Stop The Train

I want to get off this runaway train!  What a fantastically crazy weekend. I took the day off Friday since CHS was out of school. So what do I do??  Don't everyone respond at once. I get up and go crazy on things to accomplish. I worked on the car and removed the radiator fan, heat shield, and coolant hoses so I could finally get at the air fuel sensor to break it loose. After the oil change place could not get it loose I had to take all that out so I could get the special tool on it so well I could break it loose. But I did get it, cleaned it in a last ditch effort before I replace it, and put it back in. This time I put anti seize on the threads so if I have to pull it out to replace it it will be much easier. Mom moved a bunch of furniture and of course I helped where muscle was required. We moved the old stuff out and put the new in. We had gone and picked up the new Thursday night. 

Saturday I mowed the lawn, saw the riding mower break again, and did the rest by the walking mower. Then I got bit by the "once a year whether it needs it or not" car cleaning bug. Lys helped get the insides clean and I spent all my muscles scrubbing the wheels clean on Buzz and Max. Buzz was so bad I was worn after. I spent a couple hours on the wheels trying to remove years of build up. Then since it was once a year I washed them both, dried them and then waxed both. I am a karate kid awesome!  Wax in, wax off!  And make my arms like jello. 

Sunday was fantastic and exhausting. I started at 5:30 since we had missed some interviews last week. The coordination of councils was uplifting yet again and we got good actions to offer to others to help them if they will accept it. We had the primary program today and after it ended early (that has to be a record) I ended up speaking for a few minutes and no planning. But all is well, He gives me so much help just when I need it. 

I had some frustrating interviews after church with some who are not interested in change for the better. I respect what they want but it is disheartening to see them give up on so much that they could have. So much joy that could be in place now and for eternity. 

In the afternoon we had our first youth teacher coordination meeting following the "come follow me" curriculum.  Sunday school, YM and YW, seminary and other leaders joined together to determine what strengths the individuals have and where we can better combine efforts to support them. It was a very good discussion and many chances to receive revelation to help individuals. I again got a chance to talk without warning and mom said it was wonderful. I trust her. 

Finally in the evening we had a family history consultant meeting to prepare for our new youth family history Sunday meetings. They are voluntary but we hope many youth will want to be involved in searching out our ancestors. There are so many treasures to find. I know it will be a fantastic change and blessing for the Ward. 

Do all you can to focus your life on drawing close to the Savior. He is the central part of joy in this life and eternal life to come. The more we will engage in activities that draw us close to Him the more miracles we will recognize in our lives. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Centerville Ward Awesomeness

I just wanted to share some wonderful news from our Ward. And realize you can help this happen where you are serving as you work hand in hand with the Ward leadership and use the whole Ward council. It really is an inspired way to go. 

We had a part member family, where the father is inactive and a priest in the Aaronic priesthood. We had tried to reach out and the missionaries had taught the wife for over two years. So normally this is a situation like so many others that everyone gives up. But they didn't. The missionaries and the Ward kept going, inviting, reaching out whether they responded or not. 

Fast forward to now. The father has been working to prepare to receive the Melchizedek priesthood, the wife finally decided to get baptized and yesterday she did. Guess who did the baptism?  Yep, the husband. It was sooooo cool. He even gave a remarkably great talk about the holy ghost in the baptism program. It was so neat. Today she was confirmed by her father in law who came out for this event. After she was confirmed we even had extended a calling so she is now a Sunday school teacher and is totally stoked to do it. She can't wait. 

A turning point came when they attended the Indianapolis temple open house. After that the dominos began to fall. And now she is meeting with the family history consultant to prepare names so they can go to the temple to do baptism for the dead. This is just too good. In reality we know who is the author of this goodness we get to observe!  

So keep working, reaching out and don't give up. Realize He is the one in control and its on His timetable. So just keep working hard and praying hard. 

Thank you all for your work and service that blesses so many lives, including ours here in Centerville. 

Bishop Smith

Sabbath Day Observance

We have had a bunch of discussions recently on how to heighten our worship on the sabbath day. It has been most instructive and enlightening to participate in them. We have done this at the stake, Ward, Ward council, bishopric, and tonight with the youth. It has been fun to see all the different inputs, large and small, that can lead to action. We have been putting some of them to work. We made small adjustments to how we get ready for sacrament meeting and what we do the last 15 mins leading up to the start. And today was a massive difference in the reverent attitude prior to sacrament starting. It was neat to see. 

