25 February 2019

Today Columbia Stone was digesting a big QC bust. QC like safety saves money over the long run especially on a project like the Multnomah County Central Court House, where our scope is way beyond our expertise. QC was never really a priority. This project has been very hard. 

I walked all the floors of the building today, and I was surprised that I nearly have thirty inspections for this week. Progress in welding was so slow that I may have doubted it the passed two weeks. I have not completed many recently.

Family Home Evening included watching videos of the Sermon on the Mount and discussing it. I learned from the Lord's Prayer that his example shows that man should express humility to God, seeking his will. Jesus Christ has also expressed that gratitude is appreciated in the story of the Ten Lepers' healing. 

I was reminded of D&C 59:21 "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." I would like to bear unto you my witness that my life would be meaningless without Heavenly Father, and his plan of Happiness. My efforts have not brought me to my station in life, but I trust that God will provide for me. His grace has blessed my best effort, and I express gratitude in this wise often.

Asking a retired sports columnist about writing side job opportunities.

I engaged in a couple new friendships in my temple service last Saturday; one, a service missionary, and the other, a retired sports columnist. I asked the columnist about writing side job opportunities. He said that newspaper companies don't have the staff to cover all of the events that they desire, and that correspondence writing is an opportunity. I may have used the wrong terminology. One would go to events, and write an article about it. My life is so busy that it would be hard to fit it in. I would have to network with newspaper companies to figure out this opportunity.

24 February 2019

Today I woke up later than my 5 AM routine. I did not get to do much before church. 

During Sacrament meeting a mother talked about her experience with the Holy Ghost. Many people feel the spirit emotionally. She is not one of them. I am the same way. I sympathize with her, feeling disfunctional. Her talk cited an apostle recently stating that it is okay to not feel the spirit regularly. Everyone has a different relationship with God the Father. I wrote that I understand the mind receives promptings from good and bad sources. Fundamentally we have one's spirit, the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The bad side has the natural man and Satan. My good thoughts come from the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. This is how I recognize the Holy Ghost in my life. 

There are different personality such as: abstract artistic thinkers, analytical thinkers, logic oriented people, and emotional empathetic people. The Holy Ghost works with the thought orientation of all man, and he does not work the same way with everyone.

Primary was unique. Two girls in my class had things to glue together. Lewis gave a couple origami crafts to Ember, and she wanted me to glue them together to make a jet plane. Ruby hoped that I could fix a necklace pendent, which she accidentally chipped. Asking Ruby if my gluing work is sufficient, I heard her reply that I hope that my mom does not notice; then, she said that she would tell her mom the truth anyways. I am grateful to be part of this learning experience in her life. Hiding the truth is harmful to human relationships, including ones' relationship with themselves.

After choir we headed straight to my parent-in-law's apartment because Jessica's father started working 5 pm to 5 am. I guessed that he might work for Nike because I had a schedule like that there. My guess was accurate, and I talked about my experience. John & I have a couple companies similar on our resumé. First it was Cutco, and Nike is now on the list.

It is okay if you don't feel the spirit emotionally regularly.

During Sacrament meeting a mother talked about her experience with the Holy Ghost. Many people feel the spirit emotionally. She is not one of them. I am the same way. I sympathize with her, feeling disfunctional. Her talk cited an apostle recently stating that it is okay to not feel the spirit regularly. Everyone has a different relationship with God the Father. I wrote that I understand the mind receives promptings from good and bad sources. Fundamentally we have one's spirit, the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The bad side has the natural man and Satan. My good thoughts come from the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. This is how I recognize the Holy Ghost in my life. There are different personality such as: abstract artistic thinkers, analytical thinkers, logic oriented people, and emotional empathetic people. The Holy Ghost works with the thought orientation of all man, and he does not work the same way with everyone.

23 February 2019

The Portland Temple opened after a three week maintenance closure. This weekend was my first one back working. My schedule, doing ordinance work, was full. 

I engaged in a couple new friendships; one, a service missionary, and the other, a retired sports columnist. I asked the columnist about writing side job opportunities. He said that newspaper companies don't have the staff to cover all of the events that they desire, and that correspondence writing is an opportunity. I may have used the wrong terminology. My life is so busy that it would be hard to fit in. I would have to network with newspaper companies to figure out this opportunity.

This weekend is slow because I made no plans. I caught up on dishes and laundry. 

Raising Stripling Warriors

This morning I finished reading the chapter of Alma 56, introducing the stripling warriors. I wrote that we need to treat the raising generation as stripling warriors because they have the faith to turn the tides of war. Completing the chapter, I learned how stripling warriors were treated as they grew up.

I believe that their valience comes from the faith in God implanted in them by the teaching of their parents. 

And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous...And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites;... And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night... And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them. But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month. 
And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare; Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. 
For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it... 
But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war. (Alma 56:34, 36, 38, 41-48, & 56)

The sons of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people believed that God would divinely protect them; insomuch-that, none of them would die. There were only two thousand of them, and they did not fear the largest and strongest army of the Lamanites; although, none were trained in combat. How could this be true?

