The Gay Dilemma

Disclaimer: I know that same-sex-attraction is a hot political and religious topic and one that is becoming increasingly so.  With diametrically opposed movements building support and momentum on either side the war cry is sounded, 'which side of history will you be on'?  This is not the intent nor conclusion of this post.  I am not writing today with the intent to prove either side right or wrong as pertaining to same-sex-attraction or their desire for equal marriage rights.  This post, however, is a meager attempt to elaborate a perplexity of mine as to the seemingly disproportionate amount of emphasis and blame which is focused on those who are gay as to the perceived denigration of marriage and rampant immorality of society (as opposed to those who are not gay, but whose actions, I believe, actually cause far more reaching social and moral harm).



Over the past several decades, the gay rights movement has moved from the hidden outskirts of acceptable society to the center of American politics. I believe the real momentum that sparked it's evolution occurred fifteen years ago when Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out in 1997.  She subsequently used her hit show 'Ellen' to further propogate gay-right issues and it's acceptance.  While her show soon tanked and was cancelled, the seed was planted and a media metamorphisis was initiated.  I remember at first, television shows displayed large warning signs that 'inappropriate and possible offensive adult material' was included in it's episode, but as society acclimated they stopped displaying warnings.  Eventually they introduced the first gay kiss on TV.  The conservative mainstream went berserk and protests were held with fists in the air and anti-gay signs and slogans were everywhere.  Soon the fervor dissipated and homosexuals in our living room became common place as one show after another introduced gay characters into their popular television series.  Today there is hardly a show on TV that doesn't have some connection to a gay character or couple.  The media paints an alluring picture of acceptance.  They endear us with charming characters with witty lines and compassionate hearts free from social and moral consequences.  This pervasive movement into our lives through social media has changed our social perception and acceptance of gay individuals.  Just a few weeks ago, the President of the United States publicly declared that he is supports gay marriage and that our nation should be more accepting of the gay lifestyle, which would have been unheard of just years before.

In consequence to this social evolution, we have been hearing a lot of hype and media chatter about the 'War on Marriage' or more specifically the 'War on Traditional Marriage'.  I understand the offense and threat of redefining the definition of marriage and it's moral implications as acceptable normalcy into our society, but in my opinion the real war on marriage has been raging for much longer and it's current poster-child, the inclusion of gay couples into marriage, is but a small diversion from the actual evil behind the fight.  I think the real war on marriage is found in the mass frequency and acceptance of premarital heterosexual immorality and flagrant extramarital ease in which spouses so easily break their sacred marriage covenants by embracing sexual interactions outside of their marriage whether through pornography, filthy literature, perversions, inappropriate relationships or actual physical infidelity (Adultery).  Never before in history are adulterers and fornicators more accepted than they are today.  It is as if immorality has become so common place that society cannot even imagine a life with standards and virtue.  Honor, faithfulness, sacrifice, delayed gratification and integrity can likewise be said to be lost in marriage expectations.  As I see it, the morals of our society at large can be compared to the continuous melting of a hot wax candle till there is nothing left but a lone moral wick standing in a puddle of molten promiscuous wax!  

With the horrendous onslaught of moral decrepitude in this world, what makes homosexuality a worse sin than all other sexual aberrations?  In my view there is nothing more evil, divisive and destructive than adultery.  Not only are they engaging in sexual acts outside of wedlock (which by Christian definition is morally reprehensible), but they are also breaking their marriage covenants, shattering their family and destroying the intimate trust of their loved ones.  This selfish act of unbridled lust can permanently devastate and fracture an entire family with unmeasureable harm.  Nothing that two gays can do to each other can ever result in the far reaching outbreak of chaos and pain that adultery can cause.  Yet, adulterers can live respectable lives in our society.  They are seldom persecuted or discriminated against.  In fact, in some situations they are even praised for their conquests!  On a similar note, fornication whether casually or as a result of a deepened relationship account for nearly 60% of all babies born (with 89% of those babies conceived by 15-19 year old girls)!!!  Where is the social outcry for all of this?  Yes, there is some, but nothing on the scale of the outcry about gay marriage in my opinion.  Certainly if families are falling apart because of the lack of faithfulness within their 'traditional' marriages and out-of-wedlock pregnancies are leading to more than half of all children being born, the result is a vast multitude of children left to grow up without the support and stability of a 'traditional family' and thus the world is forced to carry the inevitable weight of these social burdens and their ever increasing consequences!  Are these not tremendous casualties of war--the real war on marriage?  

So I am left to wonder why are the gays, those whose sexual actions account for the least amount of real harm or consequences to society, left taking the brunt of the moral burden?  Are the gays just a convenient scapegoat to distract the world from the real moral decay that pervades our society or are they simply the ominous yellow canary indicating how close we are as a society from becoming completely morally bankrupt?

The gays are asking for equal rights and social legitimacy.  Social conservatives respond citing further moral degradation.  I therefore ask, Will gay marriage somehow lessen the sacredness of traditional marriage?  Personally, I do not think so.  Let me clarify, either it may be seen as a continuation of the erosion of social morals that already make a mockery of the sanctity of marriage or it can be seen as I would see it:  That no other person's marriage or relationship effects who I am or what I have.  The success, sacredness and happiness of my relationship and marriage is not based on a comparison of others, nor is it based on another's perceptions and beliefs or lack thereof.  I have made covenants between my wife and God and no one else matters.    I see it similar to baptism.  The validity and sacredness of my baptism is not diminished because others of different faiths or beliefs also baptize.  Their beliefs and baptisms do not lessen my baptism, neither do other's marriages of whatever level of sacredness lessen my marriage.

Secondly, will the inclusion of gay marriage in society be the tipping point that will lead to rampant immoral promiscuity as so many conservatives fear?  Hard to say.  I feel that society has already plummeted off a proverbial moral cliff decades ago and has been accelerating towards Hell with ever increasing incident by heterosexual misconduct already, although I would imagine that any accelerant would increase it's breadth and pace.

There is a war on traditional marriage, but I do not feel it is all about the gays.  While I myself am not threatened by gay marriage and I feel great empathy for those who struggle with same-sex-attraction, I do feel that it's inevitable inclusion to normalcy in society is a manifestation of societies general descent of traditional values and morals.  This is the real glossed-over issue--the mainstream loss of morality.  As is often said, we are free to choose, but not to choose our consequences.  The world is on a slippery slope of immorality from so many fronts and it's consequences are at our door.

In an associated note:
The LDS church has created a wonderful pamphlet entitled,"God loveth his children" (2007) which eloquently elaborates the LDS church's position toward same-sex-attraction.  It is well written and expresses a greater understanding, sympathy and empathy for those who struggle with this than is often portrayed across the pulpit.  See link below:

http://www.lds.org/manual/god-loveth-his-children/god-loveth-his-children?lang=eng

Relative Perspective

Reality is based on one's perspective, surroundings and experiences.  This reality however, is not necessarily the reality or perspectives of others who enjoy different perspectives due to their differing surroundings and experiences.  Einstein illuminated the world with the introduction of the Theory of Special Relativity which in simplicity states that it is impossible to determine whether or not you are moving unless you can look at another object.

