Get your facts straight

Theory vs. Fact

A few years ago I took a personality survey to determine what type of personality I had. I was skeptical about these types of things and began the activity with a cynical attitude. After all of the questions were answered, I realized that the survey certainly had me for the most part, accurately identified.
At the beginning I felt that all the parameters were based on theory rather than facts. At the end, I realized that someone possibly had a theory and then gathered relevant facts and could determine through a set of questions and their answers, the characteristics that made up certain predominant personality traits. Thus by surveying people and getting honest answers, someone could determine how someone would generally behave. (More on this later)
As we go through our lives it is important that we understand that much of what we study or learn is based upon one or the other. We don’t want to be misled by theory. We can also be misled by facts distorted or misrepresented or taken out of context.
For instance let us consider the following: In our present time we see almost on every hand, old customs and ideas being challenged. What has worked for centuries and has proved good and useful is now being challenged with so called progressive ideas. Now I for one am not against being progressive in terms of moving forward, or raising our level of understanding and knowledge.
I for one think this is a forever or eternal part of our very existence.
But to just advocate progressiveness on unsound or non factual theories is regressive rather than progressive in nature. Instead of moving our society upward we will digress to a lower level.
In the study of history it is not hard to see a pattern of growth and achievement only to be followed by period of social upheaval and or destruction or unrest. If we are not careful we can continue this cycle, rather than learn from it and really move the whole world upward and forward.
As we are sitting here in Clay Springs we might wonder what we can do here in this little place to accomplish so great a task. Well we really can make our influence felt by just doing those things that we already know will make a difference right here in this little part of the world. If we can make this little part better then won’t we have influenced a part of the whole? I think so! Yes by doing what we know to have been factually realistic in the past, will also work in the future. Yes we can explore new ideas and if they prove to be factual and true, it will work for the betterment of mankind. If we plant corn we can expect corn to come if we nurture it and follow proven theories. We cannot expect to always have corn if we do not plant or do plant and try unproved practices. If no corn is planted there will eventually be no corn chips.

Good Thinking!

Benjamin Franklin said, “The foundation of all happiness is thinking rightly.” We spend our whole lives sorting out, what is ‘thinking rightly’? From the time we are infants and as we age, we are constantly evaluating and rationalizing things. For the most part we can only determine what is ‘right’ from our personal experiences and our observations and from the learning and wisdom we have attained. I think the one of the keys to ‘thinking right’ is to feed our minds. Read books, listening to people and searching and pondering upon positive information will help provide us with stimulation to ‘good thinking’. From our births we are in what I call ‘the discovery mode’. It should never stop. Isn’t it a wonderful thing? Isn’t it marvelous to behold little children discovering new things? Even when we are older and maybe tend to consider that we have accomplished our work, the family is raised and we are retired, we are still discovering new things about ourselves, our health, our relationship with others, etc. There is something that attends ‘good thinking’ and although intangible, is a powerful influence upon good thinking which leads to good behavior. A person can feel its effect upon him/herself and even those around them. We are not alone!

Shall we choose to yield?

Shall we yield to the unbeliever?
When we yet believe
We hear the flattering words of the ungodly
Will we let them convince even us?
Random chance, perpetual evolution
Shall we forget the saint, the martyr, our forebears?
Yea shall we even let them change the story?
Rewrite our history books, reinterpret our Bible?
They who cry for us to respect diversity
And yet they have no tolerance for us
Shall we sit idly by and let our sacred rites be tread upon
Shall we cover our ears that we hear not their slanderous words
Shall we close our eyes and say there is no evil before us
And who will lead the little ones when we are gone?
Yea the tender branches, which way will they bend?
We must arise and remember
We must speak so that others will hear
We must look steadfastly to the light, for He will come
Even being afflicted, we must be kind
Being assailed upon, we must be tolerant
Belittled, we must be humble and forgiving
Hearts can be changed
Minds can become enlightened
Faith can become a sure knowledge
And God is mighty to save… “For he so loved the world..”
Every life is a story, and epic and powerful sequence of events that began and will end here and then go on in another sphere. If we could really see the heart wrenching, poignant events and emotions of everyone’s personal life we would witness a masterpiece and would be in awe. No Broadway hit could compare.
May we live our lives each day in real happiness, believing and trusting, being kind, and letting our voices be heard. Each day is another scene and the story is being written and we are co authors.
Someone once said “Because of choice we can choose” “We can really come to know how powerful we are when we have choice” and “When we choose, the transformation occurs”
May a happy accounting of choices be ours.
May God bless us all.

