teaching.

Sunday school is one of my favorite parts of church. You go into class, learn from the Bible or the Book of Mormon and hear different life examples from the teacher or fellow students. Maybe even a game or visual representation is involved. There's also the chance that it's simply hearing the teacher speak or everyone reads out of the manual. These are not bad ways that a Sunday school class can be held (except for reading out of the manual, because it can be awfully boring). But today, during my own Sunday school class, I was amazed at how much my teacher lacked to begin class on any good note. I'm not sure if he was able to redeem himself later on because I walked out of the classroom before he even began teaching.

This is the second time I have seen this particular Sunday school teacher begin a class like this. He walks in and calms the class down. He says, "I haven't been here for a while, so I don't know what lesson we're on. But apparently it's Chapter 15." Then he explains, "I'm not going to use the pulpit because I hate speaking, so today is going to be a lot of discussion. I want to hear from you guys." Then finally, to "set up" his "lesson", he asks us to "think of the most worldly possession you want in your life."

That was when I walked out.

Like I said before, this was the second time I heard this particular teacher start a class off this way. The last time it happened must have been a month and a half ago, and I've tried to avoid the teacher since. I didn't choose to go into his class this week. I entered a room with no teacher, and he walked in after. I didn't walk out of the class the first time he made this wonderful introduction, but I probably should have. I talked to my parents about it at home afterwards and they were just as appalled as I was.

This is in no way attacking this teacher's own beliefs or lifestyle. I'm not in any position to judge who he is outside of church, what his dreams are or any of that, because I honestly don't have any clue. I'm not contending against any doctrine or function of the church, either. All I want to point out is how wrong this sort of teaching process is and how it can be done better. I want so badly to ask the guy if he ever served a mission because there are such basic teaching principles that any missionary pick up.

"I haven't been here for a while, so I don't know what lesson we're on." It's ok to not come to church completely prepared for a lesson. You know how many times, as a missionary, I was asked to bear my testimony on the spot, or teach a Sunday school lesson to a dozen people without writing a single note? It happens. And at that point, you can only rely on the Spirit to help you, which it does. But you don't have to go announcing to the world that you are totally unprepared and that the next hour is going to be a bumpy ride of unorganized thoughts. If you appear to know what you're doing, your audience will think you know what you're doing. I'm not saying it's a game of "fake it 'til you make it". I know for myself that anyone that wants to teach the gospel in a spur-of-the-moment situation will be given divine power to do so.

Also, didn't Elder Holland say in a recent conference talk how we shouldn't begin our self-evaluations by pointing the bad things out first? He says "that's like stuffing a turkey through the beak". That blunt phrase (and humorous imagery) really hit me when I first heard it, and I've tried to keep a strong attitude in everything I strive to do, coupled with a meek heart that knows I have many things to improve.

"I'm not going to use the pulpit because I hate speaking, so today is going to be a lot of discussion." Discussion is not bad. The fact that he hates speaking is not bad, either. The church is infamous for calling people to challenging positions, and I'm certain that being a teacher is a challenge for this guy. But does everyone need to know that a) he is in an extremely uncomfortable position for himself and b) he just threw the entire teaching job onto our own backs, and he's expecting us to bear his burden? That phrase alone told me that he didn't care to be there, didn't care what was said, and just expected the Spirit to be found within someone's tear-jerking story at some point. Again, I look in the direction of Elder Holland's message, along with the famous line from Singin' in the Rain, "Dignity. Always dignity."

I'm pretty sure that he was getting a joke out there or something in an attempt to loosen up the class and break the ice, but quite the opposite effect happened. Other than the two infamous teaching sessions, I've sat in his classes a few other times before. There was absolutely no participation from his audience. He asked the class to recount the story of Moses, and I was the only person telling the story (for my personal memory, I want to mention his version of the story of Moses came from the Dreamworks film The Prince of Egypt, which is flawed in multiple ways from the Biblical account). Now, I have a habit it a classroom that I don't like to answer a teacher's question twice in a row so that others may participate and I won't like like a teacher's pet. After I'd answer his question, the next question would be followed by a really awkward silence amongst the ten people sitting there. Anyhow, I hope this illustrates just how uninvolved his teaching audience is even though he makes attempts to break the ice with his distrusting comments at the beginning of class.

