Life Analogies

You know how something happens in life, and all the sudden you start relating it to the gospel? Oh, is that just me?! I thought other people did that too! haha...ha...

My analogy experience is pretty ironic...my car (actually my parents' car) died four times in two weeks! I love this car, it's a 1998, white, Buick Century, which we have owned for 11 years! It has NEVER had problems..well, not many anyways :-P. And that's not the most ironic part, each time it died, I was driving, and I was ALWAYS in the Walmart parking lot! Frustrating! Ggrrr.

From this, I learned that Walmart is evil, or that my car doesn't want me shopping there! The other possibility is that my car hates my guts...but I'm too sweet and innocent so we'll say that's a no go!

Actually, I was just joking about Walmart being evil. After talking to a friend, they referred me to a Prepaid Legal associate who owns an auto shop. He was nice enough to look at my car, and fix it in one day! Turns out the alternator had split, causing electrical failure.

Now, the point I want to make is not about where my lovely, white buick broke down or how it was fixed, but about the journey to the autoshop.

On the way there, I made my father (or he most graciously agreed to) drive our dying car and I followed him in our tan Chevy Astro van. Twice, we only made it a few blocks and then we had to jump it. Then, we got to the busy main streets and the highway. That's when my anxiety kicked in. The whole way, I was trying my hardest to keep his car in sight, and praying "please don't die, please don't die" or "don't die there, don't die there!". xD The car died four times on the way, and yes, once on the highway :'( 

Now, my analogy. People are "dying" or struggling all around us. Some people from personal sins, others from divorce or family situations, and yes, some from actual heath problems. A lot of times, we don't even know what's going on, just like the other drivers on the street; they didn't know my car had problems or that I was expecting it to die every few seconds---they probably wouldn't have driven behind us if they did!! But, I knew my car had problems and I was worried for it, so I did all I could to follow and help that car along until it could get the recovery it needed.

If we are struggling,  we need to let someone know, whether it be a friend, a doctor, a confidant, or a bishop. IF we don't, we will not get the extra help or care that may be needed to help us recover. Life is so much easier when we know we have a few extra "pillars"of support. As a missionary in my church a few years ago, I knew every family and investigator that attended a small church house, and I knew most of their major struggles. My heart swelled with pride (the good kind!) when I saw certain people just step foot in the church house. I cared for each and everyone of them, because I knew them. And I tried my best to help.

"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart."
                                                                               -Mosiah 5:13
                                                                               (The Book of Mormon, pg 158)
Or how knoweth a man his "friend or neighbor" whom he has not served... and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."       

                                                                                 -St. Matthew 25:37-40

                                                                                  (The Bible, pg 1233)

We have an obligation to serve others, and get to know those around us. If we do, we will serve our Savior, be righteous when the day of judgement comes, and we will help people be healed--just like my little, white buick. Thanks for reading my analogy! I'll step off my soapbox now.  :-)

Work and Laziness

As you can see, it has been awhile since my last post. Originally I was planning on posting a book review everyday...but lets be honest, that is a LOT of work. lol. Truthfully, I put my posts on hold because I joined a company called Prepaid Legal and I wanted to focus all my time into that. It's a work from home job and I've actually done prettywell.
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In my spare time, instead of reading books, I've fallen back onto some of my old addictions. Well, mainly just 2 of them: (1) Perfect World-an MMORPG, and (2) Manga.

I've been a member of Perfect World off and on for 2 years. It's a great game and I love to play it. Great people, good toons, and it's entertaining. Though I have a habit of getting too involved in the Game..which gamer doesn't like to talk to online friends and level fast? ;D

I try not to be dorky, or a gaming nerd, but sometimes I can't help it. I'm just good at lazy things! Maybe it's because I know failure is not an option. Plus it's a free game! Well, sort of. I've spent some money in the game "Boutique" for convenience items, but atleast I'm not required to dish out money every month

With Manga, I've always been a fan of the Japanese drawing style. Sloppy, haphazard, cartoons and artwork annoy me. Ed, Edd, and Eddy, Sponge Bob, yuck. Alright, maybe the screenwriting is good, but the way the characters and backgrounds are drawn is a total turnoff. We all have our own opinions, so don't be offended if I just bashed on yours, and I'll try not to be offended if you bash on mine!  ;-)

 I haven't read every genre of manga, but some of my favorites are: Skip Beat, Glass Mask, Tokyo Crazy Paradise, Change Guy, 1/2 Prince, Eureka, Bambino and basically anything written by Han Yu-rang, or Han Mi-rang. Psyren was pretty good up to a point.

