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Saturday, July 31, 2010

'Nother maybe last post

So I just want to say read the scriptures and strive to follow the commandments everyday. I have been able to just sit down and study the scriptures for as long as I was for the past two days. It has blessed my life so much and I know it can bless yours. Strive to make it part of your day.

Endure to the End

Signing Out
Matt

Friday, July 30, 2010

Probably the Last Post i'll post before my Mission... Maybe

So, this is good bye for two years my friends. Ok, not technically good-bye because my letters will be posted on here. I did leave some surprises for you to find and look at while i'm gone. So, look... well. Don't kill yourself cause they aren't there yet but they are coming. I will not be using blogger while I'm on my mission. The next post that you will get from me when I actually post it will be in about two years. Good-bye to all ya'll.

Signing Out
Matt

Monday, July 26, 2010

I'm now feel ready and I'm now can speak

 NThere is something about giving a farewell talk and just talking with friends for a long time that just makes me feel more ready then I ever have. It's actually going to happen and now I feel less scared. Feel more prepared because of friends who are supporting me. I'm ready to leave and even though I have so much to do before I leave. I don't feel rushed. Which probably is a bad thing. But I'm just letting you know that I ready. So don't worry about me. For those of you who will receive your mission calls while I'm gone. I expect a letter while I'm gone so I can know where you are going.

I'm so excited for friends and others going out. It's so cool and wonderful. I love it so much. Please keep me posted and I'll try to keep you posted about how a mission is in Brazil.

Singing Out
Matt

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Farewell Talk

So this is the basic outline of what I said. It's not what I said but pretty close.


 Hello, I'm Matthew Barry if you didn't realize that by now. But if I could say one thing about me to describe me, that would be I'm going on a mission. Hopefully all of you know that before you came but if you didn't. Well... here ya go. Honestly I would of never thought I'd be going on a mission. Well, I did but I didn't. That doesn't make sense. What I mean to say is I don't believe it's really happening. Growing up I remember always saying that I wanted to be a missionary. Saying that I would go with no doubt. But now my words have turned into actions. Actions that I’ve heard will change the rest of my life. It's a scary thought that I’m actually leaving. It's unbelievable. Can I really do this?


I want to share a line from a song from a show that I remember watching when I was little. The show was called ”It's a Miracle”. This show is a really good show about kids who want to serve missions but as they grow up they have to make decisions about if they really want to go or not. One particular part gets all the kids in one room singing the words “Imagine me, a missionary traveling through the land. Imagine me, a missionary doing what I can, to spread the gospel message in the latter-day” Well I did imagine me a missionary. But it still makes me really really scared. I'm actually going, it's surreal. It's unbelievable. It's scarier than I thought it would be.


But with being scared I found two scriptures that really have helped me get used to the idea of leaving. One is Psalms 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Another one I have found comfort in is D&C 38:30 “... If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”


Basically even though I'm scared out of my mind. He's still there. To guide me and to guide you. He will comfort us through any trials. And we have the wonderful knowledge to know that if we are prepared that we should not fear. For in D&C 11:21 it reads – “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.”


As we all strive to obtain the word of God we can look to some scriptures to help us.

Joshua 1:8 – Meditate - But thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
2 Nefi 32:3 – Feast upon the words of Christ – Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all thing what ye should do.
3 Nefi 17:3 – Ponder and Pray – Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow.
1 Nefi 19:23 – Liken – I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.


In college I am taking a Book of Mormon class. In this class we strive to learn more from the Book of Mormon and to increase our knowledge. One particular assignment that we are doing right now is called a personal application paper. The basics of this paper is every week for three weeks we find a scripture. So I'd have three different scriptures for three different weeks. Each week we try to apply one scripture to the whole week. Then at the end of the week we write up basic a summary of what happened. What we experienced and felt. Last week the scripture I choose was 2 Nefi 32:8-9. Let me read it for you – Nefi 32:8-9 “...For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray , but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”


My favorite part of this scripture is how many times it says pray and the different ways it says pray. It's say “ye must pray” “pray” “pray always” “pray unto the Father in the name of Christ.” It says pray 6 different times within two verses of scriptures. In D&C 10:5 it reads – Pray always, that you may come of conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.


