The True Meaning of Easter

I posted the link to the Hallelujah video yesterday on Facebook. Thinking about it, there is more to say than just "We often talk about the true meaning of Christmas, but do we ever talk about the true meaning of Easter?". I will try and tackle here a little bit more.

All month we are having lessons on the Atonement. What is it, what did it do, how does it apply to us? All pertinent questions and all related to Easter.

So what is the Atonement? Simply stated, it is the victory of Jesus Christ over death and sin. By His voluntary sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross and then His Resurrection on the third day, Christ did for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

The consequences of Adam and Eve's decision in the Garden of Eden brought physical death and sin into the world. Imperfect mortal children of God would not have the power to overcome these two consequences. Hence a sacrifice would have to be made on their behalf in order for God's children to have the opportunity to return and live with him again.

Jesus Christ was the only person born on this earth capable of making such a sacrifice. His Father is God, an immortal being. His mother, Mary, a mortal woman born of imperfect children. This combination made Jesus unique from everyone else ever to be born on this earth. He had the power of his immortal Father and the abilities of His mortal mother. He could die, but he could also take his life up again. That allowed him to overcome physical death and freely give that gift to all of God's children.

Having the abilities of both His Father and His mother also allowed him to experience everything that a mortal could; trials, temptations, infirmities, weaknesses. The abilities inherited from His Father allowed him to take on those things and make requisite payment to justice when the laws of God were broken. As Mediator, it meant that He has the power of forgiveness for those actions that violate the Law. It also means that the gift of forgiveness is not free. We have a part to do in getting our sins forgiven. If we do not do our part, then we cannot have the gift of exaltation, meaning living in the presence of God forever. The process whereby we can receive forgiveness is repentance.

This then is the true meaning of Easter. The overcoming of death and sin to allow the children of God the opportunity to live in the presence of God forever and ever after this mortal time is done. Jesus Christ is the only begotten of the Father. He was the only perfect being to live on this earth. Only He could perform the necessary sacrifice to overcome death and sin. He is the Merciful Mediator and only waits for us to come to Him so that we can be clean of our impurities. His is the only name under Heaven whereby man may be saved.

So this Easter, I ask that you take a moment to remember this great sacrifice. To try and understand it a little better. I know that when I do this, I will echo the video referenced above and cry "Hallelujah".

The Thrill of Hope

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. 'Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth. The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoicing for yonder breaks a new and glorious dawn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angels voices! O night divine! O night, when Christ was born. 

To start things off you need to know that I "believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." (Articles of Faith 1:1). This belief leads me to this time of year and the importance of the events that we celebrate.

The title of the post comes from the song "O Holy Night" (first verse quoted above). It discusses the "thrill of hope" that the weary world was waiting for. The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ ushered in the hope of a Savior. The birth of Jesus Christ gave everyone who ever walked on this earth the hope for two things:

1. The resurrection of all men wherein our spirits and our bodies would be reunited in a perfect form
2. Exaltation in the kingdom of God whereby if we repent of our sins we can be cleansed through the atoning blood of Christ and live with Heavenly Father again

The thrill we feel knowing that Jesus was born, lived a perfect life and then selflessly sacrificed himself so that we could be imperfect yet have a chance to be forgiven of our sins. This hope has been offered to all and each of us can take advantage of it.

I have that hope and I try to live in a way that I can take advantage of the Savior's sacrifice. I also try to be Christlike to others and demonstrate my hope in being resurrected and exalted. 

At this Christmas season, may we all be filled with the thrill of hope that the Savior's birth brought to this earth. May we remember that the spirit of Christmas is truly the Spirit of Christ. May we take the time to let others know of our hope in Christ through our actions and examples.

Memory of Elder L. Tom Perry

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed away today. I have one vivid memory of Elder Perry that I want to share here.

The year was 1989. I had entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah in early June. My mission call was to the Cochabamba Bolivia mission. The week before I entered the MTC two missionaries were killed in Bolivia. I entered the MTC not knowing if I would go to Bolivia or not.

During our time in the MTC, newly called mission presidents were being trained also. There were several times where members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to the MTC to speak or to train. As missionaries we would take breaks by walking around the MTC. As we were on a walk one day we were passing by the front door when an elderly gentleman stopped us and asked where we would serve. Four of the missionaries in our district were headed to California and told this man so. Myself and another missionary were headed to Bolivia. We informed the gentleman that we were assigned to Bolivia. With a well known smile he looked at both of us and said "Don't hold your breath". It was then we knew that we would not be going to Bolivia, however the impression was made.

As we walked away we discussed what had happened. We must have been too caught up trying to learn spanish and/or the culture of the people we were going to serve. Our teacher asked us if we knew who we had spoken with. When we answered we did not, he asked us how we did not recognize Elder L. Tom Perry. Again, the moment stuck with us.

I will never forget the smile of Elder Perry. I loved to hear him speak in General Conference. And finally, I will never forget the day I met Elder Perry and had him inform me that I would probably not be serving where I was originally called. He was an Apostle of God, that I know and he will be missed.

Counterfeit

Counterfeit: an imitation to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; forgery.

The term counterfeit has been used recently in many areas of my life. The definition above gives us the meaning of the word and can be used to determine is something is counterfeit or not. First it's important to understand that for something to be counterfeit there has to be a recognized authority that creates the original. This authority can be government, nature, God, etc.

Now if an authority as created (or defined) something, then by definition, anything that is an imitation of the creation is counterfeit. So let's look at a couple examples:

1. The U.S. Government has created and defined the standards for currency and where it is created. Counterfeit currency is then anything that imitates this currency and is passed off as the original.
2. In my faith God has defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Counterfeit marriage would then be anything that imitates this definition and is passed off as the original.

So something is counterfeit when it creates an imitation to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine. Using this definition there are a lot of things in life that could be considered counterfeit based on the acceptance of the proper authority. For me that means if God has defined something, then anything that imitates that something and tries to substitute pieces for the defined entity is counterfeit.

