…the parched land shall become a pool, and the thirsty lands springs of water…(Isaiah 35:7)

Knowing Where We Are Going

I’m not necessarily the best navigator in the world. I am not awful, but sometimes I do get confused. I have learned a lot about how to get where I’m going since moving to the foreign city of Sacramento California a year ago. But one thing of prime importance is knowing the destination and being […]

On Believing and Bach

One of the greatest gifts we can be given is having someone (or many someones for that matter) believe in us and our abilities. 6 people like this post. Like Unlike

To Keep Me Mouth Shut?

One of my favorite movies, and an annual viewing tradition for me, is A Christmas Carol, many versions. I don’t feel like Christmas is complete unless I’ve watched the version with Alistair Sim as Scrooge and the musical version starring Albert Finney. I like other versions as well, but I always feel like I must […]

Clinging To a Testimony When Members Are Clawing at You

I’ve had my share, and maybe more, of members who are so assured of their own righteousness that they see nothing wrong with trying to wrench me from my testimony. I marvel at whatever thought processes might lead a person in authority to treat one of their flock as a wolf. I’m fortunate to be […]

It Comes Back

It has been a rough couple of weeks for me, but it began over a year ago. I wrote about it on another post on another blog, Thud and Blood. The short version is that I went ATVing on some trails near Sandy, Oregon and wound up face down in the dirt with my leg […]

The Next Voice You Hear

Rex Goode ponders about a talk by President Boyd K. Packer at the October 2010 Semiannual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The talk, “Cleansing the Inner Vessel”, stirred a lot of controversy in its remarks about same-sex attraction. Rex Goode’s review speaks of civility and tolerance for all sides of the question of dealing with same-sex attraction and spirituality.

Beneath the Staves

In many hymnals, there are usually up to four verses printed between the staves. Before the modern hymnals that we’ve grown accustomed to, the music for the hymn tune was printed above and all the text was written beneath the staves and there was no text between the staves. It is always my fond yet […]

The River and the Current

I moved to Sacramento in February. Since then I’ve discovered a lot and found myself getting accustomed to various aspects of the area. Most notably, the river. 5 people like this post. Like Unlike

The Infamous They

Earlier this week, I celebrated my thirty-third wedding anniversary, married to the lovely, talented, and magnificent former Miss Barbara Wade. I’m fortunate to have found whom I consider to be the best woman on the planet. I often get a chuckle when someone describes a very minor accomplishment, and someone sarcastically replies, “And they said […]

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Sometimes there are days when we just want to let go, and give up. Some days we feel like we’re all spent and can do no more to further our own progression or the work of God. But then there are the days that the love which never lets us go reaches down and reminds […]

Of oil, islands, and pilots

My car is burning through oil faster than five foolish virgins. 3 people like this post. Like Unlike

Graduation

I’m thinking quite a bit about graduations this week. My niece just graduated from High School on Wednesday. Hard to believe the baby I held in my arms  before I left for my mission is going to be a freshman in college studying nursing. I guess it’s pretty obvious I’m proud of my niece. Her […]

O Sweet the Joy this Sentence Gives…

…I know that my redeemer lives. It’s always been a favorite hymn of mind and last night or early this morning as I reflected on the text it seemed an answer to prayer. 4 people like this post. Like Unlike

And hope renewed

I wrote this about an event happened a few months ago. But as I think about it, the ideas of persevering and enduring to the end as well as finding hope are still relevant. We live in a world where we have to work hard and sweat and toil, and sometimes it seems the fruit […]

Wearing Pants to Church

Picture it! Fast and testimony meeting May 2010 in my ward. I direct the music each week, so I’m sitting on the stand. I tell myself I’m not bearing my testimony again. I do it each month it seems. I’m just sitting back. My knee hurts from a fall I took earlier in the week, […]