All posts by Ryan

Change, Self Creation

Arthur Unplugged – 40 Day Fast

3 Comments

Alright, it’s not like those bible stories that you hear about where someone goes off into the wilderness and starves for 40 days…I’m still curious about that. Can someone really survive on no food/drink that long? Wow!

But rather this fast is a media fast. In the course of the last several months I’ve found myself completely engrossed in the world of technology and although Kip had it just right when he sand to La-fawn-duh, “I love technology!” I feel that there are things the Lord cannot tell me because “my line is busy.”

Over the course of the next 40 days I am going to scale down my use of media, the internet, texting, twitter and all the other noise, noise, noise (Intentional reference to Dr. Suess)!

Because of my scale down it may seem to some of you that may not be as available as I was before. However, I am making it a point to accept phone calls. I do love my people and you mean a lot to me.

So, as far as what this all means. Here’s my standard:

  • Music: Instrumental, Mo-tab & Jack Johnson :o) He inspires me!
  • Movies: None. Go see a play, play some sports, or some other fun thing. Exception: You can see ONE PG movie during this time. Make it a good one.
  • TV: None. Replacement – write some guitar songs, poetry, read or do some family history instead.
  • Internet Use:
    • At work – 3 hour daily max. Plan time well to accomplish.
    • At home – Only goal-oriented browsing. 30 45 min daily limit.
  • Computer: For journaling, writing & planning only. No games, or other programs. 1 hour daily max.
  • Facebook: for Walk the Talk & Clean Hands groups only – once a week on Sunday every other day for 30 minutes.
  • Email: Check once a week for 30 minutes Check only once for 5 minutes every other day or if someone needs to get me something urgent. (This is down from several times each day, spending upwards of 30 minutes each day.)
  • Texting & Twittering: Stop all Facebook, twitter and other social notifications. No replies via text. Talk on phone or in person if nearby.

Here are some other growth related activities that will replace some of the noise:

  • Work Out: Run to and from work at least 3 times a week (prep for marathon), rock climb for an hour at least 3 times a week after work, yoga… :o) that’s all I’m going to say ’bout that.
  • Sleep: Bed at 10, up at 6. Exception: Friday night: 12 IF something is planned.
  • Scriptures: I spend 1 hour in my scriptures daily and ponder their meaning in the context of my calling – Clean Hands Chair.
  • Patriarchal Blessing: Read weekly
  • Food: Eat breakfast and prepare a lunch for work.
  • Work: Plan for 30 minutes at the beginning of each day. Take a walking/stretching break at least each hour.
  • Planning: Nightly plan the next day. Weekly review previous week and plan next week’s main events from goals.
  • Journaling: Nightly at 9:30.

This list isn’t comprehensive. I expect to receive guidance along the way during my study, planning and journaling time.

If you need something, call me: 3.6.1.5.0.0.2 – Otherwise, see you in 40!

King Arthur

PS: Oh yeah, and to kick off my 40 days I’m going to shave my head…kind of.

Faith, Walk The Talk

His Last Week – Readings

Leave a comment

Jesus entered into Jerusalem today, he cleansed the temple and spent the night in Bethany 2 miles outside of the Holy City. Over the course of this week he showed his power, performed miracles, taught and finally suffered for all mankind in the Garden of Gethsemane and was crucified on Golgotha.

Each day this week spend some private time reading a few scriptures, pray and think about what Christ was doing. Wake up Easter Morning and thank the Father for sending his Son.

Here’s our ward newsletter. Page 4 has a daily reading schedule across the 4 gospels. Day three and four are combined.

BYU 208th March 2008 Newsletter

I am very excited to pause a little each day and remember my Savior like I promised I would when I was baptized.

Let me know how it goes for you!

King Arthur

Faith, Walk The Talk

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

Leave a comment

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
Elder David A. Bednar

“The purpose of our mortal journey is not merely to see the sights on earth or to expend our allotment of time on self-centered pursuits; rather, we are to ‘walk in newness of life’, to become sanctified by yielding our hearts unto God, and to obtain ‘the mind of Christ’.”

“…to have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit…” is the ultimate purpose of the gospel and thus why Christ came to perform the atonement.

So often I get into the habit of thinking that Christ came merely to save me from my sins. That’s nice and good, but stopping there is so sad. The exciting part of the atonement to me is the transformation into something so amazing through Christ Jesus. “The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and saint in each of us.”

“Repentance of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always remember to do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit…is the covenant responsibility we have accepted.”

I was richly edified as Elder Bednar emphasized the “becoming” aspect of the atonement and of this gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Brothers and sisters,” he said, “it is possible for us to have clean hands, but not have a pure heart.” He continues a little later, “Clean hands alone will not be enough when we stand before Him who is pure…”

So while I may stop doing bad, if I don’t then progress on and become good, I am missing out. That jump from removing sins of commission in our lives to limiting sins of omission is one of faith and of truly understanding the gospel.

That’s the whole purpose…to BECOME like God, so that when we see him again, we will be prepared, we will know him, because we are like him. And what a joyous day that will be if we have sought to repent and then to come unto Christ.

Faith, Walk The Talk

After All We Can Do

Leave a comment

After All We Can Do
by Elder Claudio D. Zivic

I heard a friend ask this last week, “how long must I continue trying so hard?” and quickly thought, well, that’s easy to answer; we should do all that we can do for the WHOLE of our mortal lives. That’s what life is all about, learning!

I didn’t validate my friend’s feelings with that thought and it’s been so easy for me lately to toss out advice and miss how I’m not applying it at the same time.

Yesterday night however, after a friend of mine who was visiting from Logan UT talked to me about wanting to be better, I started to feel my passion for excellence come back. I do love that feeling. It’s exciting. It’s motivating and it’s necessary to push me forward in the cause of right. It’s the desire that the scriptures talk about and it’s the vital prerequisite for action and for accessing the full potential of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Elder Zivic spoke of several gospel components that allow us to “be someone out of the ordinary.” My desire is to become just such a person. Who am I not to be?

  1. Sincere repentance allows us remove the burdens, or chains, of our fallen nature. Once this weight is removed, we can have the hope that lifts us up to be extraordinary people.
  2. Looking for and developing the opportunities that the gospel affords us is a key.
  3. Sharing the gospel, as I realized on my cruise, is a powerful tool to in feeling and knowing the Spirit.

I’d just like to end with a quote that I’ve always liked. It speaks of who we really are:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light , not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of god. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make and manifest the glory of god that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Authors Details: Marianne Williamson
“Our greatest fear” from her book ‘A return to love ‘

You were never meant to be ordinary!

Utterz

Motherhood & Imagination

3 Comments

It’s so neat to see the creativity of children. They seem to pull straight from the depths of their souls. They are a handful at times, but brilliant! I have so much respect for mothers and each time I get a chance to tend my nephews and/or niece I find a new respect for my sisters, their mothers. Hats off to the mothers of this world who make such a difference in the lives of their children and in mine. I love you Iss. I love you Mindy. I love you Ma!
Mobile post sent by kingarthur using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3