The link below will take you to a Youtube video of a song my son Ike sang on an album called Babylight. He was three at the time. He is singing with David Osmond, a dude from an obscure singing family (I guess they were big in the 70's).
Click Here
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Obligatory Gay Marriage Post
Hi... you,
I need to get a little something off my chest. I am not concerned that what I am about to write might make me look a bit out of touch. I just want to write it and get it out there. Okeydoke?
Gay marriage. First of all, I am a Mormon. A card-carrying, believing Mormon. One who loves my church, it's doctrine, the journey it has taken from the early days of Joseph Smith, and where it stands today.
Right now, the gay community hates us. We are largely being blamed (along with other religions and minority groups) for the passage of Proposition 8 in California (an amendment to the state constitution that outlaws gay marriage). As it turns out the Mormon vote was reletively small, but the Mormon man-hours and money equaled about 50 percent of the contributions raised. So their hate is understandable, if not justified. This year has been a rough year for Mormons. We have been quite maligned for what we believe in. What with Mitt Romney, the polygamists in Arizona and Texas, and this Prop 8 stuff. But, you know what they say, if you can't take the heat, stay out of Missouri.
Let me explain why I think that the Mormon Church did what it did in respect to gay marriage. Before I do that, let me point out that the church teaches that being sexually attracted to the same gender, without acting on it, is not a sin (the same thing is said to unmarried heterosexuals about the opposite sex). Also, the church supports domestic partnership rights.
First, Mormon doctrine says that sex should be expressed only between a legally married man and woman. And that any other type of sex is sin. Sin that must be repented of. The chuch is against institutionalizing sin (see Utah's gambling and liquor laws).
Second, Mormons believe that the church is run by prophets and apostles whose job it is to declare truth to the world.
Regardless of how you personally feel about the church's leadership, there is no doubt that they (the leadership) truly believe that this is the job they've been called to do. And, the faithful membership of the church will follow them. Mormons believe that they can personally go to God for answers and that God will let them know what is right (this is why Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon, Modern Prophets and Apostles, and the church in general--they believe they have spiritual proof).
Also, Mormons believe that the President of the Church will be given direction for the church. So, when a letter from the First Presidency asks Mormons to contribute time and money, faithful members contribute time and money. The leaders truly believe that they have been directed by the Spirit, and the members concur.
Some would call this dillusion. Religious people call it faith.
Third, twelve years ago the leadership of the church published a statement that contained the belief that calamity would be brought on by the deteriorization of the traditional family. So, it has become a side mission of the church to protect the traditional family unit (meaning: Dad, Mom, and children) as a foundational part of society.
Finally, in 1979 Neal Maxwell, a church leader who passed away a few years ago, made the following statement:
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as un-trendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship", Ensign, Feb. 1979
The message of that quote is that the church will take stands of principle even if they appear to be unenlightened. To a church that fully believes itself to be God's Kingdom on Earth (all churches should feel that way, or what's the point) it is imperative that they stand for what they believe God would have them stand for.
A few years down the road gay marriage will likely be legal. But, there will be a clear record of where the church has stood.
My belief is that we are all children of God who loves all of us equally. Because we are children of God we speak his language and if we truly tune in to what he wants of us, we'll know what that is. He wants only the best for all of us. I believe that we are here on this Earth to learn how to make wise decisions. The type of decisions that sacrifice what we want now for what is most important later. These are hard decisions to make, especially in today's society where what we want now is almost always available.
I do not believe that any one is fully defined by who they want to sleep with or marry. We are better defined by the content of our character (MLK Jr.). Some day we will stand before God and he will be as merciful as he can with us, without compromising his laws. This means that we are responsible for what we understand. I think this means that there may just be a good number of gay men and women who will partake of Christ's atonement and be saved and a good number of religious folks who through pride, hate, and spiritual blindness will not. Meanwhile, we must do the best we can with what we understand.
That's all I have to say about that.
I need to get a little something off my chest. I am not concerned that what I am about to write might make me look a bit out of touch. I just want to write it and get it out there. Okeydoke?
Gay marriage. First of all, I am a Mormon. A card-carrying, believing Mormon. One who loves my church, it's doctrine, the journey it has taken from the early days of Joseph Smith, and where it stands today.
