Sunday Talk

Below is my notes to a talk I will give tomorrow at sacrament meeting. I thought to share it with those I care about and love. Hope it is not to sappy for you.
The Old Man

The Love of Christ

February 8, 2009, Halandri Branch concluding speaker

Christ’s love for us & our love for him.
Working on building Personal relationship
Charity

My love of music has sustained me even when I was in positions where some might have said, “Not even his mother could love him.” However, I am sure my mother would always love me – she is the embodiment of charity. Love of music has come to me even though I’ve been rejected by many music purveyors and providers. As a young 5th – 6th grader and my experience with a church choir performing on a San Diego television station let me understand the “P” word or “mouth only, with no noise”. As a father I sang a solo at my son’s missionary farewell, never to be called on to speak again; well, at least not for a long time and then under conditions…..

I was not given the gift to sing pleasing to the ears of man; rather, I was given the gift to appreciate music and song.

What I like about music is not only can it be inspiring and soothing; it teaches through Spirit.

At the last baptism our Branch choir’s performance is a great example. I have been listening over the last few weeks to past general conference tapes from the Branch library (could only find two, are there others). At each conference there are usually several sessions where the Tabernacle Choir performs. In none of their, the MTC’s performances did they have the power and majesty as did our little Branch choir and violinist at that baptism. For the Spirit was strong and taught the reality of the worth of a special soul in the sight of our Lord.

Today I will frame my talk around another hymn from which has and had great meaning to me in moments of deepest darkness. Each of you may take way something a little different from the hymn as we sing at the conclusion of my discourse. I do hope you all take away a feeling of The Love of Christ for you as an individual. Please turn to I Stand All Amazed, on page 22 in the Greek hymnal or #193 in the standard hymnal and refer to it as I speak.

This hymn spoke volumes and with such great power to me at that time of darkness only God Himself could have voiced. It taught me of Jesus love for me. It taught of His love for me personally as an individual.

A little background is in order. Even before investigating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I was keening interested in spiritual things; including religions and had even read the Bible several times. I especially liked the New Testament and would find tears coming to my eyes as I read either the words of the Savior or passages about His works for each of us individually. However, it was only after I had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that I acquired insight into why reading the scriptures had affected me so much; and this song sums up that understanding or should I say feeling.

Let’s look to a few scriptures together and hopefully, with the aid of the spirit you will obtain insight as to why I feel this way:

1* St. John 15:12 – 15 Love one another “Friend” I am His friend

2* St. John 10:17 -18 Father Loves Him, No one takes his life rather He gave for me

3 1 Ne. 11:16 - 21 God the Father was immortal while Mary His mother was mortal – Christ did not have to die because of the Father, but could because of His mother

I read a book a long time ago by the author of “Jonathon Livingston Seagull” whose name escapes me, called something like “The Reluctant Messiah” or maybe that was the subtitle. Any way it was about a messiah who used his agency not to suffer & die for us.

4 1 Ne. 11:26 – 27 Baptized like me; ask I do nothing that He is not willing to do

5 1 Ne. 11:33 Lifted up for my sins as well as those of others

7 2 Ne. 7:6 Sacrifices for sin

6 Matt. 26:28 First sacrament = Blood for sin

8 D&C 19: 13 -20 Repent or Suffer

9 Mosiah 14:6 – 12 (Isaiah) esp. 10-12 Gave His soul as an offering for sin, will divide with us all his father has, bore our sins, and intercedes with the Father on our behalf

*D&C 58:42 The Lord will remember our sins no more if we repent. We are to be like Him, so neither should we be harrowed up in past sins after repenting.

10 Alma 22:15 (Aaron teaching king Lamoni’s father) the king told Aaron he would “give up all to receive this great joy”

Aaron told him to pray

22:18 In his prayer the king said he would, “give up all sins to know Thee”

And after his prayer he fell to the earth as if dead, as have other scriptural heroes, sometimes being carried away in the Spirit. Whereupon, his wife finding him in such condition wanted the life of the man she suspected of killing her husband. Aaron caused the king to arise and the king

11 Alma 22:23 After received forgiveness & the spirit, “King did minister (share/preach) to his wife & servants…” He shared that which he now did hold most dear

12 Alma 22:25 The king did minister unto the masses Why? When we receive something of great worth the natural response of man is to share that joy with those they care about or love and thus continue in the spirit and have it grow.

There is another good song, not a hymn, which was very popular a few years ago, and while I am not sure of its official title, I call it, A Fathers Love. The refrain goes something like this, “A father doesn’t love his child just every now and then. A father’s love is forever, Amen & amen.”

If time permits: tell the story of the boy who had a fight at school which was strictly against his fathers rules, his fathers responded not in anger, but, with words his father had passed on to him, “A father doesn’t love his child just every now and then. A father’s love is forever, Amen & amen.” The song continues with the boy’s life which was not so good and ends with him at the gates of heaven & his thoughts (maybe some of our thoughts), “if they know half the things I done they’ll never let me in” & then from within the walls he hears the refrain again, “A father doesn’t love his child just every now and then. A father’s love is forever, Amen & amen.”

I try, with the emphasis on the word try, live so as to have His love and presence daily.

