I've been doing the P90X DVDs for six weeks now, thanks to a friend lending them to me.
In that six weeks, I've gained seven pounds. I've lost fat, gained muscle, and am generally just more studly than ever. :) I did one of the videos last night, Legs & Back, and was able to do 15 real, honest to goodness pullups with no assistance in one go. So in six weeks I've gone from eeking out #2 all the way to 15. Pushups...I can do 25 in one go, and probably more if I had to. My body is starting to show signs of change, I'm getting a V shape from my back and shoulder muscle group improvements.
All in all, I'm very pleased and proud of myself for sticking with it and working hard.
10 July 2009
22 June 2009
controversial topics
Of late I've been looking into some of the more controversial topics related to the church. It always amazes me (though it shouldn't) that each time I do so, there is less to see than I expected and the answer is more simple than I thought it would be.
A perfect example of this is the question of blacks and the priesthood (or lack of priesthood). I've heard many "explanations" of why the priesthood was withheld during the modern era until Official Declaration 2 was released in 1978. They run the gamut from blacks being the children of Cain (and thus cursed by his actions) to the lineage of the sons of Noah (Ham being the father of African nations, and cursed by his seeing Noah's pee-pee). There are those that believed (or parroted) that those spirits were not fully on-board with God's plan in the pre-mortal state, or were somehow less eager to follow the plan of God. All of the explanations I've heard are more than a bit of a stretch, with some small sprinkling of scriptural support for each. I can vaguely remember the release, but I was only seven at the time. It was a big deal at church, I recall that much. I remember Mom telling me at the time that it was a very happy thing that people had prayed to have come about. Anyway, of the many explanations given for why it was withheld previously, none of them felt authentic, even to my younger and less scripturally inclined self. That is to say, while they might have made some fashion of sense in their logical presentation, each left more questions than answers, each had holes logically, and none was backed up by the proper feeling of reinforcement from the spirit that I expected. I'm not exactly the first to have these misgivings (excerpt from http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2003_LDS_Church_and_the_Race_Issue.html):
For some reason that particular topic has been on my mind of late. I've been reading a lot in 1-2 Nephi, and probably got tripped that way from the passages regarding the marks and cursings. So I've done some research. One of the better treatments of the subject I've found is here: http://www.blacklds.org/Perkins
In my personal study, I've come to the conclusion that there is no scriptural basis for withholding the priesthood from blacks. There were multiple black folk which were ordained in the early days of the church, and their ordination did not appear to become an issue until questions of Utah's statehood and the influx of Southern states converts to the Utah territory. As the political climate changed and the church was populated more heavily with those having a stake in the slave trade, things changed in the church as well as for Utah.
I don't wish to draw a lot of conclusions from my study yet; too easy to be wrong in inferring too much from the little I know. I have two conclusions at this point. First, that we, as a church, are taken from the greater population. As such, our biases and prejudices are influenced by the world at large that surrounds us. We are usually most influenced by those in our own country, more heavily by those in our state, even more heavily by those of our community and circle of friends. I know that the views of church members in The Netherlands regarding some topics were influenced by their form of government, for example. They did not pursue independent activity (owning businesses, fending for self, attitudes toward welfare programs and high taxation) in the same way that US based members do. They still live the gospel to its fullest, and yet there's a slightly different flavor to life, even in the church.
The second is simply a restatement of earlier: I can't find scriptural evidence of why it should have been withheld, though I can find evidence of why it never should have been withheld. Nephi speaks continually and repeatedly of the gospel covenants being for all people. He does so in his own self-professed plain language. Paul, in writing to Philemon, encourages Onesimus (a slave) to be set free...not just treated well, but to exceed all expectation that Paul has in embracing this slave as a brother in the gospel in full fellowship, as though Onesimus were Paul himself (Philemon 1:17, 20-21). Paul knew what he asked of Philemon was a hard thing. Philemon was a convert, and a slave owner. To free Onesimus was to open a HUGE can of worms with the other slaves, and slave trade was an enormous market. That is a parallel we can draw to our recent history, regardless of what skin color Onesimus happened to have.