Right now, the gay community hates us. We are largely being blamed (along with other religions and minority groups) for the passage of Proposition 8 in California (an amendment to the state constitution that outlaws gay marriage). As it turns out the Mormon vote was reletively small, but the Mormon man-hours and money equaled about 50 percent of the contributions raised. So their hate is understandable, if not justified. This year has been a rough year for Mormons. We have been quite maligned for what we believe in. What with Mitt Romney, the polygamists in Arizona and Texas, and this Prop 8 stuff. But, you know what they say, if you can't take the heat, stay out of Missouri.
Let me explain why I think that the Mormon Church did what it did in respect to gay marriage. Before I do that, let me point out that the church teaches that being sexually attracted to the same gender, without acting on it, is not a sin (the same thing is said to unmarried heterosexuals about the opposite sex). Also, the church supports domestic partnership rights.
First, Mormon doctrine says that sex should be expressed only between a legally married man and woman. And that any other type of sex is sin. Sin that must be repented of. The chuch is against institutionalizing sin (see Utah's gambling and liquor laws).
Second, Mormons believe that the church is run by prophets and apostles whose job it is to declare truth to the world.
Regardless of how you personally feel about the church's leadership, there is no doubt that they (the leadership) truly believe that this is the job they've been called to do. And, the faithful membership of the church will follow them. Mormons believe that they can personally go to God for answers and that God will let them know what is right (this is why Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon, Modern Prophets and Apostles, and the church in general--they believe they have spiritual proof).
Also, Mormons believe that the President of the Church will be given direction for the church. So, when a letter from the First Presidency asks Mormons to contribute time and money, faithful members contribute time and money. The leaders truly believe that they have been directed by the Spirit, and the members concur.
Some would call this dillusion. Religious people call it faith.
Third, twelve years ago the leadership of the church published a statement that contained the belief that calamity would be brought on by the deteriorization of the traditional family. So, it has become a side mission of the church to protect the traditional family unit (meaning: Dad, Mom, and children) as a foundational part of society.
Finally, in 1979 Neal Maxwell, a church leader who passed away a few years ago, made the following statement:
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as un-trendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship", Ensign, Feb. 1979
The message of that quote is that the church will take stands of principle even if they appear to be unenlightened. To a church that fully believes itself to be God's Kingdom on Earth (all churches should feel that way, or what's the point) it is imperative that they stand for what they believe God would have them stand for.
A few years down the road gay marriage will likely be legal. But, there will be a clear record of where the church has stood.
My belief is that we are all children of God who loves all of us equally. Because we are children of God we speak his language and if we truly tune in to what he wants of us, we'll know what that is. He wants only the best for all of us. I believe that we are here on this Earth to learn how to make wise decisions. The type of decisions that sacrifice what we want now for what is most important later. These are hard decisions to make, especially in today's society where what we want now is almost always available.
I do not believe that any one is fully defined by who they want to sleep with or marry. We are better defined by the content of our character (MLK Jr.). Some day we will stand before God and he will be as merciful as he can with us, without compromising his laws. This means that we are responsible for what we understand. I think this means that there may just be a good number of gay men and women who will partake of Christ's atonement and be saved and a good number of religious folks who through pride, hate, and spiritual blindness will not. Meanwhile, we must do the best we can with what we understand.
That's all I have to say about that.
Monday, September 8, 2008
On the first day of Kindergarten
My boy Ike started Kindergarten last week. The results: inconvenience.
Now we have to get up in the morning. Take him to the bus stop. Then, like, four hours later, go back to the same bus stop and pick him up. Then, later that night, we have to read stupid little books with him. Books about stupid things. Written stupidly. By stupid people. Stupid people with barely functioning vocabularies. He has to have a back pack. He has to have a jacket. He has to have shoes. Shoes actually on his feet. I guess now-a-days pants are also a requirement. Aaargh. I. Hate. Having. To. Put. Periods. Between. Every. Word.
Now we have to get up in the morning. Take him to the bus stop. Then, like, four hours later, go back to the same bus stop and pick him up. Then, later that night, we have to read stupid little books with him. Books about stupid things. Written stupidly. By stupid people. Stupid people with barely functioning vocabularies. He has to have a back pack. He has to have a jacket. He has to have shoes. Shoes actually on his feet. I guess now-a-days pants are also a requirement. Aaargh. I. Hate. Having. To. Put. Periods. Between. Every. Word.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Soft and Shrinkable
I am still alive. That is just in case you were wondering. Going only by this blog you may have thought that I had died a while back. I am very glad to say that for you to assume I had died makes you an idiot. I don't cotton to idiots.
