No Coincidences

Tag: Prayer

  • The Rock Christ would Build His Church Upon

    The Rock Christ would Build His Church Upon

    In a book called The Forerunners by Mark E. Petersen, I was introduced to an interpretation of a scripture that I’d read and heard quoted a thousand times.  The truth of the interpretation was so clear I couldn’t believe I’d lived so long with such a clear misunderstanding of the meaning of that important scripture.

    The verse is Matthew 16:18 which reads:

    18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

    Let’s give some context to this important passage.

    Jesus was with His apostles and He asked a simple question:  Who do the people say I am? (verse 13)

    They responded with some of the rumors out there – Some thought Jesus was the returned John the Baptist, some thought Elias, others thought Jeremias or another of the prophets.  (verse 14)

    Jesus asked, who do you say I am? (verse 15)

    Peter, Jesus’s first apostle responded, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (verse 16)

    Christ responds, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona (Peter): for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

    Which leads us to our important verse and the part I always misunderstood.

    Christ says to Peter, “thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”

    One more quick review to make the point clear:

    1. Christ says who am I?
    2. Peter answers – you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
    3. Christ responds – blessed are you, for flesh and blood (man) has not revealed this but my Father who is in heaven has revealed this to you.
    4. Christ, in responding to Peter stating properly that He is the Christ, says “thou art Peter.”
    5. Then, adding to what Jesus said about the truth being revealed to Peter by God, Jesus says, “and upon this rock I will build my church.”

    Christ wasn’t saying the church would be built on Peter.  Christ’s Church couldn’t be built on anyone’s shoulders but His own.  Additionally, Christ is adding that the testimony of Him could only be received by man from Heavenly Father, more specifically the Holy Spirit.  The rock of Christ’s Church would be Christ Himself, and the testimony of Christ only comes by revelation from the Holy Spirit.  Not by flesh or blood, but by Heavenly Father and personal revelation.  Thus, the rock of Christ’s Church would be personal revelation that Jesus is the Christ.

    I was always so confused by this scripture.  Why would the rock, the sure foundation of Christ’s Church be on anyone but Christ?  How could Peter be the foundation?  He is not.  There is only one foundation.  There is only one name by which we can receive salvation, there is only one person who can save us.  That is Jesus Christ.  The Son of the living God.  Our Savior and King.

    My foundation - $Christ ministries$

    This scripture, when properly read, emphasizes the importance of coming to a personal testimony that Jesus is the Christ.  We’re reminded that the testimony of Christ does not come from man.  It comes from personal revelation.  It is unfortunate that personal revelation has been removed from much of modern Christianity.  Modern Christian churches say the heavens are closed and God speaks to us no longer.  He only speaks to us through His ancient word.  But what of today?  How do we come to a testimony of Jesus Christ but through revelation from heaven and the Holy Spirit?

    If God no longer speaks to man then man can no longer receive testimony of Jesus Christ.  But men receive testimony of Jesus Christ daily.  Every day millions worship Jesus Christ.  Every day thousands come to the realization that only through Christ can they be saved.

    Revelation is alive.  The Holy Spirit talks to us daily.  He reveals the testimony of Christ to the hearts of man.  God speaks to us;  through scripture, through prophets, and most importantly through the Holy Ghost.

    A quote from William Barclay of the Church of Scotland:

    “The rock is the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.  To Peter that great truth had been divinely revealed.  It was God Himself who had opened Peter’s eyes to that great discovery.  The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is indeed the foundation stone of the Church’s faith and belief.  On that great truth the Church is founded for ever and ever.  This explanation holds that the divinely revealed truth that Jesus is the Son of God is the only foundation on which the Church is founded.”

    The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.

    It was restored to point men to Christ.  His name is in the name of His Church.

    Jesus Christ still is actively interested and engaged in the affairs of man.  Under the direction of His Father, our Father, He sent an angel named Moroni to reveal an ancient record to his modern-day prophet.  He, through the Holy Spirit, directed and guided Joseph Smith through the translation of a record that would make clear His doctrine and the saving ordinances of His gospel. Not to replace the Bible, but to add a second testimony to it.

    The testimony of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and my testimony is this: Jesus Christ lives.  He directs His church.  He loves all and wants us all to return to Him.

    This is the foundation of His Church.

    “Build firmly upon the rock of your Redeemer. Treasure His life and teachings. Follow His example and commandments. Embrace the powerful gifts of His Atonement. As you do, I promise you that you will see the [challenges of life] for what they are, [and] the spiritual rock under your feet will be solid and secure.” From #ElderAndersen’s pinterest.com/pin/24066179229002852 inspiring #LDSconf facebook.com/223271487682878 message lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/spiritual-whirlwinds #ShareGoodness
  • Second Coming is Upon Us (maybe?)