In this scripture we are promised that if we pray always; we will be able to conquer Satan and his followers. We will be able to resist the temptation of whatever they give us. Another thing I love about this scripture is the two words “Pray Always”. It may not seem significant but to me this represents that the communication of prayer is always open. Even though electricity may fail and technology wont work. We always have an open communication with our Father in heaven.


We may have an open communication with our Father in heaven but to be able to receive guidence we ourselvs need to be worthy to receive that gifts of the Holy Ghost. Without the spirit it says in D&C 42:12 that Without the spirit ye shall not teach. It also says “The spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith. It just seems like prayer comes up everywhere.


“Pray always”


In D&C 18:8 it reads – “...if he shall be diligent in keeping my commandments he shall be blessed unto eternal life...” He being Joseph Smith. But if we follow the counsel of Nephi. We should liken this scripture unto ourselves. So now it should read “... if I shall be diligent in keeping God's commandments I shall be blessed unto eternal life...” Blessed unto eternal life. Blessed unto salvation by keeping God's commandments. By following in Christ's footsteps. Trying to be perfect even as Christ is perfect.


To be perfect... that's a tall order. All of us sin a little and all of us live in a fallen state. How can we be perfect. Well the truth is we can't by ourselves. It is Physically and Spiritually impossible for us to be perfect by ourselves. But with Christ we are can be perfect. We can strive to be the best person we can be and Christ will help with the rest. If being perfect was being at 100%. I'd say I am at 50% or 60%. But it is wonderful to know that if I'm at 60% then Christ will make up for the extra 40% I'm missing. He does that because He loves us. He suffered in the Garden and on the Cross for us. He suffered for all man kind.


Last friday I went to a play called “I Am Jane” This play is about the difficulties black people had even with members of the church. At on particular point Jane is extremely upset about the trials and the things that have been happening in her life. A friend of her's comes by and comforts her with the doctrine of Christ. He talks about how Christ suffered for everyone. He knows what it's like to be a slave. But He went bellow that so that He could push us up.


Brothers and Sisters. He can push us up if we accept His help. A saying I got in on of my classes from school that acts like a comfort and a warning reads “Live how Christ lived or Suffer how Christ suffered. I think i'd like to choose the first choice. It may seem hard now but the Harder it is for us here on earth. The easier it will be for us in heaven. But this can be the other way too. The easier it is for us on earth. The harder it will be for us in heaven.


We've all heard about attributes and qualities Christ had. Let me list some out for you.


  • Knowledge


  • Humility


  • Charity


  • Love


  • Obedience


  • Diligence


  • Faith


  • Hope


My favorite ones are Love, Diligence, Obedience and Hope. But I want to talk about Obedience the most because obedience is the way and the path to make it back to our Heavenly Father. My sister who is on her mission right now told us an experience she had with obedience. She talked about how the work wasn't going so well for her or her companion. So is order to overcome that gap. Jessica and Her companion decided to follow every mission rule they knew of. As they strived to follow every rule; to wake up on time, study personally, with a companion and study the language. Then strived to be out of the door at the time specified by the mission president. They experienced a change in the way the work progressed. They we able to talk to more people. To use their time more effectively. How amazing would it be if all of us could have that much trust and willing to put that much effort into being obedient to the Lord.


Now the Lord has commanded us to spread the Gospel to all the world. It is our duty to do this thing. To bring others into the fold of God. To spread His infinite love to everyone we meet. We are responsible for all who have/do/will live on the earth.


I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know the Christ lived and died for us. He Atoned for our sins. I know He was resurrected the third day. I know that this is the restored Gospel. That this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that our Father in heaven loves us and that he will continue to always love us and hope for our return to the kingdom of heaven. I'm so grateful that Joseph Smith saw a vision and that God guided him to form this church. Just like joseph we can pray to our Father in Heaven anytime and anywhere. I know that if we liken the scriptures unto ourselves that we will be edified and grow stronger in spirit that we may come off conqueror to Satan. I'm so grateful for the faithfulness of friends and family. Their continued trust and love makes me to want to become a better person. I know this Church is true.


