I can't believe its that time again . . .

It seems we just had presidential campaigning.  Here we go again. 

By coincidence my Netflix movie that came the other day was "Inside Job."

I usually fast forward past film previews to get to what I ordered to watch.  A while ago "Inside Job" caught my attention and I wondered if, as an award-winning documentary,  it might be a good review of the recent financial past. 

Its PG-13 because of some occasional rough language and also for the hooker and drugs that shows a perks side of Wall Street trading. 

Its also our recent history. 

After checking results from a google of "inside job movie review"  and reading some of the comments to the reviews I have yet to find any holes in the research and its portrayal.   After also reading reader comments on a David Brooks NYTimes piece,  "Creed or Chaos," I'm impressed at how articulate newspaper online comments can be for some newspapers.  Informative conversation.  Seems like there are some responsible folks out there even though we don't all agree.  Nice to read other points of view.

Now I see "Inside Job" as a good foundation to the coming season of political discussion which never has seemed to end from the previous campaigning. 

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/movies/08inside.html

If you're interested in the David Brooks piece on another subject go to
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/opinion/22brooks.html

It was also time to wash my windows.  When they look so nice why do I take so long to wash them again.  Now to get Jill to bring her tall ladder to do the upstairs loft window. 

"I promise not to hang out the upstairs window."

There I've said it in print.

Washing windows would be a good summer business for some kids I know and to whom I'm closely related.

Just got an invite to Easter dinner on Bryan Ave.  I've got strawberries to share for their angel food cake dessert.  Yummmmmm.

Happy Easter everyone.

Easter Week

Too often Easter Week seems to sneak up on me.  I don't seem to anticipate it.  Once again I'm a few days into the week before recalling these events that lead into the great and glorious event of Easter:

Saturday
Day of Anointing
Mary in Bethany

References:  Bible Dictionary (BD) p. 621, John 12, Talmage p. 511ff, McConkie p. 333ff.

Jesus arrived at the small village of Bethany to the home of his dear friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead after three days.  On the Saturday evening of the Sabbath Martha and Mary prepared the meal for the Sabbath before Passover.  After the meal apparently a crowd had gathered hoping to see the Christ whom they had heard much of his healings and speakings.  Onlookers at a meal was not unheard of in that day and place. 

After the meal Mary brought to the Savior an alabaster cruse of costly spikenard ointment.  Alabaster is a beautiful rock that can be carved for architectural detail as well as containers and statuary.  It has an opaque yet translucent appearance--white oftimes with yellowish streaks.   Talmage in 1915 gave the cost of the ointment to be about $15.  I suppose that today at the value of the dollar would make it about $250. 

Though it was not unusual to anoint the head of an honored guest with ordinary oil, to anoint both the head and feet with spiknerd in such abundance “was to show unusual and signal regard.  . . . Mary’s act was an expression of adoration; it was the fragrant outwelling of a heart overflowing with worship and affection” (Talmage).  

Note the concern of Judas for the monetary value of the ointment that it could have been put in the treasurer’s purse to use for the poor.  In retrospect of knowing that Judas had likely already made his deal for the life of Christ for far less than the value of the ointment Mary’s choice is indeed a contrast.

Sunday
Day of Popularity/Palm Sunday
Enters Jerusalem from Bethany

References:  Matt 21:6-11, Mark 11;1-6, Luke 19:28-34.  Talmage p. 513ff, McConkie p. 337ff.

Jesus prior to the trip down the hill at the side of the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem asked two of his disciples to go to a certain place where they would find a foal (with its mother) and to bring it to him.   They were to simply say that the Lord had need of it if they were stopped.  When they brought the colt they laid their coats across its back for the Lord to sit upon.

Many people had gathered in anticipation of his known coming to Jerusalem.  The Romans were not concerned as he was riding on only a slow donkey not a mighty horse.  They didn’t considered him a threat and the crowd was not unruly.  The crowd laid palm fronds, myrtle twigs and other foliage in his path in great adoration for his fame as healer and teacher.  Likely,  some  sensed his singular greatness as the Messiah.  Greeks had come the great distance as they had also heard of him and his doings. 

Jesus, when he approached the great temple where 220,000 people could gather on its precincts, wept.  He knew all that the city and its population could have been but they would not.  In the main they recognized him only as a man from Galilee come to Judea the greater city.  He knew that shortly the great city would be destroyed.

“If thou hadst known, even thus, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!  but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

The Pharisee’s in concern of the crowds asked him to rebuke his disciples.  He answered them, “I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” The Pharisees couldn’t see what so many knew from within.

The Old Testament prophet, Zechariah had known:  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee:  he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

Monday
Day  of Authority
The fig tree, Cleansing of the Temple

References:  Matthew 21:12ff, Mark 11:12ff, Luke 13:6ff, Talmage p. 524ff, McConkie p. 345, 348ff., BDC.

