Top Five: Best of 2008

Everyone else is doing it, why don't I ? Here are my top five highly personalized best things of 2008.

5. Economics I. The company I work for, Novell, continued to do well enough to keep me employed, God bless 'em.

4. Economics II. The real estate investment we went into in 2005 went south this year, and we sold it in November for a loss. But, we avoided a bone-crushing loss and feel light as feathers now!

3. Family I. Our oldest son was able to resume a relationship with his son, which brought joy all around.

2. Family II. Another son and his family moved back to Utah from Houston. More joy all around!

1. Cyber-communication. I started a blog and a Facebook account this year. I can express my thoughts in this blog, to myself and a few dedicated readers, and on Facebook I can keep in touch with family and friends, sharing moments, photos, events and more.

This was the hardest entry to limit to five. A growing relationship with and love for my wife, joy in church service, new family history adventures, and interesting and loving extended family relationships are also treasures I'll look back on with happiness for 2008.

Top Five: Sorenson success tips

James Sorenson, successful businessman and philanthropist, was the richest person in Utah when he died earlier this year. Here are his five tips to success in life and business.

5. No. 1, decide and find out who you are. And what you want.

4. Focus on your most important goals. List six things you really want in life, then pare the list to three. Most of us have too many goals and all with the same value.

3. Have enthusiasm for the task. Avoid procrastination, get underway! It's easy to get off-track with distractions like television, shopping, and surfing the Internet.

2. Avoid negativism, the biggest enemy of success. People who seek the world darkly tend not to set goals. Watch out for the blame factor--it's easy to blame, easier than taking control.

1. Keep trying. Instead of saying 'I can't do it,' say, 'I can't do it yet.' Edison must have said 'yet' an awful lot.

Sorenson's final, general tip is "Recognize the limits of your control. We cannnot control everything, but we can steer our own course."

Top Five: Articles on humanitarian services, God, and the Mormons

In case you ever wondered what the LDS church is doing in humanitarian services, or whether it helps... Titles are also links to the original stories.

5. An atheist says Africa needs God. In this column, Mathew Parris argues that in spite of his personal atheism, God--specifically the Christian God--is good for Africa.

4. LDS Church aids in reducing measles. Incidents of measles worldwide have been reduced by 74% in the last eight years, in part due to efforts by the LDS church.

3. LDS Charities donates 750 wheechairs in Ghana. A third of them are "Rough Rider" models, suited for use in rural areas.

2. Islamic, Mormon groups unite in aid to Africa. High level TV report from a couple of years ago.

1. Lucky 13. Links to 13 articles about humanitarian activities the LDS church is doing all over the world.

And if you want to go to the source, visit the LDS Philanthropies Web site, and learn about their primary programs in clean water, emergency response, neo-natal resuscitation training, vision treatment training, and wheelchair distribution. Contribute, even!

Top Five: Inspiring lines from Christmas carols

Here are some lines that deeply affect me from a range of Christmas carols. If you know the tunes, let them roll around in your heart as you read the words. The titles link to video performances of each song.

5. Some Children See Him

The Children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus' face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering
come worship now the infant King,
'Tis love that's born tonight!

4. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.

Another arrangement of I Heard the Bells

3. O Holy Night

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new a glorious morn.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials, born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.

2. In the Bleak Midwinter

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb.

If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can, I give him,
Give, give my heart.

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.


Have a merry and blessed Christmas!