Mario Kart: the Single Green Shell

 Wouldn't you know it, the next item from the question box is the single green shell (oh boy oh boy!).  This creative little weapon can either be fired forward or backward, depending on where your foe lies.  Also, much like the single banana peel we talked of previously, it can be held behind you for protection.  When fired, the green shell travels in a straight path.  It can bounce off walls and will ricochet back in another straight path (so if you are a pro at geometry, you know how to work this item).  When this item hits an opponent, kart and driver go a-tumblin'.  

 The Single Green Shell is comparable to having a happy demeanor (promise, this will make sense momentarily).  Satan's big goal in his terrible little existence is "1 ...that all men might be miserable like unto himself."  Lame right?  But, we can make his kart go tumbling.  Through our trials, it becomes easy to be depressed, sad, angry, or hurt.  It's during these times that a happy little primary song jumps into my head.  It's called "I Can Be Happy" (with actions, it is even better!).

If you chance to meet a frown,

Do not let it stay.
Quickly turn it upside down
And smile that frown away.

No one likes a frowning face.

Change it for a smile.

Make the world a better place
By smiling all the while.



"Don't get mad, get glad!"  When we are given a trial, the best thing we can do is be optimistic and endure it well.  Fire into it with a good attitude and come out with just as much enthusiasm as before; like the green shells, they hit a wall and come back off straight as an arrow.  Do you know how frustrated Satan gets when we are happy through our trials?  Honestly, he is TICKED!  I remember the first time I heard someone say they were grateful for their trials.  I thought "what?!?!  Seriously?"  I got a little annoyed and thought "whatever, that's a lie."  I have since seen the wisdom in that statement, but think of how Satan must feel.  Take my silly confused thoughts and amplify them tenfold.


Try to have a happy demeanor about you all the time.  Through good and bad.  Bounce in and out of your trials with a smile on your face, it will be the best way of kicking Satan right in the face (so to speak).

Mario Kart: the Single Banana Peel

After the "Avatar" series, I was a bit stumped as to where to go from there.  But the nerd in me found another gospel tie within a game that has forever changed my life.  Mario Kart!  No matter which version, which system, or the size of the screen, I love love love Nintendo's Mario Kart!  As I discussed this blog idea with a fellow missionary, we both came to the agreement that the best version of Mario Kart is Mario Kart 64.  The first introduction to four player Mario racing and an increase of items to use against your foe, making it epic!

This series is dedicated to the items.  What are they used for?  What is the spiritual connection for each of them?  So, to kick this off, we will talk about the single banana peel.

Avatar: Waterbending

 It's here!  The final chapter of the Avatar: the Last Airbender Series!  And yes, I had to end with Waterbending.  It's my favorite.

Waterbending is the ability to manipulate water in all it's many forms.  From regular old H2O to plants, clouds, sweat (kinda gross), mud, blood (disturbing and sinister), and basically any liquid you could imagine.  Waterbending can also manipulate external thermal energy and can be used to heal.  The ability is very dependant on the amount of water available, thus many Waterbenders cary water for bending with them on long journeys.

Water is the element of change.  Their fighting style being very flowing and graceful to mirror that of water's movements.  It features slow movements and elegant forms.  They deal with the flow of energy by letting their defense become their offense.  It's defense into powerful attacks and counters.  They do this by turning their opponenets' own forces against them.  That is where it's strength lies.  Instead of just stopping the attack or deflecting it, Waterbenders defensive moves focus on control.  The slow movements, elegant turns, and spins return the momentum of the opponent's attacks with blasts of water.  Waterbenders wait and then turn their target's attacks against them.

Internal life energy chi is what gives a Waterbender their power, connecting it to their emotional state.  This can be a problem if a beginning Waterbender loses their temper.  The bending is intensified, but control is lost.  Ergo, gaining a balance over ones emotions is essential.

Okay, not only is this the coolest style (seriously, my mind is made up), but I love the whole basis of it.  Defense into a powerful offense.  Turning the enemies attacks against themselves.  Not only is that "so totally WICKED!", but it's how I like to look at life.

