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Drex Davis Recent Posts- Just amazing the resiliency of the human baby body
- The Edwards Affair
- Mr. T - “I’ve been pitying fools for 28 years”
- as a follow up to the story/part below, don’t miss the part
- somebody has to make a movie out of this
- When guppies eat their young . . .
- Love and Demands
- What is government doing to your money?
- Robotics - playing fetch has never been weirder
- Scathing, Lucid, Brilliant Dismemberment of the Obamessiah by “the Hammer”
Just amazing the resiliency of the human baby body
premature baby comes back to life
Technorati Tags: miracle
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So, I have to do my part to help solve this problem . . .
I have three kids ages five and under . . . the thought that 11 Million Children under the age of five die each year from preventable diseases makes my heart break.
I’ve got to help do something about it. It’s a religious and moral imperative.
I’ve just got to.
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So, knowing this, why do men wear suits to worship services?
Anne Hollander’s Book, Sex and Suits: The Evolution of Modern Dress, explains that the modern day business suit is a direct descendant of medieval armor, the clothing worn underneath plate armor, the clothing worn by warring men. As the warring/power class evolved, the means of waging war changed, and so did the clothing - with the suit of armor done away with and it’s modern-day equivalent replacing it, the business suit (became mandatory dress for men in the house of parliament).
That’s why suits are worn in business - they’re the modern day suit of armor that men wear when they go off to fight their battles.
Knowing that, why do men wear suits to church? I’ve never much cared for the practice, so long as it’s been seen as the “established” dress of priesthood. But, personally, I do like to wear a nice suit now and again, though with a bevy of small children I often opt out for garb more easily cleaned.
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Two inspiring things to share
First, for everyone, this incredible short music-video/film that will take you all over the world and have you laughing and smiling when you’re finished watching it. This guy has a great vibe to him.
Second, for my LDS friends, I read a talk today (word format) given in a Stake Conference by a woman who is a gifted speaker and has profound insights. Do yourself a favor by downloading and reading.
Click here to download and read the talk . . .
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Today I kicked it with two “Doctor” Pauls
I always try to spend at least a couple of hours per day reading on topics I’m interested as well as inspirational/religious writing (scripture).
Today I read words from the two Pauls.
Dr. Ron Paul - an important book for the times in which we live (and a great introduction to Minarchism) called The Revolution: A Manifesto
And, from a more important “Doctor” Paul - Galatians 5
The two men are more related than you might think. One is currently alive and warning about the abuses of the state. And the other is dead because of abuses of the state.
There you have it . . .
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What I’m concerned about . . .
I’m concerned about a lot of things these days.
On thing I’m very concerned about is the “pornographization” of our culture, particularly youth culture, in which sex is stripped of all its mystery, sacredness, scarcity. The scarcity of anything leads to its being more valued. The lack of scarcity leads to it being less valued.
Sex (and things sexual) would be a lot more exciting if it were a lot more scarce. It’s a paradox that many people don’t understand. But, being a married man, I’m in a situation where sex is not de facto scarce, not de facto, rare. I think that married people quickly realize that once sex is not scarce, intimacy still is. In a world where time is very scarce, and time is what is needed to bond emotionally with another human being, intimacy is scarce and therefore highly valued and needed in marriage.
Sex is part of the intimacy equation. I’m afraid that popular culture is castrating sex from it’s vital center. It’s turning it into merely a physical activity, and divorcing it from the context which makes it fulfilling - intimacy. Intimacy requires trust, and trust requires commitment. And commitment, well, that requires exclusivity. Monogamy. It’s the way to intimacy and intimacy is the way to fulfillment.
As in all things which truly fulfill, one learn the needs of another, and one gives to another, filling that need. Ones needs are met, not because one seeks it, but because one is seeking the good of ones partner, and that frees ones partner to seek one’s good. Pornography lies. It divorces sex from commitment and intimacy, then acts out fulfillment from such. It’s a lie. It’s emptiness. And it builds nothing.
There was a Wall Street Journal article today that talked about the fatherless-ness of our culture. Boys are growing up without role model fathers, but they are craving it and not getting it.
