fear man. I also do not fear that I will be judged in the wrong for taking a man’s life in self defense. Killing is always a last resort – like war. I seek not to destroy anyone. I renounce war and proclaim peace. (D&C 98:16)
Therefore, If you, like me, choose to live your life meting out justice to bad guys instead of turning the other cheek, you’d better make damned sure you have a heavenly bank account chalk-full of good works to make up for it in the end.
13 June 2011
Sheesh
I'd call that a blogging drought.
This has been one of the craziest and most eventful years of my life. I will try to chronicle it with a few posts. Bear with me. Or is it "bare"?
Hahahahahahahahaaaaa!
This has been one of the craziest and most eventful years of my life. I will try to chronicle it with a few posts. Bear with me. Or is it "bare"?
Hahahahahahahahaaaaa!
12 January 2011
Best. Painter. Ever.
I was introduced to Carl Bloch's work by a high school Humanities teacher: Mr. Frank. Love that guy.
Anyhoo, Bloch's work is outstanding. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark May 23, 1834 and died February 22, 1890. My Church has used his paintings extensively in our buildings and publications. My favorites would be Casting Out Satan, Cleansing the Temple, and Healing at the Pool of Bethesda. Sermon on the Mount is also impressive. What am I saying....everything this guy did was impressive! Once you see one of his paintings, you'll have no problem recognizing others. He has a style all his own.
BYU has many of his paintings on display right now. You can reserve FREE tickets to the museum here.
Anyhoo....hope you enjoy!
Carl H. Bloch
Anyhoo, Bloch's work is outstanding. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark May 23, 1834 and died February 22, 1890. My Church has used his paintings extensively in our buildings and publications. My favorites would be Casting Out Satan, Cleansing the Temple, and Healing at the Pool of Bethesda. Sermon on the Mount is also impressive. What am I saying....everything this guy did was impressive! Once you see one of his paintings, you'll have no problem recognizing others. He has a style all his own.
BYU has many of his paintings on display right now. You can reserve FREE tickets to the museum here.
Anyhoo....hope you enjoy!
Carl H. Bloch
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