Many people think that the first gifts of Christmas are gold, frankincense and myrrh. May I suggest that they were not. The first gift of Christmas was the Christ-Child, himself. "For God so loved the world that He gave (when someone gives us something is it not a gift?) His only begotten Son that whoso should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For Christ came not to condemn the world but that through him the world might be saved."
This sheds light on the gifts of the magi. Their gifts were not only gifts of honor but of gratitude...to the one who was given to us to save us.
That is the WHY of Christmas. We should not give gifts for any reason but out of gratitude for those in our lives we love and cherish.
You may ask..."What about the stranger".
God gave His Son because of His love for ALL of us...His children and of His desire that we return to Him. Therefore the commandment to love one another. In God's eyes and in the beginning there were no nationalities or races....just God's children. His commandment to love all people as we love ourselves answers who we should care about...everyone. When we see people in need we help...out of love for them as our brothers and sisters and out of gratitude for all that God has blessed us with.
Many people say they have obtained their wealth and good fortune on their own and that God had nothing to do with it. Really? God gives us health and strength to work, protection from harm, etc....if you don't think so get on your knees and tell God you don't need Him or recognize that He has done anything for you and see what becomes of all of your daily "blessings".
In celebrating Christmas we should be as the reformed Scrooge and give of ourselves and means freely to all in need. In this we are saying.."Thank you, God for everything and especially for the gift of your Son".
Do we get rid of Santa and all of the "Christmas legends or traditions", no. They can assist us...make the season more enjoyable and make it easier to teach children about giving.
I like the way the Christmas Season is celebrated in Holland...or the way it was when I lived there 35 years ago. "Santa (Sinter Klas) came on December 5th and gave goodies and toys. December 25th was set apart as a day to worship Christ and to be with friends and family. It made the gift giving fun....but made more sacred the day we celebrate Christ's birth.
However we celebrate may we do so out of love, honor and respect and treat one another as God would have us.
Merry Christmas.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Friends
Life is good. What makes it good?
There are so many things that take place in our life...so many events...what makes them memorable? The people we are with. What would a vacation be taken alone? What would a State Championship in football, baseball, tennis or what ever be worth without those you were with? What would be a home without mom and dad and brothers and sisters?
Life is enriched by the relationships in it. Why then do we deceive, cheat and hurt other people? If it is people that make life rich then it is also people who bring about the greatest pain and suffering.
I had a friend in high school whom I one day saw crying. It made me feel bad to see this friend crying because she was one of the sweetest people I knew. I wondered why someone would hurt her. Yet, I too have caused tears to fall from those I claim to love. When that happens I try to apologize and ask forgiveness...it is never on purpose...just making stupid choices.
A man I know wrote a book and in it laid out four steps of human behavior. It caused me to think what kind of person I want to be and strive to be.
Step One:
We say or do things without any thought and never even think how it may affect others.
Step Two:
We say or do something and then realize what we have done and apologize for the pain we have inflicted.
Step Three:
We catch ourselves thinking of saying or doing something and stop ourselves.
Step Four:
We no longer have any thoughts or desires to do anything that might bring others pain.
This is were the Savior was...in complete control of his thoughts and actions at all times and loved others so deeply that anything negative never came to his mind.
One other example: Again in high school there was a girl, not popular, not attractive, not the nicest person....because no one treated her with kindness. Years later I found out that she had passed away in her apartment; alone. It was several days before she was found. I almost started to cry when I learned that. I reflected, how had I treated her?
There is a quote: Some people bring happiness where ever they go. Others whenever they go.
I want to be the kind of person that brings happiness that makes others feel good about themselves. It is the people in my life that have brought so much happiness to my life...I want them to know I appreciate them. Telling someone you love them may be awkward at first but when people know you are sincere it bonds your relationship forever.
There are so many things that take place in our life...so many events...what makes them memorable? The people we are with. What would a vacation be taken alone? What would a State Championship in football, baseball, tennis or what ever be worth without those you were with? What would be a home without mom and dad and brothers and sisters?
Life is enriched by the relationships in it. Why then do we deceive, cheat and hurt other people? If it is people that make life rich then it is also people who bring about the greatest pain and suffering.
I had a friend in high school whom I one day saw crying. It made me feel bad to see this friend crying because she was one of the sweetest people I knew. I wondered why someone would hurt her. Yet, I too have caused tears to fall from those I claim to love. When that happens I try to apologize and ask forgiveness...it is never on purpose...just making stupid choices.
