I think this topic has been discussed and discussed too many times, but I thought I would add a couple cents.
I think it all starts with the definition of Christianity...but I don't think that is really pertinent as that also depends on what reference you are using. So there is no answer there.
Next, I think that we could be compared to other religions based on our beliefs, but even amongst those who recognize each other as Christians the views are quite different, so that isn't really a great comparison either.
Then, you could look at our authority, where we claim to get it. But that presents problems to many, if you don't understand our belief in modern revelation and a Living God. Maybe, we should give up...
Or I could say that I don't think those things are what make me Christian, anyway...
What makes me a Christian is that I want to be like Christ. He is the center of my life and the example...of service and love I want my children to grow up to be like. I love Him for the things He did while on this earth and I think that we will all be better people if we try and do the things He taught us.
What makes me a Christian is not what anyone else labels me by definition; it will be the welcome I receive when I meet my Savior face to face. If at that time, he turns His back or asks me to leave, then I can assume I was not a Christian...however, if He welcomes me with open arms back into His presence...then it will be even more insignificant to me what I was labeled by others.
Are Mormons Christians? I would hope that I am, but in the end it is nothing more than a label, and I don't let labels determine who I am...I a free to choose that.
Tonight I went to see the new Batman movie and it was nothing short of amazing. That being said, there is something interesting that I learned. Our lives are so manipulated by the things around us that I think we completely lose track of what life is really about.
It is so easy to live and be happy when things are going well and according to plan but it seems as though we all fall apart when something we don't expect or didn't plan happens to us; when in reality that is when it is the most important to show who we are and what we stand for...I guess in that sense most of us do show our true colors. The problem is, those may not be our best moments, especially if our backs are to the wall.
In truth our lives shouldn't be spent trying to "become" something...they should be spent in "being" someone. We work so hard at want we want that we overlook the experiences we go through to get there. Even worse, we stop at intervals along the way to judge what our progress is based on our perception at that time of whether or not we think we will make it. How on earth can you do that? They say you start a journey of a hundered miles with one footstep...but there is no way that footstep is going to tell you whether or not you are going to make it the rest of the way.
I think that tonight, strangely, I learned that life is NOT about what you want to be, its about who you need to be. We will never be measured by our desire to be good, nice or charitable...we will be measured by the what we did at the times we needed to do something. I am always amazed by the people that say, I was going to stop and help but...{enter excuse}. It's as though saying that is enough to make it better. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. What about the road to heaven?
I don't think there is a road, I think its a staircase, better yet a ladder and its not about how high you climb; its about how many people you raise up on your shoulders. If we stop looking at who we WANT to be and evaluate whether or not we are the person others NEED us to be, then we will reach our true potential.
You can reach for the stars all you want...but only by lifting another will we ever get closer to them. (And yes, I just made that up.) ;-)
Several months ago, I was faced with and interesting prompting. I have always believed that I follow promptings of the Spirit and by doing so, I have been led down many paths that for good or bad have directly affected the lives of others. In some cases, I have done so willingly and in others, not so willingly. I am not sure really in any of those cases, I have accomplished what I was supposed to but I cannot deny I have had an effect.
Along the way, I have also made some of the best friends and relationships for which any one person could ask. In many cases, I have also had to leave great friendships behind. I think that because I have felt like I have always had a purpose in my nomadic endeavors that it has always cushioned the feelings of mourning friendships past. Unfortunately, my family can't share in my convictions, in that regard, they are forced to trust me.
Something very different has taken place in my most recent migration. This migration was prompted by the feeling that it was time to focus on our family. The last few years have been very difficult; I have not been in a happy place and as a result, have not been the best father that I could be. I didn't realize exactly how much influence a job could have on me. It's quite sad really. Anyway…moving on.
My children have always had great friends and so have my wife and I. For the last several years, we have been close to family and able to spend time with them. In moving, I have ripped my family away from that…but it is for a purpose. I think that in some ways we were closer to people outside our house than we were to each other. I believe that our reason for moving from our comfortable life and friendships was to bring us closer together as a family. As in time past, I won't be able to see if that happened until it is too late but I believe that is the purpose.
I guess now it is left in our hands to figure out how.
My wife and I have been called to serve in primary as the CTR8 teachers. I am so excited to be teaching children. If anyone can recommend some good resources out there please let me know.
Several months ago, I was faced with and interesting prompting. I have always believed that I follow promptings of the Spirit and by doing so, I have been led down many paths that for good or bad have directly affected the lives of others. In some cases, I have done so willingly and in others, not so willingly. I am not sure really in any of those cases, I have accomplished what I was supposed to but I cannot deny I have had an effect. Along the way, I have also made some of the best friends and relationships for which any one person could ask. In many cases, I have also had to leave great friendships behind. I think that because I have felt like I have always had a purpose in my nomadic endeavors that it has always cushioned the feelings of mourning friendships past. Unfortunately, my family can't share in my convictions, in that regard, they are forced to trust me. Something very different has taken place in my most recent migration. This migration was prompted by the feeling that it was time to focus on our family. The last few years have been very difficult; I have not been in a happy place and as a result, have not been the best father that I could be. I didn't realize exactly how much influence a job could have on me. It's quite sad really. Anyway…moving on. My children have always had great friends and so have my wife and I. For the last several years, we have been close to family and able to spend time with them. In moving, I have ripped my family away from that…but it is for a purpose. I think that in some ways we were closer to people outside our house than we were to each other. I believe that our reason for moving from our comfortable life and friendships was to bring us closer together as a family. As in time past, I won't be able to see if that happened until it is too late but I believe that is the purpose. I guess now it is left in our hands to figure out how.