Think about that.  If you were in the middle of outer space far from any other objects, how would you know whether or not you were moving?  All movement is relative to other objects.  For example, right now relative to your computer you are not moving at all, but relative to the distant quasars you are moving at nearly the speed of light.  Relative to the Earth, most meteorites move at about 25,000 miles an hour (40,233 km), but if you were standing on a meteorite looking at another meteorite going in the same direction as you and at the same speed, it would not appear to move at all.

Imagine a girl riding due west in a train traveling 60mph while a boy stands on the ground watching the train go by.  Each feels like they are motionless until they compare themselves to their surroundings. Which one is moving the boy or the girl?  Is the train moving 60mph or is the train standing still while the ground with the boy actually moving? Reason exclaims, "it's the train that is moving".  However, perspective is everything, what neither can see from their point of perspective is that the earth itself is rotating in it's orbit at 1070mph and the fact that the train is traveling west against the direction of the earth's rotation the girl is actually slowing the speed she is traveling in space/time slowing her speed to 1010mph, 60mph slower than the boy who is standing still!  Wow-that'll blow your mind.

In that same example, if that same girl on the train drops a ball to her the ball travels straight down with gravity hitting the floor directly beneath her, while the boy not on the train does not see the ball fall in a straight line but in an arc moving in direction of the train so that in the time the girl lets go of the ball the ball continues to travel east at the speed of the train.  So which is truth: does the ball fall straight or does the ball fall in an arc?  They are both true, a different reality for each.

What does all this physics mean in our lives?  That our life and everything that we think is reality is relative.  For example: We read the story of Lehi who is instructed of God to get the brass plates.  His sons try to get them but are rejected.  Then while guided by the spirit Nephi comes across Laban (who owns the plates) passed out drunk in the street.  The scriptures proceed to walk us through Nephi's perspective on the events that followed.  Nephi is ultimately congratulated for his righteousness.  However, from a different point of view, whose 'reality' is different from Nephi, say a bystander watching the SAME events could presume Nephi as a murderer for killing Laban, a thief for stealing his clothes and sword, a liar for impersonating him and deceiving his servant Zoram all to selfishly and illegally acquire another person's family heirloom (the brass plates).  So which reality is correct?  We only think that Nephi was righteous because we have the background and God's perspective of his actions.  Without this insight what would you really think about what he did?  If you saw someone else do the same things that Nephi did (kill a person, take his things, assume his identity, lie and steal from his home and then make any witnesses vow an oath of loyalty and force them to leave with them forever) would you not call the police? If caught, would you not testify at his trial against him?  And, would you not esteem yourself as being more righteous than that murderer, liar and thief?  Perspective is everything.  But whose perspective is correct?

Perspective defines who we think we are and who we THINK others are.  The problem is that our perspective of others is not THEIR perspective of themselves.  Their realities are different than our realities.  Their perspectives are not our perspectives.  How can we then think to judge another?  Or to push and insist that our perspective and reality is more correct than another's?

Perspective is what can make a person a saint or a villain, a traitor or revolutionist, a visionary or a lunatic. 

Perspective is what makes a republican a republican, a democrat a democrat.  

Perspective is what lends one to dispense mercy and another to dispense justice.

Perspective is what helps one sleep soundly at night while another dealing with the same trial has a sleepless night.

So which perception is right?  Like the ball that drops from the train--they may all be right within the confines of their own reality--which reality may be vastly different than our own.   There is a difference between different and sin.  Sometimes in life we confuse the two.

Perspectives often changes over time as one's reality changes through time.  Our basis of judging reality alters as deeper understanding of the varying angles of perspective illuminate our vision enabling a clearer or broader view of reality opens up to us.  Villains are rewritten as saints, traitors are called founding fathers, and lunatics are herald as visionary geniuses.

Einstein has taught us that we can only judge ourselves by comparing ourselves to others, but how can we do this correctly when we do not have all the facts and perspectives to judge correctly?  Are we good? Are we successful? Are we happy? Are we righteous?  Each can be answered yes or no to varying degrees as we compare ourselves to others.  From one moment to another we can feel good about ourselves, esteeming ourselves to be successful, happy and righteous when compared to one person and then in a following instant feel like we are a worthless, wretched and failed soul as compared to somebody that we perceive to be superior to ourselves.  Nothing has changed, just our perception of our reality.  What we do not see is God's reality, God's perspective and evaluation of us.

Through this life we have but our own perspectives, experiences and perceived reality.  We must be humble enough to realize that we do not know everything.  We do not always know the perspective and reality of others and how different they may be from our own.  Paul once illuminated, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (1 Corinthians 13:12).  The day will come that we will know all truth, all perspectives, all realities.  But that day is not today.  How do we stand today?  Do we offer mercy and consideration or do we rashly deliver judgement and justice?

We all come from different backgrounds, experiences, and expectations.  We all have different perspectives and realities.  God works through each of us to help us achieve our best selves.  He molds and prepares us today to be ready for the trials of tomorrow.  We may have trials and difficulties in our lives that others are not required to suffer.  We also have blessings that others may not receive.  I believe that our lives fit our exact eternal needs, whether to further perfect our own souls or the souls of those around us.  That is why it is so damaging to judge others or to envy their lives, accomplishments or blessings.  We all live in the reality of our own perspective that may drastically differ from the reality and perspective of others.  Comparing ourselves to others only skews the divinity of our own life's path.   How futile are we as limited humans to cast judgment on ourselves or others.  Only God can fairly judge our life, the intentions of our actions, and the correctness of our course.  While we are free to evaluate the correctness of our own lives and correct our own course through the inspiration of the holy ghost, we are entirely unprepared to evaluate and judge the life of another.

Until the day comes that all darkness is removed and we are allowed to be seen as we are seen and see others as they are seen by God let us attempt  to be kinder, more forgiving, more openminded and accepting.  May we see the beauty that others can offer us and the world and not just see our own preconcieved assumptions of prejudicial short comings and failures.  

 “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”   (President Uchtdorf, CR, April 1, 2012).

Resolution

It's that time again when the world makes shallow and unrealistic goals to improve themselves in the new year.  Last night we stayed up late with our relatives playing games, making noise and shooting off fireworks welcoming in 2012.  I said to myself--This is going to be a great year!  It may even be our last?  There is a lot of hullabaloo claiming the Mayan's predicted that the world would end on December 21, 2012.  The reality is that a major celestial cycle (a multi-hundred year planetary rotation cycle) ends on the Mayan's calendar on that date.  What the ruckus fails to mention is that on December 22, 2012 the calendar starts a new cycle.  Not quite the cacophony of doom!


