I hit 10,000 page reviews today...having put up 98 posts. Is there any way to send out my blog to more people?  Recommendations to sparky7264@gmail.com

When we think of the true and most obvious needs of our communities and the world today I see one thing that can make a huge difference if we would just do it.  Sometimes I think we are just unsure about HOW to do it--and that is to strengthen our families. A "family" can be defined as mother, father, and children...or mother and children, or father and children, or a senior couple whose children are gone from home...or it can be one person...or friends who get together to strengthen one another...Here is one very interesting recommendation for strengthening families from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints----it is called FAMILY HOME EVENING.

What is it?  In 1915 the First Presidency of the Church announced that the members of the Church would be encouraged to meet together in families once a week (the day was formalized to Monday in 1970) to be together, enjoy each other, and  teach and learn the principles of the Gospel of Christ together.  So "the Mormons" (as they are nicknamed)  have been doing that since then.

Being a retired  psychologist I think that decision by the Church in 1915 (way ahead of the times--"worries" about families did not become a serious concern until many years later) was brilliant.  IF FAMILIES WILL GET TOGETHER ONCE A WEEK ON MONDAY EVENING (or choose another evening if for some reason Monday does not work for you)...to talk together, hold family councils to solve problems together, learn about things of common interest together, learn the Gospel together...and have fun together (throwing in some treats might help!) then I think ANY family can strengthen itself.
This means we are not waiting for the schools or the community or some other external source to strengthen our children and our families for us (even though we appreciate all the help we can get!)--WE are willing to do it. And when parents show their children the family matters to them by having FAMILY HOME EVENING---that sends a strong message to the children that hopefully they will follow when they are parents in the future.

FAMILY HOME EVENING--get together, play, have fun, learn, encourage, solve problems together, strengthen the family..make the family NUMBER ONE in your overall value system.

A very good idea. Try it.  Have a nice day. Jim MacArthur

I was watching the news on TV the other night and saw one story after another about murder, accidents, robberies and many other troublesome aspects of our lives.
I know why they are there---we want to see them.  Maybe it makes us feel better to NOT be featured in such news events...we feel more OK by watching them and privately saying "I am glad I am not there.."  Just a guess...not sure.

But today I want to talk about GOODNESS.  Why do we not see a series of news stories about acts of goodness that occur in our communities?  Would they not inspire us to be better and be the authors of more goodness?
Maybe we are just interested in COMFORT rather than in GOODNESS?

I read this quote in a book the other day (in A Dictionary of Thought by Runes)..........

"Goodness is held in such low regard that it takes  courage to profess it."

Do you think that is true based upon your experience?

Have a nice day. Jim MacArthur

FRIENDS........where would we be without friends.  Especially friends who remain with us through our hardest times...usually they can do that because they are firmly grounded in their own dearly held beliefs and values.  But when you fall...and find yourself alone........filled with a horrendous fear that no one will come to lift and carry you until you can walk again.....suddenly she appears and takes your hand and lifts...and you stand.

Friends just seem to show up at the most important times...the one thing that "shows loneliness the door" is a friend.

So here is a quote that I found the other day about friends...all of us need more friends.

"YOUR FRIEND IS ONE WHO SEES YOU AS YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOURSELF."

I do not know who said it but I like it.

When your friend compliments you, admires you, notices some virtue you have....and you start to deny it or ignore it...DON'T.  Don't make what your friend is saying be totally true....even if it is half true...just let it warm you a bit and you will feel a lift in your step and you will be able to go on a distance.  Thank you, friend.

Have a nice day. Jim MacArthur

"Passion is given both to prophets and to sinners."

I thought about that and came to the conclusion that WHY we use strong emotions is the determining factor in whether they produce good or produce very little of real value.  For example, do I use passion to please myself or do I use it to promote a cause or a good idea that will bless my friends, family, church, company, social club...."?

Is it for ME or for more than just me?  Me is one. More than me is a number bigger than one...could be 7 or 15 or 600 or thousands.

So you can sit in front of the TV and eat popcorn and veg....(sometimes that is a good break so I am not entirely against it) BUT also you could turn off the TV, throw the popcorn out the back door to the birds...(they will be SUPER HAPPY)...and go to your computer and write a message about something you learned that might be of benefit to others..and send it.  Not an ego thing...it is a service thing.  It is not about YOU...it is about THEM.

Turn off your TV and think of someone you know who is sick or lonely.  Just call and chat for ten minutes...I think you will change their day...maybe their week...maybe their life. 
Buy a good book for kids at Deseret Industries or the Dollar Store or at a garage sale....or take it off your bookshelf in your house where it is covered with dust...and go find someone with a child who probably will not get a book to read for a long, long time...and give it to her.

Be PASSIONATE about helping someone in some simple way.  Passion is given to regular people filled with compassionate desire to bless others.    Jim MacArthur   Have a nice day.

"MISERY CAN LIVE WITHOUT COMPANY BUT JOY CANNOT."


"PATIENCE is out of place in quicksand."

One of my own thoughts from years ago... 
"To some degree we are all TWO people:  Our IDEAL self and our ACTUAL/CURRENT self"....the fascinating self evaluation is to determine whether we are moving toward our ideal self."  Jim MacArthur   Have a nice day.  I am back. 

(DRUM ROLL...........)  ANNOUNCING A ONE WEEK VACATION!  Sherri and I are going to northern California to visit my brother Mike...who we have not seen in four years due to our mission in Chile.  So, when I get back I will  put in another post.....HAVE A NICE WEEK.   Jimbomac