A man I know wrote a book and in it laid out four steps of human behavior. It caused me to think what kind of person I want to be and strive to be.
Step One:
We say or do things without any thought and never even think how it may affect others.
Step Two:
We say or do something and then realize what we have done and apologize for the pain we have inflicted.
Step Three:
We catch ourselves thinking of saying or doing something and stop ourselves.
Step Four:
We no longer have any thoughts or desires to do anything that might bring others pain.
This is were the Savior was...in complete control of his thoughts and actions at all times and loved others so deeply that anything negative never came to his mind.
One other example: Again in high school there was a girl, not popular, not attractive, not the nicest person....because no one treated her with kindness. Years later I found out that she had passed away in her apartment; alone. It was several days before she was found. I almost started to cry when I learned that. I reflected, how had I treated her?
There is a quote: Some people bring happiness where ever they go. Others whenever they go.
I want to be the kind of person that brings happiness that makes others feel good about themselves. It is the people in my life that have brought so much happiness to my life...I want them to know I appreciate them. Telling someone you love them may be awkward at first but when people know you are sincere it bonds your relationship forever.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Pizza
For some strange reason I woke up thinking about Pizza this morning. Actually those who know will not find that strange at all. I love pizza and could almost survive on pizza and nothing else without tiring of it.
Moving on I was thinking of pizza in relation to life with and without the gospel of Jesus Christ. Weird? Let me explain.
My introduction to pizza was when a young boy back in the 60's (1960's). My mother would buy Juno's Pizza Mix and make our family pizza for dinner. I liked it, it was good....but, steak was better.
My sister began dating and went to a pizza restaurant. She came home all excited about how delicious pizza was and it was her new favorite food. I thought, "how good can it be?"
It was a few years later before I found out on my own. My best friend, Fotu, began working at Pipes-N-Pizza. A few months later I also was hired on there. It was here I first tasted a real pizza. WOW!!!!!!
I was hooked!
This was the best food ever! What's steak?
Now the comparison. Many people live life without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, namely as it has been restored to the earth and organized as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They get along in life and enjoy life. I have always been a member of the Church but we believe that ever person must come to KNOW for themselves whether it is true or not. This is accomplished through study and prayer. As I read the Book of Mormon for myself and knelt to ask God if it was true, I received a witness by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is true. It changed my life and enhanced my life. I have had the chance to share it with other people and watched how it has changed their lives.
One can be happy and enjoy life without the gospel/Church, but as God says, true happiness and peace are gifts reserved for those who are faithful followers of Jesus Christ, keeping His commandments, standing as a witness of Him at all times and in all places.
This is what I have experienced and witnessed in the lives of others.
Other religions can be of good influence but the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ containing the fulness of His gospel opens up a whole new fulness in life.
That is why we send out missionaries. We invite others to come and taste it for themselves. There is nothing to fear. Nothing to loose. Only something to gain.
In our Church we do not try to take others faith away from them...but enhance it, making it brighter and more joyful.
Try it.
Moving on I was thinking of pizza in relation to life with and without the gospel of Jesus Christ. Weird? Let me explain.
My introduction to pizza was when a young boy back in the 60's (1960's). My mother would buy Juno's Pizza Mix and make our family pizza for dinner. I liked it, it was good....but, steak was better.
My sister began dating and went to a pizza restaurant. She came home all excited about how delicious pizza was and it was her new favorite food. I thought, "how good can it be?"
It was a few years later before I found out on my own. My best friend, Fotu, began working at Pipes-N-Pizza. A few months later I also was hired on there. It was here I first tasted a real pizza. WOW!!!!!!
I was hooked!
This was the best food ever! What's steak?
Now the comparison. Many people live life without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, namely as it has been restored to the earth and organized as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They get along in life and enjoy life. I have always been a member of the Church but we believe that ever person must come to KNOW for themselves whether it is true or not. This is accomplished through study and prayer. As I read the Book of Mormon for myself and knelt to ask God if it was true, I received a witness by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is true. It changed my life and enhanced my life. I have had the chance to share it with other people and watched how it has changed their lives.
One can be happy and enjoy life without the gospel/Church, but as God says, true happiness and peace are gifts reserved for those who are faithful followers of Jesus Christ, keeping His commandments, standing as a witness of Him at all times and in all places.
This is what I have experienced and witnessed in the lives of others.
Other religions can be of good influence but the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ containing the fulness of His gospel opens up a whole new fulness in life.
