Auto Repair

I have a goal relating to self reliance and that is that I learn to work on my own car. A trip to the mechanic's shop is always a pretty big hit to the wallet and it is nice to be able to do things for yourself. But, I have not previously been overly interested in cars so I have only a rudimentary knowledge of principals and no actual experience. So it was kind of exciting for me today to take the cracked radiator out of my car today and put the new one in all by myself. Dad was around and I did ask him a couple of questions and use his tools but I did all the work.

I bought my car knowing it would need some work but it seemed like a good car to learn about fixing cars. I feel good about today and the radiator was the most pressing issue with the car. After my next pay day I think I will do an oil change and tune-up including changing the belt, because that is next on the list of things my car needs.

At Parents.

Though I have only lived with them a few weeks out of the past seven years one can reliably find me at my parent's house on sundays. The why is about 25% because I love them and 75% because it is nye onto impossible to beat whatever mom is cooking. Well maybe those numbers are off.

Tonight mom had made roast beef and mashed potatoes, very tasty! L.B. and Genvieve joined us while Ryann and Crystal declined.

After diner and once the little people were in bed parents and I had a talk about many things mainly centered on the gospel and my spiritual goals and what I have learned as I struggle towards them. We talked about the temple in particular, as well as personal revelation and the fact that God serves his children by prompting us to be where we are most needed. As I related one of my experiences from this week with them I was completely overwhelmed by emotion. It was good for me to have the chance to talk in depth with someone about what I have been feeling and the revelations I have received. I also listened as dad shared some of his recent challenges and growing experiences form the high council.

After mom went to bed dad and I got started with politics and talked for another hour and a half or so. Our conversation revolved around the idea that during a presidential primary there is the struggle between voting for the most relevant candidate and the one that most closely represents your own ideology. I talked about why I am ideologically a libertarian but registered republican, and how I reconcile some of the more radical ideas of the libertarians with my religious convictions. We also discussed Mitt Romney and why I don't want him to be president (it has nothing to do with his politics and everything to do with my religion) and Giuliani and who his running mate will be (dad and I both figure he will end up getting the nod). As well as theories of international relations and the election strageties of both parties over the past few decades. Then we saw the time and dad said goodnight and I came back to my apartment.

Maybe even more than moms cooking is the fact I can have nice long conversations with people I care about, and who love me even when I sound a bit crazed.

Facebook

I am now a part of the online social networking movement. I blog but I have never joined any "real" social networking sites but today I decided to join facebook for three reasons, 1)a lot of my friends use it. it seems that I was the last person in my ward not on facebook and with the new calling it seemed appropriate to join the crowd. 2)The interface seems pretty good, I think being able to announce events and activities will prove to be a good thing, the photo hosting seems very good and the ability to fling sheep at people has unbelievable appeal to me. 3) the generate traffic to the blog. I blog principally for my own benefit but it is nice to be read and most of my blogger buddies have moved on so I will use my facebook page to point people here to the blog. and if in three weeks I am bored of it I will just stop using it.

things of the spirit

This last week I had two goals: shun anything that would offend the Spirit, and do anything I can to bring the Spirit to me.

As I did this I felt closer to God than I can describe. I was able to receive personal revelation and insights into the scriptures, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve people and best of all I had peace.

It was a very good week

New Spam Warning

I got spammed this morning, not that surprising, I know. It made it through my filter and I even opened it and it was bad so I thought I'd pass on the warning.

The email came claiming I was found on classmates.com, but I didn't recognize the name it was a short email with text saying something like "I went to school with you, do you remember me here is a link to my website" the link was to a porn site.

If you receive an email claiming to be from someone who found you on classmates.com and you don't remember them you might check a yearbook before opening any links.

Mid Terms

This is a busy week I have Midterms and I am working on a personal spiritual development project, so I don't have much time to blog. By Tuesday I should be able to fill you in on school stuff and the spiritual project, so stay tuned.

next adventure

My next adventure is slated for the week between christmas and new years. Dallas and I will be headed to Ventana wilderness at big sur for at least 3 day 2 night 20 miler, and maybe 4d 3n 50 miler. Thing are still up in the air and if anyone wants to come with I will try and accommodate.