Recently, I watched a short documentary recently about teen pornography addition in the UK. What struck me as shocking is that in every teen they studied there was no father in the home, only a mother. I don’t know if there’s any connection btw. pornography consumption and single parent homes (though it wouldn’t surprise me if there was come connection, if only that there would likely be less potential supervision in such a home), just that it struck me that not one child had a father in his life. The one boy they reviewed who was doing the best at overcoming his pornography problem was one who had formed a good relationship with his minister, who served as a surrogate father. But where are the fathers? Why have fathers disappeared?
I’m concerned about other things, but I think these other things (debt loading, living beyond means, apathy, video-game cultures, instant gratification seeking, the glorification of addictive games and gambling, etc.) are often anchored in the failure of a culture to establish an environment wherein appropriate values are generationally transmitted and gratifications are encouraged to be deferred so that they may be enhanced at appropriate times.
Being a libertarian (or, more accurately, a minarchist), I’m fairly sure that banning vices is not the way to go. But allowing the consequences of such to be eliminated through welfare programs certainly allows for life to not teach lessons it should. People need to be free to act, and they need to be free to experience the consequences of such action. Only then can social evolution occur and behaviors that lead to ruin be cast off. Robbing people who make good decisions to eliminate the natural consequences of those who make bad decisions leads to perverse incentives.
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Beyond the Gates of Splendor
Tonight my wife and I watched the documentary, “Beyond the Gates of Splendor“.
In 1956 five American missionaries were murdered by the savage Waodani tribe in the Amazon basin of Ecuador as they tried to make contact with the Waodani. The wives and children of the missionaries then do something remarkable. . .they go into the jungle, to the Waodani, to serve and love them.
It’s the most amazing story about forgiveness and love that I have ever seen. And it’s true.
Your heart will be touched. You must see this.
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RM Guide Chapter 5 - Social and Family Transitions
As an RM, your transition back into your family is often the most difficult, so we’ll start with it. Sometimes family members just don’t quite understand that you are a different person than you were when you left. But you are a different person. You have grown up. You are independent. You can cook for yourself, clean for yourself, motivate yourself and most importantly think and act for yourself. Still, at times it may feel like your family still sees you as a wide-eyed 19-year-old kid. They have not watched you change and grow up, so they may treat you as if you have not.
“When I came home, my parents still tried to tell me what to do, what to study, what to wear, and even what to eat. They constantly asked me where I was going and what time I would be home. While I appreciated their concern, I felt like a little kid again. Almost like they didn’t trust me.”
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RM Guide Chapter 4 - Courtship and Marriage
Some RMs feel pressured to marry soon after they return home. Sadly, we’ve a few of our own friends rush into hasty post-mission marriages (temple marriages) that resulted in years of bitterness and even resulted in divorce because the couples rushed into a decision without appropriate thought or prayerfulness. On one occasion a friend of mine was engaged just three weeks after returning home and married soon thereafter. When he finally came down off his post-mission “high”, he said to me, “It’s not that I don’t love my wife, I do. I just wonder if I made the right decision. I didn’t even know who I was. I came home from my mission feeling invincible and decided that I’d marry right away. I met the girl, felt pretty good, and just went for it. But then the realities of life hit me in the face. Marriage is so stifling sometimes. I sometimes wish I was single, like you.” Whoa! That’s NOT the way it’s supposed to happen.
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RM Guide - Chapter 3 (Dating)
Many returned missionaries struggle with dating issues. One minute they aren’t allowed to look at members of the opposite sex, the next minute not only are they are allowed to look at them, they’re supposed to look at them, flirt with them, and even marry them. Talk about an abrupt change! For some, the transition into dating is a very difficult one and it takes them years to even get up the courage or desire to date. For others, the transition is not difficult, but they may be looking for the “mister” or “missus” the moment they get released from duty, then are disappointed when a serious relationship of marriage opportunity doesn’t immediately materialize. Often, these RMs manage to turn off most every unmarried member of the opposite sex with their overzealous pursuits. Some RMs easily into dating, meet great girls or guys they manage to not bore or offend, propose marriage successfully, and then are married without too much drama in the interim. Lucky them.
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