Daily Devotional, Day 3: Jesus Christ is Our Savior

 

There stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. (Abraham 3: 24, 25, 27, 28)

Jesus Christ is the Savior

We are not here by accident.  God created this earth for us so that we might receive physical bodies and that, in those bodies, have learning experiences – even tough ones – so that we might grow and become more like our Savior and prepare ourselves to return to our Heavenly Father when our mortal life is over. 

One of the greatest gifts of this plan is the gift of repentance.  In the eternal world, consequences come immediately following the mistake.  In this life, we have time. We can repent. We can change. Most importantly, we can be forgiven and become new people with new and pure hearts. What can you do today to move in that new direction? You don’t have to get there today, but you can begin today to become who you are meant to be. Will you accept His gift of repentance and salvation? 

Daily 10/2 Conference Saturday

DEVOTIONAL: Devotional today will come for Conference sessions.

• We need to know who we are and that God loves us.
• We need to know out purpose in life.

MEALS:

Yesterday, I ate breakfast in my apartment (2 over medium eggs and 2 frozen waffles) I ate late so that was breakfast and lunch.

For snack I had yogurt and, later, ice cream.

For dinner I had ground beef tacos in the restaurant.

ACTIVITIES: Put new month activities in my phone calendar.

NOTEWORTHY:

Still waiting for the wire transfer of the money for my house.  Hopefully, on Monday

TO DO:

Today I will watch General Conference

Daily Devotional, Day 2: Jesus Christ is the Creator

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:3)

 

Jesus Christ is the Creator

In Genesis we read: In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. (Genesis 1: 1)

Continuing in Genesis, God described His work of six creative periods. In each case, He said:

1.     Let there be light and there was light

2.    Let there be a firmament in the midst of heaven

3.    Let there be a sun in the day and a moon and stars at night

4.    Let the dry land appear and let there be                                                            vegetation upon it

5.    Let there be fish in the sea and fowl in the air

6.    Let there be all manner of animals upon the land

In His final creation of the sixth period, God created mankind in His image, male and female.  He commanded the plants, animals, and people to multiply after their own kind.

 

God said. By the power of the Word of God was everything created. Is it any wonder that when Jesus said, Peace, be still (Mark 4: 39) the storm ceased and there was a great calm? The elements were listening to the voice of their creator.

 

When the tempests rage in our lives, we can appeal to Jesus Christ for peace.  Sometimes He calms the storm.  Sometimes, He calms me so that I can withstand the storm. Sometimes, He allows me to swim to develop my strength, all the while knowing He will not let me drown!  How can you call on Jesus Christ as your Creator for peace?

Daily Devotional, Day 1: Who is Jesus Christ?

 

Part One: Who is Jesus Christ and Why is He Important to Me?

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

 

Jesus Christ is Eternally God

 

The original language in which the Apostle John wrote was Greek. The Greek word logos was translated into English as Word, and refers to Jesus Christ.  But it is much more than that. It also refers to the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Plan of Salvation and Existence; the word by which inner thought is expressed and the inner thought itself. [1] 

According to another Bible study source, John uses the word logos 6 times as a designation of the Divine preexistent person of Jesus Christ.[2]

 

In other words, Jesus did not begin His existence in Bethlehem nor leave His existence on Calvary. He is eternal. He was with the Father in the beginning before the world was. He was with God and He was God, chosen by our Heavenly Father to be the Savior of the world so that through Him we could return to God.

 

What does it mean to you to know that you have a God who is eternally your God and Savior? How do you claim that blessing?

---

[1] https://pathosethoslogos.com

[2] https://www.biblestudytools.com

Is It Already October?

While I am keeping the name Covenant Keepers, I am changing the format.  Instead of a spiritual apologetic of sorts, it will read more like a simple diary. So prepare to be bored!

DEVOTIONAL: Alma's discourse on planting the seed of faith. Watched Taylor and Tyler on Book of Mormon Central. Am thinking of copying my daily devotional book I'm preparing for my family as a separate log posting.

MEALS:

Yesterday, I ate breakfast in my apartment (cold cereal with banana); I had a grilled chicken salad at lunch, which was passable.  (Note to self: take my own dressing!) I also had dinner in the restaurant, which was excellent.  It was stuffed chicken breast (stuffing as in Thanksgiving), mashed potatoes, and green beans.

ACTIVITIES:

Got my flu shot.  Took a prophylactic dose of Tylenol and Advil immediately and did not suffer the sore arm others complained about.

Walked with my walker.  My new cell phone counts my steps, so I need to figure out how to use that feature and begin to track my steps with an eye on increasing them over time.

Gave a copy of Words of God to my new friend, "Dr. Jim." He's in my ward and I am so impressed by his testimony that I thought he'd appreciate my book.  I have given copies of Pig to several of my new women friends.

NOTEWORTHY:

Closed escrow on my house sale yesterday.  Will be watching my bank account today to see if they post my funds. Felt a tad depressed last night because I am grieving the house and the relationship I had with the son with whom I lived. I'm so much healthier where I am and I need to remember that it is okay to take care of myself physically, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

TO DO:

Today I will pick up the October calendar from downstairs and update my personal calendar in my office. I am curious to see if they will continue to offer water aerobics, the only exercise I get on a regular basis.

