After reading and pondering more on my last post with Bob Stein's thoughts, I realized that there are probably some things I should stand up and speak for. Those who know me really well, (mainly 1-2 close family members, a friend or two, and my wonderful amazing husband); know that I am not a confrontational person. At all. In fact, I try to avoid it as much as possible. I don't like arguments - even philosophical and political "friendly" arguments. They honestly make me uncomfortable. Call it cowardice, weakness, stupidity, childlike, or even naive if you will! But that is me. I may put up a strong "tough girl" front all of the time, but it's really my shield. A way to steer clear of confrontation. As much as I try to keep my emotions in check, they tend to live on the surface most days. I know I hardly, if ever, talk about my religion anywhere or to anybody. And it's because I don't want people, especially those I love and respect, to knock it down, to trash it, demean it, or belittle its significance. Anything that I hold precious and dear to me I keep very close. My family, for example, I keep VERY close to me. I try to call, contact, keep in touch through faceboook, or letters with each and every one of them. Because, as nagging to them as it may be, I love them and never want to lose touch with them.
My belief is the same to me. I am selfish about both, and tend to not want to share any of them. I guess with family, it is all right to be selfish sometimes. But I realize, I shouldn't be so selfish with the things I believe in. (Okay, here comes a little more background of me). I was born and raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I grew up with my parents testimonies giving strength to my own. I remember that I LOVED going to primary every Sunday; learning at an early age of my Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I can still sing many primary songs, and they always bring happiness and comfort to me. I remember the first time I read the Book of Mormon all the way through on my own, and how I felt the first time I prayed to know if it was true. I was thirteen years old, and felt the Holy Ghost testify to me it was true. I also remember reading and learning about our modern day prophets and apostles, and know that they are men called of God. But most importantly, I remember the day I gained a firm testimony and knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of our Heavenly Father. And how that knowledge helped me realize that I am a daughter of God! And He hears and answers my prayers. I know this, because I have seen it throughout my whole life. Jesus Christ is my Savior and my best friend! He is always there, and I constantly speak with him through prayer; both in my heart and on my knees.
I may not shout my belief's from the roof tops, or readily share it with a passing stranger - I think I am still too shy for that. But I do want it known that I believe in Jesus Christ, that He came to this earth to save all men (and women) from sin. I know He gave His life for us, because He loved/loves us that much. I also know that the Book of Mormon is true. And that Joseph Smith was called of God to establish His church on the earth once more. I also want it known that I know our current prophet , President Thomas S. Monson, is called of God to help lead us through these latter days. This is my testimony and my belief's, and if you want to question it fine. I'll answer as best as I can, and pray that you question with an open mind and heart to what I have to say. I will continue to pray for courage and strength to share this belief with others, and hope that they will be kind enough to listen.
For those who may have questions now, I know of an awesome website! :) Most have probably already heard about it, but it's www.mormon.org. I actually enjoy that website myself, and hope you will too.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Not My Own Thoughts, But Definitely Thought Provoking...
After reading this from one of my friends pages, and double checking the sources and validity of it online, I thought this was worth sharing.
Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America .
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary....
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America .
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary....
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)