The Sublime Roundabout

Put on your yarmulka, here comes Hanukkah Its so much fun-akkah to celebrate Hanukkah, Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights. But when you're the only kid in town without a Christmas tree, Heres a list of people who are Jewish, just like you and me: David Lee Roth lights the menorrah, So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shore-ah Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli, Bowzer from Sha-na-na, and Arthur Fonzerrelli. Paul Newman's half Jewish; Goldie Hawn's half too, Put them together--what a fine lookin’ Jew! [Esus] You dont need Deck the Halls or Jingle Bell Rock Cause you can spin a dreidl with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock--both Jewish! [Esus] Put on your yalmulka, its time for Hanukkah, The owner of the Seattle Super sonic-ah celebrates Hanukkah. O.J. Simpson-- not a Jew! But guess who is...Hall of Famer—Rod Carew--(he converted!) We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby, Harrison Ford's a q...

The light of truth Shines in your eyes You look for something You may never realize The search goes on For an honest one The light within Shines like the sun With lamp held high You search the streets Looking wistfully At all you meet But all is deception All is false All is emptiness Doors, windows, halls And then, like a dove You see the light Like a sunrise breaking After a desperate night The truth is clear The way laid before What must be done And whom it is for The shining glorious light Ends the long, dark night And there is no need to fight What you know to be right It's there in your sight Reaching all depths and heights Your shining armored knight Whose glory is radiant and bright All dressed in white The end of the plight The end of the blight The beginning of delight

The Galatians were from Ireland. Really. OK - maybe they were from France. But they were part of the Celtic people known as Gauls. The Gauls in Galatia were subdued by Julius Caesar in about 50 BC. It's an interesting twist that puts Paul in connection with these people who share a common ancestor with many of my ancestors... They were NOT Jews, so much of his discussion deals with their relation to the covenant made with Abraham. That was discussed in yesterday's post. Paul talks again about love. He notes that all of the law may be condensed into one word - love. If we love each other, we demonstrate our love for God. If we love each other, we will treat each other with proper respect and deference. We will act in meekness and humility. We will readily and freely forgive each other. We will not seek opportunities to injure each other, but will look for opportunities to bless and serve each other. We will share the burdens we all carry. We will exercise self-control in an effo...

"Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!" Rise up this mornin', Smiled with the risin' sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin' sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:") Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right." Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!" Rise up this mornin', Smiled with the risin' sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin' sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:" Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh! Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!" Singin': ...

I am a Utah man, sir and I live across the green. Our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen. Our coeds are the fairest and each one's a shining star. Our yell, you hear it ringing through the mountains near and far. Chorus: Who am I, sir, a Utah man am I: A Utah man, sir, and will be till I die: Ki! Ki! We're up to snuff: we never bluff. We're game for any fuss. No other gang of college men dare meet us in the muss. So fill your lungs and sing it out shout it to the sky. We'll fight for dear old crimson for..... Chorus: And when we prom the avenue, all lined up in a row. And arm in arm and step in time as down the street we go. No matter if a freshman green, or in a senior's gown, The people all admit we are the warmest gang in town. Chorus: We may not live forever on this jolly good old sphere, But while we do we'll live a life of merriment and cheer. And when our college days are o'er and night is drawing nigh, With parting breath we'll sing ...

I know, silly camp song... Funny, but silly. Actually, Abraham (the Old Testament Abraham, anyway) had two sons that we know of - Ishmael, who was the son of Hagar, and Isaac, the son of Sarah. Abraham secured great blessings due to his faithfulness. His faith was tested atop the mount when he was instructed to sacrifice his son to God. Ironically, Abraham's own father attempted to sacrifice him in a pagan, idol-worshiping ritual earlier in his life, which was a pivotal event in the life of Abraham. So to be commanded to sacrifice his son like this was an interesting test. Abraham's response to Isaac's question about the source of the sacrifice is instructive. He said that God would provide himself a lamb for the sacrifice (see Genesis 22:7-8). God did provide a Lamb for the offering. He provided Himself. It was Abraham's faith that brought the blessings. He was promised descendants like the stars in the sky, or the sands of the sea. In other words, he was prom...

