Daily Grind - I pooped a lot!

Asher has quite figured out how to speak so that everyone can understand what he says, but he does usually talk in full sentences. So today when we inquired about the status of his diaper he remarked, "I pooped a lot." There you have it, he pooped a lot for the second time today.

The car has also become a place for singing. Whenever we get into the car, he starts singing and is getting pretty good for his age.

We saw a shirt today in Walgreen's that said, I don't have an off button. I almost got it for him. It describes our son perfectly. We love him so much.

Vox Populi - Part Six

Vox Populi – a multi-part series of web essays exploring the malfeasance of liberal ideology

The Destiny of Man – Mosiah 29:26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.
Mosiah 29:27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

Man’s destiny is under the control of God. We must not fear. For this is God’s land and God’s people. No one can frustrate the plans of God. However, we must not become apathetic. That this God is in control is not an excuse for us to sit back and let things happen that are contrary to his will.

We must never tire in spreading God’s word; fighting for the freedom he gives us and most of all, praising his name, for it is the voice of the people that governs us. And the voice of the people needs to be in unison with the word of God. This requires that we tirelessly proclaim the truths that God has given us. So that the people may know to whom they should look for guidance. For a people that always trust in God and seek after him, will never choose that which is contrary to God’s will?

Man’s destiny will not be found in eschewing God’s words or removing the mention of his name from every public forum. Freedom does not come from removing the name of the being that has bestowed upon us that freedom. Our destiny will not be realized by moving farther from God.

Man has a choice. They can choose to serve God or serve themselves. One will bring them freedom and the other bondage. We must be united as a people so that we may cry together with one unified voice declaring that God is our head and that he will bring us together. For then the voice of the people, Vox populi, will be one with God.

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Vox Populi - Part Five

Vox Populi – a multi-part series of web essays exploring the malfeasance of liberal ideology

The Sanctity of Life – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

One of the most disturbing tenets of liberal ideology is that one life can be held above another. The impetus for writing this series of essays was the final presidential debate of 2008. When I heard the democratic candidate speak about not over-turning the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, I was infuriated. How can we ever support someone that does not respect the sanctity of life? God has give us life, even the unborn, who are we to take it away. How arrogant can we be to think that we can end a life because we don’t want it? To think that somehow we are on the same level as God determining who lives and who dies.

Anyone that cannot respect the right to live of an unborn child does not respect the lives of those whom he or she serves. All men, women and children are created equal and have the right to Life. There is almost no circumstance in which a baby should be aborted. Children have the right to live and grow.

We can justify our reasons and claim that it is better that way, but it is never the right thing to do. But this issue is bigger than just the unborn children that die. It is about the principles that govern the lives of those that would support a person’s right to choose. They do not value life. They do not appreciate the sacred gift that God has given us to live. How can we support those people to govern us and to regard our lives as sacred?

Go to Vox Populi - Part Six

Vox Populi - Part Four

Vox Populi – a multi-part series of web essays exploring the malfeasance of liberal ideology

The People – Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, Vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit. (And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.)

Vox Populi – the voice of the people. People have many different ideas and beliefs. We the voice of a people governs the land, society benefits because the voice of the people as a whole generally does not lead us in the wrong direction. Most people believe in freedom and want the best for the people. When those voices unite, freedom prospers.

The problem comes when those voices that are contrary to the voice of the people tries to make itself more important or when someone treats the people like they need guidance and should be watched over. Someone that rises up and tries to overthrow the voice of the people should be silenced. Because we do not often have people in this country overtly trying to become a king or dictator, we do not often notice the voices that try to usurp the power of the people.

We need to recognize those that are the wolves in sheep’s clothing, those that would destroy our freedoms. They are the ones that tell us that we cannot express an opinion because it would hurt someone else's feeling. They tell us it is wrong to believe in God and that we should not let his dictates govern our lives. They are the ones that tell us that we could not possible understand the complexities of governing and to just trust them to govern us.

The voice of the people is the voice of God until they give into the flattering voices that would destroy their freedoms. Our voices should constantly exercise our right to speak freely and to defend our ideas. We should not fear those that would silence us through personal threats or character assassinations. For God is on our side as we proclaim his word and preserve the freedom that he has given us.

Go to Vox Populi - Part Five

Vox Populi - Part Three

Vox Populi – a multi-part series of web essays exploring the malfeasance of liberal ideology

The Creator – We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. – Declaration of Independence.

