Holiday time again - I can tell by my TV not the weather.

I love this time of year. I think people that say "I hate Christmas" are lying (hey its my blog, I can say what I want). I love it. I love the commercialism I love the constant TV ads I love the greedy kids I love it all. I love the Christmas music on the triple 9 before Thanksgiving. I think its all awesome. I love it because it reminds me of where I live, what we (claim to) stand for in this country and what is still (?) possible for each of us. You see each of these ads, each of these "things" that ruin Christmas for some is making it great for others. It seems to me that folks are driven by jealousy more then anything. If you had invented some product like the charge pad you'd be like "show it more" on TV! But you didn't so you can whine that it's on too much already.

A Little History.

I didn't always think this way... In fact I hated Christmas as a kid or at least the season until December 10th each year. Really. See my birthday is December 9th. So I wouldn't let me mom put up the tree until after my birthday. She probably hated it because it was a change from what she was used to. But still to this day she doesn't do it until then. I would whine about Christmas music, I'd whine about Christmas commercials etc. Everything bah humbug! But then I made a mistake. As a kid when we got ready to leave to Oregon to be with family (knowing we'd have to pack all the presents in the car) Mom already had the presents wrapped and under the tree before we left. One night before we left I found I was home alone. So I carefully unwrapped all of my presents and saw them then re-wrapped them. It totally ruined my Christmas experience. See I thought it would be cool to see everything or short cut the experience overall. But it didn't. It made me see that part of the fun of the Christmas season in America is the season it's self.

Arizona

People say, "it's hard to get excited about Christmas in Arizona" My folks used to say that when they lived here. I understand. They grew up where it was snowing and freezing this time of year. However I've had more Christmas' here than anywhere so I like the AZ experience. While our weather may be 80 degrees on Christmas (I have swam before on Christmas day) but it still feels like Christmas to me.

Original Premise

See when you hear Christmas music on the radio in November be thankful. A lot of songs are about your Savior and about giving to others. Be happy that there is at least some people that believe those are good things. When you see the same Christmas commercial on TV for the 50th time, be happy that you live in a country where free enterprise still (in some form) exists. When you have your kids beg you for some stupid thing that you can't understand why anyone would ever want it, just smile and be happy that your kid wants (not needs) for most things. When you hear about bad traffic, long lines and annoying people at stores, just smile and think about how it could be when a piece of hard candy was all there was for Christmas...

Conclusion

I love this season. I'm listing to KEZ all the time. I love that they play the stupidest songs (who really wants a hippo for Christmas...). I think that people are happier and more gracious this time of year. I think I am a nicer fellow to be around too. It is funny how situations or environment or others help push us along to be better. Now good luck. We are all going to be frustrated or disappointed or rude or angry or something negative this season. It'll happen. Just remember Thanksgiving is before Christmas so we can be thankful throughout the holiday season.

Another concept - PORN!

I put that in the title so you'd read it ha ha gotcha! Yesterday we had our friend Anjie and her boys Alex, Dylan and William at church with us. Gospel Doctrine was about the whole armor of God and really focused on the law of Castity. But really it was about Sex. So i though I'd post on a part of that law that has been on my mind ;)... well sort of.

So anyway it is about porn.

So what's porn? Does it have to be nudity? Does it have to be titillating? Who knows?. I heard a good definition. "It's not what you look at, it's what you see" So to me that's pretty broad, also it's tough to be honest with yourself on what your looking at. I think topless men could be porn, although its very socially acceptable (in other countries topless women are too). Right because it's not what you look at its what you see... do you see "sex" when you see a topless guy? Or do you see a kid with good muscles. I don't know each person's different. There is classic art that is nudity but we don't see it as porn right? The David is a good example, naked yes, sexy... no. But what about movies...hmmm. Ok I like certain actresses I do. But I'm not sure I'd like them naked. I like the way they look and enjoy them but I prefer them dressed. But is it Porn? I'm looking at them dressed and enjoying their appearance, shape whatever. so since I notice certain, shall I say "features" does it mean that I'm seeing porn? maybe I guess. It's a fine line that has more gray then black and white (to me). Like I said it's a concept that is different for everyone. The hardest part is being honest about what you are looking at and what you are seeing. It's amazing how two people can look at one thing and see two different things. I notice things my wife doesn't. But sometimes she'll notice things that I am not even paying attention to. So we are looking at the same thing, but seeing different things. I guess we see it and act on it or "dwell" on it is the danger. I know that we are to avoid all evils. I know that there is no way in the world to day to be perfect. I guess we should do our best to be in the right and stay out of the gray area all the time. I just think that sometimes we are thinking we are doing whats right or OK when we could be doing better. (I'm speaking to myself as if I'm writing to my self, it's just your fault for or privilege to read what I'm saying).

