I'm Back!

I had not recently updated this nook since who knows when. My last post was still about the country’s presidential elections—bummer. I’m active in Twitter. That was where my preoccupation went.

There’s this Twitter friend I follow, @akosidudoy who tweeted about a poem that made him cry. I went to take a glimpse and there read the elegy. That was the turning point. We exchanged blogspots and here I am writing this comeback note, hoping that I can sustain writing about my thoughts again.

By the way, here’s the link to the poem: Click here. It’s about a mother’s misgivings for not being a better parent. Why don’t you just read it. I hope it does something to lead you into becoming more involved—for those who are raising children, and be more effective parents.

Thank you, Doy Gonzales II for sharing.

On This Election Day

While another PCOS machine malfunctioned in one of the precincts in Tarlac, voters continue to line up in attempts to exercise their right to vote. It’s May 10, 2010, and it’s Election Day here in the Philippines.

As of this writing, 328 poll machines have already acted up—delaying the voting process and causing some electorates quitting and just headed home. Just when COMELEC supposedly regained public trust with this nationwide automated election process, the machines proved otherwise. 

News about killings in the south is also nothing new when national elections occur in the country. 4 were killed in a clash with supporters of a mayoral candidate in the southern province of Zamboanga today. This brings to at least 33 the number of people killed in political violence over the past four months. This does not include 57 people massacred in the southern Maguindanao province in November of last year.

In related news early this morning, bomb blasts hit Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province. Over the weekend, an Elementary school in Miag-ao town in Iloilo province was burned. The school is supposed to be a polling center for today’s election. These and other election related goings-on may continue on even until the counting is over; maybe more so when the counting is done.

After being fed up with mayoral candidacy jingles here in Makati alone (M-E-R-C-A-D-O Mercado… Oh wohoo; Kaibigan mo… Kaibigan ko… WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN, etc.) , thousands more across the country may have also annoyed the public in the past couple of months campaign period. This advertising ploy alludes to Adlai Stevenson when he spoke in the Democratic National Convention in August 18 of 1956 when he said: “The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal - that you can gather votes like box tops - is... the ultimate indignity to the democratic process.”

When we thought we’ve put to an end the Dictator’s power by ousting his shadow to Hawaii and eventually grasping on to the assumed democracy gained in the People Power course of action, we’ve been having troubles, extreme for that matter, every time election season comes about in our nation.

Candidate after candidate in each election year blame the incumbent administration for corruption and dishonesty when these have supposedly been fixed with the installation of Cory Aquino after the so-called dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos. Joseph Estrada (Erap)’s presidential reign proved to be another hiccup in the lives of Filipinos when several more “People Power” uprising occurred.

Up to the present administration, all presidential candidates down to the locals seem to bellow eradication of corruption and treachery as another people’s revolution would not have, and didn’t have the “power” to repel Gloria Arroyo’s determination to stay in the Palace and serve her term.

As an ordinary citizen it’s difficult at times to see the good in the government when downbeat politicians and “would be” politicians deface facts of good intentions by those serving to lead the country. I believe that impressions most people have of the government are formed by opinions and “home-made” facts by those of the opposition. Living up to the ideals of good governance would not impress, let alone convince the opposition. They live to oppose the government, whether it does good or bad.

What had been happening all along is what Michael Novak would call: “Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.”

What has become a trend in this election arena of our lives as Filipinos is voting against and not voting for. Due to the fact that we’ve lost trust in whoever would hold office, we have become indifferent to the integrity, political, and goodwill experience of those running for office. Again, our parody would be formed by opponents’ bashing. I would vote Gibo because he’s intelligent and smart, a top-notch of Harvard and would less likely to bash other candidates. His is an underdog candidacy much like what happened to Obama in the States. I wouldn’t vote him, on the other hand, if he was endorsed by Gloria Arroyo. The alleged agenda would be to push through with the change of government that would still install Arroyo as Prime Minister. In that case, just so that won’t happen, I will vote against Gibo.

