There Shall Be No Mistaking It

And so the Gospel rolls forth...
There is nothing that will bring this world more peace than knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder then that the Lord would call so many young people to spread that gospel? Not only young people, but more senior missionaries as well?

I have been pondering the reality that this world has become so torn apart and struggling for some semblance of order, that it is no longer safe to live here in mortality. More and more people are feeling out of control of their lives. More and more people are growing faithless, turning to governments to give them what they want rather than asking God for what they need. The more control they seek the more it looks like chaos. The more chaos the more they turn from God the less peace can be found. Controlled by guilt they refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions.

Thus the stage is set for the light of the gospel to go forth and penetrate the darkness. The contrast being necessary that there be no mistaking when the light of truth is present.

God is real. His power is real. He is the same today as he has always been. He loves his children and wants them to feel peace. His work and his glory will ever remain to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Press forward Saints with steadfast faith in Christ...

Tender Mercies In A Time Of Need

Sometimes it is not all about the picture. Sometimes it is the story behind the picture that makes the picture more clear.
Friday morning July 19, 2013 I got up a little extra early to go for a short hike to see the sunrise. I was feeling somewhat discouraged, but I had a seed of hope in my heart. As I approached the top of the hill I was enjoying the view that God had given me that morning when I let my mind wander to thinking about things I would love to take a picture of, when the thought came, "would it be to much to ask for a silhouette of a nice buck?" I thought, it might be, but I decided to ask anyways. And so I did. I looked toward the sunrise and I saw nothing. So, while I was walking and having my semi silent prayer, I hadn't moved 10-15 yrds when I looked up on the ridge just ahead of me. This magnificent creature popped his head up from the sage brush. For the next 10 minutes he walked back and forth in front of me as I took pictures and spoke softly to him. This was most certainly a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father. There was a spiritual exchange and then with the sound of a vehicle from bellow he snorted and bounded off only to stop and turn back to look at me one last time. That feeling sustained me through the remainder of that day. God gives good gifts...

A Scout Is...

Each Scout takes upon themselves an oath and promise, as an obligation to become a better citizen, friend, and future husband, and father.

On my honor I will do my best, to do my duty to God, and my country. To help other people at all times, to obey the Scout Law...

So, just what is the Scout Law? It is a statement that describes the ideals in which a scout subscribes to. Becoming a scout is as much a process as the process of collecting merit badges and qualifying for a new rank. And this is my version of what a scout is:

A scout is trustworthy. A scout is worthy of trust. They are honest even when it hurts. When they are assigned to a task you are safe to assume that if they accept the assignment the assignment will be done. A scout takes pride in their ability to come through. Their word is their bond. You need no contract for them. A simple handshake will do. They would never even consider breaking their agreement once they enter in.

A scout is loyal. A scout is loyal to their family, their friends, their God, their country, their fellow scouts, and to their leaders. A scout is loyal to the ideals of their oath and law. Loyalty implies a commitment to help others become the best they can be by standing by them without compromising their own principles. Loyalty means a scout would never ask another to compromise their own principles and they will stand with those who stand for their same ideals.

A scout is helpful. A scout can not sit still when things need to be done. In fact they are the first to ask, what can I do? They are eager to use the life skills they have been learning and realize that being helpful is not only a sign of respect and gratitude, but it is also a great way to hone their skills. They have a work ethic that in and of itself will take them places and lay a foundation for their future.

A scout is friendly. A scout shows their ability to make and keep friends. They do not look for the differences in others, but similarities. They treat all with common respect whether they be the head of a nation or the lowliest of citizens.  They do not judge others by the color of their skin, nor their gender, or anything else, but by their character. They see everyone as an opportunity to be a friend.

A scout is courteous. A scout knows good manners and uses them in every situation. They are aware of their surroundings and aware of others. They live the old school rules of treating all with respect. They are chivalrous. They are just plain pleasant to be around.

A scout is kind. A scout is sympathetic. They mourn with those that mourn, and rejoice with those that rejoice. They make others feel welcomed and wanted. Not only are they kind to those who look like they need it. They are kind to those who don't need it. They don't wait for others to need an act of kindness, they just do it out of habit. They are kind to all living creatures.

A scout is obedient. A scout realizes that the first law of heaven is obedience. That they can not be a law unto themselves. That order is imperative to reach greatness.  They also recognize they need to be as good a follower as they are a leader. They understand that obedience leads to greater opportunities. While disobedience hurts not just themselves but those around them. They are obedient to their leaders, their parents, and anyone who is called to preside over them at any given time. So, long as they are not asked to compromise their values and standards.

