"Thoughts on Martin Buber and I and Thou"

"Thoughts on Martin Buber and I and Thou"

cji
2/19/09

Over the years the ideas of Martin Buber have infiltrated much of Philosophy an all of the field of human intercourse or relationships. The translations have helped in some ways for understanding but with the translators added comments and textual changes much value is lost rather than added in their applying modern day to Buber’s day (the early 1900’s). With this in mind one needs to keep an open mind at what’s being read and said by those who are presenting Buber’s information.

With the advent of instant knowledge at one’s fingertips – skewed and biased from those who feel the need to control such knowledge harking back to the tradition of the schools, though seven millennium, there’s an air of authority to everything which is printed, viewed or spoken. People want to believe the worldly and thus justify their payment of allegiance to those of the world. In short anyone can be an expert on what someone else has said by just proclaiming the appropriate degrees and initials after their names. (Note: after 9/11/2001 a plethora of experts arose and wrote tons of books on Terrorism, etc.)

Therefore what is the purpose of one writing and one reading non-fiction? The writer is attempting to either self-explain to themselves or to others something they discern as part of the worldly and using the worldly language and guise of rhetoric and vague that leaves open for discussion what they’ve said without actually saying what’s said they said. Many then enter the fray after a book or article has been posted to dissect, analyze, critique, expound and otherwise add their two cents to what’s been written (some up the ante to much more than just two cents.) Authors have their reasons – some simply write for money and to appease the community of their peers. Others might write to meet a requirement for a professional recognition and in many cases change something which has been previously written with their slant. For the safety of the institution we’ll compromise with all of the above and say most write to convey or put on paper their own thinking on a subject.

(Note: as a writer of sorts I write because of what’s prompted and what I see and feel about me – caring nothing for the world or their acceptance of what I write except to try to uplift and present eternal truths. Altruistic comes to mind but it’s much more than that – yet it’s difficult to separate it and my goals. Over the years almost 50 now I’ve written prose, poetry, essays, newspaper columns, technical papers, talks, and answers to enquiring questions of others. In addition when I write it’s from years of pondering, research and continued research – primary source if available – and prayer. Study cannot be overlooked but one must choose carefully what to study – and this is the writer’s responsibility to those who might read what they’ve written. Much of what I write is ‘hard words’ for many – but this is my approach – 1) I’m not going molly-colly you and I won’t lie to you – and I won’t justify the wrongdoing or the worldly. Meaning is the most important along with understandability – there’s nothing written to confuse a reader – what I write is clear, concise and makes common sense. This is my responsibility as a writer – either for me or others.)

On the readers part they’re reading for one of three reasons: 1) it’s assigned to be read or needful in one’s pursuit of a degree or work place promotions; 2) reading for enjoyment or the joy of reading; or 3) reading to learn and assimilate that what’s good and further truth for their library of eternal knowledge. (Note: It would be this presenter’s guess that not many are reading for number 3 on the list.) And for the second on the list many do not venture into non-fiction for the pure joy of reading or for reading enjoyment.

(Note: as a reader (and I still read a lot – mostly non-fiction and some fiction for a change of pace) I read for interest and improvement to learn what I don’t know and need to know. My reading is directed towards those things in one plain where it deals with what I write on – i.e. terrorism and religious views and beliefs. I read the Scriptures daily and study them (meaning all of the Scripture – not just the Bible). I like L’Amour and Clancy – Clive Cussler (non-fiction) for pure enjoyment – but I also can discern a lot from these writers. When I did some graduate studies a professor asked what I thought was the most important thing to study about history – and I answered quickly the people themselves. For if one can understand a person from their own writings, letters, etc. and those about them – one can have a tad more insight as to why they did what they did.)

Therefore with most reading of non-fiction reason number one – i.e. assigned or for vocational pursuit this leaves the field closed and well fenced by those who run the institutions of higher learning and business, is the most important. There’s a trade-off with ones values and beliefs to attain the degrees of higher education or professional improvement. It’s finding the balance and understanding what may or may not be compromised. There’s books about that some institutions of higher learning and the business world feel are must reads – but within a personal value system they may be nothing more than trash. One always has to decide what price to pay – if any at all – which is always an option.

Now back to why one reads Martin Buber – which would be mostly business or educationally assigned. With this being the reason what should one expect to get out of such a reading as, “I and Thou?” First to study who Martin Buber was and what was about him at the time of his writings and this work published in 1923. This was in the aftermath of WWI and Germany (where he lived and worked) was in the throes of depression which the world would experience in the1930’s. Upheaval and heavy debt reigned in the nation – the loss of many of its young men in the war and the destruction of the infra-structure of both industry and government was not pleasant to be part and parcel of in any way – with the exception of those with power – either real or supposed. Some had this because of wealth – and others had this within the elite of the educational world.

Somehow with the coming and going of wars the infrastructure of the higher educational systems keeps on the same train on the same tracks and going in the same direction. One must remember in the ivory towers of education have spawned the anti-war – appeasement (at any cost) – and general isolation from the realities of real life or real problems. This situation still exists today and if the forerunner of nations on the brink of decline as a result of the insular teachings and lifestyles within these institutions. The inbreeding is part and parcel of education – in order to teach at the higher levels one must attain more and more degrees – and thus much of the outside world is numbed into unfeeling. As a result we find educational heroes and demagogues prolifically enshrined therein.

It would be like asking someone to enter into the environment of higher learning and give an absolute truth – which ran counter to all of the training and education of those present. Stoning comes to mind or the equivalent found today. Don’t rock the boat – get your degree and then you can go and do as you wish! In other words the absolute truth is not welcome within this environment – for to these institutions there’s no such thing unless they proclaim it to be so. This then is the environment of Martin Buber! It was one of closed and inbred rules and laws of beliefs and understandings. And as a result what he wrote was without understanding in many parts accepted. Even the Germans published it – to which he commented, “They must not have understood it,” (c.1933).

What did he write and why? My initial guess is that within his personal belief system which went through some major flux – he sought to put down a mathematical problem and solutions using words to describe the various relationships he saw about him and others. The idea of ‘I and Thou’ which has been changed by the translators (more recently) gives great definition to a belief of a God (or greater person) with whom we are attached. Using what’s he’s learned within the schools and books available to him he tried to define this relationship and then other relationships found within the worldly community of the five senses. In his approach and presentation he’s accomplished this quite well. Though to the reader much seems redundant or repetitive the need is for finite clarification within his mind and not theirs.

Thus to approach Buber’s book, “I and Thou” I’ve had to separate my beliefs and knowledge in my library and to look at his resources and beliefs. Then to ignore the ‘translator’s prejudice and notes’ finding the string Buber wanted us to follow and seeing what he was seeing. (Note: To take the time to explain all of this now would be too consuming – but if this is further desired I’ll add this at a later date. Better I’ll refer the readers to Robert Wood’s work, “Martin Buber's Ontology: An Analysis of I and Thou,” 1969.) Suffice to understand what Buber was seeing and what his translator was seeing were not and are not the same. Maybe had Dag Hammarskjöld's finished his efforts there wouldn’t be this turmoil today.

Copyright © 2009 – cji

“I and Thou – and Negotiations”

“I and Thou – and Negotiations”
cji
2/19/09

How does one explain something which one has in-depth knowledge of both sides and yet others want to see a third view point? Martin Buber’s book takes the view of humans at the center of the virtual world around him – that he/she look out from inside of the themselves and thus see all else. Therefore he begins with the ‘I’ meaning the individual or the self. He then presents three arguments – ‘I and Thou’ – ‘I and You’ and ‘I and It.’ He neither likes nor sanctions the ‘I and It’ but recognizes the reality of there being an ‘It’ in relationships. Therefore he attempts to move the ‘It’ either into a ‘Thou’ or a ‘You’ as quickly as possible.

These relationships have great meaning to him and since 1923 a great variety of meanings to the worldly and those not so inclined. Yet how does one tie this book into the task of negotiations? This will be the attempt of this short essay to do so. Hereafter will follow both professional and personal experience in negotiations and the application of what Buber put forth in his book.

A negation must be somehow defined – as each of us might see this idea quite differently. One can think of the infamous line, “Make him a deal he can’t refuse!” to the more simple idea of a man and woman making the marriage covenant. Both are types of negotiations and for the result of finding a common meeting ground on an issue needing to be resolved by both parties. The changing of times has not diminished the importance of either the idea of negation by fear – incentives or out of attitude and love.

To my understanding a negation which much of the world considers is a non-personal inter-action between two sides (or more) to reach a professional agreement for the mutual benefit of both (or more) sides.