“Supreme Judge of the world … divine Providence ... sacred Honor.” The very act of declaring our nation independent from Britain, involved calling upon the name of God. This is God’s nation and God’s land. He has preserved it as a land of freedom for all people.

The most destructive tool of liberal ideology is secular humanism. The idea that there is no God and humans determine what their morals should be. They believe that since God does not exist, then we do not have to have laws that follow his commandments. It opens the doors to wickedness and abominations. It will do more damage to society that any other force out there.

We know that in the beginning God’s plan was to give us our freedom to choose right and wrong. Satan’s plan was to force us all and take away our personal freedoms. However, removing our personal freedoms was not for our own good, but to build up power and glory for him. God created the earth and all that dwells here. We should silence the voices that would remove Him from it.

The liberal agenda so often tries to remove God from our lives. By removing God, you remove the very foundation of liberty. God gives us freedom and does not take it away. When freedoms are lost it is because we have appealed to him that would destroy our souls. Anyone that tries to remove God from your life is trying to remove your freedom. Declare your right to worship God and respect those that choose not to. It is your right to worship and to declare your voice in supporting laws that echo the commandments of God. That will always bring you freedom.

Go to Vox Populi - Part Four

Vox Populi - Part Two

Vox Populi – a multi-part series of web essays exploring the malfeasance of liberal ideology

The Legacy – The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln.

How ironic that arguably one of the most famous presidential speeches in history contains the line that “the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.” We do remember. We quote, memorize, analyze and read this speech on a regular basis. It talks about the price of freedom. Those that have died to preserve its cause and provide the freedoms we enjoy.

We have not had to fight for freedom. We have not suffered under the hand of those that would take those freedoms away. We forget that freedom has always come at a price. It costs the lives of those that know they must defend their God given right to worship and live according to their own beliefs.

Like Captain Moroni, we must waive the title of liberty. “Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake. And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah. And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land— For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church. And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come. And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored. (Alma 46:10-16, The Book of Mormon)

Like Amalickiah, we have those that use the cunning devises and flattering words to tell us what we want to hear. They talk of a Utopian society. They want to “guide” us yet at the same time they take away our freedoms. They raise our taxes; tell us we cannot bear arms to defend ourselves and our freedoms. They do not want us to bear arms because they no that a people that desire freedom will raise up in rebellion. Yet they flatter us away by saying that society would be better if we had no guns.

Again they preach the ideals of a perfect society, but want to bring it by force and not by changing the hearts of the people. A perfect society will only come when we are all God fearing people that are united in the common cause of caring for each other.

We have not currently been called to fight with weapons and give our lives for the cause of freedom, but we should give our time and raise our voices in defense of liberty. The fight has not ended, and it is no less bloody. They weapons have become words and the cadavers have become lives ruined to silence the voice of the people. Do not let your voice be silenced.

Go to Vox Populi - Part Three

Do not fear

Deuteronomy 31:6&8

6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

So often we fear things in life. We let fear stand in our way of accomplishing things. More importantly, we let fear stand in our way of our relationship to God. We fear he will not accept us as we are, that somehow we must be perfect first. We fear Satan and the havoc that he can cause in our lives. We fear the world and the turmoil that surrounds us daily. This world is spinning out of control more and more everyday. But, we cannot fear.

We must remember that God is in control. He provided a savior for us, so that we could be saved in spite of our imperfections. He cast Satan out of heaven, so he surely can cast him out of our lives. He created this world, so surely he knows and understands our sorrows and has placed them here for a purpose. We must never forget that the trials we face are there because God wants us to learn and grow from them. He is in complete control and will never let them become so great that we cannot shoulder their weight. We cannot fear what life will throw at us, for God will raise us up wipe the tears from our eyes.

Daily Grind - Dad, Dad, Dad!!!

I woke up, well actually was briefly roused from a deep sleep, by these words from Asher at 6:00 this morning. On the weekends, when he wakes up in his bed, he comes into our room and gets to sleep in with mom and dad. Sandy picked him up and put him in our bed and he imediately came over and curled up next to me. I then got kisses and hugs and cuddles for the next hour until he fell back asleep. What was so cute, was he wasn't trying to wake me up, he just wanted to be next to dad. There is something so wonderful to know and experience a child that loves you so much. As frustrated as I get sometimes, I really couldn't ask for a better son.