The Force Awakens - SPOILERS!!

The following was typed out on a plane while traveling to Costa Rica on February 22nd 2016. To prove my often slothful behavior I now put it in the cyber record. 

In keeping with the spirit of all commentary on this film, BE FOREWARNED! MAJOR: 

Seems utterly ridiculous to say that now, but a few months ago, it was a very big deal. I recall someone saying, “I’ve grown up on these films, I’ve always known what happened and knew where the prequels were going. I finally have a chance to watch a Star Wars film without knowing what’s going to happen.” This rings true for many fans of the saga in their 30s or younger. And perhaps this is truly what made the hype around this film so big. I previously posted on redemption for the franchise, but now I see that anticipation of the unknown and delight in novelty drove fans to theaters. I think JJ Abrams understood this and was the perfect fit to shroud the new film in mystery; making us salivate like dogs for the big reveal.

Perhaps this was the greatest genius of the film. Take something people know and love (bankable) and then take it to a new level (fresh). Those two words are solid gold for making a profit and stirring the imagination of the masses. Proving the capitalist ideal that when filmmakers provide goods and services the public demands, both profit and maximal utility is delivered to the people.  The success of Star Wars may not be what Adam Smith envisioned, but he would surely weep with joy at the results.

Did I cry during the film? No. But the first round was awfully emotional. I was just soaking it all in and trying to catch my breath. Round two was much more satisfying from a viewing perspective. First time was regular 2D and the second was 3D which was surprisingly… okay. I was going to see it in IMAX, but didn’t want to overdo it and get bored with the film by the time it is released on Blu-ray. So nearly two months later, here is the stuff that stuck to my ribs:

• First line of dialogue, “This will begin to make things right.” [YOU’RE DOG GONE RIGHT THEY WILL!!!]
• The re-hash of episode 4. This kinda bugged me towards the end, but whatever… You have to give these guys some sort of reason to have huge battles. At least Starkiller base was sexier than taxation of trade routes. 
• All of the new characters seemed natural and fit seamlessly into the new story. Well cast and executed. Loved them all. Especially Rey. As a father of 3 girls, what a breath of fresh air to see a woman kick butt, be good looking but have that play virtually no part of how her character operates. 
• The Easter eggs and throwback humor was great. There are 45 minute videos about this on YouTube so I’ll spare you the details, but I couldn’t peel the grin off my face for half the movie. 
• Kylo Ren is AWESOME. I know some people like to whine about his looks, temper tantrums and getting his butt handed to him by Rey at the end, but consider this:
• He is not your typical Bond villain. Evil is not just created, it comes from corruption. Hardly anyone sets out to be the bad guy and Kylo embodies this. He struggles, has weaknesses and worries, but can still stop laser bolts and read people’s minds. This guy is going to open a can in the next film. Mark my words and to me he will be all the more compelling to watch as his chapter descends further into darkness
• Let’s remember he was arguably mortally wounded and trying not to Kill Rey and fresh off killing his Father. Give the dude a break. He will come back strong. 
• More questions than answers. The whole thing left me wanting more and my imagination is still free to wander and ponder the possibilities.
• Happy Harrison Ford finally got to kill off Han Solo. But he really should have shot first. 
• Somebody get Carrie Fisher outta there. She’s had so much work done I can hardly understand it when she talks. KILL OFF WET BLANKET GIRLFRIEND. PLEASE!!
• Snoke. Probably Pelagius, no shocker there, but I can’t wait to find out how he survived. 
• NOT NEARLY ENOUGH BACKGROUND ON THE RESISTANCE OR THE FIRST ORDER. Dude. I get that we are “moving forward” but for pete’s sake and a stack of pancakes, gimme some grits to chew on!
• Daniel Craig Stormtrooper. Awesome. Heck, those costumes are like 10,000 Easter eggs waiting to happen. Would I have to give up a kidney for a cameo in a Stormtrooper suit? 
• TR-8R. You. Rock. Bro. But get out your gun next time. 

• Mark Hammil made 8 million to pull back his hood. Disney may as well give him a printing press to make money.
• I’m still not entirely clear on EXACTLY what the “awakening” of the force is. I have general ideas about Rey, the dark side, the light, etc. but can’t wait to get more detail on this. 
• I could go on, but I’m guessing only one reader has made it this far and I thank him for it and look forward to his take. 