That is why we send out missionaries. We invite others to come and taste it for themselves. There is nothing to fear. Nothing to loose. Only something to gain.
In our Church we do not try to take others faith away from them...but enhance it, making it brighter and more joyful.
Try it.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Falling out of bed.
Years ago I heard a talk with this quote which impressed me. "Why do people fall away from the Church? For the same reason they fall out of bed...they are not in it far enough.
In the Book of Mormon the prophet Alma teaches how to develop faith, in Alma chapter 32. He teaches that faith can be developed and one can come to know truth and compares it to planting a seed and nurturing it. If it is a good seed it begins to grow and will grow into a strong plant. If not nurtured...it may still be a good seed but dies due to lack of attention. He goes on to teach that this is not just for people who want to develop faith but is a lifelong process to keep us strong in our faith.
I work with a lot of people in the Church. It is easy to know who will eventually quit going to church or to tell which will complain and be a little rebellious. They are those who do not read the scriptures and pray daily. They figure attending church once a week should fill all of their spiritual needs. When they have problems they usually blame it on the Church or on God...it is not their fault, or they wonder...why me?
Everyone of us will have challenges in life, challenges that test our faith and testimony of the gospel. In the early days of the Church Oliver Cowdrey began to have some questions...even after seeing an angel of God and the Gold Plates. The Lord through Joseph Smith told him to cast his mind back to the hour he first believed: "Did I not speak comfort to your soul, did I not cause your bosom to burn?"
The Book of Mormon often uses the words...remember. We are also promised that if we will study the scriptures daily and pray daily...more than once, in fact keeping a prayerful heart that we will be given power to rise above all our challenges and temptations.
There is nothing wrong with having questions...if we are willing to seek the answers. Often we want God to come down and answer our prayers as He did for Joseph Smith. When God gives us answers: through the scriptures, through prophets or even past personal prayers, He expects us to use those things to find answers...we need to do our part, to search and then ask for confirmation of their truth. Then He will send the comforter to give us the assurance and comfort we need.
God can see down the road and over the horizon. He has given us all we need to know Him and His gospel...for salvation. It is available to us. He has done this because of His love for us and His desire to help us through this journey called life. And, He has commanded us to pray daily and ask for the things of which we are in need....in other words to recognize our need for Him and to be grateful for His daily help. As we do this we remain humble and our faith in Him grows and grows to be a strong and healthy plant and we never need to worry about falling out of bed.
Years ago I heard a talk with this quote which impressed me. "Why do people fall away from the Church? For the same reason they fall out of bed...they are not in it far enough.
In the Book of Mormon the prophet Alma teaches how to develop faith, in Alma chapter 32. He teaches that faith can be developed and one can come to know truth and compares it to planting a seed and nurturing it. If it is a good seed it begins to grow and will grow into a strong plant. If not nurtured...it may still be a good seed but dies due to lack of attention. He goes on to teach that this is not just for people who want to develop faith but is a lifelong process to keep us strong in our faith.
I work with a lot of people in the Church. It is easy to know who will eventually quit going to church or to tell which will complain and be a little rebellious. They are those who do not read the scriptures and pray daily. They figure attending church once a week should fill all of their spiritual needs. When they have problems they usually blame it on the Church or on God...it is not their fault, or they wonder...why me?
Everyone of us will have challenges in life, challenges that test our faith and testimony of the gospel. In the early days of the Church Oliver Cowdrey began to have some questions...even after seeing an angel of God and the Gold Plates. The Lord through Joseph Smith told him to cast his mind back to the hour he first believed: "Did I not speak comfort to your soul, did I not cause your bosom to burn?"
The Book of Mormon often uses the words...remember. We are also promised that if we will study the scriptures daily and pray daily...more than once, in fact keeping a prayerful heart that we will be given power to rise above all our challenges and temptations.
There is nothing wrong with having questions...if we are willing to seek the answers. Often we want God to come down and answer our prayers as He did for Joseph Smith. When God gives us answers: through the scriptures, through prophets or even past personal prayers, He expects us to use those things to find answers...we need to do our part, to search and then ask for confirmation of their truth. Then He will send the comforter to give us the assurance and comfort we need.
God can see down the road and over the horizon. He has given us all we need to know Him and His gospel...for salvation. It is available to us. He has done this because of His love for us and His desire to help us through this journey called life. And, He has commanded us to pray daily and ask for the things of which we are in need....in other words to recognize our need for Him and to be grateful for His daily help. As we do this we remain humble and our faith in Him grows and grows to be a strong and healthy plant and we never need to worry about falling out of bed.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
People are strange.
