I find it interesting that we — and I really mean me — treat the Lord like a genie in a bottle sometimes. We go through a trial, and we want the Lord to immediately “fix it” and take the pain or discomfort away. Lately, I've had a pity party for myself. We've had some adversity. Here are some examples:

My wife, Gina, and I have started hosting a “Pasta and Passage” every other Sunday in our home after church service. We eat spaghetti and then study The Book of Mormon, chapter by chapter. The attendance has been pretty good, between 20 to 25 people regularly. I think it no coincidence that on three of these Sundays we've had our upstairs air conditioning go out. The A/C hasn’t gone out any other time, and on the Monday or Tuesday of the following week, the A/C has been repaired. With the A/C out, the upstairs temperature climbs to 90 degrees, and it makes it hard for the kids to go into the playroom so the adults can study. Coincidence? No. Satanic attack? Yes. Satan would've liked us to cancel. Cancel often enough, and people will lose interest.

Today's article is another installment in Brother P.'s column, "Lessons From the Nursing Home."

In the branch of The Church of Jesus Christ where I belong, we have a brother who calls his walking cane “Pride.” I am not exactly sure of his reasoning.

Maybe his pride is lost because he uses the cane now? Maybe it keeps him from using the walker, which could be a source of pride? Maybe “pride goeth before a fall.” (I guess I should have asked him.)

For the past seven years, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer through my company’s philanthropic efforts at community vision screenings around Cincinnati. Our teams visit various schools around the city and check elementary children’s eyesight to determine if they need glasses. It’s a wonderful day spent away from my desk. Instead of writing, I’m helping to potentially give the gift of sight to a young child.

When each child walks through the door, we take the exam sheet and explain the vision screening test we’re about to do with them. They cover one eye and read the letters on the eye chart we point to. We record the score and repeat the process on the other eye.

Each child varies in what he or she can see — some read the letters without a single mistake; others pause and question if what they saw was correct. And some, unfortunately, have such a difficult time seeing the letters that they simply give up, and we move along to the next portion of the screening.

Today's article is another installment in Brother P.'s column, "Lessons From the Nursing Home."

When working in the nursing home, I often hear the clinical staff complain about particular patients, and over the years I've noticed a few themes reoccur. One such complaint is regarding the patient with chronic respiratory (COPD) problems. Staff members complain that patients with difficulty breathing can be very rude with short, snappy answers, and they do not want to do anything.

Think back to when you were a young child. Did you ever have moments that you felt insecure? Not good enough? Compared yourself to others? Now, fast forward to where you are today. Has that changed? Or, do you still have those moments?

We can all relate. I believe we have each experienced that feeling at some point in life. Not just as a child either, but as adults too. Who do you think is whispering that thought into your heart and mind? That’s right, the evil one.

If you ever feel this way, then think about this...

I recently went to renew my Texas driver's license and was told that the current, unexpired license I had, which was issued by them, was not sufficient to renew my license. I argued with the person that the item I was replacing was the exact same thing with a different date, and the license I was holding was issued by the state of Texas. Not only did I need my license I was renewing but also the original or a certified copy of my birth certificate. Sounds crazy, right? You may be wondering how this ties back to the Bible and Book of Mormon. Here goes:

In a recent Sunday school lesson, we were looking at different scriptures, and in the front of my Bible, I saw all the places where you can record marriages, births, deaths, and any other significant information. I have both of my grandparents' Bibles and know that all of that information is complete up to the days past when I was born.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15)

Reading this verse years ago as a young, shy person, it inspired me to mentally rehearse sharing God with someone asking questions about my faith. To someone terrified of public speaking, and also awkward in lesser social interactions, it made sense that planning to be "ready always to give an answer" for the hope of Christ within me was worthy of practice.

