impressive, most impressive

As the year in seminary winds down, I have good remembrances coming to my mind of things taught and things learned this year.

This morning we had a tremendous lesson from a guest instructor on The Book of Hebrews. From ten seconds in, he had the kids hooked. I love lessons like that, where the children just can't wait to give their input. Might have had a lot to do with leading off the lesson with a Veggie Tales reference. :)

Congratulations to Joshua M., who finished memorizing the 25th and last scripture mastery passage for this year. He joins Mason K. as the first two done from the class. My expectation is that several others will get through all of them as well, and the push is for all of our regular attendees to do so.

scripture mastery hypocrisy!

In teaching seminary, I ask my students to master a set of verses from our course of study each year. This year is the new testament. As with most years, there are 25 "scripture mastery" verses.

In class, I teach that I don't worry about whether they are memorized, verbatim, but rather than the concepts are understood, they can explain them clearly, and can quote them "close enough".

In the interest of testing myself (so I'm not asking things of my students that I don't know well), I went to http://seminary.lds.org/scripture-mastery/, and hit the link for memorization. I then quizzed myself by seeing if I could type all 25 verses accurately, without help. I'm proud to report I was able to do 18 of the 25 exactly, and another 3 with only a minor miss on a phrase. So 21 of 25 to an acceptable level. The other four I'm able to teach, explain, and quote the bulk of, so there's not much work left to do on them.

***

In other news, I'm trying to get my check engine light fixed, finally. It's a minor problem, but I'm annoyed enough with it finally to do something about it.

odds and ends of life

I've been reading in first Nephi, trying to catch up to the three month read the Book of Mormon schedule on the I have a testimony blog. I've seen several things that are worth observing, but my most prominent feeling so far is that of identification with Laman and Lemuel. That's not something I thought I would say. :)

The feeling I have is that Laman and Lemuel weren't setting out to be "bad" people. Rather, they chose not to pursue the things of God, despite being exposed to that influence repeatedly and deeply. Not unlike those who grow up in the church, but because they rarely dig in and search, wind up not understanding their own upbringing and being even more hardened because of it. A deep understanding of the gospel is paramount to our ability to live it well when faced with adversity.

When I choose, it should be with real input from God via personal revelation rather than his presumed approval because I'm "good people, and surely God will bless me." If I don't understand his course, I'm less likely to follow it because I've only done my good, not his best.

***

Took a little time off this week over Spring Break. Played some golf (well, even), tried to hang out with the wife and children. I don't do that very well, sometimes. :( It really is an adjustment some days to go from work to time with family - the conversations are loud (as kids do), there's awkwardness in regaining familiarity, and it upsets the daily routine to have dad around during the day. All in all, it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I was still glad to have tried - but I sometimes feel like a stranger in my own home. It takes a 2-3 days for me to get used to being there, and for them to start to cling to me like they do momma.

***

I carded an eagle on one of the par fives on Wednesday. 535 yards, went driver, 215 left for a seven wood, and one putt from 15 feet.

Next hole was a 185 yard par three. Ran a four hybrid over the hole to eight feet, just missing (yet again) a hole in one. The number of near misses I've had is staggering - half a dozen have finished inside six inches. Another dozen or so have run across the hole or lipped off to less than five feet. So that one didn't even qualify as close, really. :\

Shot 76 on the day.

two good things

I ran across two good things today:

First:

"If each and every one of us who are parents will reflect upon the responsibilities devolving upon us, we shall come to the conclusion that we should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. We should set them an example that we wish them to imitate."
--Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses, 14:192.)

Second:

From here: http://i-have-a-testimony.blogspot.com/2009/03/inquire-and-youll-understand.html.

This morning we read 1Nephi 15. I started giggling after reading verse 3. Why? Well, I'll tell you.

I was just remembering every Sunday School or Relief Society lesson I've ever been in where Isaiah is mentioned. As soon as that great prophet's name is mentioned a few audible moans are heard, followed by grumblings and sometimes murmurings. Isaiah has been a stumbling block for many a Latter-day Saint. I've even heard some people admit that, when reading the Book of Mormon, they skip 2 Nephi just to avoid reading Isaiah.