Take Noynoy as another example. Although some would deem him as not president able, most would rely on the perception that he would have the same way of thinking as that of his father and mother. If that is the case, knowing how Filipinos are hungry for the kind of life they would have enjoyed had Ninoy been alive and been President, one would vote Noynoy believing that his administration would be a perpetuation of Ninoy’s principles and aspirations. However, if you would come across Carmen Pedrosa’s comment about Noynoy’s “insanity”, and citing psychiatric treatments, one would vote against him.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva would be a respectable bet knowing that he leads a religious organization, been in the political arena, as well, and a God-fearing man. One wouldn’t expect a man like him to put to shame his religious affiliation, ecumenical, and political integrity by way of corruption and deceit. On the other hand, he’s had his share of political clobbering against the inaugurated government. His comments were more of accusations than aspiration for good ascendancy. One would vote against him taking this consideration.

Being born and raised up in Zambales, I would easily clamor for Gordon. He held Olongapo city in dynasty for years and I’ve seen his hands in the development and success of the city and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). He is beloved in that part of the nation, but hearing about his cases of land property and other scandals, I may vote against him.

Many more cases in point can be thought of when leaning towards who the best bet for President is, or for Mayor, or for whatever position this election would entail. I wouldn’t know who would be best until one has proven capacity and governance by way of how the nation would become; more so when one takes adequate courage and charisma in uniting the people, even the sundry political parties. Crucial is this day in determining that type of future when most are voting against instead of for a scrupulous candidate. Each stand for a principle and a platform of either change or continuation of present problems, but whoever prevails in the battle for offices in leadership of this nation, our people should start to think of sustaining that majority, and act in support and respect.

I am saddened that bombings, killings, and some sort of chaos had to happen during Election Day. Whoever becomes victor in the presidential race, my hopes are placed in respect to the office—that in due time God would show evidence of support; and that the people and government work together for a cause we Filipinos had been fighting for until the dawn of democracy in our country. We still continue to fight for true democracy. I hope for the day when politicians and fellow citizens become pleased and comfortable with the government—that all work, aspire, and build together for the benefit of our country. Until then, I continue to uphold an article of my faith: We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

In this light I will support the elected President, knowing that God Almighty will not let our country be led towards a more miserable plight.

It's Just Christmas!

A friend of mine posted this on his Facebook wall a few days ago: "reasons why i hate december in general and christmas in particular: 1.) people are feigning to be good just because it's supposed to be all that time-of-giving bs. 2.) you spend to much money because of number one. 3.) all those lights, decors and whatnot are so cliche and fake."

Again, it's the time of year when the world of Christendom seems to slow down as its people savor & celebrate Christ's birth--a time of year when everything seems brighter, redder, & greener! It's Christmas time.

It's melancholic to conceive that what happens during this time of year annoys some, if not a lot of people just because all seem to change their color from black to white. The setting in of December seem to paint faces and behaviors with beaming colors that's almost incredible to believe. On the other side of the spectrum, there are new & more expensive decors in the market. Houses & buildings are adorned with new "Christmas" concepts that are hardly recognizable as related to Jesus' birth. People become so creative that they can shove Santa Claus into the toilet bowl, take a picture & call it a Christmas decor. New does not necessarily mean meaningful. In most cases, new means weird and non-sense--often taking the connotation away from what the season is all about.

Almost a year ago I wrote a piece about people taking down their good attitudes together with their physical Christmas ornamentations after the celebration. I want to revisit that article and hope that I, in my own little way, be an instrument of reminding you about what this season is all about.

Here's part of that article:

The Christmas season seemed to have become an excuse for not being deleterious. It has become a habit to think that once a year we become extra kind, helpful, & generous, and that we can only “allow” ourselves “some happiness” during Christmas time. What makes Christmas a time to place our misbehaviors on hold? What sets it apart from any other occasion throughout the year? What’s Christmas all about?

Over 2000 years ago, a child was born of Mary and Joseph. This child and event was seen & prophesied by a prophet named Isaiah long before it happened. It was declared by an angel (Gabriel) that this child will be called Jesus, and that he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. His birth was a manifestation of God’s love: “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” (John 3:16).

Isaiah declared: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: …
“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4–5).

This is the lifeblood of Christmas. We all know the story, but sometimes the purpose of which becomes trifling.

The “reason for the season”, as the saying goes, is Christ. It is the time of year when Christians celebrate his birth. He is the personification of all uprightness & the source of goodness & love in the world. He has taught: “Love one another, as I have loved you…” (John 13: 34-35). “Whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him, as well.” When the woman taken in adultery was set before Jesus and the Pharisees ought to have her stoned, he reminded: “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). It was He who also taught in parables.

