"Like a Bike Tire..."

So after finishing our studies in the morning, we decided to take the liberty of finding a seemingly old bike tire, and pumping it full of air to see if it had any leaks. Well, it didn't have any leaks, and so we decided to just keep pumping and pumping. Well before you know it, the tire was the size of a python! Still though, we continued to pump and pump, probably out of our own curiosity and stupidity. Before we knew it, we had finally taken the tire to the limit and watched the thing blow up in our faces! Like a gunshot, we stepped back and laughed at the fact that we probably woke a couple of neighbors. But it was worth the satisfaction of seeing the outcome.

This is what it is like to be with my companion Elder Tomoser. He has taught me a lot over these past couple of weeks and has been a real blessing to me. But after this little experience, it made me think about how that grossly overinflated bike tire is a lot like most of our lives.

Be it stress, guilt, or bottled feelings, it's just waiting to burst at the seams! When it bursts, it will be like a gunshot.

I had an experience that taught me about what kind of feelings people keep bottled up. Coming home after working in the rain, we promptly made the effort to make some dinner. Elder Tomoser made some pretty good clam chowder and was dying to pull it out of the microwave. As I was engaged in my studies during dinner time, when suddenly, a crash! Broken glass and clam chowder everywhere! Elder Tomoser was so upset at the fact that he will never have the opportunity to partake of the desired clam chowder, seeing as that was the only can he will be able to heat up until P-day. Thinking he had the situation out of control, I went back to my desk and continued to study through dinnertime. Well, all of the sudden out of the blue, Elder Tomoser turned on me and started to yell! He was upset at the fact that I didn't help him clean up his mess. Granted, I should have really helped a man who just lost his only chowder, but I felt offended at the fact that he lashed out so harshly at me. The tire had popped. So then, was it really the Clam chowder incident that made him explode, or was it just the final pump before he blew?

Needless to say, we had a talk the next day and worked things out. There was more on his mind then just that. It turned out there were a lot of things that made him finally give out. But the point is, I didn't know when he was going to burst.

Some, it may only take a few pumps, others are made of a tougher thorn resistant tube that can take quite a while to finally explode. But what I learned from this experience and the council that I pass onto others, is to not know the breaking pint of the tire, but to refrain completely from even risking the integrity of the tire.

You don't always know what is going on in the mind of someone you care about. What I invite all to do this evening, is to use the release valve and work things out. It is the only way to keep things from blowing up in your face. Love others enough to ask them if they need help or ask for that help yourself.

Have the faith knowing that you will be able to overcome and get along with those you care about. I can promise that you will be able to have more meaningful and happier relationships if you do.

Have a great week everybody. I'll be back soon.

Can An Invisible Man Cast a Shadow?

So I was out the other day I was out walking around when I had this random thought come into my head. I asked myself the question, " Can an invisible man cast a shadow?" I pondered over this again and again and I found an answer that I have been looking for.
Now I'm about to get a little nerdy and knowledgeable in here. There is no way for light to get through physical matter. So if someone were to be standing next to you, and they were invisible, they still would cast a shadow because even though they cannot be seen with your naked eye, matter is still there. The person still exists standing next to you! Now I'm not a physics major or a Doctor of science and I'm sure there are discrepancies with my doctrine, but I know that what I learned in high school physics still applies to everywhere I go in the world. Light will not go through solid matter, it will only reflect off an object and leave a shadow in it's place where light cannot reach because of the object in the light's path.
Even though that invisible someone cannot be seen, they are still there, even if the only evidence of their existence is a shadow.
How many times do we go through our lives and do many wonderful things, but are not recognized my others on a large scale? Even though many cannot solve world hunger and create engines that run on water, there are plenty more that do great but small things.
There are plenty of times when I feel that I am not living up to the expectations of the world. But the reality is, whatever our actions may be, as long as they are righteous and selfless, are great and powerful in the eyes of God.
The truth is that a "Nobody" can leave a legacy. An invisible man can cast a shadow.
Being a missionary, I have seen the sacrifices of others on my behalf. People love us enough to feed us dinner when they know that we are trying to pay for our missions. They help us do our laundry so we can still go out and look our best. They give us rides when we are too tired to walk to an appointment. But the best of them all is knowing that there is someone else that cares about me enough to help me be happier by giving me a word of encouragement or a plate of cookies. These are little things. To me, made all the difference. I will forever be grateful for the love and support these people have shown me, even if it was as simple as a ride downtown.
You can leave an impression on someones life. You can be the one to brighten the day of another. You can be the one to leave a legacy of kindness and love for others. I know I will never forget those who were kind to me.
Even though the only manifestation of your hard work is as small as a shadow to others, someone still sees you. To them, you are not invisible. To them, you mean the whole world.
Go about doing good so good things can follow. I can promise that your efforts are not wasted and that you will be a recipient of unexpected blessings.
I'll be back next week with something, I promise. BYE!! 

