Jinxed Universe

Well, it has come again. For about a week or two, I get this itch that sticks with me for a while and then it will fade and won't come back for a month or two. Being so outnumbered in my little family here, it seems to inflame this itch and annoy my wife. I can't help it and the only thing that is going to stop it is for our family to finally break down and get a dog.

Now, it isn't anything to do with my wife as she is warming up to the idea, it is just a matter of getting the planets to align.

The biggest planet we are waiting for is Jupiter. Or in other words, not adding two new family members to the family at the same time. As my wife is due in Jan. it looks like it will be a while before we get used to the extra child and can think of a dog.

Then next planet is Saturn, or the breed of dog. Having had a German Shepherd, it is not hard to add it in as an option. The only problem we seem to run into is the size of the German Shepherd. My wife would like to start with a smaller breed and then get a larger dog, meaning some other breed first and a German Shepherd later. Can I blame her as she has never had a dog before? Because this is most likely a decade long commitment, I don't want to rush into a breed and find out that it is going to be a nuisance rather than an addition to our family. Since, I've only ever had a German Shepherd, I can only think that the dog we get have similar attributes.

Mars is the next planet we are working with. This planet is a little more close to home than the others, but not as big. But, the dog that I will consider to be my dog has to fit the name Thor. It has to be a Man's dog, you can't be naming toy poodles Thor. It has to be protective of our family, I need this as when I'm not there to protect my girls, I know it is there and don't have to worry.

The final planet will bring us a little more down to Earth. Well, actually it is Earth. This is to emphasize the compatibility of this dog to my family. It needs to be a family pet. It needs to be able to get along with my kids and wife. Especially with my wife! Because she will be a first time dog owner, I need a dog that is intelligent and make having a dog a pleasant experience. It needs to be easily trained as she isn't the disciplinarian in the family, it will need to quickly learn some basic ground rules that it can follow without fail.

As I have written this, I can't help but think how a German Shepherd would fit this, other than the size requirements. But, I am biased having only ever had a German Shepherd. If you want to make a breed suggestion, please leave a comment and explain yourselves on why that breed.

Does anyone realize the difference between helping someone and doing something for someone? I think the lines between these two get muddied way too often.

When someone is having difficult time doing their Math homework, and ask for help. We don't DO the homework for them, but we walk them through the steps, we try and explain the concept in different manner. But, in the end we don't physically DO their homework.

I have a load of Scouts/Deacons that I work with on at least a weekly basis. I have grown very close to them. But, one thing that I will not do is to do something for them, that they need to do. I currently am the Camping merit badge councilor. Now, they all know me and they all could easily get this merit badge if they would meet with me, but as of yet, I haven't had any takers. Now, could I just say that for Scouts one evening we are going to work on the Camping merit badge and start passing them off? Yes! Yes I could. But, the reason I don't is because they need to get use to calling councilors themselves and working with them. Since I know them very well, they all shouldn't have a problem in doing this with me. So, once they see that calling me up and working on the merit badge isn't a big deal, then they will be able to stretch a little more and advance to calling up a stranger and working with him on a different badge.

You see there is an experience that I would be robbing them, by doing this myself. This is part of growing up, this is part of scouting.

One day, I sat besides someone that I know very little of. But, as our class went on, I began to notice that she was writing a ton. As I began to observe what it was she was writing, I noticed she was doing her child's homework. On the front page was stapled a note saying the the attached worksheets needed to be done in order for her child to pass Math class. Then I began to watch this mother proceed to do the homework.

I was blown away!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. This mother was actually doing her child's homework. Now, some may say, "Oh well you don't know the situation, maybe her child isn't that smart at Math." Others may say, "Maybe they were in a jam and ran out of time so the mother was 'helping'." With school being how it is, I know that this child was fully capable of being in that class. Otherwise they would have put it in a lower level class. We can tell from the note that this child also wasn't doing very well at doing their homework, otherwise they wouldn't be under the gun like this.

