Haka

I was first introduced to this tribal war dance when I was at BYU in Provo, UT.  My roommate was from New Zealand and one afternoon he showed us this thing called the Haka.  The New Zealand All-blacks rugby team performs this ritual before every game.  I found a video on youtube that shows a Haka war chant-off between New Zealand and Tonga.  And here's another cool one against Ireland.  It's a different style from what I'm familiar with, but I love the faces and movements.

When I was on the BYU Folk Dance Team (not the premiere group, but one of the "lesser" groups), we learned the Haka during one of our recreational outings.  It was quite fun to learn.  Since then I've learned the war chant again for an impromptu dance in North Carolina a couple of years ago.

So why am I bringing it up today?  That's because I'm leaning it again for a Luau that my church is having in March. A sister missionary from Samoa (or of Samoan decent) is teaching us the dance.  The boys and men are learning the dance.  Quite the scene so far.

So I'm not necessarily thankful for the actual Haka dance, I am thankful  that we can bring different cultures from around the world into our lives.  It's such a neat way to respect and pay homage to the diversity and how in a way in brings us together.

Being Filipino, and a first generation American, I'm very familiar with bringing our culture here...especially when it comes to food.  Let me see, I can't count how many times people have asked for Lumpia and Pancit.  I know how to make Lumpia now, but please go to the local Asian store so that you can purchase your own pre-made Filipino eggrolls there. Just kidding.  I've made it for a few select people, and I can make it for you too.

Super Chinese Buffets

The highlight of my day?  Lunch with a good friend of mine.  I chose to eat at an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant, the one by my church.

It's a smorgasbord of "fast-food" Chinese, Mongolian BBQ, sushi, and desserts.  And boy was I in the mood for sushi.

I found a good article that gives tips on how to eat at a Chinese buffet restaurant.  It's pretty spot-on and I've used some of the tips there.

A cheap way to fill up on some Chinese favorites.  Thanks for a filling and satisfying lunch.

Facebook

Years ago, I set up a profile with Bebo, and slowly started to link friends to it, just so that I can have this online address book.  Bebo still has a testimonial of mine that I posted years ago.  You can view it here.

I thought that Bebo was going to be the defacto site for keeping in touch with people.  I can't remember if or when MySpace started, but I never liked the interface.

Then came along Facebook...and it changed my world...and I'm sure it's changed yours as well.  I'm not going to detail the amazing/annoying/funny things that it can do, because I'm sure you've gone through the same evolution as you participate (or maybe not) in this social network.  But here are a few observations through the years.

• People do not like change.  Whenever Facebook decides to change it's interface or feature, statuses are filled with complaints, and threats of leaving Facebook...and then after the initial shock subsides, the same people are still on it.  The only thing constant in life is change.   Embrace it. Live it. Love it.
• Deep down inside, people are funny, very funny.  I love how that part of a person's personality becomes very apparent on Facebook.  Sometimes I like them more there than I really do in person, but hey.  I'm glad I get to connect with people that way.
• You are sometimes better friends on Facebook then in real life.
• Facebook has created new social Faux Pas.  Tagging friends on hideous pictures.  Not responding to status updates.  Stalking your boyfriend/girlfriend to see if they're commenting on "the perceived competition's" page.  Relationship statuses. Not officially friends unless your friends on Facebook.  South Park came up with an awesome segment on Facebook.  Watch it here.

I am thankful for Facebook, because of the ease of connectivity with friends, events, groups, pictures, etc.  Practically everything.  

Seventy

Today at church we were privileged  to have a Seventy visit with us because his grand daughter was being blessed today during church service.  One of the neat side effects was that we were taught by him in a special class after Sunday School.

I was just amazed at the wealth of knowledge he has of the Gospel, his command of the scriptures, and how captivating he was as he shared eternal truths with so much plainness and with ease.  I think I understood more about the Gospel and it's application in those 45 minutes of instruction than I have this past month of Church services and self study.  It was thoroughly amazing.

I'll share some things shortly....

Days Off (Saturday February 4)

Today I was grateful to not think about work today.  And really not think about anything.  Just a nice day to sleep in, to play with friends, to watch TV, to play games.  It was a nice way to recharge for the following week.

My weekends aren't necessarily like this, but I'll take it.

The Gift of Choice, Part 2

President Obama decided to invoke Christian principles to justify his reason to tax the rich.  There was an article by CNNMoney that was titled "Obama: Jesus would back my tax-the-rich policy".