Social Networking... cool, or an easier way to Gossip?

Ok, So don't gossip (but it is fun). I mean really who doesn't like to get the "dirt" good or bad on someone else. Lets see I found out my youngest sister is having Twins by a phone call from her...NOT! I found out on facebook. I found out my wife's youngest sister is getting married when she called and told her sister NOT! again Drew saw it on facebook and came down stairs and told us. I don't blame the actual participants (the two younger sisters) but other's spreading the good news on a social site in their excitement before the news could be spread first hand. Now those are positive stories where no one really got hurt. But I knew of another story where someone found out about a family function via facebook that was really cool but they found out afterwards and found out that they were not invited! Now they weren't invited on purpose and for a good reason and whatever but if a phone call or email would have been sent to explain it all it would have been cool. But no they found out via facebook and feelings got hurt. So see you have to be careful. I see "facebook fights" all the time. I think they're funny ( I know I'm a bit weird, duh). But I can see how it's hard to read "tone" or "intent" on a computer screen and misunderstandings can happen. Texting, emailing can be the same way. So I guess my point is 1) don't steal someone else's good / bad news. Just because they told you, doesn't mean you can facebook it. Let them facebook it first then copy it if you really need to. and 2) if you want to comment on someone's status be nice. Don't judge. Today I saw a frustrated Mom ask for sincere advise on a parenting question, so she asked her friends on facebook for help. But really all she got was a bunch of judgments from condescending other parents. It didn't seem to me she was getting much help. I really like facebook. I like to know what others are doing. its a short cut to find out about others and tell others about me. However it is really a shortcut to not having to actually socialize with others. So Use it only as that, you still need to call people or talk to people. I can see where soon we won't have to interact face to face with other humans at all... but is that right? Home teaching via conf. call, sacrament meeting via satellite? service projects over the internet? all these ideas on how to communicate better have actually backfired and made us have more misunderstandings and more hurt feelings. Now you're reading my blog and you have no idea if I'm joking, crying or serious, because you can't see me...

I was thinking closer to 400 lbs by the end there! How's it workin' out for the LeBrons...? Not so good yet.

Because she said so

Ok, fine STACY I'll blog... (remember you asked for it).
NO ONE READS IT ANYWAY!
I'm boring.
On my mission Korean's were always trying to speak english to us. The greater part of our "investigators" were just wanting to get better at english. We called them "sucks" because really they just wanted to suck english off of us. So we always tollerated it becuase 1) they might someday somehow feel the spirit and actually want to join the church or at least learn more and 2) it would force young missionaries to interact with locals and pick up some Korean too. However in many cases they were also very funny. They would say things that common 19 year old Americans wouldn't say. Like in stead of "how are you?" they always said the more formal "how do you do?" as their common english greeting. Which of course we'd say: " oh, I do just fine" really dramatically drawn out. Also instead of: "I'm going to the store today" They'd say "The store is my desitination today" so just funny stuff. Another instead of "I don't know" or "I don't understand" they'd say "I'm in the dark on that" However my favorite of all was the mistakes. Or just like I'm sure we did in Korean they'd say things incorrect but a nice missionary would just know what they meant and move on. But not me, I'd usually get a chuckle. So though they meant they had nothing to do or they were bored, they would usually say "I'm boring", to which I'd say "You are right!" and I'd go find someone else to talk to...
late.