Firm Fixed Price Contracting – Company A needs a road built from c to d. Company K and Company Y are both road builders. After much pricing analysis – Company A puts out solicitation packages to Company’s K and Y – so they can bid on the building of the road. Some would term this as Firm Fixed Bid or a Fixed Price Contract negotiation. It’s relatively simple – both Company’s K and Y will submit bids to complete the work. When Company A receives the two bids – they compare it against their numbers and can choose to award to either company or to both or to neither. In the first instance if one of the two bids is approximate to Company A’s estimate – and the other is either too high or too low – they can make award (in private industry). However in the Government they must first eliminate the company with the ‘too low’ bid. This has to be done when a higher bid is going to get a contract in Firm Fixed Price bidding as the winning bid is published. Therefore there will be negotiation between the two companies and thus interactions between the representatives of both and possibly all three. This way of contracting work is the most prevalent in the world – we do it most every day when we walk into a store to buy something. In some stores with automatic checkouts even the interaction between a teller and customer has been eliminated. The idea being this is a business and not a social gathering. Even with this – if one is using credit they must interact with a store employee to verify they’re the credit card owner. These type interactions are negotiations! One is buying something from another – either in services or products – something will change hands in the form of currency and products or work done. The price has to acceptable to the buyer and the seller must keep his pricing competitive. Going to a gas station is a good example – since most cars can use any type of gasoline on the market – it becomes a choice of the buyer where to go and pay that places price. The negotiation is done with signs posting the various prices at the different gas stations. The inter-personal interaction in this type of contracting is minimal. In some cases the negotiator never sees or meets either side of the negotiation. A person in contracting gets an order from some department within their firm of business and looks for those who sell the product(s) needed – gets pricing and places the order. This can all be done with a paper trail (fax).

Cost Reimbursement Contracting – this type of contracting is done when a term of time or a long term contract with various deliveries and services are required. The system starts out the same – someone has a need to be filled and someone has to find and solicit the work or service to be done. A cost estimate is prepared a solicitation with the specifications of work to be done and then is sent to those who can fulfill the requirements of the solicitation. When the offers come in at the close of bidding – there’s questions and answers – for clarification – with amendments, etc. Eventually the various sides will sit down to negotiate a fair and reasonable price for the contractual needs. A contract may be awarded based on the meeting the needs of the solicitation in a fair and reasonable manner.

With the award of the a cost contract – invoices have to be submitted and reviewed before any payment can be made. The difference between this method and the Firm Fixed Price is that in the Firm Fixed Price all of the money is paid upon completion of the work or delivery of the product. In Cost Reimbursement the payment is made in installments as the work progresses. Thus the interaction between the vendor (seller) and the company (buyer) is ongoing and subject to changes. A good example if you’ve a delivery contract which requires lots of travel and the gas prices soar – then the vendor would come and ask for cost increase to the overall contract limitations – which the buyer would agree to – however – if the contract is awarded in peak gas prices and they lower – the buyer only has to meet the invoices submitted.

When people go to the movies and see smoke filled rooms with a person negotiating some major deal for the most part that’s all follywood. In my experience the over many years the only time you’ve a full room is when you’re explaining to someone why they lost a contract! Negotiation is a part of business in that sphere of industry – it’s a tool nothing more or less. One has to do their homework and then put the pieces together. Very few are very complex or once the homework has been done. The longest negotiation I was in was at a Government Course on Contracting – it had to last three days (this was the requirement) we had it settled in less than three hours but the instructor insisted (smile) so we lasted three days. In this negotiation I represented private industry and my best friend represented the government. We had a lot of fun – because it was only a ‘game’ but we both knew how to do our homework and we both knew what was going to be fair and reasonable.

However one thing did happen the longer the negotiation lasted – the more the flow went to the contractor – which really wasn’t all that fair. The reason being time increased doubt and doubt raises the prices beyond fair and reasonable. All of what I’ve described above is really nothing more than ‘I and It’ relationships – with the possible exception of the latter example. Why – because it’s a professional i.e. not a personal decision-making process. Both of the ‘I’s’ reflect what’s best for them – either their need or the businesses pricing. The ‘It’ becomes the other party in the sales process. We can make shopping personal and most all of us do – we like to be treated nicely at the checkout counter and enjoy using the same clerk if possible – however, it’s still only a buy-sell relationship in the terms of numbers and whether we get the product we wanted and the business stays in business.

In discretionary income businesses there’s much more inter-personal interacting than what’s been discussed above – we now move to the “I and You” relationship – we’ve become friends with those whom we interact with. We go to their business because we like their environment or customer service – they in turn know it’s how they treat their customers how long they’ll stay in business. This then is the type of negotiations most think of in the way of negotiations. This is personal – and thus one has to like the environment of the other they’re dealing with. The problem is that this type of negotiation process and the comfort of it make it attractive to take over the other types of negotiations. In fact many who are in the business of beguiling others trade on this. They know that they’re an ‘it’ cold and hard – but they want your ‘I’ to see them as a ‘you.’

A great example of this is the effort our two sons go to in protecting us as we age in entering into contracts. They repeatedly want us to inform them before we commit to buy or agree to pay someone for services. We’re at the age we want to consider all others as a ‘You’ – and thus fail to see them as an ‘it’. We forget the first and most important rule of negotiation – ‘It’s not personal – it’s business!’

Now we’ll address another intrigue which everyone who’s been in contracting any length of time encounters, repetitive interactions with a good friend. In variably you’ve more contact with some businesses than others – and thus you’ve an opportunity to become friends – first based on mutual respect and trust of the other and secondly – you both understand the difference between personal and business. At the end of my career in contracting I had numerous interactions with the General Manager of the Contractor on a multi-million dollar contract. We’re both retired military – both enjoy wild life photography and both could represent and come to a decision on contract modifications. We were sometimes called into negotiations because the contract specialist his and mine thought they were at impasse over things which we both could see as trivial and easily solvable. Let me first clarify – we both knew and understood every line item of the contract – we knew how much money was available – and we knew what could be done – what had to be done – and how to make the two one. This is not unusual in much of contracting – however, as stated many do not want to do their homework and it’s their side only that they can see. Usually we had to bring both specialists into his office (his and mine) and tell them what was going to happen and how to write it up! Funny as it seems they thought we’d told them to negotiate what we’d told them, really! We’d then remind them we both had contracting authority he for the contractor and me for the government.

Somewhere in the schools of higher learning – people are taught that they’re in competition with one another; i.e. I and It relationships – to the stronger go the rewards, etc. Darwin made a lot ground with this using the phrase “Natural Selection” which he changed to ‘Survival of the Fittest,” in his 1869 (or 5th edition). Herbert Spencer first coined this phase “Survival of the Fittest” in his book, “Principles of Biology,” 1864 - further combining economics with the theory of evolution and proclaimed them to be interrelated. And It’s my belief that Buber took great exception to this by the end of the19th Century. The dehumanization of individuals and applying the animalistic characteristics to them has added to the ultra competitiveness of today. Spencer who was both an economist and a philosopher enjoined the two in further justifying the elitism of his day. (Note: To better understand the tautology of ‘survival of the fittest’ - a study of the mines in England and Scotland of the middle 1800’s is necessary.)

Indeed the teachings of Darwin and Spencer dominated and still dominate the educational system of the world today. This rejection of a being known as God or Heavenly Father or the Creator is denied and cannot exist in the minds of men to accept the doctrine of ‘Survival of the Fittest.’ This doctrine removes a plan from creation and implants total chance. Evolution as presented by Darwin does not support this doctrine – even though it proclaims it as a truth (which it is not). To give an example all an organism needs to do it procreate to achieve survival. The institutions of higher learning – including the media, television, movies, documentaries, magazines and any who support these ideas of Darwin and Spencer combine to create the “I and It’ mindset. Buber presents an alternative view and thus can find application in our lives and inter-relationships with all others.

On a basketball court there’s often competition – this is not negotiation – and is only a sport! Even in football we find the same competition (some times) and it’s only a sport! The players, coaches all know each other – and some are great friends off of the field or court even when they compete with one another. There’s a respect for one’s abilities and the team effort going all out to win. Vince Lombardi said it best, “My teams never left the field a loser, sometimes the clock ran out with us on the short end of the score – but we left the field winners knowing we’d done our best,” (paraphrase). This inter-action Buber would see and call it, “I and You.” So in our lives we too should be able to see the “I and You” relationships with others.

