BARACK OBAMA IS NOT OUR KING!

I have a desire to get my thoughts out there in hopes of learning and also to have the opportunity to teach my children. I have read a few different news articles and also some post that talk about President Barack Obama over the past couple of days. Some of the comments have been right on and others comments really scare me. It amazes me the beliefs some people have when it comes to government and the president Of the United States. I have some Strong beliefs and opinions when it comes to politics, I don't believe that politics and everyday life are or can be separated. I want my children to be able to see how the things going on in our government (national, state and local) have an effect on our daily lives. I think back to when I was a young child and cannot remember caring a whole bunch about what was going on, but I remember knowing that my father voted. I really don't remember hearing my father speak about anything to do with politics. I want my kids to know a little bit more then that. I do have to say I think that my kids are a lot more on the ball then I was at that age, they have asked questions about what is going on with our government and why the president is doing one thing or another, which is a lot more than I ever did. I think I have a responsibility to teach my kids and help them to understand but I don't want to think for them. So I thought I would put my beliefs out there politically speaking for my kids to read and think about and try to find out why I might believe that way. Also, I don't know if everybody really knows how I think or what gets me going politically. I know that some of you do know what I think all to well, even so I don't think I have ever put them down in any kind of list or anything like it So here goes a partial list. By the way this list is not in any particular order, just things that come to mind right now.

1. The government is not there to take care of us.
2. The president of the United States is not a king.
3. The best place to make a change in our world is to change ourselves first.
4. That means we have to take responsibility for our own actions and beliefs. Quit blaming others
5. Our original Constitution and Declaration of Independence was inspired by God. So in my opinion it is scripture.
6. People are smart enough to figure out how to build and maintain roads, government doesn't have to do it.
7. Government should not be in the business of golf, or any other venture.
8. All value is found in people.
9. Money does not solve the problems in schools. So stop stealing my money to fund a failing system.

These are just a few of the beliefs that I have, I hope to be able to expand on some of them or maybe even have some arguments. I can tell you this it frustrates me to see so many people looking to Barach Obama for the answer to all their problems. We are not serfs. We are Sons and Daughters of God and have the ability to think and to create the world in which we will be happiest. Just like the Declaration of Independence says we are given rights by god such as life, liberty and property (our thoughts are property) or the pursuit of happiness. We are not intended to be serfs and I'm offended by people who think we should ask government to bail us out or to take care of any aspect of our lives other than the protection of our God given rights.

I shouldn't be so scared

Something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time is to write about when its proper and not proper to talk about your beliefs in public. I was listening to the radio yesterday and the radio show host decided to have the same subject, this really got me thinking about times when I’ve had the opportunity to talk about things that I believe and have turned back because of the company I was in. For instance, right now I’m working with an African American black man who just got out of prison for I don’t know what, but has a great head on his shoulders. He has made a lot of mistakes in his life but recently has decided to make changes that has led him down a completely different road. as I’ve been with him driving between job to job I’ve had the opportunity to bring up subjects that might be otherwise controversial. But as we get talking I find myself turning away from my true beliefs in the fear of offending him. I always wonder later on if I should have told him something that I believe in or maybe taken the opportunity to talk about the controversial subject. I wonder if this would be a good opportunity for me to refine my arguments and maybe be challenged on some things that I think. But because of fear a turn away from the opportunity to have my beliefs challenged or to refine my arguments. So when is it proper to talk about controversial issues politically speaking or maybe religious ones and even some personal things that I might be going through? Is the workplace the right place to talk about political issues or even religious issues? I wonder sometimes if I had more knowledge about a subject that I wouldn’t be so scared to talk about it. Maybe if I would read my scriptures more often and take the opportunity to study subjects about the gospel I wouldn’t be so scared to talk about the gospel with other people. I think if I would spend more time studying the issues that are available to me politically speaking that I wouldn't be so scared to talk about them with other people. The point of my thought here is that we should want to spend more time talking to each other even if the subject might be controversial, we might find ourselves being challenged and learning something. And who’s against learning? I started this blog so that I can have the opportunity to share my thoughts and beliefs with other people and to have them respond to me in a way that I could be challenged or persuaded to think differently. I would probably enjoy trying to persuade those who disagree with me to see my point. But if I continue to turn away because of fear I will never have the opportunity to refine my Beliefs or to persuade anybody of the beliefs I have in the gospel or politically speaking or any other kind of conversation that might happen. So this is my hope, that we each take the opportunity to share beliefs with other people. Talk with them about the things we’re thinking about listen to them and their responses try to learn, but stand by your convictions. I think that through it all we will probably make some friends, even if its friends we don’t always agree with but friends none the less. These friends will know exactly how we believe and why. So let’s start having a conversation about whatever you want and quit turning away from controversial subjects because of the fear.

