Doctrinal Essays

I've noticed a pattern in any kind of frustration that I've ever experienced. It's an amazing discovery because when patterns are found in problems it is easier to find solutions for them - and I believe I have a solution to frustration or anxiety of any kind. It comes from an understanding of our hearts, minds, and will power. My eight year old came home one day from school with a book about idioms. He died laughing as he read the text and looked at the artists’ literal interpretation of the idioms contained in the book. You might imagine the literal cartoons that would go along with figurative expressions like ‘I laughed my heart out’, or ‘keep your eye on the ball’. Everyone in the family thought the book was very entertaining, and we still find that the images come back to our minds when we hear certain idioms. But I have since come to recognize the frequent use of idioms in American vernacular and now appreciate them for more than their entertainment value. Idioms ...

A few years ago I was on a business trip in San Diego. One evening I enjoyed sightseeing with some colleagues which required a bus to get to our next destination. The bus made a stop after a few minutes and a new round of people came on and went off the bus. One of the new passengers was a man in his forties who sat just across the aisle one or two rows in front of me. I couldn't help but notice his heavily lined face and uncontrolled smile, but it wasn't the kind of smile that brought warm fuzzies and cheer. It was a smile he was seemingly not aware of and intensified as woman walked past him, on or off the bus. I could tell whatever was going on in his mind had gained control over his external body in the form of a perverse smile. He also seemed to be jabbering undiscernibly under his breath. It didn't take long to realize this man was likely a lunatic by worldly standards. His lack of control gained my pity. Experiences like that are probably daily occurrences for most p...