Who has not become acquainted with Parables such as the “Good Samaritan” & the “Prodigal Son”? When it was time for him to be taken in by Roman soldiers, preparatory to his crucifixion, he restored a soldier’s ear which was severed by one of his followers, in his defense. Such act of mercy was culminated on the cross when he said: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). His ministry and life were replete with acts of kindness & forgiveness: “If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him”.

In the great Plan of Happiness, we must be saved from our sins. The perfect and sinless offering for sin was none other than Christ. He is the Son of God and the only Begotten of the Father, in the flesh. There was none other who could have possibly taken our sins upon him and suffered the way Jesus did. There had to be an atonement made.

Amulek, a prophet of the new world has spoken about this: “And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

“For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made” (Book of Mormon, Alma 34: 8-9).

Christmas should remind us of the mission and role of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is set apart from all other events & celebrations because it is by him and through him that we are saved and can receive eternal life.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Christ has underscored the significance of his role when he said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

For us who believe and follow Christ, Christmas should just be another ordinary day in being the kind of people we ought to be. When he visited the Americas, Christ taught that we ought to be like him: “Therefore, what manner of men [& women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27:27).

What then is the substance of being nice, forgiving, more loving, more kind, & more generous during Christmas season when these attributes should become natural to us and should be demonstrated at all times, in whatever season of the year. The adorning of the Christmas tree, and the setting up of lights and other Christmas decors had become symbolic of our behaviors in life, in that we always take them down after the holiday. We tend to go back being unforgiving, unkind, impatient, irritable, selfish, hateful, & miserable. The good things that adorn in the Christmas season are taken down together with the material ornamentations we set up for the celebration.

A modern prophet, Howard Hunter once said: “When we take Christ into our lives as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force, the real Christmas comes”. When we accept Christ and His teachings, and when we repent of our sins, we are baptized into His fold. That is the time when we start adorning ourselves with His (Christlike) attributes. We become living trees with ornaments such as humility, charity & love, obedience & diligence, faith and hope. These become a part of us and do not need to be taken down or suspended for another year. We grow into living examples of the Savior.

It's just sad to note that for some people, they start their change process on December as preparatory for an alleged New Year's resolution. This explains the somewhat superficial shift of behaviors. They do it because they expect something "good" in return. Blame it to the song "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". The naughty become nice just so they get a gift from Santa this Christmas. The change is brought about for the wrong reason, that's why come January, they all go back to being "naughty".

Well, these are just my thoughts. I hope that in a way, I turned your thoughts toward the real reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!

"CRASH" and Learn

"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.” - Graham

“Crash”—you should see it.

Themed around differences in color of people, the film brings out a profound lesson about love & hate. All along I thought that these two words, love and hate, were opposites—until I heard Brad Wilcox, at one time, quote Elie Wiesel about how they’re not. “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”

Rick & Jean walks out of a café to a street in L.A. Two black youngsters (Anthony & Peter) mob them and steal their car. Prior, one of the mobsters noticed Jean steered clear from them (because of "blind fear") as if they didn’t exist. It wasn’t until towards the end of the movie that she became conscious of the existence of good among “colored people.” That type of indifference from Jean set off the mobsters to initiate their ploy.

Officer Ryan, who seemed to be weary of black people, who used to work with his father, harasses a couple (Cameron & Christine) caught making out in their car. Cameron was obviously frightened at the fact that two white policemen came to look into them. It was an outrage when Officer Ryan started to put his hands on Christine's body & discreetly molested her. Cameron just stood and pleaded in distress.

A Persian man (Farhad) with his daughter (Dorri) buys a gun for the purpose, perhaps, to guard their own store. People around them think they were Arabs. He’s apprehensive about people and sensitive to believe that he and his family are detested in their community. He hires a locksmith (Daniel) to fix his door lock. He was told to fix his door instead as there was nothing wrong with the lock. He was so narrow-minded that he refused to pay the man. Later his store got mugged and he blamed Daniel for the unfortunate incident. The insurance company’s rejection to cover for the damages furthered his resentment that he went to look for Daniel with the intention to kill.

These are but instances in the movie that demonstrated bigotry. People are either afraid or are upset with differences that they begin to hate or become indifferent towards other people. Sometimes it’s got nothing to do with color. We sometimes become intolerant of someone who talks a lot or someone who’s fat or too skinny. We become annoyed with people, whom we think interferes with our personal relationships, which causes derailing of our usual life’s pattern. When we see a person slightly different from how we look like, we become oblivious of that person’s activities. We become indifferent.