Giving a Hoot at Wood Badge Part 2

So last weekend was the second half of my Wood Badge training. We started the day by getting all our gear ready for our over night experience. Next we had our flag ceremony at Gilwell Field which was followed by a "grueling" hike to our camping area. I finally got to use the backpack that I purchased for a trip to Havasupai many years ago (long story as to why I didn't go on that trip that I won't relate here). Having arrived at our camping area we were instructed on the many things that can be done to have a successful backpacking trip. Afterwards we were allowed to setup our camp before moving into training sessions.

The first session was on leading change. This is not an easy thing to do as it requires getting out of your comfort zone. After lunch we had a session on generations. This was a good reminder as to the variety of people we will work with. Each generation has its own "quirks" and learning to use those "quirks" effectively makes everyone on the team feel valued. From there we went into an interactive problem solving session. In case anyone in that session is wondering you can do the carpet spaces game with 4 people in 8 moves, 6 people in 15 moves, and 8 people in 24 moves. I could go on, but I'll leave it to others to figure out the pattern. The other games were just as fun and it helped to build the patrols into even stronger teams. After a session on managing conflict and a great (and tasty) dutch oven dinner provided by the staff we played the "diversity game". This game included questions that were sometimes easy and sometimes hard to answer. It gave us a good feel for how different people view different scenarios. We also were able to discuss the scenarios and come up with good ways to handle various situations.

The highlight of the night had to be the patrol campfire program. We had everything from songs to stories to skits. We even had the electric glow dance company perform to hits like "YMCA", "Macarena", "Staying Alive", and everyone's favorite "The Chicken Dance". The Bear patrol got us hooked on the "Gummy Bear" song, while the Owl's went on the hunt for a midnight snack that may or may not have involved a staffer. The Bobwhite patrol ran things expertly and fun was had by all.

Day 5 of Wood Badge started off with a conservation project. There was work done on trail maintenance and the Wood Badge Amphitheater. It was good to do some manual labor after having the brain taxed in learning sessions. It was also good that the schedule put this earlier in the day as the high hit 94 or more degrees. After the conservation project we had two sessions on coaching and mentoring and self assessments. After lunch the patrols got to present the projects they were working on. We had everything from Leave No Trace to Fire Starting to Knots to the new Cub Scout Program to Lashing. After the project presentations we had our ticket reviews, and then the rest of the day was spent as a patrol.

The time spent as a patrol was probably the best part of the day for me. We got to cook a meal (Steak, Fish, Potatoes and Onions, and Cobbler) and make homemade root beer. It took us a little longer to get dinner ready, but it was worth the wait. We then went to each patrol and invited them to share some root beer with us. We also got treated to some of the other desserts that the other patrols made. It was good to get to know everyone in a more relaxed type of atmosphere. Later on our Scoutmaster and Course Director Wade Noble visited our patrol site. It was good to hear from him one on one (as it were) and see how much he cares about scouting. We then spent the rest of the night around the campfire telling stories and reflecting on our experiences at Wood Badge

Day 6 started with breaking down the camp site and our last flag raising ceremony. After the assembly we had an Interfaith Worship Service. It is great to have these and see how different people worship. I thoroughly enjoyed the sermons and music during this time. Then came the obligatory group picture. Of course trying to get everyone positioned just right took time and we were all grateful when finally it was done.

We had a session on servant leadership before the closing luncheon. At the luncheon the patrols all had time to thank various individuals who helped us through the experience. It did get emotional and I won't lie, my voice did crack during my moment to say thanks. After lunch we had a session on leaving a legacy (which included clips from "Mr. Holland's Opus") followed by a course assessment and a summary session. Then it was time to clean up the camp before the closing ceremony at Gilwell Field.

The closing ceremony was another emotional event. The culmination of the experience. One last chance to say thank you to the staff and prepare for the completion of our ticket goals. Throughout the experience new friends were made, much was learned and we are all better for having attended.

I want to say a final thank you to the staff, especially Ward, Wade and most especially Mary. Thank you everyone for this great experience and I look forward to seeing you again at mine and others beading ceremonies.

Giving a hoot at Woodbadge

Last weekend I attended the first session of Woodbadge. For those of you who don't know what Woodbadge is, it is leadership training for those who have positions in the Boy Scouts of America. The course is designed for you to learn about all aspects of scouting from Cubs through Venturing. Along the way you are taught various skills while having fun.

The first session is 3 days. You arrive on day one having no idea who you will be partnered up with, nor quite what to expect. After check-in you are led down a trail where you learn about cub scouting with the cub scout motto, law and handshake. After that you have gathering activities. These were things like bean bag toss, marshmallow sling-shot, knot tying, den elimination and marble attack/defense. This allowed for some bonding and getting to know some names while having fun.

After the gathering activities we were divided into Dens with a Den Chief. The Den Chief is your guide throughout Woodbadge. He/she is the one who will help you get the most out of your Woodbadge experience. I think you have to be a little crazy to be a Den Chief, but hey that's half the fun. Once divided into dens the fun really begins. We got some orientation into the scout uniform (it's actually more comfortable than it looks to tell you the truth) and the scout acronyms that are in constant use.

Next you get educated on Gilwell Field. This is a symbolic area representing the field where the first Woodbadge training was held. It is considered a hallowed place and is to be treated as such. It is there that flag ceremonies are held and where instruction is given on various historic flags. It's also the place where you get biased weather and sports reports.

For lunch on day one you have the Blue and Gold banquet. Our banquet had a royal theme (think knights and medieval times). It also does the crossing over ceremony where you go from a cub scout to a scout. It is here that you get your animal avatar and your den becomes a patrol. We have 6 patrols in our sessions (Beavers, Bobwhites, Eagles, Foxes, Owls {the best patrol IMHO}, and Bears). It is here that you learn the "Woodbadge Theme Song" "Back to Gilwell".

