"we are called to support and heal rather than condemn"

he makes me cry.

loving the Christian genre

Lately I've been really into the Christian music genre.  I listen in the morning when I get ready for the day and also sometimes walking to class, and I always have a big smile on my face as this music communicates  the JOY of Christ's love!  If you ever need a pick-me up, or just want a great song to listen to, here are some of my favorites (sorry some of the videos aren't so great):

we radiate what we are.

In a religion class the other night, our teacher gave us this quote by David. O. McKay:

"There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence.  Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of his personality--the effect of his words and his actions on others.  This radiation is tremendous.  Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world.


Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man.  He cannot escape for one moment this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others.  Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying it is an unconscious influence.


Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated.  He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character.  And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world.


This radiation, to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be....


Life is a state of radiation and absorption.  To exist is to radiate.  To exist is to be the recipient of radiation."


I love this quote!  During every moment in our lives, we're radiating our existence to the universe. And we're either giving or taking. We can choose to give life rather than take it away as we literally strengthen those around us.  We are--for better or worse--changing the world every day by what we choose to do.  COOL!

for Mother's Day

The following is an excerpt from Margaret D. Nadauld's message, "A Woman of Faith."  It reminds me of my own mother and many of the women who have influenced my life; it also reminds me of the woman I want to be :)  Happy Mother's Day!

"A woman of faith is fearless. She fears no evil, for God is with her (Psalm 23:4).  There is no ambiguity, no uncertain trump in her life. She can live a principled life because she studies the doctrine and teachings of a perfect teacher, the Master. She is a noble example to all who know her. She is less than perfect, of course, not because she doesn't have perfect principles or the perfect example in Christ, but because she is human...

A woman of faith loves the Lord. She wants Him to know it by the life she lives, by the words she speaks, by the service she renders to His children, by her every action. She knows that He loves her even though she is imperfect and still trying to be better. She knows that when she does her very best, that it is enough, as President Hinckley has told us.

A woman of faith is blessed by faithful men in her life who hold the priesthood of God and honor this privilege: her father...husband, brothers, sons. They value her and the divine gifts given by God to His daughter. They sustain and encourage, and they understand the great mission of her life as a woman. They love her; they bless her. They are in turn blessed by this woman of faith as they walk the path of life together. They know, as scripture teaches, that "two are better than one. . . . For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

I express my gratitude for wonderful women of faith, for great, noble men, and for my beloved family, who have lifted me up and inspired me throughout my life." 

when in disagreement, remember...

One aspect of maturity is the ability to listen to someone else's viewpoint with respect and consideration, whether or not the person's opinion matches your own.

One aspect of wisdom is the ability to respond to a disagreement by first showing that you understand where the person is coming from--or, if you don't, that you appreciate their views and would like some clarification--and by then gently explaining your own views without attacking the other person.

One aspect of intelligence is the ability to use reason, rather than feelings, to make valid your claim or the principle in which you are explaining.

One aspect of charity is the ability to embrace people, whether or not they agree with you, as individuals in the human family.

One aspect of humility is recognizing that we all are incredibly flawed; we all hold prejudices and we are all, in many points, misguided.  Thus, one aspect of humility includes understanding the necessity of listening to others' viewpoints so we can find out when we are wrong and then properly adjust our own viewpoints.   

One aspect of love is the ability to recognize and respect the divine light in every human being, and to view each being as equally important as oneself.

alfalfa sprout juice

I had two bundles of alfalfa sprouts that were starting to wilt, so instead of trying to eat all of them in a salad, I wondered if I could juice the little babies.  I discovered yes, you can juice alfalfa sprouts, and they taste quite good if you add carrots.

Run through the juicer:


6 cups alfalfa sprouts
8 med. size carrots
a few leaves Romaine lettuce


Voila!

thoughts after Bin Laden's assassination

I'm frustrated with America’s reaction.   It's one thing to rejoice in the safety of our country and troops (which, arguably, actually may not be much greater now that Osama Bin Laden is dead), but quite another thing to celebrate death.  It's inexcusable for Americans to parade around howling and hooting about another human's death.  We should handle the situation with maturity and grace, recognizing the political move as one that President Obama saw as necessary—but we should not gloat over the fact that this was done.  We should be able to look at the situation with humanity in our hearts and with love of country rather than hatred toward a man incredibly mislead and filled with hate himself. As soon as we start to hate, we become like him in a very real sense.

Furthermore, from a political standpoint, the general public’s reaction is making a terrible political reputation for the United States.  I doubt our allies—and also those against us, who already think we’re spoiled, selfish, and ethnocentric—will appreciate seeing pics and video footage showcasing certain reactions and behavior.  I’m not saying all the people celebrating outside the Whitehouse were acting inappropriately;  I’m just saying in general and in the future, we need to be careful in the way we express our feelings about America, and we need to make sure to show virtues of humanity and use of reason rather than vices of hate and passion.  

We might also—whether Christian or Hindu or Buddhist or Muslim or agnostic—do well to remember some wise words: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

if the president of the U.S can do it...

If the President of the United States can quote the Pledge of Allegiance in a national speech...


why don't they teach it in school anymore? 




(question asked by my friend, Anjelique.  Good question!!)

Osama Bin Laden dead.

I can only wonder what happens when men who harbor so much hate cross over to the other side.

That's why I feel sorry for this guy; he's bound to be going through something hellish right now.

God bless America, and may we now, and in the future, unite and work to spread freedom, love and peace to all of God's children.

May we also remember the true religion of Islam and those of our many Muslim brothers and sisters who practice love and peace.  It would be a pity for us to wrongly judge a religion based upon some bad, bad examples of "Jihad."