Goodbye 2015

So here we are, the end of another year. So much to look back upon, so much to look forward to. This year was full of surprises, fun, sorrow, shock, and excitement. Surprises included the election of the NDP in Alberta to a majority government (I honestly never thought I would have lived to see that day, and in all honesty it seems like the worse case scenario for Alberta is happening). Fun was a Weird Al Concert and a Vinyl Cafe recording with my wife, plus lots of fun with the kids at the zoo. Sorrow was the passing of Leonard Nimoy (a large figure of my childhood) and Grace Lee Whitney (another Trek original), and the Syrian refugee crisis. Shock came from south of the border with Trump being a front-runner to be the Republican nominee for the next presidential election and more senseless gun violence, while across the seas the stain of ISIS resulted in horrible terrorist attacks in the countries of France, Beirut, and others. Excitement came through film, with new Avengers, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars installments, and through friendships, with a long-deserved finding of eternal happiness for one, and Fringe Festival excitement with the Harkers in Edmonton. Life has bee nothing but interesting this year.

We said goodbye to President and Sister Bennett at the Calgary Temple a couple months ago. Their service was greatly appreciated. The new temple presidency is equally wonderful to work with. We said hello to a new niece, Isabella Swendsen, around the same time. I have reconnected with my brother Kevin as he has worked through some struggles recently. We took another trip to Utah and enjoyed our time there with the Fergusons. Zoo Lights has been fun, as usual, but I am very excited about what looks like a new zoo annual tradition in Illuminasia. School has gone very well, and they even managed to have me shave off my eyebrows for a cancer fundraiser. So many good memories this year. I am glad I kept a journal for all of this.

Looking ahead, I can't wait for so many things to happen. The Chronicles of Shannara, which is based off of one of my favourite fantasy book series, starts in less than a week. Movie wise we have more in the Marvel Universe to look forward to (Captain America: Civil War and a new Thor), while DC is finally getting things going with Batman vs Superman, and of course the new Star Trek movie. Speaking of Trek, Heather and I are planning to attend the Trek Convention in Vegas this August. Mostly, I am looking forward to the growth that Hope and Barbara will experience.

What do I hope for in this next year? Well, a lot. I hope that my girls will eat more, grow more, I hope to find more ways to love my wife. I hope that the first trip that Heather and I take without the girls will be memorable and good (my biggest concern is how much we will miss each other). I mostly hope for things that I will have little control over. I hope that people will love more freely, and hate less often. I hope that people will come together more, and divide ourselves less. I guess the best way to do this is to stand for those things. I learned this year that making stands can come with a cost, but I figure that when the cause is important, the cost is worth it. So, as I look forward to the next year, I look forward to challenging more, loving more, and sometimes standing alone. So be it.

Top Ten List - Highlights of 2015

10. Movie Highlight of the Year - Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. It has been too long since a movie has felt like such an event.
9. TV Highlight of the Year - America's Got Talent - look back at some of my previous blogs, but this was their strongest season.
8. Music Event of the Year - Attending the Weird Al Yankovic concert with Heather. It was a blast.
7. Surprise of the Year - Years ago, my sister Tara "wrote" a story called Crack the Owl. She was three years old. She told the story to Mom, who wrote it down and drew pictures to go with it. Earlier this year, Tara self-published it as a children's book. I cried.
6. Friend Highlight of the Year - the wedding of Ricardo Perez. When I moved to Calgary, Ricardo and I quickly became friends (likely because we were the two eligible bachelors). He moved to Arizona a few years ago to become a dentist. There he met his wonderful wife Jill, and this June they were married. Could not have happened to a nicer guy.
5. Children Highlight of the Year - Hope, having her call me Daddy. Barbara, getting potty trained.
4. Milestone of the Year - Turning 40.
3. Spiritual Event of the Year - Attending the temple on my 40th birthday while friends and family across Canada and some in the states did some of my family names. The goal was 40, but it was more around 30. Oh well, next time.
2. Family Event of the Year - 5th Anniversary with Heather. We went to the zoo with the girls, had a nice lunch at Grazers, then got a babysitter while we had a great dinner at the Bear's Den restaurant.
1. Event of the Year - attending the temple with my father all day long on November 13 to seal him to his parents, to do their temple work, and to seal over 8 generations on my father's side.

Sunday Musings

I have had a lot on my mind recently. Since I last posted, a lot has happened. The election came and went, and as I predicted, the Conservatives lost, and the Liberals have a majority. Trudeau has become our newest Prime Minister and I had hoped that our country could come together a bit more. Guess I had my hopes too high, but many of the same old arguments have heated up again. I thought that anti-Muslim sentiments were on the decline again, and then on November 13 there were brutal terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris. Since then, anger and fear are being stoked, and social media is erupting with debates and arguments all over again. About a week before that there was a policy clarification from the church that has led to a fair bit of controversy and grief. It basically states that children of same-sex couples must wait until they are 18 before they can be baptized. Naturally those who champion same-sex marriage were quick to denounce it, and from within the church there are some who are confused, hurt, upset, or angry about it. Finally, on November 13, after over three months of steady temple work, my father was able to come down and have a special temple experience. I will address all of these items, leaving the best until last.

First, the election. Sigh. This sort of thing is making me tired. I used to have a blog called "The Reluctant Voter", and I am seriously considering starting it up again. On all sides I see one thing in common: people just don't like other people. I miss the days of proposition instead of opposition...oh wait, we never really had those days, did we. Basically, the majority of those vocal are saying that whatever anyone else offers up, if it is from a party they are opposed to, they oppose it. I get that some people are strongly affiliated in one party ideology, but those who are able to successfully and consistently advocate for their party without constantly demeaning or insulting the other side are few and far between. People say they will give Trudeau a chance, but within a week the attacks are up again. This is frustrating me to no end. It works both ways. Trudeau can do no good for some, and Harper did no good for others. I have basically come up with a theory that is so far holding water: if you cannot see the good that someone of a different political stripe can do, then you are not rational enough to have a healthy political discussion.

Second item: anti-Muslim feelings on the rise. It appears that every generation has at least one disenfranchised group. Women, blacks, Hispanics, gays, Jews, they have all had their own battles against discrimination. Lately, it is Muslim people. Since the Paris bombings (well, actually before, because of the first point, but since November 13 it has intensified), the anti-Islamic sentiments in Canada and the US continues to grow. This is particularly frustrating for me, as the new target are Syrian refugees which are trying to find somewhere safe to live. Europe is swelling to capacity, and North America is facing backlash from some of its citizens for their governments wanting to take in a small fraction. As I see it, there is a legitimate balance between security and compassion that must be met, but there is a level of fear that I have not seen since 9-11. This is causing otherwise rational people to respond in ways that shock me a bit. Don't get me wrong, many of those who are expressing concern with how quickly the refugee time table is moving raise some legitimate concerns, and many are not hateful, just cautious, but others are raising questions in my mind that are borderline hateful and racist. I have had some less than pleasant exchanges with some. People are acting in ways that cause me to pause and question their logic. For example, a Facebook friend posted a picture of refugees, which then asked the question: "Would Islamic countries welcome millions of Christians?". I posted my feelings on the post. I suggested that the question is irrelevant. If the answer was "yes, they would", then we should be doing the same for Muslims. If the answer, as I believed it was implied to be, was "no, they would not", then I figured what better reason than to accept Muslims into our countries because it was the right thing to do. If the only way that we would let Muslim refugees in was because they were letting in Christian refugees, or if we used the rational of they wouldn't do it for us so why do it for them, then in both cases we should be ashamed of ourselves. He told me that his post was just a joke, and I should lighten up. I asked him to explain the humor to me. He then deleted my comments. No worries. I myself have deleted more than a few comments off of my Facebook posts and will argue that he has the right to do this, but I really wonder about his sense of humor if that was indeed the case. Regardless of it all, I just want to say that Syrian refugees are in a tough spot. We, in Canada, are in a position to help a small number of them, and we should. This is not about helping our own, because I think all of humanity counts as "our own". I welcome them and find the majority of security fears to be easily solved, but that is for another day's discussion.

