Do Something You Have Not Done Before

“To accomplish something you have not accomplished before, you must do something you have not done before.”

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“How is it That Ye Have No Faith?”

I attended a Priesthood Leadership Meeting this evening, and one of the speakers was our Area Authority Seventy.  He shared an insight about the miracle recorded in Mark 4:36 — 41, where Jesus calmed the stormy seas.

This miracle has always been immensely meaningful for me, hopefully for obvious reasons.  There are many times when I have felt tossed by stormy seas, and in those times, I have had to rely on the Master, who has power over the storms.  But our Area Seventy pointed out something about this story I’d never thought of before.

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A Response to Jamie

It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve put up a new post.  But Jamie left a comment on the “My Story” page, and my response got so long and involved, I thought it deserved its own post.  So Jamie, here are my thoughts:

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Hooray Technology!

So… as a result of paying Uncle Sam too much in taxes this year, I received an artificial windfall this month (see, it’s artificial because it was my money all along, and if I’d figured my taxes more precisely, I could have stuck the same amount in the bank and earned interest myself instead of donating it to government pork; whether I actually would have done so is a topic we will leave for another day).   Anyway, we got some extra money, and I’d been wanting to get one of these little Eee PCs for months.  So Mrs. Sweet relented, and I ordered it.

With the exception of the funky right shift key, I am extremely pleased with this ultra-portable little wonder.  It’s just the right size to pull out and use on the short bus ride to work (the ride is short, not the bus).  Does that mean I will be posting more frequently, since now I can type up my posts while I pontificate on the bus?  Well, theoretically it does.  Even with the annoying right shift key, it’s certainly easier to use than the Blackberry.  Of course, even the two or three regular readers I had seem to have dropped off as my blogging became very irregular.  So I don’t know that anybody will read this.  But I’m fairly certain I still have some things to say.  In any case, I know that I still struggle with  gender issues, so my “journey” is not over yet.  So here we go…

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Blogday PEC 24 Black President Memristor

I made my first post on Jan. 11, 2008, exactly one year ago yesterday.  And now, exactly 1 year, 1 week, and 2 days after my first post, we will be inaugurating our first black president.  Coincidence?  I think not, and here’s why.  For something to be a “coincidence,” there has to be at least some apparent connection.  In this case, there is nothing that even has the least hint of a connection.  So I cannot take (blame/credit) for the election of Barack Obama, or really any other important event of the past year, such as the invention (finally) of the memristor.

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So You Had a Bad Day

Elder David A. Bednar was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in October Conference of 2004, filling one of the two places vacated when Elders Neal A. Maxwell and David B. Haight passed away. Elder Bednar’s powerful and eloquent speaking style made him a favorite among Church members. And at the April 2005 Conference, Elder Bednar gave a talk titled “The Tender Mercies of the Lord,” that became an instant classic.

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Concern for the One

I have seen many tributes to Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in the last day and a half. I don’t know that I have a lot to add, but I’ll share my few thoughts. I see around me a world filled with hate. We have on the one hand certain right-wing groups that call themselves “Christians” but seem to hate everybody who does not look, think, act, and believe exactly as they do. On the other hand we have the left-wing groups who are vandalizing churches to protest intolerance (intolerance being defined as “anybody who does not share my world view”).

When Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin died, the world lost a much-needed voice of love and compassion.

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Baptism

This past Saturday was one of those moments that defines your life as a parent.  I was privileged to baptize my oldest daughter, who had just turned eight the day before.  What a glorious experience!  Here was my own child, entering into the Church and Kingdom of God.  I felt for a moment how pleased the Father must be when we keep His commandments and strive to be like Him.

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Advocate

Well, this is the longest I’ve gone without writing since I started this blog. I’m not sure why I’ve been out for so long. I’ve been busy, but I’ve always been busy. I guess maybe it’s that the one case I’m working on is starting to ramp up for trial after being on the verge of settling. It’s kind of funny how parties can agree on so much and be so close to resolving their differences for themselves, and then they’ll get hung up on one little thing—a minor amount of money, or a little detail—and neither party wants to give anymore. So they end up going all the way to trial. Not that I mind. I’m kind of excited to take this one to trial because I really think we’re right, and it looks like the judge is leaning our way. And I love advocating a position. And it may sound like I’m rambling (okay, I am rambling), but it does relate to what was on my mind.

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Whited Sepulchres

President Harold B. Lee visited the Holy Land and wrote of his experience in 1972. He visited Bethlehem, the city of Christ’s birth, and saw the Church of the Nativity, which the Spirit told him was truly a hallowed spot. He saw Shepherds’ fields, where a chorus of angels proclaimed the birth of Christ. He saw Jordan, where Christ was baptized. He visited the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, where Christ performed what many consider to be His consummate miracle—the raising of Lazarus from the dead after he had been four days in the tomb. He stood, even, in the dread Wine Press, Gethsemane, where Christ wrested power from the gates of Hell as He atoned for men’s sins. These are sites that those who proclaim faith in Christ will place next to any on the Earth and proclaim them holy.

And yet, after passing in review that glorious day before the very meccas of Christendom, President Lee said of one unassuming spot owned by the United Brethren—one his tour guide seemed embarassed to waste their time on— that “something seemed to impress us as we stood there that this was the holiest place of all.”

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