"I want you to think of the most worldly possession you want in your life." I think I'm more amazed that he pulled this card in the introduction of another one of his lessons altogether. In fact, it was even worse the first time because it was precluded with reading a chapter out of the Old Testament. Some good, solid, God-driven miracles were happening in that chapter. Then his follow-up question to the chapter was, "what is your favorite movie?" Ok, so it's not the same question, per se, but you'll agree with me that it's basically saying, "now think of something really worldly."

The Spirit was gone in that instant. What is everyone thinking about in the classroom at that moment? Not the gospel. Not about why they're at church, or how they can become more Christlike. With some context, that question can be better, like, "What are some changes we can make in our lives? Are there any movies in our homes we should probably get rid of?" Bam. Implication of Christlike change. "There are some real distractions out in the world today. What are some of the worldly possessions you really desire? What would be something better to invest in or spend more time towards?" You see how a question next to the question can change its meaning so much? But no, this teacher will address the contrast of the two ideas in the middle or towards the end of the lesson, because it keeps you hooked, right? Wrong. It makes you think of worldly things the whole time you sit there as the teacher goes on to read more out of the manual.

*Dismounts soap box* Like I said in the beginning, I don't want to come off as attacking the church or this particular teacher. What I'm trying to address is the teaching method itself, because anyone can make these mistakes. I'm sure I've made them. So I'm not coming away from this thinking, "Man, bishop sure screwed up calling this idiot," because that's God's call. And I'm certain God has a purpose for this man in his calling. What I obtain from this is learning how to be a better teacher. To start off a teaching moment confident, regardless of how prepared you are. To establish that the teacher may guide the class, but everyone can learn from everyone in a respectful way. And last, to always stay on the spiritual side of things and teach to change. Changing is the most important part of this life, and we all have to help each other do it.

I really want to say something to this teacher. I want to help him see what he can do better, but I don't think I have the courage to (or the stature. This guy is one burly dude). I'm afraid, though, that if nothing is done, then nothing will change, and these lessons will become potentially hurtful to other people like they have been to me. That's mostly how I feel. I feel scared. Scared that things won't change.

spiral.

Today, I'm going to combine 3 things that struggle against each other all the time: anime, philosophy and religion.

Don't worry. I mostly know what I'm doing.

There is a show, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (which I do not suggest to anyone under the age of 16. The show might have some cool insight, but it's still the Japanese being silly Japanese), that was written with a certain philosophical idea in mind. Once I knew what this idea was, I decided to research the idea even further, and I have come out of it with not only existential knowledge, but religious insight as well. I wish to write today about Spiral Dynamics.

leek.

Been a while since I posted something. Work and school have kept me busy. But this time, I actually have something to talk about, instead of life's goings on.

Did you know the world has a virtual pop idol? It's a crazy thought, something I didn't expect to happen until maybe 2020, but we have one. Right now. In fact, we have more than one pop idol. We have an entire "family" of them.

From left to right: Meiko, Kaito, Megurine Luka, Hastune Miku, Gakupo, Kagamine Rin, Kagaine Len

scale.

Just a quick thought I've wanted to put down somewhere.

I work at the Trafalga in Orem. I say that again because people keep asking me where I work, and it's getting annoying. Anyway, as I work there, I've noticed a great amount of people coming and going, all on different levels of the maturity spectrum. It goes something like this:

the.

