A Curious Instrument

I think we conflate “love” into something resembling an emotional cudgel. My definition of “love thy neighbor” currently reads as the Golden Rule as my effort at self-preservation. This is an interesting time when the concept of love is shifting and ill-defined. I thought I knew what it meant to love someone as God commands, but I am floundering in some unfamiliar territory. Recently, I have begun to reflect on my relationship with my “neighbors” and how the use of the term love might apply to such relationships. As an example, some years ago, my daughter informed me that she would feel more authentic being a man. She knew that I adhere to biblical teachings on these things, so I thought I was being diplomatic in saying that I couldn't go to such places with her. I learned in the few subsequent interactions that this child allowed us to have that she rejected holy writ, no longer believed in my judeo-christian God (if she ever did), that I had always been an abusive father...

Before it even begins, I'm not some radicalized leftist rabble-rouser. The term “liberal” has been co-opted by the evil and the lazy and if you want to see me mad, bring it up. My liberalism is primarily in service to the terrestrial world that is coming , the world that comes when lower motivations and actions and (frankly) people are swept away. Even the crazy social justice types think that the world would work a lot better if we just had the right people running things, and in a way, I think they're right - it will work much better, but only when the “wrong” people are gone and those who are left are “running” their own things. It won't work the way they envision it today and everyone will have to be far more responsible than anyone would prefer, but the vision of a kinder and less anxious world is actually on the way. The key ingredient for the better world is the one least considered - Jesus Christ. I believe it has to do with standards. Christ has some ...

I think we conflate “love” into something resembling an emotional cudgel. My definition of “love thy neighbor” currently reads as the Golden Rule as my effort at self-preservation. This is an interesting time when the concept of love is shifting and ill-defined. I thought I knew what it meant to love someone as God commands, but I am floundering in some unfamiliar territory. Recently, I have begun to reflect on my relationship with my “neighbors” and how the use of the term love might apply to such relationships. As an example, some years ago, my daughter informed me that she would feel more authentic being a man. She knew that I adhere to biblical teachings on these things, so I thought I was being diplomatic in saying that I couldn't go to such places with her. I learned in the few subsequent interactions that this child allowed us to have that she rejected holy writ, no longer believed in my judeo-christian God (if she ever did), that I had always been an abusive fa...

I have been drawn to Christ's teachings as found in  Matthew 25 . Not that there aren't other things to learn in the writings of prophets and apostles, but the concepts written here are so central to how we must conduct ourselves if we truly desire heaven and God's praise. In verses 1 and 14, variations on "...the kingdom of heaven be likened unto..." let us know that the Savior is teaching who will get the celestial reward - This is how things will work in Heaven.  If you don't like the workings of the Lord's precincts, then you will not like a celestial glory and will be placed in one of the lower glories. Two very well-known parables are contained in this chapter. I will be taking what may seem a very unorthodox examination of what these parables are trying to tell us. I don't want to discount the other interpretations, but I hope to teach principles that are important but often go unnoticed. Don't Be Late to the Feast (versus 1-13) Many people ...

Ben Stiller's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is my favorite movie and reflects people who are trying to cope with less-than-inspiring lives, which is just about everyone.  https://archive.org/details/kohenmonkmormon/Walter+Mitty+is+Broken.ogg

I know everyone says they love Jesus and that Jesus loves them, but are they just demanding favors by doing that?  Do you "love" Jesus because you want stuff you expect for free?  Would you stop "loving" him if you might not get the rewards you feel that you deserve?  Would you still "love" him if you saw others being blessed and rewarded and you didn't get the same?  if things didn't seem fair enough to suit you?  https://archive.org/details/kohenmonkmormon/Leaving+Exaltation+to+Love.ogg

 In the second of two recordings on trust and God, I ruminate on trusting God on a real level.  When God doesn't act the way you expect, do you stay loyal to Him? https://archive.org/details/kohenmonkmormon/In+God+We+Trust.mp3