That Much Different

So I was on Facebook today, and I ran into this post that felt suspiciously like a brick wall. I'm going to be very vague on the details, but essentially it said: "Men are like this, and women are like this." (It also included a picture to demonstrate the supposed difference.) For a moment I felt a little irritated, and then I realized something: why am I allowing a post on Facebook tell me who I am? Also, how can you make such a generalization like that? Hehe, my existence is a testament of not every man being alike. I know he didn't mean it literally, and that *most men* was implied, but it still felt wrong. Another thing is often times it is easy to see something as normal in media, that is fundamentally different in real life. This post was referring to most men in a *fictional* world, and how men are perceived through social media, movies, books, music, etc. But is that how men really act? No! Absolutely not. The author was obviously intoxicated by the fictional perception of men and women that has sulkily risen from 21st Century media.
Please! Children, people, everyone. Don't become like him. :) I'm not saying that all media in our day is guilty of not representing reality properly, but most of it is. Wars are not that exciting, revenge is not so sweet, premarital relationships ruin lives... and the list goes on. Sometimes it's fun to pretend you are in another world. There is nothing more fun, or even wrong with it. But always make sure you come back to the one world that actually exists. 

Romans 5:3-5

3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: 

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love 

of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost 

which is given unto us.

This scripture is pretty special to me, because it helps me to understand how I should act when I get pretty fed up with people, events, and everything else. Personally, this scripture embodies the meaning of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Yes, I know it's a terrible saying - but tribulations test patience, and having patience is quiet strength. So I believe it's somewhat applicable in this situation.
It also goes on to say patience begets experience, and experience begets hope. By definition from Websters 1828 dictionary: Hope is "confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a scriptural sense." So the best way to nurture and raise hope, is to begin with patience. Now take a moment and look at Noah Webster's definition of patience: "The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent." Really, hope and patience are intertwined. When you posses of the quality of "waiting long for expected good", you then have safe grounds to build the "highest degree of well founded expectation of good."
The last verse explains how hope "maketh not ashamed." Hope allows us to be happy, because God is the Father of hope and love, and hope is spread by the Holy Spirit through the heart. A gift given all of his children. 

Taylor Swift's 1989

Hey guys,

So I just thought it would be cool to write briefly about Taylor's new album. I had a period where I wouldn't listen to it at all, but I got over that and here I am. :) I think I'll just make a list of all the songs included in the album, along with a quick description corresponding to each explaining what I thought.

Welcome To New York 

This song is a refreshing change from what Taylor usually does in an album. I really wish she would have made more songs like this, but I can't really complain. Just the fact that it's not about a relationship feels good. But that aside, I love how upbeat it is. It reminds me of how amazing it feels to get home after a long time away from those you love. :)

Blank Space 

Please no. >_< The video for this song was pretty creepy on so many different levels. But I won't be judging this song by the music video, because that wouldn't be fair. By those rules, Radioactive would be pretty terrible, and it's definitely not. 

Although, my first reaction to this was "Oh wow. Another song about how painful breakups are. Shoot me now", the lyrics surprised me. They weren't particularly spectacular, but surprising. Go ahead and check it out if you dare. (: 

Style 

While listening to this song I couldn't help but hear Drake's "Hold On We're Going Home" playing in the background of my mind... besides that it just another song about falling in love, and never going out of Style. Not my cup of tea. Next! 

Out Of The Woods

Oh. My. Wow. This song is incredible. ^_^ Yes, another song about being in a relationship, but it's so much more than that. It feels incredibly hopeful and upbeat, instead of being all sadface. It's something I could listen to while missing someone, without it making me even more sad.  

All You Had To Stay

Another another song about being in a relationship. (I feel like I'm going to be saying that a lot while reviewing this album). Anyway, I love this song for the same reasons I love Out Of The Woods. "It's like, hey I miss you. All you had to do is stay. But it's okay, you can come back." That sort of hopeful. 