What am I?

I’m active at night

But mostly by day

I have no feelings

I have nothing to say

I scare little children

And surprise adults too

I make nary a sound

When I do what I do!

I can move very fast

And move so slow,

I’ fixed yet I’m free

I want you to know!

Sometimes I’m short

Sometimes I’m tall,

Sometimes I’m humongously big

Sometimes ever so small

I’m subject to objects

Controlled by design,

Sometimes I’m blurred,

Mostly defined.

I slip around here,

And I slip around there,

In all of my slipping,

I fall anywhere.

I can fall on a wall,

I can fall on the ground,

If you look closely,

I’ll be around.

In all of my falling,

I’m still kind of cool,

People and animals seek me

Unless they are a fool.

Now that this story

Is pretty much said and done.

I would not exist

Without the light of the Sun

After writing the poem, I realized how like our lives this goes. And for sure we are all dependent upon the light and life of the Son. The Son of God (Jesus Christ) Can you find some parallels in our lives?

Where is the real conservative leader?

Well we don't have to listen to the news or the commentary on the news or the commentary on the commentary very long to realize that most everyone is heading down the wrong trail. Both sides will distort the truth to make one believe in their agenda. It is almost sickening. I think there is a third major group out there who is waiting for some real leadership to come forward and lead the true conservatives, who by the way I still think is the majority. When he/she/they do come forward those rino conservatives and other conservatives will quickly see the light and come to it. The talk radio people that profess conservatism of times talk the good talk and keep that second group energized. I guess there is some good in that. But when they alter the facts and embellish them with untruths or take things out of context to make a point, it puts them out of bounds with truth seeking, conservative christians. Its not hard to know that the left is out of bounds, that is pretty much a given. Lets face it a lot of Republicans have put us into this mess we are in as well. They all need to go. We need to vote them out. I've said for a while that you could take about any well educated and moral teenager and put them in the places of these senators and representatives and get a better result.
We still have the best country in the world. Not because for the most part of anything this current generation of vipers have done, but because of previous patriots and true countrymen and women who have served and sacrificed for the good of the whole and not the 'whole for the good of one or just a few".
There are millions and millions of good hard working people who really make this country work. They are all busy doing the things that were ingrained in them by the early baby boomer and previous generation that taught them good values. Maybe our only fault might be that we wanted to give our children and grandchildren more than we had. That is ok in a way but we must not also give them that same work ethic and purpose that we have garnered so much from. We have to set aside some time now to help preserve what we enjoyed or it is going to disappear. In many instances we may be too late. Have we given too much to our children that they haven't gotten the rest of the message? I hope not!
I have talked with a few young people that want to go into politics. They have high hopes and aspirations. I hope there are more of them out there and they are preparing themselves with God's help to lead us out of the self serving corruption that surrounds us all.
When 3000+ babies are still aborted everyday.
When bribery and corruption is overlooked.
When the Constitution is walked upon.
When the office the President is used for a pornographic event
When high government leaders berate our brave soldiers
When lies and libel abound in public view and are vouchased as truth
When the media make news rather than report the news
When business men/women are rewarded for failure and corruptive practices
When religions are vilified and abborent practices glamorized
When the family is assaulted and marriage denigrated
When the true concept of procreation is demeaned
When the definition of marriage is changed to mean something else
When the teaching of the morbid, the deviant, the ungodly behavior will be forced upon our young
When the teaching of truth and good are supressed
When the majority of the people vote to support these actions
Then will the God of this world and especially this nation withdraw and we will be ripe for
destruction.