Most of us will not sit down in an executive office and hammer out a good contract – mostly because it just doesn’t happen in real life. Many of the biggest deals in business have literally taken place on yachts or golf courses. Of course business schools could never teach this. They’d have no need to empathize MBA’s or the more learning the better you’ll be in business. (Note: when I taught business courses at the college level – I was amazed at what I had to re-teach from the student’s course in business principles.) The practical application of common sense – dissolves mystery and makes clear that which is pretty simple to begin with. Martin Buber saw this and in his writings tried to clarify it to his understandings.

He (Buber) taught we could all be good – to be respecters of others and to engage socially appropriately in all aspects of life. In negotiations we too need to do this. However in the best of circumstances it’s not always possible. Someone will always want to play the ‘jerk’ – or better, ‘agitator.’ Going back to the classroom where my best friend and I represented the opposite sides – there was at least one person on each side who just didn’t want to agree on anything. In these situations both my friend and I had to ‘trump’ them to put them and keep them in their places.

The “I and You” is most likely the most important part of our mortal life in dealing with others who we come into contact with on a daily basis. We try to make things as least stressful – and hopefully the other person will do the same. This is normal interaction between people and actually between animals! I’ve many photos of egrets and gators in the same place at the same time and the gator isn’t trying to eat everything in sight. Any nature movie one watches they’ll see animals in harmony with others – predators and their game. Man has taken the idea of 24/7 competition to be real when it’s only a theory long on rhetoric and short on truth.

The last part of “I and You” is the sacred relationship between a man and a woman – committed to love and marriage to become as the Scriptures say – “to become as one, like the Father and Son are one!” The world has sought to destroy this as with everything else – yet some men and some women understand the greater covenant of marriage and the family unity which can be forever and ever. Buber saw part of this but within his belief system he didn’t know how to carry it into forever. Which much discussion I’ve tried to call this “I and I’ (smile) indicating the man and women become one in thought, actions and beliefs. Neither loses their inherent individual ness – but both surrender some of their different ness in achieving harmony together. Thus believing in the Scriptures that they’ll be heirs together (if worthy) forever and ever.

And yes there’s negation in love – much negotiation – from the dating process till the wedding day – and then far more intensely afterwards. These negotiations are not only with your best friend but with your spouse and eternal companion to be! Harmony in negotiations here is the keyword and never competitiveness to be found. Both seeking resolution for the whole and striving to become one in understanding and loving, without guile in any way.

Society and the world have worked over time to change this relationship into one night engagements and till divorce do us part or better till death do us part. Making marriage a competitive institution and asking the question why anyone would want to become married and why have children. This is all selfish, which is the underlying theory of evolution and Spencer’s works.

‘Unselfishness or selflessness’ are the key ingredients of Martin Buber’s works – and thus why he titled it, “I and Thou.” The ‘I and Thou’ to Martin Buber were very important to him in raising human relationship to a higher plane of existence. He knew he had a relationship which he could not totally define and he knew this sacred relationship was to be sought among those who he knew. And also because in knowing there was someone greater – someone sacred it gave him a hope – which seemed unlikely in the Germany of the 1900’s of his time.

If ever we could attain an “I and Thou” relationship in our everyday relationships we’d find a peace and understanding within ourselves and others. In negotiations one might guess the relationship I had with the General Manager came close – we never argued or wasted each other’s time – we always found resolution – and yet at the same time maintained a professional relationship.

I’ll close with the classroom negotiation. When my friend and I got together for the first session – after some conversation – I offered to split the difference in his price and mine. We agreed – we were told we couldn’t agree. Everyone thought we were crazy to have agreed so quickly. After three day of so called negotiations we ended up with my price – the government lost several hundred thousand dollars. Yet nowhere did I beguile or misrepresent our side – but some of the more difficult team members on both side – raised so many different issues – the government side became convinced in our bid. Why did I offer to compromise – because I thought as a company we could do the work and absorb half of the risk involved and have a good working relationship with the government! In the end if I had to deal with any of those (with the exception of my friend) in the working of the contract an adversarial relationship would’ve been present. This is not what negations should achieve – fair and reasonable is the goal – always – professional and not personal. Oh in the real negotiation (this was an actual negotiation situation) the government and the contractor agreed to split the risk and therefore split the difference in the government estimate and the contractor bid!

One final thought on “I and Thou” – in the world there are some who treat every situation as ‘I and Thou’ – however with a twist. They expect us to look at them and treat them as the ‘Thou’ in the every relationship! Yet in return to them once this occurs – they treat us as an ‘I and it’ relationship. We become as nothing in their eyes and feelings (if they have any left) – simply something to be manipulated in any relationship which might occur. An example might be the wealthy within the Roman Civilization or Greek Civilizations long ago – or in some religions today – Congress or Government – Professors – Clergy – and every now and then one will find this in negotiations. Think of bright lights – razzle and dazzle – or something similar – it’s in their insincerity of approach and treatment of others – beginning to beguile and then once they the ‘I’ so treated – the ‘I’ in us becomes and ‘it’ to them. Throughout history these type people are called ‘demagogues’ and for some reason many of the ‘I’s’ want to be in this relationship – for it means they’ve no accountability or responsibility in the relationship as it’s all been transferred to the ‘Thou.’

Copyright © 2009 – cji

“Leadership or Management”

“Leadership or Management”
cji
2/23/09

Some can be very good leaders but so good as a manager – while others can manage but not lead. What’s the difference and what are the respective roles of each? Also can one both lead and manage equally well or poorly? For one to achieve an MBA one has to acknowledge that management is more important than leadership in business. Yet is this true?

Over the years we’ve had many leaders with no management skills at all and as a result they both recognized it and accept it as a fact! What would define the role of a good leader? Most simply it’s the ability to lead others in a time of great adversity forward towards the goal or objective without faltering. Had all factors been equal and one was to remove Wellington from the Battle of Waterloo – somewhere someone might still be fighting a Napoleon the 17th. But Wellington was there and did lead and Napoleon was defeated. Had anyone but Sir Winston Churchill been PM of Great Britain during WWII would the British have withstood Hitler? He was there and the British did withstand the assault by Germany.

The above two examples are good fodder for showing a difference between leadership and management. Management got England into WWII – and leadership got it out and mostly intact. After WWII management again took over and we’ve seen the repeated results of what’s happened since. Let’s understand Eisenhower was a great manager – and became a hero to many – even President of the US – however he knew his limitations and with General’s like Bradley, Hodge, Patten and many others he knew where the leadership on the battlefield lay.

A good manager can organize – draw up plans – be political between two sides of an organization – and see the organization as a whole and in its parts. All pen/ink and paper – he knows how it supposed to work and why – but also knows he needs others for the how it will work and why. A really good manager knows how to stay off stage and manage the operation – while letting others work within the operation. I.e. a hospital manager (administrator) is not a doctor but recruits doctors and nurses to operate the hospital – he/she insures that the right and best equipment is available and whatever is needed in the care of patients (and employees).

Whereas a manager is organizational – a leader is situational. A leader would wear out if on the constant stage of leadership in an active form therefore in situations the leader rises to the top and then returns to his/her role in the organization once more. A manager however is constantly going because it’s his/her role to keep the show going. Washington would be a good example of a leader in this instance – when he was needed by his nation he was there – when not he was back at home. However the John Adams and others were still at work in the kitchen for the duration of their lives.

When one goes home at night both roles mightily intermixed within a family – but seldom to the degree on the battlefields of the world. However equally if not more important! Management of a family and a home is intrinsic to the success of both – and leadership (the example) is also important – to the raising of healthy children and promoting a loving family relationship by all.

A leader sees solutions and proceeds – a manager sees problems – seeks assistance to come up with the correct solutions and proceeds. Managers have limited power to act or control – while leaders take or are given power to act and control.

When a ship sets sail from dock – when the last line is released from the mooring – the Captain has absolute power and control – no longer is management involved. A Captain is both given and takes this power and control – it’s a leadership requirement. However here’s the catch – the power is his/hers whether qualified or not – whether a good leader or not! Some Captains have the total respect of their officers and crews – having both been there and done that with him/her before. They’ve weather the storm and know how to weather the next storm as well. Some Captains have the total abhorrence of their officers and crew – ruling over them almost maliciously. This has been found throughout history – written about in novels and non-fiction. The best found lore of WWII abounds in the ranks of the submariner Captains.

Now and again a Captain is placed on a ship and will run it as a manager knowing no other way. Without storms or combat the ships make their journey from port to port without incident. And this is almost the norm in peacetime – the managers run the whole show all of the time – to the point that leaders and leadership are forgotten all about and found unnecessary. The role of the manager goes outside of its organizational limitations and assumes responsibility it has not earned. The schools are good at teaching this to their students in a relatively safe environment.