After the banquet we go into our first Troop meeting. Elections are held and patrol leaders, assistant patrol leaders, scribes, and chaplain aides are elected. The positions rotate each day so the elections allow for the transitions for the six days. I had the privilege of being the patrol leader the first day. There are two induction ceremonies that happen at this troop meeting. The first is for all participants of the course. We are inducted into troop one and get the neck kerchief for the troop (this after we made our own Woggles which are the sliders for the kerchief). The second induction was for the patrol leaders.

The rest of day one was spent in meetings with instruction and fun. At night we played the "Who-Me" game with our patrol. It was a good way to get to know one another better and helped solidify our patrol as a unit. The last part of the day was a campfire program put on by the staff. This was a good lesson in how to have fun and teach important principles. Then it was off to bed so that day two could be as fun as day one.

Day 2 kicked off with breakfast and then the flag ceremony at Gilwell Field. We then had a troop meeting where two games ensued. The first was called Zulu Toss where the members of the patrol are put into a circle formation and a set of tennis balls are introduced that have to be tossed around the circle in various patterns. It was obvious that I didn't sleep well the first night as my brain decided to take a few moments off and I was responsible for several disruptions to our tossing flow. The second game was called Front End Alignment. The patrol leaders were told to play a particular part in this game which was unknown to their patrol members. Some of them were told to be dictator like while others were to be more accommodating to their members. Both games taught lessons in teamwork and leadership.

We then had a presentation on inclusiveness. This was a great discussion on how we can be better at including others while still holding to the values we believe in. Not everyone is from the same ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, etc background in our session. This presentation allowed us to open up and discuss ways to make each other (and in turn the boys we serve) feel included and an integral part of our patrols and troop. Other lessons included team development (forming, storming, norming and performing) and communication. We then went to project planning as in the second session each patrol has a presentation to the troop. This was not easy as there are many logistics to consider, but I think that each patrol has a good idea and will do wonderful.

The highlight of the day had to be rocket building. These were made with 2 liter bottles, duct tape, cardboard, rocks and other materials. Of course the Owl rocket took the day as it soared higher than the rest (even the staff rocket which they tried to modify so they wouldn't lose :) ). After dinner and patrol meeting it was time for games once again.

The first game was a Jeopardy type game around our knowledge of various scouting items. Unfortunately the Owl patrol did not win this game (in fact we were eliminated from the final round because we had negative points). The Bear patrol did win the game by narrowly defeating the Fox patrol (I didn't think that bears could be slier than foxes, but in this case they were).

The second game was called the Game of Life. There were three scout leaders that ran this high energy game that had us laughing and being raucous. Of course there were rules that weren't explained very well and it took a while for the patrols to figure out how to do well. In fact it was teamwork that was needed in order to get the most points possible.

Day 3 began with breakfast and as we were the program patrol we got to do the flag ceremony. It's always an honor to raise the colors of our great country. After the ceremony we were instructed on how to hold an interfaith service. This was a great way to understand how to have people of different faiths come together and worship in a way that didn't preclude anyone nor dissuade anyone from participating. There was great discussion and many ways expressed so that everyone in a troop can feel included in a worship type setting.

After the interfaith service we went over the EDGE method of teaching. Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable. These four pieces make up an effective way to teach others in various areas. It is a powerful tool that can be added to one's repertoire and used appropriately.

From there we discussed conservation projects and the many ways we can help in our communities and environment. It gave me some great ideas that can be done with scout patrol I am the assistant scoutmaster for. We will also be doing a project in the second session and were informed as to what that project was and how we can make sure that it will benefit those who use the camp when we have left.

The last instruction we had was to watch the movie "October Sky" and review how different parts of the movie demonstrated the various principles we were taught over the past three days. It served as a good review of what we learned and what we can apply going forward.

The last thing we did was have a closing ceremony at Gilwell Field. The colors were retired and had some last minute instruction from the staff before helping to clean up (always remember to Leave No Trace) and head for home.

The three days of training were excellent. The homework we have before the second session has been started (I'll write more about that after the second session). I believe that everyone benefited from the first session and I can't wait to meet up again at the end of the month for session two.

MLS Live Subscription renewed

I know I have a critical eye towards MLS and it's level of play. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to support the league when I can so that it can grow. Yesterday I got an announcement to renew my subscription to MLS Live at the price of ~$65. I did the math and determined that it's $7/month of the season. This being January it actually comes out to $5.42/month. Is that worth it? In my opinion yes.

This season we are seeing a lot of the US Mens National Team play in MLS. While not a top level league, those players are going to get tons of minutes and will have the chance to hone and improve skills that they wouldn't get sitting the bench in La Liga or the BPL. I still don't believe it is the best move to have our best players here. There is a lot to be said for the having players at the right club level when the World Cup comes around.

The only bummer about the package is the blackout rules. Now I'm lucky in a way as I don't live in an MLS market. This means there aren't any local blackouts. But there are national blackouts for games on ESPN, NBCSN, FOX Sports 1, etc. At some point this will change. The nice thing about the package is that I can watch those games at a later date if I so choose.

The taste I got from MLS Live last year has led to this renewal. I may even try my hand at doing weekly recaps of the games and commentating on what I see and how the league may or may not be progressing. Of course I would have to find the time to do this, but hey sleep is highly overrated so it might just work out.

For those of you who are looking to help grow the sport of soccer in our country I encourage you to strongly consider subscribing to MLS Live and seeing the league. If you, like I, have cut the cable, then MLS Live is a good way to see games live and catch up on games you might not be able to watch otherwise. I enjoy having it.

US Best Players Coming to MLS

If all the rumors are true, then the best players in the US Mens National team are coming home. Except for goalkeepers, US soccer stars have a hard time staying in the top leagues in Europe. One only has to look at Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to see that our best just doesn't seem to cut it over the pond. However, that doesn't mean that all our best players should come home.