When a formation of bark or sap or something else is discovered on a tree that bears a resemblance to Christ's image or when a piece of cloth or some other inanimate object bears that resemblance people flock to it proclaiming it to be a miracle. They light candles and kneel before it praying as if that object has magical healing powers.
Yet, when they are told that a boy earnestly seeking to know the truth of God and which of all churches was His, following the counsel of the Bible to ask God who gives to ALL men....and as a result having God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appear to him and teach him, telling him that their gospel was no longer on the earth but would be restored to the earth and calling him as Moses had been called to be the prophet to direct the restoration of their Gospel to the earth....they won't believe it. Even though that is the same process God has implemented from the beginning as to how he works with man...his children.
They choose to believe men who proclaim that God has finally caught up to the times and allowed changes to be made in doctrines: such as it being okay to engage in pre-marital sexual relations, to live together and not be married, to have "unnatural" affections (same sex) and many other things, when the Bible clearly states that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
God would not be God if He kept changing His mind. Eternal truth is eternal. We are expected to obey His commandments, not have Him relinquish to our demands. (Seek not to counsel God but to take counsel from His hand.)
Joseph Smith actually saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. They actually spoke to him and made known their will....to strive to redeem all mankind...because God is our Father and loves us. Because of that love He has spoken to man from the beginning by means of a living prophet and continues to do so today. His way is clear, unchangeable and man may have confidence in that . His way of life is the only way of life that offers true peace and happiness. And, as Joseph Smith found out, ALL men may know His truths by kneeling and asking, He does listen, He does answer that ever person may know for themselves.
This I know because I have sought, and asked and strive to live His teachings and commandments.
When a formation of bark or sap or something else is discovered on a tree that bears a resemblance to Christ's image or when a piece of cloth or some other inanimate object bears that resemblance people flock to it proclaiming it to be a miracle. They light candles and kneel before it praying as if that object has magical healing powers.
Yet, when they are told that a boy earnestly seeking to know the truth of God and which of all churches was His, following the counsel of the Bible to ask God who gives to ALL men....and as a result having God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appear to him and teach him, telling him that their gospel was no longer on the earth but would be restored to the earth and calling him as Moses had been called to be the prophet to direct the restoration of their Gospel to the earth....they won't believe it. Even though that is the same process God has implemented from the beginning as to how he works with man...his children.
They choose to believe men who proclaim that God has finally caught up to the times and allowed changes to be made in doctrines: such as it being okay to engage in pre-marital sexual relations, to live together and not be married, to have "unnatural" affections (same sex) and many other things, when the Bible clearly states that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
God would not be God if He kept changing His mind. Eternal truth is eternal. We are expected to obey His commandments, not have Him relinquish to our demands. (Seek not to counsel God but to take counsel from His hand.)
Joseph Smith actually saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. They actually spoke to him and made known their will....to strive to redeem all mankind...because God is our Father and loves us. Because of that love He has spoken to man from the beginning by means of a living prophet and continues to do so today. His way is clear, unchangeable and man may have confidence in that . His way of life is the only way of life that offers true peace and happiness. And, as Joseph Smith found out, ALL men may know His truths by kneeling and asking, He does listen, He does answer that ever person may know for themselves.
This I know because I have sought, and asked and strive to live His teachings and commandments.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Life Without the Gospel
I can't imagine living life in this world without the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It gives understanding, balance and meaning to life.
With all the corruption and evil in the world life would be very depressing...wondering why you go from day to day...for what? The gospel brings peace into my life because it answers those questions and offers hope through living a good life. A Christ centered life.
What I love about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it brings people from all walks of life together, with faith in the same cause and unites us in friendship, discipleship and love. No matter where in the world I go when I come upon another member of the Church (another Mormon) I have a friend.
Jesus Christ did in fact bring peace to this earth...but not in a political sense. World peace is possible...when we all come unto the Savior, Jesus Christ and put our faith in Him and conduct ourselves as He has directed...keeping His commandments, loving one another as we would be loved.
I am grateful for His mercy and love.
With all the corruption and evil in the world life would be very depressing...wondering why you go from day to day...for what? The gospel brings peace into my life because it answers those questions and offers hope through living a good life. A Christ centered life.
