Nolan Speaks

Acquiring Spiritual Guidance

Speaks — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:24:19 +0000

Today I spent some time studying a talk given by Elder Richard G. Scott called, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance.” (Read it here.) Elder Scott is one of the 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As part of my study, I wanted to summarize some thoughts.

Elder Scott began with a few questions.

1“What can you do to enhance your capacity to be led to correct decisions in your life?”

2“What are the principles upon which spiritual communication depends?”

3“What are the potential barriers to such communication that you need to avoid?”

Throughout his talk, he discussed the answers to these questions through quotations and experiences of others and also some of his own personal experiences. Here I am adding my thoughts to his.

“Never … arise in the morning without bowing before the Lord and dedicating myself to Him during that day.”
I rarely miss my morning prayers, but many of them are far from effective, I’m sure. My mind is still in the ‘roll out of bed, figure out where I am’ stage when I begin my prayer, which doesn’t help at all. I’ve found myself a few times repeating the same line multiple times. I’m sure God is thinking, “Okay Nolan, I get point; what else?” I think it’s important to specifically dedicate myself to God and His service. Also for me to pray for spiritual guidance, for opportunities to serve, for opportunities to receive personal revelation, and even with an increased spiritual awareness to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. It’s been my personal experience that when I pray with sincerity, especially for the opportunities to serve and increase my testimony, that I find those opportunities throughout the day. And as an added bonus, I typically am happier and less abrasive during the day when I take a sincere moment out of my morning to speak with God.

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Hole in the Sky

Speaks — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:02:34 +0000

Early this morning while the fog hung low and the sun hovered low above the city skyline, it looked as if someone had paper punched the sky right where the sun was. For a minute or two I imagined a whole new world behind the sun, on the other side of the sky, a world accessible for only a few minutes before the sun rose any higher. This morning, if my car had been a rocket ship, I would have crawled through the sun.

Related deliberations:

The World’s Largest Gummy Bear

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Oh, It’s Stinky

Speaks — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:29:05 +0000

The men’s bathroom really stinks here at work. It wasn’t always that way, which makes me think it’s one of the new hires that have come on within the past 3 or 4 months. It literally curls my nose hairs when I open the bathroom door and it’s embarrassing to be in there when someone else comes in, and it makes me want to say, “It wasn’t me!” And at the same time it makes me want to walk into the bathroom and say, “Whoa, is that you?”

Related deliberations:

Tomorrow, a New Life

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The World’s Largest Gummy Bear

Speaks — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:18:09 +0000

At last! One gummy bear to rule them all.

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I am Thankful for…

Speaks — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:36:23 +0000

I am thankful for…

A merciful God.
A wonderful wife who also happens to be the world’s best homemaker.
Wonderful children who smile all day long and make me smile.
The gift of knowledge.
Clothes on my back and shoes on my feet.
Enough bread on the table to keep my family satisfied and happy.
To be a provider.
To love and to be loved.
A new washer and dryer.
Caramel popcorn and cream soda.
A daughter who’s finally learning to use the potty.
Fruit snacks.
The strength to carry on carrying on.
Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Flip flops.
Hot tubs.
Delicious food and two hands to cook it with.
Prayer and personal revelation.
Personal accountability and responsibility.
Spell check.
Fresh bread with butter and honey.
Classical music.
Human expression.
Art & dance.
Nature’s beauty.
Poetry.

Related deliberations:

Presidential Truffles

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Time Management Tips from a MIT Postdoc

Speaks — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:43:35 +0000

I’m always looking for the next big thing; it excites and invigorates me when I find it. Recently, there has been a lot of hype about more effective time management. This isn’t a new concept, but it sure seems to be gaining popularity over the past two years.

A close friend of mine sent me over an online article that he found which if you don’t have time to read a big book about time management, does an excellent job of summing up what it’s all about. It’s a great article and a must read for anyone interested in lifestyle design. Read it here.

Related deliberations:

The World’s Largest Gummy Bear

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Post tags: Lifestyle Design, Time Management

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So Witty #1

Speaks — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:58:48 +0000

I started out with nothing…I still have most of it.

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Tomorrow, a New Life

Speaks — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:18:47 +0000

I don’t have as much control over my life as I like to think. It’s interesting how many times emotions or external factors can play a role in changing my behavior, even when I least expect them or don’t want them to. I’d like to be a person who doesn’t waver or doubt himself or allow a small breeze to bend him clear to the ground. I’d like to be a person who makes the right choices because I want to, not because I should. I want to live each day without regrets. And if I were that person, each day would be brighter, each hour happier, and each minute friendlier. Tomorrow will be that day.

Image courtesy of Sustainability.

Related deliberations:

Hole in the Sky

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Presidential Truffles

Speaks — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:10:20 +0000

I was walking to the other side of the office today with the intention of troubleshooting a few software errors with GB and EL, but when I passed by the president’s (WN’s), office I saw a shiny, metallic blue wrapper peeking out from a bowl on his desk. I quickly glanced to the right and then to the left–nobody was watching. A few steps later my head, like a parrot, was cocked over a bowl of expensive, gourmet chocolate truffles; they were all looking at me, begging me to eat one. I picked one up and rolled it around in my hands; my mind quickly flickered to an image of Gollum admiring his birthday ring and whispering, “My precious.” Even the wrapper’s metallic crinkle turned the corners of my lips up into a tight smile.

I tucked the presidential truffle tightly in my left palm and briskly trekked back to my desk, forgetting my original purpose. There I sat staring at my precious. Delighted with my treasure, I unwrapped it slowly, giddy with anticipation. Milk chocolate laced with a dark chocolate doily-like pattern, my favorite. One bite. Two bites. Three bites, and it was gone.

And now I have heart burn and a sore throat from eating chocolate too early in the morning. Stupid, delicious truffle.

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