My final thought. Generations. The story is multi-generational and about a family. Taking my kids to see this was priceless. Watching them discover the galaxy and sharing it with them was one of the best Christmas presents ever. Until December 2018… I’ll just have to learn to savor the anticipation.

Answer to the Fermi Paradox?

According to the Internet Bible:

The Fermi paradox or Fermi's paradox, named after Enrico Fermi, is the apparent contradiction between high estimates of the probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, such as in the Drake equation, and the lack of evidence for such civilizations.

The basic points of the argument, made by physicists Enrico Fermi (1901–1954) and Michael H. Hart (born 1932), are:

• The Sun is a normal star and might be, in some respects, typical, and there are billions of stars in the galaxy, including many billions of years older than Earth.
• With high probability, some of these stars will have Earth-like planets, and if the Earth is typical, some might develop intelligent life.
• Some of these civilizations might develop interstellar travel, a step the Earth is investigating now.
• Even at the slow pace of currently envisioned interstellar travel, the Milky Way galaxy could be completely traversed in about a million years.

According to this line of thinking, the Earth could reasonably have already been visited by extraterrestrial aliens. In an informal conversation, Fermi noted no convincing evidence of this, nor any signs of alien intelligence anywhere in the observable universe, leading him to ask, "Where is everybody?" There have been many attempts to explain the Fermi paradox.

First, I must recommend this book to my book club of one (and none).

ENDEAVOUR - by Ralph Kern. Hard science fiction for hard men and women. Faxing and scanning meat. Its incredible. Go read it. Now. I was not paid to say this.

However, here is the real reason for my post. This video gives a cruel but possible answer as to WHY NOBODY HAS MADE CONTACT WITH OUR PLANET. And yes, I nearly wet myself laughing at this. You'll either find it hysterical or stupid. Let's see how awesome you are:

Also if you enjoyed this, then go check out WORLD OF TOMORROW, now on Netflix!!! Its hilarious and pokes fun at were we are... and where we are going. Seriously, don't miss it before its gone.

One Of Last Year's Best Movies Is Only 16 Minutes Long ...

There Will Be Blood

That was flat out one of the most disgusting playoff wins I've even witnessed from the Broncos. It feels like we got our rear-ends handed to us, and yet we won that game by more than 3 points. If I had to get a picture to show how weak our offense looked, this would be it.

On paper, that offense looks like it should be pretty good. Hall of fame QB, two 700 yard rushers, all star talent at reciever. But no guts. Our O-line isn't great, but I can tell you switching from power to zone blocking schemes is not easy on the fly. Kubes is practically winning inspire of himself thanks to a stellar defense.

Honestly, I don't know if I can take another week of this. I love our D and it does win championships, but for PEYTON'S SAKE YOU GOTTA SCORE A FLIPPING TOUCHDOWN MORE THAN ONCE IN 28 DRIVES IN THE POST SEASON!! 

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGH!!!

The blasted Patriots will show up next week just quivering with anticipation to break Peyton's neck. Seriously. Did you see that hit he took? Dad gum. No wonder Archie can't watch. I'd be freaked out too. I know I'm the worst kind of fan. But you know what?

This is all just supposed to be entertainment. Right? MY BLOOD PRESSURE CAN'T TAKE IT! I'M GONNA KYLO REN ALL OVER THE TV IF I HAVE TO KEEP WATCHING THAT PATHETIC OFFENSE. 

Like the title of this post, sooner or later, there will be blood. I just don't know if its worth the emotional suffering anymore. Here's to hoping we get a little vinegar in that gas tank and max out that electric engine and get some sort of turbo boost on that Prius. Go Broncos.

Nostalgia & The Prequels

I'm still basking in my Force Awakens afterglow, and all these good vibes got me thinking about my favorite moments in the franchise. But before I get into stuff from the original trilogy (IV-VI), I must share with posterity my top 5 moments or amusing junk from these films (yes, I acknowledge they exist).

5. I HAVE THE HIGH GROUND!!! Obi-Wan is the undisputed master of this realm. In the Phantom Menace, the completely breaks this rule by jumping over Darth Maul and cutting him in half. Later he continues this winning streak against "the chosen one" by defending the high ground.

4. Death Sticks - Really? Creativity in names reaching an all-time low, but hilarious nonetheless!

3. Sith Seduction - With no help at all from Hayden Christensen, McDiarmid managed to make his corruption and seduction of Anakin captivating at the bubble show and in front of his awesome sith mural. 