The key is faith in Jesus Christ, and the youth obtained it through the teaching of their parents. 

Faith is based on the word of God and revelation. The stripling warriors did not just make up the belief that God would protect them. I believe that the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people fasted and prayed for the preservation of their children's lives, and God granted according to their desires by revelation.

This type of faith is a higher level of faith than the regular standards of belief. The temple recommend interview has many questions similar to the baptismal interview. These questions are the standards of faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each question requires revelations; however, God designed that when an individual learns the truth fulness of the Book of Mormon that all of the questions are affirmed. If God told an individual something, the individual should act based on that knowledge. This is faith. Faith is not a blind belief because people receive revelation and knowledge of God. Faith is also known as an assurance.

One must trust the assurances that an individual is given. Faith weavers in doubt.

The stripling warriors trusted God's word that he would protect them. They would have died, if they doubted. We need to trust in our revelations today, for doubt will destroy faith, knowledge, and revelation, if we don't continually remember them. The stripling warriors would not have this higher level of faith, if they were not raised by stalwart parents in the gospel, teaching of faith in Christ. 

22 February 2019

My project manager suggested that my RFI to eClad was resolved in the recently revised and approved shop drawings. Looking through the drawings, I found nothing wrong with the elevation that my RFI was concerned with. I found that their instruction to cut the mullions were wrong. I have been asking for an answer, expecting them to research. They were not going to answer me without sound logic. Waiting for almost two months now, I don't know if they will. eClad just forwarded my email.
After work I gave into viewing Youtube and Facebook because I needed to charge my bike lights. My "new" laptop only has two USB ports, and I forgot to charge them during lunch. The distracted evening is not good.
Jessica and I did pay taxes this evening.
I was studying the law of Moses, relating it to the higher law given in the sermon on the mount, but Christ spoke so simply that I didn't think writing notes were necessary.
The following notes are from Sacrament meeting last Sunday, for I heard Ben a former student of mine ask her mother...:

What is the sacrament?   
I imagined teaching my child during the sacrament, saying the following.
Look. The bread represents the flesh of Jesus Christ. It is broken. The flesh of God is broken because all men will die, but Jesus has power over death. When he died, he resurrected, returning to the presence of Heavenly Father.   
Look. The water represents the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed, when he was doing the atonement. The atonement of Christ allows God to forgive, heal, and comfort man.    
Partaking of the bread and water is an ordinance that renews my promises with God.

What is the sacrament?

I was studying the law of Moses, relating it to the higher law given in the sermon on the mount, but Christ spoke so simply that I didn't think writing notes were necessary.

The following notes are from Sacrament meeting last Sunday, for I heard Ben a former student of mine ask her mother...:

What is the sacrament?   

I imagined teaching my child during the sacrament, saying the following.

Look. The bread represents the flesh of Jesus Christ. It is broken. The flesh of God is broken because all men will die, but Jesus has power over death. When he died, he resurrected, returning to the presence of Heavenly Father.   

Look. The water represents the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed, when he was doing the atonement. The atonement of Christ allows God to forgiven, heal, and comfort man.    

Partaking of the bread and water is an ordinance that renews my promises with God.

21 February 2019

Reading the Book of Mormon this morning, I was impressed by the description of the stripling warriors. Helaman called them "little sons." (Alma 56:30) I imagine the Aaronic Priesthood age youth. Art typically depicts them as strong and "large in stature." 

The Kingdom of God's youth are mighty enough to turn the tides of war. The youth are the hope of the future, and all of them truly can have the faith to come home alive from the war as all of the sons of Helamen did. Let us believe that our youth have the faith of Christ to withstand Satan's attacks, and treat them as  such.

Thursdays are big days. We did grocery shopping before Institute this and last week, arriving late to the class.

My laptop was acting odd this morning, wasting a couple hours of the day.

I revealed the extend of the buried inspections today to the inspector, discussing a plan to complete them.

Institute discussed the Kingdoms of Glory. 

The Little Sons of Helamen

Reading the Book of Mormon this morning, I was impressed by the description of the stripling warriors. Helaman called them "little sons." (Alma 56:30) I imagine the Aaronic Priesthood age youth. Art typically depicts them as strong and "large in stature." 

The Kingdom of God's youth are mighty enough to turn the tides of war. The youth are the hope of the future, and all of them truly can have the faith to come home alive from the war as all of the sons of Helamen did. Let us believe that our youth have the faith of Christ to withstand Satan's attacks, and treat them as  such.

Easing the wear on a Hamilton Beach bread machine

Baking 2 pound loaves of wheat bread, I finally discovered a way after years of using a bread machine to ease the wear of its operation. It typically skips gears, making loud noices, because the dough is thick and rough on the kneading appendage. I learned to put the last half cup of wheat flour after its mixing the first four cups of wheat flour with ease about five minutes into its routine.