Put aside the Ranger and become who you were born to be

I have recently read some disappointing news that one of my friends has decided to have his name removed from the records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. While I acknowledge that he in his agency can choose what he desires I am left pondering what has led him down this path. This is a friend that served a mission and I am pretty sure he got married in the Temple. He is someone that I have respected for a long time and continue to respect.

As I have been sitting here contemplating what has taken him down this path I happened to be watching The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Elrond told Aragorn that he needs to "put aside the Ranger and become who you were born to be."

I think that all of us in our lives need to put aside the "natural man" and become who we were born to be. This isn't always the easy road, the popular road, or the road that brings you the instant gratification that our society is so focused on. But it is what we must do if we want the eternal happiness that our Father in Heaven has in store for us.

I feel bad for this friend. He has turned his back on what he believed. He believed it strong enough to leave home for 2 years and go out and teach other people. I hope that someday he will realize the joy that he had as a member of the Church.

I'm not trying to say that I am perfect, or that I have all the answers. What I am saying is that as I do everything that I can to follow the commandments of Jesus Christ, that I am a happier person. Let us all do everything we can to become who we were born to be.

Top "Tens" Just For Fun

Just for funsies, here is a recent but by the time you read this, not current, top tens in my book (lists subject to change for no reason and at any time).

They are not ranked 1-10, they are just numbered so.

Top Ten Songs:
1. Doubting Thomas - Nickel Creek
2. Scenes From An Itanlian Resturaunt - Billy Joel
3. Break Your Heart - Barenaked Ladies
4. Mayberry - Rascal Flatts
5. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
6. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
7. Let It Be - The Beatles
8. Fools Rush In - Elvis
9. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
10. Sarah- The Civil Way by Frank Wildhorn

Runners Up: Battle Hymn of the Republic (don't judge me), Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright, I Believe In Love - Dixie Chicks


Top Ten Movies

1. Shawshank Redemption
2. That Thing You Do
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Groundhog Day
5. It's A Wonderful Life
6. A Muppet's Christmas Carol
7. Fiddler On the Roof
8. Anne of Green Gables
9. Meet the Robinsons
10. The Empire Strikes Back ( I am a Plowman afterall)

Runners up: Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Clue, Waiting For Guffman, Charade, The Sound of Music, A On the Waterfront

Top Ten TV Shows
1. Mash
2. The Wonder Years
3. The Simpsons (only seasons 2-8)
4. The Office (seasons 1-3)
5. Pysch
6. White Collar
7. Chuck
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Guilty Pleasure)
9. Law and Order SVU (I can blame this one all on Jeff)
10. Gilmore Girls

Runners Up: Big Bang Theory, Save By the Bell, Glee (I hate myself a little for admitting it)

Top Ten Books:

1. The Hunger Games
2. Goose Girl
3. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
4. Not Twilight
5. Little Women
6. The Giver
7. Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
8. Bread and Jam for Frances
9. The Three Trees
10. The Monster At the End of This Book - Jon Stone

Runners Up: The Places You'll Go - Dr. Seuss, The Polar Express -Chris Van Allsberg, The Bearenstein Bears Series


If you think I missed something, or would like to contend what I have put, please do not hesitate to share.