I try not to do the things I do, looking for a reward. I try to do them because they are the RIGHT THINGS to do. I don’t find my self hungering for my kingdom on high or for a reward in the hereafter, as I hear many proclaiming. That is too far in the future for me and I am not all that tenacious, require a lot of my Lords charity just to return and strive in the straight and narrow, and rather see joy on my wife, children’s, and friend’s faces or in other words their salvation rather than my own. That is what brings me happiness. I would rather know Jesus and His Father here and now and do their will in my everyday life. Doing things for our reward in the hereafter is greatly over rated; we need to do what is right in the here and now and “let the consequence(s) follow”. The scriptures and the Spirit have taught us that we can. It is my humble prayer that each of us take Him up on His promise of true and everlasting friendship.

Testimony

The Ticket

Best way to get about Athens

You may want a precourse from Lalee before arriving in Greece. This is for all of you who may be planning a visit. It is easy, it is cheap, it is the Boyett way.

Pointer one from The Old Man There may be no more til you get here; or not!

Sharing the moment with a few friends

As I leave my office
Oh what your missing

And the swimming pool too

Well, maybe someone will care enough to help me enjoy this wonderful country. Maybe not.

The Old Man

Day of Thought

The other day someone called the pool my baby. Last night I spoke with John & Laurie on the phone and could sense some friction on the home front. I did not get tobed/sleep until 5:00 this morning. Got up arround 12:00, had my vitamin C with zinc drink, read scriptures (D&C), and started out to the bakery for a loaf of brown bread. Walking out of our apparentments Gilbert, the super, asked if I was going to the college and I replied "no, just to take a walk and get some bread, since the day was so beautiful." He concurred and out I went. As I walked up the street I thought of the two ideas stated in the start of the blog and questioned wheather my staying in Greece was a little selfish. Yes & no, it was a joint decission and I am providing for family welfare on several fronts. Seldom is the time when all of the fronts are completely covered. Therefor, I determined to go to campus, check the family blogs and write down a few thoughts.
The sight of "my baby" as I came near. I guess I put so much into this project is that it is something that is to be acted upon. It responds to the laws that were given with out question. I just have to ferret out the parameters and data and it corrects. That is not to say the some of the people here, both at the college, contractors, and other agencies, love and exercise their agency more than employees and coworkers in the states are not always easy to work with; kinda like family.

Looking out from part of the campus towards the Olympic stadium (in the center, enlarge the picture for a better look), reminds my of the Olympic creed and motto for all humainty. It reminds me of the ancient Greeks and their ethics. The day after Christmas, I had dinner at my coworkers house with his family and members from his church. Very nice. One of the guests was a 75year old retired math professor from the Universitywho has over 80 books published and enjoys philosphy. He gave me a charge that the ancient Greeks gave their boys as they reach the age of accountability. I can't remember the whole saying, maybe one of you will; but it calls on the young man to honnor and obey State, Parents, & (I think) God or do good. Something for each of us to strive and achieve.
These two shots are of my baby on the inside; clean, sanitary, well maintained, balanced, beautiful, but dull because it is not being used. Just like the prinicples we know and don't put to use to make life easier and happier for those arround us. Only through these act of selflessness can both we and others be truely happy.

This last shot is of two of the permenant residents of the campus. One is relaxed while the other stands guard. It is nice that they can get along and serve one-an-other without any formal directions. It just comes natural. Oh how I wish it did with humans, from the intimacies of personal relations to world affairs.

My parting thoughts: be kind one to another, come visit The Old Man, & enjoy all life has to offer. If some of my earlier comments makes anyone feel a little uncomfortable, I am sorry of that; but desire that we each live so that we do not have to remember or live that uncomfortableness. And if you did not feel that uncomfortableness, I pray that you will come to feeling once again and live the life we were put here to live. Remember charity begins at home and with loved ones.

The Old Man and some of his thoughts

Come browse the street Market

Today was the first day of the street market that is on the side street to my appartment building. Today I only had time for photos. Since the market is only set up on Mondays I will have to wait until next week to do my shopping.

Check out the port-a-potties

Looks good. But is only here from today until the end of June or July. But who is complaining.

Wish you all could be here

It's not snowing here. A bit cold 40-50 degree and at times rainy and windy. I know, I know your will play your miniture violin, "My heart bleeds for you."

Found some good peach grape juice which tastes like apricot nector. I have to walk a little over a mile to get it so I usually pick up several one liter containers when I go. There is a bakery right next to the store which has some great chocolate treats, dark chocolate. Now you wish you were here, especially since we have the pool under control at least for the momment. Almost done brushing the algae from the bottom of the pool for a second course it will take only about 19 hours as compared with 64 to get the heavy algae off. Now I will caulk part of the deck and holes in the pool shell along with a few other patches. It's all fun.

The physics book that Jesse gave me is very interesting. I will keep your interest in my blog by saying I might, just might, give you a book report on it in the next blog. Maybe the rest of you would like to share some book reports on our opinionated blog site.

Until then have fun; but, stay safe.

The Old Man

Happy New Year - but more of the same

Happy New year to all of you.

I hope your's is a little better than mine. However I was there to catch the problems and deal with them. It's not the hand your delt that matters; BUT how you play the hand. And remember don't count your money while you are sitting at the table, there will be time enough for counting once the dealings done.

This leak from a mechanical seal greated me as I was getting ready to backwash after scrubing algae and then sweeping it into the pool's main drains for disposal on December 31st, late evening.




Come New Years Day when I arrive at the pool I check the filter/mechanical room, one of the first things I do each time I arrive since the flood, and find this leak staring at me. Lovely start to a new year.

"Glad to be of Service." The Old Man