In the article he says the following (quoting from the Gospel of Luke) "For me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required".  From the surface, it seems like  Jesus would be be saying that if you own much, you should give much, hence he would be in support of Obama's tax-the-rich policy.

But the catch is Jesus is teaching to individuals, and it's the individual that must choose for themselves, being accountable to God for their choices.  If government then enforces the Christian principle, then the individual cannot be accountable to God, but to man, which is wrong.  

I do want to let you know that I was livid at how much President Obama didn't understand free agency or free will, that I posted a response on Facebook to show my displeasure.  I received  a wealth of commentary that followed, all of which were very spot-on with how the Gospel is an individual choice out of love God, and how the government should really be protecting the rights of the individual to choose, instead of taking away, like the Adversary would like.

Here's is the edited dialogue from Facebook.  

Vladimir's status: "For me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required," Obama said, quoting the Gospel of Luke. 

But what Obama neglects to understand, is that following Jesus's teachings is an "individual" choice, and when government chooses for you, you lose your ability to choose for yourself.

Comments:

Rebecca - I didnt know he was a Christian, obviously he doesnt get that it is God who gives and requires, or he like the emperors if Rome who thought if themselves as gods ...

Steve - Bam! Vlad, you nailed it. I hadn't heard about that quote, thanks for sharing. Evoking scripture to justify actions of the state against individuals. I thought only imperialistic right-wingers did stuff like that.

Allan - If tax policy is to be governed by such principles, we should look to the ancient Church. Perhaps what Obama really wants to do is institute something like the United Order. How does that coincide with you Communist Conspiracy Theory?

Vladimir - Oh, Allan. Always creating a ruccous, but you do provide a very important point to ponder.

And to provide some background here, Allan is LDS. We served in the same mission, and now he is an accomplished attorney. His role on facebook is to play devil's advocate to ensure that we are solid in our position.

The United Order was an attempt for society to live the Law of Consecration, which on surface looks like Communism. But the difference is, the Law of Consecration is a commandment given by God, in which the individual still has a choice to live it. 

Communism is a law given by man, and is enforced, where the individual has no choice (and even punished if not followed). 

As one of my friends shared with me, "One is the essence of us CHOOSING to turn our will, and give everything we have over to God. The other is men forcefully TAKING all we have with or without our consent."

Allan - Truly, though, it seems to me that using secular authority to implement ecclesiastical principles is anathema to the most basic power given of God to Man, agency. GIVING of our substance is an eternal principle of love of God and of man. The TAKING of our substance, however, is an eternal principle of the Adversary, who wishes also to take that most basic power. To depart from principle and look to application, here is a brief but powerful statement of our (potential) leaders' adherence to Christian principles in terms of charitable contributions: 

ROMNEY 16% of total income

NEWT 2.9% of total income

OBAMA 1.0% of total income

BIDEN 369 dollars of income

I'm thankful for my friends that understand the difference between Choosing God, and Government Taking.

Motivational and Development Books

I use to be a cynic about these books.  Through the years, I've read a few of them but they either didn't seem to work, or I felt that the techniques were beyond my experience level (ie it didn't pertain to me).

But within the past few years, I've began to read some of them and they seem to have some value now. What changed?  Well, I'm am more ambitious with my life's goals...and I started to be more pro-active in implementing what I learn.  And yes, I've grown up a little as well and for some reason the topics are now important to me.

Currently I'm reading a book entitled "How To Succeed With People" by Stephen R Covey, author of the famous "7 Habits..." book.  By the way, I read that book the summer before I went to grad school at BYU back in 1999.  At that time, I didn't feel the book was of any value.  Fast forward to 2012..I've recently skimmed through a few chapters and boy does the book read a lot differently now.  Weird huh?  

But back to the current book.  Listen to the title "How To Succeed With People"...my cynical side would have thought "Oh this is a book to manipulate people into doing things you want them to do".  I know, pretty deceptive.  But in actuality, the suggestions in the book come from a perspective of "I genuinely care about myself, my family, my co-workers, and everyone that I interact with.  How can I strengthen those relationships?"  This particular book makes references to scriptures and how the principles are govern by a higher being, by God.  I would like to say that this book is an application of the Scriptures in the modern day society, and the only reason I say modern is really because we are living in it, not that the principles would be different from past era's.  Human behavior is the same, no matter the time frame.

I am thankful for these kinds of books.  They really have helped me recently.  I've "bought into them" so to speak.

My goal is to read at least six (6) development books this year.  I am planning to go back and reread the "7 Habits..." book again, because I have a clearer vision of how it will affect my life.  

Looking forward to accomplishing that goal.