A scout is cheerful. A scout is quick to smile and full of faith. A scout always displays his positive, can do attitude. A scout is quick to bring good news. They are jovial and full of good clean spirit. A scout is fun.

A scout is thrifty. A scout is a good steward with his resources. They use their time as wisely as they use their money. They understand the limits of their resources and work creatively within them. They manage their funds with skill to avoid debt at all cost. They are just as aware of their immediate needs as they are their long term needs and wants. They know the difference between needs and wants. They educate themselves well enough to know that the best is not always the most expensive.

A scout is brave. A scout is not free of fear, but because he is prepared he need not fear. The skills they have acquired in the process of becoming a scout have made them prepared to deal with just about any situation they might encounter. Fear is merely a discomfort rather than a paralyzing dose of not knowing what to do.

A scout is clean. A scout is clean in mind and body. They maintain high standards of hygiene, and they keep themselves clean inside and out. They never allow their mind to filled with thoughts that would leave them feeling impure. They do not participate in off color jokes, and they shun pornography. They take pride in their general appearance as well as the appearance of anything they do. Whether it be in their work or in play. Cleanliness is next to godliness. They realize that cleanliness in not just a matter of pleasure, but a matter of safety as well. They know how to clean clothes, dishes, bathrooms, bedrooms, cars, etc... and they do it... most of the time. ;)

A scout is reverent. A scout is fully aware of God's creations and his hand in their lives and holds a deep sense of gratitude for all of God's creations and his presence in their lives. They have a reverence for life. When they are in the outdoors they know how to balance having fun with respecting those around them as well as nature. They recognize that reverence is applied differently in different places and they act accordingly. They recognize that reverence is an outward attitude radiating from an inward feeling of gratitude.


...to keep myself physically fit, mentally awake, and morally strait.
By keeping the scout law the scout will automatically fulfill his oath. Each point building upon the other. By living the law they will be prepared to live a morally outstanding life making choices, not out of fear, but out of a conscientious decision to do what is right and good.

And though it is not officially a part of the scout law, we must never forget, A scout is hungry... Not only are they hungry for food, they are hungry for knowledge, and adventure as well. A scout is always on a quest for truth.... and more food. ;)

This is what I expect any scout that is seeking the rank of Eagle to become. Are they going to be perfect? No, but they will be well on down the path in that direction...Well, they will be if they have to go through a conference or review in which I am involved. I did not get my Eagle and I feel it my obligation, as a leader, to protect the prestige and honor of that award.

Called To Serve Him, Heavenly King Of Glory...

Well, here we are on the eve of our daughter's mission and the emotions are running deep...Not so much on the surface, but we certainly are anxiously engaged in the final preparations.

Lauree requested to watch Nicholas Nickleby as she was finishing her packing. Nicholas Nickleby is her favorite movie...at least according to the number of times she has watched it. Somewhere between visits from friends and neighbors we were able to get through the movie and Lauree is mostly packed. I was able to give her a father's blessing.

It is times like this that I am reminded just what an honor it is to hold the priesthood. I am not sure how a father can possibly serve his family adequately without the priesthood. To know that God has entrusted me with the same power that he used and uses to serve his children is quite humbling. I find great comfort knowing that she will have access to this same priesthood through the elders with whom she will be serving.

So, now as I get ready to send her off, I have to put my trust in The Lord as my parents put their trust in The Lord when they sent me on my mission. It is not easy, but I am excited, because I know what is in store for her. She is about to experience the greatest transformation one can make as she shares the blessings of the gospel with her brothers and sisters in Ecuador. Her faith is about to grow from the mustard seed into the mighty mustard tree. The experiences she will have will bring her the greatest joy she can possibly experience until she holds her own child in her arms...It makes my heart sing just thinking of the love she is going to experience.
http://calledtoserveecuadorquito.blogspot.com/

If Ye Love Me...

While at Yellowstone we were walking around the boardwalk at Prismatic pool, there we saw someone had taken an object and written their name in the algae mats. They also wrote these words, "I love Yellowstone." I thought, how ironic. Then the thought came to me, "If ye love me keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

I wonder, how many of us know what that means? We say we love our Heavenly Father, but then we are quick to excuse our sins. Or we may just cherry-pick those commandments that we think are more important than others.


As a Latter-day Saint, it is like sustaining our leaders and then not SUSTAINING them when they ask us to help.