Setting off early again for Jerusalem the next day Jesus with his disciples saw a fig tree in leaf.  A fig tree in leaf gave them the assurity that there would be fruit for their nourishment and enjoyment on its branches.  Arriving at the tree they were disappointed to see they were deceived.  There was no fruit.  “It was a showy fruitless, barren tree . . . destitute even of [dried] fruit from the preceding season.”  Jesus cursed the tree for its hypocrisy.  The next morning they observed that it had withered from its roots up.  He taught them, “Have faith in God.”  Teaching that with faith even mountains could be removed, should there be a need--the great possibilities of faith and prayer. 

The miracle was proof of his power  to destroy by a word that which was barren and worthless.  He had the power that he could have saved himself from his impending death and suffering. 

Entering the temple he routed the merchandisers with their goods, the money changers at their tables, the defilers of the temple, calling it now “My house.” not only My Father’s house as formerly designated.

He then proceeded to heal those in need of healing.  Children saw his healing acts and sang in praise and worship, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”  To the objecting priests he said, “Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has  perfected praise?”

Tuesday
Day of Conflict
Teaches in the Temple, and at Mount of Olives

References:  Matthew 21, 24, 26, Mark 11- 14, Luke 20.  Talmage p. 530-563, and 569, 586ff,  McConkie p. 357-420, and  421-476.  (Parables taught at end of public ministry and prophecies on the Mount of Olives with his disciples.)

Wednesday
Day of Rest
Probably in Bethany

Thursday
Day of Fellowship.  Passover/Seder
Last Supper, Betrayed, Great Teachings

Friday
Day of Suffering
At sunrise taken to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin
6 a.m. to Pilate
Then to Herod
Back to Pilate
A crown of thorns
Carries his cross with assistance to Calvary
Soldiers part his garments
Noon to 3, darkness
Dies
Spear in his side
Buried in the borrowed tomb

Saturday
Day of Silence
The guards flee

Sunday
Day of Triumph
He rises
Mary, “He is not here.”

I saw this beautiful and inspiring painting recently:

I often reflect on Dad's thoughts as he sat at the garden tomb with his colleagues and looked upon the open and empty tomb while partaking of the sacrament that had been prepared.  

He is Risen!

I also think of my thoughts as I sat on a garden bench alone soon after Dad's death and near the garden tomb.

Because Christ has risen we to shall live together again!

 

Today, is a good day for me to be in the temple to learn and to think.

Have a wonderful Easter.  

Each of you inspires me and is a great blessing.

Love you all.

A Surprise Bundle of Letters

What a surprise it was this week to open a large envelope and draw out a bundle of Dad's letters.  It took my breath away to see letters from him after all these 27 years.  They are monthly letters David wrote to Mike Bailey serving a mission in New Zealand.  Some of you will remember Mike from our Moab years.  He was the seminary custodian after school and a fun friend who came with other students to our apartment to play Rook, eat popcorn and joke around.  You also might remember Mike, Barb and their children were visiting us in Bozeman when they got word of his father's death.

In the evenings I've been reading a few letters each day to stretch them out.  I've been thinking how to best copy them to add to your collection of Dad's writings.  Its a delight to read Dad's typical way of sharing his friendship and admiration of friends in his handwriting, mostly on blue air letters from the UK.

This note from Mike, currently principal of South Sevier High School in Monroe:

Dear Sister Parkinson

The letters are yours.  I give them to you.  I already have scanned them and I hope to eventually retype them.  They do mean a great deal to me, but I also know that they mean even more to you and your family.  I have read them many times.  I read each one before I scanned it.  Brother Parkinson has always been a part of my life.  I will always cherish his friendship and example. The way he wrote and the many things we did together and his reminding me of those experiences will always be a part of me.  I am humbled that I was part of his life and that he cared about me.  To have been a pall bearer at his burial means a great deal to me.  To have been called on the phone by him and ask that I participate was a humbling experience. To be in the same company as President Raymond, I am honored. I thank you for sharing him with us. He had more influence in my life than any one individual besides my parents.  I hope I can continue to honor his name.  

I am so pleased to continue to be part of your life as well.  I recognize that the Moab years were short, but it was the time I grew up and my testimony solidified.  It was because of DP squared.  I love him to this day and always will.  I look forward to seeing him again.  Tell your family how great a person he was.  They already know, but let them know how others loved him.  Barbara and I are both so pleased to have known him.  He was way to young to leave you and your family, but I also know that the Lord had far greater work for him to do on the other side.  You are a blessed lady and your family as well.  There will be a great reunion when you all meet again.  I will continue to read the letters.  I hope to use them as I write my history once I retire.  Thanks again for sharing him with us.  Love Mike and Barb.


Isn't it amazing how connections with Dad keep popping up after all these years. 

Sometimes we think we want things all at once.  It seems there are some things that are best acquired from time to time over many years.