MLS is a mediocre league at best. I don't think anyone would argue with that. Even with the infusion of English stars past their prime and America's best players, it will still be a mediocre league. Will I renew my subscription to MLS Live? Yes, absolutely, it is money well spent. It also allows me to make judgements on MLS' play vs other leagues in the world.

The bigger problem is with the US Mens National team. If our best players only play in a mediocre league than, in my opinion, we will only be good enough to get out of the group stage at the World Cup. We will NOT get past the round of 16. Other teams will have multiple players that play in the world's best leagues and there is no way MLS can compete with that.

I want to see the US get to the finals (not necessarily win it all) in my lifetime. However, if our boys can't make it in the best leagues in the world, then we will not get there. If they choose to follow the example of Landon, Clint, and now what looks like Jozy Altidore and Mix Diskerud, we will have them at home. That might be good for MLS, but it will be bad for the US Mens National team.

The Gift

Yesterday we had the opportunity to have the Sister missionaries over for dinner. It's always good to have them over and feel of the spirit that they bring. After dinner the Sisters shared a spiritual message with us. They shared a video titled "He is the Gift". After viewing the video each of us was asked what we thought and what stood out to us in the video.

My answer to this inquiry was to state that Christmas seems to be getting pushed into the background noise. We have to be more PC around this time of year and not seem to mention the word Christmas at all. It is a lot different than when I was growing up and Christmas was the focus of the holiday season. My mind also went back to a clip from "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown".

The real reason we have Christmas is because our Heavenly Father sent His Son to the earth. As we read in John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

One of my favorite Christmas carols tells why this Gift was so important:

Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder lay a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angels voices! Oh night divine!
Oh night, when Christ was born.

So this Christmas season let's remember that if it weren't for the Father sending his Son we wouldn't be celebrating. We wouldn't be looking to Black Friday to get deals on gifts. We wouldn't be looking forward to Bad Sweater parties or holiday work parties. We wouldn't be spending time with our families on that eve where the true meaning of Christmas is shared by reading the account found in Luke Chapter 2. The first Gift of Christmas has led to this time of celebration, we must always remember this Gift above all others.

Blackouts

Earlier this week the FCC decided that supporting professional sports blackouts (where local games aren't televised based on certain rules) was something they weren't going to do going forward. It was a big deal for all of about 5 minutes as everyone realized that the major sports leagues could still blackout games. They just couldn't hide behind the FCC anymore.

There are two leagues who could, in my opinion, make a change and no longer blackout any games and probably (note probably) make some more money. These two leagues are MLS and the NHL. I don't expect that the NFL, NBA or MLB will ever change so I don't have much hope. Here are my reasons why MLS and the NHL should get rid of blackouts:

1. Streaming of games - Both leagues offer online packages for games to be streamed to your home. This freedom is great except that you can't get the local teams, nor can you get nationally televised games (NHL always, MLS sometimes). This creates a HUGE problem when playoff time comes around. All NHL playoff games are nationally televised, which means if you get the Center Ice package you can't see them. If you are like me and have cut the cord to pay TV, you have to wait until NBC shows the games and that's usually once a weekend. Matter of fact, NBC only shows some of the Stanley Cup Finals which means I could miss the hoisting of the cup. The NHL has the best playoffs of any major sports league (even diehard NFL guys agree to this), so by not blacking them out and charging a bit more for their streaming package more fans would watch, more revenue from alternates streams (and markets who aren't in the playoffs) would come in.
2. Expanding audience reach - Both leagues are "second level" when compared to the NFL, NBA and MLB. They need a way to expand their fan base and reach new fans. By not blacking games out it provides a way for people to see their games when there is "nothing else on". This is especially big for MLS during the months of June, July, and August when the only real competition is Baseball. By not blacking out games and providing a way to reach other audiences, the excitement of the games can infect new viewers.
3. Fan Friendliness - Fans hate it when they can't see their local teams. Blackouts prevent them from doing so. By removing blackouts, fans will be happier and more likely to purchase other items (such as apparel). This means more revenue for the leagues and teams which in turn can produce better product on the field/ice.
4. Selfishness - I'm kind of tired of being told that I can't watch something because of some archaic rules. We live in an age where we can get access to data 24X7 without much difficulty. It shouldn't be so hard to get access to live events also. We need to bring sports broadcasting into the 21st Century and allow fans access to everything (even if we have to pay a yearly fee).

Removing the blackouts for MLS and the NHL would make me want to spend money on their packages. It would strengthen the bond I already have as a fan. It would make me an even bigger cheerleader for their cause. In short, it would make them and me better.

A Song Stuck In My Head

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? You know, one you can't get out of your head? A song that maybe drives you crazy or makes you think? Yeah, I've got a song stuck in my head and yes it has made me think.

Fair warning: The song stuck in my head is not a Rock, Pop, Country, Rap or Love song. The song stuck in my head is a hymn that I have sung in church hundreds of times. Yes I have the "normal" verses memorized, but there is more to the song. So here goes:

The song is Come, Follow Me. It is a song about following the Savior Jesus Christ and his teachings. The lyrics are as follows:

1. "Come, follow me," the Savior said.
Then let us in his footsteps tread,
For thus alone can we be one
With God's own loved, begotten Son.

This verse is an invitation to walk in His footsteps and become "one" with the Savior in purpose. Following in one's footsteps is admirable when the one is someone who has led a great life and done great good. Following in the Savior's footsteps means that we are striving to become perfect like He is. It also means that we learn his commandments and teachings and do our best to obey and follow them.

2. "Come, follow me," a simple phrase,
Yet truth's sublime, effulgent rays
Are in these simple words combined
To urge, inspire the human mind.

Truth comes to us when we strive to do what's right. The invitation to follow the Savior and learn the truth should urge us on to perfection and inspire us to always do what's right.

3. Is it enough alone to know
That we must follow him below,
While trav'ling thru this vale of tears?
No, this extends to holier spheres.

