Thoughts for Chanukkah

I subscribe to a Jewish oriented website (http://www.aish.com). They send a newsletter every week with very interesting articles (naturally Jewish in nature). Whenever I can make some time, I read them and enjoy most of them very much. I especially enjoy comparing notes between what I hold to be true and what they propose...

The following is a very brief excerpt from one of these articles. The name of the article is "Is it a Jewish value to yield or to resist?":

"While the Shabbat candles illumine the private domain of the home, the Chanukah candles are a statement to the public domain. Similarly, the place for yielding is in the home, within the family. The place for standing up for one's convictions is the public realm. Unfortunately, we often reverse the two..."

You can find the full article here: http://www.aish.com/h/c/t/dt/48969871.html

TOTD (taken from the same article): Validating another's reality is the key to honoring others.

On the Wisdom of callings

A little while back I wrote about my wife's new calling as a primary worker. She had since taken the job to heart. She earnestly reads the Scriptures as well as the manual to gain insights into what her girls might need.

As parents with three small children, we have always found it hard to find time to read the Scriptures. However, now with this new calling, she is the one driving the reading - asking for my opinion or discussing a topic.

I find myself enjoying a renewed bond with my wife that has lain dormant for some time. When you add the blessings associated with Scripture reading, I can truly testify to the wisdom and inspiration of this calling.

TOTD: Every day is a good day when you have the people you love beside you. Don't forget to tell them that...

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Climbing the Tree

As I may have mentioned in the past, I am an avid Audio Book fan. I listen to books in my car whenever I am alone, which is at least every day on the way to work and back. I usually have a few books waiting in my library for me to get around to listening to them.

A couple of weeks ago I finished the book I was listening to ("The Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson) and was faced with the challenge of what to listen to next... I was inspired to select "Paths of Glory" by Jeffrey Archer. This novel is based on the true story of George Mallory, who set off to be the first man to reach the summit of Everest back in 1924. His body was discovered in 1999, and nobody knows if he reached the top or not.

I completed listening to the book on Friday, and the next morning (Saturday) my dear wife reminded me that I had agreed to help her with cutting down one of the trees in the back yard. She described her olan, which included her climbing into the big pine next to the targeted tree and attaching a sturdy rope between the two. This was to be done at two locations so that when we cut it down it will not come crashing on the top of the house.

So what does a caring husband like myself do?... I called the missionaries... Upon their arrival, my wife and I explained the plan. At first they were skeptical (these young boys have obviously not seen my wife in action). However, when my wife made her stand at 25 feet off the ground and started throwing the rope onto the remote limb, one of them pulled out his camera and captured the attempts in video.

Once she was done with the first connection, they had to leave, and my wife needed to go to pick up the kids. I was left alone to my own devices. I chose to climb higher and secure the second connection. As I was climbing up, I recalled several points I had just read in the book about Mallory. This was great inspiration since it allowed me to slow down and think ahead. Once I reached approximately 40 feet, I braced myself and successfully caught the limb.

It was starting to get dark when I started to head down. The main thing that stuck in my head from the book was that the way down is always more difficult and treacherous than the way up. Despite the darkness, I took my time and carefully analyzed the best path down. I ended up successfully reaching my ladder and coming down with hardly a scratch.

Now all that is left to do is to cut that tree...

TOTD: The game of Life operates according to "sudden death" rules.

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Ezekiel - יחזקאל

Yesterday I gave a lesson on the book of Ezekiel. Consider condensing a 48 chapter book into a 40 min. lesson. "Fortunately", the teaching manual only directs you to four discussion points in 3 chapters. But even that is overwhelming.

The two things that I knew of the prophet Ezekiel are his visions of the dry bones and the two sticks (one for Judah and the other for Joseph). To my surprise, they are found in the same chapter - 37. Both relate to promises in the latter days:

The dry bones vision shows God's power and plan not only with regards to the Resurrection of all the house of Israel, but also the Restoration to the promised land.