How does one cotton to something? Is that the right phrase, "I don't cotton to this or that action?" I wonder what it means? Yes, from context I know what it means, but I wonder why it means what it means and how it came to mean what it means and why we allow it to continue to mean what it means.
Is cottoning something that people can do? Maybe it originated in the deep south, you know, the land of cotton. I'm told that good times there are not forgotten. Maybe cottoning is not forgetting the good times and therefore cottoning to something is associating it with good times. By that logic, not cottoning to something could mean that the thing that is uncottoned to is associated with bad times. Bad times have no place way down south in Dixie.
Of course bad times have had a place way down south in Dixie. What with the slave trade and all. Not to mention the curious use of the nonexistent word, "Y'all." Do we really need a contraction that means you all? In stead of saying "y'all come back now. Ya hear?" We could instead say, "return." In fact, the word return was built for the very purpose of asking things to come back. I guess, technically, we would have to add something to return to cover the "y'all," "now," and "ya hear." So really we probably should say, "Everyone return immediately. Understood?"
Of course, even Southerners with their undeniable hospitality don't want people to come back immediately so we should probably change that to "at some point." and Y'all does imply a group. So what we really would have to say is, "Everyone, return as a group at some point. Understood?" Whoops, better throw a please in there and an attention getter.
"Everyone, attention please. Please return as a group at some point. Understood?"
Shoot. I don't like the "please. Please" nor do I like the "understood?" as it's own sentence. Let's try it again,
"Please, everyone, your attention! Kindly return as a group at some point. Do you understand?"
Crud. The "do you understand?" sentence sounds condescending I had better put the owness of comprehension back on me. Maybe something like,
"Please, everyone, may I have your attention? Will each of you kindly return to this place as a group at some point? Now, for my benefit, would someone please repeat to me what I just said so that I can gauge whether or not I made my purpose known with the words I chose to speak?"
See, that is so much more clear.
Practice it in a southern accent. So charming.
How does one cotton to something? Is that the right phrase, "I don't cotton to this or that action?" I wonder what it means? Yes, from context I know what it means, but I wonder why it means what it means and how it came to mean what it means and why we allow it to continue to mean what it means.
Is cottoning something that people can do? Maybe it originated in the deep south, you know, the land of cotton. I'm told that good times there are not forgotten. Maybe cottoning is not forgetting the good times and therefore cottoning to something is associating it with good times. By that logic, not cottoning to something could mean that the thing that is uncottoned to is associated with bad times. Bad times have no place way down south in Dixie.
Of course bad times have had a place way down south in Dixie. What with the slave trade and all. Not to mention the curious use of the nonexistent word, "Y'all." Do we really need a contraction that means you all? In stead of saying "y'all come back now. Ya hear?" We could instead say, "return." In fact, the word return was built for the very purpose of asking things to come back. I guess, technically, we would have to add something to return to cover the "y'all," "now," and "ya hear." So really we probably should say, "Everyone return immediately. Understood?"
Of course, even Southerners with their undeniable hospitality don't want people to come back immediately so we should probably change that to "at some point." and Y'all does imply a group. So what we really would have to say is, "Everyone, return as a group at some point. Understood?" Whoops, better throw a please in there and an attention getter.
"Everyone, attention please. Please return as a group at some point. Understood?"
Shoot. I don't like the "please. Please" nor do I like the "understood?" as it's own sentence. Let's try it again,
"Please, everyone, your attention! Kindly return as a group at some point. Do you understand?"
Crud. The "do you understand?" sentence sounds condescending I had better put the owness of comprehension back on me. Maybe something like,
"Please, everyone, may I have your attention? Will each of you kindly return to this place as a group at some point? Now, for my benefit, would someone please repeat to me what I just said so that I can gauge whether or not I made my purpose known with the words I chose to speak?"
See, that is so much more clear.