And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Signing Out
Matt

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Idea... Well... More like sentimental Idea

So... You get one of these again... sentimental and probably annoying... but here it goes

So I was listening to a great wonderful song and have been for almost three days... ok well... not straight... well... I am straight but I mean I like I listen to it whenever I can and when others aren't in the car.

THIS SONG HAS PENETRATED MY SOUL!!! LITERALLY!!! ouch...

I know some people might not get this cause it's more of a song for a guy... Girls like the song and they might be able to compare with me how they feel but seriously... for the guys... This one... well for the guys who want to read and the girls who will read...

Author : Stephen Speaks

Song : Out Of My League

Album : No More Doubt


(Girls you can change the word to be about a guy if you want)
Before anyone goes crazy and stuff listen to the song a couple of time.

Yeah it's cute and sentimental... but the reason why i'm having you listen to it or you can choose to listen to it is not the reason you probably think.

Most people listen to this song and think "Oh was a great love song" "I'd melt if someone sung me this..." (Yes... you know who i'm talking about... hopefully) "Great song to get a girl to like me"   And other stuff like that. But take a step back. Don't listen to this song on a one to one level or a boyfriend to girlfriend level. I know the song is really targeted to lovers or people who want lovers...

But the beautiful thing about music is that you can take it anyway you want. It's up to you. Whatever you think might not be what the person next to you is thinking. It's beautiful.

The reason I went through all this work to tell you this is so you can think about it too. I guess that's what Blogs are about.

I just thought you could think about it about everyone.

The way I see this song is...
     Picture the friends and people you have met and that have influenced you over your life. Now listen to the song and picture the friends, the family, the stranger who has helped you in your life. Picture their face. Picture how they have helped you. Remember how grateful you are for them and how much you really love them. How even though there isn't anything romantic between you two, you still Love them with all your heart.
     Now most people when they think about friend that have influenced them for the better, I usually think I'm "Out Of My League once again"
     How in the world did I become so lucky to have such wonderful friends. Grown to love how they act and their funny little quirks. Even though you are totally different you are so glad that you have met them because they have made you so much better than what you were before.
    
This just all hit me tonight. How grateful I am for people; People who lift me higher.

We are all out of our leagues. Think about it. We can all grow to something on this earth. We could be the dictator of the world and still be out of our league. Without the Love of God and the Atonement we wouldn't be able to get in the right league. We're out of our leagues without the condescension of God. The Love he has for us. The infinite love. The infinite Atonement. "We all should Love how Christ Loved." Infinitely and without guile. Without hate or light-mindedness.

I'm sorry that just turned into a religious thing. Actually I'm not sorry. It's true. God loves us. He will always love us. He will always want what's best for us. We just need to figure out his will and strive to live a Christ-Like life. Looming, I know. We can't live a perfect life but we can live a life to the best of out abilities and Christ will make it up for the rest. Perfect through Christ.

(Watch out CHALLENGE AHEAD READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)


Challenge Part 1: Now go out and tell someone how much you love them. But don't tell someone who you talk to regularly. Talk to someone who has influenced you and you don't see them all the time. Don't Facebook them or Text them. Socialize. Call them. Meet up with them. Talk to them. It's so much better to talk.

Challenge Part 2: Now for the second part of the challenge "Be not afraid of the Gospel of Christ." Stand as a witness in all things and in all places. Don't be afraid to talk about the Gospel to people. The biggest part about this part of the challenge is to not be afraid to talk. In our day and age of texting and blogging (Ironic eh?) and Facebook. We lose the social part of life. Talk. Be not afraid.

Signing Out
Matt

P.s. Try to keep the special experiences to yourself unless you are prompted to share them. Don't flaunt around with the gospel. It is a sacred and special thing. But testify. I know a little confusing... but you'll get it.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

So... Oceans

I just heard a really good song last night... well two nights ago. First time I've ever heard it. But it was a really good song. One that gets stuck in your head. You know those songs that once you've listened to them they never leave. They never go even when you get annoyed by them. Well this time, I've decided to take this song and try to learn something from it...

You know what I learned...

I'm a Sap.

There I said it.

But really I am.

I'm one of those guys who loves a good Chick Flick, a good Love Song. I don't know how it happened and it doesn't make sense. I guess growing up with 4 girls took it's toll on me.