Third item: the real reason people are upset with church policy. A few weeks ago the church updated their policy on the baptism of children of same-sex marriages in the church. The policy is that they must wait until they are 18, even if they have the permission of their parents. My church has taken a lot of heat over the last several years about our stand on same-sex marriage. For those who are unfamiliar with it, I will try to explain it. We believe that God instituted marriage to be between man and woman only. We believe that any sexual relation outside of the bonds of marriage is a sin, and a grievous one at that. We believe that to be attracted to members of the same gender is not a sin, nor does it cause people to be bad people. We believe that like anyone else, people who have same-sex attractions are not to be persecuted. The church has championed many public initiatives that work for equal work and living benefits for members of the LGBTQ community. We also believe that while popular opinion may influence certain laws to be made or changed, they will not change God's laws. So when this policy was announced, there was some angst about it. Some people on Facebook expressed much chagrin over this, explaining how they were in doubt and feeling that this was a step backward. Others stood tall and supported the brethren of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, and then made the mistake of adding "and if you don't like what they say, then get out!". Again, I sigh. Some members of the church (many, but not all, were inactive for years) sent in letters asking that their names be removed from the Church's membership. That saddened me, but so be it, they made their choice. Many with doubts about this have stayed true to the faith, and that gladdens me. I will say my peace on this subject. I believe that President Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God. I have received confirmation from the Holy Ghost on this subject. I know he speaks God's will. I appreciate how this policy appears to others, but this policy is not really what is at the heart of the matter. To be honest, it is about whether or not people have the testimony of living prophets on the earth today or not. If you do not believe that we have prophets and apostles on the earth today that receive revelation from our Heavenly Father, than I do not see what I can say to help you accept this policy. I could talk about how this policy is no different than for those children of polygamous families, or the policy of not baptizing Muslims who families threaten to kill them. I could talk about how the brethren make this policy that are actually trying to keep the best interests of the children in mind. After all, why put them in a position where they learn one thing on Sunday at church, and then go home to live where the opposite is practiced. I can talk about how all the blessings of the gospel will be given to all that are worthy in spite of such circumstances, but what it all boils down to is the answer to this question: do you believe that the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are living prophets? If the answer is no, I can't help you accept the policy without addressing that issue first. If the answer is yes, then we can talk about faith and the importance of prayer to help you understand God's will. There have been a few policies that I personally did not agree with, but then I simply said: "thy will be done Lord" and kept on in my growth in my testimony.

Fourth, and best item: temple blessings. November 13 will be a dark day for many because of terrorist attacks. For me, it is the day that my family moved on step closer to eternity. Several months ago I was able to find many ancestors on my father's side of the family. This is exciting for me, because it allowed me to do the temple work for them. Again, for those who read this that are not of my faith, allow me to explain. In our church we believe there are sacred ordinances that are necessary for a person to achieve eternal salvation. Some, such as baptism, we can experience outside of our temples, while others, such as eternal marriage, can only be performed in our temples. The temple marriage allows Heather and I to be married, not until death do us part, but for eternity based on our worthiness. Many of our ancestors, however, do not receive the chance in this life to receive these ordinances. It is then up to us who have received these ordinances in this life to perform them for our ancestors in proxy. As an example, my father was baptized on behalf of his father, who is deceased. If my grandfather accepts the ordinance, then what my father did will be legitimate in the eyes of God as if my grandfather had done it himself. If the ancestor chooses to not receive these ordinances, then they will not count. For the last three months I have been to temple many times, performing these ordinances for my father's ancestors, some going back over ten generations. On the 13th, my father and I went together to the temple to do the ordinance work for his parents. In the evening, Heather, Dad, myself, the Olers, Ursula Jennings, the Coulthards, and Heather's parents gathered to do all the sealings. We ended the evening with my father being sealed to his parents for time and eternity. It was a beautiful day and an experience I will never forget. The only thing that would have made the day perfect was if Violet could have been healthy enough to be there, but her hip is in bad shape, so a day like this would have been too painful. Regardless, I am eternally grateful to have these temple ordinances done. Despite all the negativity from points 1-3, this more than makes up for it all. I am grateful for the many people who have helped out to make this day what it was. I look forward to finding even more names on the Andrews side.

So, with that, here are Ten Goals I have for 2016:
10. Attend every week (average)
9. Perform minimum of 30 endowments for male ancestors
8. Perform 200 sealings
7. Find the parents of my great grandparents Andrews
6. Attend the temple with 4 friends
5. Attend four endowment sessions with Heather
4. Take Amy and Connor to do baptisms at least once
3. Find 25 more ancestors to get ready
2. Help one other person find ancestors
1. Be worthy every time I enter the temple.

Stirring the Pot or Making a Stand

So a few weeks ago I noticed a bit of a trend with articles friends of mine were posting. You see, here in Canada we are less than a week away from the federal election, and more than any other time in history I have found emotions to be running high. One of the main issues that is pushing its way to the front is the idea of national security, but this has de-evolved into a very focused concern with ISIS and radicalised Islamic terrorism. Because there are a lot of legitimately scared people out there, anti-Muslim rhetoric is seeping into what a lot of people are posting. Suffice it to say, I felt prompted to say something about it on Facebook. Here is what I posted on September 23.

OK, I need to get something off of my chest. I apologize for the length of the following status update. I know that many will see the length of this and scroll down to something more entertaining and easier to absorb, and so be it. This is not one of those manipulative “If you really care about X you will like and share” postings, but I do ask you to give this a read because I feel it is an important message that is not being heard enough these days. I thank all of you in advance who will bear with me and read the whole thing, and I understand why some of you won’t.

I have seen a lot of posts these last several weeks on the growing crisis in the Middle East and Europe with respect to refugees. In many of these posts, I am seeing a disturbing trend in these articles that makes me wonder if some of my friends are actually fully reading these articles before sharing them. These articles are reporting on terrible things some of these refugees are doing in Europe. There are implications that some of the refugees being ISIS members who are using this tragedy to infiltrate western countries and continue their war from within (I point out that the articles range in numbers from a few to the majority). There is rampant speculation and mistrust towards Muslims in these articles, and this is what worries me the most. In these articles they talk about the threat that Muslims pose. Note, these articles are not saying "radical Muslims", "extremist Muslims", are even "some Muslims". They say Muslims, as if all Muslims threaten our lives and culture.

To my friends that have fallen into this trap of scaremongering (either unknowingly or wilfully), I ask you to consider my perspective. I prefer not to say that I have Muslim friends, because I simply see them as friends. I hate saying I teach Muslim students, because they are simply my students. I don't like saying that I have "Muslim neighbours" because to me, they are my neighbours. However, since many people are talking about Muslims in general terms, then I will speak on behalf of my friends, students, and neighbours who happen to be of the Muslim faith. What I have to say is STOP LUMPING THEM INTO THE SAME GROUP AS THOSE WHO ARE SPREADING TERROR! These are people that I love and respect, because, big surprise, they love and respect me. Many of them have moved to this country to find a better way of life and have sacrificed much to adapt to this country and its culture. They are good, honest people who simply want to live their life and practice their religion in peace. Yes, there are Muslims who try to impose their values and views on others, but that is true of EVERY GROUP, whether it be cultural, religious, or other. They do not deserve to be told to "change the way you dress, the way you speak, etc. or get out of our country". They do not deserve it! Besides, as North Americans, who are we, all immigrants in our own right, to make such a demand when the indigenous peoples of this land were subjugated to our way of life in what was often a brutal and violent manner?

