Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Maha Rushie, El Rushbo, Harmless loveable little fuzzball

A lot of people don't like Rush Limbaugh. They have many reasons for not liking him, but I think the lamest reason is that he's wrong...cause he really isn't. Yes, he comes off as a little arrogant, or very arrogant, and he definitely is very conservative and blames practically all problems in the world on liberals, but he is very convincing. Some journalists are talking about the Limbaugh Challenge, which means before passing judgement and just believing what others tell you, how bout you listen to him for a couple weeks, and then form your opinion. I'm pretty sure anyone that does that will be converted to conservatism.

A guy at work said it would be the worst financial decision of your life if you didn't buy your first home this year if you were. He was joking around at the time, but there is some truth to that. I mean, you can get a dirt cheap house with a dirt cheap interest rate, you can negotiate the seller to pay for all the closing costs and possibly your down payment as well. And then on top of all of that the government will GIVE you $8,000, and maybe even $6,000 more!!!! For the love!
As you can probably guess somebody wants their house value to go up and the only way that will happen is if we get out of this economic mess, and that will only happen if people start buying homes again.

What does "nothing wavering" mean? Here is Pres. Monson's First Presidency message in the March Ensign:

If our desire is to discard all doubt and to substitute therefore an abiding faith, we have but to accept the invitation extended to you and to me in the Epistle of James:

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

This promise motivated the young man Joseph Smith to seek God in prayer. He declared to us in his own words:

“At length I came to the conclusion that I … must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to ‘ask of God,’ concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

“So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. … It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.”8

Now, if we have hesitated in supplicating God our Eternal Father simply because we have not as yet made the attempt to pray, we certainly can take courage from the example of the Prophet Joseph. But let us remember, as did the Prophet, our prayer must be offered in faith, nothing wavering.

He may mean that to get an answer, we need to absolutely believe that God is there and that he can and will answer us. Or he may mean that nothing must waver in our belief of Christ and the Gospel. It's interesting that to get faith we need to have faith. That is the great leap of faith we hear a lot about. It's not easy, and inviting people to do it is what missionary work is all about. The desire is the real kicker- how can you help someone get that desire? How can you yourself get that desire. I think that comes partly from hearing and reading of experiences of people who have that faith. That's probably why Pres. Monson goes on to talk about examples from the scriptures:

It was by faith, nothing wavering, that the brother of Jared saw the finger of God touch the stones in response to his plea.

It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Noah erected an ark in obedience to the command from God.

It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Abraham was willing to offer up his beloved Isaac as a sacrifice.

It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.

It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Joshua and his followers brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down.

It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Joseph saw God our Eternal Father and Jesus Christ, His Son.

Now, the skeptic may say that these mighty accounts of faith occurred long ago, that times have changed.

Have times really changed? Don’t we today, as always, love our children and want them to live righteously? Don’t we today, as always, need God’s divine, protecting care? Don’t we today, as always, continue to be at His mercy and in His debt for the very life He has given us?

Times have not really changed. Prayer continues to provide power—spiritual power. Prayer continues to provide peace—spiritual peace.

When I watch General Conference I ALWAYS get that desire to have more faith and to live a better life. It's amazing the power that comes from reading the scriptures, the Ensign, or hearing the words of the General Authorities. It's the spirit touching the spirit, and inspiring the better side of us to do want to do better and desire to have faith. Gosh I'm excited for this weekend!

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&vgnextoid=a6246a008952b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

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