Forgive us our debts....

I believe the crux of Christian living is based in forgiveness. We obviously need the forgiveness of God individually and therefore why should we withhold it from each other? How beautiful it would be if we all approached others' foibles and sins the same way we would like the Savior to treat our own - with compassion. It is so easy to become critical of others as if we were omniscient in passing an all-knowing judgment on what they should do. We at times hold on to offenses for dear life. It's such a waste of happiness.

Quotes from Joseph Smith:

"Bear and forbear one with another, for so the Lord does with us....To every ordained member, and to all, we say, be merciful and you shall find mercy. Seek to help save souls, not to destroy them..."

"Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us."

Laugh yourself silly...

This is NOT my philosophy but laughing is in my book of health.

(From some random email.)

I love this Doctor!

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise.
Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.
Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken.
Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).
And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.
You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!!
It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways -
Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other -
body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and
screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'

AND.....

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.
It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION:

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Where have all the flowers gone...

I've noticed my email of late is deathly boring. My inbox is being overtaken by computer generated mass offerings. Doesn't anyone have any scintillating ideas to communicate?

And on the third day....

3

As I have prepared institute lessons I have noticed the symbolic importance of the number three. It seems to be associated with completeness and/or deliverance. Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days, Abraham traveled three days to sacrifice Isaac. Lehi traveled into the wilderness for three days before offering sacrifice. Abinidi was in the dungeon for three days, Alma the Younger was overcome by the spirit for three days as was Lamoni and of course the Savior was resurrected on the third day. There is over two hundred references in the scriptures to the time period of three days. I decided to do a google search on it and found an article on this from www.biblestudy.org.

I thought this paragraph from the article interesting.

THE COMPLETE SEPARATION OF ISRAEL

is shown in "the three days' journey into the wilderness" (Exodus 5:3), marking the complete separation with which God would separate His People from Egypt then, and from the world now. We can understand Pharaoh's objection in first wishing them to hold their feast "in the land" (Exodus 8":25), and when that could not be, at least consenting to their going, but adding, "only ye shall not go very far away." So Satan now, is well content that we should worship "in the land"; and if we must go into the wilderness, that we should be within easy reach of the world and its influences. Not so Jehovah. He will have no such borderland service; He will have a...divinely perfect "three days' journey into the wilderness," completely separating them from all their old associations. The difficulty of "drawing the line," which so many Christians experience, arises from the fact that it is a crooked line, and that it is an attempt to include that which cannot be included. Drawn at a proper distance it can be ruled straight and be divinely perfect and effectual.