Suffering can make us wonder what we did wrong or why God would allow something so painful. Job’s story challenges that assumption. Perhaps trials are not evidence of God’s displeasure at all. Perhaps the fire we would never choose can become the very thing through which He refines us into gold.
Tag: continual improvement
“I Have Accepted This House”
We are constantly bombarded with messages of what we should be. In the media, we see the ideal–seemingly perfect looking people living perfect lives. In business, we have a continual quest for improvement and efficiency. At church, we are often reminded that we are commanded to be perfect. Let me be clear: there is nothing…
Ready for Match Point
Recently, I saw part of a speech Roger Federer gave last year at a commencement ceremony. The world renowned tennis champion said: “In tennis, perfection is impossible… In the 1,526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches… Now, I have a question for all of you… what percentage…
Sea Stacks and the Sacrament
I love the Oregon coast. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen is tucked away among its 116 beaches. In particular, the many sea stacks catch my eye. The formation of Sea Stacks Sea stacks are “isolated outcrops of rock standing in the ocean”. These outcrops form because sections of land along…
The Rosary in the Sauna
Sometimes the most powerful lessons in faith come from unexpected places. A stranger’s quiet devotion in a crowded sauna challenged me to examine my own heart: How deeply do I yearn for God? Transformation rarely happens all at once. It comes through daily seeking, repentance, communion, and a desire to draw nearer.
How is “New Year, New You” Going?
When I lived in Italy as a missionary, we were required to be home and inside our apartments by 6pm on New Year’s Eve. No one ever officially told me why, but, of course, the rumors and urban legends were rampant. These stories explained how wild things could get, including tales of people literally throwing…
Don’t Forget Your Dramamine!
As I think about my own personal improvement in the New Year, I really liked President Russell M. Nelson’s comments about the things he has learned from deep sea fishing that apply to improving our lives: patience, persistence, and prayer. I can’t really improve upon that, but I can share some pictures from some of…
What Does the New Year Hold for You?
What does the New Year hold for you? Whatever you make of it! I love Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s thoughts on this. We don’t need to wait for a new year to change–every day is a new opportunity to improve. “Don’t wait for tomorrow to make changes you want to see in your life now….
What Have You Learned from Living During a Pandemic? Part 5
So we are over a year into the pandemic. About 8 months ago I started noticing that many church leaders were posting about things they had learned or were learning. I started sharing that here. In General Conference last week, President Nelson focused his Priesthood Session address on this concept. His talk is worth a…