I do not excuse myself from such deed. When I was younger I only befriended nice looking people. I did not feel comfortable or too willing to be nice with people who looked unattractive. That was bad.

When I saw this movie, every thought and act I have had in my life relating to indifference and hate came flashing through my mind. I’ve seen films about racism and intolerance, but not as thought-provoking as this one. I’ve had my share of lessons that taught me to love unconditionally, and watching the prospects of people doing good deeds to previously abhorred persons give me a sense of appreciation.

My favorite part in the movie was when Officer Ryan who discreetly molested Christine saved her from being burned from a car accident. When Christine recognized him she refused his assistance with all her energy. “Is there anybody else who can help? Anyone, not you, get your hands off me.” That’s understandable. But it took this incident to help Christine realize that a first impression should not always last—that a bad act does not tell a whole lot about a person. Officer Ryan who did, perhaps, the most disrespectful and despicable deed to her was the one who saved her life. He almost lost her, but with all of his strength he made amends so she can have a 2^nd chance on life.

Jean, who despised people of color— people, whom she thinks less superior than her, slipped and fell on the stairs. Her good friend for 10 years denied helping her because she was getting a massage. Nonetheless, she was brought to the hospital by her Hispanic house helper, Maria. She took care of her during recovery. When she saw and felt the genuine concern of Maria, she held her tight showing her appreciation and perhaps apology for not being too nice most often than not.

Farhad who went to look for Daniel, the locksmith, found enlightenment, instead. He found Daniel and started to point his gun towards him & struggled with him. Daniel’s daughter, Larah, believing that she was handed down an invisible cloak of protection, ran towards his dad. By the time she ran up to his dad, the trigger was pulled and she was hit. Farhad was dumbfounded to find the kid unharmed. He felt terribly bad for shooting a little girl. He went home amazed and had his mind and heart opened. He began to change and look at things differently. Little does he know that Dorri bought blanks for his gun at the store earlier in the story.

Why do we have to wait until we get hurt to show our love for people? Why do we hurt the ones we love? Why do we have to be so indifferent to people who do not look the way we do, or think or act the same way as we do. Why do we treat those different from us as “little people?”

The movie taught me to look at all people the same way. No matter how bad a person can be, there is an innate goodness that comes out when needed. Things happen, whether bad or good, to open our eyes and see more clearly all sides of people, regardless of color or circumstance.

We do not need to wait for bad things to happen in order for us to appreciate the goodness of people. We have been too preoccupied with ourselves, being at ease in our comfort zones that we become insensitive of others. We become too busy looking at our way, mending our own issues that other people’s problems become overly insignificant.

We are not alone in this world. Sometimes we get to be taught the lesson of becoming aware of what’s happening around us. People make up our lives. We are interrelated, weaved into one tapestry. The colors make this tapestry beautiful. The more we appreciate the colors, the more we become tolerant and loving.

We do not need to “CRASH” into people to make us realize the worth of living in goodwill towards each other. However, sometimes, it has to happen. We need to be taught a lesson, in one way or another.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Special thanks to RC who convinced me to watch a list of really good movies. "Crash" is one of them.

Used to be... Not Anymore!

Perhaps it was timely that the message at church this morning was about repentance. Of course this topic is applicable at any point in time, but the scriptures quoted were classic and beautiful—of which I want to write about today. First I would like to share 3 stories:

1. Paul used to be a persecutor of Christians. He hated the followers of Jesus. He wanted to see them all locked up in prison. On his way to Damascus, the Lord appeared to him. His life from then onwards was never the same again. He used to be a persecutor, but not anymore!

2. A woman was brought before Jesus in the temple. The Pharisees caught her in the act of adultery. They were condemning her for what she did. The Law of Moses says to stone her. They ask what Jesus would say. He stood up and said, “All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” When the woman’s accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

If the woman went and sinned no more, then she could say to the world, “I used to be an adulterer, but not anymore!”

3. A young son obtained his portion of the family estate as an early inheritance. Once received, the son immediately took off. He went away to a distant land and began to waste his fortune on wild living. When the money ran out, a sever famine hit the country and the son finds himself in terrible circumstances. He took a job feeding pigs. He was so destitute that he even longed to eat the food assigned to the pigs.