Practice it in a southern accent. So charming.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Another Year Come and Gone
I am now another year older. I was born smack dab in the middle of the Seventies (more specifically, the nineteen-seventies) and, therefore, am a disgruntled product of Generation X. I would be more gruntled if there were no such thing as Babyboomers. As all of the other three generations know (Veterans, Millennials, and us) Boomers are the ruiners of yours and my economy/planet. What with their business acumen and civil rights marches and hippie hippinesses.
So, anyway, I am 33 years old now. Which means that my life can be dived into two equal segments of 16.5 years. Which makes me want to declare my thirties as my double-teens. So, I am going to do in my thirties what I did as a teenager--only twice as much (like a double-teen should).
Tonight, I plan to awkwardly say two or three sentences to my wife followed by a week of my face breaking out. After that, I am going to put on a pair of purple denim jeans and a silk shirt with several squirts of some generic cologne and go to our local church cultural hall and dance awkwardly with other awkwardly-dancing double-teens.
The next morning, I will sleep until about 10:00 AM (wearing only tighty-whiteys). Then I will, with much grumbling, hap-hap-haphazardly mow the lawn. I will then spend the balance of the day commenting on how boring it is around here and thinking I know everything.
Being a double-teen sucks.
So, anyway, I am 33 years old now. Which means that my life can be dived into two equal segments of 16.5 years. Which makes me want to declare my thirties as my double-teens. So, I am going to do in my thirties what I did as a teenager--only twice as much (like a double-teen should).
Tonight, I plan to awkwardly say two or three sentences to my wife followed by a week of my face breaking out. After that, I am going to put on a pair of purple denim jeans and a silk shirt with several squirts of some generic cologne and go to our local church cultural hall and dance awkwardly with other awkwardly-dancing double-teens.
The next morning, I will sleep until about 10:00 AM (wearing only tighty-whiteys). Then I will, with much grumbling, hap-hap-haphazardly mow the lawn. I will then spend the balance of the day commenting on how boring it is around here and thinking I know everything.
Being a double-teen sucks.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Motivationally Speaking: A title taken right out of the book of title writing
I have an idea, or as Ricky Stratton, of TV's Silver Spoons, used to say, an "Idear." An idea, or idear, is a mentally formed plan or concept. A great example of an idea is when you decide to do something. Notice I did not say do something, but decide to do something. That is an important destinction. Because doing and idearing are two seperate issues.
I have an idea. I want to write a novel about an unusually shy guy who meets an over-achieving girl and they fall in love. Oh yeah, and they're both in a coma, and there are also two boxers. Great idea, right? No? Well, it actually works. I know because the story is allready laid out in a musical play I wrote at the turn of the century (we should use that phrase more often). I like the play, but can find nowhere to shop it (because I have not looked nor do I care to look), so I thought I might make an attempt at turning it into a novel. So, over the last few weeks and months I have been trying to figure out how to motivate myself to start this project, just to see how it goes.
I learned that I am too busy to be motivated right now. "Try back in about ten years, idear boy," my subconsious, who sounds a lot like Ricky Stratton, says. I teach motivation as part of a module on mentoring in my day job as a Leadership Trainer. Here are some tips on motivating others:
Remember: A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y
A: Accept that you cannot motivate others they must motivate themselves.
E: Create an Environment where motivation is likely (you can't make a horse drink, you can only make it thirsty)
I: Inquire of the individual as to why they do not appear motivated.
O: Give ownership of the solution to the unmotivated one.
(Y): Sometimes duties must be "Yanked."
I like this list, because I made it up. There is a problem with trying to apply it to yourself though. Yourself knows what your trying to do and tends to reply with, "I know what you're doing...I'm not getting thirsty... go ahead "yank" my duties, you're only hurting yourself...you bastard." The last phrase is most hurtful, because yourself is very aware of your parentage and knows that the phrase doesn't apply but insits on calling you it anyway. Lazy-assed bastard.
So, If you ever see a poorly-written book about a comatose love story written by Wilson Culpepper you'll know I somehow got myself going.
End.
I have an idea. I want to write a novel about an unusually shy guy who meets an over-achieving girl and they fall in love. Oh yeah, and they're both in a coma, and there are also two boxers. Great idea, right? No? Well, it actually works. I know because the story is allready laid out in a musical play I wrote at the turn of the century (we should use that phrase more often). I like the play, but can find nowhere to shop it (because I have not looked nor do I care to look), so I thought I might make an attempt at turning it into a novel. So, over the last few weeks and months I have been trying to figure out how to motivate myself to start this project, just to see how it goes.