God has given us these commandments as a gift to help us be happy while living with our fellow man. To dismiss them is like giving your child a present only to have them set it aside without even opening it.

The only way we truly can know the power and wisdom of God is to test his wisdom through obedience. 

On The Issue of Gay Scouts

On issues of morality, do we condemn the man who has his weakness but abstains from his desires in order to fulfill his duty to God? Pride would condemn a man for his weakness before he even acted upon his thoughts. I would dare not judge a man for his thoughts, as I have my own thoughts and weaknesses that would condemn me if I were to be judged today.

Can one be morally straight and gay at the same time? And can one be heterosexual, and not morally straight? Absolutely.

The phrase morally straight, in our current societal terms, has come to imply a sexual preference. However, I believe that it has little to do with sexual attraction, but goes much deeper than that. I believe it has a lot more to do with being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. All characteristics of a morally sound individual.

The BSA has struck a balance in which they separate the sin from the sinner. It is about teaching the boys how to be morally straight at a time of life when so many others are being taught that morality is relative. They have recognized that their job is to teach young men to fulfill their duty to God despite what the world says they should think, feel, or do. 

Tolerance does not mean that we accept the sin only the sinner. As we might hope that God would accept us not in our sins, but despite our own sinful nature.

Zion's National Park.

Over Spring break we decided to visit one of the many National Parks in our state. So, we chose Zions National Park. I have not been there in many years. In fact I do not remember ever going their before. Wow!!


What an incredible place to visit. When it comes to mountains I think more in terms of pine trees lakes meadows and such, but the sculptures that God created in
Zion's has to be some of the most impressive works of art I have ever seen. There is so much to see in this area that it is impossible to take it all in in one day.  The red and white sandstone stained with black streaks formed by mineral and hard water deposits created a truly impressive spectacle of nature at is best. We could only imagine the hanging gardens that had not fully recovered from the long hard winter, but what we did see was incredible. These magical gardens are formed where ever water seeps through the porous sandstone seeking is way to the Virgin River that created these canyons.

The steep walls of the canyons make for spectacular views in the morning. In fact I am not sure there is a bad time to be in the park from sun up to sundown the shadows of the surrounding monoliths, plateaus  and mesas, are forever changing and creating new scenic adventures where ever you may be in the canyons.



The weeping rock is a short but steep hike to an area where the moisture seems to come from nowhere. You can walk behind the curtain of rain under an over hang of rock and escape the heat of the afternoon sun. I can only imagine the sounds of thunder in as it would echoed off the walls of the canyon.

From the Emerald pools, to the Three Patriarch, to the Angels Landing and The Alter, each feature carries with it it's own majesty with royal colors and all.

Hiking to the mouth of the canyon where the narrows begin we noticed several people wearing wet suits and some foot wear that seemed kind of odd, but later found out that it was canyoneering equipment, which they rented from from a place in town. The narrows is a popular place to hike because of the haunting beauty of the reflected light in the very narrow canyons that have been carved away by the river. The narrows are also very dangerous when storms are anywhere close due to the narrow walls the steepness of the mountains surrounding the this canyon is prone to flash flooding. We did not make it to the narrows on this trip, but we will be back to explore the things we did not this time around.

The second day we headed to the east side of the park. The east side features a whole different look. Water still plays a part in the erosion of this side, but it is obvious that wind is also a factor in the shaping of this region of the park. Years ago there was a monumental effort to join the east with the west by creating the longest man made tunnel through the rock. The tunnel is nearly a mile long and very impressive. On the eastern side of the Park there was less water, but the interesting rock formations didn't lose anything. It was much more desert like, and while water has had its influence on the geography it is also evident that the wind had a great part in shaping the intriguing surroundings. And while the west has the Virgin River, the west has pools that form in the slot canyons. The ecosystems are much different.

Life in the park is quite diverse as well. Along the trails we spotted deer and squirrels a plenty on the west and Mountain sheep on the east. One squirrel in particular caught our attention as it was playing with a young girl just a head of us. She would clap her hands and the squirrel would mimic her and clap right back. It was obvious that the signs that said do not feed the animals was often ignored, and fines did not seem to be much of a deterrence to most visitors.

Sunday we ended up at Kolob Canyon which is yet another section of the park, which is closer to Cedar City. Kolob, according to the prophet Joseph Smith, is the closest planet to the throne of God. A more fitting description could not have been made of this canyon. I wish we had had more time to explore this area of the park, but then again we will have many more chances I am sure of that.