The young man finally came to his senses, remembering his father. In humility, he recognized his foolishness, and decided to return to his father and ask for forgiveness and mercy. The Prodigal Son was repentant. His father, who had been watching and waiting, received his son back with open arms of compassion. Perhaps the son cried to his father, “I used to be bad, but not anymore!”
Some of us may find ourselves in either of the circumstance described in the stories above. Or, we may even relate to all, although not in the same degree. The essence of the stories is the amazing power of repentance and forgiveness—that it is true and real that a person can change.

Our life is but made up of a variety of actions. These actions may either make or break us. Even a guided life may turn out to be prodigal in one way or the other.

I turn to the story of an old violin. It was battered and scarred, yet found itself in an auction. The auctioneer thought it a waste of time, but still asked those who would want to bid on the old violin. "Who'll start bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar - now who’ll make it two -Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three.”

No one made a bid. Who would want to bid on a seemingly worthless, useless musical instrument?
Then from the back of the room, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow. He wiped the dust from the old violin & tightened the strings. Then, he began to play a pure and sweet melody.

When the music ceased, the auctioneer began to start the bidding from a thousand dollars. Still, no one made their bid. Some people cheered, but some of them cried. They didn’t understand what changed its worth. It was because of the touch of the Master’s hand. I now quote from the poem:

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

But changing to become a better person or a man of God, may not last until another persuasion comes. What then, can make one firmly say, “Used to be, not anymore!”

Once our lives and hearts are touched by the Savior’s love, we become humbled and begin to not “look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.” We feel to love the Savior back which drives us to avoid sin. We cannot say “not anymore!” and stay firm at that, until we let the Lord touch our hearts and fix our lives.

I end with these words of Nephi—an ancient American prophet. I love this part of the book of Nephi. Truly this is probably the most beautiful psalm I ever read. [2 Nephi 4:16-35]

Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time. And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

Even if we think we are walking in the path of right, at some point we get tempted to go astray, relax, and get curious about things—or even go back to who and what we used to be. Sometimes I tend to believe that to be typical—that the happenings in life can be repeated and will just turn into a cycle. But the words of God are supposed to bring permanence in one’s resolve to change.

When King Benjamin preached the word of God to the people, “they all cried with once voice, saying : Yeah, we believe all the words of which thou hast spoken unto us; and also we know of their surety and truth, because the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which was wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil , but to do good continually.”

“To do good continually”, to say “not anymore” requires more than human effort. Once we hear the Word, and live accordingly, and once the Spirit touches our heart, we are then converted into a being incapable of becoming a prodigal—a being whose choices are in tuned with the will of God. To reach this ultimately, the Lord gives us reminders in almost every place we go, and in every action we do. Disobedience or wrongdoing blurs our vision and sensitivity to the influence of God. We need to be vigilant as the adversary doubles or even triples his effort to lead us away from righteousness and bring us to misery.

I’m working to grasp that point where I can say that a “mighty change” had been shaped in my heart, so that the Lord can work in making me “shake at the appearance of sin”. I want to be able to say that “I used to be, but not anymore!”

Christmas Moving Forward

The year is about to go. Soon the trees that we have put up and the lights we’ve adorned our houses with will have to be taken down. The mistletoes, the wreaths, and lanterns will all have to go to their hiding places once again. It will not be until another year for them to be restored.

The jovial feeling of the season will take a step back and life goes back to its conventional mode. It’s somewhat forlorn that once in a year this poem comes along:

It's Christmas Time Again
(by Bob Lazzar-Atwood)

Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Call a truce with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Give your differences a breather
And declare a time of peace,
Don't let angry feelings taint
The precious time you have to spend,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It's a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
So allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

The Christmas season seemed to have become an excuse for not being deleterious. It has become a habit to think that once a year we become extra kind, helpful, & generous, and that we can only “allow” ourselves “some happiness” during Christmas time. What makes Christmas a time to place our misbehaviors on hold? What sets it apart from any other occasion throughout the year? What’s Christmas all about?

Over 2000 years ago, a child was born of Mary and Joseph. This child and event was seen & prophesied by a prophet named Isaiah long before it happened. It was declared by an angel (Gabriel) that this child will be called Jesus, and that he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. His birth was a manifestation of God’s love: “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” (John 3:16).

Isaiah declared: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: …
“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4–5).

This is the lifeblood of Christmas. We all know the story, but sometimes the purpose of which becomes trifling.