No, this was a simple excuse case. "My teacher doesn't like me," or "Math is too hard," or even "I don't understand this and I need your HELP!" Anyway you cut this, it all comes down to the mother DOING her child's homework, rather than sitting down and HELPING her do her homework.

Now, remember teachers give us homework to practice concepts in preparation for a test or quiz. Then once we have mastered it, we can use these concepts in our lives and even use them to make money for ourselves. But, if our mothers, fathers, government, or anyone is there to DO things for us, rather then HELP us, we are being robbed of some experience, many times valuable ones that we shouldn't be without.

Now, because this child hadn't practiced these math principles, and when it comes down to brass tacks and she is tested on it. I guarantee that she failed. Why? Because it is the mother that is learning the concepts, not the child.

The only poem that I have ever heard that doesn't induce vomiting was written by Douglas Malloch and goes like this:

Good Timber

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

There is so much truth to these principles. We are all put here on this Earth with talents and short comings. But, it is what we do with these both that makes us who we are.

While at Scout Camp this summer we were told of a boy that had some physical limitation. But, he was bound and determined to get his Swimming merit badge. One of the requirements was for him to pass the BSA swim check. He practiced and tried all week long. Twice his leaders thought he had done it, and twice he came up saying he touched the ground and needed to start over. Finally at the end of the week, as they were preparing to close the waterfront, he tried one last time. It was this time he was able to pull through. He had finally completed his swim check.

Now this boy should be proud of what he has done. It took him a while to be able to accomplish this, but he pushed along and kept to it and it has made him a better person because of it. He showed he has more grit than most boys.

My favorite stanza is this:

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

This physically challenged boy could have confined himself to a wheelchair and moped around the camp all week long. He probably could have gotten away with pulling the handicap card and got the merit badge without all the work. But, he didn't.

I don't DO anything for my scouts. I am always there ready to HELP my scouts with anything, but I refuse to DO anything for them. I want everyone of them to become manly men, cause heaven knows there is a great shortage of them in this world. I was taught in a Scout training this quote, "Don't do for a Scout, what he can do for himself." I have stood by that saying because there is a purpose in having these boys become self reliant.

I have seen men that act like boys and boys that act like men. It isn't a physical change that defines a man from a boy, but an inner change that comes over the male sex at some time in their life. It is through growing, overcoming obstacles, and becoming self reliant and responsible for themselves and others that a boy becomes a man.

So, many times I have been accused of being a Socialist when it comes to food. Most of these accusations have come from my brothers, MY BROTHERS, of all people.

I admit, I have a minimum bar of standards when it comes to food, and this is where I guess I get into trouble. Since I am so willing to tell them what I think about various food items.

For example, since my mission I have very particular tastes when it comes to rice. If the kind of rice that I'm offered doesn't meet my expectations, I am okay with turning it down. Some of those expectations include the clumping factor, smell, and taste.

Okay, that may be a little extreme, but this is a free market society and I am allowed to be that way.

As you can see, Socialism is even seeping into my family!!!

According to socialist ideas everyone gets treated as equals. There are no options, otherwise someone is getting treated unfairly. So, everyone has to have the same things to make sure everything is fair.

I try to explain to them that they are the Food Commies, in this situation since they are so willing to harass me and try and limit my options using peer pressure.

I admit, I can be "picky" at times, especially when it comes to foods that they tolerate or even like, but that is my choice. I'm the one suffering, not them.

I imagine my wife loves this as one of my biggest things is I prefer homemade food to boxed or canned food, like pancakes, spaghetti sauce, and the like. Now, she loves this as she knows that I am willing to make all kinds of food from scratch.

So, I am willing to do more to uphold this standard. Which if you ever have seen all the Communist fiascoes that have happened with the USSR, you know that they have no minimum standards to anything.

When I am asked what my favorite movies are. A gruesome list of revenge, torture and justice is administered to those who are asking. As I have recognized this strange trait I have found that all these shows have one common aspect, JUSTICE.