    Second Coming is Upon Us (maybe?)

    I’ve been pondering a scripture that many might find a peculiar scripture to study.  I think value can be taken from almost any scripture.

    1 Nephi 18:23 reads:

    “And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents, and we did call it the promised land.”

    “The Rapture,” the “Second Coming,” the “Millennium,” the “End of Times,” it comes in many different terms.  There’s a belief in a lot of Christianity that the end will come overnight, Christ will appear, and the millennium will be ushered in.

    From what I’ve read and studied and what modern revelation tells us, this will not be the case.  There will be a long, drawn out period of famine, war, disease, fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters that will go on for some time before Christ returns. 

    Check out that list.  War.  Disease.  Fire.  Sound familiar?

    The fall of society and of God’s chosen land (United States of America) will come before the Millennium is ushered in.  The faith of the saints, the believers of Christ, will be tested in serious and tragic ways.  There will be much suffering.  If your foundation and faith in Christ is not firm before it comes you could find yourself asking, “Why is God letting this happen?”

    We’ve always known this was going to happen.  The scriptures have talked about our day since the beginning of time.  Now we’re seeing it happen.   

    Back to 1 Nephi 18:23 (with some emphasis added):

    “And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents, and we did call it the promised land.”

    Many estimates put that “space of many days” that Lehi and his family sailed as at least 1-2 years.  That’s 1-2 years on a cramped boat sailing across the ocean.  After many days they finally arrived at the promised land.

    I believe this will be similar to how Christ’s coming will approach us. We will spend many days being tossed about by the winds and waves. We will be required to endure a lot of suffering before we can arrive at the promised land.

    As things get more difficult, I pray that each of us individually considers how strong our faith in Christ truly is.  It’s easy today to casually say, “I believe in Jesus Christ.”  But what about when it’s hard?  What about when your life is in jeopardy because of that belief?  Will you still profess Him who will never turn His back on you?

    Finally, while things are scary in our world, and only getting scarier, it’s important to remember Romans 8:35-39:

    35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

    36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

    37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

    38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

    39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Be prepared. Keep hope. Look to Christ.

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/second-coming-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

  • Sunday Meditation and Basketball

    Sunday Meditation and Basketball

    In November of 2019 I started meditating every morning.  I’m not doing anything real impressive.  I spend the first 10 minutes of every day laying on my back on the ground.  I started by listening to guided meditations on YouTube.  Now I have the Calm App on my phone which I highly recommend.  I rotate between guided meditations and simply laying with my eyes closed, in prayer and thought.  Early on I found meditation to be extremely beneficial.  My days would start off right.  I would be calmer and more patient with any challenge that arose throughout the day.  I know this is hard to gauge and measure.  Maybe I wasn’t calmer or more patient, but I felt more calm and patient.  That has to be almost as good.

    When I started meditating, I immediately noticed answers to prayers.  Those 10 minutes have become the most important 10 minutes of my day.  I look forward to that time to spend with my own thoughts and with God.  It’s an opportunity to slow down and think about what I want to accomplish; in life and for that day.  It’s time to stop and consider all that I have to be grateful for.

    I think I’ve written about his before, but when I was coming back to church, initially a big help was basketball on weekend mornings.  For years my weekends were spent out late.  When I was trying to stop drinking and stop going out as much, Saturday morning (7am) basketball became critical.  It was something I could look forward to.  It motivated me to stay in on a Friday night so I could get up early and play.  I also played Sunday mornings.  They were my two favorite days every week.

    Weekend Warrior

    Sunday morning basketball never conflicted with church.  I was in the Young Single Adult Ward which didn’t meet until 1pm.  I could easily play 7am-10am and have a few hours to shower, relax, read, study, and pray before church began.

    One Sunday morning I got up to play like I always did.  I was walking around my room getting dressed.  It was time to walk out the door to leave so I bent over to pick up my gym bag.  As I started to stand up the craziest thing happened.  My back completely gave out.  Luckily, I was near my bed (which still resided on box springs on the floor, like I liked it) so I literally fell sideways onto my bed.  I was in excruciating pain.  I called my mom and she said to take some ibuprofen, the basic mom guidance stuff.  I still had it in my mind that I could go play.  I was 26 years old, surely, I didn’t actually throw my back out…right?  I quickly realized, I did.

    Me that weekend

    As I laid in my bed, I wondered what to do.  I loved reading my scriptures, especially Sunday mornings after basketball and before church.  So, I pulled out my scriptures and continued to read where I’d left off in the book of Alma.

    I remember reading the story of the sons of Mosiah that morning in Alma 17-27.  I remember being struck by one thing: the sons of Mosiah were offered the kingdom.  They were each individually asked to be the king of their people.  They were asked to rule, to have power, to have the comforts and honors of the world given to them for the rest of their life.  Instead, they chose to forsake worldly possessions and go on a mission to the Lamanites.  One by one they chose to reject kingship and go to a land of people that were open about their desire to kill any Nephite that came into their presence, let alone a Nephite set to inherit the Nephite kingdom.

