Maxel

There's now a support group for anyone who feels they've become addicted to gaming (of any type-- role-playing, video games, MMORPG's, etc.). This is a serious issue that is coming up more and more; we are beginning to see GA's directly addressing this topic. Addiction to anything is serious; being part of a group of people struggling to overcome a like addiction or strong temptation can help greatly.

There's a new support group for anyone attempting to recover from an addiction to gaming- it's called 'Recovering Gamers'. If anyone's intersted in joining, shoot me a PM.

Grandmakabipbip, Just_A_Guy has incidents from the canonical LDS scriptures supporting the basis of his argument. Snow and JAG are engaging in a level of dialogue too complex for me to fully follow, but the essence of their disagreement is simple. Certain incidents in scripture support the issue JAG is contending (destruction of Sodom and the Nephite cities; Nephi slaying Laban after being commanded by God; and more), while Snow is arguing that such events cannot have happened the way they are recorded in the scriptures we currently have. Their discussion with each other has evolved to a much more complex manner, but the basis is simple.

I like what C.S. Lewis once said about Christ's commandments to us (he was talking about the Trinity, but the principle can be extrapolated to this issue as well). "The commandment is to take, and eat; not take, and understand".I think we all run into doctrine that we don't like, or are commanded to do things we don't want to. Even Christ would have preferred not to have died in order to fulfill the Atonement, but He still partook of His own bitter cup and drank it all, dow to the dregs.

Van Jones resigns amidst controversy.

On a serious note, I'm disappointed to see which role he relegates to teachers, parents, and the government. Respectively: Teachers are supposed to inspire and teach. Parents are supposed to keep kids on track, make sure kids get their homework done, and not let them waste their lives on TV and video games. The government's job is to set high standards, support the teachers and principals, and fix the schools that are't working. Anyone else think that the parents have been relegated to the sidelines in this scenario, and its the government's job to make sure that the whole situation improves? Subtle things like that are the reason that (if I had kids) I'd have them wait until they got home to watch it, with me.

I found subliminal messages in his speech, hidden in the writing of the words!!

Dr T- Just found this thread. It's amazing! Thank you for doing this. As someone who's not even married, I wager the first piece of really good advice I'll be giving my son is don't play with matches near a leaking gas line.

changed's use of the phrase "work hard": Work ridiculously hard to support a bloated and ineffectual government. i.e., "The Romanian people worked hard when under communist rule."Elphaba's use of the phrase "work hard": To work in a consistent and applied manner. i.e., "Bill Gates worked hard to be the owner of one of the largest corporations in the world." So, I don't want my children to work hard in the sense that changed means it. I do, however, want my children to work hard in the way that Elphaba means it. This has been "clearing equivocation" with Maxel, brought to you by the letter 'M'.

And pam raises the banhammer...I agree Jenamarie- seeing how the GA's would react to their own 'Reese's PB Cup' section would be priceless.

The beauty of the temples is that they are where Christ's faithful followers can receive the ordinances that make them more like Him. We are only able to improve our lives through the Atonement of Christ, and the degree to which we apply it is reflected in how obedient we are to His commandments- including the requirements of worthiness to enter one of His temples.Thank you for pointing that out, Jim.

YES! That's why it's so hilarious."Tears were shed. Hearts were gladdened. A cup was shared." I can HEAR him saying that.

My goodness, this church you speak of sounds terribly oppressive! I thank my God that the LDS Church doesn't do that, or punish someone for their beliefs, whatever they may be.Maybe you should switch churches if you don't like the one you're in now, Moksha?

Oh MAN, those were funny! I almost cried when I read the Thomas S. Monson one, I was laughing so hard.

If a man inherits misfortune and then adds irresponsibility to his inheritance, he is as culpable as his foolish predecessors. I.E., the ridiculous and irresponsible actions taken by the Obama administration (and he's only been in about 6 months!) is adding to, not alleviating, the national debt accrued by the Bush administration. Your next homework assignment, changed: find out what the projected national deficit will be by the end of Obama's presidential term and then compare that to the deficit at the end of the Bush term. Just for kicks, look at the history of how accurate economic forecasts by the Obama administration have been (hint: the reality is worse than the projections). Why does this all matter? An irresponsible man is not someone who has earned the right to teach my children about responsibility. If I had a child in school, (s)he would not be watching his speech without me- we would watch it at home after the school day.

Perhaps the stimulus package would have done more if... they spent the money allocated to it? Just a thought. I doubt it, though. Somehow the name of the game with this government seems to be castrating America and weakening it.

I see it like this: The two terms- 'conservative' and 'liberal'- seem to have taken on two different meanings that get intertwined in political discourse. Socially: Conservatives are for 'traditional values' and usually adhere to classic Judeo-Christian ethics. Pro-traditional marriage, pro-life, pro-gun ownership (three big issues). Liberals are for 'progressive values' and often adhere to moral relativism or a more liberal version of the classic Judeo-Christian ethics. Pro-same sex marriage, pro-choice, pro-gun control. Economically/Politically: Conservatives are for small government and a free market. Programs that expand governmental control and influence are no-no's. Liberals are for more powerful government and an economic market regulated by said government. Programs that expand governmental control and influence seem like good ideas to liberals. That's what I've gleaned from the past 6 months inundated in political discussion. Others might claim that the economic ideals I say are embraced by conservatives are also embraced by 'classic liberalism'- I wouldn't know about that.

My obligation to Christ is to "feed His sheep" as well as I am able; to serve my friends as the Master serves me. I like how Alma the elder put it in Mosiah 18:8-9: 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Volunteering to serve others is an obligation we choose to take upon ourselves when we enter the waters of baptism and make that covenant with Christ. I believe the Holy Ghost prompts us to volunteer, as service is an important trait of godliness. I like how soundly Rabbi Jeret understands the principle.

Umm... Nooooooooo.... *Unbookmarks CARM*

Are you sure? I think I remember something about the MADB site going down before the Second Coming- I think it's the event that ushers in the opening of the seventh seal.

I sooo want it to be; then I could jack in to the Net and use my own personalized navi to beat back the viruses and eventually save the WORLD!!!

My little sister visits a big forum for writers (I think it's called Absolute Write?) that's also down this weekend. Maybe the Fates have declared it to be weekend of maintenance? Better keep the protection around, though, just in case. *Maxel hugs his mega-buster close.*

There's terrible everythings. I'm in my terrible 21's right now. I'm incorrigible.

This is going to be good...

Ouchies. Not good. I just heard, though, that the conservative savior (lower-case "s"), Ronald Reagan, also dealt with unemployment rates higher than anticipated. Can this be true? Oh, the horror... Having put in the comment that ostensibly makes my post "fair and balanced", I would now like to take the time to opine that the economic geniuses in the White House are not very good at their jobs. I believe this fact was proven when trends in google searches was cited as proof that the recession was over.