 Zion's National Park is definitely a jewel that is a must see if you get the chance or are in the area of Southern Utah. We will be going back again in the near future. It is always fun to see what a place like this looks like at varying times during the year. There really is so much to see and explore in this area it is no wonder this area would be considered sacred grounds. It is a magical playground of the gods.

Become Your Child's Hero To Save A Nation

Sometimes the latest information is not the greatest information. History has been rewritten many times with less than flattering results to those who actually participated in that history. It is easy to second guess individuals who can not defend themselves, and many unscrupulous historians have taken advantage of many a dead man.

I have never figured out why a name has to be tarnished in the name of progress. If we truly want to progress past our weaknesses as individuals or as a nation wouldn't it be better to focus on the positive traits of someone rather than their negative traits? Or is it better to exploit the weaknesses or frailties of men we can not question, or who can not defend themselves and their own honor?

I believe, throughout history, God has used good men with weaknesses to accomplish great things and to help his people progress. The difference between a good man and a bad man is simply the traits that define them. Progress comes by acknowledging our weaknesses as individuals and as a society, but not letting those weaknesses determine who we are, and allowing our strengths, our own human potential to become like our Heavenly Father, to define us.

To find examples of these traits we often look back to history to find people who inspire us. We look to men lesser than God, but greater than ourselves to give us something to aspire to become like. This is what heroes do for us. They give us a shoulder to stand on. If we destroy our heroes and make our heroes men with nothing but weaknesses then we destroy our own hope to progress to a higher ground. And we will do as we have done, we will become what we have been told our heroes were.

How can we lose a whole generation? By uneducating them, that is how. We teach them that them the great men of history, their heroes, were bad men, full of weaknesses. We focus on their weaknesses and magnify them. We confuse them, disorient them, and take away their identity. We don't let them believe that all men came from greatness. We stop teaching them of their nobility. In other words strip them of their dignity. We destroy their view of the family, because if the family is strong then it breeds a strong sense of self worth and a sense of their divine potential. That is how you lose a generation and you destroy a nation.

How do you get it back? You have to focus on becoming the person you are meant to be and let your light shine through the darkness. You have to become the hero to your children so that they can see past the lies and deceit. Be the shoulders your children can stand on to reach for higher ground.

Sister Milligan Has Been Called To Serve...

I am a little slow in posting this mostly because initially I think I was somewhat in shock and I was fighting a bit of a strep throat. But, Lauree has gotten her mission call. She will be serving the Lord in the great country of Ecuador. She has been called to serve in the Quito Ecuador Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is funny how we have an idea where we think they may go, but it is a rare thing for someone to get their mission call to a place they think they are going to be called to. It was no exception for us this time. The place she was called was not even on our radar. I thought Europe, or possibly Eastern United States somewhere, but South America never even crossed my mind. It is exciting and it is interesting how quickly the Lord confirms the rightness of the call.
As a parent that confirmation is important, because if we are sending our child out we really don't want to worry about where they are serving. I know many who have been sent to missions where it is questionable how missionaries will be treated, without that confirmation it would be very difficult to send our children out to share the gospel.
As it is we have no doubt that Lauree will serve the Lord honorably and will be granted the blessings from her service, and the people of Ecuador will be blessed by her presence. 

My Daughter Is Going On A Mission

There are many who misunderstand the purpose of missionary work and why the LDS missionaries are sent throughout the world. Missionaries are not sent to convert people to the Mormon religion. Missionaries are sent to share a message of Jesus Christ, no strings attached. In the process if one discovers their message to be true through a very personal process of study and prayer then they are invited to be baptized and help spread the word that Jesus Christ lives.
I am pleased that my daughter has chosen to join this group of individuals who are willing to sacrifice their time, money, and opportunities to put others first. If a Sis Milligan knocks on your door in the next couple of years it just might be my daughter. She will be on the Lords errand. Please treat her well. Thank you!

As for now we await the familiar white envelope from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints addressed from church headquarters that will inform us where she will be called to serve.

The Purpose Of Life Is To Learn

The purpose of life is to learn to think, do, and feel as God does. As children of God it is our natural order to become like our Father.

Life is a test. Life is a test where the teacher has stepped out of the room. The test is not so much to see if we know the answers, but to test our ability to learn the answers when we make mistakes. The only way to truly fail is to not learn.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)
We will never reach perfection in this life, but every step forward is a step closer to becoming who we are meant to be.