2. Well Hello There! - Once again Obi Wan delivers with a full on Force directed surge of BOLDNESS. 

Say what you will, this was an awesome fight scene. Took me totally off guard the first time I saw it.

1. DARTH MAUL - The fight with Qui Gon and Obi Wan is easily my favorite moment from the prequels. The music, robe throw-down, the choreography, double bladed lightsaber, zen meditation, caged prowling, death and righteous indignation. I still get pumped when I watch this fight scene. Now if only they could have kept Lord Maul around...

 And that prowl is what I did for many more years to come, waiting for the Force Awakens. 

Broncos Fever & the Gridiron Gods

Tonight the Broncos did right. Despite some terrible play, they managed to win a tough game and secure top seed in the AFC. But they don't feel like a #1 seed to me. I just don't know what to expect from our offense. Brock seemed to stabilize our system, but Peyton shows glimpses of his former cyborg in a comeback win. I now post this homemade Broncos Wallpaper for your pleasure (ping me for the full-size png if interested).

Nothing against Brock, but you've got to let Peyton play this out. He's earned it and to not let him start at this point would be an insult. If anything this season worked out perfectly. We managed to get a #1 seed and rest Peyton for nearly half the season. Not to mention the first round bye. This is the best shot he is going to get at being rested and prepared for a post season push to win another title and exercise some of his demons and silence his critics. So I now offer this sacreligous prayer that should not be taken seriously.

GODS OF THE GRIDIRON, 

YOU WHO LOOK DOWN ON PUNY MORTALS THAT HONOR YOUR GAME WITH BLOOD; HEAR MY CRY.

SHED FORTH THY FAVOR ON YOUR IRON SON. 

BLESS HIS FEET TO NOT DANCE, 
HIS CAGE TO BE UN-RATTLED, 
AND ABOVE ALL, GIRD UP HIS NECK AGAINST THE FURY OF HIS FOES.  

FORTIFY HIS PROTECTORS WITH THE WISDOM TO PICK UP THE BLITZ,
DELIVER DOZENS OF PANCAKES,
AND THE FURY TO DOMINATE IN THEIR GROUND ASSAULT.
MAY OUR RUSHERS GO DOWNHILL,
AND GIVE OUR RECEIVERS STICKY FINGERS, SOFT HANDS AND THE GIFT OF MAKING TOAST

SHINE ON OUR "D" WITH THE POWER OF AGGRESSION,
AND THE WILL TO DOMINATE ALL LIFE.
BLESS THEM WITH 4-MAN PRESSURE, GAP RESPONSIBILITY, SHUT DOWN COVERAGE AND MANY, MANY SACKS. 

GIVE US WHAT IS BEST IN LIFE.
TO CRUSH OUR ENEMIES AND HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THE WOMEN.  

GRANT YOUR IRON SON ONE FINAL TRIUMPH 
TO HONOR THE SPORT OF KINGS.
MAY THIS VICTORY BE WORTHY OF FIRE, TEARS AND A SUNSET INTO THE GLORIOUS HORIZON.

AMEN. AND AH-MEN. 

Finally - The Force Awakens

Opening Night at the Force Awakens can best be summed up by the eloquent Captain Picard:

Just never enough Star Wars. Until next time!

Tolerance Unto Death

When I heard the news about the attacks in Paris yesterday I was intially shocked, saddened and then not long after filled with cold anger. It reminds me of the same feelings I had after 9/11.

We've know about these fanatics for years, but have drug out this conflict for far too long. I'm tired of seeing the world's best trained and equipped soldiers reduced to beat cops serving as targets for terrorists. The horror of Paris yesterday proves terror is a moment away for anyone in the US or Euorpe. Enough is enough. I want unilateral action from NATO; go into these countries, not to occupy but perform a much needed surgery.

"And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." - Matt 5:30

This isn't just about Paris either. While the number of deaths in the coordinated Paris attacks is very high (averages between 3-8 deaths per attack) Unfortunatly, its a relatively small incident statistically. No Joke, I went and compiled this data from the US Department of State.

  http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/index.htm

Bear in mind, this data only goes back 7 years, does not include 2015 (not yet available) and much of the Iraq War. Nearly 150,000 deaths. A quarter of a million people wounded... better put maimed, disfugured, tortured. But numbers don't give the full picture. Check out this website to see a list of every attack and a brief summary of the suffering of God's childern, (our brothers and sisters) so far in 2015.