We had the youth at our house for BYD tonight. We had 51 of them and some adults so over 60 in the house. Whew. But we broke into smaller groups and had them discuss ideas on how to improve the sabbath day for the Ward, then next level for the home and family, and then next level for them personally. I had 5 youth lead the discussion, and I had adults taking notes but not allowed to participate in the discussion. So I could get the real feedback from the youth and we got 6 pages of notes to find ideas and try to make changes to improve. It was a great night. We also answered more questions they had submitted and we had some good ones again. "Why are there so many chapters on wars in the Book of Mormon when they could have included better things?"  Or "I don't understand heaven, like who was Heavenly Fathers dad?"  Really good questions. 

Saturday was a special day it was the day I got ready for Sunday. (Did you hear the primary music in your head?). I got up earlier than the others (duh) and I went to get gas for the mowers and trimmers. Then I trimmer, edged, blew, and mowed all the lawn but the main portion Ty did on Thursday night. I had to finish before we went to Kirstie's baptism and it was supposed to rain right after that. Which it did, so I was glad I got it done. I also took the pole saw and cut down two large branches that had died and we're hanging out over the lawn. All before 9. Good work dad!  I replaced the steering wheel controls this week so the maxima now looks like it should instead of a gaping hole in the steering wheel controls. Ty and I reset some of the pavers on the patio that had been made askew from the freeze and thaw cycles. We found one area where drainage had eroded a hole beneath it so we found a big rock and then poured concrete around it to firm it up. It look much better. I cleaned all the front wheels that get so black on each car. So fresh and clean!  The Buzz had a frozen caliper on the rear so I broke it free with some serious work and then Replaced the guide pins. With those cleaned, and greased, it make such a difference and now slides easily for better breaking power and even wear. So instead of paying someone $300, or even buying a $80 part, I spent $5 and one hour and poof. So fun for me. 

Look what Alysia tried again last week and she is amazing. Really a natural. So consistent and on the mark. 

I love you forever, nothing stops that, it is always there. 

Get ready for conference. We get two new apostles this time. General women's meeting is this Saturday!  

Dad

3 John 1:4

Gas to Go

You know how there are times in your life when you are just embarrassed?  You do something that when you look back it was just pretty mindless?  Well, I am living proof you don't have to have it happen too often and still be able to not learn from it. 

#1. We got the motorcycle back from the shop, running not perfect but decent enough for an old bike and pretty good overall. Then it starts having problems again. Wouldn't you know it's on the way home from church after a long day as bishop. I got stuck on bigger and had to push it most of the rest of the way home. I work on all the connections, check out the carbs, verify and adjust the choke, and basically touch everything we had been having issues with. In the end it was the simplest issue anyone can fix. It was out of gas. 

So I am a slow learner and don't let that sink in much. 

#2. The riding mower Ty resurrected from someone's spring clean up is about to roam the lawn again. Ty was nice and was starting to mow the lawn. Then he comes back to me as I am working in the garage and the mower is dripping gas in almost a solid stream. We try to get it off the lawn and I am sad. A free mower is wonderful, as long as it works. I am worried each time something comes up with that. At some point it will die. I do some research (thank you Internet) and the web again turns out to be right and I find the issue inside the carburetor   We had to remove the bowl, take out the float and needle, clean out the needle seat and reassemble. While at it we use gasket compound on some other joints where it was leaking. Wallah. Fixed. It starts up and all is well, except it won't stay running. It only goes for a few seconds and stops. What else could it be?  In the mean time Mom has mowed the whole lawn with the walk behind. So we put it in the garage and I plan to come back to it later. I think and think about it but leave it be since I have no new ideas. Roll ahead to this week. Mom is at the church at a relief society event and I se we need to mow and it is not raining. I am too lazy to do it by hand, so I pull out the rider and start taking it apart again. I have the covers off and try to start it while trying all the adjustments I know of. I get just a glimpse of a start up but nothing that catches. I try all sorts of things. Nothing. Finally I pull off the gas cap and suddenly, duh, thee is nothing there. I take what gas we have, put it in, fills it halfway or so. I try it again and.....vroom. It runs. And after I adjust the carb back to normal it runs like a champ. I mow the whole lawn without an issue. 