Well wether the world ends or not this year, we are still culturally obligated to make new year's resolutions.  Year after year I write down two or three goals and mostly complete some of the them.  Last years resolutions were to--Run a half marathon, See my Chiropractor and get a Massage (due to work related strain) every month, and to Paint my dental office.  The results:  I never ran even once-especially a half marathon.  I saw the chiropractor about 8 of 12 times and had about 3 massages.  However, instead of just painting my office, I completely remodeled it--new flooring, resurfaced the cabinets, new counter tops, everything repainted, I blew up huge beautiful photos that Sandra took for wall decorations, expanded the front desk, updated the electrical, added additional computer hardware and modernized my recall software which now sends emails and text messages to my patients.  Actually, it is only mostly done, it won't be completely finished till late March, but it's a heck of a lot better than just 'repainting' as my resolution asked for.  So in the end I completely and embarrassingly failed one goal, partially and haphazardly completed another and totally annihilated the last.  


There is two ways to look at this.  The first I'd like to call 'My Dad's Method of Success', based on a conversation Sandra and I had with him after having Hunter (our third of five children).  My dad (who had 9 children) said, "The more kids you have the greater the chance that one of them will turn out!"  So in light of this, one could argue--the more goals one makes for yourself, the greater the odds are that you might actually accomplish at least one of them.  The second is the simple, 'Less is More' principle that by focusing on just one clearly defined goal you won't be overwhelmed and distracted with too many areas of improvements thus facilitating yourself to dedicate enough time and attention to that resolution that you accomplish it.
This year I am going with the latter in a sink or swim mentality.  Acknowledging the reality that I will probably never consistently run, bike or endure any extended duration exercise, but wanting to improve my overall health, I have decided to DAILY do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups and 10 pull ups.  2012 is the year of the core!  If the world does ends, I want to go out with a six pack!


So I went downstairs this morning, stretched and assumed the position.  15 push-ups later I was in a panting heap on the floor.  I then slid my feet under the couch and begin curling upwards, 13 sit-ups later I was spent, out of breath, collapsed on the floor.  Several intermissions later and only in sporadic spurts I was able to fight my way through 25 push-up & sit-up and 3 (non-consecutive) pull-ups.  I decided to call that day one.  I knew if I pushed myself any harder I wouldn't be able to move let alone repeat this for the rest of the week, so I'm going to ease into this resolution.  I haven't already failed, I like to think of it as I am just gracefully achieving!  It will come in time, and I will be working towards it every day.


Even more embarrassing than my complete lack of physical strength and stamina was having my son Hunter walk into the room and exclaiming, as he sees me laying in a heap panting for my life, "What's going on here!"? Not my most proud father-n-son moment.


So what will you resolve to resolute?

The exceptionally blessed 1%

A few weeks ago a member of our ward who has a PhD in statistics gave a very interesting talk about how very very very very very… did I mention VERY blessed we all are.  He continued to pummel how our privileged lives are the exception not the normal to how the rest of the world lives.  The enjoyment of electricity, access to food and clean water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators.  Our world boasts standards of comparative luxury surrounded in freedom and wrapped in safety.  He referred to us as the exceptionally blessed 1%.  He said, the world population today is over 7 billion.  Image a single filed line of 7 billion people.  How big is that line? If this line was at the equator and everyone stood shoulder to shoulder that line would wrap around the earth 106 times! If you stacked each other on top of each other's shoulders their would be enough people to reach and touch the moon 26 times!  That's a long line.  Well when you look back at this enormous line, you should realize that 99% of that line, at least 6,300,000,000 people, are standing behind you in that line.  In other words you are very blessed.

Now expand that further.  How many have freedom of religion?  How many have heard of Jesus Christ?  How many have heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  How many are members? Approximately 14 million or .002% of the world.  How many are active LDS (world-wide)? Realistically the estimates are only around 35% or 4.9 million or .0007% of the world!  When it comes to the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at least 6,995,100,000 people are standing behind you in line.

Why do I make this point? To boast our great fortune for being LDS?  Our clearly obvious magnificent pre-earthly performances?  Hardly.  No, but rather how we waste the opportunities and possibilities of these blessings.  How we live beneath our potentials and God's expectations of us.  One of my greatest pet-peeves are LDS members who pontificate how chosen and clearly spiritually superior we are over the rest of the world solely on the fact that we are members of the church.  They speak as if salvation comes from membership alone.  That exaltation arrives if we just wait long enough as members.  If you were to describe the type of being that God is (or that Jesus is to make it more comprehensible), what type of being would you describe?  Would you be describing the members of your ward?  If so how many really would you be describing?  Would you be describing yourself?  To be fair--no one is already like God, or they wouldn't be here.  What I am trying to say is how many of us are truly trying to be like God?  The fact remains, to be with God, one must become like God.

How then are we doing here in Utah?  The statistics range from 60-70% of the state are members of the church, if 50% of those members are active that would be approximately 1 million of the nearly 3 million people who live in Utah are considered active LDS.  With this comparatively extraordinary saturation of active LDS members scattered throughout the state (1 in 3 people) we should be living in a utopian society, enjoying the law of consecration, bathing is the waterfalls of modern revelation and playing dodgeball with arc angels!  Yet in stead we find that Utah boasts the award for the highest number of subscriptions to pornography websites, one of the highest occurrence of underage drinking, gambling and prescription pill addictions and abuse.  Continually, year after year, Utah also reports some of the nations highest bankruptcy rates, as well as the percentage of population suffering from depression and anxiety.  Utah was also recently touted as one of the highest per capita use of plastic surgery in the nation.  Basically, what Utah is telling the world is not that were Mormons, but that we are stressed out, insecure, envious, stiflingly horny, and a rebellious people!

The world is a messed up place.  Why isn't it better here than it is?  I think it is because somewhere along the way we lost perspective of how truly blessed we really are.  Not just as LDS members, but as humans on this planet.  We got spoiled.  We grew spiritually weak, and pleasure fat.  We live unrealistic lives and care too deeply how others perceive us.  Our lives are too full of stuff and things that we do not need, yet we work tirelessly to obtain.  We lost sight of what really is important and replaced it with things that don't last--things that are not even real:  Cars, homes, beauty, pleasure, trips, comparisons, achievements, degrees, financial statements, etc.  What we've lost along the way real family relationships, true friends, integrity, honesty, patience, enjoyment of small & simple things, time, opportunities, conversations, innocence, love, real priesthood authority, and unshakable testimonies.

We need to slow down.  Get back in tune with God.  Learn to feel the Holy Ghost again.  Listen to what he is saying and then have the courage to do what he says.  We need to cast off the artificial burdens we've placed on ourselves and stop worrying what everyone else thinks (remember they are just as messed up, insecure, and lonely as we are).  We need to get back to the basics.  I do not believe that this life is a 'test', I believe that we are here to learn, not be graded (yes in the end, but not along the way).  We are blessed beyond belief -- why? who knows?  But we have been nonetheless.  It is then left for us to act proportionally to the blessings we've received.  We need to act well our part.

