....and I am ready to go - in some sense of the meaning. Pandora's box opened up when I came home six weeks ago. Everyone in my immediate family moved. Some moved houses, others moved cross country. And, everyone is moving on in their own way. It was absolute chaos, and still kind of is.
The beautiful thing about chaos is that as we come to Christ He will order our hearts in Him and his gospel. Against the back drop of a chaotic life, we can see more clearly the simplicity and beauty of the gospel. As we search for Christ and hold fast to him, our Rock and Redeemer (Helaman 5:12) he will redeem us, and make us whole.
www.mormon.org
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ready to Go
I have only a few days until I leave for a mission. I am ready to go. I'm sure when it comes down to it, I won't feel so much that way, but right now.... I just want to go.
There are so many emotional up and downs of waiting. BUT the best thing about any type of down is that it is another opportunity to draw closer to the Savior.
There are so many emotional up and downs of waiting. BUT the best thing about any type of down is that it is another opportunity to draw closer to the Savior.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Theories
Wal-Mart Theory
Wal-Mart has the business strategy of selling lower quality products for a lower price.
When a person goes to Wal-mart they go because they want a product now, for the lowest absolute price. They are okay if the product breaks, wears out quickly, or is substandard because "it's from Wal-mart, what do you expect". They got what they wanted, when they wanted it, and didn't need to work that hard to obtain it.
You go into Wal-mart to buy something because it's cheap. You know it's cheap, but you don't expect it to last for long. You pay less for it an it doesn't last you as long. Most people have become okay with this trade off.
BUT - I see this coming up in all faucets of life. This "wal-mart" mentality has spread to marriages, families, education, politics, careers, and society at large. People are okay with paying less for something that isn't as high quality. "Oh, if I don't like it, I can just get a new one." "Well, it was a bargain, how do I expect it to be quality."
Do you see how toxic that is to marriages, families, and all other social relationships? If you don't work for something, how do you expect it to last. People quit working at their marriages, cheat in school, and lower their standards at work so they can get ahead quickly. If things don't pan out as they hope, it's fine, there is always another spouse, school to get into, or job to get. It's no big deal, besides I didn't work that hard for the first one anyway.
...I hate Wal-Mart.
Facebook Theory
It's sad and disgusting when people start to think in terms of facebook statuses. It slowly robs people of privacy of thought, and cheapens our quality of thinking situations through with logical, detailed, methods. Rather, people impulsively updates their status to reflect the current thought running through their mind.
My theory on facebook is that like anything else, has potential for great good, and great harm. It's amazing to catch up with old friends and family. But once you start thinking in terms of what you want to post as your facebook status, you have issues. At that point you've given up conscious control of your thoughts and have allowed an outside source to influence your thoughts. How is a drug any different? An outside substance/source which influences and controls your conscious thoughts.
Just some food for thought.
Wal-Mart has the business strategy of selling lower quality products for a lower price.
When a person goes to Wal-mart they go because they want a product now, for the lowest absolute price. They are okay if the product breaks, wears out quickly, or is substandard because "it's from Wal-mart, what do you expect". They got what they wanted, when they wanted it, and didn't need to work that hard to obtain it.
You go into Wal-mart to buy something because it's cheap. You know it's cheap, but you don't expect it to last for long. You pay less for it an it doesn't last you as long. Most people have become okay with this trade off.
BUT - I see this coming up in all faucets of life. This "wal-mart" mentality has spread to marriages, families, education, politics, careers, and society at large. People are okay with paying less for something that isn't as high quality. "Oh, if I don't like it, I can just get a new one." "Well, it was a bargain, how do I expect it to be quality."
Do you see how toxic that is to marriages, families, and all other social relationships? If you don't work for something, how do you expect it to last. People quit working at their marriages, cheat in school, and lower their standards at work so they can get ahead quickly. If things don't pan out as they hope, it's fine, there is always another spouse, school to get into, or job to get. It's no big deal, besides I didn't work that hard for the first one anyway.
...I hate Wal-Mart.
Facebook Theory
It's sad and disgusting when people start to think in terms of facebook statuses. It slowly robs people of privacy of thought, and cheapens our quality of thinking situations through with logical, detailed, methods. Rather, people impulsively updates their status to reflect the current thought running through their mind.
My theory on facebook is that like anything else, has potential for great good, and great harm. It's amazing to catch up with old friends and family. But once you start thinking in terms of what you want to post as your facebook status, you have issues. At that point you've given up conscious control of your thoughts and have allowed an outside source to influence your thoughts. How is a drug any different? An outside substance/source which influences and controls your conscious thoughts.
Just some food for thought.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Chocolate Fudge Sauce Pudding Cake
I don't have much of a sweet tooth, nor do I particularly enjoy chocolate, but every now and then a dessert comes along that I fall in love with. Crème brûlée with raspberries is one of them, and this Chocolate Fudge Sauce Pudding Cake is another. A co-worker made this for me and my apartment when I was working in Florida. He made it in individual ramekins and it is such a rich cake I could hardly finish that. It's amazingly dense, so literally five bites with ice-cream is enough for one person.
Pictures and words don't do this dessert justice. I recommend you make it, or have someone else make it, and then just enjoy the chocolaty goodness that will make your mouth fall in love with your fudge covered fork even more.
mix:
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp cocoa
stir in:
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp melted butter
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Spread in 9" square pan.
mix and sprinkle on top:
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
pour over:
1-3/4 cups boiling water
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.
Pictures and words don't do this dessert justice. I recommend you make it, or have someone else make it, and then just enjoy the chocolaty goodness that will make your mouth fall in love with your fudge covered fork even more.
mix:
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp cocoa
stir in:
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp melted butter
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Spread in 9" square pan.
mix and sprinkle on top:
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
pour over:
1-3/4 cups boiling water
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