The equation is money equals power and power equals leadership – etc. This is a false equation but while it’s used and believed many good leaders are buried as if at sea never again to be seen or heard from. The current evidence within the economy of the US is an excellent example of this taking place. We’ve incompetence by those making the laws – those enforcing the laws and those taking advantage of the loop holes in the laws. Laws passed to make the playing field level for those without income – without work – without any viable means of support (with the sole exception of the government) given homes and mortgages which no one expected them ever to pay. Thus forcing the banks and mortgage companies to lend the money (or else). The same government now blames someone else for these horrible situations were in – and never themselves! This is management gone berserk without any consideration for those willing to work and pay their own – instead making those who work not only pay their own way – but everyone else’s as well.

The leadership of the nation was burned at the stake and still is by the media and those who scream ‘it’s not our fault!” No one is willing to take up the lead and get things back on track – and those who’ve claimed this right are only digging the problem deeper. Management as a role and unity has lost sight of their role in keeping the show going and leadership is nowhere to be found having been burned in the witch hunts of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the first part of this century.

The silence of the media/press to the voices of truth has by apathy removed them from the stage. The political revolution of total government has removed the need for leadership of any kind – and for the most part management as well. Doing what feels good for the moment seems to be the plan of action found in Washington and campuses of the nation. This is neither an acceptable definition of management or leadership – but more of that of a fool!

Yet when a society chooses to change the definition of words and roles – it messes with the very fabric of the heart and soul of its nation!

A manager would and could say, “Here’s the problem – here’s some possible solutions – which works best for the whole?” He/she would then weigh the various options – making sure the system can withstand the solutions suggested – and then takes the solutions to higher management for approval.

A leader says, “Is what I’m doing re-teachable and is it what I would want others to do?” And with understanding – says, “Follow me, here’s what we’re going to do and how!”

Again to repeat a manager’s role is organizational – and a leader is situational. A manger would fit out the ship and crew – picking the best possible captain for the ship and let it sail! The captain would then utilize the ship and crew for the best possible results – of both situation and crew while sailing!


Copyright © 2009 – cji

“Bad/Evil – Deceit = Good – Truth”

“Bad/Evil – Deceit = Good – Truth”
cji 2/22/09


We must understand fully what’s going on in today’s world (and has been for quite some time – only accelerated in our time) between good and evil! What's changed is the definition of 'bad/evil - deceit' and it was deliberate in replacing ‘good and truth’! Some even many will say this was not deliberate but is a natural happening with the wisdom of men and greater intelligence growing, that the need for moral or value or even commandments of behavior were/are no longer necessary.

Rappers made the word 'bad' the equivalent of good in their sounds as have the balladeers of the last 1500 years. The movement even led by monks into bringing ribald verses and wording into the written and oral words of their and now ours vocabulary and acceptance. There’s the oft told story of dropping a frog into hot water and it’ll hop right out again – yet if you slowly heat the water around him – he’ll stay in the water and die. This is as true of numbing the senses of mankind – and creating an unfeeling and unloving selfish population of radical extremes of hatred and abuses. It’s the seductive introduction which allows this evolution to take place – i.e. removing the understanding of being a child of God with a royal and eternal birthright – to one of evolving from the beasts of the field by pure chance.

Man in their constant looking for excuses and justifications of their excesses and abuses – turning to both the pulpit and the schools for their lifestyles. When one pays someone to preach to them – the preacher better provide what they want to hear. When one decides what is right and wrong they want someone teaching the same ideas. When they want little understanding they command and receive confusion taught – without any whites or blacks – truths or untruths – rights or wrongs. They received what they wanted and in return elevated those in their employ – with titles of Doctor or Professor, etc. Honors and tributes of their peers and adulation from their non-employee followers – i.e. all that they world had was theirs to feast upon, all they had to do was ask. The Greeks taught this in their schools for thousands of years – in the idea, “Give the people what they want – and they will give you what you want,” (paraphrase). Out of this comes what was known as ‘rhetoric’ (or tautology).

In fact what we’ve found are all of the aspects for an almost perfect crime and yet mankind wallows in their ignorance rather to admit a crime has been perpetrated upon them and all humanity. “A perfect crime is a crime committed with sufficient planning and skill that no evidence is apparent, and the culprit cannot be traced. The term can also refer to a crime that remains undetected after commission, or sufficiently unsubstantiated to prevent active investigation, so that nobody knows conclusively if the crime has in fact been committed,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_crime). Those committing the crime are convinced by their circular reasoning and quoting each other – writing the textbooks – approving the lesson plans – issuing the degrees and paying for the services of those who validate their beliefs unto others. One could see this in the Monopolists of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in having the schools teach their brand of economics and then going so far as to get one of their stooges elected President of the US. Other places of more importance is found in the daily media – which passes for ‘news’ and in fact is nothing more than a ‘party line.’ One must think of the movie, “Bye, Bye Birdie” which took a rock star almost to the White House.

Indeed the hoax being put upon people of all walks of life come from both the innocent (at least to begin with) to those knowingly violating the trust given to them in their various offices of responsibility. The innocent who get wrapped up in a good cause – or because of knowing that they’re too smart to be fooled, etc. and the others from knowing what they’re doing isn’t right – but to not do it would be to be cast out and no longer to find the social or peer acceptance of those around them. To be good, honest, etc. is to be a stranger in this world today! It’s been said, “The price of integrity is to live in isolation and to be ostracized by the world.” One would hope more would like to be found as such rather than embraced by the world of deceptions and confusions. Yet this is not the case – for gray is the prevalent color of worldly knowledge and so many preaching the same things can’t all be wrong –but yet they can and are!

Let’s give an example of this – you’ve the formula given to you for the perfect health drug. There’re found all sorts of recommendations and personal testimonies of this drug. The medical journals and laboratory tests abound with the praises of this drug. It’s found to be the greatest thing since the M&M Peanut. Not only all of this but it’s affordable for you to own and use. Thus you use the drug – and nothing happens – nothing at all that you can see on the surface. So you stop using it – and it sits on the shelf. Several years later you develop an incurable disease and you die well before your normal life expectancy. The hospital and the police rule illness as the cause of death. In the meantime this same occurrence is happening all over the world – and CDC gets involved. Ultimately they are able to link it back to the pill bottle you put on the shelf years ago. The business long ago went out of business – the medical editors and testers nowhere to be found – yet they were all absolute in their testimony of this drug and you now are dead! All over the world there’s a hue and cry – and no one to blame! For all were correct in their tests – the unknowns of the drug were latent and could not be known.

Similarly no one is found suing the media, television or advertisers over diseases caused by smoking – only the companies producing the ‘smokes’ and they’ve warned people up front of the dangers. One sues the manufactures of guns and not the parent(s) who raised the person who used the gun in the commission of a crime. The world has established it’s own rules of determination and none of it for the most part falls on the person who indeed is at fault themselves. I.E. the person at McDonalds who tries to drink the coffee while doing something else – spills it and gets burned.

The stupidities of the laws of men sometimes are overwhelming but are they really? The appearance is that they are – but yet if one wants to disenfranchise and remove accountability and responsibility from the population – thus keeping it all for them – this is a rationale act deliberately done to centralize their overall control of the society. Instead of teaching accountability and responsibility they portray these as unneeded and controls of another. They change another definition – i.e. agency from one meaning the right to choose ‘good’ and to be obedient to the Commandments of God – to that of one can go and do whatever they want and don’t get caught.

It’s the getting caught doing something wrong which causes problems and then they’ve their judges in place to override any law which might’ve been broken. Lawyers make big money in getting known criminals set free from known crimes. The murderer of LBJ’s sister’s boyfriend was let off with a suspended sentence while being caught red-handed. One need only to wonder at what else is happening – today we’ve men and women serving in our government who it they were us – would be in prison or at least jail. Some of their crimes include but are not limited to: wrongful death – bribery – income tax evasion – writing their own laws and pays raises – pension funds and filling the pork barrels of those who own them and their votes. If one remembers correctly the US stopped being a Republican Form of government with the direct election of Senators in approximately 1913. Thus all political offices are brought and paid for by someone, whether legal or illegal.

