Deception - Not Always

Sometimes I think we might feel like others are dishonest with us,

or that they only want to take advantage of us.

In this clip from the Karate Kid, Daniel is complaining because all he has done is 'chores' for Mr. Miyagi.  What Daniel doesn't realize is that Mr. Miyagi has been building 'Muscle Memory' for his Karate training.

Things are not always as they seem.

Sometimes God does the same thing with us as He tries to help us learn the Gospel.  We often think that 'LIFE' is just not fair.  Which is not exactly true.

"Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of man,

for the judgments of God are always just,

but the judgments of man are not always just."

-- Mosiah 29:12

God will Judge all men with a Just Judgementat the last day.

Everyone will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Most of the time when something 'unfair' happens to us, we start thinking that something has gone wrong.

If we step back and look at things from a different perspective, we can often see that it might be completely what should have happened.  I have often heard people talk about 20/20 hindsight, (when I was little I thought that meant some people had eyes in the back of their head), and this is what I intend to point out in this video clip.

Daniel didn't see the true meaning of things as he was sanding the floor, waxing the cars, painting the house, or painting the fence.  Yet after a simple and brief explanation from Mr. Miyagi, he understood exactly what each of those tasks was for. 

As we pass through life, I promise everything happens for a reason.  If we seek first to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Follow His Commandments, we can then learn to accept God's timing.  We will be closer to Him, and we will understand those things that He wants us to learn.

Earthbending - A Steadfast Ability

"And Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Blessed art thou, 

Simon Bar-jona: 

for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, 

but my Father which is in heaven.  

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, 

and upon this rock I will build my church; 

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

-- Matthew 16:17-18

Here Christ is teaching Simon, to whom He gives the name of Peter which means 'small stone', and tells him that Christ's church will be built upon the 'rock of revelation'.  Revelation is only possible when you are listening to the Spirit of the Lord.  When the timing is right, the Spirit will whisper what to do, how to do it, where to go, what to say, who to talk to, as well as give advance warnings.

Earthbending demands a special connection with the earth that is achievable with neutral jing, doing nothing but waiting and listening until the right moment to strike.  By waiting and listening you can sense where things are, and when someone else who might be a threat is near by.

Sometimes however even when the Spirit does speak to us we don't listen.  Either we are too distracted by things of the world, or we hear Him and then Choose not to obey.  If we are going to have the Spirit we need to be willing to act on what He tells us to do.

For good Earthbending you must be solid like a 'rock'.  Meaning you don't just move the rocks, sometimes you let the rocks move you.  If you can bind yourself to the Earth and accept what the stones intend to do, it makes them a little more willing to act under your direction.

"Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; 

nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable 

in keeping the commandments of God, 

and they bore with patience 

the persecution which was heaped upon them."

-- Alma 1:25

"No matter how the wind howls, the Mountain cannot bow to it." -- Disney's Mulan

So practice being immovable like a rock, and sooner or later the rocks will move for you.  The Spirit will tell you what you need to know, but the more willing you are to listen and then follow His instructions, the more willing He is to tell you about stuff.

Fire Bending - It's a Talent

"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one;

to every man according to his ability"

-- Matthew 25:15

I am a Fire Bender. 

Just in case any of you are unfamiliar with what that actually means, I shall try to explain.  Avatar The Last Airbender is a cartoon based in a world where people can manipulate, or Bend, the four elements of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.  Each nation has individuals that can Bend that specific element, but the Avatar can Bend all four elements. 

Airbending is the aerokinetic ability to control and manipulate currents of air.

Waterbending is the hydrokinetic ability to control water, as well as its many forms.

Earthbending is the geokinetic ability to manipulate earth and rock, in all its various forms.

However I said that I was a FireBender.

Firebending is the pyrokinetic ability to create and control fire.

Fire is the element of power, consisting of overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires.  Firebending is the most dangerous of the four Bending elements.  Firebending represents energy and life, not rage and anger. 

Fire is also a symbol of Power.  The Holy Ghost is represented as a Baptism of Fire, being the Power that cleanses your Spirit.

"Then he called his twelve disciples together,

and gave them power and authority

over all devils, and to cure diseases."

-- Luke 9:1

" I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:

but he that cometh after me is mightier than I,

whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:

he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

-- Matthew 3:11

Firebenders use their internal body heat as a source of their bending.  Firebending power comes not from physical size nor strength, but rather from the very control of one's breath.  In order to Firebend properly, one must have "inner fire", or a drive and purpose in what they do.

So you are probably wondering, How does someone learn to Firebend?  Most people learn from their father or other close family member.  Some learn from an instructor.  Others learn from ancient Firebending Scrolls.


This is a Firebending Scroll.

These Firebending Scrolls are like the Scriptures.  They are a record of how to Firebend, written by someone who learned from a Dragon, the original Firebenders.  Much like the Prophets and Apostles writting about their interaction with God.



These are two dragons, Firebending Masters, teaching Zuko and Aang.



Learning from a Master helps us to understand exactly what you should use your Bending for, and increases our abilities.  Much like the Apostles learning from Christ.

By reading the Scriptures, and praying to our Heavenly Father, we can each find how we should be using our own Bending element to better serve others.  We have been given talents, and we need to use those talents or they will be taken from us. (Matthew 25:25-28)

Read the Scriptures and learn of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Then Pray and let the Master teach you how to use that knowledge in helping others.

Firebending is one of those things that I enjoy, and so I do the best I can in warming up others on a cold day.