Ask yourself are all your daily frantic doings and priorities making you more like God or more like Utahns?  

The Three Travelers

During scout camp the camp director had shared a brief folk tale that I really liked.  So I decided to expand the simple story into a more developed and meaningful story, to which I entitled,

"The Three Travelers" 

There once were three travelers who were on a long journey. One night while sitting around the campfire an angel appeared in the smoke of the fire and said unto the three men, "you have journeyed long and hard and now you will be rewarded with riches and wealth the likes of which you have never seen".  Hearing this the men declared, "how is this done?". The angel replied, "pointing to a spot far on the horizon, tomorrow when you awake ride to that spot before the sun sets and there you will enjoy your reward, however, along the way as you ride replace the earthly contents of your satchels on your horses with pebbles and stones".  With that the angel disappeared and the three men marveled.

The next morning the three men eagerly awoke and prepared their horses.  The first, in his zeal to gain his reward disregarded the angel's requirement to gather pebbles and stones along the way, but left his campsite uncleaned and sped away without stopping toward the promised location.  Nearing the end of his journey the first traveler began to remember the admonitions of the angel and fearing he might not get his reward stopped just before arriving stopped and gathered a small handful of pebbles and one rock and placed them in his satchel. A few moments later in a feeling of triumph for being the first to arrive, supposing he had gained an advantage, began searching for his reward.

The second, also awoke in haste and made ready his horse and saddle and galloped west towards his anticipated reward.  Unlike the first rider, he did remember and took heed of the Angel's request, and occasionally stopped along the way to gather pebbles and stones, but not wanting to part with the majority of his valuable earthly belongings was only able to fit a few handfuls of pebbles and three or four stones into his satchel.

The third, arose early with the rest, but unlike the other two took time to savor the morning, cleaned up the campsite, readied his horse, and watched the sunrise.  As he travelled slowly, but steadily towards the horizon he gave full heed to the Angel request.  Knowing he had more than required sunlight to arrive at his destination, he spent his time looking and picking up unique rocks and interesting pebbles of all sizes and shapes until he had eventually removed all of his personal belongings and replaced them with stones and pebbles.  Burdened under the weight of these rocks the third rider finally arrived at the promised location just as the sun was beginning to set.

Upon arriving he saw the first two riders in a panicked state, all covered in dirt and sweat as they were frantically still searching for the treasure before the sun set.  We have looked everywhere they exclaimed, turned over every rock, searched in every hole and cave, but nothing--no treasure!  With that the sun had set.

Disappointed, the three travelers made a fire and sat in silence reflecting on the day's events.  While gazing into the flickering flames suddenly again the angel appeared in the smoke of the fire.  The angel spoke, "congratulations, your journey is through, now take joy in the rewards of your journey".  The first man replied, "what rewards?  I was the first to arrive and have spent the majority of the day searching this area and have found no treasures!"  The second then exclaimed, "I was the second to arrive and having looked to the point of exhaustion and madness have not found the riches you promised--the likes of which we have never seen!".  The third traveler humbly, replied, "I didn't have time to search for treasures, I had spent my time gathering pebbles and stones along the way that upon my arrival the sun had set and my journey was over". To this the Angel, replied, "Treasures are enjoyed, not found, at a journey's end, but collected along the way.  Did I not instruct you to gather pebbles and stones along the way?  Go and take joy in the treasures you've gathered". The angel then disappeared.

The three travelers then went to their satchels to find the pebbles and stones they had  gathered and to their astonishment the pebbles had turned into precious gems--diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies and the rocks had turned into pure gold.

The first rider pulled out his one rock of gold and small handful of precious gems was now more wealthy than anyone in the town in which he lived.  While overjoyed with his new found riches, he knew that in his haste to finish the journey, he had missed priceless opportunities along the way.

The second rider pulled out four large gold rocks and a few handfuls of precious gems and was immediately the wealthiest person in the region in which he lived.  While overwhelmed with his new found fortune, he knew that if he would have been willing to have parted with his now comparably worthless earthly belongings he could have had unfathomable wealth.

The third rider discovered his satchels were filled to overflowing with gold and gems, he was now the richest person in the whole world.  Free of regret his joy was full.

Let the lesson of the three travelers be a warning in our lives that we need to slow down and enjoy our journey, seeking out new and old friends in which to share experiences and our abundance.  In so doing we will find rest and joy at the end of our lives savoring the priceless memories and relationships we have gathered along the way.

-- Robert M. Flynn

Microsoft Blows!

My son Hunter, who is obsessed with playing Halo on the xbox, wanted to be able to play Halo online through a feature in the xbox called xbox live.  I was dubious at first letting my ten year old into the online world, but I soon found out that most of our neighbors had xbox live and felt it was safe, so we said yes to the free trial to check it out.

I have to admit the technology was really cool. Hunter could enter this vast connected world of friends and kids playing halo. Instead of playing against predictable computer generated opponents by yourself, you could play against really thinking similarly obsessed kids.  This is definately a step up from Pacman and Asteroids that I played when I was ten.

When the free month was up for all practical purposes so was Hunter's 'purpose' in life.  It was the begining of summer time and he did a lot of moping and complaining--"there's nothing to do, it's to hot to play outside, none of my friends can play, no I don't want to read a book or play with my sister, and you won't let me watch any more TV, please, please, please, let me get xbox live again"!!!!  After enough tears and promises Sandra and I agreed to sign Hunter up.  [And before you think that we are terrible parents who let our kids waste away their lives playing computer games--He only is allowed to play for an hour or two every other day and only after his chores and summer homework are done].

In typical Microsoft form, you had to give them a credit card number with the only option of automatic renewal. It was my responsibility to remember the renewal date and proactively cancel it before that date if I didn't want it to renew for another year. If I forget I will automatically renew even if I didn't want to. Frustrating, but I had no choice. It took forever to register because I had to enter everything on a game controller through the xbox. Scrolling through the entire alphabet, number pad and symbol pages picking one character at a time like old school texting. Eventually he was in and life was great again. His summer finally had meaning!

Two months had gone by and all was well. Hunter could play but only for short spells and after his daily chores and study time. Then, yesterday morning I received an email stating that $19.95 was charged to my credit card for purchases made on xbox live. "This must be an error", I thought, "there is no way that Hunter could know my password to have purchased anything".  At the time I received this he was away at a friend's birthday party so I couldn't ask him about it.  So I contacted xbox live support.

I was greeted by Josh who was ever so friendly and empathetic. "I can certainly understand your frustration" he said, and "I've helped a lot of people with similar complaints, let's see what I can do to help resolve your concerns". After about going through 7 layers of security including identifying my name, address, phone number, xbox serial number, last 4 digits of my credit card on file, my User name, and answers to my secret questions that I filled out when registering, Josh was finally able to get access into my account.