Satan, the bugger, loves to throw us all sorts of attacks.  He never stops and it never ceases to amaze me at how many tricks he has up his sleeve.  One smart cookie.  But, we can turn his attacks against him.

1"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

 2  "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

Whoa ho ho!  Read it again, just to fully grasp the concept (and pure awesomeness of the verses).  All of the trials, sorrows, and everything we face can be for our benefit.  We will beat all our "foe."  Satan's attacks and efforts can be converted into means of strengthening ourselves.  Making his attacks, in a sense, our own.  For example, Satan may tell you not to worry about reading your scriptures.  You don't have to do that every day.  But, as he tells you that, you can turn it into a push to read them.  And, as we all know, reading your scriptures builds up your spiritual strength and helps you fight temptation.

Let us all learn to take the attacks of Satan and use them for our benefit.  Don't let him win the battle.  Keep up your defenses and use his attacks.  We can, and will, triumph!  Be a Waterbender!

No More Slugs!

If you are at all disturbed by bugs or slimy type things, I advize you to read another post.  Actually... you should probably still read this one.  Just don't look at the pictures.

Woodland doesn't seem like that long ago, but I guess it was.  One of the awesome things about serving in Woodland (out of the thousands) was the house we lived in.  Yes, we had a house.  All to ourselves.  It was quaint and had all sorts of fun little what-nots around every turn.  Let's just say, when I first got there, all I could think was "NO WAY?!?!"  It seemed just perfect, up until the day our little "friend" came to visit.

Blessings and Curve Balls

Yet again, I learned my lesson that I should never say never.  Yes, I know.  Should have learned by now.  But no one is perfect.  Friday evening my companion and I were looking over our week to see how we were doing with our goals.  To our complete thrill we were doing amazing!  Best week yet!  We talked about how the Lord was blessing us and we needed to continue to be worthy of His blessings.

Saturday morning came along and I just wasn't feeling well.  Stomach was advising me to not eat anything that morning.  So, I didn't and we went over to go online then teach an amazing lesson.  After our lesson we went home for lunch and decided to take it easy for a bit to see if my body might change it's mind and turn it's frown upside-down.  It never reached top notch, but I was able to eat some Cheerios and felt like going to our dinner appointment would be okay.

Barely ate a thing at dinner.  The food was amazing, just had no desire to eat.  After dinner it was time for our spiritual thought.  The thought was going well and we were almost done when my body started shutting down.  I began to feel dizzy and extremely nauseous.  Asked where the bathroom was and made it to about the kitchen when the delicious food began to exit the wrong way.  I felt sooo bad, but not as bad as I felt a little while later.

The next thing I knew I was on the floor with people yelling "call 911", not the thing you want to wake up hearing.  Again, I passed out and woke up in a different spot.  This time in a chair.  Then one more time of waking up in another spot.  This one was on the couch.  And, if that wasn't enough, woke up another time with the paramedics asking me all their dandy questions.  They asked if I would be able to walk to the gurney, my reply was "yes, I think."  As you can guess, I was wrong.  The next step was carrying me to the gurney and driving me to the hospital.

Now, things really weren't that serious.  It was only the flu.  But, having a missionary pass out multiple times in your house just isn't a comforting experience.  After 4 hours of being in a hospital and being poked and prodded, they released me to go home.  I slept like a log!  And a very comfortable log at that.  The next day I took it easy and rested while my companion went out and worked with some of the members here.

Our week ended with us reaching almost all of our goals!  Even with the curve ball satan threw at us.  Sometimes, it is the times when we are doing the most good that we receive even greater trials.  Satan doesn't want us to succeed.  He wants us to be miserable and to suffer like him.  The more good we do, the more angry and miserable he is.  If we can push past the sad and hard times, we win.  We were sent here to succeed, not to fail.  Be a winner and keep pressing forward with faith.  Don't let satan rain on your success.