Over the past 6 months I’ve been asked a lot of “how did you do it?” and “what’s your secret?” type questions. These questions provoke a mixture of self consciousness, anxiety, and flattery in my brain, and I’ve generally been hesitant to answer for several reasons. The process of consistent habit change has several interconnected... Continue Reading →

Today is Thanksgiving and I’ve spent the last week trying to be mindful of my blessings and privileges both of which are far too numerous to genuinely account for. This morning I was reminded of the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday. The story of the Plymouth Pilgrims and Massachusetts natives sharing a bountiful harvest is... Continue Reading →

To those who know or keep up with me primarily through social media it probably feels like I have been really bent out of shape for the past 4 years. To a certain degree that is true. Over the past 24 hrs, for obvious reasons, I’ve been evaluating/considering my feelings and frustrations and over the... Continue Reading →

Three Uses of the Knife When Jake asked me to make a new mix last week I was genuinely flattered. I really enjoy my mixes, but I bring a whole host of thoughts and emotions to each song that I sometimes wonder if the reasons I’ve included them and placed them where I have “make... Continue Reading →

I've recently been assigned to teach the 13-15 year-olds in Sunday School. I didn't really want to spend a lot of time talking about divinely ordained homicide or speculating on the exact population of the "great and spacious building". The former is a morbid edge case scenario, and the latter is done to death (i... Continue Reading →

A story about doubting your kids. Every once in awhile we’ll be talking about school and The Dude will drop something like, “we did races today in PE and I came in first”. “Like in your group or class?” “No, in all of 3rd grade” Such a claim is not unrealistic. The Dude’s mom was... Continue Reading →

I was asked to teach Sunday school earlier today, and the lesson is tomorrow, so I figure I need to organize a few thoughts. The lesson is intended to cover Jesus's triumphant entry to Jerusalem, confrontations at the temple, and instructions to his disciples about the coming Kingdom. Of course this material appears 3 different... Continue Reading →

I’m fairly certain the bishop asked me to speak because of a text message I sent the Bishopric during General Conference about how much indexing I’d done. Lest you think I’m some genuinely righteous Saint filled with the Spirit of Elijah, most people who know me well would suggest, like most people in my profession,... Continue Reading →

What follows are a few thoughts I had while reading and preparing for Sunday school this week. Why was Jesus rejected by many Jews in 1st century Judea who earnestly and desperately sought the promised Messiah? These were people whose national identity was tied to possessing and ruling over a land promised to them by... Continue Reading →