We discovered the purchase was for Microsoft Points. These points were like tokens used at Chucky Cheese that could be spent at will at the various money traps in xbox live. Apparently, Hunter was able to purchase these Microsoft points and then spent all of them on different outfits and accessories for his avatar figure on xbox.  So he spent $20 on digital clothes to dress a cartoon!!!  Josh just oozing with empathy apologized, but regrettably he was helpless in refunding the money because it was already spent.

I then said, how is it possible that xbox allows 10 yr old boys to have access to spend money on their parent's credit card? Is there no security, no pop up for a password or way to validate that the owner of the credit card is authorizing the purchase? It took me twenty minutes of security validation to talk to a representative at xbox live, yet my son and apparently anyone who has access to our xbox can freely spend all the money on my credit card!? Again, he excreted his obviously well trained, "I can certainly see how that would be frustrating, let me transfer you to a technical support specialist to adjust your settings on your xbox and see if they can help you prevent this from happening again".

I was put on hold for nearly ten minutes and was transferred to Tristian who quickly apologized, but he specialized in another area of security and could not help me, but that he would transfer me to another specialist who would be able to help me. Another five of six minutes later Joan connected and apologized for the wait. She explained that parental controls are not set as a default and needed to be set by the user. She then walked me through the labyrinth of screens to where the settings were supposed to be. "Huh", she exclaimed, when the setting option was not there. Not only was it not set as a default to protect my credit card from frivolous non-authorized purchases, apparently my xbox was missing the setting all together!

She then exclaimed--"there is no way to block access to purchases on your xbox.  The only way to prevent future unwanted purchases is to remove the credit card, which would subsequently cancel Hunter's xbox live account".   Fortunately for Hunter there was a way around that, by way of gift cards. Apparently you can buy short term 1-3 month xbox live membership time. All you have to do is redeem the code 16 digit number on the gift card to extend your membership. Joan sent me 4 sixteen digit codes that I had to go into the xbox and once again with a control pad old school painstakingly text them in.  Eventually, after over an hour trying to figure out and correct this mess the xbox was finally safe and Hunter could keep his precious xbox live, however, he will be doing so major chores to pay us back!

I just can't believe how purposefully dishonest and predatory Microsoft is! How many millions they must earn everyday by enticing and allowing children to purchase electronic content at their whim on their parent credit cards with no security or restrictions of any kind.  How is that even legal? Shame on Microsoft.

Kick the Can

Walls up on every side--such is the case with Washington yet once again.  As a country we have moved decisively into political party division.  It no longer is about the issues or the people or the inevitability that we are about to fall off a cliff, it's about which party wins. 

I heard a recent interview on Fox News where a prominent Republican boldly stated that he hoped things would not go smoothly in the debt crisis debates so as to assure that Obama would not be able to be elected to a second term.  He then went further to say he is and will do everything in his power to see that that happens!  How absurd!  How myopic and partisan, that he would risk plunging our economy into further travail and free fall just so he could point blame and destroy the other party.  "Yeah, you messed up and now the world is broken, ha ha we were right".  Only to then realize, "oh the world is broken and now it's too late to fix the damage!" 

I believe Washington is corrupt on both sides of the aisles.  Both hold much blame.  Both are to blame for where we stand as a nation today.  The debt crisis of today was not created by only one party.  Yes we can blame Obama for the latest hemorrhaging of new debt, but every president before him spent and spent.  Each acted like a teenager with a credit card, some more responsibly that the others, but ultimately, everyone spent more than they had to pay it back.  Each raised the debt ceiling multiple times, each expanded programs and agencies and made promises that can't be paid for.  I get sick and tired of the one-sided bantering and attacks.  Each party talks as if they were innocent and all the ills of society are the other parties fault.  Yet when the Republicans had full control of Washington they didn't use their power and influence to fix the problems, they too kicked the can down the road just as the democrats are trying to do on their watch.  The difference is we are getting near the end of the road where an enormous economic cliff is looming. 

How much longer can we keep kicking the can? 

This is the problem:  When news reports, emails or blogs voice extreme opinions and are clearly filled with biased partisanship comments immediately all credibility and debate is lost as rational discussion is inherently impossible.  Throwing out vicious accusation and narrow minded comments will automatically cause a reactionary wall blocking communication and progress.  This happens on both sides.  No one is listening to each other, no one is willing to truly see the other's opinion and compromising is futile.  Whatever the debate, it is not about the issue, it is about what party side your fighting for.  You want your side to win, regardless.

The path we are on as a country looks grim and I am pointing to both sides.  I feel that Obama has made a bigger mess of our country, although it wasn't in very good shape when he inherited it.  I believe that Washington needs to come together and invoke real change.  But I don't expect to see any.  While I think the tea party folks are a bit extremist, they are the only ones really serious about change.  Everyone else is just trying to come up with new ways to kick the can down the road a little farther but make it look like the didn't.

Please click on the link below -- it's a visual representation of our nation's debt and worse what is coming.  It is mind blowing!                 
                                      http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/

Please leave a comment--Thanks for listening

Our future with an extra side of bacon

Last night on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart they ran a bit on the rampant pandemic of obesity in America.  With every state in the country reporting that a minimum of 20% of their residents were obese, except Colorado who reported 19.8%, thats 1 out of every 5 people.  Worse in some southern states they averaged over 30%, thats 1 out of every 3 people who are not just overweight but medically lopping over into the aisle OBESITY!!!.  

They then panned to a recent advertisement from Wendy's introducing "The Baconator":

It's a real mystery that we are all fat.  Garbage, sugar and lard stuffed in a ridiculous excuse for a meal.  I found the following (edited) review on this nutritional insult:

Review: Wendy's Baconator by Jeff Kay

It was like I was 18 again, and buying birth control at the hometown Rite-Aid. I felt the same mixture of exhilaration, panic, and shame as I walked to the counter. I was terrified somebody might see me, a neighbor or a family friend, and adrenaline was pumping… wherever adrenaline pumps.

”Um, I’ll take a Baconator,” I mumbled down the front of my shirt collar.

”WHAT?!” the snaggle-toothed cashier bellowed.

”Baconator,” I repeated, already a little rattled and losing my nerve. I knew if all this shouting continued I’d probably just make a run for it, and leave my car in the parking lot until after closing time.

But she processed my order without further incident, and in a couple of minutes I was handed a white sack with a shockingly heavy weight to it. And I walked out the door feeling naughty.

The Baconator, in case you’re not aware, is Wendy’s new Screw You hamburger, aimed directly at a demographic that wants to get all defiant with its fast food.

Tired of the suffocating healthy-living propaganda, and light choices and whatnot, there’s a considerable number of people who respond to items which blatantly stick a thumb in the collective eye of hand-wringers and crybabies everywhere. And if it halts your heart, well mister, that’s just the way it goes… You’ve got to stand up for what you believe in.

I’m not really one of the Screw You guys. Not yet, anyway. I still feel slightly guilty when I order something I know is loaded with fat. And contrary to popular belief, I give such things at least a passing consideration.

But when I saw the advance advertising for the Baconator, I knew I had to have one. At least one. 