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out and meet it.

...at least, as cold as Texas ever gets, which is cold enough for me. Yep. I'm a wimp... :-) Still, there's something nice about spending some time with my sweets. Ammon went to the Temple with the YM/YW, and my wife is shopping. So it's just me and my smooshie, hanging out. And all is right with the world. Now if Utah can get the W this afternoon, all will REALLY be right with the world... :-)

I'm sitting here on the couch in my front room with my sweets. I went to the Houston Temple today. I did three loads of laundry, with some more to look forward to tomorrow. We've been watching some football on ESPN.com, but it's not working now... After the Temple we ate at Cheddars and Douglas Franklin was our server. He did a great job! I gave him a healthy tip... :-) Nothing in life makes me feel quite so good as being around people I love and sharing what I have. In this case it was a financial sharing, but it feels good all the same. It reminds me of Jacob chapter 2 - we should be free with our substance so that all may be rich like us... Ammon has been learning a Manheim Steamroller piece for the Stake Christmas Festival in a couple of weeks. He's also playing organ for Sacrament Meeting tomorrow. The kid is a total prodigy! I'm so proud of him... We bought a gas log for our fireplace but neglected to get the flexible pipe required to connect the gas log to th...

Today I am thankful for you. You know who you are. And you're right, too. It is you. :-) Thank you! I love you.

Listen as the wind blows From across the great divide Voices trapped in yearning Memories trapped in time The night is my companion And solitude my guide Would I spend forever here And not be satisfied And I would be the one To hold you down Kiss you so hard I’ll take your breath away And after I’d wipe away the tears Just close your eyes dear Through this world I’ve stumbled So many times betrayed Trying to find an honest word To find the truth enslaved Oh you speak to me in riddles and You speak to me in rhymes My body aches to breathe your breath You words keep me alive And I would be the one To hold you down Kiss you so hard I’ll take your breath away And after I’d wipe away the tears Just close your eyes dear Into this night I wander It’s morning that I dread Another day of knowing of The path I fear to tread Oh into the sea of waking dreams I follow without pride Nothing stands between us here And I won’t be denied And I would be the one To hold you down Kiss you so hard I’ll tak...

This is not going to be one of my normal posts. If that bothers you then please don't say you haven't been warned... ;-) Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if I've ever had a "normal" post.... LOL! I'm certainly not a "normal" dude, anyway. I have been thinking a lot about what President Monson said in our last General Conference. He said that we need to foster an "attitude of gratitude." I was reminded strongly of the words of President Kimball spoken in a very similar setting. He said that we are very quick to express gratitude to those around us - the bank teller, the public servant, the guy who cuts the grass. But we are often remiss in our expressions of gratitude towards the great Source of all blessings. The scriptures are replete with the mandate to be grateful. Interestingly, with the proper attitude, even negative experiences can be things we are grateful for - once the experience is over, generally it is possib...

Nebel hängt wie Rauch ums Haus , drängt die Welt nach innen ; ohne Not geht niemand aus , alles fällt ins Sinnen . Leiser wird die Hand , der Mund , stiller die Gebärde . Heimlich , wie auf Meeresgrund , träumen Mensch und Erde . (Fog hangs like smoke around the house, Pulling the world within; No one goes out unless under duress, All falls to contemplation. Softer are the hands, the mouth Quieter are the gestures. Secretly, as the seafloor, Dream men and earth.) Christian Morgenstern

There was once a great chief who lived on a tropical island. He lived in a hut made of grass and wood, and sat on a very comfortable chair. This island was visited by some merchants from Europe who spoke of the great palaces that their monarchs lived in. The chief was impressed, but not by the structures themselves, rather by the impressive thrones on which they sat. It was the throne, he decided, that gave the monarch the impressiveness that is so important. So he decided to have a throne built for himself. He gathered all kinds of exotic woods from all over the island - rosewood, palm, teak, etc. His finest craftsmen and artisans worked for months to create a truly impressive throne. When it was finished, the throne was massive. It's high back was almost 10 feet tall, and the seat itself was three feet wide. The throne was truly a seat of power. All went well for a while, but then the chief noticed something troubling: the throne was not comfortable AT ALL for sitting. He took to...