I learned that I am too busy to be motivated right now. "Try back in about ten years, idear boy," my subconsious, who sounds a lot like Ricky Stratton, says. I teach motivation as part of a module on mentoring in my day job as a Leadership Trainer. Here are some tips on motivating others:
Remember: A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y
A: Accept that you cannot motivate others they must motivate themselves.
E: Create an Environment where motivation is likely (you can't make a horse drink, you can only make it thirsty)
I: Inquire of the individual as to why they do not appear motivated.
O: Give ownership of the solution to the unmotivated one.
(Y): Sometimes duties must be "Yanked."
I like this list, because I made it up. There is a problem with trying to apply it to yourself though. Yourself knows what your trying to do and tends to reply with, "I know what you're doing...I'm not getting thirsty... go ahead "yank" my duties, you're only hurting yourself...you bastard." The last phrase is most hurtful, because yourself is very aware of your parentage and knows that the phrase doesn't apply but insits on calling you it anyway. Lazy-assed bastard.
So, If you ever see a poorly-written book about a comatose love story written by Wilson Culpepper you'll know I somehow got myself going.
End.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I am tired and angry
I'm tired. I need some rest. Please, anyone, make me go to bed at a reasonable hour. This most recent bout with "sleep dep" started on Sunday (today is Thursday) The Schmutah Schmazz a local Schmasketschmall team had a playoff game. I was at church during the game, so I recorded it to view later.
I learned that the Schmazz had won the game in overtime and that it was a great game. So I looked forward to watching it. Unfortunately, our afternoon was booked.
Of course, we had Sunday dinner at, Buffy's dad, Cap'n's house and didn't get home until 9:00 PM. When we finally got home it took a good hour to get Ike, Mimi, and Kitty into bed with yappers shut and noses snoring. Then, of course, Buffy wanted to watch Survivor--the season finale of Survivor--the three-hour season finale of Survivor. So, at 1:00 AM we learned that the million-dollar winner was some girl ironically named Poverty. And, that the next Survivor would be in the jungles of Africa.
Finally! I took the remote, Buffy looked at me like, "Whatcha doon? (translation: what are you doing?)" I said, "I've been patiently waiting all day, I'm watching the game." She rolled her eyes and went to bed.
First quarter, excellent.
Second quarter, excellent.
Third quater, I may have drifted off a little bit.
Fourth quarter, Schmazz up ten, three minutes left to play. . . the DVR stopped! The last several minutes and the overtime were not recorded!
SO, after about two hours of investment in the middle of the night, I didn't see any of the exciting stuff. Oh, well.
Luckily, I had new episodes of The Office and 30 Rock that I hadn't yet watched. So I watched them. It was somewhere in the 4:00 hour when I finally went to sleep.
I'm stupid. And tired. And angry. And stupid.
I learned that the Schmazz had won the game in overtime and that it was a great game. So I looked forward to watching it. Unfortunately, our afternoon was booked.
Of course, we had Sunday dinner at, Buffy's dad, Cap'n's house and didn't get home until 9:00 PM. When we finally got home it took a good hour to get Ike, Mimi, and Kitty into bed with yappers shut and noses snoring. Then, of course, Buffy wanted to watch Survivor--the season finale of Survivor--the three-hour season finale of Survivor. So, at 1:00 AM we learned that the million-dollar winner was some girl ironically named Poverty. And, that the next Survivor would be in the jungles of Africa.
Finally! I took the remote, Buffy looked at me like, "Whatcha doon? (translation: what are you doing?)" I said, "I've been patiently waiting all day, I'm watching the game." She rolled her eyes and went to bed.
First quarter, excellent.
Second quarter, excellent.
Third quater, I may have drifted off a little bit.
Fourth quarter, Schmazz up ten, three minutes left to play. . . the DVR stopped! The last several minutes and the overtime were not recorded!
SO, after about two hours of investment in the middle of the night, I didn't see any of the exciting stuff. Oh, well.
Luckily, I had new episodes of The Office and 30 Rock that I hadn't yet watched. So I watched them. It was somewhere in the 4:00 hour when I finally went to sleep.
I'm stupid. And tired. And angry. And stupid.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)