In the beginning...

To be honest, I'm not really sure where to begin, or how. What I do know is that I must begin - better late than never.

As an (hopefully) intelligent human being, I look at all that is going on around me in the world today, and I think, "What is my place? Can my voice make a difference, and if so, how do I make myself heard?"

The answer, of course, is a resounding "I don't know!" And that answer has, for too long, kept me bound, motionless, waiting for further light and knowledge.

However, it has recently been brought to my attention that, as one who has been blessed with the gift of discernment, it is incumbent upon me to stand. To use that gift to benefit those around me. To use whatever meager talent I have been blessed with to express myself in word and thought, to put my voice out there. As to whether that voice will ultimately be heard, be of any value to anyone in the world, the answer remains, "I don't know."

The fact is, there is light and knowledge out there, waiting to be found, but it isn't simply going to come to me. It strikes me that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of action, not reaction. If I want to know more, if I want to be more, it is required of me to act - to reach beyond my comfort zone, this comfortable little space that I live in, to put myself OUT THERE.

I, along with my wife (and, by extension, our five kids), have recently come to the conclusion that all is NOT well in Zion,and that we can no longer just sit back and let life happen to us. If we are to have any hope at all of surviving the massive storm that is obviously headed our way, it is required of us to act. Only in action do we have any hope of securing our survival, dare I say our salvation.

So, therefore, this blog. What form it will ultimately take?...I don't know. I don't really intend for it to be a journal of my day-to-day or week-to-week activities, although I may use a part of it for that. I guess for now I will use it as a place to record my observations on what I see in the world, as they relate to my studies and strivings in this journey we are beginning. How is a blog going to lead to our salvation?...I don't know. What I do know is that the gifts I have been given and the promptings of the spirit seem to be pointing me in this direction. Will anybody listen?...You guessed it - I don't know. I have a suspicion (a fear?) that this will be, more than anything, a place for me to work out my ideas and conclusions as I seek for that further light and knowledge which I desire. It is my hope that the things I write here will be of use to someone, but if not, no matter. I am doing what I feel is right, and at the very least, it will be of use to me and my house.