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks-2015.htm

I know this site looks like some crazy right wing propaganda, but I checked the numbers and their data checks out. They report 32,007 deaths in 2014, the US Department of State shows 32,727. Both the site above and the USDS make the disclaimer that their numbers are conservative as reporting on incidents in many of these regions is not always complete.

For some perspective, the US lost 116,516 in WWI and 58,209 in Vietnam. While the comparison is between American Military deaths and world-wide numbers; should it matter? The world is shrinking. Travel, immigration and technology make all of us more connected than ever before and the terrorists know no borders.

Ever since 9/11 I've wondered when we might see an attack like what happened in Paris here in the States. When will I worry about going to the mall or an NFL game? The day seems to have come. As I said before, we need to unilatterally go into these countries with all nations willing to fight and show these punks their hypocritical and sadistic ideals will not be tolerated. Time to let the sheepdogs do their job, without the shackles.

If you've seen this film, you'll understand the bumpersticker: God bless our troops...especially our snipers. I grateful for men like Chris Kyle that sacrified not only for the safety of my family; but for the hope of a better life for those in the Middle East... espeically women and childern. In laying down their lives willingly they emulate the Jesus Christ. But what about turning the other cheek?  A post on the Cripplegate gives five resons why Christians are not pacifists. I found the following quote spot on:

"Christians are to bear the sword because we love our neighbors. There is a hierarchy of love. We love God. We love our wives, followed by our families. We love our church. We love our neighbors. We love our enemies. But if our enemy attacks our neighbor, it is our duty (out of love for our neighbor) to intervene and protect innocent life."  Are Christians called to pacifism? 

From an LDS perspective the War Chapeters in the Book of Mormon also support and show men of God taking up arms in the defence of their families and those who cannot defend themselves.

Alma 43:47

Alma 48:23-25

Alma 60:28

In his excellent book Wild at Heart, John Eldredge says the following about why God made men the way they are.

"Capes and swords, camouflage, bandannas and six-shooters—these are the uniforms of boyhood. Little boys yearn to know they are powerful, they are dangerous, they are someone to be reckoned w ith. How many parents have tried in vain to prevent little Timmy from playing w ith guns? Give it up. If

Onward Christian Soldiers

you do not supply a boy w ith weapons, he will make them from w hatever materials are at hand. My boys chew their graham crackers into the shape of hand guns at the breakfast table. Every stick or fallen branch is a spear, or better, a bazooka. Despite what many modern educators would say, this is not a psychological disturbance brought on by violent television or chemical imbalance. Aggression is part of the masculine design; we are hard wired for it. If we believe that man is made in the image of God, then we would do well to remember that “the LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name” (Ex. 15:3) ... The universal nature of this ought to have convinced us by now: The boy is a warrior; the boy is his name. And those are not boyish antics he is doing. When boys play at war they are rehearsing their part in a much bigger drama. One day, you just might need that boy to defend you. Those Union soldiers who charged the stone walls at Bloody Angle; the Allied troops that hit the beaches at Normandy or the sands of Iwo Jima— what would they have done without this deep part of their heart? Life needs a man to be fierce—and fiercely devoted. The wounds he will take throughout his life will cause him to lose heart if all he has been trained to be is soft."

I get it that truly going after these scum-bags would be costly in terms of the economy and lives. But if we are going to keep up the world's best military; and make it a signifcant part of our economy, we may as well use it to defeat a blantantly evil enemy. Perhaps I'm just fired up today, but I will be paying attention in the elections to come for those who support the defeat of these murderers. 

The Truth of Star Wars Mania

The Star Wars bandwagon is rolling through town and we are on it. No shame, no apologies. Every man, woman and child. The ultimate apex of cross generational zeitgeist cool-aid. I'm not just drinking it, I'm taking a bath in it. Heck, I filled my hot tub with it and all I know are stewing in it while we drink it. Drunk and Soaking in Star Wars.

