I Have Been Blessed...

Guys, this is one of those, "all is right with the world" kinds of posts.

I'm grateful for days like Birthdays, because they help to give you a little reminder that there are people out there in the world who really are glad that you were born. In fact, some of those people even go so far as to make you feel downright welcome in this big scary world.

Those are the people to stick with.

Thank you to all who helped make me feel so very welcome in the world today. I absolutely love the feeling of being loved.

How's that for sappy, sentimental, and "disgusting?" ;)

Spiritual Plumage and "Prohibition"

First off, thanks to BamaBeau for the awesome term. It describes exactly what it is that I've been looking to write about.

Spiritual Plumage, it's the stuff that people parade around when they talk about how spiritual they are, and they give speeches about how they love the gospel, but they never actually seem to do, or say, anything that would indicate a depth to their shallowly sported spirituality.

Everyone at BYU knows that spirituality is attractive when it's genuine. Girls really do want a guy who shares their beliefs and values, who's a worthy priesthood holder, who respects his mom and sisters etc. etc...The problem is that some people do a really good impression of spirituality...and some do a really bad one. Why bother?

Simple: Chicks dig it. At BYU, it seems that spirituality becomes a status symbol for some. It's like having the fancy car in High School, or being the one who can dress really well. It's the status of head cheerleader and varsity jock all in one. Now, some of them really do believe what they're saying, and they really do feel the emotion. This is an entirely different case, in which the guys really do deserve to have some girls impressed with them. The ones who fake however, ought to cut it out, like yesterday. Mean it, or don't do it.

Secondly, I think that media downloading, legally, or illegally, seems like it's the new prohibition in the USA. When the prohibition amendment was passed, having alcohol became fashionable, and dangerous, and glamorous. Riches were to be had, and America was out to get them. The common individual could become a criminal just by having alcohol in their possession.

Now, downloading is nowhere near THAT big, but I'd bet it's close to being as widespread. Who doesn't have a CD or something that a friend made them? Copyright laws are totally the new prohibition...

Or not at all...

Whose Side are You on?

Here's my "Sunday Thought"

Anticipation, a moment of tears
A hopeful good-bye as we left heaven's spheres
A heartfelt promise to chose him again
To resist Satan's tempting, and the carnal man.
Then the veil was drawn and we seemed to forget,
We soon broke our promise and had need to repent.
So he sent us our brother to help save our souls
And though he was mocked, with his blood he atoned.
But soon after his death, we again forgot
We used wrongly the agency for which we had fought
His words were twisted, His power was lost
His ways were perverted, and men’s souls became tossed
Until, to a boy with the courage to ask
He revealed the truth, and restored powers past
He returned His power to the hands of men
He's revealed His will to His servants, and yet
How oft do we follow, how oft do we stray?
How oft do we forget the promise we've made?
His power is with us, his gospel and church
Are here for our benefit, if we'll but put him first
No power can conquer, no lies can defame
Disciples who follow, and fight in his name.
And when the tallies are counted, and the battle is won
God will prevail, whose side are you on?