This baby features two quarter-pound beef patties, each breaded in salt, two thick slabs of American cheese, six(!) slices of hickory-smoked bacon, mayonnaise and ketchup… and not a single thing that’s healthy. 

Heck, there’s not even a single thin slice of tomato on there, because, I suspect, the Baconator framers felt it might whimpified the situation, and maybe alienate the Screw You crowd.

So I took the disgraceful thing home and unwrapped it. And it was a little smaller than anticipated; it was no larger than a regular Wendy’s Double, or something like that. But boy, was it dense. It’s like some kind of optical illusion. You see it and subconsciously calculate its weight. But when you pick it up you find that it’s impossibly heavy.

And here’s the insidious part: it's good. Real good. Oh man, I enjoyed every last bite of that bunker-busting, colon-choking hamburger. I have no doubt half of it’s still clinging to the walls of my beleaguered bowels, likely furry and fluttering by now, and that my heart is probably starting to resemble a stuffed pepper at this point. But I wasn’t caring about any of that as I lifted that beautiful, delicious burger to my quivering lips. It’s all about the rush, man.

But since then I’ve been doing a bit of research, and have uncovered some amazing information. For instance, did you know that the Wendy’s Baconator has roughly the same amount of fat grams as 10 Dolly Madison Zingers, 3 orders of cheese fries, 22 Oreo Cookies, 51 cups of Froot Loops, or 1 entire Sara Lee Frozen Cheescake [51 g Fat]? Apparently it’s true.

And were you aware it serves up about the same number of calories as 4 Krispy Cream doughnuts [930 calories]? Or that it contains approximately the same amount of sodium as 180 Pringles potato chips or 132 Doritos [1920 mg Sodium]? 180!!

In addition to the information above, it appears a person would have to do 78 minutes of non-stop vigorous jumping jacks, or walk at 3.5 mph for 2 hours and 45 minutes, to work off the number of calories in that outrageous burger.

But, of course, I didn't do any of that nonsense. I just ate the thing (along with a Coke and a full order of fries), wiped the grease off my face, my hands, the table, the chair, the credenza, and all the windows on the first floor, then got on the internet for the rest of the day.

And I give the Wendy's Baconator a solid B+."

Wow and this is just one sandwich at one fast food restaurant.  Literally everywhere you go there are companies ready to sell you unhealthy garbage that is bad for you because there is a growing class of lethargic, overstimulated, underworked and exercised, entitled society burdening blight of humanity that will buy it.  These irresponsible adults are propagating their carelessness and unreserved sloth onto their children:

       

Some are actually proud of it!

This brings to mind images from the computer animated movie Wall-E where human society has become so inactive and addicted to superficial entertainment that they have lost the use of their legs and travel everywhere on robotic loungers with in-built entertainment systems and all grew immensely obese.

 

Welcome to the future…!

Backwards Clarity

Recently Sandra posed the question, "Do you have a testimony of wearing garments?"  It took me a bit off guard.  I hesitantly replied, "Truthfully, I don't ever really think about them.  I wear them because we are supposed to wear them, but I don't really have a testimony about garments.  I promised I would wear them and I do".  She then asked, "Do you think it's bad if someone who has gone through the temple decides to stop wearing their garments?"  My knee-jerk response was, "Yes, I think it's wrong to stop wearing them".  I know they are unbelievably unattractive, ill-fitting, and often disgustingly stained and frayed beyond words.  That being said, besides the bold personal statement of recanting a sacred promise and turning contrary to church policy and standards, I had to ask myself "what really is the purpose of wearing them"?

Today, Sandra and I were invited to attend the temple with her family.  They wanted to do initiatories and it was a wonderful experience.  At the end of each rotation we received the authorization to wear garments for the person we were going through for.  After describing the promised blessings for faithfully wearing them, they warned that these blessings were only available so long as we did not defile our garments AND that we kept the other covenants we made in the temple.

After our sessions were over, me, Steve (my Father-in-law) and Zack (my Brother-in-law) sat in the temple waiting room and began to talk about our experiences and I brought up the question, "What do you think it means that our garments will be a protection against the destroyer"?  We discussed variously debated replies, such as a literal shield protecting you from harm (ie. fire, danger…) to a continual reminder of the covenants you have made and person you ought to be.

Then my father-in-law brought up a really profound thought.  He said, the first conversation from heaven after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden was from an angel who asked, "Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me" (Moses 5:6).  You see, even Adam and Eve didn't know the 'why's' about everything they were asked to do.  Steve then said, I have found throughout my life that you just do what God asks you to do, even if you don't understand why right now.  Eventually the day will come when you look back on your life and exclaim, "I am so glad I was obedient, because God blessed me in so many ways that at the time  I never could have fathomed the blessings I would have gained and while I did not understand then, I understand now and the reasons are as clear as day."

He then used the example of tithing.  The promise is if you pay your tithing, God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessings so grand that we wouldn't have enough room to receive it (Malachi 3:10).  For those of us who begin paying our tithing for the first time, it was scary and the blessings uncertain.  What are the blessings going to be?  I could really use the extra money, but paying tithing doesn't guarantee money, or health, or prosperity?  However, in time, you see God's hand in your life. You look back clearly on your life and see how often He has intervened in your behalf.  Then, you couldn't fathom not paying your tithing, for the blessings far outweigh the sacrifice.

Upon leaving the temple I discussed our conversation with Sandra.  She too was impressed and found answers while serving in the temple and shared her inspiration with me.  She felt that for her, wearing the garments is an outward manifestation of an inward commitment and that wearing garments gives us protection against the world and evil because we have already inwardly committed to not be a part of the world and evil.  Deciding not to wear the garment is more than the mere decision of fashion or comfort; it is the outward manifestation of a collapsing inward commitment and testimony.

I am grateful for Sandra challenging me to deeply consider a part of my testimony that I hadn't developed or even considered for that matter.  I am also grateful for the temple, scriptures, prayer and family where we can go to find answers and nurture our testimonies.  For the first time in my life I can say I wear garments not just because I am supposed to, but because I want to declare (even if it's just to myself) my inward testimony that I will not be of this world and that I will be obedient and faithful even when I do not fully understand.  I acknowledge that I do not understand all of God's ways (maybe not even most!), but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.  I know the day will come when I will be able to look back at my well-worn life and see God's hand clearly.  At that day I will be so grateful that I chose to be obedient even when I didn't understand.

