Sunday, July 23, 2006

'Alo

Yes, this is my blog. I think I started this blog (which blog I will use for the purpose of blogging in the manner of bloggers) simply because I like to say the word "blog." I could be wrong, but I believe "blog" to be one of the funnest ("most fun?") words in the English language, like "onomatopoeia."

Anyhoo, my blog will be a repository of my thoughts, kind of like how a stomach is a repository of food. However, whereas some people's thoughts could be compared to caviar and other expensive and relatively gross food products, mine are comparable to Cheez Puffs: cheap and unhealthy. But, they sure taste good! (Can I get an "Amen?")

You've probably realized that I try to be funny. If you haven't realized this, you don't speak English or you've got one too many doctorates and no longer recognize humor, no matter how flimsy that humor may be. You should probably leave my page now before you start laughing like the common folk who only have master's degrees. Anyway, I try to be funny; it puts a healthy spin on reality. At the same time, I like to think long and deeply about matters ranging from world events to religion (not that big a range if you think about it). So, at times my blog will be riotously funny, depending on your taste in humor, or it could be an in depth discussion on topics such as Zoroastrianism, which will bore most of you stupid.

In reality, I started this blog for my benefit: as a place to gather my thoughts, examine my week, express my creativity, evaluate ideas, or share my feelings on topics that are important to me. You are free to comment and ask questions, but I ask you not to attack. Why would you attack? Because there are people in this world who hate simply for the sake of hating, and there are many aspects about me that you could find abhorrent ("hateable"). So please, keep it nice, because I'm expressing my very self, and that is something that no one has a right to attack.

I suppose I should explain my title. Certain of you have probably heard or read the question "Can ye look up?" here and there. This probably means that we share a demographic: namely "Mormon." Yes, I am a "Mormon," although I prefer to be called "a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," but I understand why I cannot insist on that. You could go with "LDS" or simply "Christian" (try it, it won't hurt), but I still prefer the other title. Perhaps I'll explain why in a later post.

Anyway, my title: It comes from the Book of Mormon, which is a book of scripture that I hold dear. The verse is in the Book of Alma: "...can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a rememberance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God? I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon you countenances? (Alma 5:18-19 italics added)" I highly recommend that you read the entire chapter; it isn't that long. You can find it
here.

The reason that the title is important to me, is that it shows the reality of the judgment. While we can assume that we can simply coast through life, we are going to have to stand accountable before Christ's judgment bar. Don't you think you'd kneel? Imagine yourself, right now, kneeling before Christ, a perfect Being Who has purchased you with His suffering, and He says, simply "Look at Me." And then what? Can you look up? With your perfect knowledge of all the occasions in your life when you took Christ's gifts for granted, can you actually look Him in the eye? I don't know if that's exactly how it's going to go down, but it's a good gauge to me of how well I'm living my life. I ask myself the question "Would I feel comfortable being in Christ's presence right now?" Quite often, the answer is "NO! I "would fain be glad if [I] could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon [me] to hide [me] from his presence. (
Alma 12:14)" And it is at that point when I dedicate myself to be more diligent, because I know that I must live in accordance with Christ's teachings if I want to have His gracious forgiveness.

So, you can clearly see why the title is important to me. It shows my quest in life. My mission in life it to be able to "look up" at that great and terrible day. When I am called before Christ, my Maker and Savior, I want to be able to look up and hear what C. S. Lewis calls "the divine accolade:" "Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth," or, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." This goal is what makes up who I am, and although I will stumble and fall on my way, I know that my garments can be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of my Redeemer. I write these things, testifying that they are true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

2 comments:

Candace said...

That was a tasty cheese puff!! I am glad you bore your testimony, its always nice to hear/read one b/c it reminds me of where I am going, who I am and who I stand for. Its a good way to start the day!

Unknown said...

Very nice! But I am disappointed with the lack of ZIM quotes. . . .
Oh well.