The older I get the more I see my dad in me. When I was younger I could not imagine getting as old as I am today. As a child of God it is hard for me to see ever becoming like him, but looking back I can see every experience I have, for good for for bad, I seem to feel more of what my Heavenly Father must feel. I am far from his level of perfection, but every once in awhile I can get a glimpse of what I can be.

As a parent and a child of God there are times when I do feel like the older child trying to help my younger siblings along. I believe that is what life is all about, and I do believe that was the plan. 

Back In The Saddle- Returning to A Previous Adventure

This past week I started my 2nd Biggest Loser contest. This time it is with my family. The stakes aren't so much monetary this time as we don't have money in on it, but a lot of pride is at stake. We are the friendly competitive type so we don't get offended when beaten, but we don't like to lose...Except when we want to lose, and then we want to be the Biggest Loser.

This week I reviewed the mental clicks that I had gained last time I started my journey. I have decided to see if my first experiment was just a fluke or if I can repeat the results. Obviously not everything will  be the same as I am starting off in better health despite the past year of being injury prone. I realize also that I can not rest on the idea that I will lose as much as I did last time, at least as quickly as I did last time.

No mirror needed to tell me
when I was happiest

We often equate losing weight with being happy and looking in the mirror as a measure of health. So, we look at the scale and pray for good numbers to appear, or we look into a mirror to determine whether or not we are healthy and happy. What would happen if we did not have a scale to determine our happiness. In fact what if we did not have a mirror to determine our health? What if the only thing we had to determine our happiness was our feelings and self awareness? What would we do to improve how we felt about ourselves?

To be perfectly honest with you, I like food. I like food that is probably not the most healthy food. If I could get away with eating lots of thick juicy steaks and just about anything heavy on the carbohydrates followed up with a nice big bowl of ice cream at any given time, and the only consequences were my weight. I would probably ignore my mirror and get rid of my scale. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

To me being fit has little to do with what I look like and a lot to do with my ability to move and how I feel. If I have a hard time walking up stairs or hiking in the summer, then I don't feel fit. If I am huffing and puffing when I want to run, then I am not happy. If I can't touch my toes without wincing or getting dizzy, I would say I am neither healthy nor happy.

Don't get me wrong, it is nice to feel good about what you see in the mirror, but it is more important that you feel good about what you have done to get where you are than it is to see a pretty picture in the mirror. You can be unfit and look thin and pretty, but you will not feel thin and you won't be happy.

Week 1 results

So, in my quest for fitness I will use a scale and a mirror as a measure of progress, but I will not use them as a measure of my fitness nor my happiness.

Feeling Guilt For Feeling Whole

Years ago I worked at International Luggage Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. One day I learned a powerful lesson when a man walked through our doors... He had no arms. He asked to see the garment bags. So I took him around the corner to where the garment bags were displayed. He asked if I minded him checking it out. As it was up on the wall, he asked me if I would take it down for him. I took it down and told him to go for it. He maneuvered the garment bag down to the ground and began to work the zippers.
I remember feeling somewhat awkward. I wanted so badly to help him open zippers and such, but something inside my head whispered, "Let him do it, he will have to do it on his own if he owns it."  So, I sat back and watched, waiting for him to ask for help...He never did. I can't even remember exactly how he was able to do all that he did, but I remember he did. When he was finished, he got up off the ground and with a slight quiver in his voice, he looked me in the eye and thanked me. He then proceeded to buy the garment bag.

I wasn't sure what to think of the incident. However, the look on his face told me that he appreciated that I did not judge him as incapable despite his obvious handicap. Unfortunately I am not sure that was a common feeling to him.

The lesson I learned was that I should not judge people for what I think they are incapable of. My own feelings were that I was superior because I was not handicapped. However, I have since realized that this man was far more superior, because he could do things without the advantages I had.

Sometimes we want to help others, and we think we are doing them a favor when in reality we are handicapping them. Sometimes we think we are superior, when we are not. Sometimes we carry within us some guilt for being whole, while we think that others are not, because of their gender, race, religion, mental capacity, or whatever makes them different from us. Sometimes this guilt is manifest in our being repulsed in our ignorance resulting in a prejudice and or discrimination. Other times it results in our being repulsed by our ignorance resulting in reverse discrimination. It isn't until we reconcile our guilt that we are able to treat all men equally.

Some learn to reconcile quickly, others take time, but either way it takes overcoming ignorance, either inwardly or outwardly. Each of us learns differently, but we all have to gain experience the same way... By doing something. Fear can either lead you to the darkness, or motivate you to find the light.