Verse three reminds us that even though we follow the Savior in this life, we must also follow Him in the next. Life does not end with death, but continues and the Savior's example also continues into eternity.

4. Not only shall we emulate
His course while in this earthly state,
But when we're freed from present cares,
If with our Lord we would be heirs.

Emulating the Savior means loving everyone. We do not judge others but rather show empathy and love. We praise, comfort, console, encourage, etc in order to let all men know we believe that all are God's precious children

The next two verses are not traditionally sung, but when I read through them I knew they were also part of the reason this song is stuck in my head.

5. We must the onward path pursue
As wider fields expand to view,
And follow him unceasingly,
Whate'er our lot or sphere may be.

Life may not seem fair. We may not be blessed with the comforts of this life. We may have trials that wear on us. We may have family that we long to be close to, but for one reason or another cannot. We fight with personal demons so that we can try and live the best life possible. We must strive to follow Him unceasingly.

6. For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow'rs,
And glory great and bliss are ours,
If we, throughout eternity,
Obey his words, "Come, follow me."

Even though life is tough, there is a reward for our efforts. We can receive all that the Father has. We only have to obey his words, "Come, follow me".

I think this song has been stuck in my head because I need a course correction. It could be that I am not following Him to the degree to which I should. Have I showed love to all men? Have I obeyed His commandments? Have I been kind even when I disagree? Have I thought of my neighbor and done something to help him/her?

I don't know all the reasons why this song has been in my head for the last two weeks. I am committed to finding out where I need to improve and try to tread in His footsteps more.

Let's talk about boring

Straight up, I love the World Cup. FIFA's premier tournament played every four years. Unfortunately there are others who don't. And of course they have to come out with the obligatory "Why I'm not watching the World Cup" post. Most of the time they talk about how boring soccer is. So in response, let's talk about sports and boring:

One of the posts I read last week talked about how you could go away, make a sandwich and come back with nothing of importance happening. Ok, name me another sport in the US where that doesn't happen? NFL? you might miss two plays that go for 2 yards. NBA? You might miss a three pointer (not to mention that everyone knows the game isn't really on until the last two minutes). NHL? A couple of rushes (and really what's the big difference between hockey and soccer?). MLB? A couple of batters.

The fact is that all sports can be "boring". They are even more boring when you don't understand the concepts behind the play. Once you "understand" the game, it goes from boring to exciting. Once you understand the various situations in a game you gain an appreciation for what happens during play.

Unfortunately too many people won't take the time to understand the game. They do however take the time to describe how much they find the game they don't understand boring. Kind of silly if you think about it. I guess they are just looking for their 15 minutes of fame...

World Cup Fever

TWO DAYS! Yes I had to scream that out loud. The World Cup starts in two days. Last December I made my picks for the group stages and gave a list of the five teams that I thought would win it all this year.

I have since made bracket picks and looking at those I have the following winners from the groups:

• Group A
• Winner: Brazil
• 2nd: Croatia
• Group B
• Winner: Spain
• 2nd: Holland
• Group C
• Winner: Colombia
• 2nd: Japan
• Group D
• Winner: Italy
• 2nd: England
• Group E
• Winner: France (although no Ribery could derail this one)
• 2nd: Switzerland
• Group F
• Winner: Argentina
• 2nd: Nigeria
• Group G
• Winner: Germany (although no Reus could allow for a first round exit)
• 2nd: USA

I did pick a second bracket, but not a lot of differences. I have either Germany or Brazil winning it all in the bracket. However, my December picks didn't have Germany as one of my top 5 to win it all.

The madness (to borrow the term from NCAA March) begins on Thursday and we will see how things pan out. I'm sure I'll be tweeting about the matches and what's happening all along. I mean after all, I am kind of obsessed.

US Mens National Team World Cup Roster

Disbelief. Yes, US Men's Soccer fans, disbelief is the emotion of the moment. Juergen Klinsman announced his 23 man roster for the 2014 World Cup next month in Brazil. Here's how it breaks down:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Anyone else see a glaring omission? There has to be a mistake! What in the world is Juergen thinking?

In case it didn't slap you across the face (or you didn't this trending on Twitter), Landon Donovan was left off the roster! Let me repeat that, LANDON DONOVAN WAS LEFT OFF THE ROSTER! Perhaps one of the most influential players in the past decade for the men's team has been left off. His goal in the first round against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup saved the US from exiting the tournament early and actually got them to the top of the group. Arguably one of the best players on the team has been left off the roster.

Who should have been left home instead of Landon? Well in my opinion these two:

• Kyle Beckerman - He's good, but he's not Landon good and I would take Landon in the midfield over him right now
• Julian Green - Like his last name he is "green" to the team. Recently "allowed" by FIFA to play for the US

Ok, so now I'm over the shock. Ok maybe not. The big question remains what will the reaction be if the team doesn't get out of the group of death with Donovan at home?

SB 1062 Needed? I think not

There is a lot of talk about a bill that has passed the Arizona Legislature. The bill known as SB 1062 was written to protect religious freedom. There has been a lot of back and forth over this one as to whether or not it is needed or even if it was really written to protect religious freedom. Me? I don't think it is needed. My reasoning however is not the same as what I hear coming from the proponents and opponents.

SB 1062 is not needed in my opinion because I just don't think that people are as vindictive as both sides are making them out to be. I believe that people are good. Call me optimistic, call me naive, but that's how I feel about it. I don't believe that people of a certain orientation are going to go out and target groups who don't believe in their orientation just to get them sued. I don't believe that people of a certain religion are going to go out of their way to exclude people who don't believe in their religion. I know, call me crazy.

I believe that we are better than that. I believe that people are good in general. Are there extremists who can ruin it for everybody? Of course there are, that's why they are called extremists. They are few and far between.


Again, I believe in people. I believe that we are good in general. I believe that no matter our orientations or beliefs we can work together, live together and serve together. That's what we are as a society and race. That is why we don't need SB 1062.

