Worship and baby news

Laura should be home tomorrow to give the details, but "the boy" is safely here. The baby will come in a few days, when they make sure his lungs are clear. Sue and I will be leaving for Scottsdale tomorrow if Sue is sure that Laura will be OK without her.

Now for worship, thanks to those who took time to respond to my request. This is what I understood from your messages:
1. Worship is "pondering godly things." - Teresa
2. "It involves service." "Understanding their (The Father and Son) motivations and characters precedes becoming like them." - Jessica
3. There is a religious worship and a temporal worship. "Elder McConkie's talk lists dozens of things that are worshipping including: being married, doing service, studying the gospel, paying tithing, using our talents, etc. In fact he says, It is ten thousand times ten thousand things." "Clearly, sacrifice is an integral part of worship." "Like all commandments, if we are worshipping as we should we will be rewarded." - Sarah
4. "It is an active word." "Feelings of deepest respect, love and awe put into action." "The dictionary says it is a religious word to describe respect." - Sue
5. "To say that worship is service or it is going to church and learning about God simply turns a perfectly good word (worship) into a mere synonym with no meaning. I think worship is praising God and reverencing him (kind of a passive, frame-of-mind activity) which leads to other good things like serving, learning about God, etc." - Landon

There seems to be two camps.
1. Worship is a mental thing. (Teresa & Landon)
2. Worship includes service. (Jessica, Sarah, Elder McConkie and Sue)

I am sure that we all agree that people who worship would serve, if they truly worshipped. It is interesting that the scriptures say that we are supposed to, "worship (and love) God with all our heart, might, mind and strength," but there doesn't seem to be a real definitive definition of the word. We go to the temple and to church to "worship" and serve but do we know what it really means?
It seems to me that service is one of the fruits of true worship (Sorry, Elder McConkie) and worshipping is done while bowing down or on our knees, as Landon said. I don't think it is synonymous with praising either. We could spend our lives saying, "God is Great" or "Smile, Jesus loves you, " and I don't think that is necessarily worship.
This is my conclusion, I think that worship means "reverential gratitude for God." It is a mental act of recognizing all the wonderful things that God has done for us and how much we feel loved by him. This is what I ponder during the sacrament and while in the temple. It is uplifting to me to confess my appreciation for my Heavenly Father and my Savior. When I do so, I feel like I am worshipping.

What do you think?

Skinner Update

Laura went to Memorial Hospital with contractions 5 minutes apart on Friday. She is still there and the doctor is trying to induce her, but no luck so far. It looks like she will be there until the baby arrives. I will post more when we know.
And, yes Brian is with her.

Canceling comments

How do I cancel a comment when have posted 2?

Krista's PREformance

These are pictures that I took on my cell phone, so this is as good as it gets. This picture was taken at the end of the concert. The kids surrounded the audience and were singing a African song with drums and other percussion instruments. It was great. The choir members were supposed to be swaying with the beat, like any good African would do. Krista, who you can't see in this picture, was across the room. Based on the swaying, she has no African in her. The gals in front of me and some of the guys in the front of the room were rockin' out. When I commented to your mom, she said that you kids get your "lack of soulfulness" from me.
Does the Driller Cafe bring back any memories?

This is Krista performing. She is the one between the music stand and the piano. She did a good job and, as you know, she loves to sing. The choir sang almost all non-English songs. I enjoyed the Italian and African but I really didn't care for the Japanese, which was the majority.

Thanks for your cell phone answers. It makes it easier for me. I really enjoyed your different insights. Can I make one more request on my "What is worship" question?

Krista's Request

Krista asked that I post this blog for your responses. Hopefully, this will prompt more response than my 10/6/06 request.
First though, Katy and Tyler Nichols are the proud parents of Lucy Ann. She weighed 6lbs 10 oz. and was 181/2 inches long. Everyone is doing well. Russ is a proud grandpa. I can email you a picture if you want. She is a beautiful baby.

Second, I told T&K that I would buy them a cell phone if they got nothing lower than a "B" on their report cards. (We are trying everything to motivate them.) We have talked about getting them cell phones for safety and our convenience when we need to track them down. I told Krista, who was motivated, that the rest of you would not think that it was fair that she get a cell phone when no one else was given rewards for grades. I told her, and all of you, that your grades were your reward and would give you greater opportunities.

So, do you think my bribe was fair?

All about me

This is a picture of me and a couple of my buddies in SanFran. I want to tell you some of my news.
1. I went to my cardiologist at UCLA, Dr. Kobashigawa. He said that I am doing better than before. My ejection fraction is 25-30 and normal is 50-60 but my body is compensating somehow. He gave his approval to go to Europe and do what I want to do. He will see me every 3 months to find out how I am doing. He also said that if he got a heart offered for me, he might just "pass" at this time. I am sure that my heart will not improve but it is nice to be back to a more normal life.
2. Your mom and I are going to S. Lake Tahoe for a business meeting Sunday to Tuesday. We just came back from a 2 day trip to Irvine. What a life. I am going to ask for a raise.
3. We signed our new Trust documents yesterday with Mel Thompson, so my affairs are in order. It follows the details I emailed to you.
4. As I think you know, 5 weeks ago I was released as YM President and sustained as Priest Quorum advisor and the ward bean-counter (Financial Clerk). Brody Buck, Natalie Hawkins' husband, replaced me. He is a great guy and will do a fantastic job. Anyway, I finished my on-line training for the clerk job last week. Yesterday, Pres. Thompson released me because with the new ward bounderies, they have called someone else to be the clerk. I have never been fired so quickly in my life. I enjoyed the clerk job but I understand what is needed and I am very happy being the Priest Quorum advisor. Anyway, I thought it was funny having a calling for 5 weeks.
5. I enjoyed General Conference, as usual. The message that impressed me the most was Elder Holland's strong witness of the involvement of the First Presidency in all the issues facing the church. I have a special place in my heart for Elder Holland. He is the only apostle that has ever given me an abrazo and thanked our family for our missionary work.
6. Finally, I have been pondering the topic of "worship." We went to the temple on Monday and this was still on my mind. I still don't think that I really understand what worshipping God means. Do we worship when we pray, go to church, serve in the Nursery, attend the Stake luau, pay tithing, count tithing.... What do you think?
Love, DAD

FIND THE ELEPHANT

I thought it would be fun to play a game called "Find the elephant." I have pictures taken at The Great Kern County Fair, the Allred house (newly painted green) and the recently decorated Skinner house ( see the Skinner blog for more). See if you can find the elephant. I was going to post one picture but Krista said that it would be rude. I don't know what she meant but I am posting 3 to make it more interesting.

Washington Seattle Mission

Well, the moment finally arrived. Evan, Mary and Bryce came up from Provo at about 5:30 and Evan was so ready to open that big white envelope. But, the family was not gathered in Bakersfield so we waited. To help the time pass we had dinner together. I made my very first meat loaf with Mom's recipe. Finally we had everyone on the phones and Evan tore into his Mission Call. He opened it, read it, then smiled big and announced in a very pleased voice . . . . Washington Seattle Mission. He will be speaking English and entering the MTC on November 15!!! So soon, I know.


A big congratulations to Evan. We know he will be a great missionary and love serving in Seattle.

IT'S HERE!

Evan's Mission Call just arrived at our house. It showed up at Mom and Dad's house on Saturday and Dad overnighted it here so that Evan could open it. I'm dying to see inside, but the church is of course smart enough to make the paper of the envelope VERY thick. I tried holding it to the light and peaking in the sides, but no luck! We'll have to wait for Evan I guess. He will be here about 5:30 or 6:00 pm our time. So be by your phones.