Finally, I'm glad that change the change has come. I'm grateful to understand it better, even if there is not an answer for all things. One of the things Jacob teaches in chapter 5, the allegory of the tame olive tree, is that the bad will not be removed out of us all at once, but rather that as we bring forth good and grow stronger in doing so, the bad will be removed from us. As such, it is time to have this false teaching swept away (verse 65).
From http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2003_LDS_Church_and_the_Race_Issue.html:
A perfect example of this is the question of blacks and the priesthood (or lack of priesthood). I've heard many "explanations" of why the priesthood was withheld during the modern era until Official Declaration 2 was released in 1978. They run the gamut from blacks being the children of Cain (and thus cursed by his actions) to the lineage of the sons of Noah (Ham being the father of African nations, and cursed by his seeing Noah's pee-pee). There are those that believed (or parroted) that those spirits were not fully on-board with God's plan in the pre-mortal state, or were somehow less eager to follow the plan of God. All of the explanations I've heard are more than a bit of a stretch, with some small sprinkling of scriptural support for each. I can vaguely remember the release, but I was only seven at the time. It was a big deal at church, I recall that much. I remember Mom telling me at the time that it was a very happy thing that people had prayed to have come about. Anyway, of the many explanations given for why it was withheld previously, none of them felt authentic, even to my younger and less scripturally inclined self. That is to say, while they might have made some fashion of sense in their logical presentation, each left more questions than answers, each had holes logically, and none was backed up by the proper feeling of reinforcement from the spirit that I expected. I'm not exactly the first to have these misgivings (excerpt from http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2003_LDS_Church_and_the_Race_Issue.html):
"Indeed, it was apparent to many of us even four decades ago that certain scriptural passages used to explain the denial of priesthood to black members could not legitimately be so interpreted without an a priori narrative. Such a narrative was gradually constructed by the searching and inventive minds of early LDS apologists. With allusions to the books of Genesis, Moses, and Abraham, the scenario went something like this : In the pre-existence, certain of the spirits were set aside, in God's wisdom, to come to Earth through a lineage that was cursed and marked, first by Cain's fratricide and obeisance to Satan, and then again later by Ham's lèse majesté against his father Noah. We aren't exactly sure why this lineage was set apart in the pre-existence, but it was probably for reasons that do not reflect well on the premortal valiancy of the partakers of that lineage. Since the beginning, the holy priesthood has been withheld from all who have had any trace of that lineage, and so it shall be until all the rest of Adam's descendants have received the priesthood, or, for all practical purposes, throughout the mortal existence of humankind."
For some reason that particular topic has been on my mind of late. I've been reading a lot in 1-2 Nephi, and probably got tripped that way from the passages regarding the marks and cursings. So I've done some research. One of the better treatments of the subject I've found is here: http://www.blacklds.org/Perkins
In my personal study, I've come to the conclusion that there is no scriptural basis for withholding the priesthood from blacks. There were multiple black folk which were ordained in the early days of the church, and their ordination did not appear to become an issue until questions of Utah's statehood and the influx of Southern states converts to the Utah territory. As the political climate changed and the church was populated more heavily with those having a stake in the slave trade, things changed in the church as well as for Utah.
I don't wish to draw a lot of conclusions from my study yet; too easy to be wrong in inferring too much from the little I know. I have two conclusions at this point. First, that we, as a church, are taken from the greater population. As such, our biases and prejudices are influenced by the world at large that surrounds us. We are usually most influenced by those in our own country, more heavily by those in our state, even more heavily by those of our community and circle of friends. I know that the views of church members in The Netherlands regarding some topics were influenced by their form of government, for example. They did not pursue independent activity (owning businesses, fending for self, attitudes toward welfare programs and high taxation) in the same way that US based members do. They still live the gospel to its fullest, and yet there's a slightly different flavor to life, even in the church.