I have found that I enjoy knowing that someone "gets" what they deserve. That may sound cruel to many of my readers. But, it is because of you that I am driven to such thoughts. How many times in our society today does someone escape the grasps of Justice to the arms of Mercy?

To clearly understand this topic of Justice and Mercy we need to understand how they work. For the basis of this topic I will reference President Packer's parable. In this parable a debtor argues with a creditor for mercy in his debt and in this argument we can see the definition of these two forces.

“[T]he day came, and the contract fell due. The debt had not been fully paid. His creditor appeared and demanded payment in full.

“Only then did he realize that his creditor not only had the power to repossess all that he owned, but the power to cast him into prison as well.

“ ‘I cannot pay you, for I have not the power to do so,’ he confessed.

“ ‘Then,’ said the creditor, ‘we will exercise the contract, take your possessions, and you shall go to prison. You agreed to that. It was your choice. You signed the contract, and now it must be enforced.’

“ ‘Can you not extend the time or forgive the debt?’ the debtor begged. ‘Arrange some way for me to keep what I have and not go to prison. Surely you believe in mercy? Will you not show mercy?’

“The creditor replied, ‘Mercy is always so one-sided. It would serve only you. If I show mercy to you, it will leave me unpaid. It is justice I demand. Do you believe in justice?’

“ ‘I believed in justice when I signed the contract,’ the debtor said. ‘It was on my side then, for I thought it would protect me. I did not need mercy then, nor think I should need it ever. Justice, I thought, would serve both of us equally as well.’

“ ‘It is justice that demands that you pay the contract or suffer the penalty,’ the creditor replied. ‘That is the law. You have agreed to it and that is the way it must be. Mercy cannot rob justice.’

As the final statement says, "Mercy cannot rob Justice." So, when there is a law, there is a consequence to the violation of that law. If those consequences are not met, Justice is not served and the demands of Justice will still be in place. When those in authority try to provide mercy to the masses, we are short changing Justice and its demands are yet unfulfilled.

As the TV screens have been filled with the drama of Lindsay Lohan and her run in with the law. She was sentenced for 90 day to jail. But, she only served 14 of those 90 day and was released because of her good behavior and prison overcrowding. Were the demands of Justice served? No, Justice demanded 90 days in jail. But, Mercy was shown because of her good behavior. So, in effect, Mercy just robbed Justice.

The only true way that both the demands of Justice and Mercy can be fulfilled is through a Mediator. Sound familiar? Once a Mediator steps in, then both demands can be fulfilled.

Once a Mediator stepped in on the parable, “Both laws stood fulfilled. Because there was a mediator, justice had claimed its full share, and mercy was fully satisfied.”

All too often we forget about Justice. Especially in today's society. How many times do we see parents, governments, teachers, etc. making excuses for others and robbing Justice? Part of Justice is that we see our faults and that we have done wrong. If we never feel the demands of Justice, how do we ever grow to with stand the troubles of life?

For many of you who are wondering what these movies I love to watch are, here is a brief list.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Taken
Shooter
Dirty Harry
Death Wish

I have been involved in scouting as a leader my whole married life. The funny thing is I don't have any sons!! So, ever since I've been in this calling I've tried my darnedest to be a good influence and hopefully inspire at least a couple of these boys into pushing themselves. Being that they are twelve to thirteen years of age, they aren't the most inspiring group you have seen. Especially when you have fifteen of them under your care. But, no matter what has gone on, I've tried to do what is best for them, even though they probably haven't seen it as such.

The whole way, I've been keeping an eye on these guys hoping that I would start to see a change, or see an impact I've made on them. I've been in my last ward for almost two years now and I've poured my heart and soul into these boys. It has been a roller coaster for me, but this last weekend I feel like I've started to hit pay dirt.

Saturday we had our fifty mile bike ride. In order to get your cycling merit badge you need seven bike rides 2 ten mile rides, 2 fifteen mile rides, 2 twenty-five mile rides and a fifty mile ride. We had rode all the rides except the fifty and I had done all these bike rides with them. It was threatening rain the whole morning, but it just remained cool and nice riding weather. Some asked the day before and asked if we were going to push it off. But, I was too determined to see this through.