Well, I just wanted to keep you guys updated and give you an explanation for my absence...even though I don't have followers...yet. ;-)  Good luck with your Christmas preparations!

Manta's Gift

Timothy Zahn is one of my best friend's favorite authors. He was introduced to him through his Star Wars novels and then gifted me with Manta's Gift before I left on a business trip. Usually, I am not a fan of science fiction novels-- high-tech mechanical weapons, bionic armor, and people being blasted to death with laser beams kindof loses my interest, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Just yesterday, I loaned this novel to my older brother, he read the back and said, "This sounds just like Avatar". He was right. Manta's Gift is VERY similar to Avatar. A sentinent, intelligent race was found on Jupiter, Americans strive to contact and befriend the race, and the race forms an alliance presenting the quadriplegic Matt Raimey with the opportunity to study the alien's culture first hand....as one of them...did I mention they look like humongous manta rays?

In this new world (which is higly impressive--complements to Timothy Zahn on his world building skills), Matt experiences feelings of mixed allegiance, aloofness, and obviously love, plus the thrill of starting a new life...allbeit a strange one ;) Even though the plotline is almost identical to Avatar, don't strike Manta's Gift off your reading list. Zahn is an extraordinary author, the depictions of the new world are amazing, and his characters are very realistic and believable...isn't that weird?!

The story flows smoothly, is easy to read, and is very touching. I would be lying if I said the story didn't move me. My heartstrings were tugged (do we even have heartstrings?) and my emotions were stirred. Read this book, you won't regret it and your imagination will thank you.

5 out of 5 bookmarks

A Good Old Book

I have to admit, I am easily swayed by bookcovers. If the cover of a book looks new, vibrant, and interesting, it usually calls to me like chocolate. Great cover art captures and entices me. That is why my find in an old, used book store surprised me. Among all the novels and tempting book covers, I found a diamond in the rough--emphasis on rough!

 After conducting an intense two-hour investigation,  two battered books nestled in the comfy confines of my book-filled grocery bag. At first I was worried, these books weren't flashy, the rips and tears can attest to that, but upon careful scrutiny and a self-reminder that I'm buying a story and not a book in bad condition, Gregg Bear's The Infinity Concerto and The Serpent Mage needled their way into my private collection. And I am glad they did.

The cover art of The Infinity Concerto may seem dull and boring, but the content inbetween is a montage of fantastical fantasy and imagery. The story set in LA transcends the norm of Earth and wanders through the realm of Faerie and back again. The author introduces us to young Michael Perrin, a well-behaved, seventeen-year-old poet and introvert. At a party, Michael is acquainted with the famous composer Arno Waltiri, whose mysterious musical masterpiece rivaled the beauty of Beethoven and the danger of the mythic siren...fore many of the listeners vanished.  Perhaps it was for this reason, that the scores for Waltiri's Opus were never recorded or found. This notable composer befriends young Perrin and gifts him with instructions and a peculiar key.

 Upon the old composer's deathbed, Waltiri repents and laments his ill-given present which later exposes us to mysterious characters, racial conflicts, and magical happenings....not altogether pleasant.

As I said, these books are diamonds in the rough and enjoyable as chocolate..without the fat ;) Read the first, don't mind it's cover, and it will most assuredly pull you into the second book, The Serpent Mage. Both books are amazingly well written and worth the read. Hope you find them...and a last word: Enjoy!

4 out of 5 bookmarks