We all know the Force Awakens is completely overblown; over-hyped and over-sold. And yet, I've practically browned-out after each new trailer. At Disneyland this last week, I swear 1/3 of all t-shirts were Star Wars related, many of them quite clever. But why are we so geeked-out for something that can't possibly deliver? I have a couple of theories:

• People love a come-back story
• Lightsabers are awesome no matter the design
• Being on the bandwagon gives a sense of community and belonging
• Subconscious desperate need to escape the drudgery of life through sci-fi fantasy

But here is the real reason:

• Redemption

George Lucas has opined the six canonical films are "Anakin's" story. A gifted young man who became corrupted and then ruined everything. It took a brutal force lightning torture session of his son to wake him up and sacrifice himself to save his son, his soul and the galaxy.

     Luke: I'll not leave you here I've got to save you!

     Anakin: You already have Luke. You were right. You were right about me.    

Oscar Wilde would be so pleased to see "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life."

You could say a $4 Billion dollar sale is nothing compared to being fried by lighting and then blown up. But whatever. I'll take it. I can now forgive George and move on; appreciating all the good he did, buy tons of merchandise and go to Star Wars themed lands at Disney. Even if the Force Awakens sucks, it can't be worse than the prequels and George has redeemed himself. Let's celebrate with the original ROTJ Ewok celebration song and buy some swag!

Too Much Chic-Fil-A?

I have two kids that are in the process of balancing their brains. The "scientists" told us to give our children's blood to a witch doctor to test for food allergies. THE GUT IS CONNECTED TO THE BRAIN... So no Gluten, Dairy, Sugar, Oxygen, whatever. If we have to eat out, the two options these kids accept would be grilled nuggets and fries at Chic-fil-A or a burrito bowl at Chipotle (minus the dairy). Since eating a burrito bowl requires effort and getting out of your car, I often opt for the first. 

Strange things are afoot at the Chic-fil-A

Like the guy in Super Size Me, I have not gotten sick of this food despite repeated trips to both establishments. Heck, I'm even getting experimental. I tried adding bacon to the original Chic-fil-A sandwich. That should result in a transcendent experience right? It was good, but didn't seem like an improvement. 

Yeah, I was as surprised as our friend Ted Theodore Logan. Does this mean bacon is not the magical food of lore? Or does it mean the Original Chic-fil-A sandwich is such a work of perfection that adding bacon cannot improve it? Infinity awesome + Infinity awesome still equals = FLAT OUT AWESOME. Or Infinity Awesome just said another way. 

So this post got me wondering... How much money has my family spent at Chic-fil-A? It seems like we are there a lot, but not that much right? Besides you can never have too much of a good thing.. Right??? So I decided to hop on Mint and see what my spending history has been and now I share it with you:

WAIT, SO WHAT?? EVERYONE LOVES CHIC-FIL-A!!!

Yeah. That was my reaction too. Good thing those guys are not open on Sunday.

Jimmer vs. #ThugMormon

Back in 2011 Jimmer Fredette was TORCHING the NCAA scene with his sick ability to shoot from anywhere on the court and get away with average speed on defense. In the midst of all the hype about Jimmer, one woman sought to complain in the Daily Universe (BYU student newspaper). Once people found out, they assaulted her Facebook wall with this epic thread which you must read:

http://www.dreamcatchermedia.com/jimmered.html

My personal favorite section due to the partially-hydrogenated comment:

But has this been eclipsed by the #ThugMormon craze in the event of the BYU football team turning Catholic with two back-to-back Hail Mary victories?

The Daily Unifarce reported:

Just days before the BYU vs. Nebraska football game, Nebraskan on-air personality Mike Welch lashed out against BYU, labeling the football team with the hashtag #ThugMormon. The phrase was intended to highlight the hypocrisy of the BYU Honor Code and the player brawl that broke out during the Miami Beach Bowl on Dec. 14, 2014. Ironically, #ThugMormon took over the Twitter-sphere. It at one point became the No. 1 trending hashtag in the Salt Lake area but not for the reason Welch intended.

Here are some of my favorite tweets.

So which is the better social media event? I'm gonna side with #ThugMormon. Jimmer was fun, but he's basically done in terms of a meaningful pro career. Each and every one of us can and SHOULD continue the tradition of being ThugMormons. My moments since I don't do twitter:

Making the Shift

Recently Dr. Wayne Dyer, a notable motivational speaker and writer passed away. The only work of his that I'm familiar with is Making the Shift - a book about moving from a life driven by ambition to one of meaning.