World Cup 2014 Brazil Groups My Take

So the draw took place today and the teams I really want to see do well had mixed results. I'll explain as I tackle the groups and predict what will happen in the group stage.  Overall history states that a South American team will win the World Cup this year since it is being played in this hemisphere. However, I have a feeling this will not hold. My top 5 picks to win the world cup (in no particular order) are:

• Holland
• Brazil
• Italy
• Spain
• Argentina

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here are my group analysis and picks:
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon

The host team is always in the first group and gets to play the first game. Most times if the host is a team that is highly ranked, the drawing is very favorable for an easy path to the round of 16. In this case it isn't as easy as hoped. Brazil will advance, but they will get a test from at least Croatia and Mexico. Cameroon could play spoiler to Croatia and Mexico's chances of making the round of 16. In the end here's how I see it:

Winner: Brazil
2nd Place: Croatia (by either one point or goal differential)
3rd Place: Mexico
4th Place: Cameroon 

Group B: Spain, Holland, Chile and Australia

Once Chile and Australia came up Spain's path to the round of 16 was clear. The best match will be the rematch  of the World Cup Final between Spain and Holland. Chile could prove tough for the European teams, however I don't think it will matter in the end. The group should fall into a neat order as follows:

Winner: Spain (by either one point or goal differential)
2nd Place: Holland
3rd Place: Chile
4th Place: Australia  

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Cote D'Ivoire and Japan

Colombia should have easy sailing through this group. However, Greece is unpredictable and Japan plays hard. Not sure if Cote D'Ivoire will make a splash or not. We should see our first non South American/non European round of 16 qualifier from this group. My take:

Winner: Colombia
2nd Place: Japan (by beating Greece and Cote D'Ivoire)
3rd Place: Greece
4th Place: Cote D'Ivoire  

Group D Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

As the draw was happening, I had this pegged as the Group of Death. I'm calling it the "Group of Death'" (Group of Death Prime for those not mathematically inclined). Costa Rica is the real loser here and should expect to play the role of spoiler as the other three teams will be too much for them. England was one of the teams I was hoping to get a good draw. They did not and a battle awaits them in this group. The group will provide for lots of commentary and second guessing, but at the end of the day I think it will fall as follows:

Winner: Italy (by virtue of beating 2 of the three teams and drawing the other)
2nd Place: England (goal differential over Uruguay)
3rd Place: Uruguay
4th Place: Costa Rica 

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

This group should be easy for the European teams. The question is which one will take the group? Looking at it I believe that it will come down to goal differential to determine the group winner. This will also be the first group where a South American team finishes last. My picks:

Winner: France (by goal differential and I hate saying it)
2nd Place: Switzerland
3rd Place: Honduras (by goal differential)
4th Place: Ecuador  

Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Could it be any easier for Argentina? Yes, they could have been the top seed in Group H. Messi is going to have a field day with this group and may secure the golden boot after the group stage. The battle for second should be interesting and I think that Nigeria has the edge. Picks:

Winner: Argentina
2nd Place: Nigeria (by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran)
3rd Place: Bosnia-Herzegovina
4th Place: Iran  

Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

The real Group of Death. Any of these teams could win the group and any of them come in last place. This is really a poor draw for the winners of the CONCACAF region. FIFA should look at it's "1st Pot" rules and let the winners of the conference be in that group. Seems only fair, but I digress. The group has some very interesting story lines. When Germany plays Ghana we will see brothers play against each other (Boatengs). The USA beat Portugal in the 2002 World Cup and essentially denied them access to the round of 16. Ghana beat the USA in the 2010 World Cup round of 16. This is going to be a tough group to call. Here goes:

Winner: Germany (win, draw, draw - goal differential)
2nd Place: USA (win, draw, draw)
3rd Place: Ghana (draw, loss, loss - goal differential)
4th Place: Portugal (draw, loss, loss) 
 
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea

By far the easiest of the groups. Hand Belgium a place in the round of 16. The other three will put up good fights against each other, but in the end whoever ends in second place can thank the draw for getting to the next round. Picks:

Winner: Belgium
2nd Place: Korea
3rd Place: Russia
4th Place: Algeria

What Should Government Look Like?

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

- Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America (emphasis added)

So let's take each of the words/phrases in bold above and see what government should look like.

1. Perfect Union - A union is a coming together. This means that we should be unified. Government has a responsibility to unite the country. This doesn't mean we agree on everything, it doesn't mean we shouldn't debate. It does mean that we should work together. It does mean that we should be respectful of others and not resort to childish tactics such as name calling and bullying. If our government cannot unite us, then we need new representatives.

2. Domestic Tranquility - To me this means that we should be able to live our lives without fear of upheaval. That in general we should expect that we can go about our daily business without being wrongfully impeded. This means that we need to have a set of laws that protect us and help to deter wrong behavior. It also means that the laws that are created need to be enforced in a manner that is just but yet showing mercy where warranted. Now I know that's a simplistic thing to say, but sometimes the Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) method is the best.

3. Common Defense - Do we have enemies? Are there people who want what we have? Yes to both counts. Therefore we need to have the ability to defend ourselves. This means a military. This does NOT mean we have to involve ourselves everywhere and anywhere. We need to be smart and understand what areas we need to focus on to ensure our safety. This also includes funds to foreign nations when it is deemed that without said funds our safety will be compromised. Notice I said "will" and not "could", these are different. "Will" implies that we have the necessary data to back it up. "Could" implies that the data we have is fuzzy and that there is a chance.

4. General Welfare - To me this means that we need certain laws to keep things in check. Our government today is based on checks and balances. We need to do the same with laws that apply to the private sector. This does mean regulations on certain things. It also means we should have the ability to "audit" certain areas to ensure that in general things are going well. Audit does not mean run however. It means that there are certain standards that apply to areas (say education for example) that must be met. Auditing allows for improvement as well as demonstration of what works and what doesn't. This also allows for certain freedoms from a States Rights standpoint. There are several areas in our lives where we would benefit from this "auditing" instead of having a Federal agency "run" the area.

5. Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity - This means that we are a people who are free. Free to become who we want to become. Free from oppression. Free from financial burdens. Free so that our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on will have the same freedoms. Government is there to ensure that burdens are as light as possible and removed where not needed. Government should NOT create unnecessary burdens and should get out of the way as much as possible.

At the end of the day if the government can provide these five things it should be:

• Right sized - Not too big, not too small
• Efficient
• Trusted
• Helping, not impeding
• Financially responsible - after all it is the citizens money it is dealing with
• Civil

To me, it currently does not meet this test. It can, but there are changes that need to be made. That can be done, but only if we hold true to the framework setup by our forefathers.

Making Family Home Evening More Fun

Every week (mostly on Monday nights) we hold Family Home Evening (FHE). It's a time for all of us (and there are 7 of us not counting the cat) to spend some time together as a family without electronics. Recently Cheryl and I have discussed making FHE more like Mutual Night. For those that don't know, Mutual Night is when the youth (ages 12 - 18) of our church get together for various activities. Some of these are just fun and some are more spiritual in nature.

So yesterday as I was thinking about what we would do for FHE it hit me: Minute To Win It. This activity is:

1. Quick - games last only a minute and everyone can try them
2. Purposeful - You have to think quickly how you're going to complete the task in a minute. 
3. Entertaining - The activities can lead to much laughter
4. Encouraging - The activities allow the non-players to root on the player and show support for completing the task.

Now if you have children with short attention spans (that should be about 99.999% of you, and yes if you're keeping track that is "five 9's") this is a perfect way to keep them attentive without "dragging on". So we implemented the plan and had two Minute to Win It activities last night.

The first was "Spoon Frog". This involves flipping a spoon into a cup. The layout is easy. You need 3 cups and 6 spoons. You lay the spoons so that the stems are on top of each other (two spoons per cup) and then once the time starts you catapult a spoon towards a cup and try to get it to land in the cup. Hilarity ensues when the spoons start flying. For example, Grace flipped a spoon and landed it in a cup that was next to the one the spoons were lined up for. As for myself, I'm so good I got the spoon to land so that it was balanced on the cup.

The second activity was "Cup Stack". Normally you would start with 36 plastic cups, start with one stack (all 36 together), then separate them into a pyramid (base of 8 followed by 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1), then stack them all together in one pile to finish. Now we had to improvise and changed the number from 36 to 10 in order to make it easier for the younger kids. This game also produced hilarity. It also produced creativity. Sam showed an easier way to go from the pyramid to the single stack by sliding the cups together from top to bottom. Levi showed that the perfect pyramid wasn't in the rules and so his pyramid wasn't triangular. Again fun had by all.

Of course after the activities we had to have a treat. Cheryl had made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies earlier in the day (you can ask her for the recipe). We broke those out and of course in my infinite knowledge of all things pumpkin had to break out the whipped cream to top the cookies. For some strange reason all but Grace (age 6) and Lia (age 6) were the only ones who thought that was a good idea.

Anyways, it was one of the more enjoyable FHEs that we have ever had. Even our almost teenager appeared to enjoy it and that is saying something.

We're Going To Brazil, but...

Last night the US Mens National Team clinched a birth in the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be held in Brazil. The 2-0 victory over Mexico in Columbus along with a draw between Panama and Honduras assured us a top three finish in "The Hex". For those who don't know "The Hex" is the World Cup qualifying finale for CONCACAF (basically North and Central America). It involves six teams that play home and away games to determine who automatically qualifies. The fourth place team has a "playoff" against a team from the Oceania conference (this time around New Zealand).

World Cup qualifying is NOT easy no matter what region you're in. Having to play road games in Honduras, Costa Rica and at the Azteca (Mexico's national stadium) are grueling. Sometimes the pitch is not well maintained, sometimes the crowd is extremely hostile, and sometimes the weather does not cooperate (anyone see the US - Costa Rica game in Denver earlier this year in the snow?).

The US has qualified. They have survived the qualification with 2 games to spare. However, the work is not done. I watched a report on USA Today that said the US can relax in their last two games, I disagree.

For starters, the defense needs to coalesce. The last two matches have shown weaknesses in the back four that other teams that make the World Cup will be able to expose. This needs to be worked on and strengthened. Especially on the outside where left and right back have to gain confidence. Too many times last night (and last Friday) the ball was given away by a defender which led directly to either a goal or a very good scoring chance.

Second, a midfielder that can back up Michael Bradley needs to be found. Kyle Beckerman is serviceable, but not up to par with Bradley. In my opinion we need to look at Mix Diskerud. His ability to be calm in traffic was shown last night as he took a deft touch into space and provided the cross that led to Donovan's goal. If Mix can get the confidence to play the same role as Bradley, then the midfield will be strengthened.

Third, starting the game on the right foot. Historically the US has started games slow. I don't know how many times we give up early goals and have to fight our way back. This has to change before we arrive in Brazil. The key to starting the game right is possession. It seems that it takes the US a good 15 minutes before settling down on the ball and stringing possession and building attacks. This is where the game can be lost. We saw it last night as Mexico had several chances early that they were (thankfully) unable to finish.

Juergen Klinsman has done a great job to get the US qualified for the World Cup. With two games left and a few "friendlies" before Brazil, the US should focus on the three areas above. Strengthening the defense, having another midfielder of Bradley's quality (or close to it), and starting strong will ensure that the US not only gets out of the group stage (something that should be expected by now) but will also help to move further into the tournament. The goal should be to get to the quarterfinals in 2014, the semifinals in 2018 and the final in 2022.

Of Roller Coasters and Miracles

I know I promised to update more here, but once again life had other plans. The last month has been a roller coaster ride and it has taken me this long before I could write about it. So here goes...