Reporting On Our 30 Day Experiment

Well, one of our boys has made it through the 30 day chart and is moving on to his second chart, by his own suggestion nonetheless. This time he wants to see a movie. I am not sure if it has as strong a pull as his Legos did, but his attitude has  changed so much and he recognizes how much better he feels as well. So, we are calling this experiment a complete success for our one boy.

Our second son has struggled, but he has improved so much that we can not say that it has failed him either. He fights it, but the chart forces him to think about where he is failing even if he doesn't like the change. It has caused us to have many conversations, but communication is good, even if it is frustrating most of the time, because it seems to be the same conversation over and over, but I have confidence that it is going to sink in and when he has his light bulb moment a huge weight is going to be lifted off of all our shoulders and we are going to sing Hallelujahs. He also wants to start a second chart so he can earn a backpack for his scouting.

His biggest problem is that he does not trust adults. I believe this stems from a rough early childhood. Both of our boys were adopted through the state. Our oldest was 18 months which is a very impressionable age. Because of his situation we believe that he went into survival mode. In survival mode his higher level thinking abilities were increased, but his emotional development was delayed. Not to mention his natural tendency to want to be older than he is.
Anyways that is for another post...maybe.

A couple of things we are finding along the way:
First, the key is once the terms are established then we have to become their biggest cheerleader. Motivation is important. Be more concerned about helping them change than punishing them for their bad behavior.

Another thing that I think is important is that we consider each child and their abilities. 30 days may work for us but 10 or 15 days may be better for younger kids, or a particularly hard challenge that our child is looking . Maybe even less to start with. The idea is not to punish them, but to help them change their behavior. Make it long enough to make them stretch, but not so long that they lose their motivation.

We have to look for opportunities to teach and communicate. We have to let them know we are not their to make them miserable. Sometimes it can get frustrating, but it is in communication that we find out either our message hasn't been clear or they really are not understanding what we are saying. We found out that sometimes our children seem to be learning from a different dictionary. The more we are able to talk the better we can decipher what they mean. We must never assume that they know what we are saying and we should never assume that they are too young to understand what we are talking about.


Anyways, I am sure we are going to learn a lot more along the way, but so far this experiment as been an answer to our prayers.

Joy To The World...

Recently we had a young woman sign up for a storage unit. She pretty much opened up to us and told us what was happening with her. She was a drug addict and it was obvious she was pregnant. She told us that she was getting herself ready to enter a recovery program, she was working with her bishop, and that she was ready to grow up.

She told us how much she loved her bishop and how he helped her to feel okay about her situation and the situation that she was bringing her child into. It was obviously not the ideal situation and the child was coming into the world with some potentially big problems. 

She wanted the storage so that she could start saving things up for her little one and to hold on to the few things she owned so she could enter a shelter prior to entering the recovery program. She told us that this was the first grown up thing she had ever done. 

She has stopped in every so often and each time her countenance has gotten brighter. It has been a beautiful thing to watch her as she has cleaned herself up. 

This morning she came in to communicate with us and let us know how things were going as well as pay her bill. She had an older woman with her, part of her support system from her church family. Her baby was in a car seat and covered in a blanket. She told us that she had just come from court where DCFS was reviewing her case, because of her situation they were thinking of taking custody of the child. However, they said that she was doing so well that they did not feel that they needed to take him from her. 

She uncovered her little baby, and I do mean little. Apparently he was born at 5 lbs 12 oz., he was tiny, and he was absolutely beautiful. His complexion was clean and pure and he looked so peaceful. We visited for awhile and as she was getting ready to leave, her and the older woman started to cover the child up in order to keep him warm from the cold. I am not sure what it was that suddenly hit me, but something did and I almost started blubbering like a baby. I say almost, because I kept my composure but inside I was blubbering, and when she left I had tears streaming down my face.

I got back to my desk and I started thinking about why I was so emotionally moved by this experience. I mean the child was beautiful and all, and he reminded me of my own daughter with how clear and peaceful he looked, but that wouldn't have such a powerful and profound effect as to hit me that deeply. I couldn't say what had just happened.

It wasn't until later that I realized what it was. As this young lady accepted help from the older lady there was an innocence about her that was so beautiful. Suddenly, I realized that this young woman who had lived a very rough life, had made many bad decisions, and had suffered many consequences for those decisions had received forgiveness in her heart and had become innocent. 