To my friends, I ask you to be careful of what you are posting. When you share articles that discriminate against Muslims, you are participating in the discrimination of people that I care about, and this puts me on the defensive. You are hating my brothers and sisters. You are hating my friends and co-workers. You are hating my students, who I see as my kids. I look at the history of my own church and the rampant mistrust and discrimination that was used against its early members, and ask why should I do the same to another group? I do not forget that in the early days of my church, Mormons were chased from their homes, their leaders beaten and murdered, false charges brought up against its membership, told that they do not belong, to stop imposing their values on others and be like everyone else or be forced to leave. I will not forget that in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave there was an extermination order issued against the members of my church in the state of Missouri. Because I do not forget about this, I will not stand silent when another group of people are facing lies, prejudices, and fear tactics to turn popular opinion against them. Stop feeding the fear. If you really want to stand against those who are inflicting terror against the world (ISIS, Boko Haram, and other extremist groups), then you will stop generalizing that all Muslims are the same. You might as well say that all Christians are like the KKK, or all Vietnamese are like the Viet Cong, or all Russians are commies, or all those who vote conservative are racist intolerant bigots. They aren’t. Please note that when you share a story that says “Are you worried about what Muslims are doing to your country?” or “Muslims will not assimilate into our culture” you are, in fact, implying that you believe that all Muslims are doing this. I hate to break it to you so bluntly, but if that is how you truly feel about Muslims, you are one word: WRONG.

I want you to know that if you are sharing these lies to make a stand for what you believe is “right”, then, my dear friend (and I am sincere with that label), I do not stand with you. I still love you and will call you friend, but on this I stand with the good Muslim people of my community who go to work, try to live their beliefs to the best of their abilities, and every day go about their business. I am not standing with the terrorists. I am not standing with those who are committing despicable acts. I am standing with the people who are being falsely and unjustly painted with the same brush as a terrorist. I am standing with the people I know. I am standing with my Muslim students who give me Christmas presents every year for being their teacher. I am standing with my Muslim friend who came to the open house of my church’s temple in Calgary three years ago. I am standing with my Muslim neighbours who give to the food drive I help organize each year. I am standing with those who would stand with me when people accuse me of being things that I am not because of my religion. You are free to think that I am naïve, or foolish, or a bleeding heart. You might dismiss this as a rambling that is misguided. You may think “When those Muslims hurt someone he loves he will get no sympathy from me because I told him to not trust them”, and I get it. Again, if that is how you think of me, know that you are mistaken. Some of you will likely read this and continue posting and sharing the hate. I can’t stop you. But maybe, just maybe, what I am saying is causing you to rethink a few things. Just maybe this lengthy read might stir inside of you something will cause you to see a woman in a hijab in a different light. Maybe you will delete the articles you have shared from your timeline, and just maybe, you will see my friends, students, and neighbours as I see them. They are children of God, just like you and me. We are brothers and sisters. If we want to stand against the terrorists, then we should embrace the Muslim members of our communities, get to know them, and befriend them more. For those that have endured to the end of this, I thank you.

So there it is. Likely the longest Facebook status update I have ever posted. The overwhelming response has been positive, with most people agreeing with what I said. There were even some that had been sharing some of these worrisome articles that responded in a good manner, agreeing with the gist of what I was saying. I don't know how many people changed their viewpoints on the topic, but many felt that what I had said was something that needed to be said. 

There were a few that were... shall we say, a bit offended at my stand. So be it. It was argued that what I said was divisive. Maybe so, but only to the point where I separated those who understand the fallacy of judging an entire group of people based on the actions of a few and those who cannot or will not let go of their fears or prejudices. More than that, I said what needed to be said. Since that time I have learned that there is a gradual turning around on this subject. More people are becoming aware of the anti-Muslim sentiments and are making their own stands against it. More are realising the true divisiveness in this issue, and are coming together instead. That gives me hope. As I said in my earlier post, I cannot stand with those who will judge an entire community based on the actions of a few. I have been the victim of that in the past, and I know the harm it causes first hand. I will continue to hope that things will improve. For those who have caused me offence in this experience, I wish them well and forgive them, but I cannot trust them until I see true signs of change. For those I have offended, I hope they will find it in their hearts to forgive myself and others, but there is little I can do to force the issue. I will continue to stand against the evils in the world, whether it be ISIS or the intolerance of those around me. Some may accuse me of being prideful, arrogant, or self-righteous for what I have said. I suspect that they feel this way in order to suppress the twinge they felt in their conscience that suggests that I hit a bit too close to home in them. In the end, a conversation I had with a trusted friend and colleague brought out a great thought. I would rather be accused of loving too freely than to be accused of hating too easily.

My Top Ten List is a list of Ten Things I learned through this experience:

10. We all have valid reasons for believing what do. Even though I disagreed with the anger of one friend, I understood where it came from and accept it.

9. The dangers of "Black and White" thinking. First, there are things in this world that are right, and things that are wrong. Abusing a child is wrong. Rape is wrong. Comforting a crying child is right. Forgiving others is right. Having said that, there is a risk involved with seeing everything as Black or White, Right or Wrong, with no middle ground or spectrum. The danger is not being able to see the beauty in all the colour that is in the world. 

8. Making a stand can be divisive. At least, that was one thing I was accused of. I didn't think so, but maybe there is some truth to it. It separated those that will see people for who they truly are from those that will judge and hate an entire group based on the actions of a few.

7. Making a stand can be unifying. So often we worry about the differences we have with others. So often we get caught up over how we disagree with who someone else votes for, or whether or not we see eye-to-eye with someone on all things. When a stand is made on solid moral ground, we see others of all walks come together to stand with you. Of that I am thankful.

6. What's done is done, what's said is said. You may not have liked the outcome to your fullest liking, but you can't undo that which you have done. Accept it and move on.

5. It is hard to let go (but should still be encouraged). Some people have deep-seeded reasons for how they feel, for better or for worse. We cannot expect others to let go immediately of their fears or prejudices, but that doesn't mean that we stop encouraging them.

4. Spring cleaning can be done at any time. We need to periodically do an inventory of our life and start getting rid of things that bring us down. That can include relationships. If nothing else, this event helped me remove some negative influences in my life.

3. Standing alone often speaks for the many. One of the main comments I received over and over was the idea that what I had the courage to say was a message that many were hoping would be said. When we take that first step to speak out, we may initially feel that we will be alone on this matter. What ends up happening is that we find we are surrounded by many who agree with us standing by us. 

2. Standing for what is right has a cost, but that shouldn't make the stand any less right. Seldom is this type of stand easy to make. Seldom is it popular. Many instances in history show that making a stand for what is right will lead to a cost. This time around, it likely cost me some respect and friendship in the eyes of a few. I said some hard things, that is true. I felt compelled to say them, and I do not regret what I did for a moment. 

1. Take courage. I debated what I was going to write for quite a while. I wrote and edited the original post several times before it was something I felt good about posting. Some suggested that maybe I should not have posted it at all if it made even one person upset. I just couldn't. For too long those thoughts had rolled around in my brain. For too long I had seen people that, for the most part, were sharing ideas that I felt were hidden and not truly their own. It took courage to post what I did. It was the right thing to do. I sense many people were positively affected by this. It brings me peace to know that good has come of this.

And the Winner Is...

My last post I talked about America's Got Talent in my Top Ten. With this being the 10th season, it was fun o do a retrospective look back. This month, I thought I would talk about Season 10, as it has been an amazing season with great acts. I am not sure why this seems to happen, but almost every year the acts that are in the final all seem to be acts that I would love to see win, but usually the one I love the most takes the grand prize. This year was no exception. Without a doubt Paul Zerdin was my favourite, and he won. This is the second time that a ventriloquist has won the contest, and Paul's journey throughout the season was one that caught my attention from the get go. I must say that unlike Terry Fator, who was both a ventriloquist and a celebrity-singing impersonator, Paul took a different route. Fator had the ability (or luxury, as it may be) to be able to change characters and celebrities with changing the song. Zerdin, on the other hand, had to rely on really changing up his act to make it all the way, and he did so in great fashion. Every time he was on stage it was something different, which is hard for a ventriloquist to do. He earned a golden buzzer in the Judges Cuts round, and was a contender from the get go. He took it all in with great humility and passion.