The “reason for the season”, as the saying goes, is Christ. It is the time of year when Christians celebrate his birth. He is the personification of all uprightness & the source of goodness & love in the world. He has taught: “Love one another, as I have loved you…” (John 13: 34-35). “Whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him, as well.” When the woman taken in adultery was set before Jesus and the Pharisees ought to have her stoned, he reminded: “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). It was He who also taught in parables.

Who has not become acquainted with Parables such as the “Good Samaritan”& the “Prodigal Son”? When it was time for him to be taken in by Roman soldiers, preparatory to his crucifixion, he restored a soldier’s ear which was severed by one of his followers, in his defense. Such act of mercy was culminated on the cross when he said: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). His ministry and life were replete with acts of kindness & forgiveness: “If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him”.

In the great Plan of Happiness, we must be saved from our sins. The perfect and sinless offering for sin was none other than Christ. He is the Son of God and the only Begotten of the Father, in the flesh. There was none other who could have possibly taken our sins upon him and suffered the way Jesus did. There had to be an atonement made.

Amulek, a prophet of the new world has spoken about this: “And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

“For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made” (Book of Mormon, Alma 34: 8-9).

Christmas should remind us of the mission and role of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is set apart from all other events & celebrations because it is by him and through him that we are saved and can receive eternal life.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Christ has underscored the significance of his role when he said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

For us who believe and follow Christ, Christmas should just be another ordinary day in being the kind of people we ought to be. When he visited the Americas, Christ taught that we ought to be like him: “Therefore, what manner of men [& women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27:27).

What then is the substance of being nice, forgiving, more loving, more kind, & more generous during Christmas season when these attributes should become natural to us and should be demonstrated at all times, in whatever season of the year. The adorning of the Christmas tree, and the setting up of lights and other Christmas decors had become symbolic of our behaviors in life, in that we always have to take them down after the holiday. We tend to go back being unforgiving, unkind, impatient, irritable, selfish, hateful, & miserable. The good things which adorned us throughout the Christmas season were taken down together with the material ornamentations we’ve set up for the celebration.

Howard Hunter once said: “When we take Christ into our lives as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force, the real Christmas comes”. When we accept Christ and His teachings, and when we repent of our sins, we are baptized into His fold. That is the time when we start adorning ourselves with His (Christlike) attributes. We become living trees with ornaments such as humility, charity & love, obedience & diligence, faith and hope. These become a part of us and do not need to be taken down or suspended for another year. We grow into living examples of the Savior.

As we welcome the New Year, and as we take down those material and physical ornaments along the way, may we be reminded to keep the lessons of Christmas & retain the real Christmas within our souls.

I have thought about changing some phrases in the poem to make it sound more lasting.

It’s Christmas

Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself the same happiness
Which Christmas always brings.

Work to reunite with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Understand all of your differences
And declare a time of peace,
Don't ever let angry feelings taint
The precious time you spend,
And allow yourself the same happiness
Which Christmas always brings.

Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It's a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
And allow yourself the same happiness
Which Christmas always brings.

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Image taken from Reflections of Christ by Mark Mabry. Visit the site www.reflectionsofchrist.org

On Prop 8 Issue

The battle continues between supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 in the state of California, in the U.S. This proposition is a constitutional ammendment that ensures the protection of marriage between a man and a woman. This had to come out since recently, the California Supreme Court overturned the state's laws on marriage extending the same rights to gay people.

Proposition 8 came out as a petition to revert court ruling and bring back the definition of marriage to the traditional. Campaigns began and the division was labeled 'Yes on 8' and 'No on 8'. This issue had to be fought through an election.

The people of California voted in support of Prop 8, with 'Yes on 8' campaign winning by 52.5% compared to 'No on 8's 47.5%. Thus, the state's Supreme Court ruling allowing gay people to wed was overturned. With this, protests from gay-marriage supporters pushed up in anger, calling those who support Prop 8 as 'haters'.

I support Proposition 8 because I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, as prescribed by God, whom I have faith in. I do not hate people who oppose this belief. I have gay friends and I respect them. I believe I share this same feeling with those who stand with me in support of banning gay marriage.

To further discuss this issue, here's a good read from Orson Scott Card, a renowned writer.

State job is not to redefine marriage

The first and greatest threat from court decisions in California and Massachusetts, giving legal recognition to "gay marriage," is that it marks the end of democracy in America.

These judges are making new law without any democratic process; in fact, their decisions are striking down laws enacted by majority vote.

