Triumphant In Your Religion?

Do you find yourself triumphant in the practice of your religion? I love to ask people that question. I love to ask myself that question. I love to hear when people feel like they are successful in living their religion and why and how they feel that way when they do. Obviously, we all have moments in our spiritual progression of triumph and of failure; it’s all a very natural part of the human experience I believe. I feel it necessary to acknowledge a difference between our relationship with our God and our relationship with our religion; and I would assume that each of us seek to find the union between the two relationships…you know that perfect union between the Father who made us, our perfect place as His child and the perfect practice of the religion that we individually believe is our personal vehicle on earth to know the Father better. These three things in perfect union can make for moments of precious and beautiful clarity of thought in my experience. What do I think? Thank you for asking. :o) In my experience, while I feel very confident in the things that I believe, in the religion that I believe to be God’s truth and in my personal relationship with my God and Savior, there are many factors of the human experience, paired with the many other humans in my experience, along with my many insecurities and imperfections, that make for it being a rather rare occasion when I feel that true divine alignment of God, self and religion. What interest me are the factors in individual’s lives when this successfully happens for them. There are a few things that seem consistent when I have had these experiences and again, I will discuss a few of them. When I, on occasion, see individuals in a different light, not as human beings in the human experience, but as spiritual children of one Father in Heaven, my brothers and sisters created to be wonderful in God’s potential…those rare moments when all mortality is stripped away and we see the light of Christ in His creation eclipsing ANY and ALL imperfection in that individual. So much that I want to do any and everything I can to help that person to be all that they can be because I see what they were created to be. THAT is a beautiful thing, and any time that my religion grants me those eyes as I look on another, well, I consider that to be success within my religion. Next, I have spent years on my knees trying to be heard by my Father and trying to hear Him within the chaos of my life’s experience. Sometimes I fail at this, usually due to succumbing to the need for sleep or entertainment and not taking the precious quiet time to hear the tender whisperings of the Spirit as God communicates with me. I don’t like talking to my kids over the TV or the stereo so its no surprise that I don’t hear my Father over all the noise that I allow into my brain. BUT, I treasure those moments when I have revered the God of this universe enough to have an undeniable moment of communication with him that is more pure and precious than gold to my soul. Moments this powerful are rare with me, but when they do happen I know of a surety the divinity of the experience and I will be forever grateful for them. In these moments I know there is a God. I know He has a Son. I know that I am divinely created and that there is a plan and purpose for me within that plan. I know that through my faithfulness I can triumph within that plan and absolutely be an active participant in the plan’s success as it pertains to my brothers and sisters within the history of God’s creation. When my religion grants me opportunities for these kinds of moments with my Father in Heaven, well, these are what I live for. I will say one more thing. I have had a few triumphant moments within my religion, and few moments that are more precious and valuable to me than anything. When I see Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world, I am triumphant! In those sweet moments when I have seen that Christ spilled blood from every pore in Gethsemane for me…actually lived every moment of my life; every fear, insecurity, every experience I will ever have within that evening in that grove of olive trees, all of the good and all of the bad…for me. When I see that He is the only person in the universe that truly knows me…knows what I am feeling, knows where I am today, knows what I was created to be and absolutely knows what I WILL become if I develop perfect faith in Him and devote my life to the a perfect practice of my place within the plan…in this I feel triumphant at my religion.
Do not mistake my words. I cannot conjure these kinds of experiences at any given time. I can barely conjure up a bowl of cereal for heaven’s sake. BUT, I long for such experiences and even work toward the hope of having them, but the truth of the matter is that they come at the oddest times, in God’s time I suppose, and I never know when such an experience will materialize in my spiritual or physical consciousness. But what I do know is that I treasure them. They are what is sure and real to me; the core of my spiritual confidence. When my religion grants me such opportunity, then my faith in my religion increases exponentially…and I love it!
I might add that a balance of pride for my religion and humility within my religion is necessary, in my book, to have a real peace with God as I execute daily life in my religion. I do periodically cycle to a place where my blessings are numerous to a point that I lose the humility necessary to continue in such blessings and I lose ground unless I change my attitude. On the flip side, I have been so reserved and humble in my own beliefs at times that I fail to exercise the faith to make powerful moments in my spiritual life or the lives of others. Balance is the key. Knowing the trigger points of when I reach excess and doing what is necessary to be both humble and strong. In this, we have the perfect example in Jesus Christ in our own New Testament. - Jason Deere

