THE LAMB OF GOD

I hope to some day be free of the effects of the garbage that I have exposed myself in this life. I hope that I am not found without the bounds of Christ's mercy because of the sins that I have committed. I hope that I am not without the bounds of His justice because of the principles that I have obeyed. I hope to be found more worthy of the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost. I hope to never be ashamed of the truth that I have been taught. I hope to never deny Him. I hope that i may walk from this moment forward in a manner that is pleasing before Him, without fear of men or women and what they might say or do. I hope that fear will only exist in my heart for the Lord, that the fear that remains be a real love for Him and His will, not a fear of falling short or being caught when I err. I hope that I may find peace and that when I find peace that it will be prized above all the posessions that one could have. I hope that that peace will be founded on His truth and His Gospel and not on my selfish comfort zone. I hope to forget myself and go to WORK!

SEARCHING FOR BALANCE

Searching for balance in this life is like trying to stay in one place on the deck of a ship that is being tossed to and fro in a violent storm. When you think you have gained your balance, the storm throws you in a direction you were not anticipating. Then when you have gained some sense of control, you are drenched by a wave of cold, salty sea water that only further inhibits your ability to regain your footing.
BUT, even amidst all of the tumultuous weather there is a knowledge that a supreme being is watching over you and providing you with the safety necessary o weather the storm. Not only that but He has provided you a way to be healed by the Gift of His son's suffering. Then to top it off, He provides those that follow Him the gift of the Holy Ghost; a constant companion to those who are humble and follow the Savior.
There are so many gifts that our God provides us, so many of which we hardly can explain why He would bestow us with such great gifts. I know that he loves all of us, each of us with a special kind of love that is individual and specific to us as His children. Let's remember that when we find ourselves in the most violent of storms. Someday we will find ourselves standing firm in whatever weather that comes our way. Standing firm because of the new level of trust that we place in the Master's Hand.
The book that is shown in this post is amazing. It talks about how we must maintain balance. Stephen R. Covey counsels us that the center of our lives must be God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. As we maintain our focus on them we will be directed in the ways that they would have us go and ultimately return to their presence to receive Eternal Life.

One more thing...Card Canyon

I already posted something today, but I love this picture that Tyler Stoker took while we were half way through the Card Canyon Hike. This was a sweet hike! It's about a six mile loop that is a great running trail. Just don't get caught up there when a snow storm is coming in because you will get soaked if you aren't ready for it. Way beautiful country!!

In The Quiet Misty Morning

This is a view or Hyrum City from the south face of Box Elder Peak. This peak is located at the south end of the Wellsvilles and you can see if as you are driving north through Sardine Canyon towards Cache Valley. This was the beginning of the second time that I traversed the ridge line of the Wellsvilles.
I love that hike because it provides so much perspective. I often get frustrated seeing so many new housing developments go in almost carelessly. But when I get up on top of the Wellsvilles I see just how much space there is left. I hope that this generation will use the resources wisely. Space being one of them, I hope that we don't just fill it up for the sake of making a quick buck.
Let's make sure that what we do with what God has given us stewardship over is beautiful and points others to Him and His Son Jesus Christ.

ONE OF MANY ATTEMPTS

These are a hand full of pictures from one of the attempts to get to the top of Mt. Logan. This particular attempt was from September 2008. Tyler Stoker, Phillip Nelson, Sarah Huefner and myself are the ones in the picture of four crazies.

This is a view looking down Dry Canyon which is the canyon just south of Logan Canyon

Never give in, Look with faith to God, look to the future and what he will do,
look past the immediate problem, see the long view, and never give in.
After the night comes day,
After the winter spring,
After the storm a sun drenched earth,
After sin; confession and forgiveness,
After failure a chance to try again!

Robert Schuller

I found this poem in passing and Tyler had taken this great shot of the rising sun on the other side of Mt Logan. It also reminds me of Elder Worthlin's talk, "Sunday will Come."
I am grateful to see the hand of the Lord in Creation and how it testifies of his love for us.

PERSEVERANCE

I love the simplicity of these words and the power that they contain. I think of Winston Churchill and how he might have expressed these simple words. I don't know when he said them, but I can imagine that they were printed in his soul by a life of making mistakes and learning from them.
I think of Elder Corbridge when he shared his message of THE WAY from this last General Conference. You never give up, you just keep going. I am often reminded of great men and woman who achieved great things in this life despite the challenges that faced them. I think of the Joe and Jane who do not complain, but accept what has been offered them and they give their very best to life. I am grateful for the examples of those around me that serve not to be seen but because they love to serve and they love all people. I am grateful for them because they help melt away the cankered layers of pride that surround my heart and mind. I hope that I will never give up. I hope that I will more fully accept the medicine of service to others instead of wollowing in my sorrows and mistakes. I hope that ... I may continue hoping.

More Pictures

The infamous "JAZZ HANDS!" Here we are approaching a ridge that would dump us back into Alta Ski Resort Parking area. Maybe it was Solitude, I forget. This hike began crossing over Cardiff Pass from the Ski Resort, then cruising down the opposite side and coming back up and over again through another canyon. I wish I had the names because this is sounding really convoluted by now.

Here is looking back at the Pfeiferhorn right before we lost the trail that would lead us down Bell's Canyon. Weston and I jumped from boulder to boulder for about an hour as we made our way through this boulder field of boulders that probably averaged about twenty feet in diameter.

Purpose in Perspective

One thing that I have noticed about my relationship with life is that if I don't keep in mind that my perception of the world is different then the perception of others' I will be in for a bath in very hot water.
Those who check on this blog will find that it is quite scatter-brained. If you don't like that, sorry, that's the way it comes out sometimes.
I hope to be able to get some more pictures of hikes I've been on recently. I love hiking because it provides a perspective you don't get to see while stuck in the valley crunching away at the responsibilities that life heaps upon me. This picture is of me standing at the summit of the Pfeiferhorn which is on the south side of Cottonwood Canyon which is located on the east side of Salt lake County. That was a choice hike and a very beautiful view.