Confession

I love watching Ninja Warrior. It is a crazy show out of Japan where one hundred contestants gather at the foot of Mt. Midoriyama to conquer a four stage obstacle course.

The obstacles are crazy and deep muddy water awaits to receive those who fail to safely traverse them.

Much of the time my children love watching with me.

Falling off and getting back on the horse. . .

If there is anyone who reads my blog with any regularity, they may have noticed it has been a while since I last posted.

Life happens.

My work restricted "social sites" from access. I won't complain but it is annoying when a few abuse a good thing and ruin it for the rest. That dealt a tough blow to my blogging habit because I did most of my blogging at lunch or breaks. Then when I get home I am usually exhausted or busy with family so I don' t sit down and write.

It also got busy at work, school and family.

I have really missed posting to my blogs and getting feedback from my 1 and 2/3 fans. Also I took a strengths test at work and one of my strengths recommended I write regularly. I do want to accomplish some of my new year goals.

To every Blogger. . .

How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.

Henry David Thoreau

Breakfast: Religion with milk please. . .

I think most people shop religion the way they shop for cereal. Some just pick the cereal they were fed growing up, others pick the one that had that recent clever ad and is all the new rage, others pick the bright happy box with the tasty and easy to swallow sugar sweet cereal on the inside, and a few, a very few - look at the nutrition panel on the side and compare nutrition, price, and value.

Religion like cereal, when a regular part of your diet. will have a lasting impact on your overall spiritual health. So what's on your nutrition panel? Is it what you really want to buy?

Here is what I think is on the back of my huge bag. . .

Mormon Oats and Granola NEW LARGE Family Size

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: feeds large eternal family forever

Note: No matter what %

milk you bring to the table,

you will be short - God will

make up the difference.

                       % of daily value

Doctrine                          100%

Prayer                          100%

Practicality                   100%

Service Opportunities   100%

Scriptures 4g                100%

OT 1g

NT 1g

D&C 1g

PGP 1g

Covenants                     100%

Ordinances                    100%

Gifts of the Spirit           100%

Faith in Messiah Req     100%

Repentance Req.           100%

Commitment Req.          100%

*comes with Grace:

enabling power of God

Ingredients: Messiah, Atonement,

Covenants, His Teachings, The Spirit,

Our Heavenly Father's Plan, Creation,

Fall, Final Judgement, Resurrection,

Justice and Mercy, Grace, Personal 

Revelation and Relationship, Prophets,

Priesthood, Ordinances of Salvation and

Exaltation, Ordinances for blessing

His children, Redemption for those who

had no chance to accept the Messiah,

Faith, Hope, Charity, Choice, Joy,

Eternal Progression, Eternal Family,

Eternal Life

If you're happy with your choice, great! This was just food for thought. . . 

Recast. . .

Today Pookah went under for a replacement cast. The doctor said the left joint looks great and it seems to really be taking this time. 

Good news and good job Pookah! Now sleep off the anaesthesia. . .

Just a little irreverence. . .

I use this when I teach my Sunday School about certain Halacha (legal judgments) in the Torah. This Monte Python skit cracks me up every time. . .

The Sister Armstrong Ice Cream Principle

The MTC cafeteria is a well oiled machine. It feeds three thousand missionaries three times a day in three, three hour blocks. It is amazing to see how quickly a line of a few hundred will snake through and get their food. Along the way there are strategically placed bins with different snacks, one of them had various ice cream treats.

One day I was standing in line and noticed Sister Laurel Armstrong eating a Mississippi Mud. At first blush this may seem unremarkable, however, given that she was a 5'3" very petite spiritual powerhouse it was a strange sight to see her indulge in a

 frozen confection roughly the size of her head. So I strolled over and signed (everyone was required to use their language at all times). . .

"Sister Armstrong, what are you doing? If you eat that, your heart will seize up and you will die! That thing is huge!"

Smiling she replied, "Yes, it is a huge ice cream sandwich but it helps me get the Spirit"

"Huh, I don't get the connection. . .helps you get the Spirit? What do you mean?"

"Let me explain Elder Dilts, when I eat ice cream it makes me happy - when I'm happy, it's easier for me to get the Spirit. Simple really."

Wow, that makes sense. I walked over to the bin, got a Mississippi Mud and . . . it worked! I used the Sister Armstrong Ice Cream Principle throughout my entire mission. When my companion and I were struggling, I'd pull in to some place and buy a couple frozen yogurts or ice creams. Then we were happier, it was easier to get the Spirit and move forward. I still use this principle today. 

If you're in a funk and need the Spirit, find something - anything that brings a smile to your face, makes you happy and then it is much easier to pray and get the Spirit.