The vision of the two sticks represents a double meaning: Each stick represents a book (sticks used to roll the scroll onto them) - Judah's stick for the OT, and Joseph's stick for the BoM. These will be used at the latter days in a joint fashion to promote a stronger faith (as we do today). The other meaning is the combining of the two peoples - Judah (Jews) and Joseph - under one Shephard and king.

What I took away from this lesson was an all-encompassing feeling of Gratitude to the Savior for his leadership and sacrifice that allows the execution of the plan. Prophets of old knew their stuff, and reading about it always strengthens my testimony.

TOTD: A good shepherd leads his flock, an hireling drives them from behind. We are all shepherds to those for whom we provide service.

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You've got a friend

Sunday I was working around the house and listening to the radio (actually I was streaming music to my phone... the evil impact of technology...). A song came up that I have known for most of my life now: Carol King's "You've got a friend", performed by James Taylor.

As I was listening to the words, I found myself looking at them differently:

"When you're down and troubled,
And you need a helping hand,
And nothing is going right... "

Which one of us has not had days like this?

"Close your eyes and think of me,
And soon I will be there,
To brighten up even your darkest night... "

Who is it that is always there, just waiting for us to call?

"You just call out my name,
And you know wherever I am,
I'll come running to see you again.

"Winter, spring, summer or fall,
All you have to do is call,
And I'll be there...
You've got a friend! "

He is always there: my brother and friend, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

TOTD: Any lyrics that relate to friendship can and should be seen in a similar fashion. Ex: "You've got a friend in me" by Randy Newman (theme from Toy Story).

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Temple Recommend

We finally have one!

Met with the Stake President Wednesday night. We had a nice chat about the new ward organization. After that, he met with each one of us independently. When he met with me, we spoke a little about my parents and more about my testimony. Finally, he signed the Recommend.

I am so thrilled at the prospect of going to the Temple. I left a message with the Temple to see if the date we want is available (12/11/2010). Hopefully it will all turn out OK.

Last Sunday I gave my first lesson at the new ward as GD teacher. I felt I was not as prepared as I should have been or like to be. However, the lesson turned out fine. Any lesson about Isaiah and his description of the depth of the love of the Savior can't really go wrong.

Turns out that some of the Old Testament books are much easier to read in English than in Hebrew... I find myself, on occasion, using the KJV to interpret the Hebrew Tanakh... True, on occasion I disagree with the translation, but most often it simply provides clarification.

TOTD: "Blood is thicker than water" should apply to all our brothers and sisters.

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An accidental testimony

Following the re-zoning of our stake boundaries, both my wife and I received callings. I got to be restored to my favorite calling as one of the Gospel Doctrine teachers. When a member of the bishopric came by to offer a calling for my wife as a Primary worker, she surprised us both by sharing the following story:

Since the time when we found out that we are moving to a new ward, she had known she will receive a new calling. Specifically, she was inspired it will be working in the Primary. The member of the bishopric was pleased and added that the exact calling will be determined by the Primary presidency. Based on past experience, both my wife and I expected that she will be working with the smaller kids.

When we got to church the following Sunday, my wife found out she will be teaching the older kids (ages 9-11). She described her response as one of total shock. One that really required a camera to be present...

Now comes the good part:

A week later my wife had a few non-member friends over for a "Girl's Night" birthday dinner at our house. As the night progressed, they decided to play a game of embarrassing moments. When it was her turn, my wife shared her story about the calling and her embarrassing response to it. She did not fail to include the fact that she had been inspired by the Spirit with regard to the calling.

She finished her story, which had all her friends completely mesmerized, by demonstrating the embarrassing response. When she was done one of her friends commented on her surprise by saying that she simply wasn't listening hard enough to the message from the Lord.

Later, she confided in me that that friend was right... Part of her inspiration was that the new calling will be challenging, and she should have understood it to mean that she will be working with more than just the smaller kids.

Now, my wife is usually shy about sharing her testimony. When I noted that I was happy she shared it, her response was "No, I was just telling them a story..." I am always happy to support this type of "story"...

TOTD: The harder you listen, the more you will hear.

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