I’m not sure who came up with CTR, but I have always liked the acronym. It’s a simple reminder to make right decisions. At first, I didn’t like WWJD because of the fact that it may invoke the saviors name too often. I think that some people use WWJD in a flagrant way still. However, I was thinking about these two acronyms the other day and I started applying them into certain situations. In a way, WWJD is superior in some ways, and CTR is superior in others.
Choose the Right. In some ways it’s a subjective term. What’s right in a given situation? CTR gives the person more leeway to decide what is right. This is good because what’s right in one situation can be wrong in another. It fits in perfectly with free will. It’s good points can also be its bad points.
What Would Jesus Do? This is less subjective. If you are in any situation, think to yourself “WWJD?” If Jesus wouldn’t perform that act, then you shouldn’t do it. It’s that simple.
Let’s use Torture for example.
CTR. The internal thinking would be something like this “Should I torture this person? Well, torturing this person might help us back home. That’s a good thing right? Nephi was told to kill Laban, so, as long as it’s for good, I guess torture is the right thing to do…"
WWJD. “Would Jesus torture people? No, I guess he wouldn’t”
WWJD, I think can actually help us keep the savior in mind more often when making decisions than CTR. In some ways I like it better, but probably wouldn’t wear the T-Shirt.
I’m just sayin’
Monday, October 23, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Greater love hath no man than this...
One of my favorite scriptures is John 15:13, it reads "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Not all of us will be able to do this for others. It's not often that we will have to sacrifice our lives to save another, at least I hope not to be put in that position. Movies where a main character chooses to sacrifice him or herself for the others nearly always touch me in some way, even if it's a lame movie. Unless of course it's Armageddon where Bruce Willis sacrifices himself. I don't mind watching him die :-) The other movie however that breaks me down to tears is Deep Impact. I am touched by the sacrifice of the astronauts and their sacrifice, and the family that sends Elijah Wood and their daughter with the baby off to safety. I always break into tears. You can tell which of the two movies I like the best :-)
What I love to hear more than anything are true stories of this kind of self sacrifice. I read an article today in ABC news of a Navy SEAL who smothered a grenade to save his comrades. I'm sure he could have easily jumped the other direction in an effort to try and save himself. Instead, he must have realized that he could save more lives if he sacrificed himself. That man is a true hero.
I sometimes wonder if I could make that kind of sacrifice. Of course hope that I would. I may never have the chance to jump on a bomb or push someone out of the way of a train or a car only to be hit myself, but I do have the oppurtunity give of my time and talents to my family and friends and to the church. This can be a true challenge. I've heard that it is easer to die for the lord than it is to live for him. I beleive this to be true. This, however, does not take away from those like the Navy SEAL who sacrificed himeself for the greater good. He made the ultimate sacrifice. As Spock said (many times over the period of three movies) "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one". On a side note, Star Trek II where spock dies is also a tear jerker for me. Amazing Grace on bagpipes is always a tear jerker...
SEAL Falls on Grenade to Save Comrades
Not all of us will be able to do this for others. It's not often that we will have to sacrifice our lives to save another, at least I hope not to be put in that position. Movies where a main character chooses to sacrifice him or herself for the others nearly always touch me in some way, even if it's a lame movie. Unless of course it's Armageddon where Bruce Willis sacrifices himself. I don't mind watching him die :-) The other movie however that breaks me down to tears is Deep Impact. I am touched by the sacrifice of the astronauts and their sacrifice, and the family that sends Elijah Wood and their daughter with the baby off to safety. I always break into tears. You can tell which of the two movies I like the best :-)
What I love to hear more than anything are true stories of this kind of self sacrifice. I read an article today in ABC news of a Navy SEAL who smothered a grenade to save his comrades. I'm sure he could have easily jumped the other direction in an effort to try and save himself. Instead, he must have realized that he could save more lives if he sacrificed himself. That man is a true hero.
I sometimes wonder if I could make that kind of sacrifice. Of course hope that I would. I may never have the chance to jump on a bomb or push someone out of the way of a train or a car only to be hit myself, but I do have the oppurtunity give of my time and talents to my family and friends and to the church. This can be a true challenge. I've heard that it is easer to die for the lord than it is to live for him. I beleive this to be true. This, however, does not take away from those like the Navy SEAL who sacrificed himeself for the greater good. He made the ultimate sacrifice. As Spock said (many times over the period of three movies) "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one". On a side note, Star Trek II where spock dies is also a tear jerker for me. Amazing Grace on bagpipes is always a tear jerker...
SEAL Falls on Grenade to Save Comrades
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
"Nothing happens in contradiction to nature"
I was watching the X-Files the other day, and I came across this gem of a quote.
To me this summarizes the relationship between Science and Religion. Just because science cannot prove that there is a spirit, doesn't mean that it isn't so. Science has just not reached the point where it can study the spirit. This can be applied to all other gospel concepts that cannot be proven through science.
I'm sure there are others who beleive this, but I love the quote. I'll probably be using it in my signature on discussion forums.
The Truth is out there.
Nothing happens in contradiction to nature, only in contradiction to what we know of it. -Dana Scully
To me this summarizes the relationship between Science and Religion. Just because science cannot prove that there is a spirit, doesn't mean that it isn't so. Science has just not reached the point where it can study the spirit. This can be applied to all other gospel concepts that cannot be proven through science.
I'm sure there are others who beleive this, but I love the quote. I'll probably be using it in my signature on discussion forums.
The Truth is out there.
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