Wonka wisdom.

Willy Wonka wisely said, "For some moments in life there are no words"

'Cause Two Blogs Are Better Than One

I now have a second blog. It is a product review and general opinion blog, so it does not really go into anything important but it can provide a glimpse into my life. Feel free to check it out at darrensopinions.blogspot.com

Al Gore got WHAT!

Sorry but I think the folks in Stockholm have stepped off the political deep end and in so doing may have destroyed the credibility of their award in the eyes of conservatives. It is of course their right to give their $1,500,000 award to whom ever they please but I see no connection, direct or indirect, between publicizing global warming and working for world peace.

The Nobel Peace Prize lost much credibility among conservatives in 1994 when Yasir Arafat was awarded the prize along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin because Arafat never denounce violence and was considered by many to be a violent promoter of terrorism until his death. He got the prize because he acknowledged that Israel had the right to exist as a country but he continued to fight (you know, with guns) over where it it could exist.

Now Al Gore is given the prize for making a politically motivated diatribe of a movie about global warming that the scientific community acknowledges seven major errors in. This seems to to show the Noble Prize commitee to be a purely political body.

in conclusion what do Jimmy Carter, Al Gore and Yasir Arafat have that Mahatma Ghandi does not, Nobel Prizes for Peace

Lunch with Crystal

Today after the funeral I had lunch with Crystal. We had soup and sandwiches at woody's and got caught up as to the happenings in our lives. We talked about many things including; what we want from life and what it is that motivates us. She asked what time church is and told me she might come. I hope she does, I know that she belongs their.

Fern Greenwood

This morning I went to the funeral services for Fern Greenwood. I was somewhat reluctant to go, at first, but it was a lovely service that brought back to me the wonderful childlike person she was, and I am now very glad that I was there.

Last night I was thinking about the Lords instructions to the faithful that we visit the widow and the orphan. At the time I was thinking about who they where, in our society the widow and orphan are not in the same situation as those long ago. It occurred to me that the council is to reach out not just to the poor but also the lonely and poor in spirit. Though I am blessed by my relationship with Dru and I always feel good about the time I spend with her, Arlene Sprout is in much more need of company and companionship, but I don't visit Arlene because I am less comfortable with her. The time I spent with Fern was not always comfortable but in retrospect I gained so much perspective from it. Today I am made aware anew that it is not just the widow and orphan who are blessed when we visit them, but we are blessed as well.

At baptism we make the covenant to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, this is what visiting the widow, the orphan, the sick, and the afflicted is really about, it is the Lords work and when we do it we will be blessed. what does this mean to me: I need to visit Arlene.

bitter sweet release

For the past 26 months I have served as the Elders President in the Collage Oak Ward. I have learned a lot in that time and grown so much. I have enjoyed working with the bishop and learned much from him about loving those we serve. I have also been blessed with great councilors who have truly blessed my life.

This is a big change for me that opens a door to a new part of life.

Yay I'm Posting!

In the past ten days I've been to the temple three times, it is great that there is one so close.

Last week I had a question about a girl weighing on my mind so on Wednesday I went to the temple so I could ponder and pray about my situation. Friday I had invited Mom, Dad, Devon, and David all to come with me for an a.m. session, only Dad was able to come and he and I had a great conversation while in the celestial room.

By the time the weekend came I had peace and everything seemed fine. I was asked by a dear friend of mine, Dru Corsiglia, who is a widow, to do the temple work for her late husband. This is very touching for me and I look forward to going through for him.

Then yesterday Devon and I were able to go through together. While we were in the session I had an insight into what it means that Christ is "our advocate with the Father." Then later, while I was at Institute the Spirit bore witness of the truth of that insight to me.

The temple is truly the house of the Lord and by going there we can receive great blessings.

rebuked!

Today was General Conference and elder Eyring spoke and talked about the importance of recording the things that happen in our, life particularly highlighting what the lord has done for us. I felt somewhat rebuked by this because it has been a year since I posted last and this serves almost exclusively as my journal, so I will write a few posts to get things, more or less, upto date, and then try posting at least once a week.