We can do something about it. We will do something about it. Either we will work to reject it or we will suffer it when it comes. It will be hard to bear. Then if we repent and humble ourselves as did people of old and our Loving God will look down upon us with mercy, He may help us to return to Him and His commandments. His word will all be fulfilled. We know it! It has always been fulfilled. It is there before us to read. We can be part of the problem or part of the solution.
My countrymen/women ponder upon it. We don't have to panic, but we must begin now doing good. Maybe now it will be our turn to sacrifice. To leave a legacy of returning to those values that made us what we are today. May it be our lot!
marshall

My Turn

Well in a couple of weeks my son and I will be out there chasing the mighty mule deer. We were successfully drawn for the event. I got my favorite draw at 3A area and Brian got his second choice for 4A. It will be fun although it would have been better to get to go out the first day in the same location. Anyway I planning on getting mine first day and then going with Brian if he doesn't score right off.
Hunting if a privilege and right we have in this country. I was raised on it in Arizona and then in Colorado and on to Oregon. My father instilled in me the hunting zeal. It brings with it responsibility and in many instances humility. It isn't easy to get out of bed way before light, its is often cold (biting cold) and yet the enthusiasm and hope for a successful day will keep one going. To see the sun coming up and the anticipation of its warmth and being able to see where you are going gets the blood working and the brain anticipating.
I've spent lots of mornings doing just that. Many fond memories of particular hunts.
You haven't really lived until you have woke up early and jumped into your warm clothes. Gathered your gear, make a few sandwiches which you know will be mashed flat before you get to eat them and headed out to the hunt. Then along about 10 am when things have settled down and you haven't had any great excitement yet, you walk out in a little clearing where the october or november sun is bearing down and it feels so good on your body and you lay down and just soak it up and look up into the sky, maybe the clouds are going by and before you know it you are enjoying a relaxing and much needed rest and nap. You may wake up in a little sweat as you warm up in those extra clothes you put on that morning. But wake up invigorated and ready to go over the next ridge where you know you will have success. Then as you walk along you not only look for that elusive animal but you notice the terrain, the shrubs and trees and vegetation and how the trail lays and many wonderful things that make up hunting, hiking and just being out in nature. It is all very humbling. And wondeful!
God has blessed man to be a part of this wonderful world and to consume at times a portion of its bounty, with respect and honor for it all. It is a great responsibility and opportunity.
marshall

General Conference

Isn't it always great to hear from our leaders? The older I get the more I am affected by what I hear and feel about what they say. It is probably just my point in life. But I often wish that I had experienced these 'greater' feelings and appreciations for what they say at an earlier age.
I know that they are telling us what a loving Heavenly Father would want us to hear and then for us to act under that information and inspiration.
We go out into the world and work and play and spend out time and interests and it is good to have many of these ideas brought back to our rememberance. We are attracted to all kinds of activities and ideas that affect us daily. Some are good and some are damaging to us. It is important to know what is happening in our lives. To be aware. To do some self examination daily.
It was interesting what we hear and what sticks with us.
Sister Dibbs from the General Young Womens Presidency said in talking about Lehi's tree of life dream. "Get a Grip" to use a modern phrase. Meaning we need to grip the iron rod and follow along the path.
I enjoyed the Prophet's (Pres. Monson) address about service. He has been a great exemplar in service. I know I need to give more warm fuzzies out to others.
Did you have any special feelings about conference? I would love to hear them!
mancrafter

Introduction.

Well here I am, Blogging. Who would of thought that a little old dusty chap from the little town of Pinedale, Arizona would live to see the day. Well there has been a little water down the dry washes of Arizona and many steps have been taken across the country and into the wild woods, etc. But the Lord has favored me with somewhat of a curious mind and willing heart to explore the physical world and the spiritual world as well as the secular world. Now, I'm just like about everyone else, I have and idea about most things and an attitude about some things and a downright fixed belief about other things. I'm a man who knows that we are eternal beings and to think that most anyone who thinks he/she is going to be happy in a fixed condition, certainly has not explored and thought very deeply about it all.
I hope to provide some insight, some clean humor and maybe a few simple ideas or thoughts that I have garnered over some nearly 60 years.
No, I don't expect to be immortalized over anything you may read here on these pages. But if they will cause you to think or lighten your day or give you some hope, that will be reward enough.
I think that every life lived is a wonderful event. I wish we could understand that every person is dealing with special circumstances and challenges or possibly just happiness that is unique to them and them only. But yet if understood we might stand in awe at their ability to cope or to seek help or deal with in the manner that they deal with it. We would possibly not want to change places with them but regard them in a totally different light from what we see on the outside lookin in. (and for the most part probably making incorrect assumptions for their behavior or attitude.)
So here it goes. Life is great!
mancrafter