So I am just dumb and embarrassed. I really need to figure out how to check the gas sooner and not try to fix everything that could be wrong. The simplest solutions often are the best. Check the gas dummy!

I also had a great day as bishop today. Wonderful people who are working hard to improve their lives go for the better. One I should share. There is a young father who is a priest, his wife is not a member but has been taking the lessons and has gained a testimony. So finally she makes the decision for herself to be baptized. We are all excited. Her husband even wants to do the baptism. They made this decision as they went through the open house at the Indianapolis temple. As I talk to them today I extend a call to her to serve as a SS teacher after she is confirmed. She got very excited and is so looking forward to serving. She is so on top of the world. And the best part, her husband after she says she would love to do that just can't wipe the grin off his face. He just could not stop smiling. He was so pleased and happy. I can't wait for them to be an eternal family. I talked to him and he wants to receive the Melchizedek priesthood so he can prepare to go to the temple. What a fantastic day to be part of the work. 

Many other wonderful things as bishop today also but that one was just a dream. It really is all worth it. The challenges we have to go through are just part of the path to lasting joy. 

Today I also rode the motorcycle to church, down to a members home by Pres. Wards house, and then back home. It was a marvelous day, perfect weather and so fun to ride. 

Love you forever. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Building Upon The Rock

What a fantastic start to a wonderful month. I have the distinct privilege to teach priests quorum today, combined Melchizedek priesthood next week, and give a sacrament meeting talk the next week. In all of these focusing on Christ has been a common theme. Regardless of the troubles in our lives when we remember remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer that we must build our foundation then we can weather the storms that swirl around all of us. 

In priests quorum they were wonderful as we discussed together ways we can build a defense and in the end the best is to build our lives around the study of the savior. They had many great ideas and I liked when Ty chimed in with "strengthening our sword of the spirit" with prayer and scripture study.  It is remarkably simple yet more effective than any other tools we can employ. 

Later that day in thinking of building our defenses I was counseling and was led to discuss the war chapters of the Book of Mormon. Think of captain Moroni and how so many times, again and again, he always stayed one step ahead of the Lamanites. Armor, then walls, then banks of earth etc. in all this we can do the same to remain one step ahead of Satan and his continued attacks on our lives. Consider what C.S. Lewis said about this (courtesy of Austin Z)

"No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means — the only complete realist."

C.S. Lewis

I especially love the last bit, Christ really does show the perfect example and perfectly understands. He is there to help us through every step we need to take. Regardless of the size of the path forward or its obstacles. 

I am pleased to be home from work tomorrow. Labor Day. It will be a nice break. I am so appreciative of the job I have. Good company, good people, challenging work, and supportive leadership. But I work to be able to be home, not the other way around. I haven't decided what to do but you can be sure I will try to accomplish something. 

Yesterday I got a bunch done with help from everyone. Especially Ty. We worked on the motorcycle and fixed a non working indicator light. We also have the cover of the control panel drying with an epoxy so it will seal the crack. (You should love our high tech clamping mechanism!)  

We took apart the dash on the maxima and corrected a sticking fuel indicator, and found a loose brake shim on the rear brakes that I think was causing a squeak. The riding mower is a pain again and was leaking gas like there was no stop at all. We fixed that by working on the float needle and seat in the carb but now it won't stay running for more than a few minutes. I may try to tackle that again tomorrow. Mom was a,along and mowed the whole lawn with the walk mower while we were trying to get it to stop leaking so bad. 

Friday was fun, we had a "FHE with the bishop" and had a FHE opening and lesson, then watched Meet the Mormons movie. We did that Friday night and had popcorn and snow cones. About 50 people came. It was low key and only if people wanted to come. But one investigator, Ray, commented to the missionaries how much he appreciated it and how he felt, especially about the discussion before and after the movie. 

Counsel often, it is amazing how solutions to your problems come as you counsel. I am seeing that big and bold in my life. Home, family, church, work. Everywhere. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4