Forgivness or Revenge?

My thoughts have been dominated by the question of what it means to forgive and how does a person forgive after something hurtful has been done. I know that most people have had personal experience with this in there lives, each one of us could list pages of times when a family member a friend or a co-worker has said or done something that has been hurtful. I know I have witnessed things being said and done to people that I know and love and I have wondered how anyone could get past that! I am experiencing something right now that has brought this question right to the front of the mind and caused me to question what I thought I knew about forgiveness.

I want to tell a story about my Dad. My Dad is a Hero to me in so many ways,most of which I'm sure he knows nothing about. I remember once when I was in Jr high school my Dad had a disagreement with a guy he was working with it was over money or something, but I remember my Dad walking away from the situation in an effort to save a relationship and show forgiveness. I remember felling mad at my Dad for just walking away, for not standing in there and fighting for what was his. I know that I was young and really didn't have the whole story nor did I really know the circumstances but my feelings were real. Another story about my Dad was told to me by him and my Mom and older brothers, it somewhat of a legend about my Dad. When he was younger him and a Friend Teamed up and formed a company that produced and sold a concrete additive chemical. My Dad had come up with the formula while working with his Dad and Grandpa at the Family Batch plant in Cove Utah. He asked his friend to help him with the business idea, which he did. I don,t know the story of what happened with that business all I know is that it turned bad. It got to the point that there friendship was being damaged and damaged badly. The decision was made to take it to the church priesthood leadership and ask them to act as arbiters in the situation. The meeting with the church happened and it was determined that my Dad was right, but his friend was unwilling to accept the decision that was made and said he was going to take it to court. My Dad for reasons that are hard for me to understand decided to sell his portion of the company to his friend for one dollar. This company went on to make millions. When I was young it would make me mad to know my Dad passed up millions for the sake of forgiveness and reconciliation.

So here I am today, a grown man and someone that has been taught the gospel and the importance of forgiveness but I still struggle with it. I have a hard time letting things go. My Dad says that is why he calls me a bani rooster (what ever that is?) because I always rise to challenge anyone and anything in front of me. At times this has caused a lot more heartache and despair but for some reason I still do it no matter the cost. Why is that I have such a hard time forgiving those that have wronged me or should I say those that I perceived to have wronged me. The Savior said in D&C 64;10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. and in D&C 82: 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you.

Right now today I am struggling with forgiveness. I want to forgive and I know it is something that I have to do but when someone does something to me or to my wife something inside of me wants to stand and fight. Here's the skinny I have sinned many times in my life and have offended many more then I would want any of you guys to know and I also know that I have been forgiven many times. My Savior loves me enough to take all the dumb things that I have done upon himself and I am eternally grateful. How Do I learn to Be like my Savior and just forgive and even better how do I show an increase of love after I have forgiven. I am a work in progress, I have a long way to go and the reason I put this out there is to first of all let you guys in on some the things that I think about and also to learn. I could really use help right now. I love my Savior and I want to do his will I think I just need some help.

Eric

This feels weird!

So I finally did it, I created my own blog. I can't tell you how many times I have said to myself that I should write something down or had a thought that I wanted to expand on or even explore. There have been many times when a memory of something from my past comes to mind and I want to write about it and find some lesson that I can share with the world or at least my own children, i have never acted on this feeling until today. So here we go I am going to make an attempt to share my thoughts, feelings, opinions and what ever might come to mind in a way that people can understand and if they don't they have the opportunity to help me or correct me or just put me in my place. My grammar isn't very good so I am hoping that by writing on this blog that my skills will improve, I'm sure my sister in-law who is a teacher will help me out with that, at least I hope she will. I don't feel I need to hide who I am and I don't apologize for my beliefs or opinions and I hope that I am tolerant enough to hear and exchange with others. Remember that you are invited to come to my blog and read and comment, all I ask is that all of us are respectful and that we don't write inappropriate words or phrases and no insults. My kids are going to be reading this also.

ERIC