Wish-making 101

How do we have our wishes come true? Does anybody have the answer to that question? What can you wish for in this world that is attainable? What can you wish for outside of this world that is attainable? What are you going to do to get the answer to that wish?
When we throw a coin into a fountain, we make a wish. When we blow out candles on a birthday cake we make a wish. What are we doing exactly to make that wish come true? Usually I like to sit back and let the forces of the universe just take over. However hardly do they ever.
When ever I use to want something or go somewhere, my parents always made me work for it. They would come up with a list of chores for me to do so that I could earn the money to buy whatever I wanted or go to wherever I wanted. It was quite a feat to accomplish just to let me go to prom with a little bit of cash. But always I have had to work for whatever I wanted.
Sometimes our wishes aren't so temporal. A lot of us wish for peaceful homes, happy marriages, even answers to our prayers. All of these things listed above are very wonderful and happy things to want and would be considered very righteous desires. The wonderful thing about all of this is that we have the opportunity to receive these wishes through our own hard work.
If we want a happy home, what are we going to do to make that happen? Are we going to succumb to the usual ritual of just sitting back and letting things happen as they will? I can tell you that my sandwich is not going to just make itself! We have to work for it! There are blessings and experience that come when we are willing to do all that we can to obtain what we want or even need.
Did you know that the Bible gives us clear instruction about how to exercise our faith and wishes? In the epistle of James chapter 2 verses 17-18, James asks us, "Where is our faith without our works? Without works, faith is dead, being alone." What! A wish is dead if you don't work for it? YES!
How are you going to become a Doctor if you don't go to medical school? How are you going to get a new car if you are not willing to budget your money and save? How are you going to have a happy home if you are not willing to teach each other how to love one another?
There is nothing in this world that is out of your reach. We were given the gift of agency for a reason. Are we going to chose to act now or are we going to choose to remain complacent and upset at our current situation? What the are YOU going to do about it?
Let me tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to walk into the kitchen, pull out the bread and all the little fixins', and put that mess together so I can sit down and enjoy my sandwich! Go and get your wishes, they are waiting for you!
It really is amazing how almost everything that I write about ties right back into "faithing." If we really have the faith that we are going to have our problems solved or our desires come true, we need to work for it. Period! Emphasis on the period.
See y'all next week (if I can get around to it). Bye!

Two Mormon Missionaries

The Epic "Rage Quit" of life.

Wow! I haven't been on here for a long time! Please forgive me. Now I will write what has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks.

I have been thinking that there is a lot of things in this life that has caused us to ask, "What have I gotten myself into?" Could be a job, a sport, a relationship, commitment, even religion. We all have had this question pop up in our lives. I have found this to be a frequent question for me and in most of my efforts, I have tried not to give up.

Well, as do many know, there is a point where we have the choice to "opt out." Some of us duck out more harshly than others and have fallen victim to what is known as the "Rage Quit."

"I don't need to put up with this!"

"Why did this have to happen?"

"Who said I have to do that?"

"Wow that was annoying!"

"I am so glad I don't have to put up with that anymore!"

...

The list of pleading, whiny cries goes on! In fact I don't think it will ever end!

Why then is it so important to endure? I'll tell you why. Because it is an eternal principle! It is what is commanded of us! We are expected to push through all trials in our lives and move forward with faith.

If we are looking for the facts or the proof in our trials, or why we need to endure, little or no success will be found without faith. Without faith we cannot accomplish our goals.