This was a great year for standout stories and interesting characters. We had Drew Lynch come in 2nd place. He was the comedian with a stutter from a sports accident. The obstacles that he had to overcome were amazing, and again his humility won me over. I felt bad for his placing, but happy knowing that he would find stardom elsewhere. He developed a great fan base. Speaking of inspirational stories, the most moving for me was a young 14 year old boy named Benjamin Yonattan. He was a dancer who, from the beginning of the competition, was gradually losing his total vision. His grace was astounding, and again, humility was a factor. Sharon Irving and Arielle Baril were amazing singers that shocked me when they did not advance to the finals. Other notable singers were the Craig Lewis Band and Benton Blount. One of my favourite acts in the music category was the Mountain Faith band, who made America fall in love with bluegrass music (I was already there myself). And the most energetic musical act was Alex Boye. I was surprised that he did not advance beyond the Judges Cuts. Some great magic acts again this year. I liked both Oz Pearlman (a mentalist) and Derek Hughes (one of the most versatile magicians) a lot, but my favourite in the magic category by far was Piff the Magic Dragon. He was a delight. As far as unique acts, nobody was more different than Stevie Starr, the Professional Regurgitator. In the dance category, which is getting more and more technological, Freckled Sky and Siro-A were outstanding, but when it came to innovation, I have to go with Freelusion. Their ability to fuse dance with groundbreaking special effects was mind blowing.

This was the last season for Howard Stern as a judge, I must admit that when he first joined the show, I was a bot uncertain. He had made a career being the King of Shock on the radio, and that sort of thing is not really my thing. His job as a judge on AGT was wonderful. He brought a sense of credibility to the role and always offered great advice in the most respectful of ways. He was OK having a few goofy acts go through, but made his stands when he needed to. I found that as far as judges go, I agreed with his take on things more than any other judge. I wonder who will replace him. I just hope he's good. Maybe the return of Piers Morgan?

One last thing that I noticed this year, and I have had a few good, long talks with Heather about this. This was the first year that the final 10 had no women among them. It caused me to scratch the proverbial head a bit. There was definitely no shortage of amazing, talented women this year. As I looked back at the last ten years, the fact that not since the very first season has anyone other than men won this contest (unless you count the dogs of Olate Dogs in Season 7). There have been several runner-ups, but no winners other than Bianca Ryan. I am not sure why this is, because I think that this show removes a lot of biases with such an open format. Something to ponder, I guess.

Here are the Top Ten Acts from this season of AGT. Enjoy the videos, and I would recommend looking up more on each of them. First off, however, is a lengthy list of honorable mentions (I couldn't give the Top 10 without them): Three Shades of Blue, Benjamin Yonattan, Benton Blount, Derek Hughes, Siro-A, Arielle Baril, Alicia Michhelli, Alondra Santos, Daniella Mass, and Metal Mulitia Fitz Army. And now, the Top 10...

10. The Professional Regurgitator. This Scotsman can swallow anything...and then bring it back up. I have no idea how he does it, or more importantly how he's still alive, but his talent was Top 5 worthy (although more than 5 are Top 5 worthy, hence his #10 ranking). He finished 4th overall. Never seen anything like him. Here is one of my favourite performances of his. 

9. Oz Pearlman. A mentalist that blew me away each time. The 3rd place finisher this year, he gave up a lucrative career in the financial sector to pursue his passion, and I can't blame him for it. I'd love to see him live, and have him work his magic on me. Here's his audition. 

8. Faith Mountain Band. I loved these guys. They are a family and class act. They would take popular music, and put a bluegrass twist to them. Here is one of my preferred performances of theirs. 

7. Sharon Irving. I will say that America got this wrong, not sending her to the finals. She was rightfully told that she had the best vocals of any singer in the competition. She deserves a great career and was a Golden Buzzer act. Here is her final performance that was soulful and lovely. 

6. Alex Boye. I felt so badly for him when he was cut in the Judges Cuts. He has so much energy and just wants to have people smile. With every door closed, however, another opens. He scored a big role in the upcoming reboot of Saturday's Warriors. Until then, he can just take this setback and "Shake it off".  

5. The CraigLewis Band. These guys have such amazing harmonies that it sends chills up my spine. They ended up in fifth place, both on my list and on the show. Again, humble, grateful guys (I love how this is a common thread among my picks), but just give them a listen. 

4. Freelusion Dance Company. Another act that so deserved to be in the finals that didn't make it. They made tough choices along the way, and were so innovative. They were never given the golden buzzer, but many times they were told they didn't need it. Here is their brilliant audition. 

3. Drew Lynch. What a story this kid has, but having a story means nothing if you don't have the talent to back it up. Funny, funny kid. Howie Mandel gave him his golden buzzer. He came in 2nd overall, and deserves all the praise he gets. Here is the audition. 

2. Piff the Magic Dragon. Sometimes on AGT, an act comes on the stage and I think "Oh great, here comes another turkey". I thought this about Piff. Within seconds, however, he won me over and eventually ended up in the Top 10 with his cool magic and dry wit (plus a dragon-sized appetite). I can't wait to see him live one day. 

1. Paul Zerdin. Yup, America and I agree on this one. He is brilliant. Here is the act that got him the Golden Buzzer (plus won the hearts of my daughters. I swear, they made me put this on for them five or six times). 

Got Talent?

I'm going to be honest here, the political aspects of life is making me feel a little discouraged. With the federal election just over a month away, and with the current provincial government making very questionable decisions, I am a bit concerned about where my country is headed. I am not overly fond of making a choice between the lesser of three evils, but there is little I can do otherwise.

Classes start for me tomorrow. I am excited for a new start. Heather is back to work at a new school, and the girls are enjoying the care they are receiving at Tara's and Pam's. We have mixed feelings about this, as we have enjoyed having Heather at home full time, but lets face it, a teacher's salary by itself is not quite enough to make ends meet in Calgary these days. So we are facing the joys and struggles of hard work with optimism and faith.

There was a great deal of smoke in the area this past week as forest and wild fires run amok in BC and Washington State. For much of my first week back there has been a haze over the city. Interesting note, on Thursday I was at the temple (doing work for my father's side of the tree) and when I looked around, in every direction there was smoke. As I looked above the temple, I saw a circle of blue sky. It caused me to think that while the world around us may seem to be hazy, confusing, and gloomy, there is a bright spot as we center our focus on Christ. I know that many of my friends who may read this do not subscribe to the same beliefs as mine, so insert whatever spirituality factor that brings peace and stability into your life.

Of course, with school starting it means that one of my favorite summer traditions is soon to wind down, and that is this season of America's Got Talent. Every year I look forward to this show as it brings together regular people of all walks who have a simple desire to share their talent with the world. As a result, I have been introduced to some amazing individuals who have brought me great enjoyment. Not all make it to the finals, not all make it past the judges' cuts, but all have brought me satisfaction as I hear their stories. This year, I have particularly enjoyed a number of great performers. There is Piff, the Magic Dragon, who mixes comedy with magic (or is it the other way around). Benjamin Yonattan is an inspiring young dancer who's vision has diminished each time he has performed. We have a Professional Regurgitator who is actually doing very well at making something a bit odd entertaining to the point where he could be a contender for this year's winner. Paul Zerdan is an amazing ventriloquist who is my top pick for winning it all. Alex Boye provided great energy in his music, Freelusion is so creative and imaginative, and the list goes on. Like most seasons, I cannot clearly identify the front runner for the contest, and I am certain that when the Top 5 are revealed I will be happy with any of them winning. Looking back on the past 10 years, I give you my Top 10 Acts of AGT from the past seasons (I am excluding this season a there are so many great ones).

10. William Close - This man invented his own instrument, and it is original to say the least. With his Earth Harp he was a 3rd place finalist in Season 7, and his music is hauntingly beautiful. 

9. Lindsey Stirling - A fellow Mormon, she is not on this list because we share religious beliefs, but because her music is invigorating, her style unique, and her energy infectious. She is on this list because even though she only made it to the quarter-finals in Season 5, she went on to turn her failures into becoming a self-made success. She may not have been the winner, but she won a lot from her time on AGT. 

8. Collins Key - This young man was a phenomenal magician in Season 8 who ended up placing 5gth overall. His skill and professionalism belies his age. He left me mystified.

7. Emily West - Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. She brings chills to me when I hear her sing. She was the runner up in Season 9.