What I love about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it brings people from all walks of life together, with faith in the same cause and unites us in friendship, discipleship and love. No matter where in the world I go when I come upon another member of the Church (another Mormon) I have a friend.
Jesus Christ did in fact bring peace to this earth...but not in a political sense. World peace is possible...when we all come unto the Savior, Jesus Christ and put our faith in Him and conduct ourselves as He has directed...keeping His commandments, loving one another as we would be loved.
I am grateful for His mercy and love.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Joseph Smith
So......why Joseph Smith? What is he to the LDS (Mormon) people? Is he God?
The answer is simple and follows thousands of years of Christian history. From the creation of Adam God has led His people by means of a prophet. A prophet is an individual whom God has chosen to have special communication with Him in behalf of all people.
God has NOT left us alone.
The Bible teaches that after Jesus Christ there would be an apostasy from his gospel and the church He organized through His apostles. People would wander the earth seeking the truth....and would not find it. However, the Bible also teaches that a restoration of all things would take place in the latter days and the Kingdom of God would again be established never again to be taken from the earth.
Joseph Smith was a young man seeking to know the truth, seeking to know which Church was the true church of God. After visiting the meetings of many religions and speaking with their ministers he was so confused that he could not come to a conclusion which was right. In James he read that if one lacked wisdom they need but ask of God. He decided to do just that. He went to the woods to be alone and knelt in prayer. In answer God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. The Father introduced His Son and Jesus instructed Joseph. He was told that His true Church was not on the earth. The churches on the earth professed the truth but their hearts were far from it. Joseph was told that the true Church would be restored to the earth and that he would be an instrument in bringing that forth.
Joseph was then tutored by angels on how that was to take place. To begin he was guided to an ancient record and given the power to translate the record which contained the pure teachings and doctrines of God.
I cannot read about Joseph Smith and how the Lord tutored him and led him to restoring The Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth and not feel that he was indeed a prophet of God. Here was an uneducated boy as to the things of this world who, through the truths restored through him bring us closer to God and give us a greater understanding of who God is and what this life's purpose is than any other individual other than Jesus Christ, Himself.
When one reads and asks God if these things are true....God answers those prayers. God loves us, His children. He has not left us alone but has given us the answers to the purpose of this life and what we must do to return to live in His presence once this life has passed.
I know these things are true. God has answered my prayers. I thank Him for His love in my life.
The answer is simple and follows thousands of years of Christian history. From the creation of Adam God has led His people by means of a prophet. A prophet is an individual whom God has chosen to have special communication with Him in behalf of all people.
God has NOT left us alone.
The Bible teaches that after Jesus Christ there would be an apostasy from his gospel and the church He organized through His apostles. People would wander the earth seeking the truth....and would not find it. However, the Bible also teaches that a restoration of all things would take place in the latter days and the Kingdom of God would again be established never again to be taken from the earth.
Joseph Smith was a young man seeking to know the truth, seeking to know which Church was the true church of God. After visiting the meetings of many religions and speaking with their ministers he was so confused that he could not come to a conclusion which was right. In James he read that if one lacked wisdom they need but ask of God. He decided to do just that. He went to the woods to be alone and knelt in prayer. In answer God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. The Father introduced His Son and Jesus instructed Joseph. He was told that His true Church was not on the earth. The churches on the earth professed the truth but their hearts were far from it. Joseph was told that the true Church would be restored to the earth and that he would be an instrument in bringing that forth.
Joseph was then tutored by angels on how that was to take place. To begin he was guided to an ancient record and given the power to translate the record which contained the pure teachings and doctrines of God.
I cannot read about Joseph Smith and how the Lord tutored him and led him to restoring The Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth and not feel that he was indeed a prophet of God. Here was an uneducated boy as to the things of this world who, through the truths restored through him bring us closer to God and give us a greater understanding of who God is and what this life's purpose is than any other individual other than Jesus Christ, Himself.
When one reads and asks God if these things are true....God answers those prayers. God loves us, His children. He has not left us alone but has given us the answers to the purpose of this life and what we must do to return to live in His presence once this life has passed.
I know these things are true. God has answered my prayers. I thank Him for His love in my life.
Monday, August 19, 2013
I invite Anyone to ask questions about me or my Faith...(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). If I don't know the answer...I'll research it.
I am not a closed minded person, in fact it is because I have searched and asked questions myself that I have the convictions and faith that I do.
I am not a closed minded person, in fact it is because I have searched and asked questions myself that I have the convictions and faith that I do.
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