Mother Conundrum

A fictitious argument at the beginning of time:
Adam and Eve are placed on the Earth.  Adam is given dominion over the Earth and given Eve as his help meet--meaning his EQUAL companion and partner.  Then one day, Adam is given the patriarchal priesthood and it is revealed that to maintain wisdom and order, Eve should harken him as he harkens to God.  Adam blissfully and obliviously relays the message to Eve.  To which she replies, "Say what?  What did you just say to me?  I harken to you?!  Why can't you harken to me and i'll harken to God?  What happened to 'equal partners'?  You know Adam, you are my help meet too, not just me yours?"  To which Adam then tries to back peddle and explain to Eve, "No, no you are taking this all wrong, we ARE equals, BUT…"  Which of course, sets Eve off further, exclaiming, "Great logic Adam! We are 'equals' as long as I'm just a little bit less important than you?  We are equal because I can have babies while you hold the priesthood? Yet when you use your priesthood, it's all about you--'Look at me! The righteous valiant husband'! And when I have a baby, suddenly, it's no longer MY thing, it's OUR baby or even it's YOUR baby), as if I am just an oven for you to bake your world-famous baby-loafs in!  Yes, Adam I said that, 'baby-loafs'!  We are equals as long as you get all the credit for our successes and I get the credit when we fail?  Yeah, you know what i'm talking about…you know I figured it out first and was the only one brave enough to eat the fruit.  Yet, as you wrote it, I was deceived. But you FELL?  It's not called the Fall of Eve, is it?  Nooooooooo, it's the Fall of 'Adam'--it was Adam's big day-- like you would have ever figured it out on your own!  If it wasn't for me, you would still be wandering around aimlessly in the garden.  Not to mention, I do a heck of a lot more for this family then simply 'begatting'.  Seriously Adam, all you ever write about me in that journal of yours is Eve begat Able and Eve begat Cain, begat, begat, begat….  I am more than just your begatting machine!  Speaking of which, 'this begatting machine has a 'headache' for the next foreseeable future--now harken that!"  And thus began earth's first marital argument which continues even today from one couple to another as it has throughout history.

Mother Eve discovered what every other women has felt since: under-appreciated, under-recognized, under-utilized, under-rewarded, over-worked and completely misunderstood by the men in her life.

Today is Mother's Day.  A day reserved to honor the women in our lives.  If there is one thing I have learned from Sandra it's that nobody has the ability to make a woman feel more inconsequential than an ignorant man's attempt to celebrate womanhood and motherhood.  Since the creation of Eve, men have tried to honor the women in their lives, but most ultimately fail.  It is not that they do not love their wives or mothers, but it's their utter lack of understanding of who these women really are.  They fail to define them for who they are on the inside as individuals, but rather by the things they do in their role as a mother or wife.  It's these simplistic preconceived notions mixed with naive belittling or derogatory comments that garnish society's opinions about women, making women's stomachs turn when their celebrational honors comes up short.


After 6,000 years here are a few things men still don't understand:

1.  Women resent being told they are equal or just as important while the world vastly treats them as inferior or less important.  This is true wether they are being paid less, being charged more, assuming their passive consent or even receiving smaller portions at a restaurant.  The truth is seen in the actions.  It's like the person in authority in church that says all callings are equally important--that it doesn't matter if you are called to be a nursery leader or a stake president.  Yet, when was the last time you had a sacrament meeting devoted to those forgotten souls trapped in the nursery or library?  Equal?  I think the preponderance of praise heaped upon those leaders at the podium and the near complete obscurity of those locked in the nursery with screaming two year olds tells the real truth.  Yet, I believe those stalwart men and women who endure spiritual-less Sunday after Sunday, serving in the trenches are perhaps actually giving a more noble sacrifice.  Like nursery leaders & library workers, Mother's in general are under-appreciated, under-estimated, and underpriced.  Offering them one day a year to contemplate all they do and sacrifice is a pittance of what they deserve.  Oh, wait. They get a piece of fudge or petunia flower--so I guess that makes us all even!

2.  Women detest hearing the accolades of other amazing mothers and women as this only reinforces their own feelings of inadequacy and failure.  Regardless of the absurdity of this and how inaccurate their conclusions may be, men must realize that nobody puts more pressure on themselves to succeed than Mother's already do and the last thing they need to hear is how some other Mother (no matter how noble) did something better than they have done.

3.  Women do not want to hear your expectations.  Unlike men, most women are valiant.  They overwhelmingly seem to choose the better good.  They frequently  sacrifice their wants for the needs of others.  They already have high expectations for themselves and so what they really need is our support and appreciation, not your wish lists!

4.  Women do not want to be recognized as having their only purpose being their ability to have babies and their willingness to clean or cook.  Sandra dreads attending Sacrament meetings on Mother's Day.  It is probably the saddest and most pathetic church day of the year.  Invariably, there is always one or more youth speaker, or worse, a husband whose talk begins with, "Well I kind of forgot about having to give a talk, until my mom/wife reminded me this morning, so here I go. . . First I want my mom/wife to know how much I appreciate her, because she, like, cleans my room and makes me breakfast and things like that, yeah she's pretty cool I guess."  Wow. Really?! That is why you love them?  That is just "deep".  Attention men! Women are more than a uterus with a broom!  How pathetic.  Open your eyes and see them for who they are.  Define them not by how they grovel to serve you, but why they are willing to serve you.  It starts by realizing that MOMS ARE PEOPLE TOO!  Just because they often sacrifice everything in their lives to make everyone else happy, there is a real individual inside.  A wonderful unique person who has more to offer this world than making peanut butter sandwiches and changing diapers--if they are only allowed to fly.  I say, help the women in your life achieve their dreams. Support them, listen to them, and get out of their ways and let them soar!

Seldom in this world do we find successful men who are not surrounded by wonderful women.  Why is this?  I think it is the fact that they have found as did Adam of old:  Harkening to our wives and mothers can make all the difference in the world!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women in my life.  I love you all.

Wisdom in a word

I recently attended a free lecture by a certified personal trainer on 'How to get a flatter stomach and why we can not ever seem to loose weight in our trouble spots'.  He introduced a lot of 'science' that I have never heard before, but it seemed to ring true and has inspired me to make a few changes in my nutritional life.  The following is a summary of what was said (some of what is common knowledge, but I will include it all to be complete).  Then, I will share what I am going to do about what I learned.

First, Never ever DIET.  That is to say, starve yourself on a pittance of calories in order to lose weight.  Yes you will initially and invariably lose weight, but most of it will be muscle mass, not fat.  You will inevitably gain weight back again (and maybe more than before) and this will be fat.  Therefore, all your starvation diet will do for you is replace useful muscle for more unwanted jiggle!

Second, Eat healthier.  No rocket science here.  Eat more whole grains, organic is better, avoid highly processed foods, two legged or less meats are healthier than four legged meats-more lean, easier for your body to process (ie. chicken, turkey, fish vs. pork, beef), avoid fast foods [Side note: did you know nutritionally speaking a McDonald's Big Mac is classified as a dessert?! There is sugar in every aspect of the sandwich, in the meat, in the bun, in the cheese, even a sugar spray over the lettuce, no wonder a small hamburger can be 1,000 calories!!! He then went on to list several other often enjoyed foods that do the same = pump their product with sugar, to make them tastier and more addictive].

Third, Exercise.  Interestingly, we only need 3 or 4 times a week of good sweat producing exercise for 20-30 minutes to stay healthy and get fit (focused on Cardio vs. weights based on fitness goals).  More is better, but 3 or 4 is sufficient.