TIME OUT FOR WOMEN - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Ron and I flew out to Edmonton, Alberta on Friday for a show on Friday night. Wow, was it fun. Sister Wendy Nelson (Elder Nelson's wife) spoke first, then Ron and I performed some, then Sheri Dew spoke, then Ron and I played for another 40 minutes. It was a wonderful experience. I was so happy to see Sheri again, as it has been a while since we have spoken in person. While in Colorado the weekend before, I had met with President Pfile, the mission president there, and he told me this unbelievable story of two of his missionaries serving in Kansas a couple of week before. They were driving in a truck with a Kansas farmer who was in his 80s, when they were hit broadside by a semi-truck that came out of nowhere, striking them on the passenger side. Both missionaries and the elderly farmer were thrown a considerable distance from the car, all exiting out the passenger window. Amazingly all were alive but VERY seriously injured. One latino elder had broken legs but crawled a considerable distance to his companion who was in worse shape than he was. He laid his mangled hands on his companions head and gave him a blessing. I am crying writing this. God bless the missionaries! To my amazement, president Pfile told me that the elderly farmer was Brother Dew, Sheri's father. I called Sheri's sister Cindy right away and shared with her my love for her family. I was then so happy to be able to talk to Sheri this past weekend and learn that while her father was still in bad shape, he was still living. Their family could use some extra prayers right now.
Let me say, the church is alive and well in Canada and the women that I met there were unbelievable examples us! Many drove for hours and hours to be there. I think I heard average driving time 4 hours with some as many as 12 hours. Now that's dedication! One lady told me that she had never been in a ward in her whole life, only branches and that she drives 3 hours one way to do her visiting teaching. I LOVE IT! in fact she knows the wolf pack that raised Shania Twain...ok that last part is not true. :o)

Keep on TREKKIN' Canada! We love you! - Jason Deere

Please go to www.qik.com/nashvilletribute to see QIK videos from the weekend in Canada.

Sometimes You've Gotta Sneak Away

A few months a go I got on a plane returning from a Nashville Tribute show somewhere and sat next to a very nice older couple. I was tired and planned on sleeping on the flight but couldn't help start a conversation with Kay and David Nicholas. We ended up talking about everything under the sun for every second of the flight. They knew my parents in college at the University of Oklahoma in the late 50s and early 60s. They lived for most of their lives in the town I was born in (Enid, OK), we know MANY of the same people, and of course, we discussed the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was beautiful. They spend most of their time these days in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado...they have a beautiful, quaint little cottage with a guest house right on the river. David also mentioned that he is an expert fly fisherman with 72 years of experience. I say, "Ah-hem, hey I happen to be coming to Colorado at the end of April to do a couple of shows in Castle Rock and Colorado Springs." They say, "Hey come stay with us and we'll do some fishing." I say, "You shouldn't have asked! :o)". So I fly out a day early before the shows with a friend of mine from Nashville named Austin Rich, and we stay in their wonderful little guest house and wake up the next morning and fish all day long in about a half dozen of the most beautifully remote fishing spots imaginable below Pikes Peak. David Nicholas is an expert fly fisherman and I learned a ton. He also knows some of the most beautiful country in the world like the back of his hand. We had elk herds and big horn sheep herds walk right up on us. Open your mouths on those flights! You never know what you'll find in a good conversation! - Jason Deere

April 25 & 26 in Colorado

Chad Truman just completed an honorable mission to the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission in December 2008. Ron Saltmarsh and I had the pleasure of flying to Colorado to join Chad and his brothers, sister and his parents to perform two firesides for the people of his mission. It was a joy to see the people that he so loved and served...to see the light in his eyes and in their faces as they reunited...to see him embrace his former companions and fellow missionaries. It was very special to spend time in the mission home with President and Sister Pfile, with whom Chad served, and to experience the power of their dedication to the work. Quite a couple they are. We performed in the Castle Rock Stake Center and also in a stake center in Colorado Springs. Attendance was great and the people were fantastic. Again, always amazed at the GOOD PEOPLE in this world. President and Sister Pilson, thank you so much for the accomodations and the wonderful view to wake up to. Sister Terri Walker and family, thank you for the wonderful food and pampering. Thank you Truman's for including me and Ron! To everyone who I am forgetting...we love you! Most of all, we love to share this message to all who will listen. Until we meet again! Jason Deere