What God thinks/feels when we are hurting

Full talk available here.

Talefolk - Prayers

At first, he prayed things like, "God, are you there?" "Why me?" "Help me!" and "Please give me."
Then he started saying, "God, thank you," "I don't understand, but I trust you."
Eventually, he prayed, "Lord, not my will, but Thine be done," which is actually two prayers, one to renounce his own will, and the other to seek to bring to pass God's Will with all His heart, might, mind, and strength.
After that, he stopped saying His own prayers, and started planting seeds. In time they would sprout and bloom into the prayers God wanted him to pray. And the funny thing was, he wanted to pray them to.

We're in Crossville. We had to swipe the card again. Cost $154
-Jonathon-

Cards

"You know those cards you get from people telling you how much they love you and appreciate you?  You're supposed to save them and get them out every once and a while and re-read them.  Same thing with the pictures your kids draw for you."  

The Martin Handcart Company at the Sweetwater

This article is about those who came to the rescue of the Martin Handcart Company at the freezing Sweetwater on November 4, 1856.  It is long but worth the read.

https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/martin-handcart-company-sweetwater-another-look

Justice and Mercy

The Universe is governed by law.  From a galaxy with its billions of stars to an atom with its quarks and leptons – all move, behave, and react in accordance with laws which we may or may not fully understand.  Justice is not only required, it is a given.  Without it everything would be chaos.

There is no inherent mercy in the Universe.  For mercy to exist, someone must take responsibility for every broken law and bear the consequences.  But not just any being can pay such a price or has the power to make right all that was put amiss by the transgression of justice.  It is only in the shelter and shadow of such an Infinite Intercessor that mercy, compassion, and forgiveness exist.

Studying Abroad

"Every day he writes me a letter, telling me how much he misses me and how he needs my help.  And every day I write him back, with words of comfort, encouragement, and advice" he explained, "but he does not read my letters."

"Does he not know who they're from?!"

"I think it's because he has a post office box, and he's so busy he doesn't get to check his mail very often.  And when he does, he doesn't have time to read what I've written, much less understand it."

"Why do you not go to him?"

"Oh, how I wish I could! But he left here to have his own experience, and I need to let him have it."

HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography

High Dynamic Range Imaging is the technique of taking multiple exposures of the same scene and then merging them into one image.  This allows for a much broader, more "dynamic" range of light, where with a single exposure either the bright areas would be washed out or the dark areas too dark.

Here are the three images I worked with:

And here is the final composite HDR image:

Talefolk™ - Going to Heaven

"You can frighten, guilt, and threaten people out of Hell," he said, "but you cannot guilt or frighten them into Heaven.  One cannot work or worry oneself to Heaven (not to say that idleness or lack of responsibility will get you there, either).  People are loved into Heaven.  Of course, some are loved and still do not choose Heaven - Heaven would not be Heaven if you could force people there.  But as people are shown and feel the Love of God (most often through those that love like He does), they realize that nothing else in the world can compare with it.  And if they allow it to take root and nourish and follow it; and keep their eyes on it; and return to it despite all hazards, temptations, and distractions - they will find Heaven."

Talefolk™ - The Will of God

"Some people speak as if the will of God was like fate - predetermined, unchangeable," he explained.  "This is a false assumption based on the truth that God knows the future and what choices people will make before they make them.  But it is the opposite of faith for a woman or man to fail to importune God because they presume that He will not hear them or that doing so will not change anything.  It is the will of God to work miracles and bless His children, but often only if we seek and ask Him.  If we will not do this, then indeed the will of God is that miracles cease, we dwindle in despair, and become lost without knowing we are so." 

Talefolk™ - Self-flagellation

"Do not be deceived by those who seem so devout and zealous that they inflict pain upon themselves," he taught.  "I never cease to marvel at those who prefer to torture themselves rather than to face their fears and listen to what God is telling them.  God's yoke is easy if we do not kick against the pricks.  And we cannot atone for our own sins, no matter how much pain we suffer, though suffering can produce a false sense of nobility."

Talefolk™ - The Great Beast

"Why does the beast slumber so?"

"Legend has it that to be conscious and awake is searing pain for it.  The only relief it finds is in sleep."

"What is the cause of its anguish?"

"Some say the beast suffers agony for a great sin committed long ago.  Other say the beast cannot tolerate the chaos in the world.  It is possible that the beast just suffered a head wound in a past struggle."

"And we have to go wake it up..."

"The beast is not evil.  He will not hurt you if you do not threaten it.  That is why it is better to go in alone.  Too many people could be intimidating."