6. John Wing - This was a comedian that I knew from his work in Canada on Just For Laughs and the Debators. In Season 8, he was in the semi-finals in a very tough week of competition. If he had switched spots with a comedian in the other semi-finals, he would have moved on to the next round and possibly had won. The other comedian placed 2nd, but John was the better comedian. 

5. Jackie Evancho - This young girl was only 10 years old when she auditioned for Season 5. She went on to place a very close 2nd place. To have such grace, poise, and talent at such a tender young age defies explanation. She has had a good career since, and still keeps her head on straight.

4. Fighting Gravity - There have been many dance groups, traditional and otherwise, that have impressed America and myself. The most impressive was one of the first to incorporate more than just bodies on the stage. Fighting Gravity used black lights to create effects that mesmerized me, and I do believe that they paved the way for other groups that I loved, such as Silhouettes and Freelusion Dance. One tiny mistake cost the the grand prize in Season 5, and they settled for 3rd, but they continue to be successful. 

3. Nuttin' But Stringz - Hip Hop gets a bad rap (pun intended) due to the stereotypes of street thugs and violence associated with it. Nuttin' I love better than smashing a stereotype, and these two brothers took their violins and put on a hip-hop twist that blew me away. I was hoping that they would win Season 3, and even though they came in 3rd, they were electrifying. 

2. Terry Fator - The most successful winner (financially) so far, making over $10 million a year in Vegas, Terry Fator won the hearts of America and the $1 million grand prize in Season 2. Who would have expected a ventriloquist to be so talented? I picked him to win it all after his initial performance in the auditions. 


1. Kenichi Ebina - Season's 8 winner is my favorite. It is so hard to describe him, other than talented. He was so different, creative, intelligent, and insanely entertaining. He is more than a dancer, he is an artist and a visionary.   

Can't wait to see who wins this year.

Five Years Down, Eternity to Go

The last couple of days have been rough for me. Friday night Heather wanted some Chinese food, so I went on a quest. I went to Market Mall where I knew I could get some small servings. While the food tasted good, I was hit with bad stomach pains in the middle of the night from it. I think it was food poisoning, and today (Sunday) I am still feeling the after effects of it. I really hope that I will be over it today, because tomorrow is a very special day for me. Tomorrow is July 27, and five years ago tomorrow I married my beautiful Dandaloo. A lot has happened in those past five years, and most of it has been beyond good. I hope that the next five years will continue that tradition.

As I look back at these last five years, I am amazed as to how happy I am. I believe that I was happy in my previous marriage (except for the end, of course), but it pales in comparison. Heather has done so much for me. I feel so greatly blessed with having her in my life. She has given me so much genuine love that has produced two darling little girls. She has understood me better than almost any other person I have known. She treats me with respect, love, and devotion. She is so patient with me and accepts me as who I am. Most importantly, she will talk to me about her worries and problems, and listens to mine. She loves to laugh, is not ashamed to cry, and is as devoted to her family as any I know. Together we have faced trials and received blessings. We have walked the streets of New York City, had fun at theme parks in Orlando, been to about ten different temples, and lay on the beaches of Bermuda. We have celebrated each others successes and stood beside each other through the hardships. Each of us have seen the other through surgeries. We have done the best we could with our children and the unique situation of having two wee ones and two adult kids, and our home is a happy one.

As I look back on the last five years, I am grateful to know that our marriage will last into the eternities. I love that we made the decision to marry in the temple where eternal marriages are made. I look forward to not only the many years that are to come, but to what comes beyond this life. There is only one person with whom I would want to have by my side for the rest of forever.

Top 10 Things I Look Forward to in the Next 5 Years of Marriage

10. Vegas Convention - We are debating next summer, but hopefully once in the next few years.

9. School for the Girls - Barbara starts kindergarten in two years, Hope in 4. Wow.

8. Five more anniversary dinners. This year, we are going to try the Bear's Den. 

7. More Temple Trips - This past week we performed 50 sealings. It was wonderful.

6. More Trips - in 2018 we are thinking of a Disney Christmas. We are saving Air Miles for park passes and Avion points for plane tickets.

5. Weird Al in Concert - This happens in September (how lucky am I to have a wife who will go to a Weird Al concert with me?!)

4. More Dates - Now that the girls are older, we are going to be going on more dates. Looking forward to trying new things.

3. Hope Talking - She has started walking, and gets a few words in, but I look forward to what she has to say about things.

2. Barbara's baptism - She's 3 now. She'll be 8 in 5 years. Again, wow.

1. Waking Up Each Day - Because I get to wake up to an angel.

40 Trips Down...

The end of June is always a busy time at our place. We have Kevin living with us still, but hopefully he will find a place in Edmonton next week. We had Barbara's 3rd Birthday party combined with the party for our niece Raelynn and Heather's Dad. Yesterday was Dad's birthday (he and Vi are back from Scotland), and Saturday was my 40th birthday. Heather threw a bit of a surprise party Friday evening by having some friends come over. The biggest surprise was Raeanne Bates and her husband Matt (Raeanne was a former student of mine at FFCA when I first started. She and Matt were married last month). It was a fun filled evening. In addition to all the birthday celebrations, we did some temple work on Saturday, and of course there is the whole final exam/end of school year/graduation that comes up. Busy, busy, busy times.

Turning 40 is not that big of a deal for me, but to many others it is. Some see it as a turning point or a milestone, as if this is where any tendrils of our past youth slip away for good. Many see this age as when we start looking at life with fewer years ahead of us than behind us. I personally feel no more special. I feel older physically than when I was 30. I'm slower than I used to be, but thanks to having been working out these last couple years I have felt like I am in much better shape than I ever have been. I feel wiser from experiences I have had, but still feel that I have a lot to learn and much I do not understand. I am statistically half-way through my life, but I feel that I have so much to do and experience that I am excited about growing older. In all honesty, I do not see this age as being any different than most others. 

I have been a bit more reflective lately. As I look back on the last 40 years, I marvel at what I have seen and done. I have been to four different countries, I have witnessed the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe and the fall of the World Trade Center Towers on 9-11. I have lived through 8 Prime Ministers and a couple recessions. I have seen many predictable things happen (prices go up) and many surprises (NDP government in Alberta). I have seen VHS reign over Beta, only to be replaced by DVD. I have seen electric cars, smart phones, and green energy. I have been to Vegas and Disney World, to Castles in France that date back centuries and some of the newest buildings in New York City. I have watched Mother Nature become more turbulent and wreak havoc through fires, floods, and tornadoes. I have seen the miracle of life in the births of my daughters, and felt the sting of death as I have said good-bye to friends, students, mentors, grandparents, a brother, and my dear angel mother. I have gazed at the heavens at the beauty of the Northern Lights, and cast my tears upon the ground at the betrayal of those who had committed to me. I have loved, lost, and loved again. I have lost it all and found that I have gained so much more later. I can testify to both the best and worst of humanity. I have overcome obstacles I thought too large to surmount, and been brought low by simple things. I may not be famous in any notable way, but I have left my mark on those around me. I would hope that for almost all of those times it has been a positive influence that I have exerted. 

 I am realizing that which I have always suspected with respect to that which comes with age. As a youth I often marveled at what those who were older knew. I was eager to learn at their feet. As I have educated myself in this matter, I feel a bit of sadness. So many lessons that were learned through bitter experience in previous generation are being forgotten. People are losing focus on what is really important. I lament the fact that the average size of a house has increased while the average size of a family is shrinking. I miss the days when neighbours knew everyone in the neighbourhood. I find it ironic that the  more connected our technology makes us, the less we connect with each other. Text messages and emails replace phone calls because it's more "efficient". I am also concerned with the level of civility that we show others. Gone are the days where we seek to find common ground. Now it's more important to get the best zinger in. Hatred runs more rampant than ever in my lifetime. We divide ourselves on so many fronts (religion, gender, politics, culture, education, economic status, etc.) that it is of little wonder why so many of us feel alone. Intolerance and racism are still alive and well, no matter what courts rule or who is elected. When one group that has been persecuted gains a reprisal, another group is then targeted and often by the one just persecuted. 