Each of the above continues to numb and deny feelings to those who seek public approval and peer acceptance. All are indeed planned and executed by someone whose selfish interest overrides any of the public good while proclaiming it’s all for the public good. Denying feelings is the one sure way to enjoy excesses either by one or the many. It’s to be without conscience in one’s actions or deeds and certainly without any responsibility or accountability. It’s the one sure way to deny absolute truth and good – allowing instead ‘bad/evil and deceit to take their place as only being a value judgment and nothing more from and onlooker who’s meddling in their affairs.

To shift some and look at the subtle changes in our own society from strict (if ever the case) to permissiveness. We went from G movies to X movies - now there's seldom a PG movie available - but they're rated G - while 30 years ago they would've been an R. In government and other areas dominated by the creeds of business and the slime of corruption one defines sex in the White House as excusable but he should've kept it quiet! There's no mention of the 'Thou Shalt Not!' only that many thought 'Wow' - he did it because he could! The music (if one can call it that) is filled with lyrics which leave no doubt to the intent or meaning - whereas 50 years ago only Atlantic Records went so far - but they got away with it. Even in their documentary the executive of Atlantic Records discuss this new venue they found to exploit.

Parents are less likely to monitor the music or what they’re children watch – using the same excuse to them selves as they used on their parents in similar conditions years before. Also with the advent of the cell phone – photos are now more revealing (until caught) and conversations which might’ve taken place on the home phone are now without any oversight. The dispersion of birth control devices and education – the immorality of the educators (not many but some) – the looseness of the clothing, etc. have all led to denying feelings in exchange for social acceptance. Language abuses in public make it unwelcome for some customers to entitle the others the right of free speech even if it’s offensive. People openly discuss their personal lives – sexual activities and comments of those around them in this exercise of free speech. And again the parent(s) have abdicated their responsibility and accountability to others than themselves in the era of good feeling and being a friend of their children and not a parent.

Finally the idea of ‘bad/evil – deceit = good – truth’ one has to understand one has to dehumanize and relate most all to things – i.e. property – chattel – toys – trophy’s – prizes – scores, etc. Darwin and Spencer went a long way in giving this behavior acceptability – and the schools and pulpits have only increased this acceptance. In denying truth (common sense) and accepting confusion – unknowns – many instead of one – the rules found in society would shame field mice in this behavior. In the movie “Hook” – a key line is given in a joke, “You know what the difference is between a lab rat and an attorney? There are some things even a lab rat won’t do.” This is the condition that man/woman have directed the worldly to accept without any exceptions. Personal pride – personal selfishness – personal self-fulfillment –personal acceptance – and personal power all equate to the person of today in a modern society.

Thus one needs to be proud of the worldly! To be proud one has to understand that we're talking of things - which will eventually go away - with the media exposure - one would guess if they can destroy Mitt Romney they can destroy most anything of value till all are as swine in the mud pit. People have allowed their senses to be numbed - nothing surprises them anymore -- i.e. the two teenagers out of their homes and one found dead at 3:30AM the other unconscious - where were the parents? And how were these girls raised up?

When the people abdicate responsibility and accountability - the mud permeates the whole - thus all looks equally bad -and what's good is used as an example of extremism. Too many seek too much with too little. One can have 5,000 swine marching in order - but what's the point? Yet we find millions doing much the same - so as to be in with peers and with the 'change' of the moment. As one violates the eternal laws one gives up much more than they'll ever receive - to isolate truth from things is much the same. Men and women have always been carnal in their human nature - however it's through self-discipline that one controls their lusts and passions - when there's not longer a teaching of self-discipline and one looks to the world for the music to march to - then indeed they've become what Darwin and Spencer wanted them to become - nothing more than animals. When a human being becomes nothing more than an animal - those in power will gain more and more control of them - it's just a matter of breaking them to the plow. What governments and media cannot do - Madison Ave will do for them.

The acceptance of ‘bad/evil – deceit = good – truth’ requires an adoptive behavior – to deny one is in reality a child of God – with a royal birthright – denies all of God and his Commandments for our well being – and thus denies feelings and self worth. I’ve left out the need to be in the service of others – i.e. James 1:27 (and many other scriptures) – which is such service one seeks not to elevate themselves but to elevate all around them. To love one’s neighbor is a commandment – for one can help his/her neighbor – yet the world has changed this to read, “Love the world” for one cannot comprehending helping the world so they leave it to others.

Someday the ‘Thou Shalt Nots” will be found to be the criteria of our final judgments. Those Prophets then and now will be at the Bar of Judgment and will witnesses against us for denying God and accepting the worldly. Those who chose the confusion of the world will be found without excuse or justification – for man/woman inherently know of the confusion and the lack of common sense if they but read what’s readily available to them in the scriptures. Those who stand in isolation to the worldly will have testified to their friends but to know apparent avail – and will only be able to stand aside and weep for their friends and associates.

The sorrow will be found magnified because to accept truth is so much easier to do – than to accept the rhetorical creeds of the world. And thus in the Scriptures it talks of the God the Father or the Savior weeping – it’s because of those children who choose to follow Satan rather than them. Don’t get me wrong – there are three degrees of being saved – but only one (1) is to return into the presence of the Father and the Son and with our families eternal forever and ever. The other two (2) degrees will be saved – yes – but not able to procreate and be in the presence of the Father and the Son. And of course there will be outer darkness for those who deny the Holy Ghost (i.e. deny the promptings of the Spirit or without feelings) and/or commit murder which is the shedding of innocent blood.

We each must remember who we are and why we’ve come to this earth. It’s not just a chance happening – or a mistake in the laws of nature – but a mission we only can fulfill – and this requires full obedience to the Commandments, Laws and Statutes of Heavenly Father and His Son – Jesus Christ our Savior. Satan doesn’t care whether we’re partially obedient – keeping 3 – 4 and 8; just as long as we don’t keep them all – all of the time. He doesn’t care we profess a belief in Jesus Christ as long we don’t believe his living Prophets now or then. He doesn’t care if we attend churches of the world as long as we don’t attend the Saviors church in these latter days. He doesn’t care if justify or talk badly about him (Satan) even if we deny he exists – as long as we do the same about the Savior in our talk or our actions in denying truths and common sense. We must remember Satan employs those who don’t teach the ‘whole truth’ but instead mix the gospel with the creeds of men – to beguile any and all into a feeling of ‘all is well’ and ‘I’m saved’ – as long as they don’t believe in a living Prophet and the Restored Church today!

Over time ‘bad/evil – deceit = good – truth’ only with the worldly! Those who really understand that these will never be equal must accept peer approval and worldly acceptance – thus the scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 121: 34-40:
“34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.”

Which side will we be found residing – for one cannot straddle the line (as the world teaches) – for to do so is to have made your decision! You can either be on the Lord’s side or you’re not! If not then you’ve made your decision to choose the wisdom of the world over that of the Father and the Son. It’s simple stuff – not complicated – common sense – and to deny this is an adoptive choice and not one of your original birth right. Yes once more all will be saved – this was the reason of the Sacrifice of the Son on the cross to do away with the death of the spirit (and thus the individual) it was done for all of us (with the two exceptions – denying the Holy Spirit of Revelation and shedding of innocent blood). But being just saved is not the purpose of the Plan of Salvation – eternal life and exaltation is clearly defined as our greatest goal in mortality – to be resurrected with a physical body of flesh and bone and become one with the Father and the Son and our families if found worthy.

Thus I leave with each of you, “Joshua. 24: 15.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

“What is a Fact?” cji 2/4/09

“What is a Fact?” cji 2/4/09

There are at least three kinds of facts: 1) a real fact which is both truth and proven; 2) a rhetorical fact where everyone seems happy with the presentation and won’t ask any questions; and 3) something with out any relationship to 1 and 2! Yes this is a wise crack type answer to be sure – but it would be my guess that a fact is what someone wants to believe to be true – without reservation and without often much proof.

What is a fact? Pondering this when doing research I’ve often wondered who’s done their homework and how much effort was put forth in their presentation. A fact should be a discernable piece of information related to the subject at hand with several references and no disputable credibility.

This would preclude anything which can be reputed and not hold up under close inspection of one or many needing to use the information without prejudice. Most non-facts don’t really make much sense when applied to a situation of real life. Too many are so busy creating facts that they feel the numbers will override the truth.

Hitler did this in his ranting and raving in repetitious manner to get many to believe his lies as facts. Many believed him because they wanted to believe him – for in doing so there was a supposed gain in the future (or present) for them. Some would consider not being shot as a gain. This would be true in many 3rd world countries where to believe the majority is to live and anything else is death or worse than death. The majority being those in power and nothing else then mattered. It could be said it was very easy to believe St. Augustine as the alternative was to be put to death for believing in the early Christian beliefs as taught by the Savior, his Apostles and the Prophets.

