Why didn't the Lord poke someone to pick him up...

I absolutely loved the talk brother Hogg (pronounced like hoe) gave today in sacrament. He should be the poster boy for old time cowboys with a rough edge but gentle and sincere testimony. In only the way an old cowboy could he taught us some wonderful lessons while making us chuckle just a little also.

He lives on the highway out to Oakley about 5 miles out of Burley. So, about 18 miles from Oakley. He told of an association with a man that wasn't a member who referred to himself as one of the "others" not "non-member". Brother Hogg taught us that "non-member" is a word used my members but not by those outside of our church. Brother Hogg asked the man what he thought of the mormons that he has known during his life. How were they as people? The man said, "they are a close group that doesn't like or associate with outsiders". This confused brother Hogg until he really thought about it awhile.

One day he was outside doing chores when he noticed someone walking up the highway toward Burley. He thought, that young man has probably been rained on so I should give him a ride. So, as the young man approached he got in his truck and offered him a ride. The boy explained that he had left early that morning and had been walking for hours from Oakley. Brother Hogg wondered how it was that a 19 year old boy carrying a piece of luggage would be able to walk 18 miles on a busy highway in a mormon town without the Lord "poking" someone to inspire them to pick him up. Surely, some had passed him coming and going he had been walking so long.

He then understood why his "non-mormon" acquaintence saw mormons as not wanting to associate with "others".

Brother Hogg had heard of a poor family that moved into a mormon neighborhood. They were double poor but yet they tried to help themselves. They walked roads to find cans for money. However, they were in much need. Some of the mormon neighbors said, "if we don't help them maybe they will move". They didn't. After time their water pump went down. The same neighbors celebrated because they felt it would force them to move. However, one of the "other" neighbors came to their aid and repaired their well for them.

Brother Hogg then went on to tell us that he has come to know the difference between the things that are his and the things that are the Lords. His farm and the house on it are not his... they are the Lords. His truck is not his, it is the Lords. One day there will be a fire and those things will be burned up. What is his is his testimony and his relationship with his wife. Those things he will still be able to have once everything else is burned up. He knows his wife is a good woman and she isn't going to be burned up so his plan is to stick as close by her as he can!

I thoroughly enjoyed brother Hoggs talk today. I hope you have caught a glimpse of what it offered even though you did not get the privilege of hearing it from a humble rough old cowboy.

Thank you brother Hogg for sharing your wisdom.

Awesome day in Twin

I had a great day Saturday. It started with a 2 1/2 hour practice with the boys and I just made it home in time to quickly shave and shower (cutting my face) so Wendy, Brit and I could hurry to the Temple for Brandon and Ivy's sealing. Brandon is my brother Dave's 2nd son. He baptized Ivy just over a year ago. They are very happy together.

We waited for quite some time in the Celestial room and I completely enjoyed the peace and serenity in such a beatiful setting. It was wonderful to see some of the family but it is impossible to be there without missing the those that couldn't make it. They looked amazingly happy and I am proud of my nephew for working toward this appropriate accomplishment.

Afterward, Wendy, Brit and I went Christmas shopping. I hate shopping but love my family so it works out. We accomplished quite a lot and then finished it off with a cold stone!

Great day.

Coach Landrum

I like the sound of that. My 3 older brothers are all coaches also. 2 high school level and one competition leagues. I guess there must be something in our upbringing that lends to an intrigue.

I have had 2 early morning tryout practices. Very impressed with the boys. They are good kids and hard workers. There are definitely some that do not have the skills or coordination yet. I have 19 that are trying out. We can put jerseys on 13. I hate the thought of cutting a boy that has his heart set on going for it. As a sophomore I moved to a much bigger school and was 100% intimidated but so wanted to play. Without knowing anyone very well on shaky knees I convinced myself to go to open gym where the coach could watch you. He embarassed me and handled me totally wrong for what I particularly needed at the time. That has made me VERY sensitive to each boy. After wrestless nights I came up with a plan and presented it to the Varsity coach. I was so pleased that he agreed with my thinking.

I will set a fixed team of 10 players instead of 13 and cuts. I will then allow any boy that will commit himself to hard practice with the "chance" to suit up and play occassionally to be on the team. Based on effort and attitude 3 boys will suit up for each game from the remaining 9. Each boy that dedicates himself to working hard and showing to practice will play in at least 1 game. The fixed squad will not have a secure position. If they slack and another boy earns their spot they will drop down.

I do not have to cut 1 boy. The ones that choose to still come to practice will show me that they truly want to be part of the team and that they have character.

I truly believe that 9th and 10th grade boys are very much in a developmental stage and it is impossible to determine which may grown into amazing athletes. There will probably be a few from the practice squad that will end up starting Varsity as Seniors. That will be a huge payoff for me! The JV team's purpose is to prepare boys to fill roles on the Varsity team. Nothing will please me more than to bring a boy from a hesitant awkward freshman that would have likely been cut to contributing huge!!!

Next Wednesday is our first game after 7 days of practice! Woo Whoooo.

As honest as it gets...

OK. I am going to try to be as honest as possible because this subject is one that I feel does not get enough discussion and the outcome of that unfortunate fact is destruction.

It is important for me to first recognize and then admit that I am somewhat extreme in my views and know that it is unreasonable to expect others to feel as I do. There are reasons for my extremism and unfortunately, some are due to difficult life experiences that I regret and desperately wish would have been avoided.

As a boy innapropriate TV, magazines, movies, experiences and dialogue were way too accessible and part of my life. Unfortunately, I have vivid memories and images that are up to 35 years old. Not as an excuse but as a reality those experiences led to regrets. As I have grown reflection is both good and bad. Good in that I have been able to piece the puzzle at least somewhat together. I have no question in my mind that there is a direct correlation between my exposure to innapropriate circumstances and material and challenges that faced me in life where I performed less than satisfactory.