And yet with all of the pessimism I see in the world, I remain hopeful. Despite all the bad I see in the world, I have joy in my heart most days. There are things I know, not just believe, but know, that allow this seemingly paradoxical view. This knowledge began as belief, was built on faith, and grown into a surety. I know that there is good at the heart of most people, we just sometimes get confused as to what that good is. I know that I have a wife who is dedicated to me. I know that this life is not a one-time deal, but that there is something after. I know there is a God who looks over us and loves us. This gives me much hope. I feel that our world is in for a rough and tumble time ahead, but we are a hardy bunch who can shake it off.  I believe that we have progressed in many ways, and we will continue in that general direction. Things might get worse for a while, but I do believe that they will ultimately get better.

Top 10 Time - Top Ten Things I Look Forward to in the Next 40 Years

10. More Kagan! I want more training, and I am not giving up my desire to become a Kagan Trainer.

9. More Trek! A new movie next year, possibly a new series in the future, and definitely at least one more Vegas convention.

8. More Teaching! I love my job. Even when I have the class here and there (like I did this year) that makes me doubt, I still feel the fire and passion.

7. More Barbara and Hope! My children are the greatest adventure I have yet found.

6. More Descendants! Must admit I look forward to grandchildren

5. More Travel! Still got to see more of Europe and Australia.

4. More Experiences With Nature! Yup, I still intend to see a live platypus in person. Maybe even touch one.

3. More Dreams! I have begun writing down some of the more interesting ones in a journal. 

2. More Friendship! Still amazed at the types of people I have been friends with. 40 more years can only bring more.

1. More Love! Honestly, the best part of the last 40 years happened 6 years ago when I met Heather. Hoping that all of the next 40 will have her by my side (and I am not just saying that because she is looking over my shoulder right now as I type).

Weighing In - True Hypocrisy, Real Redemption, and the Search for Justice

I normally do not weigh in on big current topics in this blog, but over the past several weeks there has been one story in pop culture that has been causing me much frustration. The hypocrisy involved in this story is truly disheartening, and I feel that I should say something about it. I am speaking of the Duggar family, and the recent revelation that the eldest son of this family, Josh Duggar, was guilty of sexually molesting five young girls, four of whom were his sisters. This happened while Josh was 14  to 15 years old. Without going through the details, the way he acted was horrible and disgusting, and it broke my heart to know that once again young children were victimized in such a way. The resulting media frenzy and shouts of indignation was expected, and many people called for a boycott of the show. The show has since been taken off of the air, and everyone from Piers Morgan to Sarah Palin have taken it upon themselves to publicly weigh in on the scandal. People are taking sides, and Josh Duggar, along with his parents, is getting a full blasting from all angles.

So why have I waited so long to weigh in on this? Why am I weighing in on this at all? Let me answer the second question first. Let me say I have never watched a full episode of the show. Most reality shows simply do not interest me. My wife, however, is a fan, so I have caught parts of episodes and know enough to have an opinion. While I do not find the show interesting, I did not find it offensive either. I have no problem with a show like this being on the air. In fact, I wish there were more shows that sowed good family values without the profanity and immorality that is so pervasive these days. When this story first broke, I was surprised by the revelation, but sadly not surprised by the response. I weigh in now because I think that although I have never been molested, I have great sympathy for those who have been. I feel that such actions are terrible and is among the worst of such actions. I felt that I needed to say something about what I was watching happen, so I decided earlier that I would write something on it.

So why now? Why not when it first broke? Why not join in the plethora of people who were flooding the internet and social media with their opinions on the story? Simple, I want as much of the facts a s possible before I started to pass judgement, and in a story such as this those facts come with time. I wanted to hear both sides of the story, not just assume I could know what everyone involved was feeling. So I waited. I read. I listened. I had discussions. Now, I feel I have enough information to say something, and I want to address the two biggest issues I feel are at the heart of this.

First: hypocrisy. It is a word that has been batted back and forth in this issue. Celebrity after celebrity, pundit after pundit, average person after average person has used this word. Most of the time it is directed at the Duggar clan. Josh because he professes to be a Christian, his parents because they have been silent on the matter, the sisters for forgiving their brother for their transgression. Over and over they are being labeled as "hypocrites". Unfortunately for those people, they are wrong about their use of the word. A hypocrite is one who espouses a certain value or belief and then acts in a way that is in direct opposition to said value of belief. I do not see that in the Duggars. They profess to be Christian, which many erroneously equate to professing to be perfect. Christians are not perfect. It is unfair to hold such an expectation to anyone. Being Christian means using the teachings and example of Jesus Christ to improve their lives in a way that promotes goodness. Yes, we all falter and make mistakes. Josh made a huge one. Being Christian means we hope to avoid such mistakes, but when they happen, it also means that we seek to make things right. To repent. To forgive. To redeem ourselves.

So if the Duggars are not hypocrites in my eyes, then who are? I ask, why does there need to be hypocrites in this story? I can label any number of people as such, but would I be any different? There have been many names thrown about of people who have admitted to being molesters of children, and some have been championed by those who eschew hatred towards the Duggars, but really, it's not my place to acknowledge them as hypocrites until I have been able to seek out the information that I did for Josh. So I will leave it there for now. All I can say is that I do feel that many are attacking the Duggars more harshly than others because of the fact that what Josh Duggar did as a youth is in direct conflict with the beliefs that they cherish and share now. If Josh had been an atheist, a card carrying Democrat, or one who championed a life of liberalism or immoraltiy, would the outcry have been as fierce? I think not.

This leads me to my second issue: redemption. At issue for me, more than anything else, is the issue of redemption. It has been said over and over that what Josh did to his sisters was deplorable (which I agree with), evil (again, agree), disgusting (still agreeing), and unforgivable (THAT I do not agree with). I agree with my whole heart that those actions were wrong, but I cannot accept that he is beyond redemption. Let us look at the facts, shall we? Josh Duggar did this as a youth, which the law states should be treated differently than if it happened when he was an adult. This is not a "kids will be kids" argument, but there is evidence that suggests to me that kids, even 15 year old boys, do not always fully grasp what the implications of their actions are. That is where parents come in. While many disagree with how Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar may have handled it, let's not assume that we would have done things differently. And while I am addressing the topic of the parents, let us point out a few things here on how they handled it. First, they listened to their son (not too bad a start). They disciplined him. When the behaviour continued, they took action to both protect their daughters and to get help for Josh. Again, while many may state that they should have done things differently, there is no truth in the idea that this was a cover-up on the part of the parents. They spoke to the police, and things were handled. So I feel that the parents did the best they knew how to do, and nobody can rightfully accuse otherwise.

So Josh spent time away from his family, getting counselling, and learning how to change and be a better person, to avoid such actions again. Before he married his wife, heck, before they became engaged, he told her everything that happened. She forgave him. The sisters he molested have forgiven him. His parents have forgiven him. Anyone who seems to be directly affected by this (with the possible exception of the fifth victim, which is still a missing piece of the puzzle), has forgiven him. The records were sealed under court order to protect not just him, but his sisters. So when the dirt was spilled, the darkness revisited, and the victims re-victimized, countless voices called for the head of Josh Duggar on a silver platter. This is my greatest concern with this story: a man cannot find redemption. Why was it so easy for people to forgive others, but not the Duggars? If Josh has truly changed his ways and is no longer doing such things, why can we not leave him be? If people are truly looking to protect his victims, why are they not raising a bigger outcry over the fact that these sealed records have been leaked and opened, forcing the girls to relive their pain

I noticed a cover of a magazine that was spear-heading the attack on the Duggars. One line caught my attention. It read "Doctor says Josh Duggar will always be a sexual predator". While I always find it amusing that most tabloid magazines will find one run-of-the-mill "specialist" who has an opinion that works for their story and then run with it as if this person speaks for all of humanity, let us assume that this doctor is correct. Does that mean that Josh will eventually recommit those heinous actions of his youth? What if it is true, that he will always have those temptations? Does that mean that he should be locked away for life? Does that mean that he deserves to have his life, the lives of his family, forever destroyed? Nope, not in my books. We look at someone like Robert Downey Jr., who has battled substance abuse most of his life. He did some pretty bad things that damaged not only himself but a lot of people around him. He did jail time for his crimes. And he redeemed himself. He got help, made amends, cleaned his life up, and stayed sober for many years. Why did people flock to forgive him? Is it because he is a Holywood A-list celebrity? Is Josh Duggar, as a reality TV Celebrity, not high profile enough to receive forgiveness? A drug addict will always be a drug addict, yet we celebrate their years of sobriety as a testament to them having conquered their demons. So again, why does Josh Duggar not get the same treatment. Again, I can't help but think if he was anyone but a reality-show high profile devout Christian, he would.

