The ship, crew, and especially the goods on the ship are in danger, and Paul tries to warn their leader and the people. The centurion is the one in charge of Paul and the others with them, but he chooses to not put his trust in Paul and his warnings.

I’m sure Peter believed in his heart and mind, and felt as if he knew for sure, he would never ever leave or deny the Christ. He would never leave Jesus's side. Jesus had given him experiences and opportunities that only he knew, and that had literally made him a new man. His loyalties were strong and un-changeable, and he would defend the Christ to his death.

Like other art forms, writing does not start with the piece of paper or white computer screen in front of you. I remember learning about and experiencing the "white canvas" problem while in art school. Sitting in front of a blank canvas is the toughest part of creating. Knowing where and how to start can be a big stumbling block.

The Hubble Field is an area smaller than a point of the pen held at arm’s length. The Hubble telescope took a look in a space exactly like that and found millions of billions (a very big number) of objects that are more then 30 billion light years away.

Prophets have been prosecuted, rejected, hated, and killed. Even the Lord was treated this way. Messages, teachings, and prophecies have been rejected, mocked, and disrespected.

My good friend implored me to read "Everybody, Always" by Bob Goff. Bob Goff is a New York Times bestselling author and known for his unique perspective on life and faith. In this book Goff challenges readers to love everybody, always, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Through his own personal stories and experiences, Goff shows how loving others can change both their lives and our own.

A new feature I’m trying out - What I learned (or relearned) on the Sabbath. July 23, 2023 Edition

Mary’s example in Luke 2 is something we should ponder, just as she did at the time "in her heart". I could do more to keep things in my heart longer, and let thoughts and experiences affect me at a deeper level.

A few years ago, my wife gave me some coaching and told me all she wanted to hear from me (or sometimes from her friends) when things are not going well is the words, "that sucks."

All who seek will find, and all who knock shall have the way or the door opened to them.  I have wondered, probably like all of us at some point, if this is just an unlimited or unqualified promise for us.  Can I have anything I want just for the asking?

The word reason means to use the mind to think, understand, and form judgements. The Lord asks us to do that together with him. Sometimes we may need help from others to with this process. A priesthood leader or teacher is there to help. Sometimes we need help to reason it out from a therapist, or a professional. Sometimes there may even be medical attention needed to help us cleanse ourselves and our behavior of some sins. No matter the process needed for each person, it is comforting to me that we will be working with the Lord.

A recent article in Scientific American talked about the many surveys that have shown an increasing preference to work remotely or in hybrid manner. I think we all feel that. They also linked to surveys that showed that there is also an increased comfort or ability to participate for those with social challenges, different abilities, different personalities or other areas that have traditionally been a left out in the workplace.

Isaiah gives us what it takes to wash ourselves clean. He tells us it is more than just not doing a bad thing, like life was made up of checklists or things to do and not do.

Ed Yager loved many things in life, but anyone who knew him knew his real passions were his faith, his wife, his family, and music.

When we were young, we all "understood as a child," but as we grew and gain perspective our knowledge and wisdom grew and we "put off childish things." We learned to see the world, and people, and the even the gospel in more complex ways.

While John the Baptist was preaching, calling his followers to repentance and baptizing those that followed, there came a question from the crowd in Luke 3 asking, “what shall we do then?”

We are here to help each other. Sometimes we can’t do it ourselves.

Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. Add light and darkness ceases to be. The more light, the more darkness is removed. The opposite of darkness is light.

In the same way the opposite of fear is faith.

Time tracking can help us understand how we are spending our time and find balance in our life. It will not solve all your problems, but it may help you find a better balance. Finding that balance while trying to stay productive and successful is not easy. Our normal measurements are all out of whack.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus tells his followers (and all of us) that they (we) are the salt of the earth. Looking at all the things that salt does and the essential nature of this, Jesus was telling us something rather important.