Yesterday in my humanities course, we began discussing about Japanese art forms. To begin, we first talked about how Japan was basically a replication of China in every political way. And then Buddhism happened. Zen Buddhism, in fact. In 849 AD, Japan broke off from China, and the new Zen Buddhist religion mixed in with the current Japanese Shinto religion (worship of ancestors). Here are the 7 dominating characteristics of Zen Buddhism:

muddled.

Today, I have so many different thoughts that I want to convey all at the same time. This could easily be done by creating several individual posts, since each thought is so individual from the other, but that could create some confusion. Instead, I'll split this single post into several sections. That should make it work out.

called.

Now that I know where I'm finally going for my mission (Little Rock, Arkansas, for those who didn't get the memo), I'll let you guys know which places I did NOT want to serve in. It's safe now, since no jinxing can occur.

rubber.

Gum.

Gum is stupid.

****.

Swearing.
As Mormons, we are commanded not to swear, or take the name of God in vain. But me, I don't swear – simply because it's such an ugly thing to do, not just to obey the words of the Lord. My reasons go far beyond that of just "obeying the commandments".

untitled.

Right now, as I type, my family is talking about how men nowadays are becoming less and less capable of leading successful lives in many senses. From what general authorities said in today's and yesterday's General Conference, the amount of men looking for marriage is terribly low. On top of that, the people obtaining college degrees are 55% women. More and more families are relying on the woman to provide for the family.

venus.

I wanted to make this blog post about girls. How to respect them, how valuable they are...things like that. I have a very defined appreciation for them, and have strict codes on how to treat them the best way I can.

drowning.

My life = teh suck.

My dad called me after sacrament meeting today. The bishop of my home ward has yet to turn in my mission papers. I thought he did 2 weeks ago, and have been waiting ever since. Apparently, there are a few more steps in this whole "mission equation" I have to fulfill. And the bishop didn't say ANYTHING until my dad talked to him today.

townsville.

I've had 3 dreams that included the Powerpuff girls in my life.

Best opening to a blog ever. And yes, this blog will go into detail about that. But for now, a little life update. Mission papers are in (I think. I gotta call my bishop to make sure) so I'm sitting around, actually waiting instead of just being a slacker. I picked up Final Fantasy IX, and I'm currently halfway through Disc 2. Now that my PSP is hacked, I have access to many fun games I've wanted to try (or just found out about), like wipEout Pulse and Patapon 2. Both very fun games.

holly.

Alexis gave me a jar.
The jar was filled with journal prompt ideas.
I took a sixth journal prompt idea.
This is what the journal prompt idea said:

"What is your favorite holiday? Why?"

endearment.

Alexis gave me a jar.
The jar was filled with journal prompt ideas.
I took a fifth journal prompt idea.
This is what the journal prompt idea said:

"What songs have a special meaning to you? Why?"

myself.

Alexis gave me a jar.
The jar was filled with journal prompt ideas.
I took a fourth journal prompt idea.
This is what the journal prompt idea said:

"Where is your safe haven?"

star.

Alexis gave me a jar.
The jar was filled with journal prompt ideas.
I took a third journal prompt idea.
This is what the journal prompt idea said:

"Do you believe in the fact that horoscopes, star signs, tarot cards and the like have 'power' of sorts, or is it coincidental to you? Why?"

one.

Alexis gave me a jar.
The jar was filled with journal prompt ideas.
I took a journal prompt idea.
This is what the journal prompt idea said:

"What phobias do you have? Why?"

beacon.

I came home from church early today.

I've lived in Utah for 7 7/12 years now. It was a hard move for my whole family; we had lived in California since most of the family was born, and leaving California, let alone our neighborhood and ward we were moving from, was very emotional.

yarn.

Sorry, guys. I've been trying to make this a weekly diddy, but I haven't really had much to talk about. Let's see what I can do.

Didn't you hear? The phrase "It's on like Donkey Kong" was trademarked by Nintendo. So now we oughta say, "It's on like Donkey Kong®", however you'd say that...