The pretext is that state constitutions require it -- but it is absurd to claim that these constitutions require marriage to be defined in ways that were unthinkable through all of human history until the past 15 years. And it is offensive to expect us to believe this obvious fiction.

It is such an obvious overreach by judges, far beyond any rational definition of their authority, that even those who support the outcome of the decisions should be horrified by the means.

We already know where these decisions lead. We have seen it with the court decisions legalizing abortion. At first, it was only early abortions; within a few years, though, any abortion up to the killing of a viable baby in mid-birth was made legal.

Not only that, but the courts upheld obviously unconstitutional limitations on free speech and public assembly: It is now illegal even to kneel and pray in front of a clinic that performs abortions.

Do not suppose for a moment that the "gay marriage" diktats will not be supported by methods just as undemocratic, unconstitutional and intolerant.

Already in several states, there are textbooks for children in the earliest grades that show "gay marriages" as normal. How long do you think it will be before such textbooks become mandatory -- and parents have no way to opt out of having their children taught from them?

And if you choose to home-school your children so they are not propagandized with the "normality" of "gay marriage," you will find more states trying to do as California is doing -- making it illegal to take your children out of the propaganda mill that our schools are rapidly becoming.

How dangerous is this, politically? Please remember that for the mildest of comments critical of the political agenda of homosexual activists, I have been called a "homophobe" for years.This is a term that was invented to describe people with a pathological fear of homosexuals -- the kind of people who engage in acts of violence against gays. But the term was immediately extended to apply to anyone who opposed the homosexual activist agenda in any way.

A term that has mental-health implications (homophobe) is now routinely applied to anyone who deviates from the politically correct line. How long before opposing gay marriage, or refusing to recognize it, gets you officially classified as "mentally ill"?

Remember how rapidly gay marriage has become a requirement. When gay rights were being enforced by the courts back in the '70s and '80s, we were repeatedly told by all the proponents of gay rights that they would never attempt to legalize gay marriage.

It took about 15 minutes for that promise to be broken.And you can guess how long it will now take before any group that speaks against "gay marriage" being identical to marriage will be attacked using the same tools that have been used against anti-abortion groups -- RICO laws, for instance.

Here's the irony: There is no branch of government with the authority to redefine marriage. Marriage is older than government. Its meaning is universal: It is the permanent or semipermanent bond between a man and a woman, establishing responsibilities between the couple and any children that ensue.

The laws concerning marriage did not create marriage, they merely attempted to solve problems in such areas as inheritance, property, paternity, divorce, adoption and so on.

If the government passed a law declaring that grey was now green, and asphalt was specifically designated as a botanical organism, would that make all our streets into "greenery" and all our parking lots into "parks"?

If a court declared that from now on, "blind" and "sighted" would be synonyms, would that mean that it would be safe for blind people to drive cars?

No matter how sexually attracted a man might be toward other men, or a woman toward other women, and no matter how close the bonds of affection and friendship might be within same-sex couples, there is no act of court or Congress that can make these relationships the same as the coupling between a man and a woman.

This is a permanent fact of nature.(In another column I will talk seriously and candidly about the state of scientific research on the causes of homosexuality, and the reasons why homosexuality persists even though it does not provide a reproductive advantage.)

There is no natural method by which two males or two females can create offspring in which both partners contribute genetically. This is not subject to legislation, let alone fashionable opinion.Human beings are part of a long mammalian tradition of heterosexuality. No parthenogenic test tube procedure can alter what we, by nature, are. No surgery, no hormone injections, can change X to Y or make the distinction nonexistent.

That a few individuals suffer from tragic genetic mixups does not affect the differences between genetically distinct males and females.

That many individuals suffer from sex-role dysfunctions does not change the fact that only heterosexual mating can result in families where a father and a mother collaborate in rearing children that share a genetic contribution from both parents.

Married people are doing something that is very, very hard -- to combine the lives of a male and female, with all their physical and personality differences, into a stable relationship that persists across time.When they are able to create children together, married people then provide the role models for those children to learn how to become a man or a woman, and what to expect of their spouse when they themselves marry.

When a heterosexual couple cannot have children, their faithful marriage still affirms, in the eyes of other people's children, the universality of the pattern of marriage.

When a heterosexual couple adopts children who are not their genetic offspring, they affirm the pattern of marriage and generously confer its blessings on children who might otherwise have been deprived of its benefits.