I am well aware that there are those for whom sexual molestation of children is an extremely sensitive subject, and they may find it hard to trust, believe, or forgive those who have been accused of such behaviour. They could say that Josh Duggar is, always has been, and always will be a molester. So be it. Quite frankly, they are entitled to their opinion. I am not saying that Josh will or will not offend again, If he does, then he must pay the price for those transgressions. What I am hoping for is that people will extend the same courtesy we would hope for ourselves with our own past transgressions. I hope that some who throw rocks at Josh from their glass houses will pause a moment and ask themselves what they want to accomplish in this. I pray that Josh does not do repeat this behaviour, but I worry that with so many people condemning him without really listening to his side that the pressure will create a self-fulfilling prophecy. That will in no way take away any accountability on his part, but I have heard from recovering addicts that they are far more likely to slip back into old, destructive behaviour if they perceive everyone around them as constantly expecting it and not wanting them to have a second chance.

In the end, I hope that this story will fade away and eventually be forgotten. I hope that Josh Duggar can fully get beyond this. Whether or not it was right that this be brought into the public eye is irrelevant now.What is relevant is what we do next. I know there are those who will always hate the Duggars for Josh's actions, but I feel they were hating them before these came to light. Some who are Christian have turned their backs on the Duggars. To them, I remind us all of the parable of the unmerciful servant that Christ gave us in Matthew 18. In this parable, the story of a servant who owes his Lord a large sum of money begs to have his debt forgiven. The Lord forgives him the debt, and the servant goes to one of his fellow servants and demands that his colleague repays a much smaller, almost insignificant debt. When the fellow servant says he cannot, the first servant throws him in prison. When the Lord hears of this act of unmerciful behaviour, he calls the first servant wicked and throws him to the tormentors. In the last verse of the Chapter, Jesus tells us all: So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.


If I, who have not committed such grievous sins as Josh Duggar has, deserve forgiveness, then it would be a greater sin to not forgive Josh Duggar and his family any wrong-doing they may have done. I will let the Lord decide on their case, and let them be. I hope those who read this will do the same.

Too Long Gone

I really need to set up a date to post. I can't believe it has been three months since my last post. Sigh.

Hope turned one earlier this month. She is growing so much. She is so different from Barbara in a lot of ways, but one way they are the same is that I can make her laugh as much as Barbara. I think that one of the best things about parenthood is discovering who your children become, and Hope seems to be reserved in many ways compared to her sister. She does not like being tossed around like Barbara does, but she enjoys watching it done to her big sister. She is content to crawl instead of walk, and she is slowly adding a few sounds to her vocabulary. Her growth is amazing.

Barbara turns three soon. She goes to bed a lot more easily these days. She is pretty much potty-trained, though she still needs help wiping properly. Her vocabulary is amazing. She is quite the performer. She likes an audience and shows off. Today in church she covered her ears during one of the hymns. The people around us chuckled at it, so she kept doing it. She said it made people happy. Well, we will work with her on manners and being polite. She loves to play, loves to run, loves her movies (Monsters University and Big Hero 6 are her current favs). We have a little tradition when I put her to bed. I say "Guess what?" She responds "What?". I say "I love you". She then does the same thing with me. So sweet.

Heather has been placed for next year. She will be at Cambrian Heights, which is a lot closer. She was hoping for a change, and this seems like a great fit for her. She is not looking forward to going back, but what else can we do. My work is going along as well as can be expected. Most of my students are good, but I have one class that is just a thorn in my side. I can honestly say that when some of this year's class graduates, I will be happy to see them go. 

The kittens are growing into cats, but they still get into all sorts of mischief. Dad and Vi are in Scotland until the end of June, so I am excitedly awaiting their return and to hear their stories. Siblings are doing well to various degrees. My buddy Ricardo came back from Arizona to visit and introduce his fiancee. Very happy for him. 

Top Ten List: Top Ten Things I Love About Wife

10. Her laugh. It gets deep and throaty, and is so darn cute.

9. Cuddle time. At night she often just drapes her arm over me. With 5 years of being together almost under our belt, it's nice that she still likes to reach out and hold me.

8. She's a teacher. This means she understands my struggles at work. Plus we get the same holidays.

7. Her taste in TV, movies, music and books. She has started reading Terry Brooks, likes Stargate and Star Trek, enjoys the Marvel Avengers movies, and she is willing to go to concerts I like, everything from Keith Urban and Brad Paisley to the Arrogant Worms and Weird Al

6. Her patience. She doesn't like it when I leave clothes on the floor, and she lets me know, but she does it in a way that is not nagging or complaining. 

5. She gave me two wonderful daughters and a pair of stepsons that gave my life new meaning.

4. Desserts! She makes some pretty good ones. Friday night she made a great berry trifle.

3. Temple attendance. We try to go together, but the kids make it difficult. She does go as often as she can. I really like doing sealings with her.

2. That...well, none of your business.

1. Undying love. Her dedication to our love is celestial and perfect. I never imagined that life could be so good, but her love surpasses my wildest dreams.

One to Beam Up

Yesterday was a sad day for me. Legendary Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy passed away at the age of 83. Star Trek has been a big part of my childhood and is still important to me, and Spock was a large part of that. He is likely one of the main reasons the franchise is so popular. Yes, Kirk was the captain, but most people know Spock. For me, he was the member of the original crew that I identified with the most. Spock stood out from the rest of the crew because he was different. He had pointed ears, was emotionless, had green blood, and was likely smarter than anyone else on the ship. For myself, I always felt that I was different from everyone else. No matter what setting I am in (work, family, even Trek conventions), I feel just a bit out of place. Always welcome, but always just different enough to feel it. I felt like I imagined Spock felt. Nimoy's passing yesterday reminded me that a small piece of my childhood that gave me a small part of my identity is now gone. It is unfortunate that I never had the opportunity to meet the man in this life. 

Leonard Nimoy wrestled with the fact that Spock was his most identifiable role. That is who he was known for. It bothered him for many years, but he came to grips with it and for many more years since he seemed at peace with it. He was the first Trek actor to direct anything Trek related, and also directed the Hollywood comedy hit "Three Men and a Baby". He was, in my opinion, the consummate artist: Not only was he an actor and a director, but he was a great photographer, a skillful poet, and even dabbled in some music. While he has often received some good-natured ribbing for his singing, he still did it. How many of us have the courage to take such risks? Most of all, Leonard Nimoy was a good man. As the stories of Star Trek come out, there were definitely some friction between cast members, but there are two names that always came up as being genuinely liked and respected by all who worked with them that were never in any of those disputes: DeForest Kelley and Leonard Nimoy. At the end of the day is there anyone who does not want to be remembered as having been a good person? Leonard Nimoy achieved that noble goal.

Thank you Leonard Nimoy for the positive impact that your work had on my life. Until we meet in the next life, Live Long and Prosper.

My Top Ten list for today will be my favourite memories of Leonard Nimoy. Yes, they are almost all Trek related. Enjoy.

10. Highly Illogical - Leonard Nimoy released an album entitled Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space. The one tract that keeps going through my head is "Highly Illogical". 



9. Sentinel Prime – Nimoy voiced two characters in two separate Transformers movies: Galvatron in the original animated movie, and Sentinel Prime in the more recent “Dark of the Moon”. I cheered when his character used a line from “Wrath of Kahn” saying that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

8. Voice of Tiny Spock in The Big Bang Theory – We will never get Leonard Nimoy on the screen with Jim Parsons, but we did have him voice a Spock doll that messed with Sheldon’s mind. A great way to have such an iconic actor as part of another iconic show.

