The Stafford Voice

Our little place to talk about and share about life.

Miscellaneous

In Search For Fame

by

Another horrific mass shooting, this time in Oregon, brings out the politicizing of the issue and how we need more gun control. Nevermind the fact that most of these mass shootings happen in so-called gun-free zones. That’s not the real issue.

Follow me on this for a second. People try and sell you on the idea that we need more gun control and these sort of acts will stop. If we only had a national gun registry so we knew who had guns.

We don’t hear people blame it on violent video games anymore. We don’t hear that it’s mommy or daddy’s fault because they were never there.

We always hear it’s because we don’t have enough gun control.

Seriously… the 2nd Amendment is here to stay!

Instead, let’s slow down for a minute and think about society. Because, after all, that’s where the real problem is. That’s right. Society is to blame!

And it’s all because people are in search for fame. Doesn’t matter if it’s 15 seconds of fame with a Vine video, 5 minutes on YouTube, or having 10k likes on an Instagram photo. Just the other day at a baseball game, a group of sorority sisters were all sitting there, phones in hand, taking selfies.

I get it. People want to be recognized.

But, and this goes to even before the shooting at Columbine, some people’s search for fame turns ugly. It’s not a result of having too few gun laws!

Can everyone slow down a brief second and stop trying to put a political spin on every little act? That does nothing but add fuel to an already out of control blaze.

 

Don’t forget to listen to this week’s podcast! Check it out:

Stay alert and follow to know the moment the show is LIVE.

BOOK REVIEW: Plunder and Deceit by Mark Levin

by

Plunder and Deceit, subtitled “Big Government’s Exploitation of Young People and the Future,” is yet another winner by Mark Levin.

It’s a perfect blend of current events and history. Hitting topics ranging from the debt, immigration, and the constitution, Levin addresses them in such a way that makes you wonder why liberals are the way they are.

His language is simple: common sense. And in today’s world, that’s pretty darn uncommon!

Look, here’s the thing, what’s covered in this book hits all major liberal talking points. And the best part? Levin debunks each and every single point backed up with fact after fact.

In the end, and even at the start, you’ll quickly realize this book isn’t only for the young people. It’s for everyone. With the speed at which Washington is curtailing each one of us, every person is quickly impacted.

If you’re asking yourself any of the following questions you need to read this book!

  • Just how big is the debt and what can I do?
  • How were so many people fooled by Obamacare?
  • What will all these environmental regulations cost me?
  • What can I do to stop the madness?

Plunder and Deceit is a fantastic read, and one I highly recommend.

 

Don’t forget to listen to this week’s podcast! Check it out:

Stay alert and follow to know the moment the show is LIVE.

The Day After 9/11

by

The day after 9/11 was very different than the day before. Admittedly, the American guard had become somewhat relaxed, and even though the writing was on the walls, we chose to do nothing. The result was the heinous attack that sent two jets flying into the twin towers in New York.

Not only were many Americans in shock of what happened, but the world stood still. It’s an uneasy feeling looking up in the sky and not seeing a single plane.

But, the day after 9/11 was different. When Americans woke up that morning, they were united. Instead of being drawn apart by partisan politics, they came together emotionally and spiritually.

Many people of different faiths joined together and prayed. They prayed for each other, and for the nation.

I fear that we are slowly falling asleep again, and that bad things are to come. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that good things are on the horizon, but not without some tumultuous times first.

The world is in chaos right now, and many people are blind to the things happening in the world. Those of you with eyes wide open are trying to sound the alarms, yet they fall upon deaf ears.

What do we do? How can we fix it? Honestly… I don’t know.

The one thing I do know is this: We all remember who we were with and what we were doing on 9/11. Many people post pictures on social media, and they use #NeverForget because they don’t want to forget those things. They want people out there to know America will not forget the attack on that day.

But, they miss the most important thing of it all.

We must #NeverForget how united we were the day after 9/11.

 

Don’t forget to listen to this week’s podcast! Check it out:

Stay alert and follow to know the moment the show is LIVE.

The Road We Travel

by

For each of us, the road we travel individually is very different from one to the next. The path you walk is very different from the one in front of me.

