Hanukkah Musical Monday

A little treat for the beginning of Hanukkah:


Dandelionslayer was doing some research on a piece his band will be playing at work, and ran across Meshugga Beach Party--traditional Jewish dance music, played surfer style.  They're fun to watch, and you'll want to dance along.  This is not quite a traditional song, nor one of their original Hanukkah pieces, but you'll recognize it. Enjoy!

Ponderizing Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ,

and be perfected in him,

and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ,

ye can in nowise deny

the power of God.

Moroni 10:32

This week we're thinking about some of Moroni's last words.  He obviously put a lot of thought into them--chapter ten is a real treasure.  In verse 32, he repeats the invitation that has been given so many times: "Come unto Christ."

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live . . .   Isaiah 55:3 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

And he said unto the children of men:  Follow thou me.  2 Nephi 31:10

We'll be more comfortable with Christ if we are more like Him, but we do not have to be perfect on our own.  In fact, we can't be.  If we try our best to leave ungodly things behind, and trust in Christ, He will make up the difference and make us perfect through His grace.  Really, Moroni said it best.  Think about it!

What are you pondering this week?

Christmas Musical Monday

It's time to get the Christmas music season off to a roaring start!




The Sterling Singers describe it thus: "The world's happiest song meets the world's angriest."  Maybe it will be therapeutic to sing to yourself when you're feeling a bit of holiday stress.  I dare you to not laugh!

Happy Turkey Day!

There are so many things to appreciate.  How many blessings can you count while you listen to the Caterpillar's composition?




At least you can be grateful that you are not a turkey!

Vote for Senior Photo!

 

Our little Caterpillar has grown up to be a high school senior.  As such, we have the privilege of submitting his yearbook  photo.  I've tried taking a few.  The guidelines read, "These should be head/shoulder shot only."  We'll crop the right one if necessary.

Which do you think we should turn in?

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

 

 Exhibit D:

Place your non-binding vote in a comment!

Musical Monday

I mentioned recently that the Caterpillar has been exploring steampunk music.  It's a fun mixture of the music of various traditions, with stories of universal human emotions and cool gadgets.



This is one of his favorites, "The Mechanical Girl," by Voltaire.  

Enjoy!

Ponderizing James 1:12

Blessed is the man that resisteth temptation:  for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.   (JST James 1:12)

This verse caught my eye this week.  I especially like the correction Joseph Smith was inspired to make--resisting is so much more active and effective than just enduring.  There are many trials we can get through by patiently enduring.  Temptation, however, doesn't usually just go away.  We have to get away from it, like Joseph, who "fled" from Potiphar's wife, "and got him out."(Genesis 39:12)

There is always a way out.  Paul promised this in 1 Corinthians 10:13:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Of course, the way out does little good if we don't use it.  We have to make the effort to resist temptation, to leave it behind and fill our lives with something better.  If we use our agency correctly, the Lord will strengthen us and reward us.  And the tempter will lose power over us.  As James wrote in chapter four,

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Let's send him running!