Many use written texts as being factual because; they were published, others reference them, and it just must be true (why would the author lie). In actuality many authors and publishers have gotten slack or have a stick to burn when writing and publishing. In 1834 a book was published entitled, “Mormonism Exposed” which was as virulent book as has been published against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Joseph Smith, Jr. This book and another 1500-4000 like it are still in publication even though the entire original has been discovered to be untrue and based on hatred rather than facts. One could argue that the authors believed what they wrote but even this has been disproved. Yet even today ‘scholars’ quote from these books to discredit the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However any person with a minimal amount of common sense can see through the lies and observe for themselves what is truth and what is a lie.

This issue of common sense brings up a critical point of accepting a lie as a fact – for many will not use common sense and almost all of the critics (the worst being those who’ve apostates from the Church) justify and resolve on their decisions without wanting to know the truth. Contention and hatred are the tools of those who seek to dismiss anything based on hearsay, lies or conjecture. When one has been filled with bad information and has come to believe that they couldn’t have been lied to – then no longer will they hear or care about any ‘real facts’ which will or could help them understand.

As an example I’ve a very good friend who’s deeply involved in his/her church – which teaches multiple sermons about my church and that I’m going straight to hell and I’m riding a bobsled in the process. When one of his/her granddaughters said this was what she was taught – in Sunday School – she was reminded that one should not and could not judge another for what awaited them in eternity. How many like this young girl heard the same lesson and has no one to correct her or to help her understand beyond the preacher? Sadly as in this example and many others history is replete with prejudice and hatred preached by decent men and women to their ‘flocks’ without anyone questioning or doing their own research on the subject.

Facts are what can convict a person of a crime – if they’re there – and the evidence is good and proven to be true. Yet many innocent people go to jail or prison because someone doctored the facts and the evidence. Even some who’re guilty beyond a reasonable doubt may be let free because of the corruptness of the processes, the attorneys or the judges. Our modern day politicians are living proof of this slanting of the facts and laws (which they help write) till we’ve all been lied to and told it’s the truth.

Sometimes a fact becomes a fact by ignorance of those presenting the information. Something is presented and no one takes the time to see if it’s really true or not. An example would be, ‘that the only good snake is a dead snake.’ This is taking all snakes everywhere and declaring them to be bad! This just isn’t true – but you’ll find a lot of people today who would disagree and declare unequivocally that there’s no good snake. One may not like snakes (I don’t) but they know that the snake serves a purpose in nature of this world.

One should be able to test a fact to find for them self if the information they’ve been given is true or not. (When referring to ‘one’ in this instance I’m referring to a person above the age of accountability and able to research out the fact.) There are both tangible and intangible facts – and both can be discerned – if one is willing to put aside prejudice and hatred or any other impediment to finding the correct answer. Let’s understand that one researching on their own is not easy – and in some cases it’s time consuming. However in critical matters one should not just have to rely on another for their person or being.

Facts additionally are drawn from our experiences – good or bad – biased or unbiased – yet we owe to ourselves to be objective in observation and when something doesn’t feel right it most likely isn’t. This requires one must still have the ability to feel and not be beyond feeling. If one does a review of the scriptures they’ll find references to people who’ve become ‘past feeling’ as is found in 1 Nephi Chapter 17 verse 45:
“1 Nephi 17:45: Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.”
And Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 19: “Eph. 4: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Thus in each life one has to decide for themselves to accept the word of another on things of vital importance to themselves and their families – or to do their homework and learn for themselves! One cannot stop when they ascertain that they need to look no farther especially if their sources are repetitive or circular – facts cannot be proven by this type of research. One must fully look keeping an open mind in all things – of value, virtue and worth. This excludes most of the ‘things’ of the world as the deception and selling by TV, movies, Madison Ave. and anyone trying to beguile another into supporting their lifestyle will never prove to be an actual fact – beyond the belief system of the beguiler.

Lying and deceit have so convoluted the truth and altered the facts that many have given up – and in joining the world seek no more after truthful facts. What they have given them by the world is sufficient for them. In reality ‘facts’ are the tools of men to the convincing of another to hate one and contend with another – or to be considered ‘strange’ and unwelcome into their world.

Heavenly Father doesn’t use facts (although there’s more than enough to support him) as men to prove of his truth or that of his Son – he speaks to his children and they hear his voice – simple stuff really. Yet many prefer the books like the one referenced above – without merit except to the worldly and without truth except to the prejudices of its readers and supporters.

A child understands a fact – the stove is hot – if I touch it I’ll be burned – my mother taught me this and I’ll believe my mother and not be tempted. How many have mothers (or fathers) who teach them correct principles and love them enough to help them to discern truth from a lie – a fact from a non-fact? This is the dilemma of answering the question, “what is a fact’ and more importantly to understand why it is or isn’t.

(Added reading might be found: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/hel/7)

"Wondering Within"

"Wondering Within"
cji
2/4/09
Climbing small peaks
yet measured not all
for what's seen unseen
finds me wondering oft
of the depth of spirit
contained within self
shared with another
as a oneness complete
and then I stare wide
wondering within self
if worthy of such love!



Copyright © 2009 – cji

“Why are theories important to individuals?” 2/3/2009

“Why are theories important to individuals?”
In 1 Cor.19-22 we read; 20 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Really one shouldn’t need anymore to know why theories are important to individuals! But the worldly require more and sometimes so do those not of the world. However the worldly only read to seek to disprove anything written against them and their ways – while the ‘choir’ read to understand and yet gain more knowledge.
A friend of mine had to make an important presentation – it was on a sacred topic and others would be there to present who not only didn’t believe as he did but they scorned his beliefs. Prior to the presentation each presenter had to exchange what their comments would be in the first draft. In this way one would know what the other would be presenting. Now if you can follow this – he was the only one presenting as he believed and even though the beliefs of the others varied they were all similar to one another and all combined to scorn his beliefs.
In assisting my friend – I asked if wanted to speak to deaf or unhearing ears? He said of course not in his quick reply. Therefore I suggested that he speak to neither of the other presenter’s material but to speak only to the audience without once addressing the comments found in the first draft of the others. In a worldly perspective this is most difficult to do and most are so tempted to address what they know will soon be said by another. He did agree as I suggested as I additionally pointed out where this had been done successfully before many times and when not done and should’ve been done the results was as expected.
Here then is the catch – and addresses the question found in the above title – my friend was presenting from known, proven fact – not theory – while the others were speaking from only theory passed down to them in the higher schools of learning and their individual restricted prejudices! They were restricted in their presentation to the theories of others passed alone as quasi factual information but without either foundation or merit in the eyes of Heavenly Father and therefore only in the eyes of the world.
In conclusion to the example of my friend he did wonderfully well – the others in their presentations showed they had not listened to him one whit! They went their party line presenting nothing new and nothing to substantiate what the topic of the meeting was about. The audience could tell the difference – with some actually hearing and others like the other two presenters not wanting to hear what my friend had to say. Yet in the end – new ears had heard – and some will take action on what they heard and this was the goal of the presentation.
In the importance of theories to individuals is that most individuals live in the theories as if they are already proven fact and not changeable or correctable! Recently I’ve had to read some books on a normal day I would’ve never ventured to even review. The material being presented wasn’t being presented as a theory but as the final answer to the question of which the author presumed everyone had asked and wanted to know.
In seeking to find out why I found the book so objectionable it finally dawned on me that the theory being presented as the final answer was incomplete and not entirely open ended. The author using a great wealth of wordiness was placing great limitation of other men/women and even greater limitations on Heavenly Father. Thus in offering great justifications to men/women (and one would surmise the beasts of the field) his work has become a classic in its field of stuffy.
It’s interesting to note even the translator of the work found it difficult to understand and thus made it even more difficult by changing the essence and meaning of the title. Yet this was both of the author and the translator’s common theory in all of human behavior in their studies and teachings. And thus the theorist continues to confound not only themselves but those who become their disciples.
Most of the worldly theories are still just theories and in many cases most in the world don’t even know what they are! The inner circle of the elite educated has always placed itself on a pedestal decrying the ineptitude of the masses. The American Constitution was supposed to rid some of this – but in the end the elite wealthy have deemed it their right to rule and make laws. In theory the Constitution was one of the greatest documents ever written by a group of men in one place at one time. However the question always came down to how could it work? Those who followed the Founding Father’s decided it couldn’t work and have two centuries working to change it or do away with it altogether; after all it’s just a theory of how government should work is their combined echo. Now a seat in public office has a price tag – and if you’re not willing to pay you cannot get in!
Education is at great fault in the presentation of theories because of the rash bias against morals, virtues, common sense and truth. The common thought of most students is, ‘garbage in – garbage out’ and knowing they’ve to give back to the professor/teacher/instructor what’s been given to them without argument. Soon as trained mice these students will enter into the worldly and do the same with those they’ve responsibility for – all such a waste of unlimited potential.
Theories and the study of them give justifications to the weaknesses and apathy of the world. Instead of seeking the higher truth or greater light which each human has the ability to do – theories keep as their intent humans confused and in contention one with another. The book referenced above on human behavior and relationship between two or more human beings, never once deals with a ‘oneness’ which is the bedrock teaching of the Scriptures and Gospel of Jesus Christ. In opposition to this idea of ‘oneness’ the author denies even the possibility of the most common thought taught by the Savior, “Gen. 2: 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” “Doctrine and Covenants 35:2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one. (See also 3 Nephi 28:10.)”
The theories of men become overly important as they seek at all times from offending anyone with common sense or truth. They hint at truth and say its truth but ultimately when one denies all or some of the facts it cannot be truth! The forced study and sometimes willingly creates an aura of importance which elevates one to a worldly higher plain. While in effect accomplishing nothing towards the resolution of what someone – somewhere put forth as a theory.
Much of my contemplation is being done with the idea of worldly and grand theories – not the subject specific theories in finite roots. These finite theories are usually resolved out of the light of the day and gain little public notice. It’s the grander ones which make money – sell text books – create positions of false teachers – teaching false doctrines (theories) as truth. They rely on a passive audience numbed by rhetoric and charisma which would rather avoid a bump in the road than to remove it.
Man rejects simple answers seeking instead for theories to define ‘reason’ to their own ends and not for the good of all. They’ll say it’s for the good of all but in reality confusion and contention cannot be good for anyone except one seeking to gain from others expense. Thus we’ve why theories have become a great study and end in themselves and therefore important.