We averaged 15 mph on the first leg, which was 5 mph faster than we had ever done. Then on the way back home on the second leg, I began to cramp up. I was so mad!! I last saw the boys as we got on the Legacy Trail in Woods Cross and didn't see them again. I had to stop and stretch my legs as they were on fire now. I was beginning to think I wasn't going to make it home as the pain in my knees and thighs were so much. But, as I sat there and pedaled along, I kept thinking that I needed to do this for the boys. I needed to do this for myself.

These boys had rode the whole way and I didn't hear as much as a single whine or complaint the whole way. They were doing this. They were doing a FIFTY MILE BIKE RIDE!! How many people can say they have done a fifty mile ride on a bike?!? Let alone a twelve or thirteen year old. This kept me going. I wanted to finish, I had to finish. I still had 20 miles left to go, but I took it one step at a time. When my legs got bad enough, I stopped and stretched and hopped back on. By the time I was rolling into the church, everyone had gone home and I came in, I think, about 30-45 min after everyone else did. I was beaten, and bruised, but I did it.

Then on Sunday, as I was hobbling around at Church, I heard many of the parents tell how their boys think it is so great that I would do this with them. That my scouts enjoy what we do. That right there made the last two years of being scoutmaster worth it. Those were the words I needed to hear so badly. That made my sore backside, knees and thighs all worth it. Even though, I wasn't the one pushing them to finish, but they were the ones pushing me to finish.

It is these type of activities that make these boys into men!! Physically all boys become men, but mentally not all boys become men. It is through these tough experiences that we put these boys through does the man in them begin to show through. Yes, they may be walking around with sore backsides for a day or so, but that is a badge of honor!! These things will give them the coping skills in life to push through more demanding hardships.

As many of these boys are going to be moving on and leaving my troop, I hope to continue to see the man in each one of these boys continue to surface as they get older and become men physically and mentally. I wait for the day when I can see the men they have become and be proud to call them my boys, because they will always be my scouts!!

So, on Sat. I attended the State Republican Convention. I showed up bright and early and made my rounds and was able to complete my collection of Convention T-Shirts, I began listening to the various Senatorial Candidates and complete my views, and solidify my vote for the seat. Only five of the seven candidates had booths at Convention. I swung by each on and listened in on what they had to say. Those who had booths were Bob Bennett, Cherilyn Eager, Tim Bridgewater, Leonard Fabiano, and Mike Lee.

Of the five that were there I quickly was able to narrow my decision down to two candidates. Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee.

Bob was on the defensive, he was taking the stand of a career politician that, we needed his experience to do anything in Washington. I think he is part of the problem we have today anyways. So, he was easy to eliminate.

Leonard Fabiano didn't really have a platform. He just went on and on and on about setting up a coalition to get teachers to teach our kids about the Constitution, which I don't think is a bad thing, but that alone isn't going to get you into the Senate.

Then finally Cherilyn Eager, a couple of things kind of turned me off on her. One, she didn't really get her name out there. Of the total time that I was getting campaign information, I got two things from her. Second, she sounded like Bob Bennett. She kept talking about how she had 30 yrs. of government experience. Wow, 30 yrs? That is more government time than I think anyone should be in government. That includes Orrin Hatch!!

When this campaign first started I was leaning Tim Bridgewater because of his business experience. I wasn't a fan of Mike Lee because of his status as a lawyer. But, in my continued research of the various candidates I was given a DVD with interviews from each candidate and after watching that I was moved to Mike Lee. He was very well spoken. Tim, on the otherhand was brief and didn't go into much depth like Mike did.