7. The Challenge - A great car commercial had the two actors who played Spock in a duel of wits. I loved Nimoy's tribute to his song of Bilbo Baggins. 

6. Amok Time - I had a tough time choosing the best Trek episode that focused on Spock. There are so many good ones. I like this one the best. It might not be the greatest, but it is one that I can watch again and again. It shows Nimoy's great range of emotions (and for an actor playing an unemotional Vulcan, that's something)

5. Monorail Episode of the Simpsons – I think that not only is this one of my favourite episodes of the Simpsons, but it is also my favourite guest star cameo of the series. My favourite line is “The world needs laughter”

4. Spock in the Future - In my favourite episode of Futurama "Where No Fan Has Gone Before", Leonard Nimoy (or his head, actually) is reunited with his old cast mates. It is a great episode in and of itself.

3. How to Deal With a Punk - The Voyage Home is one of my all time favourite movies. I think my favourite part was his scene with the punk on a bus, Best way to deal with the obnoxious.



2. Generations Unite - Seeing Spock in the TNG episode "Unification" was great. Having him work with Picard and Data was stellar. 



1. I Have Been and Always Shall Be Your Friend - The bond of family is strong, but the bonds between close friends can become just as strong. I have two friends that I see as brothers. In my favourite movie "The Wrath of Kahn", Spock makes the ultimate sacrifice for his crew. His last words to his closest friend, James T. Kirk, are the words I offer to Dan and Matt (and hopefully never after receiving a full dose of radiation).

I will finish with his last message sent out via Twitter prior to his passing. 

 "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"

Pains of the Soul

I write this blog entry with some level of trepidation. You see, for the past year I have been doing a lot of reading and pondering about some of the current states of the world on a variety of social and political, and dare I say, religious issues. As I look at the new year ahead of me I am both hopeful for the great things to come and apprehensive towards the trends I see in many regards. Everywhere I look on the internet today I find more and more that troubles me. Pick the topic, and it brings a pain deep to the heart of my soul. Some say that there is an Islam problem. Some say there is an immigration problem. Some say that there is a problem with those who believe in Judaism, others with those who are Christian, and some say it is a problem with those who do not believe at all. Some say that the pains are due to the agenda of the left wing, others due to the agenda of the right. Some will put the blame on one specific global political leader, and others on an entire group of people. As I take a step back and look at as much of the big picture as my perspective can take in, I boil all the debate down to one thing: there is a serious lack of Love in this world with an over-abundance of Hate.

Recently there were a handful of violent events that left 17 people dead in Paris. They were at work, at the grocery store, or on the street. The attacks were carried out by Islamic radicals who were, for lack of a better understanding of it, making a message to the world about their interpretations of Islam. A few months ago we had two separate incidents in Canada that left two of our soldiers dead, specifically targeted by those with similar beliefs. All throughout the year there have been attacks on much larger scales on entire communities and nations, and many of us in the world are scared by it. There was yet another bloody conflict in Israel last summer, and this fuelled not only anti-Islam rhetoric but anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric as well. Just the other day I heard the story of a young girl who was, as I understand it, forced to wear a bomb into a Nigerian market. Upon her arrival at the market the bomb was detonated, killing herself and at least 10 others. This was just part of Boko Haram's concerted attacks in Nigeria. Some argue that radicalised Islam is at war with the rest of the world. I can see how that observation can be made.

Add to that a growing unrest in the US currently against law enforcement officers. A number of questionable killings of black individuals is having people accuse all white police officers of being racists. There was an incident last month of two NYPD officers being gunned down in their patrol car. With that resurfaces the debate over gun-control, and members of both sides in that argument take aim at each other with insults and contempt. In the political arenas of the world debate becomes less and less about discussion of ideas to create solutions to common problems, and more and more about getting the right sound-bite that will help you get re-elected. Politicians will denounce those who switch to other parties as being undemocratic one month, then cross the floor themselves the next. People stand up for freedom of speech by tweeting "Je suis Charlie", but demand that someone who is giving a pro-life speech at a university be banned from speaking there. We say we value the teachings of our particular religion, yet we insult others who do not share our views. We say that we value what makes individuals unique, but then when they move to our country we expect them to talk like we do, dress like we do, think like we do. Last year Quebec tried to ban the wearing of overt religious symbols by public employees, and many people rallied behind that cry saying that people should only practice their faith in their homes and places of worship. Thankfully there were many more who fought against it and won.

It is appearant to me that there is a growing movement of hatred. Maybe that hatred has always existed and it is only becoming more vocal. Maybe the anonymity that is inherent in the internet is making it more easy to broadcast that message. Regardless of the reason, hatred is rampant in this world. People are finding that it is easier to hate thy neighbour than to love them. We expect that those who disagree with us or are different from us must change to be more like us. People are saying that multiculturalism is a failure, that immigrants are eroding the way of life. Historians are predicting the fall of the great American Empire, citing lessons from the past. I am worried about other lessons that are being ignored, such as the true cost of hate and fear. I am concerned that those lessons that have been so painfully learned from the past are being forgotten.

We say that we have come so far since those times, but it feels more like we have been travelling in a circle and are on the path that our forefathers have warned us not to tread. I look upon the faces of my children and wonder what kind of world they will grow up in. I look back to my ancestors to learn from their lessons of the past. I am particularly drawn to my mother's German heritage. During World War II my great grandfather, Heinrich Hermann Hassforther, worked in a government office. Each day he processed lists of names of those who were deemed enemies of the state, or at the very least were people that the Nazi's should keep a close eye on. Quite often the individuals on the list would disappear into the night. One day the names of his daughter and her husband, my maternal grandparents, came up on a list. He quietly disposed of the list. He knew he could not do the same for every list that came across his desk, but this was family. He silently made a stand against a government that he believed were wrong to save his family. Not only did he save his daughter, but generations that came from her family. Imagine, my little Barbara, who was named after the granddaughter of Heinrich Hassforther, and my dearest Hope, who brings what her name intends, would not exist today had it not been for that one act of defiance. The spirit of Heinrich's goodness was passed onto his daughter that he saved. I suspect that her name was on the list because she was sneaking food and warm clothing into the camps where Russian POWs were being held during the winter, outdoors with nothing to keep them warm. My own grandmother tried to help the soldiers of the enemy. That is love. When my German grandparents moved to Toronto after the war, nobody would give my Opa a job. Nobody, at least, except a Jewish man, who looked beyond the pain in his own soul and did not worry that my grandfather was German.

So as I look at the grief and pain in the world today, I feel the pain in my own soul. I read comments from people suggest that to deal with the "Muslim-terrorist" problem that there should be a "Muslim tax" put into place to help pay for the damages that Islamic extremists are inflicting on society. It was even offered that Muslims who do not wish to pay the tax can earn exemptions by turning in members of their community who are planning terrorist activities. I thought for a moment that I had found a vortex back to the days of Heinrich Hassforther, standing in his office, looking at a piece of paper with the names of Jewish sympathizers. Is this really where we have arrived?

I see individuals shout that religion should only be practised in homes, churches, mosques, and synagogues, as if a person's religious practices can be turned on and off like a switch. A marginalized component of society has been emerging from the closets that society put them in, and it feels like those with religious beliefs are being forced into the closets to fill the void. If your political party is on the right of the spectrum, your opponents call you a fascist. If it's on the left, you are labelled a communist. Where is the end of the hatred?

So what am I to do? I raise my daughters and teach my students to love those, especially if they are different from you. I police myself in having unkind feelings towards others and judging them. I pray each night that our Father in Heaven can in some way soften the hearts of His children. I voice my thoughts on the internet and brace myself for the backlash. Presently I keep an ear open to such hatred surfacing at my school (thankfully I have not heard much of that yet). I watch Muppets with Barbara while we snack on jelly beans. I cuddle Hope every chance I get. I cannot shield my children from the evil in the world (and yes, hatred towards others is inherently evil), but I can at least insulate them with as much love as I can provide them. It is a small thing, but apparently every great event begins with a small thing.