As you may know, I’m a fairly religious person. I don’t jump into anything without first pondering things out in my head, consulting with my wife and a few very select friends, before I get down on my knees and seek out guidance from the Lord. Many times, I will present my thoughts to God expecting to receive one answer, only to get the complete opposite.

But, there is something that has stayed with me for the last few weeks, if not months.

Where you are… Be there!

Sounds simple enough, right? But the more I thought on this, the clearer my path became.

If someone was to ask me a few years ago if I would be where I am today, doing what I’m doing, I would likely think they were crazy. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to talk to you via the show. For the most part, I never really thought anything I was doing, or would be doing, amounted to much of anything.

Was I ever wrong! The chances and opportunities I’ve been given are incredible. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything less that what I’m doing. As a matter of fact, I want to be able to do more!

I realized about a year or two ago that I can make a difference. It doesn’t always have to be something huge. It could be just one person. As long as I stay true to myself and the Lord, then it has been worth it in the end.

Where you are… Be there!

I’m here for a reason, just like you. We are all part of something greater. Your path may look easy from where I am, and my path may look easier than yours. Easy or hard, our individual paths are unique. They will have their rises and falls. They’ll even sometimes throw you a curve ball and make you do a u-turn. Whatever the case may be, we can never predict the road ahead. That’s exactly why you have to make the most out of what you’re given.

I have the honor to get behind the microphone and talk to you. It’s such a blessing to be a part of your life. I’m right where I’m supposed to be, at this very moment.

I spent a considerable amount of time on my knees verifying with the Lord that this is what He wants me to do. And each time, I got the same answer.

Where you are… Be there!

(On a side note: I am so glad that our paths have crossed and we were able to be where we are.)

Bill Nye Quotes Constitution Claiming it’s ‘Unpatriotic’ to Deny Science

by

In a Vox interview, Bill Nye the Science Guy claimed that the Constitution supports his idea that you are ‘unpatriotic’ is you deny science.

So, what did he say?

“When you have people denying this basic process, and how we all got here, it’s offensive to me intellectually. And I happen to think it’s unpatriotic. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution says the government shall “promote the progress of science and useful arts.” So if you’re a politician looking to derail the progress of science, I think you’re not doing your job.”

There’s just one thing wrong with this. He’s taking it completely out of context. What it REALLY says is:

“To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries”

This is otherwise known as the Copyright Clause, NOT the ‘You’re unpatriotic for not supporting all things claiming to be science clause.’

Maybe Nye should actually try his hand at science for once, because it’s already proven that he’s not a Constitutional scholar.

h/t Weasel Zippers

Mitt Romney Loses to Evander Holyfield in Boxing Debut

by

In the least most hyped charity event of the century, former Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney made his boxing debut against former 5-time heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield.

Yes, that’s right. Mitt Romney did get in the ring with one of the best boxers ever to get in the ring, Evander Holyfield. And yes, it was a charity event.

I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical as to how this un-fight of the century would go down. But, I’ll say, he fared better than most people probably were willing to give him credit lasting into the second round. Heck, Holyfield went to the mat in dramatic fashion in the first round.

But the victory was handed to Holyfield when Ann Romney, complete with hat turned sideways, threw in the towel during the second round.

Watch the dramatic FULL FIGHT:

EXTRAS:

Securely Anchored in Christ

by

There is no doubt that we’ve all heard that old saying, ‘You are only as strong as your weakest link.’ And, when you really think about it, you are. If you have a weakness in your organization, group, or team, then it will be that exact weakness that will hold you back from achieving the next level.

But, I think, there’s a little more to the saying than most people are giving thought to. You see, far too often we’re looking at these weak links as if they are because of someone else. Have you ever stopped to think maybe, just maybe, that you or something about you is the weak link?

Ships, big or small, have an anchor that can be lowered to keep them safe from a variety of things. Connecting that ships to its anchor is a chain.