Autumn 2021

Last February, I had no idea the dramatic changes of direction my life would take. My life has been so thronged and crazy, I have not blogged in over six months.

I can't make any promises, even to myself, but I hope to correct that soon.

WE GOT TROUBLE: YELLOW JOURNALISM

Just watched "The Music Man" on TCM.  Remember the scene when Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill decides to use a new pool table to rile up the people of  River City, Iowa? (link below*) Here are the lyrics (Compliments Musixmatch)

Ya Got Trouble

Friend, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do not wish to acknowledge
Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a pool table in your community

Well, Ya got trouble, my friend, right here
I say, trouble right here in River City
Why sure I'm a billiard player
Certainly mighty proud I say
I'm always mighty proud to say it
I consider that the hours I spend
With a cue in my hand are golden
Help you cultivate horse sense
And a cool head and a keen eye
Jever' take and try to find
An iron-clad leave for yourself
From a three-rail billiard shot?

But just as I say
It takes judgment, brains, and maturity to score
In a balkline game
I say that any boob can take
And shove a ball in a pocket
And I call that sloth
The first big step on the road
To the depths of deg-ra-Day--
I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon
Then beer from a bottle
An' the next thing ya know
Your son is playin' for money
In a pinch-back suit
And list'nin to some big out-a-town jasper
Hearin' him tell about horse-race gamblin'
Not a wholesome trottin' race, no!
But a race where they set down right on the horse!
Like to see some stuck-up jockey'boy

Settin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil?
Well, I should say
Now, Friends, lemme tell you what I mean
Ya got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a table
Pockets that mark the diff'rence
Between a gentlemen and a bum
With a capital "B"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!
And all week long your River City
Youth'll be fritterin' away
I say your young men'll be fritterin'!

Fritterin' away their noontime, suppertime, choretime too!
Get the ball in the pocket
Never mind gettin' dandelions pulled
Or the screen door patched or the beefsteak pounded
Never mind pumpin' any water
'Til your parents are caught with the cistern empty
On a Saturday night and that's trouble
Yes you got lots and lots of trouble
I'm thinkin' of the kids in the knickerbockers
Shirt-tail young ones, peekin' in the pool
Hall window after school, ya got trouble, folks!
Right here in River City
Trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!

Now, I know all you folks are the right kind of parents
I'm gonna be perfectly frank
Would ya like to know what kinda conversation goes
On while they're loafin' around that Hall?
They be tryin' out Bevo, tryin' out cubebs
Tryin' out Tailor Mades like cigarette fiends!
And braggin' all about
How they're gonna cover up a tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen
One fine night, they leave the pool hall
Headin' for the dance at the Arm'ry!
Libertine men and Scarlet women!
And Rag-time, shameless music
That'll grab your son, your daughter
With the arms of a jungle animal instinct!
Mass-staria!
Friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground!

Trouble, oh we got trouble
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool
That stands for pool
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City
Right here!
Gotta figure out a way
To keep the young ones moral after school!
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble

Mothers of River City!
Heed the warning before it's too late!
Watch for the tell-tale signs of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house
Does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?
Is he starting to memorize jokes from?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation?
Words like 'swell?"
And 'so's your old man?"
Well, if so my friends
Ya got trouble
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City!
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule!
Oh, we've got trouble
We're in terrible, terrible trouble
That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool!
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble!
With a "T"! Gotta rhyme it with "P"!
And that stands for Pool

Songwriters: Willson Meredith

I couldn't help thinking that politics and fast-talking never change.  First your create a problem (either non-existent or blown out of proportion), then you offer a "solution" which, by the way, gains you wealth and/or power. 

Listen below and see if you can't see anti-propaganda from both sides of the fence. BTW, look up the difference between Billiards (gentleman) and Pool (bum) just for fun.  You may also want to know that Dan Patch was a trotting horse who wasn't trained to accept a rider. Most of the issues Professor Hill raises are really non-issues.

The line "remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock, and the Golden Rule is telling. "Remember the Maine" was the battle cry flaunted by the media which led to the Spanish American War. The truth is, the Maine was sunk by an internal fire and not by Spain, but the huge media giants of the day wanted to see us go to war, so they falsely claimed that Spain sunk the ship in the harbor. Check it out. You'll find that I'm right.  Propaganda, Yellow Journalism, and War

In the 1890s the fierce competition between Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal caused both to develop the techniques of yellow journalism, which won over readers with sensationalism, sex, crime and graphic horrors.** 

Pulitzer

Tell that to the approximately 3000 Americans who died in the war of injuries, influenza, and typhoid fever.

Hearst

Recent forensic studies of the wreck of the Maine show that the ship was never bombed.  History now shows us that Pulitzer and Hearst literally created a war because of their personal drives for wealth, power, and influence. 

 

As my dad would say, "The never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

By the way, both Pulitzer and Hearst were Democrats. 'Nuff said.

* Ya Got Trouble

** Wikipedia Pulitzer and Hearts