“What is Theory?”

“What is Theory?”

Without going to the dictionary one would guess that a ‘theory’ is a worldly truth looking for proof by the world. It matters not even if there aren’t any facts to be found – just that the idea which developed the ‘theory’ is alive and well. With time and circular footnotes – one can finally become comfortable with the theory being an actual truth or fact. Thus when one starts with this definition of a ‘theory’ one can easily understand the guile which the works to justify itself in any field or area – either in belief or tangible things.

Here follows a dictionary definition (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/theory)
1.
a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.

2.
a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.

3.
Mathematics. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.

4.
the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.

5.
a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles.

6.
contemplation or speculation.

7.
guess or conjecture.
Origin: 1590–1600; < href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=-y&db=luna">-

One must enjoy the first definition in the use of Einstein whose own research was ever ongoing and even today is still being challenged by some. Einstein developed his idea in a letter to a friend in 1905 – and it wasn’t until the lunar eclipse in 1919 that much of it was substantiated to himself – while the world had jumped on it with great glee.

Many of the worldly theories give justification to contrary practices or beliefs. They justify animal like behavior among men/women at the expense of those less fortunate. The Theory of Evolution is most likely the world’s bright shining star of all theories declared true without evidence to support it. Even Darwin in his own writings said it was not proven but might be someday in the future – well the world is still waiting yet the theory is a practicing religion for many in the world today – with disciples and adherents around the world. So much so that many worldly religions (those started by men/women without authority), feel inclined to ratify it – while still proclaiming their belief in an incomprehensible God of the scriptures.

Shortly after the Theory of Evolution hit the streets – the idea of Survival of the Fittest joined into the chorus – and anyone who studies history can see the slavery of The British Isles and beyond throughout the 1800’s and into the 1900’s. In many parts of the civilized world (this is a very risky identifier) many live in abject suffrage to their clerics and governments – as well as to the oligarchy which controls them and their economy (lifestyle).

Theories are used as excuse for the world – they are not just ideas or thoughts but rationales to explain what the world cannot sort and place in its card catalog. One would venture that many theories are guesswork and pure speculation. Wherein anything one wants to be true follows the Greeks of old and implies rhetoric is the only truth – giving people what they want to hear, know and believe as truth (without any or very little truth involved).

Theories and Theorems are interrelated and one in the same is pure foolishness and shows someone without any lights turned on in their thinking or the acceptance of another’s thinking. A theorem is finite to the world of mathematics and numbers. A theory is vague and without a finite definition, which is why it’s called a theory and not a truth or fact.

Liking the idea of Music or Art Theory – one can discuss various aspect of what they like or dislike by either listening, playing, seeing or drawing a finite piece. It’s discussion without conclusion – i.e. Leonard Bernstein did a six-part lecture series at Harvard which in it’s most pure form is Music Theory. He presented to his class a myriad of perspectives on the enjoyment of music.

In addition one could consider the teaching of athletic skills a particular theory of the one doing the teaching. What would work for one might not work for another – so each have to take from the teacher what works best for them! In my life I’ve theories on swimming – coaching – participating in many areas of sports – yet they’re my theories only – and they have application in my life but not in everyone’s life. They might be good theories – well defined and supported – but still with all of the changes which continue to take place they are not the final, ultimate truths.

Theories are a beginning to explore – without restraints or mindless boundaries – it’s what my mind can comprehend and then start to deal with to organize into something which allows me to ask questions and seek their answers. However it’s also been my understanding (smile – theory) that one must not get caught up in figuring out the end result without prayer and effort to discern truth.

Since most think of religions as purely theory or speculation – St. Augustine and others paved the way for this by mixing Greek Philosophy with the Scriptures and produced intellectual acceptable answers (which in many cases was nothing more than confusion and contention). These theories and teaching became more gospel than the Scriptures actually displacing them – even the break away of what is called the Age of Reformation (burnings at the stake, etc.) would not leave these theories – giving them a full creditability while adding new speculations.

Now amid all of these theories; ministers, clergy, clerics, priests, deacons, rabbi’s and anyone else who speaks for God without his authority, we have the blend of confusion which gives an end result – of each individual’s selection of what bests suit them whether true or false! Family, peer pressure, status, pride, prejudice, greed, avarice, lusts and many other factors help in this determination for this is the worldly and not the eternal.

The theorists of the worldly forget that God (or Heavenly Father and the Son) are unchanging – the same yesterday – today and forever. They forget that Heavenly Father and the Son are not working on post-graduate degrees and that they don’t need a middle man to tell someone else what the Scriptures mean. Further they forget that they’ve no authority other than the world’s to dispense their wisdom (which is as nothing) mixed between philosophy and scriptures (they choose or rewrite) as thought it was the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Therefore theorist’s have to mix everything up – continue to throw more into the mix – enthrall students at the universities or from the pulpits into accepting a smorgasbord of rhetorical thinking instead of the simplicity of truth and the real Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not a Johnny come lately approach is been going on for thousands of years – and is led by none other than the fallen son of the morning.

Guile when mixed with theory is nothing more than garbage – yet when one is conditioned and makes their living on spewing garbage – then they become the men/women of theories and greatness is theirs for the taking.

There is some good theory – but for the most part it’s ignored for what it’s and shunned - the same as truth is shunned. Absolute truth is the most shunned thing in the world today and the past. (One would guess the world has its own theory on how best to shun truth.) Those who’ve professed to have it and revelations are usually demeaned or put to death and the recurring death keeps being handed down from generation to generation. One cannot mix truth or revelation into the mix – and thus those who’ve this eternal understanding have to be a bit off of the cliff of reality.

The problem with theory is that it’s not for all to engage – yet the world aggrandize and make important the unimportant – thus as with all else the world touches it steals the meaning and intent of theory. Indeed they’ve chosen to keep theory when in fact there’s actual knowledge of fact on an issue, thought or concern. Simply put a theory is an abstract thought you or I might have – sort of what if – or how come type question.

We’ll close with a simple example. On Saturday evening I shot and killed a hog. When I got to the spot where the hog laid – I noticed it was not the hog I’d shot at but all in the same it was dead and my shot did the job. Where the entry wound was found there was material which should not have been on that side of her body. After thinking about it I theorized that I actually had shot the hog I was aiming at and hit it – but the bullet continued on and killed the hog behind it. When checking I found this to be the case following the trail of the wounded hog until it went into the swamp (I don’t do swamps anymore – especially at night). Thus I know I shot one shot and hit two hogs. One died at the location of the shot but not the other. My theory is the other is wounded – and will most likely bleed out in time as it was shot through the neck. However, this will always be a theory as I’ve no way to confirm whether the hog dies or not.