“Suppose a beautiful sailing ship had been manufactured from the finest materials and had been reinforced and strengthened for the roughest seas. The mast and sails had been prepared carefully and were sturdy and seaworthy. Suppose the anchor was above standard in size and weight and craftsmanship. But suppose, by some inadvertent error, the chain attached to the anchor was inferior and weak. Visualize what would happen the first time the anchor was lowered of the first time a strong wave tried to push the anchored ship out to sea. If any of the chain holding the anchor broke, the anchor would be left to rust on the bottom of the ocean floor, and the ship would drift and perhaps be destroyed.” (M. Russell Ballard, Yesterday, Today, and Forever, pg. 12)

Take a second and look at yourself. Are there weak links in your chain? You are a beautiful vessel, and if you accept him, Christ has volunteered to be your anchor. Make sure that you are securely anchored in Christ with a strong chain.

 

A Foundation Built Upon The Rock

by

I made reference to a lighthouse earlier this week. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here, but I wish to make reference to that lighthouse again. I don’t know what my fascination is with a lighthouse this week, but I have been unable to forget thinking about them.

As important as it is to let your light shine, as is the case of a lighthouse, it is equally important as to it’s location. Because, location is just as equally important as the actual light. Really, what good is a lighthouse without its light? It’s virtuously worthless.

No matter where you go in the world, a lighthouse is built on a solid foundation. More than likely, a foundation built upon the rocks. You wouldn’t want it built on a beach would you? This is the same principle as the wise man who built his house upon the rocks.

The wise man knew that if he built his house on sand, with time and enough storms (or trials), that the sand around him and beneath him would soon be washed away. So, in his wisdom, he built it upon the rocks. Rocks are much, much stronger. And, they are a lot harder to move. If you build your house on the rocks, you are far less likely to have your house washed away.

Same thing with a lighthouse. Lighthouses are built on rocks so that they can withstand the forces of the ocean and all the storms that they encounter. Many people depend on the light to be seen from the lighthouse.

It’s much like life. We have the light of Christ within us, and we are able to withstand a great deal of storms in our lives. But, only if we build our foundation on the rock. In this case, the rock that we should build our foundation is that of Christ. If we do so, then we will have a strong enough foundation for our house to give off the light of Christ.

Shine Your Light

by

A lighthouse serves few purposes; however, their main purpose is to act as a guide. They serve as a warning. They act as a marker. Either way you look at a lighthouse, they act as some sort of a guide. It’s the same principle we see when looking at a shining city on a hill. Even if you only have the light from a single candle, that light will be seen from miles upon miles away.

One of the bragging rights for our military is that it owns the night. There isn’t another fighting force that can compete on the same level. I may be a little biased, because of the time I spent in the Army, but either way, we own the night. During night training, everyone is always talking about light discipline. And it’s for this very reason. The light emitted from one flashlight, or one cigarette lighter, or light cigarette for that matter, will give off a light that can be seen for miles. If you have no light discipline, you are literally playing with your life or another nearby.

On the other side of the spectrum, the light you give off has the ability to save a life. The light you give off has the potential to bring people to Christ. I really want you to take a very close look at what Matthew 5:16 says:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The light that burns within you, again, has the ability to bring others unto Christ. We have no idea the full impact of our life. Our actions, choices, and light travel many more miles than we can even comprehend. Let the light within you shine so bright that it becomes contagious.

The 6 Elements of Repentance

by

Let’s face it, we all make mistakes. I’ll be the first to admit I’m far from perfect. I’ve made plenty of mistakes over the years. But, repentance isn’t as easy as washing our hands.

As we go about our day, our hands get dirty. So we wash them. Good ‘ol soap and water does the trick usually. Sometimes we need to get out the pumice and scrub like crazy.

However, true repentance isn’t that easy. You see, when we truly repent, we turn away from sin in the hope we never do it again. Now, wouldn’t it be easy if there was a little checklist we could refer to in order to track our repentance process?

Here’s a little list of the 6 elements of repentance I found:

  1. Sorrow for sin.
  2. Abandonment of sin.
  3. Confession of sin.
  4. Restitution for sin.
  5. Obedience to all the commandments.
  6. Recognition of the Savior.

While the process of repentance can be difficult, it can be very rewarding in the end.

Remember, none of us are perfect, but through Christ’s atonement, we are able to repent for our wrongdoings and become clean.

(List adapted from ‘The Miracle of Forgiveness’ by Spencer W. Kimball for elements 1-5, and Richard G. Scott for element 6 in Ensign, May 1995, 76.)