Shake It Off 

Welcome to the extremely addicting and wonderfully annoying Tay Tay pop song of my day. I always have a different opinion of this song, but it always boils down to something positive. :D Just don't let the weight of the world stop you. Friend, keep calm and "Shake it off.". :D

I Wish You Would 

Another another another song about being in a relationship. But there seems to be this repeated vibe surrounding many of the songs in this album where it always seems like the person you're missing can come back, and this track is no different. "I wish you were here right here, right now. I wish you would". <3 

Bad Blood 

Another another another another... okay I'll quit it. ;) Anyway, this song is kinda not so hopeful like the others. Personally, I don't like songs with messages such as this. People are always welcome back into my life. So I'm just going to skim over this one. I'd rather not talk about it. 

Wildest Dreams 

I actually like this song a lot. It feels hopeful, and captures the thoughtful feel surprisingly well. It's something I would listen to on a rainy day on the hill above my house. Just that sort of song. (: 

How You Get The Girl 

I feel like this song describes me in many ways. I know I've messed things up a lot in my life, and I'm still trying to put it all back together. It helps me to see there is still hope in trying, and that someday everything will be all good and happy again. <3 

This Love

This song is beautiful. So misty, wonderful, and warm feeling. It's hard to explain. But the hope is real with this track. It's in a league of it's own. (: 

I Know Places 

Gosh no. >_< It's so dark and hard for me to listen to. I'm going to skip this one as well, if you dont' mind. 

Clean 

This song defines the entire album, in my opinion. It's one of the most perfect Tay Tay songs. Like ever. I cannot begin to express how much this song means to me. ^_^ You'd think that after so many songs about relationships Taylor would have lost you, but no. This one is definitely as attractive as the first. 

Wonderland 

I'm absolutely in love with how this song sounds! ...and my enthusiasm kinda stops there. It begins all happy and good at first, but then it goes to the "you don't know what you've got until it's gone" type of message. That was a little disappointing. But I suppose it works. 

You Are In Love

"You can hear it in the silence; you can feel it on the way home; you can see it with the lights out; you're in love; true love." If I could pick one song to describe what falling for someone feels like, it would be this. It's simply that perfect. <3 

New Romantics 

This song is pretty sad, and I'd just rather skip over it. 

And those are my thoughts on this surprisingly amazing album. I think rating  it 7/10 is fair. I was tempted to deduct some points for the whole album nearly being completely about relationships and how difficult they are, but I decided against it. I should kinda expect that sort of thing from Taylor by now. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Have a good day, friends. (: 

Stranger in the Mirror

In Social Leadership we are currently reading The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey. The book focuses heavily on learning how to discover your voice, and it's imperative significance to ones life. But what does it mean to find your voice? Well I'm glad you asked. :D Finding your voice means discovering who you were before you came to this earth. It's learning who you were in the premortal existence. Sometimes it's easy to see this life as a period in which your being is built and shaped, but it really is not that way at all. Before our earthly life, we were something. We had a personality, a spirit, a heart. We were sons and daughters of a king, and we still are.

Right now, we understand a part of who we during the pre-existence, but not entirely. However, that does not mean it will always be that way. Through study, meditation, and prayer we can uncover who we were and who we can become. When we find our voice we can be truly happy, completely effective, and unstoppable against the powers of the adversary.
Finding yourself can be a frightening experience. We are all imperfect and have stumbled so many times that seeing the magnificent person we were can foster feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. But it's okay to feel that way. We are in fact human, and being imperfect is practically inescapable on our own. But because of our Heavily Father and his atoning sacrifice we can repent of our mistakes, we can become clean, and we can become worthy of royal our lineage.