When I was 11 years old, I had an experience where I went kayaking with the boy scouts in northern Wisconsin down a very rough river. We were going to go whitewater rafting but there was something wrong with the water level, so we had to use these individual inflatable kayaks instead. I was hoping to rely on others to make it to the end of the river. Instead it came down to me being left alone to conquer my trials with the raging rapids, jagged rocks, and shallow current, at 11 years old.

I got stuck, my legs were cut up from the rocks, and I was even left behind a couple of times to paddle my way back to the group. But I did not give up. Six miles later we reached the end of our trip. What an experience! Instead of giving up at the beginning because things had not gone the way I had hoped, I chose to endure. I had a very good reason to "Rage Quit," but I did not.

I had the faith that I was going to make it to the end and I did. If you look at the facts, it would have seemed impossible for me to make it down the river. But I knew I could because I believed I could.

We need to remember this when things seeming too difficult to overcome turn up in our lives. We need to have a sure knowledge that whatever has been placed before you in your life, Heavenly Father knows that we are able to overcome.

Quit your whining, you are ready for this. Don't get upset and Rage yourself to the point of giving up. Know that you were prepared for this and that you were ready to take on whatever challenge has been brought to you.

Keep on trucking. Don't let the Principle of the epic "Rage Quit" govern your life. Let the principle of having the faith to endure govern all things.

Good luck Y'all. I'll be back in a week.   

Common now, lets get back to RL

The other day I had a thought come into my mind. I have to talk to a lot of people all the time who are just not interested in hearing the message that has the potential to change their lives. Sometimes in my frustration, I may or may not imagine having a "Block person" button right next to the people I talk to in real life. Imagine just ending the contention or rudeness with just the click of a button. I have the ability to do that on-line, but I can't when I'm standing at someone's door taking my verbal beating for the day.
We are taught to turn the other cheek and to submit ourselves fully when we face those who oppress and offend. Why? Because it's what Christ would do. He is the pattern of example we are to follow. I wish I could have understood this earlier in my youth.
I remember playing some of my most favorite video games right when I came home from school. There was nothing better then to log on and play with friends over the Internet for an hour or two before it was time for dinner. There was always one thing that really bothered me when I logged on though. It's the fact that I sit there and listen to a bunch of other guys (and on occasion girls) over the headset on-line cursing and getting in arguments over the game. Thankfully because of the wonderful "block" button on my X Box, I can ignore those who try to ruin my fun. However, I remember also catching myself getting into arguments with some of those people. I still don't know why I would fight in an argument that will inevitably leave one or both upset and being reported as an unfriendly gamer giving you a bad on-line reputation.
Come on people! Get back to REAL LIFE!!! I know that if I were to talk to those people face to face, an argument will either never happen, or end with one or both of us going to the hospital.
This is unfortunately what we see everyday in schools, work places, and among friends. You are not invincible. You are subject to physical pain, distress, and sadness. However, can become spiritually invincible. How? It's as easy as turning your cheek.
Get your minds out of the game! Get back to real life and learn how to become spiritually strong. Contention is of the devil and we are finding that it really is just like hot coals being stirred up ready to burn. Don't subject yourselves to hide behind the veil of the Internet and come out with it. There are people who will always try to stir contention and heartache in people's lives. The question we all have to ask ourselves is "Am I spiritually invincible enough to take such a hard blow?"
The answer is that you can! The reflection of who you are should not change just because you "log on." Be kind and friendly to all those who really are just acting like jerks. Know that you have the power to come off conquerer and you will. It's true, you don't have to just sit back and take every insult that people throw at you. But it's also true that you can sit there and let them realize that they are hurting you by their own fault, and not by your actions.
When you do this, you will be an ultimate reflection of Christ and represent yourself as a good Christian. If we have more people in the world who are willing to let things go and let things pass over them, who then has the obligation to take offense?
I hope this helps someone. It's just something I have been feeling that I needed to write. Have a good week! I'll be back to enlighten your minds next week (if I'm actually doing any enlightening). Bye!

Is Wrong Right?

