5 Goals

Not always, yet sometimes, I create from my own mind, New Years resolutions that I desire above all else to achieve. There have been resolutions to conquer addictions, resolutions to act more like Christ, and resolutions just to accomplish minuscule objects of little worth.

I used to be like you. Dead in my sins, a child of the prince of the powers of the air, a child of disobedience. Yet, no longer. Not that I don't sin, but I feel sorry for my sins. And I hope you feel sorry for yours.  Yet, this article is not about who loves Jesus more, or who wishes to go to heaven, yet, this is about a dream. I dream I've had for quite a while. A dream that I believe to be pure and upright, walking in holiness and self-sacrifice. What is my dream? I wish to become a pastor. I wish to lead others to Christ. Although this desire cannot be accomplished in a single year alone, there are starting points in which I will take to prepare myself in this year.

#1 Reading the Glorious Bible more often.

I feel like one who wishes to become closer to Christ should read His word on a regular basis. To feel His presence, one need only to pick the Holy Bible and read a few words. Our savior Christ Jesus is our only ticket to heaven. There is NO other way into paradise. So, in order to know what He desires of us, we must read His word.

#2 pray more.

Praying is our communion with the Lord our Messiah. Whoever denies the power of prayer has not fervently knelt down to pour his or her heart out to Christ. In order to become more in tune with those around me and the Holy Spirit, I need to kneel before my lord and pour out my soul to Him. What I ask for is my personal business.

#3 evangelize.

In order to gain more followers to my church and to learn how to help people for my future occupation, I need to witness to people. Now you may be asking, why am I not evangelizing to people in school. It's illegal to force beliefs on others without their permission. However, there have been a few attempts I've made, yet those stories don't matter. Yet, I do need to witness more. To witness, one must believe in Christ with all their heart and must have the strength and courage to preach to one who does not. 

#4 work within the church to help its needs.

In order to prepare myself in becoming a pastor, I must be able to work within the current church I attend. With the pastors guidance, I'll be able to help out throughout the congregation to promote its spirituality and well-being. Whatever the pastor wishes me to do, I need to do it.

#5 talk with the pastor about wishing to be a pastor.

And the last thing I need to accomplish, is to tell the pastor about my feelings. The strong calling  I've received must be shared with the pastor. He above all else will know what to do with my vocation. Yet, I've already spoken to him. So I guess this really isn't a goal. Tee hee.

So all in all, the two main things that'll help me become ready to achieve my dream are personal spiritual development and helping the church as a body in its whole. In order to accomplish such goals I'll need the help of our Savior who is the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot, no one can, fulfill goals without the help of our Messiah. Jesus helps in all things. In order to go to heaven, all one needs to do is believe in Jesus Christ and repent. Now, what does repent mean? Does it mean to stop all sins? No. Repentance only means to recognize that you are a sinner and to pray to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you and to accept you into His fold. That's all it takes. I simple prayer, and simple faith. Thank you. I love you all.

Trends that Should Die with 2014

Short shorts. Ugh. The sinful prides of mankind. Made by lustful men to expose the divinity of women. To dishonor them. It's an evil sin which has strangled the throats of the thoughts of men for ages. Yet, only recently have they become so widespread that now everyone is convinced that revealing the chastity of girls is a means of pure entertainment. I'm here to tell you that it is not. It should be destroyed as the devil shall be destroyed. 

One reason it should be destroyed is that it was made by men to entice men. So in all, it wasn't made to benefit girls, it was made to benefit men, so that they would have something to lust after. They made it to gaze at your purity, oh girls of the earth. And you follow them by buying the clothes they make. They produce sin, and you buy into it. It is a truly sorrowful sight, indeed. 

Another reason it should be destroyed is it gives women an excuse to sin. Girls say, "well it's hot outside and all I have to wear is my short shorts." Lies! The only reason you have them is deep down inside, you enjoy exposing yourself to the lusts of men. You enjoy the attention it brings. Otherwise, you wouldn't be wearing them. You have bought into the sins of the masses and you desire with them the things of this world. 

I agree, they seem like the thing to wear on a hot summer day, however, I can assure you, there's a lot more in play here than just shorts. It's your dignity and chastity you're putting up for grabs for the men of this world. You are exposing yourself to their wants and needs. Their desires are held up on a pedestal, and you're reaching up and retrieving it for them. You have no sense of self respect at all by revealing yourself.

So, in conclusion, short shorts should be destroyed alongside the devil himself. They are indignant and frightful bits of attire. They expose the beings of girls both old and young alike. They reveal the chastity of pure virgin girls and desecrate their bodies. The attire puts girls' bodies out for the eyes of men and their sick fantasies. Short shorts. Made by men, for men.

Do/Don't Essay

Let me tell you the best kept secret about living a righteous life for God. It's simple. It may not seem like it, but it really is simple. The two hardest things that there are is probably not saying the lord's name in profanity, and not committing adultery within your heart. 

I'm not here to imply that everything is going to be a breeze in your personal religious life, cause it's not. I only mean to say it's plain and simple, not easy. There'll be days when you wish you were dead, and other times when you're on your highest peak. Just... Don't let it get to your head. 

I've collected a brief list of do's and don't's for those seeking a religious life so that you won't be in the dark when beginning out. 

Do: pray always. The most simple of things for religious people of all and any standing within the church. Praying will fill you with passion and the love of God for hours on end. Provided, of course, if you pray correctly. Always invoke the name of God before praying and always thank him afterward. 

Don't: rush through prayers. If there is one thing God despises more, it's when his children don't care about wanting to talk to him. He says time and time again throughout His scriptures, that he enjoys our prayers and wishes us to talk with Him. So pray slowly and lovingly. Actually care about what it is you are saying. 

Do: read your scriptures daily. Knowing how to fend off evil by the scriptures standards is always useful, especially when fiends of hell provoke you or tease you because of your beliefs. They may make up horrendous lies about your religion and try to see you break. But, when you know your scriptures, battle is easy and purely swift. 

Don't: commit idolatry. Committing idolatry is very common and extremely easy, which is why is should be avoided at all costs. Wearing a shirt from a famous singer is one form of idolatry. Having a famous persons poster is another form of idolatry. Excessively talking about a famous person is idolatry. Yes, it is idolatry... And God despises it.  Avoid all forms of it. 

Do: respect your religious leaders. Don't argue with them, just respect them. They know more than you do, that's why they're leaders and you're not. Don't think that just because you're younger, that you have all the answers. And don't think that just because you have tons of questions, that your leader is going to start lying. Your questions mean nothing in reality. Your leader knows what he's doing.

Don't: take all your friends out of religion just because you left. You left because you're just different, your friends aren't necessarily different like you. Don't ruin it for your faithful friends or relatives. They are actually trying to please God.

Do: marry inside your religion. The Bible and the Quran specifically command us to marry inside our religion to avoid conflict. Example given, a religious man marries an atheist girl. Well, it just so happens, that just like Eve, she is easily tempted to drag him down along with her. She hates God, and she won't rest until he does too. When you marry inside your religion, you are two persons who will stop at nothing to please God. And in the Doctrine and Covenants, it says that two persons who will stop at nothing to please God, will gain heaven easily.

So all in all, just do that which is generally obvious, and that which pleases God. I gave you a brief list in hopes that you'll take it serious. Worship God, don't fail him. Do the simple things.