"In the Church we spend a lot of time "likening the scriptures unto ourselves," to use Nephi's phrase (1 Nephi 19:23).In much the same way, history prior to the 1970s in this country had blacks relegated to anything but a full standing member of society. Mostly they were treated as property, as opposed to human at all. The standing of blacks in our country gradually improved over time from it's founding to the present day. There are still struggles made and freedoms gained even in this present day. It comes as no surprise (though to some disappointment) that we would be a simple cross section of the society in which we live.This approach has the advantage of making the teachings of the scriptures and early Church leaders apply to us, so they become agents of change in our lives, rather than just artifacts to be studied in a detached way.
The disadvantage of this approach, though, is that it can build the perception that past prophets were "just like us" — having all the same assumptions, traditions, and beliefs. But this is not the case at all. Prophets in all dispensations have been "men of their times," who were raised with certain beliefs and interacted all their lives with others who shared those beliefs.
For example, the Old Testament peoples believed the earth was a flat expanse, with the sky a solid dome made out of a shiny, brass-like substance. But this was the way everyone understood things at that time, so we don't begrudge Isaiah and Ezekiel of speaking of the "four corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11:12; Ezekiel 7:2), or Job for thinking the sky was a mirror (Job 37:18), or the Psalmist for thinking the earth stood still while the sun went around it (Psalms 93:1; Psalms 19:4-6)." (From http://en.fairmormon.org/index.php?title=Racist_statements_by_Church_leaders)
The second is simply a restatement of earlier: I can't find scriptural evidence of why it should have been withheld, though I can find evidence of why it never should have been withheld. Nephi speaks continually and repeatedly of the gospel covenants being for all people. He does so in his own self-professed plain language. Paul, in writing to Philemon, encourages Onesimus (a slave) to be set free...not just treated well, but to exceed all expectation that Paul has in embracing this slave as a brother in the gospel in full fellowship, as though Onesimus were Paul himself (Philemon 1:17, 20-21). Paul knew what he asked of Philemon was a hard thing. Philemon was a convert, and a slave owner. To free Onesimus was to open a HUGE can of worms with the other slaves, and slave trade was an enormous market. That is a parallel we can draw to our recent history, regardless of what skin color Onesimus happened to have.
Finally, I'm glad that change the change has come. I'm grateful to understand it better, even if there is not an answer for all things. One of the things Jacob teaches in chapter 5, the allegory of the tame olive tree, is that the bad will not be removed out of us all at once, but rather that as we bring forth good and grow stronger in doing so, the bad will be removed from us. As such, it is time to have this false teaching swept away (verse 65).
From http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2003_LDS_Church_and_the_Race_Issue.html:
"Much of the conventional "explanation" for the priesthood restriction was simply borrowed from the racist heritage of nineteenth-century Europe and America, especially from the slavery justifications of the antebellum South. Understandable--even forgivable--as such a resort might have been for our LDS ancestors, it is neither understandable nor forgivable in the twenty-first century. It is an unnecessary burden of misplaced apologetics that has been imposed by our history upon the universal and global aspirations of the Church. Until we dispense with it once and for all, it will continue to encumber the efforts of today's Church leaders and public affairs spokespersons to convince the world, and especially the black people of America, that the Church is for all God's children, "black and white, bond and free, male and female."
10 June 2009
odds and ends
The school year has ended, and seminary with it. I feel it was a successful year. The last impression I have is of Thomas H. passing off not only the remains of his 25 scripture mastery passages, but also going about five deep into next year's curriculum. I'm so proud that he did it. The last memory I have of seminary is of one of my students succeeding in a meaningful way...what a pleasing last memory to have!
Since the school year has ended, I'm busily getting myself into too much birthday mode - too much of everything, even good things, can wear one out. I've started exercising again. Borrowed the P90X DVDs from a friend of mine. Those are some work. But I've gained three pounds in three weeks and added an inch to my chest. Those are lofty returns for a skinny guy like me. I do find it hard to eat enough of the right kind of calories. I started off using myfitnesspal.com, and I'm about to go back to it after a week off from tracking. I just hate the constant eating...I have to take in 3300 or so calories a day to gain weight, and limit my sugar intake while doing it. I can easily hit 3300...avoiding soda and junk foods to do so is the hard part. When I don't blow any of it on "empty" calories, I feel like I'm stuffing my face all day.