When we were all little growing up, we remember seeing and doing things that we all know is wrong. I remember hitting my brothers, taking things that weren't mine, and telling little fibs here and there to keep myself out of trouble.
My idea is that if we have the capacity as children to know immediately right from wrong, why is it today that the world seems to say that the wrong things are right?
I have a fun little story to compare with this. When I was 8 years old, 3 days before Christmas, I went out to play with friends. We found this little pond out back behind some homes in our neighborhood and started to slip and slide and have about as much fun as any other kid could have while playing on smooth slippery ice. Then out of the blue, one of my friends decided to try a little experiment to see who could break the ice first. I saw them grabbing rocks and hurling them into the solid ice. Even at the age of 8, I knew that this was wrong, even if it was fun and a little competitive. But I decided to ignore the risks and safety of others like my friends so willingly surrendered. No one was grabbing anything bigger then their hand, so I decided to try and out do them. I grabbed a big rock and brought it close to my chest and started the journey to the pond without any problems. However, when I stepped foot on the pond, I lost my footing and fell with the rock. It landed on top of my hand. I felt almost no pain when it happened, but when I took off my glove, blood was already running down my arm. When the rock landed on my hand, it fell on my ring finger and split it clean open to the bone. Imagine my 8 year-old self just screaming in terror as he ran to his friend's home to find first aid. His mom helped me clean it out and my dad rushed over to pick me up and take me to the hospital. Eight stitches later, I was OK.
Because I chose to make the decision to ignore my basic instincts, and maybe even the spirit, I now have a scar that will be there for the rest of my life.
Think of this experience and compare it to when we are faced with a choice to choose what's right, or fall into what's wrong.
Many people rationalize and think that a little sin isn't wrong. Maybe going to that friends home may not be a good idea. Or maybe going to a bar won't have any consequences. Even staying out a little too late with your date won't lead into anything serious. But before you know it, there will always be something that will happen, and will leave you with a scar for you to carry the rest of your life.
President Ezra Taft Benson, a past president for the LDS Church said that " You cannot do wrong and feel right, it is impossible!" How true that is!
We all know when we are left with a choice, we know what is the wrong one. We have to keep ourselves far away from those damaging decisions so that we don't have to gain another scar. It's easy to do. Follow those instincts and put off the natural man (Mosiah 3:19) and we will come away winning the battle that all of us are trying to fight everyday. You will always feel something is wrong when you sin, even if you try and deny it. More importantly, you will always feel the effects and consequences after.
Keep on having the faith to conquer and win! With the right attitude and with the correct humility, nothing will harm you and you can keep yourself from adding another scar.

Keep in the Good, Leave out the Bad

While me and my awesome companion, Elder McMullan, were tracting a street the other day we saw the best welcome mat that we could see on the mission. Here's a photo of it right here.

I don't think I could ever laugh that hard at a stranger's doorstep again in my life! As we went about our day, I found that my mind kept going back over to seeing that mat. I just kept thinking and thinking about it until I had to inquire about why I kept thinking about it. I found that this mat represented the gospel in a light that I never could have seen before my mission. 

You may ask, "How does a crude display of impoliteness represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ?" That's a good question. Let me try to take a whack at what I have been thinking over the past few days.

When we are asked to leave someones doorstep, as a missionary, I don't get angry or upset at the person, even if their demeanor matched that of this doormat. I feel a great swell of concern, because they weren't willing to listen. It's not my choice if someone wants to let us in, it's up to them if they wish to heed our message. Everyone of us is given the gift of agency to make the decisions that could eventually bring the best outcome into our lives. This gift is a gift from God.

We need to choose what is going to bring our life the happiness and the joy that we want. To do this, we need to put the word "leave" into our vocabulary. 

When I choose to go on a two year, full-time mission for the LDS Church, I found this word to be an annoyance rather than see the help it could have provided me. I exercised my agency to make the choice to leave my family, friends, and all of the things that used to bring me happiness like my motorcycle, video games, and movies. I made that choice because I knew that it was something that would bring me a new kind of happiness, an everlasting joy that will never be quenched with time or material things that my life used to be filled with. So when I made the choice to leave, I wasn't just leaving behind Family and friends, I also chose to leave behind the world. 

We are in our homes everyday, safe from the world. Unfortunately, we sometimes cant keep the world out of our homes as we watch T.V. and use the Internet to see what the world is offering us. If you haven't noticed already, the world isn't offering anything that will bring us this everlasting joy that I can feel right now on my mission. It brings into our homes things like pornography, violence, drug use, and all sorts of things that never give us joy that we can savor forever. In fact, it can only bring misery, shame, and disaster.