Since most philosophical theory is around human behavior and life – one would guess the world doesn’t really want to find an answer – or one different from their circular redundant facts. For eternal life is not a theory – it’s a fact – one can deny it all they want – they can deny the Prophet’s then and now – they can deny what the Father and the Son have taught – they can deny behind their theories forever – but their theories are not Father’s truth or facts. Thus as I began, I’ll conclude, one would guess that a ‘theory’ is a worldly truth looking for proof by the world. It matters not even if there aren’t any facts to be found – just that the idea which developed the ‘theory’ is alive and well.

”Why is genius important to progress?” cji 2/1/09

”Why is genius important to progress?” cji 2/1/09

This question doesn’t define whether one is talking (asking) about worldly genius and worldly progress – or that which is eternal. Therefore with the freedom allotted we’ll approach both venues with equal zest! The approach will be from the eternal first and then the worldly.

Absolutely essential to eternal progress is the necessity to develop all that we’ve been endowed with as a child of Heavenly Father. We must be able to exercise the expansion of our light and knowledge. Our light in this circumstance is our ‘genius’ and our knowledge helps us to know what we don’t know. It’s been said, “The more I learn – the more I know that I don’t know and need to learn.” In 1968 in an essay of self that I wrote – I finished it with a poem and in this poem I said something like this, “For each mountain that I climb – one more will I see – and need to climb - for each question that I ask that many more will I know to ask…,” (paraphrase – it was long ago – smile). Knowledge and adding light in mortality is unending and will also continue after death in our next estate. The more we do in mortality will better prepare us for our next estate.
Genius: noun pl. geniuses gen′·iuses
1. according to ancient Roman belief, a guardian spirit assigned to a person at birth; tutelary deity
2. the guardian spirit of any person, place, etc.
3. either of two spirits, one good and one evil, supposed to influence one's destiny
4. a person considered as having strong influence over another
5. jinni (think of TV and Movies)
6. the personification of a quality
7. particular character or essential spirit or nature of a nation, place, age, etc.
8. a great natural ability (for a particular activity); strong disposition or inclination
9. great mental capacity and inventive ability; esp., great and original creative ability in some art, science, etc.
10. a person having such capacity or ability
11. popularly any person with a very high IQ (interesting to note this has little application to the rest of the definitions – yet the world highlights).
When one reviews the various definitions – there’s a noted linkage to our eternal parentage and potential. It’s not limited to just anyone with the exception the ‘popular’ worldly definition. Righteousness is paramount in ones example and thus an integral part of ‘genius.’ Yet there’s always the unrighteous influence to lead people. Genius can be on either side of the fence – but most will associate the eternal with good and not evil. And this could be very wrong! There are two sides to eternity – one is with our Heavenly Father and the other is in outer darkness or not being with Heavenly Father.

Many influence both ways to go - but the world only influences one way and that’s not to live with Heavenly Father. For with the rejection of a real Prophet and the fulfillment of Prophecies, including the Restoration of all things in the latter-days – the world denies all lineages of us with the Father and the Son – and thus denies ‘genius’ to all but their peers.

Thus we cross over from what’s eternal to what’s worldly – i.e. #11 in the list above. The world has taken the definition of ‘genius’ and the use of it in progress which is eternal! The world’s identification of Genius and its association with ‘progress’ is in the world of things is all tangible! Things of value – controls – creating sciences - worldly wealth and power over the material objects of the world. Whatever is good they determine if it’s worthy or unworthy of worldly praise or value and then use it or abuse it accordingly.

In the world one cannot really study ‘genius’ as it’s predetermined by the tests of the world and either you are or you are not! You cannot become a ‘genius’ and therefore any study of genius is of no worth. You’re allowed to study various geniuses but only what the world presents to you on them.

An example might be good here. I like and have read most of Albert Einstein’s works – he’s humorous – simple and easy to follow. Yet when I pick up a book about him – it’s convoluted and distressing – pointing out non-essential guess work (on their parts – the author) – about him and his life. Thus, if I want to know more about Albert Einstein – I read what he’s written. The same is true of Winston Churchill and others of their status in world history and apparent service given to freedom and agency.

Therefore we come back to the question of ‘why is genius important to progress?’ and find a circle – one being eternal and the other being just a circle without any meaning. The eternal circle is without beginning or ending – while the worldly circle is a rut going nowhere and ending nowhere. To be eternal is to continue to progress without end – while to be worldly the end is at death and the beginning at birth – i.e. mortality.

Genius is important to progress because of the eternal nature of our being and our direct lineage to Heavenly Father as his children. Without progress (or better progression) we’ll not be able to return to him and our home with him! This means each individual within the scope of their life only and not compared to another.

If you’re still here and following this – think of the word ‘progress and progress’ and define the difference? To progress to move along individually towards a destination – while progress defines what’s happened in the development of a thing or invention. Progression is the process of moving by an individual – while progress is a measurement of a worldly standard against some object.

One could ask if you’re making progress on homework or work assignments – while eternally one could consider how to progress to a higher level of light and knowledge. Which is it in your life? Since we’ve all the ‘genius’ gene and we can all progress to be with Father – the answer should be relatively simple why genius is related to progression!


Copyright © 2009 – cji

“What is Genius?”

“What is Genius?”

Having pondered this for multiple decades the answer to this question is relatively simple: A genius is a person who seeks to use common sense to resolve a question! They remove the nonessential – and bright lights to get to the basics of a situation. In addition genius is not someone worldly brilliant in area of their lives and in total darkness in the rest of their lives.

The world loves – even desires with unlimited passions and lusts to label and sort everything to which it recognizes as worldly. This is important to recognize for as soon as the world defines a person as being ‘genius’ they immediately describe his/her weaknesses – for the world is about demeaning and classifying – most importantly by controlling. If someone, which the world classifies as a ‘genius,’ doesn’t jump on board with weaknesses – they reject or create stories. In a similar vein when the world creates the classification system in which to slot everyone and everything they’re seeking to remove ‘real geniuses from their gene pool.

Many who could be ‘real geniuses’ due to birth, social standing, opportunity, neglect or any of a myriad of worldly reasons could be stunted and shunned.
However, how can anyone – anywhere deny that all of Father’s creations are geniuses? We’ve all the capability of becoming like Heavenly Father! “Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil…” If we can become ‘one of us (the Gods) – then one must have all of the gifts and talents to be a real genius. This simple thought scares and threatens the worldly people who use Gods only for their own ends. Constantly they try to define and limit what the world understands as the Father or the Son. In addition the limitations they put on their fellow beings – they also beguilingly entitled to the Father and the Son. Rather than lifting up their fellow beings to become like Gods – they demean the Father and the Son to be like themselves.

Philosophers spend endless words – books – thoughts on the denial or limited acceptance of the idea of a Supreme Being – or of Heavenly Father and his Son our Savior. They tear apart words like; love, feeling, emotion, hatred, obedience – even down to good or evil – or most importantly the ‘Two Ways,’ further demeaning the Prophets (then and now0.

One would guess that to be worldly one has to understand genius as someone who’s better than another. Leave it to the Universities/Schools/Scholars to compare and demean – lifting up their own gods of things versus things. They strive to eliminate the basic differences between the beasts of the field and the human being. Thus to the world a dog or cat can be a genius by being able to learn to do tricks. Yet how could/can this be?

Genius is simply the ability to solve problems and find solutions to the questions in their life. That in some cases these problems interact with the worldly inspires the worldly to label and control these solutions and then to question them. It’s a religion to the worldly to not accept anything – for to accept something – anything would be to commit and to thus become vulnerable to others.

So what have I learned more or less about genius?
Genius is uncomplicated
Genius keeps things simple
Genius is frustrated that others don’t do the same
Genius doesn’t like to waste time (especially with the superficial)
Genius make decisions quickly to those observing them
Genius will not accept confusion as having truth or common sense
Genius is multi-leveled in thinking and doing (multi-tasking also)
Genius are easily bored with the unchallenging or uninteresting
Genius never consider themselves to be geniuses
Geniuses recognize their environment and know they’re strangers to the worldly!

My guess would be this list is incomplete – but for time’s sake and rather than to bore or abuse the readers time – this list if studied contains much more than just what’s seen on the paper.

Maybe to add one more item: 11. Geniuses believe everyone else can do what they can do and are incredulous when others fail to meet their expectations – not their skills but their individual expectations (as a child of God).



Copyright © 2009 – cji