So, a few days went on like this and I ended up going to a "Meet the Candidate" event in Bountiful with Tim. When Tim spoke, he spoke his mind. There was no pussy footing around any of the issues. He told us where he stood on any issue asked of him. When someone asked where he stood on an issue that was really out of his "jurisdiction", he was blunt and said, "I don't know. But, I can do some research and find out where I stand." So, he didn't do the whole Washington magic trick by getting you to focus on the other hand. When asked why we should vote for him rather than Mike, he said that he, Tim, is a businessman and Mike is a lawyer. That he could guarantee that Mike could run circles around him on Constitutional Law. But, it is the lawyers in Washington that came up with this 27,000 page bill. That in an effort to plug every tiny hole they came up with this bill that only a lawyer would be able to read. So they were just perpetuating their own job security. He then said that because he is a businessman that he likes things clear and concise. That last statement pushed me back into Tim's arena. He said he is for vouchers, tax credits, anything to upset the current public education system. He wants to push for a return of States Rights, that our Federal Government has gone way to far. He wants to cap the spending of our government to a percentage of our GDP. Everything he was saying was music to my ears and in words anyone could understand.

Then at Convention as I listened to Mike, I wasn't impressed by what he said. He kept using big words and he talked fast. I felt like he was trying to either get too many questions answered in the 3 hours before the Convention started or was trying to lose us and confuse us. He did give good answers to the questions, but I think Tim was just more on the same level and in touch with the people. Mike just seems like a politician and was talking down to us peons.

When Convention started, and each candidate was speaking. Mike again was talking way too fast. I could tell he was trying to be inspiring in his speech, but I just wasn't feeling anything. Tim just had a genuineness to him that I think really appealed to me and most. But, as I cast my last ballot, I knew that there was going to be a Primary Election between Tim and Mike and I was right.

I would encourage all those reading this to do their own homework. To get out and see who you like better. But, if you want my opinion on who to vote for I will say Tim Bridgewater. He is my candidate of choice. I believe that he is the kind of candidate that can correctly represent Utah in Washington. He is for small government, states rights, individual rights and for Utah.

So, I listen to Glenn Beck. I know, I know some of you aren't thrilled with him. But, I just can't change the station. The mixture of his sarcasm and knowledge keeps me listening. If only I had cable I would watch him also.

Having listened to him for about 3 yrs. now, I have generated a desire to learn and understand more about how our government works and how the Founding Fathers established our country. This is kind of like where you rely on your parents' testimonies while you are young, but at some point in time you have to fly solo and get your own testimony. I've got to do the same thing. I can regurgitate what Glenn Beck says and not really have an understanding, or I can learn and study and make my own conclusions on my own. I'm choosing the latter.

Since starting this new quest for political knowledge, I have already read, "The Real George Washington," half of "The Real Thomas Jefferson," there is a 2 month waiting list to get it again, "Freedomnomics," "1776" and half of a book on Thomas Payne. I'm currently reading, "Basic Economics" which is a really good read if you want to understand how economics works without getting a degree in it.

These all have been fantastic books. But, this is just scratching the surface. I still have quite a few book on my list that I want to read: "The Real Benjamin Franklin," "The Real Thomas Jefferson," the second half', "The 5000 Year Leap," "The Federalist Papers," a book on Samuel Adams, a book on Grover Cleavland, a Facebook quiz told me that he was my best match as a President, I want to know more of why, and "The Forgotten War, the War of 1812."

This is just a few of the books I want to read. Unfortunately I don't have a ton of time to read all these book as I have a job, a family, and a major calling, otherwise I would have my nose in one of these books at all times.

When I was 10 our TV broke, and I became a voracious reader. It was then I was addicted and always had a book I was reading until college. In 9th grade I read something like 20,000 pages in one school year. I read anything I could get my hands on, I was a nerd! I even read in the lunch line. I look back at that and wished I hadn't taken it that far. But, I did and there is nothing I can do about it. I even worked a teacher over and was able to read "The Three Musketeers," which I wasn't supposed to because it had been made into a movie.

I'm trying to make time for reading, to better understand our nation and the foundation it was built upon. I have found it is through our ignorance that we have gotten ourselves into this mess. So, the way we are going to get ourselves out is through our own education. We have to keep those who represent us in check.

My message to you is pick up a book and educate yourselves on this nation and see why the Founding Fathers did what they did.