Although this logic isn't necessarily wrong, I grew to understand maybe the verse alludes to a deeper readiness, and the word "always" in the verse stood out. True preparedness measurements are thrown upon us unexpectedly. The questioning of our hope might not arise from a place of comfort, but instead when pain becomes the platform. Lyrics from a song "Even If" sung by Mercy Me speaks of this:

I recently ran across a bookmark I have in my Book of Mormon from GMBA Campout 1996. The theme was “Back to the Basics.” I was 9 years old at the time, so I can’t say I remember much from this particular campout, but that theme immediately reminded me of a song called “The Basics of Life” by 4HIM. Although this song was released in 1992, its lyrics are more relevant today than ever. The chorus sings like this:

"We need to get back
To the basics of life
A heart that is pure
And a love that is blind
A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ
The hope that endures for all times
These are the basics, we need to get back
To the basics of life"

I love singing and listening to the songs we have in our church. They are all so beautiful in their own special ways. For me, many have sweet memories attached to them. Some remind me of growing up at the old Branch 3. Some remind me of being at campouts as a kid, and many stir up memories of when God touched my heart. These songs are all so precious and dear to me.

I also enjoy listening to Christian songs on the radio. There is one right now that I find so powerful called "Fear Is a Liar" by Zach Williams. The words give me chills. I want to share the chorus with you today:

As I was recently traveling on a plane, which I do frequently, I came across an interesting paradigm. You see, I am one of the people who actually LIKES turbulence in the air. It reminds me of a roller coaster ride.

I was on a plane recently when we encountered turbulence, and the man seated beside grabbed my arm with both hands and asked me, “Do you believe in God?”

Plain and simple, a bad haircut is just bad. More often than not, if you are the victim of the heinous “crime” of an unruly trim, it may seem like all hope is lost and that nothing can be done. Being the victim of one such offense, I learned some valuable lessons about myself, about life, and about God.

LESSON ONE: Communication Is Key

Although I was very clear about how I wanted my hair to be cut, I don’t think the stylist understood and ended up doing something very different than what I asked her to do. In hindsight, I should have said something to her as she was finishing up, but I was so shocked at the outcome of the cut that the last thing I wanted to do was stay in the salon any longer than I needed to.

One of the things I do at work is help companies unearth their why or purpose. It is my passion, and I love seeing this come to life. At the conclusion of this discovery, there are no two that are alike. Every single business is just a little different — even when they are in the same industry. This is important because each business needs to stay true to this "why" or purpose when branding and marketing. If it doesn't, then, over time, it will begin to falter and ultimately fail. Fail meaning, working without clarity, motivation, passion and unity.

What about our spiritual why or purpose?

"But this much I can tell you, that if you do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not." (Mosiah 4:30)

I read this scripture quite randomly one day, and like a magnet, four words captured my attention and pulled me in: watch; observe; continue; remember. So what was King Benjamin trying to convey? If you have not done so recently, I encourage you to reread Mosiah 2-4.

Have you ever seen an actual potter throw clay on a wheel? If you haven’t, you should. Allow yourself a moment to enjoy the spectacle; Google it.

Did you do it? It is really an amazing scene to behold. I am impressed by how a cold lump of dirt in the right hands can be fashioned into something uniquely beautiful and well proportioned, or how the slightest calculation of the fingers immediately and drastically impacts the course of the clay. Perhaps this is why God commanded Jeremiah to go to a potter’s house to physically view the labor in action before making the proclamation, “Behold as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand” (Jeremiah 18:1-6). The visual is a strong portrayal of God’s perfecting on our life.

Recently, when crossing the U.S.-Canadian border on a Sunday morning visit to the Windsor Branch in Ontario, I was asked a surprising question.

After waiting in line, I finally was given the green light to proceed to pull my car up to the border patrol officer's booth. I handed him my passport, and after he scanned it he simply said “The Church Of Jesus Christ.” I was surprised by his statement but answered, “Yes.”

I assumed, but never asked, that my passport must be associated with crossing the Canadian border because I’ve regularly traveled to the Six Nations and Muncey missions, and I’m therefore connected with The Church. Nevertheless, the officer asked where my wife and I were going, and we explained that we were visiting the Windsor Branch for Sunday worship service.