The more you see, the less you know The less you find out as you go I knew much more then than I do now Neon heart day-glow eyes A city lit by fireflies They're advertising in the skies For people like us And I miss you when you're not around I'm getting ready to leave the ground Oh you look so beautiful tonight In the city of blinding lights Don't look before you laugh Look ugly in a photograph Flash bulbs purple irises The camera can't see I've seen you walk unafraid I've seen you in the clothes you made Can you see the beauty inside of me? What happened to the beauty I had inside of me? And I miss you when you're not around I'm getting ready to leave the ground Oh you look so beautiful tonight In the city of blinding lights Time...time...time...time...time Won't leave me as I am But time won't take the boy out of this man Oh you look so beautiful tonight Oh you look so beautiful tonight Oh you look so beautiful tonight In the city of blind...

Paul, in closing up his second epistle to the Corinthians, speaks about weakness. Specifically, he mentions having a "thorn in the flesh." (see chapter 12 verse 7). He does not elaborate on what this weakness is, and I'm sure that there has been a lot of conjecture about what that thorn could be. But it doesn't really matter, does it? You see, we all have such thorns. We are all subject to such weaknesses. And like Paul, we would do well to acknowledge these things and put them in perspective. We are not excused for our weakness. Rather, we must strive to make these weaknesses become strengths. How is this possible? How can I, being weak, be made strong? Paul himself says that he prayed to have this thorn removed, but that it remained with him. Is it possible to have such things removed? Is it even desirable? Paul's attitude is interesting. Once he realized that the Lord would NOT remove the weakness, Paul gave himself completely over to the Lord and to His grace....

Moonlight turns clouds to silvery, shimmering wraiths Terrestrial stars viewed from celestial vantage become Weird amoebas and paramecia of light Gossamer strands connecting glittering pinpricks of amber and aquamarine Ribbons of light connecting sprawling wildfires of human activity Or are they the very fires of Hades itself Wheels of light Grids of light Ships of light crossing a vast dark landscape All passing slowly beneath The wings of victory Carrying me home To the ones I love

2 Corinthians 6:14 and 17 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 17 Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. I know my children are living in a very different world than the one in which I grew up. This is not only due to the generation/time difference, but the geography. Growing up in Utah was a very unique experience. I was blessed with many great friends who supported me and shared my values and standards. I frequently contemplated what it would have been like for me if I had stayed in California. I did not like California, but I wondered how things may have been different - better or worse. Now I can see the affect it is having on my children and their progression. The people in our community are for the most part very good people. Their standards (if not the same as what i...

I think I'm like most of you when I say that I have an ongoing love affair with the scriptures.... :-) I love (!) to read the Holy Word of God. There is nothing that brings me greater satisfaction than the few minutes (not nearly enough) I spend each morning communing with God through the medium of His scriptures. I am so grateful to those who have sacrificed so much so that I can have them here - at work, at home, in my car, at church, everywhere... Even online! What a blessing it is - what a THRILL it is to be alive in such days! Ah, I cannot say even the smallest part of what I feel. This morning I had a couple of thoughts as I read. First, from the Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 26: 8 But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all persecution —behold, they are they which shall not perish. 9 But the Son of righteousness shall appear unt...