My heart is so full, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the atonement. God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and he was born in Bethlehem and died on Calvary all because he loves us, and so that he could take on our guilt that we might be declared innocent before God.

Joy to the World...Yes indeed, and hope, and love, and happiness too... 

The 30 Day Experiment

 A couple of weeks ago I wrote about an idea that we had for disciplining our boys. Every child reacts  different to anything we are going to try, and it shows in our two boys. One has taken quite well to the program and is going to finish up in well under the 30 days. My other boy is really facing some huge internal struggles, but he also is making huge strides despite losing several days. The talks that we have been able to have with both boys has been amazing and in many ways life changing for us and I believe for them.


The frustration level I had gotten to was beyond healthy. I imagine that my blood pressure was well above anything the doctor would approve of, and I was not happy. I felt like I was constantly raising my voice and in a constant state of disciplining. It made me sick.

Our boys are not bad boys, they just have developed bad habits and were stubbornly clinging to some ideas that where not going to bring them happiness in the short run or the long run. Both have anger issues that manifest themselves in different ways. Despite the troubles we have with them, all in all they are great kids.

So, it frustrates us more that we haven't been able to get them to catch on to the idea that work is good for them, and that it is important to both work and play, that work can be fun in its own way.
Another problem we have with one of my boys is being honest. We have struggled to get him to understand that just because he tells the truth sometimes, does not mean that we are going to believe him that time, or any time until he starts telling the truth consistently. We want our boys to contribute to society, and we would rather them be good citizens than our friends, although ideally we don't see why we shouldn't be able to do both.

So, now we are almost three weeks into the experiment and we are about to declare this experiment a success because of the attitude that has been in our home almost immediately.

The key to our success, I believe, has been the fact that we entered into the experiment not with an attitude that we wanted them to fail, but we wanted them to change their attitude. With that in mind we have become their biggest cheerleaders and have been a lot more lenient with them as long as their attitudes are changing. Once one of them hit the half way mark we told them that we were going to make it just a little harder to earn a 2 day prize, but that doesn't seem to have really discouraged them too much, they haven't really put forth the effort to earn the 2 days, but their attitude is still much better.

Along the way we have had several opportunities to talk to the boys and teach them some things that we have been trying to teach them for years. They are starting to understand that we are not their enemies, and that we want them to understand us, which has been half the battle. We found out in our conversations that our oldest thought that we were just speaking gibberish when we started telling him to be aware of his surroundings, not that he ever asked us to explain it. However, now he thinks that he understands what we are talking about and his actions are starting to show that he just might. Another conversation was about living by principles and how to apply one lesson to several situations. These concepts are slowly sinking in one conversation at a time.

Some of our greatest conversations have come as they were in the process of losing a day. It is then that we have been able to talk to them and discuss why they were losing a day. They seem to pay a little closer attention to what they can do to change their behavior.

This experiment has been no less a miracle than the parting of the Red Sea, or maybe more appropriate Christ calming the storm, as the storm clouds in my own head and heart have been calmed.

The Electoral College Could Just Bring Balance To The Force

I believe that the Constitution is an inspired document. The Electoral College is definitely a part of the Constitution, but the wisdom of it has come into question on both sides of the isle as close elections are turned into an attempted to call a victory a mandate not by popular vote but by the perception of the electoral colleges vote percentages.

It is funny how now the elections are over we tend to look for a scapegoat to blame for our loss. A common scapegoat over the past several election cycles seems to be the Electoral College. I am not super familiar with the history of the Electoral College, but I understand that the founding fathers put it in the Constitution and I do believe that it was there for a purpose, though I believe that the way it is applied now is not what they intended.
After this last election I was thinking about how many on both sides feel cheated by the system. States that are dominated by democrats or republicans are easily ignored by both candidates while certain states are given more attention than they should get.
In the mean time, we all realize that there is something very wrong when the popular vote can be so different from the Electoral College vote count. It discourages many from voting because it looks like their vote doesn't even count.
I could not find anywhere in the Constitution where it says that states have to comply to the winner takes all tradition, and it seems to me that it would be in the states interest to change the winner takes all rules.
Just think for a moment if we made it so that states voted for the president along congressional boundaries. Candidates would have to appeal to more than just swing states and city dwellers. Then what if the 2 extra votes per state were appointed by the states themselves. They might be appointed based upon over all popular vote for the state, or by state appointment via the legislature?
State representation might actually force our candidates to focus on more than just social and or popular issues. With potentially 100 votes at stake it might actually require them to address states issues. This would follow the spirit of The Great Compromise and represent us not only as individuals, but as a state as well.
What if the smaller states could band together and create a regional block of votes? This might change the political system all together.
Hmmm...Just something to think about.