Some marriages are better than others; some fail utterly because of the malfeasance of one or both of the partners.

That only makes it all the more vital that the whole society combine to help husbands and wives succeed at marriage.

We need the same public protection of marriage that we have of property. If we did not all agree that people continue to own things that are not in their immediate possession, then you could not reasonably expect to come home and find your house unoccupied.We agree, by law, to make it a crime to take what belongs to others -- even when you need it more than they do. Every aspect of our lives is affected by this, and not for a moment could a society exist that did not protect the right of property.

If property rights were utterly abolished, and you could own nothing, you would leave that society as quickly as possible -- or create a new society that agreed to respect each other's property rights and protected them from outsiders who would attempt to take away your property.

Marriage is, if anything, more vital, more central, than property.Husbands need to have the whole society agree that when they marry, their wives are off limits to all other males. He has a right to trust that all his wife's children would be his.

Wives need to have the whole society agree that when they marry, their husband is off limits to all other females. All of his protection and earning power will be devoted to her and her children, and will not be divided with other women and their children.

These two premises are so basic that they preexist any known government. In most societies through history, failure to live up to these commitments has led to extreme social sanctions -- even, in many cases, death.

What used to be informally protected by the customs of villages and tribes is now supposedly protected by governments and laws.

Only when the marriage of heterosexuals has the support of the whole society can we have our best hope of raising each new generation to aspire to continue our civilization -- including the custom of marriage.

Seen in this context, we are fools if we think "gay marriage" is the first or even the worst threat to marriage.

We heterosexuals have put marriage in such a state that it's a wonder homosexuals would even aspire to call their unions by that name.

Divorce is "no-fault," easily obtained on any pretext.A vast number of unmarried men and women have such contempt for marriage that they share bed and home without asking for any formal recognition by society.

In an era when birth control and abortion make childbearing completely optional, the number of out-of-wedlock births shows the contempt that many women have for marriage.

Yet most of these single mothers still demand that the man they chose not to marry before having sex with him provide financial support for them and their children -- while denying the man any of the rights and protections of marriage.

Men routinely discard wives and children to follow the nearly universal male biological desire for diversity in mating. Adultery is now openly expected of men, even if faithful wives deplore it.

With "gay marriage," the last shreds of meaning will be stripped away from marriage, with homosexuals finishing what faithless, selfish heterosexuals have begun.Marriage, to be worth preserving, needs to mean not just something, but everything.

Faithful sexual monogamy, persistence until death, male protection and providence for wife and children, female loyalty to children and husband, and parental discretion in child-rearing.

If government is going to meddle in this, it had better be to support marriage in general while providing protection for those caught in truly destructive marriages.

Because when government is the enemy of marriage, then the people who are actually creating successful marriages have no choice but to change governments, by whatever means is made possible or necessary.

Society gains no benefit whatsoever (except for a momentary warm feeling about how "fair" and "compassionate" we are) from renaming homosexual liaisons and friendships as marriage.

Married people attempting to raise children with the hope that they, in turn, will be reproductively successful, have every reason to oppose the normalization of homosexual unions.

It's about grandchildren. That's what all life is about. It's not enough just to spawn -- your offspring must grow up in circumstances that will maximize their reproductive opportunities.

Why should married people feel the slightest loyalty to a government or society that are conspiring to encourage reproductive and/or marital dysfunction in their children?

Why should married people tolerate the interference of such a government or society in their family life?

If America becomes a place where our children are taken from us by law and forced to attend schools where they are taught that cohabitation is as good as marriage, that motherhood doesn't require a husband or father, and that homosexuality is as valid a choice as heterosexuality for their future lives, then why in the world should married people continue to accept the authority of such a government?

What these dictator-judges do not seem to understand is that their authority extends only as far as people choose to obey them.

How long before married people answer the dictators thus: Regardless of law, marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down, so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage, and help me raise my children in a society where they will expect to marry in their turn.

Biological imperatives trump laws. American government cannot fight against marriage and hope to endure. If the Constitution is defined in such a way as to destroy the privileged position of marriage, it is that insane Constitution, not marriage, that will die.

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Orson Scott Card is a writer of nonfiction and fiction, from LDS works to popular fiction. “In the Village” appears Thursdays in the Deseret News. This article is taken from mormontimes.com.

Image in this blog article was taken from www.whatisprop8.com.