    What inspired Ammon and his brothers, the sons of Mosiah to forsake the kingdom and instead choose to preach the gospel?  They saw an angel.  I can’t describe exactly what happened to me that day, studying in my bed.  Something happened.  I was so filled with the spirit.  I felt like I was floating.  It was the most uplifting and edifying scripture study I’d ever had.  I grew so much that morning.  I haven’t played basketball on a Sunday since.  That morning, along with learning so much about the sons of Mosiah and who I wanted to be, I also learned the value of keeping the Sabbath day holy.

    I don’t think basketball was the worst thing to do on a Sunday morning, far from it.  I think those first few months of Sunday morning basketball had a huge impact on me and helped me stay away from activities it was important for me to stay away from at that time.  That morning though, I came to a crossroad.  The temptations of prior months had lessened.  I was immersing myself in the scriptures and praying daily.  That morning I learned how much I could gain on Sunday mornings. 

    I haven’t played basketball on a Sunday since that morning I threw my back out.  Instead, every Sunday morning I try to pray, read, and study.  My study isn’t as good as it has been in the past, I can always improve.  But, staying in on Sunday, preparing for church, praying, pondering my blessings, being with my wife, has become my favorite part of every week.

    In November 2019 I started meditating every morning.  I meditate 7 days a week.  There’s a strange phenomenon I’ve experienced during this time.  I meditate every single day.  But, on Sundays, something is different.  I don’t meditate with the hopes of becoming emotional.  I enjoy it when it happens.  I enjoy feeling the spirit so strongly that, as I lay on the ground in gratitude to my Heavenly Father, tears sometimes come to my eyes.  It happens every so often.  What I’ve noticed is it happens mostly on Sundays.

    Without fail, as I lay and meditate on Sundays, I will be moved by the grace of Jesus Christ and the love of my Heavenly Father.  I will contemplate the Atonement of my Savior.  I’ll consider the suffering He went through for me.  I’ll think about where I’ve been and where I am now.  I’ll wonder how God can love us so much.

    Grace of Christ

    I bear testimony that Sunday is a special day.  It’s not special because it’s specifically Sunday.  That’s the day we, our society, have set aside as a day to worship.  It could be Monday or Friday, doesn’t matter.  What matters is it’s a day for the Lord.  It’s important because it’s a day set aside for God.  He has given us all our days, our lives, what is one day a week in return?  I know that the Sabbath day is a special day.  I know it holds power.  I know it gives rejuvenating strength in a world that unceasingly sucks our spiritual resolve from us throughout the week.  I know it because I’ve experienced it.

    I would invite everybody to spend some time every Sunday morning in prayer.  I promise you will feel something special.  The Sabbath day is profound.  Keep it holy.  It was a long journey for me to truly appreciate the power of the Sabbath.  I know that we’re blessed for keeping the Sabbath holy.  In the scriptures, keeping the Sabbath is said to be what separates God’s people from the world.  Keep the Sabbath holy and I promise God will pour out blessings on you.  I know because he has on me.

  • Greyhound

    Greyhound

    I don’t intend to start reviewing movies, but I thought this was worth it for a few reasons:

    1. Seems to be getting some hype as Apple TV’s shake up to the streaming game.
    2. I enjoy historical movies more and more as I get older and more boring.
    3. Tom
    4. Hanks
    5. Faith element
    6. Bad Germans

    Tom Hanks is the captain now, right where he belongs.

    I’m not going to do research into the truth of this movie or the historical accuracy, it was good, I liked it, leave it at that.  I may get the book and read it at some point.

    Midway through I said to Beth, I can already hear the navy nerds, “That is NOT how that happens!”

    Doesn’t matter.  It felt real to me.  It felt like I was on a Destroyer, it felt suspenseful, it was a good movie.  Also, it had Tom Hanks.  Does anybody truly dislike Tom Hanks?  If you do, please let me know.

    My favorite part of the whole movie, and I truly don’t mean this as an insult to the movie, the runtime.  A short, blissful, 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Beth and I have high hopes that the trend of 2 hour plus movies will go extinct and we can get back to a less ridiculous 70-90 minute timeline.

    Do you ever think back to why we (my generation) loved original Disney movies so much?  They were never much longer than an hour.  As it should be.

    Another refreshing part of this movie was the faith element.  I don’t remember the last time I saw a movie that depicted a strong man who relied on faith.  Tom Hanks’s character is clearly depicted as a man of faith.

    Maybe that’s why I loved the movie so much.  In some small way I felt myself taken back to a time where the world didn’t shun God so aggressively.  In fact, that was a time where faith was all people had as the world was at war and people had true fear about what future their children would grow up in.