Think Radical, Act Moderate, And Educate Along The Way

Think radically, act moderately, and don't worry about who gets credit, then educate, and soon the ship will be turned around. You may choose to act like an iceberg and not moderate, but then you would be no better than the crew who thought the ship was unsinkable.

It is funny, I thought that this principle was a principle for politics, but the other day I got so angry with one of my boys because he throws a fit every time we ask him to do anything that takes him away from his Legos. In my anger I spanked him, and told him to pick up his Legos, and that he was grounded from them for 30 days so that he could learn to enjoy work. 

I was so mad I had to leave to get out of the situation. I felt terrible. I was upset all day. My son had forgiven me, but he was curious as to whether I was serious about the 30 days. I felt there is no way I can back down, but I also felt that I didn't want to follow through with the 30 days. I had a radical thought that I wanted to force him to learn about the importance of working with a good attitude. Now, I was stuck with the consequences myself. 

Through the day I was trying to come up with an idea that would satisfy the 30 days and yet would give them the incentive to change their behavior before they got discouraged and thinking they could never make it. Then the phrase "time off for good behavior" came to mind.  Then I thought to myself, a day without complaints about work was worth more to me than a normal day. So, I decided to make them earn 30 days but they could earn up to 2 days for a really good day. This allowed me to moderate my initial action and give them incentive to be better than just okay without compromising the end goal. 

So we set forth the rules as such:

1) if you get more than 2 warnings you lose a day.

2) if you get 2 or less warnings then you can mark 1 day

3) if you get no warnings and have a great attitude the whole day you can mark 2 days off the chart.

Now, that we have got them into the routine and they are making an effort we, as parents, can sit back and encourage, and educate them, help them to see what they can change so they don't have to lose a day. 

So far it seems to be working better than I thought. We are early on in this experiment, but I can already tell a difference in this approach over other approaches. I believe that it gives them more incentive to change than to stay the same. I can also tell that it is going to take a little more mental effort for one of my boys than it will be for the other. However, I still see a difference in his attitude as well. 

It wasn't until I had set up the rules and had my boy print out his chart that I realized that this program followed the principle of think radical, act moderate, and educate along the way. I am really excited to see the results at the end of this experiment. 

The Role Of The Sentinel

The role of the Sentinel is not to appease and calm your fears. His is to illuminate you to the potential of danger, to heighten your sense of urgency. The sentinel is placed outside of town in a small fortress or a watch tower and their job is to keep their eyes open for the encroaching enemy. They are the key to our being prepared when the enemy enters. These soldiers are not set to tell you everything is okay, they are there to communicate the great dangers that are coming our way.

There was a day when the media use to be this sentinel they would expose corruption and show us where it was emanating from. They would hold people responsible for their actions. They were professional and competent. They asked the hard questions and demand the answers. They were for the most part unbiased, in that if they saw corruption they didn't ask which side it came from, at least that was what their stated goal was.

Somewhere along the way we lost our sentinels, the media lost its ability to stay neutral and our watch towers have been over run by the enemy. There are very few watch towers left, but there are a few. Those who remain are doing everything they can to get your attention, which sometimes can come across as annoying, and obnoxious, and in some cases arrogant, but they have to get our attention so they do what they can, because the enemy is has just passed their towers and is approaching the city parameters.

The job of the media to ask hard questions and to investigate corruption has been taken over by such organizations as The Drudge Report, Breitbart, The Blaze, and other such organizations. These organizations have seen the enemy coming and have tried to warn us. The problem as been that most of us have been taught to watch the towers that have been taken over. We see these others and we feel something is not right, but because of what we are taught we suppose that it is those who are trying to get our attention that are wrong, because our trusted sources are not giving us any reason to suspect anything is wrong. Our sources tell us all is well, all is well...

We cant afford to ignore those who are warning us. Get out of Debt, Get a Food Storage, and Get yourself right with God, because we are about to find out what it means to be in bondage if we don't. If we are prepared we have no reason to fear, but if we are not then fear will do us no good.

Watch for the sentinels signals, and if your watchtower is telling you all is well, then you better take a closer look. I do not like doomsayers, but that is what the sentinels job is they are our first line of defense.

There is a calling for others to calm our nerves as we prepare for battle, but we can not overlook the role of the sentinel without grave consequences.