I'm Back...

Been quite a while since I posted anything on my blog... that's kinda how it goes with me. Life happens in waves and spurts, and I move from one thing to another, and back again.
A few things I've been thinking about recently...
-I'm grateful for my good wife. A is a very special person, and has the ability to care for and love people more than anyone I've ever met. She just cares, about everything, and that makes me happy.
-The world of sports revolves round and round. When 1 season ends, there are 2 or 3 others to take its place. I love watching certain sports, and hate others. I've enjoyed watching golf a lot this year (Tiger got beat yesterday in an amazing upset... CRAZY) And I'm very glad that the European Soccer season is once again under way. Unlike most Americans, I don't really enjoy watching football. I don't know why.. maybe its the fact that ESPN shows about 95% more NFL stuff than any other sport, and it's just frustrating. Anyway... I've got 9 months of great soccer to look forward to. I'm also going to the USA's world cup qualifying game against El Salvador on September 5th at RSL's stadium. Gonna be awesome... (see World Cup countdown in top right corner)
- Collective Soul's new album comes out on the 25th of August. Always a happy time when I have some new Collective Soul tunes to listen to. (check out their website here)

I'll try to post more in the near future.

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No, I have not given up blogging! I'll be back...

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What I Don't want for Christmas...

Snuggie...The blanket with sleeves!

I saw a commercial for this the other day, and was shocked. Possibly the worst product ever made. I particularly like the family all wearing the Snuggie together at the sports game. I'm pretty sure your kid would disown you if you showed up to his game looking like that.

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My Thoughts on Proposition 8

First of all, let me say that I haven't been following the whole Proposition 8 thing very closely. This time, the issue affects those in California, so I haven't made it a priority to research and study up on the exact specifics of the issue. However, after reading a post about this subject on a friend's blog, and after a real search in my own heart about this issue, I feel compelled to write my feelings. Take from it what you will.

There are 2 very powerful things that strike me right away when I consider Gay Marriage and Proposition 8. First of all, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and have been all my life. I have a very strong testimony of living Prophets and Apostles, and I subscribe to their teachings in a legitimate way... that is, I've "experimented" with the promise of safety to all those who follow the Brethren. I've had those trying moments and those very trying issues in my own life where the words of prophets have absolutely confirmed a certain truth for me, and caused me to make a decision. I have absolute faith in President Monson, and the Quorum of the twelve apostles. This confidence comes from my knowledge that they will not say or do anything in the church without very sincere and thorough prayer and meditation, which in my opinion includes a very real consideration of all points of view, especially on something as big as proposition 8 and gay marriage.

The second issue for me is that I know what parenting, and having children in like. I know what it is to look into the eyes of my son, and know that I would love him no matter what he did or chose in his life. I've asked myself, If my son or daughter was gay, could I, would I love him or her the same. The answer is a definite yes. So, at least to some degree, I understand the intensity of confliction for many members of the church, not only homosexual members themselves (many of whom have a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel), but very much also for their parents and family members.

So how do I reconcile my absolute trust in God's chosen servants, and my ever increasing sympathy for homosexual Latter Day saints?

I agree with proposition 8.
I do not see it possible to use the word marriage to define any kind of same sex union. Marriage has been strictly defined by God, and, as is true of all eternal principles, this definition is chiseled in stone. Because His integrity is what holds his creations together, His principles and doctrines cannot be changed. Truth is truth.
This does not, however, diminish my sympathy for homosexuals who feel the weight of being torn in 2 different directions at the same time.
I cannot imagine the anger I would feel if my children were ever in this situation. I would definitely be angry with God. My faith would be shaken more than ever.

In the end, the only requirement of God to his children is Obedience. For some of God's children, this is asking too much, and I don't know that I can blame them. Certain kinds of pain are just too acute, and certain issues are just too complex for some to remain in the Church, no matter how much they want to. For me, obedience means following and supporting my leaders. Biship, Stake President, Prophet. I am confident that this obedience is what will lead me to the understanding of these kinds of issues that I, and so many others, so desperately seek. Only through obedience do we qualify ourselves to think, feel, and eventually comprehend as God does. And I am confident that the human perspective is just not enough to satisfy anyone fully on this issue.
I am confident that God loves all his children equally. These too are pains that the Savior has taken on himself in behalf of his children.

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General Conference

Since General Conference 2 weeks ago, Amy and I have been watching and re-watching various talks. We first watched Elder Uchtdorf's talk "The Infinite Power of Hope". The things we hope for and the things we hope in. I love how simply he presented the system we are all in. We live in a Faith-based system that also involves hope and charity. Faith = the things we hope for. Charity = the things we hope in. Namely, Jesus Christ our savior. When we place our hope in Him, he teaches us Charity. With hope in the savior we have an unshakable foundation that can never fail and is an eternal source of stability. Faith is hoping for things... But it is an action. The things we hope for are salvation and exaltation. Through our active faith, and hope in the Savior we will realize these blessings.

Yesterday we listened to Elder Oaks talk "Sacrament Meetings and he Sacrament". In not so subtle words, we are told to arrive at sacrament meeting early, and sit quietly listening to the music until the meeting starts. He also specifically mentioned the use of cell phones for texting during Sacrament Meeting. This, he says, is innappropriate. I very much appreciate Elder Oaks no-nonsense way of speaking, and his simple expressions of concern for the ever increasing list of contemporary issues facing the church.

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USA Basketball - The Greatest Game Ever?

During August I watched a lot of the Olympics. I was excited about a number of events, but none as much as men's basketball. I've followed the USA basketball team for a number of years now; long enough to know our terrible international record of late. We hadn't won Olympic gold since 2000. While this may not seem very long to many of you, I would equate our gold medal drought to England not even qualifying for Euro 2008. It just shouldn't happen! So, needless to say, I was ecstatic when we won gold in Beijing. However, due to the time difference, all the U.S. games were broadcast live at 2 or 3 in the morning. I DVRed all of games to be watched later on. All but the gold medal game, that is. I just had to watch it live. My sacrifice of sleep was worth it.. what a game! This may have been the funnest sports viewing experience of my entire life.
A few weeks after the Olympics, I was surfing espn.com, and I came across this article, written by Bill Simmons, describing the gold medal game. One of the greatest basketball games of all time, that no one watched!

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Update to Previous Post...

To my great amazement, the bailout plan was voted down yesterday. You can read about it here.

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