We were getting ready for school to start. We had purchased everything, backpacks, supplies, you name it we bought it (all except the $150 calculator for the oldest). We were prepared and ready for school to start the following Monday. Little did we know that things were about to change...

My oldest daughter has a good friend that she loves to hang out with. This friend has horses and Ellie has been there several times mucking out stalls and doing some riding. So the Saturday before school starts Ellie gets a call to come over and hang out. Ellie takes her helmet and goes over to the house.

The girls clean out some stalls and decide to take a ride on a horse named Turbo. Things seemed to be going well. The girls had the right clothes on, including Ellie with her helmet. They had been riding a while when it started to get dark and so they decided to head back.

Something happened on the way back that spooked the horse. Ellie was riding in front with the reins while her friend was in back. The horse reared and Ellie's friend slid off the back of the horse. The horse then bucked at least once and probably twice. Ellie was thrown from the horse and landed on her right side. The horse, still spooked, proceeded to step on Ellie's left side leaving a hoof print on her skin.

Cheryl and I get a call from Ellie's friend telling us that she fell off a horse and that her mom has called an ambulance. We were of the opinion that the ambulance wasn't necessary, I mean she had just fallen off a horse how bad could it be? Turns out, pretty bad.

Cheryl arrived at the house seconds after the ambulance. When she saw Ellie she was extremely grateful that the ambulance had been called. The EMTs were awesome. They handled Ellie with great care and concern. They got Ellie loaded into the ambulance and asked Cheryl what hospital to take Ellie to. Cheryl said Gilbert Mercy and plans were made. The EMT examining Ellie turned to Cheryl after a couple of minutes and said "If this were my daughter and she had these injuries, I'd take her to Maricopa County". Cheryl didn't hesitate, "Then we take her there". Good thing she did. Maricopa County is a Level One Trauma center in Phoenix. It's not only level one for adults, but for children as well.

Cheryl arrives with Ellie at the hospital and within a half hour Cheryl was escorted out of the room to do the admittance paperwork, while the doctors started doing what doctors do. Turns out Ellie had the following:

• Two collapsed lungs - one of them punctured, this meant a tube in her chest to drain fluid
• Six broken ribs - two on the right, four on the left
• Damaged portion of her left kidney
• Severe trauma to her spleen
• Bruise on her heart

I arrived later along with our Bishop and his wife. Ellie received a blessing from mine and the Bishop's hands.  She seemed to rest a little easier after the blessing, however the night was far from over. We got results back from x-ray and CT scans that revealed some internal bleeding. A specialist (interactive radiologist?) was called in to perform a procedure to stop the bleeding in her kidney and spleen. The procedure started at about 2:30 AM and lasted until 4:30 AM. All the bleeding was stopped, but Ellie had to keep her right leg still for about 9 hours as the incision point went into the vein in her leg.

Ellie spent over 8 days in the hospital where she was constantly poked, prodded, tested, x-rays, etc. She was a trooper, even though it wasn't easy. She wasn't allowed to eat or drink for at least 24 hours. Then when she could start to eat, nothing tasted good. It made it hard to get the nutrition into her that she needed. Eventually she had to get a feeding tube put in which was one more unpleasantness to endure.

Like I said earlier, this was the weekend before school started. The other four kids had to be ready to go and had to get to school. Lia (our youngest) was starting kindergarten. Levi was starting Middle School. Chaos and mayhem were raining down on us. Luckily, Cheryl's sister Chris was able to come down and spend a week helping out. Cheryl stayed with Ellie and Chris and I took care of the house and other kids.

Did I mention we were also in the process of selling our home? So add keeping the house ready for people to see. Good thing our other kids were very helpful. The house was kept in great condition and this was a big bonus for us while Ellie was being cared for.

After a week, Ellie was still in the hospital. Cheryl's mom came down to take over for Chris and provide a level of help that I still needed at the house. I was able to relieve Cheryl one night during this ordeal and stay with Ellie in the hospital. It was the night the feeding tube was put in and so I got to be there for that. Eventually Ellie progressed enough to get out of the hospital and come home. This was a great day for all of us as Ellie's siblings missed her dearly.

Ellie still had issues eating (and continues to today) as foods don't taste right yet, and sometimes don't smell right either. However her spirits are up and she has started doing schoolwork even though she is not yet attending school. But just when you think the roller coaster is coming to an end, another hill, another corkscrew, another loop-the-loop appears.

Ellie had a follow-up exam last week and there is a possibility that her diaphragm is detached. The point of detachment appears to be near her aorta and this mean a surgery we are hoping is not needed. This past weekend we fasted and prayed that this surgery will not be needed, however we don't know yet and are waiting on word from the doctor. So we will be going in (probably this week) to run some more tests, drain some fluid in the chest and diaphragm areas and determine if the diaphragm is detached.

I titled this post "Of Roller Coasters and Miracles". You've read the roller coaster part. The miracles are as follows:

1. Ellie is alive - The doctor told Cheryl that had this happened in a different country that she wouldn't be with us. Thank goodness for our country, its technology and the professionals in the medical field
2. At every step things were found - The thoroughness of the injuries found and fixed is a miracle. The list above was not discovered in one shot, it was done over days of care
3. Prayer works - I have no doubt that the prayers said on Ellie's behalf were answered and that she has been blessed because of the love of others
4. Ellie will get better - It will take time, but she will get better and she will get to be a 10/11 year old girl. Someday she will look back on the events of this month and see the miracles that occurred
5. The right people - From the EMTs, to the Doctors in the hospital, to Chris, Mom White and Carma Ono, to Ellie's friends and teachers, the right people were in place at the right time to help our family during this ordeal. Without them this would have been much more traumatic to our family.

And so we have our seat belts fastened, the bar has been lowered into place, we are ready (but frightened and nervous) for the next section of roller coaster. We will make it however and we will be stronger for having ridden.