Excerpted from The First Circle by Alexander Solzhenitsyn: (Rubin) You know the contract between Faust and Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles will receive Faust's soul only when Faust cries out, "Oh, moment, stay! You are so fair." But no matter what Mephistopheles offers Faust - the return of his youth, the love of Marguerite, easy victory over his rival, limitless wealth, knowledge of the secrets of existence - nothing can force the ultimate exclamation from Faust's breast. Years pass. Mephistopheles himself has grown weary of pursuing this insatiable being. He sees it's impossible to make a human being happy, and he wants to give up the fruitless attempt. Faust, who by now has aged a second time and grown blind, orders Mephistopheles to gather thousands of workers to dig canals and drain the swamps. In his twice-aged brain, which seems to the cynical Mephistopheles to be clouded and insane, a great idea has been kindled: to make humanity happy. At Mephistopheles...

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, or if this is a repeat idea, but it's something that I've come to understand again in recent days so perhaps it bears repeating... One of my favorite books is The First Circle by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. In the book, which tells the story of life in a sharashka - a kind of work-prison for political prisoners who had intellectual skills that were desired for exploitation - some of the prisoners are brought before a much higher authority to account for their work. One of them, Bobynin, is defiant and strong in the face of the authority. He is able to do this for a couple of reasons. First, he is attributed to have the type of personality that is "spiritually superior." Even his bosses at the prison are deferential to him. The line from the book goes something like - you can beat a man into submission, removing all kinds of privileges and status, but you can never get past the spiritual superiority of some people... But ...

So, my secret's out. I love the Primary! For those of you who are not LDS, the Primary is the organization for teaching young children (ages 3-12) the gospel. Our Primary is led by wonderful and inspired women. The children in our Primary are nothing short of miraculous. They're like angels - truly, angelic and beautiful. Yesterday I had the blessed opportunity to sing with this choir of angels. I'm not going to lie - I got a little choked up. That won't come as any surprise to anyone who knows me at all... I am not the best singer in the world, but I like to sing and I LOVE to sing Primary songs. The Spirit is unrestrained and beautiful. The gospel message is simple and pure. And the voices warm even the most stony of hearts... Afterwards two young girls came and shared with me their experience on Saturday. They had been to a baptism of a couple of their cousins, and were SO excited to share! These two beautiful angels were literally on fire - so full of light and life...

I want somebody to share Share the rest of my life Share my innermost thoughts Know my intimate details Someone who'll stand by my side And give me support And in return She'll get my support She will listen to me When I want to speak About the world we live in And life in general Though my views may be wrong They may even be perverted She'll hear me out And won't easily be converted To my way of thinking In fact she'll often disagree But at the end of it all She will understand me I want somebody who cares For me passionately With every thought and With every breath Someone who'll help me see things In a different light All the things I detest I will almost like I don't want to be tied To anyone's strings I'm carefully trying to steer clear of Those things But when I'm asleep I want somebody Who will put their arms around me And kiss me tenderly Though things like this Make me sick In a case like this I'll get away with it (sorry for the vid...

Lover of mine, over the sea Deep blue ocean, waves in motion Where have you gone? I look to the sea Someday, you'll come home to me. Lover of mine, over the sea Welcome summer, sunny weather Where have you gone? I look to the sea Someday, you'll come home to me. (Bridge*) People say I'm the dreamer But I'm not the only one Someday, you will join us And the world will be as one. Lover of mine, where can you be? Welcome summer, sunny weather Where have you gone? I look to the sea. Someday, you'll come home to me. Someday, you'll come home to me.

Grandpa served his mission in Hawaii. He was in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked and had to wait an extra three months before he could get a transport home. He spent those three months helping to identify and bury the dead.

Whenever I hear this song I miss Grandpa Joe... This one's for you, Grandpa!