Heroism

A couple days ago I watched The Princess Bride for something like my 20th time. One of my favorite lines in the movie is Inigo Montoya speaking to Vizzini about his exessive use of the word inconceivable. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
This is very true for many people in our world today. Furthermore, I do not deny the fact I am also guilty of this. Many words have had their meanings confused and warped over the years, eventually earning an entirely new one. There are many words like this, and sadly Heroism is one of them.
Most commonly, heroism means to be a commander legions, conqueror of foes, and a holder of extraordinary power and skill. Does this truly define the nature of heroism?
During my time reading Beyonders: A World Without Heroes, I happened across a very unexpected and profound quote concerning heroism given by The Blind King. He said:

"So many misconceptions surround the notion of heroism. Far too many categorize a hero as a champion on the battlefield, commander of legions, master of rare talent or ability. Granted, there have been heroes who fit those descriptions. But many men of great evil as well."

A while ago, I watched another film in which a criminal was portrayed as the hero. Of course the, notion of him being heroic is absurd, but by common description he is in fact, a hero. He was a champion on the battlefield (Or in other words, he easily crushed the opposition), was a commander of legions (He had a very powerful group followers under his control), and he did possess rare talent and ability. Therefore, this common criminal must be in some sense, heroic.
I have taken time to think about heroism, and what it really is. I feel that I'm ready to take a stab at defining it. Of course, perspectives and interpretations may very, so I will present the following as a mere opinion, You may feel differently, and I respect that. Owning a unique opinion  is one of the most beautiful things about being human.
For me, I believe heroism to be composed of many characteristics. Of them all, I feel the most important feature is the determination to never sway from your moral compass in the face of opposition. Heroism is not one, but all the virtues tested until the critical moment of heated competition between heart and perversion. A criminal is born when he betrays his moral compass and resorts to evil to survive. A hero is born when he follows his heart until the end of time.

Pretending To Be Less

Sometimes, I have seen situations in which people lower their standards, and do things unworthy of their spiritual goodness, all in the name of being accepted by society. In seeking acceptance, they have become so desperate it motivates them to become something twisted and evil. I deeply feel all should know that any relationship which requires you to betray your moral compass, and lower yourself to darker places is a friendship never worth nurturing. While this does not mean you should be stiff necked and place yourself on a pedestal above the rest of society, it simply means you should avoid lasting relationships that can and will shape who you ultimately become. However, this also does not mean you should abandon them either. People like this are in serious need of help.
Matthew 5:16 says:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

By living in accordance to Gods commandments, you will be filled with the light of Christ; an unquenchable light capable of penetrating the most calloused heart, and the loneliest soul. It will be as a spiritual bellow, inspiring light within every man women and child.

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” 

You can help them. You can offer them the path to lasting happiness. Will you?

Life Lessons From Warthunder | Positional Warfare

Today while taking a shower, I was thinking about possible strategies and tactics that be could used in Warthunder. For those of you who know nothing about Warthunder, it's a multiplayer online game dedicated to World War II military aviation, armored vehicles, and fleets. As I thought, it suddenly struck how similar and applicable my strategies were to life.

Warthunder revolves around positional warfare. You can be the best shot, know the opponents weaknesses, and have superior weaponry, but if the enemy has a better angle you will lose nine times out of ten. When engaging an opponent, you should always place yourself in a position that will maximize your strengths and put the enemy at a disadvantage. Allowing
yourself to take a bad position only makes it easier for the adversary to destroy you. This works the same way in every day life. You should always be mindful of where you are and what you are doing.
Constantly we learn and are reminded about how Satans one sole desire is for all men to be miserable like unto himself. We learn about his ways and methods of temptation. Outfitting yourself with this knowledge is comparable to having superior weaponry, being the best shot, and knowing your opponents weaknesses. While this knowledge is important, if you're exposing yourself to unrighteous things and placing yourself in dangerous positions, the amount you know about Satan doesn't really matter. Of course, the difference between right and wrong isn't always black and white and sometimes it's quite hard to differentiate. Fortunately, we have been given the Spirit to help us see the evil behind the smiling eyes. Three Days Grace does a wonderful job of explaining this:

If you can’t stand the way this place is

Take yourself to higher places