It's true... Sappy sap. Probably not the worst but really... I watch Leap Year and I was all mad close to the end when she didn't end up with the right guy. Then I was really really happy when at the end she finally ends up with him. I wouldn't say as much as I cried. I'm not much of a sap. I'm not a saap. Just a sap.

It's been a thing coming. It's not new. I know it. I tried writing songs... but they all ended up to be something about love and stuff... It was strange. Even when I tried not to do something songy and with lyrics that was sappy... it just happened. I've sat down and started playing and a song just pops out. I don't even remember them the next day. It's just like they need to pop out or I'll go insane.

Oh here is an example. This is the last one I wrote and I only got a couple lines in... basically one verse. Maybe half a verse... or a chorus... I'm not sure but here it is.


I am walkin, Through the forest of Love
They a mockin, The way I feel for you but girl
Oh girl, please know you are the one for me
who I love completely

Sappy. I know. It just happened. I sat down with my guitar and put a capo on and started playing and after a while I started to sing. Kind of strange. I thought I was going insane. Yeah make fun of me. Go for it. You can if you want... but I don't think it'll change me.

I just thought of something random... would a "Sappy Man" be a contradiction?

And there is my wall.

Oooo... 'nother idea pop. Blam. Bam. Bap.

So i guess this in the end... I'm not really sure.

I could just ramble. But I don't think many would read it. Well... I just had an idea. I'll make a separate page that has some random lyrics on it. I'll change it periodically... if you want. Posting them isn't as good cause then you just get lyrics... no commentary. The commentary is probably the best part eh. Read on... if you want.

But this is ending.

Singing Out
Matt

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Just Because

Sitting in my bed room with plenty to do
But i'm kinda lazy
So I got on the computer not knowing what to do.
I read some random stuff and then started to type

This is what I got as you might be able to tell
It's not all that good you see but that is just because
This is just because there is no other reason
No rhyme or meaning or other junk to make any sense.

So please just don't worry I haven't gone insane
well mostly haven't gone but that adds to the mystery.
The mystery of why i'm still typing and why you are still reading.
Don't look at me, You're interested apparently.

Interested in strange rambling of a Tall, Weird kid.
But don't worry, it's not contagious.
Well I don't think it is, So you probably should stop.
Stop before you actually start to like this garbage.

But if you start to like it then ummm.
Woop de doo.
I'm personally not a fan
I'm just saying stuff

This probably doesn't qualify for anything really cool.
But between you and me
I'm gonna go jump in a pool.

Signing Out
Matt

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Change... It's good for you.

So that bright annoying yellow just had to go. So I got something that I thought was still awesome and was a little tiny bit still musical... casue it'sa me.

Signing Out
Matt

It's been a while...

Hey, Guess what... I'm not dead. I'm just clarifying that i'm not dead and haven't fall off the face of this earth. I'm just at school... which is pretty much the same thing but whatever. School is intense. Really really intense. I love it. I have found the perfect time to study and the perfect place to study... well for me. Perfect time is right after all my classes are done and on Tuesdays after the devotional. I go to the Library. I know that some people don't like this place but I find the BYU Library a perfect place to study because the only distractions I have is my laptop doing what i'm doing right now. But it's not a bad distraction because I only use it when I need a little break from studying. A way to clear my brain for another while of study.

BYU is pretty much the Bomb.com. It's really fun to be here and you meet a lot of people from all over. I have made about 6 friends but unfortunately/fortunately they are all guys. One is from Cali, another from Orem. One from Iowa, one from Arizona and I really can't remember where the other one are. I don't even think we've talked about where they are from. So... don't judge me. But they are awesome. I have two classes with 3 of them so I see and talk with them during the day. The two I've grown closest with names are Taylor and CJ. Taylor is from Cali and CJ is from Orem. It's pretty interesting to hear stories, especially from Taylor, about life. Here in Mormonville it's kinda hard to understand people who aren't members because literally everyone here is a member. Not everyone but a lot of people are members. It's cool to hear stories of people they have talked to and friends they know and stuff. It's really cool to hear their testimonies and try to understand how the received it.

One this I though was really cool was from a friend called Trevor. He lives in Iowa. Iowa is all one mission and it covers I think one stake or less. I find it intriguing that the whole state of Iowa is one mission. Iowa isn't really that small. I bet it's so hard to find people who believe the same things you do out in Iowa because it's just huge.

