GOOD AND BAD

It occurred to me that faith without works is dead, but works without faith is also dead.  Humanists believe you can be good without God.  Perhaps for a little while but then  “Lord of the Flies” occurs because it really isn’t true that we can be good without God. 

If there is no God, there is no Devil, no sin, no law, etc.  Then who is to say what is good?  Humanists say it is humans (especially really smart ones) and yet humans can never agree.  There will always be someone who will debate the goodness of illicit substances, stealing, abortion, homosexuality, government education, democracy, pedophilia, and the badness of religion, families, work, honesty, fidelity, etc, etc. 

If it hadn’t been for God (more particularly the Messiah), we would never be resurrected, and our spirits would be doomed to serve the father of lies (see 2 Ne 9:8-10).  So no matter how “good” we live, we can never overcome the fact that we are helpless against death and hell without someone to rescue us.  

Fortunately, God is wise enough to rescue without enabling or perpetuating our weakness.  That is why we view the rescue difficult.  What?  Dig out with a spoon?  Too hard, too far, too long, too nebulous, too……..

OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER

It has been difficult to write because so much change is occurring.  It takes awhile to assess when one’s cup is overflowing.  

We came across a coping strategy prepared for soldiers and my husband and I tested it before recommending it.  After meditating twice a day for a week, I am becoming more aware of my conscience and making much better decisions in the moment.  I am learning to do what is right without getting caught up in the virtual reality of my thoughts.  In other words, I am making fewer emotional decisions.  I am experiencing  less judgment, less resentment , less anger, less anxiety, less cowardice, more courage, more patience, more immediate forgiveness, more joy, and best of all, more of the Holy Spirit.  If nothing else, a mission would have been worth this metamorphosis.

One interesting insight has been how much resentment I have harbored against Kerry’s military career.  I had no idea.  It just came to the surface one day.  The resentment was the major reason I was having trouble connecting with people, because as soon as I realized it and let it go, I began feeling so much more love and guidance.  Instead of setting goals to be or do something I’m not, I am being still and letting ideas and directions come to me.  For the first time in our married life, my husband and I were able to effortlessly plan our work together.  I could hardly believe it.   

The broad path gets narrower and the narrow path gets broader in terms of personal freedom and power to act, but it’s not apparent at first.  That’s why enduring patience is one of the critical attributes of divine nature.   I was enduring, but not patiently.  DOING strait and narrow is different than BEING strait and narrow.

ANOTHER JOY

Today is Georgia’s birthday!  She was our very first granddaughter and she is girl enough for three granddaughters!!  She also has a great sense of humor as you can see: 

SCHEDULE

We are so blessed physically.  Once we got over the new strange microorganisms indigenous to GA, we have not had any illness.  We get up at 0600 and go run the track (well I run the track and Elder Baum walks because his knee is shot).  I do 1.75 mi in 20 min.  Slow but it gets my heart rate up and gives me time to memorize scriptures (2 per week).  Not only does physical exercise enhance memory but we gain more insight when we memorize the exact words. 

Take John 15:16 for example:  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:  That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (emphasis added). 

The emphasis of our new mission is greater retention (it was only 47% in the GA Macon mission), so this scripture directly addresses our Mission goals.  It also sounds as though the bringing forth of fruit that remains prepares us to pray more effectively.  Planting, cultivating, harvesting souls apparently begets oneness with Diety.

We also thought it was interesting in Moroni 7:16 that the test of whether something is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ, is inviting to do good AND persuading to believe in Christ.  There are philosophies that invite to do good but do not accept Christ as the Savior of the World.

On the way to and from the track, we read the Book of Mormon so by the time we are through exercising, we only need another half hour of study which is usually out of Preach My Gospel.  I also work in eye exercises and drinking the majority of my 2 qts of water to and from the track. 

Part of our morning devotional is listening to Conference talks while we are getting dressed.   Every member missionary needs to review Elder Holland’s powerful talks on the Godhead, continuing revelation, and the Book of Mormon.

After studying, we plan our day.  It’s getting easier (probably because I no longer call it planning).  We casually talk over breakfast about how we can make the day more efficient and effective and pray about how to help specific people. 

Launching is much better lately but landing is still chaotic.  When we are tired, we don’t feel like processing all the information we gathered during the day.  I do a lot while we’re driving, but some things need to be entered into computer files and I find myself procrastinating.

We eat simply (bread, fruit, milk for breakfast; main meal at 1300—fish twice/wk; & salad or soup for supper).   It's the left over ice cream we buy for the soldiers that is keeping us from losing weight.  We try to be asleep by 2200. 

On Preparation Day, we clean, wash, organize, and cook for the week.  We call, write letters and pay bills as we go.   We don’t watch TV or listen to the news.  We cannot attend the temple because it’s outside mission boundaries.  We read to relax (I’m currently reading Brain Rules by Medina, and Elder Baum enjoys politically oriented material).  We are careful not to talk about politics to others.

Contention has almost completely resolved between us.  If either of us feel it, we acknowledge it and say, “It’s my fault.  Will you forgive me?”  Today I said, “It’s partly my fault.  Will you forgive me?”  We had a good laugh. 

One of our counterparts said his son had some misgivings about them.  Son said, “What are you going to do without me when it comes time to reset your digital watch twice a year?”  Elder R said, “I’m not a complete dunce.  I’ll just buy a second watch!”