It's good to be back.  I feel like I really got a lot out of this chapter.  It could be simply because this chapter has a couple of verses which always seem to prick my heart.  Maybe, maybe not.  Anyway... It seems this chapter is all about love.  One of the verses found here is so poignant, it pricks my heart every time...

An interesting concept was brought up during an interesting class I had on Sunday. Last year, I went to the normal gospel doctrine class almost all year and enjoyed almost every class.  We had a fabulous teacher who really brought the class alive with discussion about interesting concepts.  Never once was a spirit of contention fall up...

I just finished reading Alma 7 and, once again, am in a state of mind which makes it hard to actually get any spiritual nourishment from it.  I'm not entirely sure what's going on with me now-a-days, but I don't really like it all that much. Anyway...  Here goes with what I got from the chapter (it being among the best chapters in the ...

Well....  It became time again quickly to have a LAN party after the craziness of the holiday season.  So, we decided to have one two days ago.  It was fairly awesome. I didn't bring my camera, so I don't have a video of this one, but suffice it to say that this one was pretty darned fun.  It started with Eric Hansen and I lo...

Once quite awhile ago, my brother came to me and asked me why we go to church, and where is the doctrine concerning church attendance.  In addition to Moroni 6 : 4-6, I also gave him Alma 6 : 6. Other than that, this seems to just be a transition verse from preaching in Zarahemla to preaching in Gideon. It also speaks about membership of t...

I actually read this yesterday while I was about ready to fall asleep, so, I didn't write anything.  However, I did make a goal last year to read through the entire Book of Mormon and write about each and every chapter, so here's what I remember about Alma 5. Within the first 3 verses, Alma makes it apparent that he is talking to the people ...

Well... Nothing too exciting in my life, but I thought I'd tell everyone that I wrote a new song.  As you can probably guess, it's called Dance With Me.  It's nothing more than a bass-line I came up with and a few more instruments. I've gotta say though, Ryan Phillips, the guy on the guitar is awesome.  I love working with him, an...

Awhile back, almost every gentoo / gnome computer I built would do this wonderful thing called "auto-mounting" all devices plugged in via USB. Well, I really didn't know what or how this was done until it started not doing it any more. So, I went over to my brother's house armed with a determination to figure this stuff out, and I'll ...

I'm not entirely sure what to write, but I know I've got to write something.  I figure I'll just put fingers to keyboard and see what thoughts spew forth. Lately, I've been feeling a bit of a slump spiritually.  It's not uncommon for me to go in cycles of spirituality, but this time, it's a bit different.  I haven't felt the desire...

Well I never thought it would a big Christmas because our family has never really had a big one any ways. I started off trying my best to bring the Christmas cheer to others ( something I never do) but I upset and just couldn't make anybody happy. All my family really wanted was snow, we've not seen snow in so long. My two little brothers have neve...

Hmm....  I can't help but contrast a note like this one being sent between friends today.  Holy cow. If I were to send a message like this to any one of my friends (Pahoran was a good man, and a friend to captain Moroni), I'm fairly sure I would at very least offend them to the point of damaging the friendship, and at most, cause them t...

Wow, it's been a long time since I last studied my scriptures. The first thing which caught my attention is the phrase, "if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost".   I guess that...

Man...  11 straight hours of tracking can sure be....... FUN!  Yup...  Herod the Fink is still on schedule, and after yesterday's session, I can say the end product is gonna be something you've never heard in a Christmas album before, guaranteed. To give you an idea of what was recorded yesterday, the title of one of the songs we ...

 Man... This chapter was brutal.  Wars, wickedness, and death.  Seems to me that this is the result of giving power to Satan, letting him run rampant.  Hating your neighbor and wanting to kill him for the sake of being bloodthirsty.  So terribly sad, and unfortunate. Interesting in verse 5 that Mormon writes that the wick...

Sitting here pondering what to write. I could write about a synopsis of 1st Nephi, which I finished last night, or I could just dive into 2nd Nephi.  I think I'll do the latter. Verse 6 could be quite the controversial verse, for people who didn't like the Spanish conquest, or Christopher Colombus.  Yet, the verse still is what the ...

