Music is Amazing

I think music is amazing. Whether it comes from the soul of a desperate cowboy seeking sincere forgiveness from a loosing battle with alcohol or from the hands of a pianist who only could have developed the talent long before this earthly sojourn - it is simply amazing. Nothing seems to express the feelings of the heart or touch it quite like music. Granted, there are some musicians that have abused the talent by confusing lust with love and struggle their way through a song intended to make one feel loved only for the intent of seduction. And while Jazz and Mexican music tend to drive me crazy - most other forms inspire me. Songs often bring back memories of loved ones or of spiritual events. Turning the volume up high on a wonderful song puts one on top of the world for a moment and takes them to a place where things are just better. Feeling the beat of a song and wondering how those combination of notes were decided upon is just fun. Most songs tell a story and help us relate to each other. I heard a song the other day which was written in such a way that it was as if Christ were singing it to me. It is called "Reverently & Meekly Now" and is in the LDS hymnbook on page 185.

Following Christ

I am just learning about blogging and how to organize the different topics that I intend to write about. As a test, I figured I would write about a topic that is on my mind from time to time which is religion. As I thought about that label - it occurred to me that I could very quickly paint myself into a corner in most people's mind - Christian, LDS, Male, White, American, etc. While I am not ashamed of any of those titles - I would really like better to be known as a True Follower of Jesus Christ. I realize that is a label to be earned rather than self-proclaimed and in the end only His opinion matters. Believing in Christ is much more than defining a specific religious preference for a census - it is about developing a sincere relationship with a real person. I am okay without knowing all the detailed information about how we came into existance and got on top of the food chain because I think that can be learned at some future point in time. For now, I am trying to focus on the essential revealed truths of our purpose in life. In essence, God sent us here to further develop our personalities and provided a way for us to learn from mistakes. That way involves a Savior who paid the full price for our sins so that we could return to our Heavenly Home after our earthly journey. While our Father's plan involves a large supporting cast ranging from parents, leaders, behind the scene helpers, etc. it all hinged on Christ's ability to live a perfect life and endure the full weight of our sins. He accomplished His part and now it is up to us to accomplish ours through following His guidance and meeting the conditions He has laid out for us which will enable us to be forgiven. That's my plan!

Intro to Blog

Well, I have always enjoyed writing. It is a way for me to sort out how I really feel about things. I have always kept a journal, but am now looking for more organization around topics I am interested in. I figured I should check into a blog - even if it is only for my own viewing. Later, if I feel like others might be interested in what I write, then I will share it.