I'm happy to be home and seeing Maple and the kids more often. The little ones are on a bike riding kick this week, and Ash has learned to ride for real now. The younger ones are properly jealous and working toward the same abilities themselves. Hickory has insisted on the removal of his training wheels. Apple has learned to climb trees (with help), and constantly pesters me to go outside so she can climb. All of which sure beats playing the Wii. I love them all.
My Father's Day "gift" from my wife (her lack of input duly noted) was a year long pass to Page Belcher and Mohawk Park golf courses. 36 holes at each place. About half of the Mohawk layouts are good, and all of Page's facility is decent, so that's roughly three courses for a full year for $450. I spent just over $1000 in green's fees last year, so the pass is a welcome opportunity to play at more affordable rates. And I don't have to feel bad about playing a quick nine holes, as the cost is already sunk.
Softball has started up, and we're 4-0. I'm MUCH more physically fit this year than in years past. I'm feeling really, really good. My range is coming back, enough that I'm comfortable playing shortstop again, even. I'm never hurt or sore after games anymore, which is so nice. Being constantly hurt the last two summers was not fun at all.
Maple has been having more time for friends, which makes her happier. They have a girl's day or night every couple of weeks. I'm glad to see her making progress and enjoying herself so much when returning from their company. She also recently reached one of her fitness goals, and is down to her lowest weight in quite some time. I am proud of her! :D When it comes to fitness, being educated about what works and what does not is an important thing. She added some calorie tracking to her plan, and suddenly got off the plateau she was on by using the information wisely. Knowledge is power. :)
Since the school year has ended, I'm busily getting myself into too much birthday mode - too much of everything, even good things, can wear one out. I've started exercising again. Borrowed the P90X DVDs from a friend of mine. Those are some work. But I've gained three pounds in three weeks and added an inch to my chest. Those are lofty returns for a skinny guy like me. I do find it hard to eat enough of the right kind of calories. I started off using myfitnesspal.com, and I'm about to go back to it after a week off from tracking. I just hate the constant eating...I have to take in 3300 or so calories a day to gain weight, and limit my sugar intake while doing it. I can easily hit 3300...avoiding soda and junk foods to do so is the hard part. When I don't blow any of it on "empty" calories, I feel like I'm stuffing my face all day.
I'm happy to be home and seeing Maple and the kids more often. The little ones are on a bike riding kick this week, and Ash has learned to ride for real now. The younger ones are properly jealous and working toward the same abilities themselves. Hickory has insisted on the removal of his training wheels. Apple has learned to climb trees (with help), and constantly pesters me to go outside so she can climb. All of which sure beats playing the Wii. I love them all.
My Father's Day "gift" from my wife (her lack of input duly noted) was a year long pass to Page Belcher and Mohawk Park golf courses. 36 holes at each place. About half of the Mohawk layouts are good, and all of Page's facility is decent, so that's roughly three courses for a full year for $450. I spent just over $1000 in green's fees last year, so the pass is a welcome opportunity to play at more affordable rates. And I don't have to feel bad about playing a quick nine holes, as the cost is already sunk.
Softball has started up, and we're 4-0. I'm MUCH more physically fit this year than in years past. I'm feeling really, really good. My range is coming back, enough that I'm comfortable playing shortstop again, even. I'm never hurt or sore after games anymore, which is so nice. Being constantly hurt the last two summers was not fun at all.
Maple has been having more time for friends, which makes her happier. They have a girl's day or night every couple of weeks. I'm glad to see her making progress and enjoying herself so much when returning from their company. She also recently reached one of her fitness goals, and is down to her lowest weight in quite some time. I am proud of her! :D When it comes to fitness, being educated about what works and what does not is an important thing. She added some calorie tracking to her plan, and suddenly got off the plateau she was on by using the information wisely. Knowledge is power. :)
04 May 2009
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.
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.
22 April 2009
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.
20 March 2009
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.
09 March 2009
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.
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