Well...  All I can really say today is: "Thank heavens for time." The reason I say that, is because if it weren't for time, we'd never get over our sicknesses, and holy crud, I'm about done with this one. Today was the first day Sarah really felt good enough to be home with the kids happy, and healthy for the most part, and if she...

Man, something must be up with the ward I attend, because even though I've been going to the same ward for the last 3 years, the past 6 weeks have been..... very spiritually nourishing. I'm not saying that until then, it wasn't wonderful, but I've never loved going to church as much as I have during the past 6 weeks.  It's weird.  I'm ...

I feel very connected with this talk.  He speaks of the importance of remembering those special experiences we have with the Spirit which enrich our testimonies.  Some of the quotes I love from this talk are as follows: Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and t...

Awhile back, I found that many DVD titles released by Sony weren't able to be viewed with mplayer.  This annoyed me. So, I investigated a bit and found that VLC (another wonderful media player) could not only play them back, but also rip them with ease.  Up until a bit ago, this has been the case since the writing of that article. Whe...

Last week, PoeticIntensity decided to join us again, with an interesting concept.  He had spent the previous evening playing some chords, and decided to make a song out of it that evening.  So we spent an hour coming up with the concept, and another 2 hours tracking it.  We then spent a few more minutes mixing it down until it sounde...

So, the Christmas season is officially here, and I'm feeling more Christmas Spirt than I ever have in my life - by a long shot. I attribute this to two things...  First and foremost, attitude, and making good choices.  To me, Christmas is a spiritual season because it's filled with love, good will, charity, friends, and family.  If...

Me and my good friend Scott chatted for far too long today about a very interesting subject.  The subject was brought about by this article, which, in essence is just a conversation between an aethiestic professor and two of his students. In a nutshell, the professor makes the claim of God creating Satan, and thus creating evil, and thereby ...

"How have you been changed by knowing the Godhead?" To be honest, I don't think I would recognize myself without the relationship I have with God, through prayer, with Christ through his atonement, and with the Holy Ghost's comfort and guidance. Knowing the Godhead,to me, means that I have an incredible force behind my righteous choic...

I feel very connected with this talk.  He speaks of the importance of remembering those special experiences we have with the Spirit which enrich our testimonies.  Some of the quotes I love from this talk are as follows: Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and t...

Okay... So, I've been reading quite a bit about cats lately (in blogs of others) and looking at all the freaking / crazy / awesome cat pics people have out there..  I just have to add my two cents. I grew up with cats.  I love cats.  I pretty much love everything about em', except when they wake me up by their incessant meowing outs...

Oh, man...  I'm still reeling from the video I watched earlier tonight.  I've gotta read my scriptures, though, so.... Here we go. From verse 3 to verse 6 causes me to ponder various questions. If Jesus Christ is the Christ of only this world, then these verses tell us only of the wickedness of the particular nation which crucified ...

The thing which resonates so much with me about this chapter, is how true Moroni is to himself and his God.  Truly, the last thing he wanted to do is to kill thousands of his brothers, yet he had to.  He knew his lifestyle, freedom, religion, and family were more important than letting themselves be put into bondage, and the Lamanites wou...

I noticed in this chapter that even though many threatenings were made to the king of the land of Jershon (most likely an Ammonite), he didn't seem to care at all.  His concentration was on the many poor people of the Zoramites who were coming to his city. Eventually, I believe this action was the tipping point for the wars forthcoming throu...

Even before the speakers begin, I've gotta note that the music played and sung during this conference has moved me just as much as the speakers' messages have.  Simply superb.  Maybe this is because music is playing a much bigger role than it ever has in my life now...  The music and spirit it brings with it is simply sublime. &nbs...

It's late, but I've just gotta tell ya'll what happened about an hour ago. An acquaintence of mine owns a 2007 Porsche Cayman and last Sunday, we talked and he agreed to take me out driving tonight. So, he arrives here with his beautiful car out front, with the driver's door wide open.  I say my goodbye's to the family and head out to th...