When I talk about the word, leave, I want you to do just that. I invite you to leave behind the awful things that the world has to offer. Shun it and protect your homes from it. Put out a spiritual doormat that will drive it away and think of itself as an unwelcome guest.

There are things however that we should let into our homes. Let in your friends because they are one of the best sources of help and comfort that you can bring into your home. Let in the Scriptures and read from them daily to protect yourself and literally put a shield around your home. Let in the spirit of prayer so that you can feel the love and comfort that the spirit can bring into your home to create the loving atmosphere you wish for.  Heck, even if your up for it, invite the missionaries into your home to teach you more about Christ and our purpose in this life. I promise that with these things in your home, The bad things that are in the world will never be able to get in.

Be careful however. We can never get rid of the Internet or T.V. and I'm not inviting you to do so either. I invite you to use them for learning, growth, and fun. A movie night is something that has always brought my family closer together. A homework assignment would have never been finished without the help of Wikipedia. And a little laugh that comes from watching "Everybody Loves Raymond" is just what I needed to get through the day. 

Leave the world at your doorstep, and don't feel bad about it. But don't leave your friends and the good things on the doorstep either. Invite them in and embrace them so that you can feel the good emanate from them. I promise that as you apply the principle of the word "leave", an everlasting joy, a heavenly joy will fill your soul.

Have a great week. And don't forget to check back later for more goodness. 

Bye!    

"Faithing" is a Concept of Hope

I could not wait to start this blog. I have SO many experiences in my life that I wish to share with people that it's just wrong that I haven't started doing so until now.
My name is Elder Matthew Kjar (my last name is pronounced like the word "care"). I am serving a Full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day Saints in the Santa Rosa California Mission. I love what I do! I go out everyday to teach people about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I dedicate two years to go out and literally change people's lives! The reward that comes from this work is more than any man can comprehend. That's why it's so great.
Something SO good though has to have a catch. That catch is that I have to leave behind all that I used to be. I left behind family, friends, music, movies, my car, and my favorite toy that is my motorcycle. I am dedicated to serve my Lord and my God with an eye single to His work and glory. Because of this sacrifice, it's easy to think of home and become discouraged whenever you face rejection or sadness in mission life. However there is one thing that I can always look to in order to look forward with hope, and that is this wonderful button.

Over the many years that my cousins have served faithful missions, this button has been passed down from cousin to cousin and has now found it's place with me on my mission. The message it reads is simple, "Go Forth Faithing." As I have been on a mission, I have found this concept of "Faithing" to be one that takes time to learn. Faith and hope, by definition in the English language is almost the same, but when you apply it to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it become much more than just an expectation of good things to come.
Hope turns the principle of faith into one that can be acted on. It can find it's way into your heart and cause you to act. It's a promise from God that He will Bless you according to that trust or faith that you place in Him. When you "Go Forth Faithing," the blessing that can be found in your life will become manifest, and you will not have room enough to receive them.
As I go out everyday to proclaim this wonderful truth, I always try to remember to go Faithing. Why? Because that Hope that I place in my Heavenly Father will be the best thing I can do to please Him, and He will bless me, as He will you if you apply this concept.
I carry this button everyday in my backpack to remind me of my weaknesses so I can make them strong. As I "Go Forth Faithing," I can be made into a stronger person. This is the purpose of my Blog. I hope that as I share stories and ideas with you that you may be able to exercise faith in such a way that it can cause you to hope and pray for good things to happen in your life. I promise you that not by my words alone, but also through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you may be able to be uplifted and edified as you try to apply these principles in your life.
Don't give in! Fight for your faith and go Forward, putting your trust in God.
I will be back on a weekly basis to share experiences and stories that will always be fun to listen to. There will always be a good message from this Blog. I invite all to read from it. I hope that I can help you feel edified as you come back over and over again. You can find me on Facebook by Clicking this link...
http://facebook.com/eldermatthewkjar
And you can visit my Mormon.org Profile by Clicking this link...
http://mormon.org/me/4B3C/
I am always willing and ready to talk if anyone has questions. Until I write again, have a great week! Remember that I Kjar ("care", remember?).