    There was the added element of bad Germans.  Life is rarely as simplified as movies make it, but the man of faith vs cliché heartless German bad guys made it even easier to root for the good guys.

    If you like Tom Hanks check out this movie.

    If you liked Dunkirk, this was very different, but obviously has the similar sea-themed war movie dynamic.  I really liked it.  It kept me engaged throughout.  It was suspenseful, very enjoyable.

    Did I mention it was 90 minutes?  So, if you do hate it, go watch a one hour episode of anything else stupid that you can stream and then realize, ‘huh, at least I feel like I learned something about an important part of our history instead of about a meth-head who likes tigers.’  Let some good stuff get in your system every once in a while.  This movie was good stuff.

  • Jonah and the Whale

    Jonah and the Whale

    Answer to prayer – but not what you expect!

    One of the most spiritual experiences I ever had, referenced in the post You Sent a Dog to Comfort a Boy, happened in the basement of my Aunt and Uncle’s home.  Go read the post to get some back story on why I was there, ie soul searching.

    During that trip, by some coincidence, my cousin had his farewell to go on his mission.  I went to the farewell and I felt stuff.  I felt an urge.  I felt guidance.  I came to Utah to search my soul and here it was. 

    That night I went back to the bedroom I’d been staying in.  With just Bengie (my aunt, uncle, and cousin’s dog) in the room I knelt, and I prayed.  I prayed like I hadn’t in so long.  I asked what I was supposed to do.

    Have you heard the story of Jonah and the whale?  For those who don’t know, the Bible tells us that Jonah, a prophet of God, was commanded to go to Nineveh to prophesy to its inhabitants.  He was to command them to repent and preach of their forthcoming destruction if they refused.  Nineveh was described as a scary place.  It was a near certainty Jonah would be murdered upon telling the inhabitants of their wickedness.

    I always heard that story and couldn’t imagine, couldn’t comprehend.  GOD told Jonah to do something.  If God tells you to do something – you do it!  It doesn’t matter how afraid you are or how scary it is.  You DO WHAT GOD COMMANDS.  Especially when it’s that clear.  If God told you to do something, you would listen, wouldn’t you?

    That’s what I always thought.

    That night in the basement I asked what I should do next with my life.  The answer couldn’t have been clearer if an angel appeared in the room and said it to my face.  I knew.  I needed to go on a mission.  I can’t stress this enough.  I knew what I was supposed to do.

    Then the doubts.  “I can’t go on a mission.  Where would I even begin?  I have so much to repent of.  I don’t even know who to go to” were my thoughts.  Also, I would have to give a GOING AWAY speech like I just watched my cousin give that very day.  Out of the question.  The thought of getting up in church and giving a talk was enough to make me feel sick.  I couldn’t do it.  I was too afraid.  On top of that I had big plans in the coming weeks.  It was my friend’s birthday and we had partying to do.  You know, the important stuff.  I couldn’t repent NOW.

    In the story of Jonah he gets on a ship to run away (From God- I know, crazy).  But here I was, running away from God.  I pretended like I didn’t know the answer to my prayer, but I knew.  I ran.  I ran away.

    I didn’t get swallowed by a whale.  Instead I moved on, distracted and forgetting.

    After Jonah’s whale incident, he finally agrees to do what God asked of him.  He was spit up on the shore of Nineveh and followed what God asked him to do.

    I think in a way, the few years after that moment in the basement, I was figuratively in a storm and swallowed by a whale.  Not for three days but for four years.  Eventually God had the whale spit me back up on shore. 

    You’d think I missed my chance, right?  I never went on a mission.  For a long time I thought I could never be forgiven for ignoring God.  Then I got my patriarchal blessing.  In it I am told to trouble myself not over lost days.  I can’t explain in words the comfort that simple phrase gave to me.

    Back to Jonah.  He ignored God.  Yet still, somehow, God used Jonah’s mistakes to bring about His work.  I don’t know how God makes up for our mistakes.  It recently occurred to me that in that basement I gave the first sincere prayer in a long time.  Then I ignored God.  I showed a modicum of faith followed by an excess of fear.  After that I found a job in Arizona, I settled down, and have been here in Arizona ever since.  Then I returned to church.  Now I’m here, writing to you, hopefully you’ve stuck with me this far.

    It’s so much better to do what God asks the first time.   I think we avoid a lot of heartache if we do.  But never forget – trouble yourself not over lost days.  God will have you spit up on shore when you’re ready.  When you’re really ready to trust in Him.  It took me some time.  Somehow, He accepted that.  Somehow, He waited.  I’m not saying I’ll ever fully make up for disobedience, not sure exactly how that works.  But I know that Christ will forgive me because He loves me.  There is no greater comfort than that.