Meeting new people is fun. Classes are fun. Everyone wants to be there and you have no party poopers who are just there because they have to be. Everyone participates and everyone is awesome.

Nothing more... just an update on my life

OH MISSION UPDATE!!!! I now have a visa to leave the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm definately going to Brazil now!!!!!!!!!!

Signing Out
Matt

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Mmmm... Mmmm... Chalk

I Love Chalk. When you mix chalk and friends well a lot of fun happens.

Some friends and I/Me/whatever is proper grammer, have hung out tonight and yesterday night. Well each night has been topped off with a piece of amazing. They got awesome idea to go and draw on a round a-boot with chalk. I thought that it was pretty much brilliant. It was way fun and it made me realize that it doesn't matter what I'm doing, just as long as I'm with friends then I'll be ok. It'll like that with movies too. I went to go see How to Train Your Dragon by myself and it was kinda good. Then I went with friends and it was loads better. Like 50 Times better. So much better that you wouldn't believe how much better. I really like it, especially when I'm kinda hyper. It's fun that way.

Not much of a post and I know... EARLY but I'm up and I can post something right?

Signing Out
Matt

Thursday, July 01, 2010

The Longest title you'll ever see in this blog about nothing really. More like a blog inside a Blog and a title. I wonder how many characters I get to put a title. This is really long. It's like just as long as I am tall. Kinda weird to think about. It's not short or anything and this goes on for ever. Are you really going to read all of this? Cause it's more like a waste of your time to really read and try to understand all this. Snorkel. See I can do it too. The walls are white and the ceiling is white. My bed is white. I'm white. Man... I need to paint something... I choose the carpet. Or Pichachu What ever comes first in the line of my mind. Man. I wonder if all this will post. It's like a Title Blog. It's probably going to be just as long as the post. Or as me tall. Man, I'm running out of things to type. If two dogs are running as speed of 10 MPH and they are going to collide. How many people are going to die in the plane crash right next to them? Answer me that Math Teachers. Ok, this is a really long title. I really expected it to just randomly cut off halfway through a sentence about 10 years ago. But it didn't. So I'll keep typing till it does or until I annoy myself so much that i'll stop... . . . . Woah that took a lot of space and it still isn't down. I wonder how many people will read this. If you read this Leave a comment that says the one random word that I put way earlier back. If you get it right I'll send you a Doritos bag or something. Something cool. But since only like one person looks at this anyways... I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Oooo I just realized I probably have a bunch of random one word things in this ahem.. "Title" Good luck Guess away. Hopefully it's not too obvious cause I really want this Doritos bag. Thursday is my favorite day ( For this week and while I go to school cause it's basically the weekend for me now) looooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg Ahem... "Title" I guess i'll just name this one Ahem... "Title" ok sooo I guess Signing out of this Ahem... "Title" Matt

July 1st,
July 2010
1st, 2010
July
1st
2010

Moving on,

Hey guess what... today is July 1st of 2010. Yeah, Pretty epic. I'm counting down to just about 34 days. What about you? What are you counting down to?

*Listens (Just like all the kid cartoons)*

That's a great one.

Now we go off to save the doritos. As a flying Hawk (Doritos Link) I'd say look at it and read and watch it be amazing like 20 and a half times in a row for 20 years. So don't worry. You've got a lot of time to watch it over 20 years. Better get started.


Well, now lets say i'm sitting in my room being bored. Lets just pretend I'm writing a post that will be view by round about 5 people. Maybe 10 if each of the 5 look at it twice for kicks and giggles. Or use it to find the Doritos Link. That means within 20 years I should have like 102 and a half visits to this page just to find the Doritos. That's cool.

Blagh is a cool word. Cause it's Blah and Blog put together. I'm pretty sure that is all this is. A Blagh. A really bada one-a. Pretty bad. I'm like a fly, never know where it's going and really really realllllllllly annoying. That's why you just pull out your newspaper and swat this Blagh. Bleh.

Wind is cool. The End

HA, you thought I was done... No Dice. :P

"I'm the leader I say when it's done
.
.
.
Ok it's done"

Singing Out
Matt