Personally, I have always loved Isaiah. I had a wonderful seminary teacher, Brother K. Herbst, who, with a few small details, opened a greater understanding of Isaiah in my mind. I think I was also blessed with the gift of understanding in regards to the scriptures. Either way, I love Isaiah. But back to my giggling...

I started giggling because there, in 1 Nephi 15: 3, the chapters preceding Isaiah, Nephi tells us how to understand difficult things. He lays the path before us very simply and in a Very straightforward manner. But I hadn't really noticed it before. Not in this context.

The verse: "For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought."

I giggled because the answer to understanding Isaiah is simple. "Inquire of the Lord."

I giggled because the same people who moaned about Isaiah were the same people who, upon reading 1 Nephi chapter 15, condemned Laman and Lemuel for not asking the Lord.

There are many things within the scriptures that can be hard to understand. But I know that if we ask the Lord, He will help us. He did not want us to be lost and wandering. The whole point of the scriptures is to clearly point the way back to our Father in Heaven. And fortunately for us, our God is not a tricky and sneaky God. No. He is a loving and kind God who had set the path before us. The path is strait and narrow, but not impassable. Inquire of the Lord and you will find the way.

dad, the accidental hero

Dad turned 70 years old this past weekend. Happy birthday!

My dad has helped shape who I am. Few things or people have had as great an influence on me, and so I am very grateful for a loving father who has continually taught me well and lived as he taught.

I have not had the good fortune to see my parents sealed in the temple as yet - I still hope that day will come. However, I have had no lack for righteous example, either growing up in their home or at the present day. Mom has long described dad as a "gentle man", and that title could not be more fitting. My dad defines what it means to be a gentleman to me. He has been my hero for many years. He might say that his life just unfolded that way, but I know that he is not who he is by a series of lucky mistakes and pleasant happenings. He has lived a great life, has overcome much, and been a blessing to his posterity.

A related quote, on the topic of fatherhood:

"I remind you brethren who bear the Melchizedek Priesthood that the seed of the present is the harvest of the future. I urge you, as fathers and as priesthood leaders, to focus more attention on teaching, guiding, and shepherding these young men, especially by example. The Lord has given you that obligation. Remember, the lambs have little chance of following the right path if the shepherd goes astray." (emphasis mine) --Joseph B. Wirthlin, 1988 Fall Conference, "The Priesthood of God"

georgia on my mind

A couple of pictures from the trip to Georgia. The course we played was The Frog, just west of Atlanta. Took awhile to get there by car, but it was well worth the trip.

Naturally we did things other than golf as well. I'll add a handful of other photos later. Was well worth the trip, and it was good to see Clay and Sarah and their children. Turned out to be cheap for cost as well, which is a bonus.

On arriving home and getting up the next morning, Apple ate breakfast with me and we watched part of a movie snuggled up on the couch together. She's been fighting a cold since the day I left. It was good to see the children and my wife again.

odds and ends

Two days until the trip to Georgia with friends. I'm excited, probably a little too much so.

Read a good quote this weekend - first heard it in church on Sunday.

Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report 1991
"Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings. Such words as quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter abound in the scriptures...

"The world grows increasingly noisy. Clothing and grooming and conduct are looser and sloppier and more disheveled. Raucous music, with obscene lyrics blasted through amplifiers while lights flash psychedelic colors, characterizes the drug culture. Variations of these things are gaining wide acceptance and influence over our youth...

"This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless.

"The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer.

"Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit." (emphasis mine)
---

It is important to remember that the Lord controls revelation, how it will be given, to whom, and to what level. Most often, he chooses to work in small, quiet ways. If we are not tuned in to those ways, or are drowning them out with louder activities, we will be less likely to receive personal revelation.

1 Timothy 4:15
"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;..."

I'm not suggesting "meditation" after the new age sense that we use it today, with yoga mats or scented candles or whatever. Only that time be taken using whatever means brings you closer to God, in quiet ways, that allows your thoughts to be whispered to for inspiration. If that includes yoga mats and candles, that's okay too. :)