It starts slowly When conditions are right One molecule at a time Who knows why or how? It just is Perhaps the stars twinkling begins it For it only happens on clear nights When no cloud obscures the heavens Born in darkness These ephemeral jewels Accumulate slowly On blades and tufts and branches Yet it is in the morning that they truly shine Catching the rays from the day at birth The sun turns all into diamonds That clarify with purity and glory Bringing beauty and joy and peace Not to be denied These tiny jewels Are set free from their starting point And they accumulate further Into fountains pure Becoming Waters to swim in 1 Corinthians 14: 25 And thus are the secret of his heart made manifest

(I must be in a musical mood today)... "In Your Eyes" love I get so lost, sometimes days pass and this emptiness fills my heart when I want to run away I drive off in my car but whichever way I go I come back to the place you are all my instincts, they return and the grand facade, so soon will burn without a noise, without my pride I reach out from the inside in your eyes the light the heat in your eyes I am complete in your eyes I see the doorway to a thousand churches in your eyes the resolution of all the fruitless searches in your eyes I see the light and the heat in your eyes oh, I want to be that complete I want to touch the light the heat I see in your eyes love, I don't like to see so much pain so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away I get so tired of working so hard for our survival I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive and all my instincts, they return and the grand facade, so soon will burn without a noise, without my pride I reach o...

Any way you want it That's the way you need it Any way you want it She loves to laugh She loves to sing She does everything She loves to move She loves to groove She loves the lovin' things Oh, all night, all night Oh, every night So hold tight, hold tight Oh, baby, hold tight Oh, she said "Any way you want it That's the way you need it Any way you want it" She said, "Any way you want it That's the way you need it Any way you want it" I was alone, I never knew What good love could do Then we touched Then we sang, about the lovin' things Oh, all night, all night Oh, every night So hold tight, hold tight Oh baby, hold tight Oh, she said "Any way you want it That's the way you need it Any way you want it" I said "Any way you want it That's the way you need it Any way you want it" She said, "Ooh, hold on, hold on, hold on" Oh, she said "Any way you want it That's the way you need it Any way you want it...

Mosiah 15:15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet! Song of Solomon 7:1 Howbeautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! There On the ground Always the lowest But always content A miracle of engineering And natural grace Never complaining Always willing To walk, or stand, or jog They carry us around They anchor us in the storm We case them in leather And strap them with jewels But they are just as happy To walk seven miles Or stand at attention Truly, the foot is beautiful Even though it's the lowest Without it the body would diminish And never be able to stand And thus would fall forever 1 Corinthians 12: 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely par...

Paul wrote some interesting things to the folks at Corinth. Some of them seem a little confusing (the whole - should I marry or not? - question and discussion is very misleading...), while other things are very clear and beautiful (the discussion of charity, for example). But one of the things that I particularly enjoy is the use of building analogies. See, the Corinthians knew their buildings. They knew what a cornerstone was. They knew what a chief cornerstone was and how it is essential for all of the other cornerstones to be laid out relative to this cornerstone. They understood the importance of a solid foundation, carefully laid out and exactly placed, to the success of the rest of the building. They did not employ the arch, which later Roman and much later Gothic architecture would employ to such marvelous effect. But they achieved a simplicity and grace that was never excelled - only matched. The above column is a Corinthian column, identified by the acanthus leaves surrounding...

Release - Middle English relesen, from Anglo-French relesser, from Latin relaxare to relax First Known Use: 14th century transitive verb 1 : to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude ( release hostages) ( release pent-up emotions) ( release the brakes) ; also : to let go : dismiss ( released from her job) 2 : to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses ( released from her promise) 3 : to give up in favor of another : relinquish ( release a claim to property) (From M-W.com) For those who are not familiar with the workings of the LDS Church there needs a bit of explanation. Callings and/or assignments in our Church are made by leaders who are themselves called to the positions in which they serve. They extend callings to those who are worthy and whom the Lord inspires these leaders to call. It is difficult to understand what happens in these rooms where the Lord's Spirit is present and where these callings are made. But it is not som...