Yesterday, I had the unique experience of teaching the same lesson back-to-back in both my Sunday School class (16-18 year olds) and Elders Quorum (thank to the teacher going MIA). It came from the lesson outline, How do the commandments help me learn to be more like Heavenly Father?  I found myself inspired to teach a lesson about why we keep the commandments that I don't think I would have heard as a youth 20 years ago. Instead of talking about the rules themselves and the peace, protection and power they give to do the Lord's work (ambition); I focused on how they give us access to the Atonement to change our natures. What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am. Yesterday's experiences have further led me to believe the Church (the people/culture) are making a shift from a spiritual life driven by ambition to one of meaning.

Alright, put your pitchforks away! Hear me out. I am not saying the doctrine has been incorrect or that the ordinances, covenants and commandments have not been the work of the Lord. I am saying we are appropriately adapting how we teach the Gospel and ultimately how we live it for true conversion in the Last Days. Motivated by charity, not hope of reward, duty, fellowship, fear of punishment, shame or plain ol "that just what we do in this family." That's the whole point of the new Come Follow Me curriculum.


For much of my life as a member, the Gospel has been a very goal oriented, check-list lifestyle in order for me to feel accepted, worthy and loved. I freely admit I felt proud of the growth and expansion of the Church and desired to help it fill the earth. It made me feel important. I was saved for the last days to serve a mission and fight Satan and help build the kingdom. Or as Elder Taylor would say, THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR NOTHING!! Marry a woman that personifies both outward and inward beauty; raise humble, righteous children with keen intellects and Gryffindor hearts and change the lives of all around us. Through all my study, prayer, service and attendance I was going to change the world. Its what I was born to do. Army of Helaman! Here are some pictures that embody stuff that inspired me in younger days:

Welcome to the Gun Show! You don't stand a chance.

Righteous Biceps - No wonder he survived the battle. 

#ThugMormon

Nothing inherently wrong with all of that, but I let my sense of self-worth get tied up in my works. Without realizing it, I created a spiritual bank account that I made deposits in, but all my unworthiness seemed to draw off more that I put in. As a result, I've spent most of my life struggling to overcome feelings of depression, shame and guilt over never being the true Stripling Warrior. Only as good as your last mistake. As a result, I was often genuinely unhappy, but soldiering on making sarcastic comments and embracing dark humor. It would all work out in the end right?

I now understand this is not the heart of the Gospel and one of the hardest things to do is let go of being the ideal mold member. Here is a video Mormons can relate to:

A funny but painful line: How did this tradition get started? I don't know. But you'd better comply or no driver's license, marriage to my daughter or welcome under my roof! 

And while we may not know the meaning of all things, I know God loves his children. Even me and especially when I'm not a model citizen. Tevia breaks tradition twice, but the third he cannot allow. We need the commandments, covenants and power of the Atonement to keep our balance on the roof of life, not all of the answers are clear and easy. The world looks at us and thinks we are crazy! They love to mock high standards point the finger and scorn those who fail to live their religion perfectly (as if anyone ever has). The world would have us believe that striving to be like Jesus is to eventually become a hypocrite. The unforgivable sin in the age of universal tolerance. So why try? Easier to sit back and Armchair Quarterback everyone else's problems. But Teddy sets us straight:

In Lehi's vision of the tree of Life; those who make it to the Tree of Life wind up falling on their faces. Why should I expect anything different? Others may say I look stupid and I'm wasting my time, my money, my life. But they haven't tasted the fruit; or they've been unwilling to humble themselves and keep striving despite repeated sins and shortcomings.

But our sweat in the arena is not what truly qualifies us (grace), it is what helps refines us (works) as God will force no one to inherit all He has. What ultimately got King Saul removed from his station? He took the Priesthood (offering a sacrifice to win victory over the Philistines) or the responsibility of salvation upon himself.

1 Samuel 15:22 - And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

By sacrifice, I mean taking the work upon us. Putting our trust in the arm of flesh not God. Steadying the ark (not a good idea). Believing we are going to outwork our problems... our sins. Works cannot hide or cover mistakes on an eternal scale. Sooner or later, we have to accept its God's work, not ours. Sins of commission and omission can be repented,  forgiven and remembered no more. But what God will not do is force us to desire to be like him. When we give up, that is the ultimate loss. Perhaps that is why enduring to the end is ultimate opportunity to shift from living for selfish, ambitious motives to charitable ones. I believe this is going to be the only way anyone weathers the storm of the Last Days - especially me if you can't tell.