These reflections and realizations have caused an interesting reaction. I have become bitter toward societies casual acceptance to innapropriate things.

TV
Movies
Magazines - just notice the magazines at the check out stands in Walmart... and then protest!
Dress
Unhealthy Relationships
Selfishness
etc...

My wife has to deal with my extremism. I feel a sense of having to make up for my lack of awareness and focus for so many years. For well over a decade now I have voiced my objections. I am here to tell you that even one voice can make a difference. In Utah a few years ago I asked for the manager at Walmart. I explained my opposition and disappointment (calmly) to the magazines on the check out stand. It didn't take much effort to select a few magazines to represent my case. Not just sexually explicit photos but titles... I asked them to help me protect my children from such innapropriate things by not exposing them to it in their check out stands. "I recognize other people right to choose to find and read these things but by placing it in your stands it removes my right to protect my family from it unless I stop shopping here". The manager was very understanding and told me that she had my very thoughts and appreciated a customer documenting it". The next time I visited they had hard plastic covers on the magazines.

My latest objection comes due to a very difficult situation. My 12 year old daughter is invited tonight to a birthday party. After the party the group of girls are "excited" to go see new moon.

I will admit that I was in objection to my family watching this mostly due to what I perceive as innapropriate sexual exploitation. I believe that it is innapropriate for a developed man (an 8 year old boy isn't typically found sexually exciting by the opposite sex) to be virtually unclothed. If you were to ask most women what they find sexually interesting in a man they will probably list a bare chest, muscles or nice stomach somewhere on their list (right after a nice smile). So, for hollywood to capitolize on this fact by removing actors shirts whenever possible to captivate and stimulate women/girls is irresponsible and wrong. I hope that my extreme stand on this does not undermine the fact... exploiting and actor or actress for sexually stimluating material just to draw an audience and make money is morally wrong. To acceptingly watch it is worse (in my opinion).

However, getting past my initial primary objection I came to realize that I was missing an even more damaging aspect of this movie. The message that it sends to both teenage girls and adult women is tragic. The main female character is obsessed with Edward. She must have him. If she can't her entire world will crumble. She will do anything to have him. She will sacrifice family, friends and even her soul to have him. In fact, she will attempt suicide if she can't have him. That is, until her heart heals some and she becomes infactuated with a shirtless young man that has spent a year of his life (since the last movie) dedicating himself to becoming a sex symbol (which the movie capitolizes on). He and his fellow warewolves spend more time in the movie mostly naked for the purpose of sexually intriguing young girls and married women. But, as that physical attraction wares off she then goes back to her original love.

Anyway, my opinion is that this movie and most are completely innapropriate. I regret having been exposed to such things when I grew up and hope to be able to help my children avoid the same mistakes by learning form my mistakes. I do not endorse that they watch this movie that som many, including good members of the church, find so acceptable. That a mormom woman wrote the novels does not justify the content. It just makes it that much more tragic.

Society is very accepting. That does not qualify appropriateness.

Ametuer at the keyboard...

I do not know structure, rules, etc. I simply write feelings and thoughts. So, forgive the lack of polish. I assume you will all connect the symbolism I tried to use to a much more significant reality. I hope to find in the future that I am not as guilty.

Worth
by Mike Landrum

I love to face upward on moonless nights.
On other nights Ursa Major is easily found.
But on the right night my vision greatly improves.

There are those that stand out and shine bright.
Others go unnoticed. I, too, am guilty.
Hipparchus may not have even noticed them.

However, on those nights I see them.
They shine so soft and faint.
What, really, is their worth?

What would happen without their light?
Would the few brightest do the job?
I hope I don’t ever have to find out.

From now on I am going to try.
Try to discover one I failed to notice before.
That one will have worth in my eyes.


Scott L,

I really want to successfully use MUSE but have failed with every attempt! I know, I am thick. I prefer to consider it creatively challenged. Once I go to the site I cannot find how to post an entree. I know you emailed what to you seemed simple instructions but I failed over and over. I just came from there and can read others posts but played around for 20 minutes with no success determining how to post. So, it isn't due to lack of desire or effort.

A little something to put things in perspective...

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small bo dy, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

What would you do for your child?

'He will cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you will find refuge.' (Psalm 91:4) Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it

Coach...

I went to UVSC for 2 years starting when I was 30. I studied classes that would allow me to prepare for the secondary ed courses at BYU. I planned to teach history/health and coach basketball. My true passion laid in the plans to coach. After being accepted at BYU and enrolled for classes my life took another course and 4 days away from starting at BYU I moved on. Providing for my family then took priority. 14 years later I am now in a secure job that offers me flexibility especially in the winter months.

A few weeks ago I was approached by Oakley High School because I had mentioned to some friends about my interest in eventually coaching basketball. As it works out, I am now the JV boys basketball coach (9th/10th grade) for Oakley High. I am extremely excited about it. But, now that it has happened I am also VERY much finding myself feeling inadequate. I have loved basketball always and have played it a lot. But, the last organized and coached ball I played was in 1979 when I was 15. Other than our Explorer team that won 2nd place in nationals in 1983. But, that was coached by our Explorer leader. Pretty much street ball with some structure.

To properly coach a high school level team you must know defenses (man-man; 3-2 zone; 1-2-2 zone; 1-3-1 zone; 2-2-1 press; 3-1-1 press; 1-3-1 press, etc....) and offense (just as many options). You also must understand many many rules and practice drills and then organize all of this with 12 teenage boys to help them focus, work hard and succeed.

Oh boy, am I excited! Pray for me. Pray for the boys.