Dale Cresap's blog

Do you like to get gifts? Isn’t this more pleasant than having to shop and spend your own money on something for yourself? People who love you can buy for you the same things you can buy for yourself, but I give you gifts that are not available for purchase.

Have you ever heard of someone exceeding their usual level of authority in a crisis to intervene effectively to avoid disaster? They are generally recognized as heroes for being bold and decisive when it was necessary to save the day. In an emergency you can assume the authority you need to get the job done.

Are you determined to never give up if you are right? Do you consider this to be a great virtue? I could have made a strong case for my innocence, but I held my peace when I was on trial for my life.

Do you say that seeing is believing and trust only what you see? Yet you know that the train tracks remain the same distance apart even though they appear to converge in the distance.

Are you involved in politics? Do you have strong opinions about the order and structure of civil government and work to implement your vision? I was in a nation under military occupation by a foreign power and I didn’t make an issue of it.

Have you ever wanted to improve your physical condition and studied diet and fitness programs? To be successful at this it is helpful to have a plan and some approaches are more successful than others.

Do you know the difference between happiness and joy? Happiness is circumstantial and joy is internal. The pursuit of happiness is enshrined in your culture as a basic human instinct. Yet have you ever found it frustrating and unsatisfying?

Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it come the issues of life. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. There is no such thing as an idle word, for all shall be accounted for in the Day of Judgment.

Have you ever heard a parent disciplining a child say, this hurts me more than it hurts you? People do not make the same statement when they withhold forgiveness from others, but in this case it is undeniably true. To be denied forgiveness is a terrible burden, just as losing a case in court.

Paul was eager to obtain his heavenly reward. He had a desire to depart and be with me. Some take this matter into their own hands, but suicides are those who despair of life here, not knowing what lies beyond. If they did they would not take their own lives.