Fourth, and here is the new stuff (at least for me)--Maintain a good internal ph balance.  When we were born internally we had a ph of 7.3 (on a scale of 0 = Most acidic and 14 most basic or alkaline).  Our body and blood wants to be around ph of 7.35, however most of what we put into our bodies tips the scale to acidity.  Our poor liver has to process everything we eat and drink including detoxifying all the acids we ingest.

In relation to area specific weight loss, this is why acidity is bad: The liver can only process so much.  If there is more need than capacity, the extra acidity remains in the blood stream, in attempts to keep the blood at ph 7.35 the body then diffuses it into the lymph.  When the lymph nodes get too saturated it then leaks out into the surrounding tissues.  These acids then bathe around the local fat cells and start etching their surfaces.  In a protective response the body creates a watery slim layer to prevent harm to our fat cells.

Our body uses fat cells as a storage facility for future energy.  Thus if you work out enough all your fat cells should melt away and become energy.  So why can't we lose weight in certain areas, no matter how much we exercise?  Answer: the body can not recognize the fat cells as energy sources that are covered with that protective watery slim coat.  Thus they are never touched and we remain fat! [Interesting side note: Men have a greater collection of lymph nodes under their chin and in their abdomen, women have a larger collection in their thighs, butt and under arms, thus we see a preponderance of sex-specific 'trouble areas'].

In general most grains, dairy products, meats, seeds, legumes and nuts tend to have an acid ash. Most fruits and vegetables tend to have an alkaline ash.  Note: some fruits such as orange juice and lemon juice are acidic in their natural state but turn alkaline after they have been metabolized in the body, where as cranberries, plums and prunes are classified as acidic because they contain acids the body can't metabolize.

The instructor laid his strongest case against Soda Pop (ph 1.5), Coffee (ph 0.8), Alcohol (ph 0.5) and everything that contained a lot of highly processed sugars.

What is the solution: To lower our general blood acidity level, so the watery-slim layer can go away and our exercising can uniformly remove our fat--including our trouble areas.

Pure water has a ph of 7.0.  As a college professor once told me, "the solution to pollution is dilution".  Lots of water will bring everything toward neutral ph.

Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially Bananas, Figs, Orange Juice, Potatoes, Spinach and Watermelon.  Also note: Chocolate is very Alkaline!!!

So what am I doing:  I will continue to exercise 3 times a week + I am giving up soda pop, desserts (sugar), four legged meat (beef, pork), I avoid most fast food, and I eat much more fruits and vegetables.  Now that is not to say I have given up on the good things completely.  If I go to cafe rio, i'm getting the pork.  If I go to five guys or Crown burger I'm getting a cheeseburger.  If it's a special occasion i'll have a dessert.  I might even steal a sip of my wife's diet coke at a restaurant.  Also, I will never give up chocolate.  I just want to be an overall healthier person and who knows this might even lead me to get a six pack someday.

I do not know how much of this is really true science, but it sounds true and even if it turns out not to be I think I will be healthier by living it.  It is interesting how much overlap this lecture had on the word of wisdom: Avoid Coffee, tea, tobacco, eat whole grains, eat meat sparingly…Very interesting.  Maybe the 'word' in the word of wisdom is ph?

Life Uncertain

Sandra and I just watched a movie called, “The next three days” with Russell Crowe which is about a family torn apart when his wife is falsely accused of murder and imprisoned for life.  The next morning we see on the television about the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history which hit Japan and devastate their country.  Then, you think about the events over the last several years of economic collapse and corruption.  Suddenly after a lifetime of working and saving people’s hard-earned savings vanish overnight.  In a split second our ‘world’ can be ripped out from under us:  A drunk driver slams into oncoming traffic killing a father of four.  An all-star athlete plays the game of their life only to get sucker hit in the fourth quarter leaving him paralyzed for life.  A wife finds out her husband is unfaithful and abandons their family.  A child disappears without a trace.  A random act of violence destroys ones inner confidence and leads to a life time of depression and failure.  A flash flood destroys a home whose insurance policy doesn’t cover ‘acts of God’.  A doctor informs another that their child has an incurable and debilitating medical condition.  The list could go on forever.
               
We spend our entire lives trying to organize ourselves and the world around us.  We try to create a life that is predictable and safe.  But what real control do we have?  We each have free agency to make our own decisions, but so does everyone else and their choices ultimately DO affect us.  We each rely on the basic laws of nature to get through our daily routine, but sometimes those same impersonal laws destroy the very safety we counted on them to protect.  In the end, we really have very little control of this life.  So what can we do?

First, We can choose to be prepared.  Nobody knows what is coming.  Nobody can have planned for every possible contingency.  But there are a lot of ‘probables’ in life--common occurrences that may cross our path.  It is the wise man/women who conscientiously and in proper moderation is prepared: Savings, Insurances, Education, Friends/Family (good relationships to lean on), Testimony and Temple ordinances, Low debt, Skills, etc…  Often if prepared, disaster can strike and devastating consequences can be avoided or greatly minimized.

Second, We can choose how we react.  We might not be able to prevent the actions of others (or nature) from affecting us, but we do have the ability to decide how we will react to such unfortunate circumstances.  We can choose to stay in control of ourselves.  We can choose to be the ‘Masters of our fate and the captain of our souls’.

A great example of this is President Nelson Mandela (Madiba) who was falsely branded as a terrorist and spent 27 years of his life as a political prisoner breaking stones in a limestone quarry.  He survived his ordeal in part because of adhering to the convictions of his favorite poem  that he had written on a scrap of paper in his prison cell.  It reads:

Invictus

(Unconquered)

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (1875)

Third, We can choose what we believe.  Faith in God can comfort us when we find ourselves in ‘wild tempests’.  The classic line spoken by Christ after the panicked Apostles feared for their lives taught us that storms come and go, but to those who believe they may have peace.

Mark 4:37-39 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he (Jesus) was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Not all storms pass instantly.  We may be asked to carry several crosses throughout our lives, so of which will be burdens throughout our life.  But we are not alone, we can have peace in our hearts and God’s assistance to press forward with faith.

Fourth, We can choose to positively influence others.  There are three types of people.  Those who lift, those who serve only themselves and those who pull down.  We can be the light, the beacon of light on top the hill to others who are struggling.  Wouldn’t we all want someone to be there to life us up or to provide us succor in our times of need.  We can and should prepare ourselves to be available and willing to help others in need.

In the end, this life is but a fleeting moment of our eternity.  Most things in life won’t be missed after we are gone.  Only those things that really matter, namely family, relationships, and our testimony, but these things can be eternal.  No man-made or natural disaster can break our temple sealings or our testimonies unless WE choose them to be destroyed by OUR actions or inactions.  This life is precious and precarious all in one.  I am grateful, to know in whom I have trusted, in whose arm never faileth, and who will someday call me home to dwell with Him and all that I love in safety and peace and unfathomable joy.