CommanderSouth

And while I don't have any desire to "party it up" as it were, I don't want to be sitting in regret at a life squandered playing board games instead of going to church either, so even inactivity in that sense is robbing myself of potential joy for "joy". I just think back to that PSP I bought, I loved it for a while and then it gathered dust before being sold. Now it seems that's my membership, except I can't completely rid myself of testimony (not that I should, nor do I think I really want to) and don't want the shame of leaving after going on and on about the church. I think I just have to hunker down and do it, but it isn't fun sometimes, at least not yet...

I am trying to reactivate, but I don't want to. I would much rather leave the church and just go back to church with my parents, or my friends, or just somewhere else in general. I also know that I would be denoucncing something I have fought for so vocally and would look like a fool, and also denoucing some of my favorite scriptures (D&C, BoM have fare more favs for me than the bible). I feel like if I start going back so much stuff is going to required of me between all the activities, home teaching, FHE, and the like that I won't be able to have a personal life. Am I just being stupid, and need to suck it up and stop being lazy, or is there actually any other advice that can be given to one in this situation? It would be nice to have some other advice but in my mind I am thinking I am stupid for even asking it... Oh well, if anyone feels the need to hit me over the head, go right "ahead" </Lame Pun>

I wonder if they do anything to that "Nephite Coinage" blurb in that one chapter heading :)

I'm working on getting a response to that one.

Normally speaking they derive sole authority from the bible. Reading with the hermeneutic of "Direct Command, Apostolic Example, Necessary Inference" is how they determine everything. The lack of command or example, and no need to infer the use of musical intruments leads them to reject it as adding to. They would site common sense as reason for pitch pipe or chorister or something like that. To add music would be something there is no evidence of in the first century church, and ergo. We shouldn't do that. I found this on one of the many sites coC have covering this topic, it works well enough I think. A mother sends her son to the market to buy a loaf of bread. He brings the bread home in a bag. The bag is merely an aid. Should he purchase a candy bar as well, he has disregarded the instruction of his mother by an addition. And that is usually how the discussion goes (I have had this one often with not much luck on my side, and am usually left wanting in my own arguments) with my coC coworkers :)

Right, though they would argue those are aids and not additions. They would argue music is an addition, akin to the "strange fire" in the OT.

Much like everyone I suppose, they don't agree with theosis, though they do reject all creeds. I will say we all probably use agreeable statements of the "church fathers" and ignore the contrarian ones. Not necessarily I should say, but I think most do it to some extent. I agree that thanks to revelation this is a moot point, but it is an interesting one to try to argue biblically...

Yes. I am speaking of the use of musical instruments in worship (singing). The churches of Christ don't use them as they say the lack of use of them in the New Testament is evidence the early church didn't do this ergo we shouldn't. I am wondering from a biblical perspective is there any solid argument for instrumentation in worship when dealing with people who look through the lens of looking for either direct command, apostolic example or necessary inference.

Yes, I apologize,as is so often the case I think other people will instantly understand what I am thinking, even if I don't clarify...

I went to a church of Christ meeting with my friend from work this evening. The topic was my perennial favorite in relation to his church, the use of instruments. In my heart I don't have issue, in practice I don't have issue, but in terms of being able to refute his arguments, I simply can't do so well... The idea that the early church didn't use intruments in SPITE of their use in Greco Roman worship, Davidic temple worship, and appearantly in revelation is striking. The condemnation of usage of instrumentation in worship by early church leaders such as Eusebius, Calvin, Aquinas, and Justin Martyr is interesting. A lack of this them seeming to use instruments and a lack of example in the new testament leads one to be curious. I wish this was something I didn't just have to fall back on the whole testimony of the restoration thing, but maybe that is the point. Any ideas? I don't want to whine but I would just like to be able to argue on that without breaking into the restoration...

Wingnut, I appreciate those, and I espcially appreciate that you didn't link me to a normal google search on depression with LDS at the end :) LP, I don't know, I also don't know if he knows. I also suggested to start listening to Joel Osteen, I know I have mentioned him in another topic lately, but I think if we can get his message of our worth to, and ability through Christ, then we will be so much better off. But if it came up to be chemical then I would assume he would need to see a doc and get some meds. I hope this is just a "down in the dumps" type of spell for him.

A relative asked me if I knew any talks on the topic, but I don't. Do you guys have any good ones on the subject? Conference obviously preferred, but devotionals, firesides, anything would help. Thanks a bunch!

And the mini is 7.9in BTW

I'm running an iPad mini and normal res (obviously) Palantino 20 pt...

Is it just me or does anyone else have a harder time focusing(mentally, not with my eyes) when reading on a device? I don't know if it's all just mental or if there is something to it but when I read on my iPad I am less engaged it seems, which is a shame because I love the integrated sync in the gospel library app, that app is amazing. Anyone else notice this or know any way to combat it? Just curious...

When I say those are the things I do, I don't know that I do them non stop, I've nevr been that good at WoW :) And hanging out with friends is probably my main thing to do on the weekends. I will say to take inventory is a good idea...

And as always, this crosses my mind so often. Is this simply something I can not see until I start to do? It very well may be yes. Though some peace about starting the journey is always welcome...

Oh, I should post my thoughts about this today. I had a "sliver" and I do mean sliver of hope earlier today. I was thinking about what I actually do, which at this point is hang out with friends, play WoW, and board games. Nothing actually wrong. And I began to wonder, "Perhaps the problem is that I am trying to bring these things along from my old life" And in doing this I am not letting the old man die. I wonder if I should just mentally let everything go from my old life and only pick back up the pieces that are permissible to God, in other words, while I would be doing the same things, instead of doing them as I was, I can do them to the glory of God. I wonder if that's it...

I mean totally? I have thought for so long the unhappiness, the restlessness, the whole of my problems (spiritually and mentally) are based around the fact that I am running from God. I have often felt I should not be a member of the church and I should just go back to being pentecostal with my parents, get "The baptism in the holy ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues" and get on with God's plan for my life. But I don't know that I can, when I think about that I don't feel any joy, no peace. In fairness I don't feel any peace about the church either, but I don't feel any peace about anything though, so that aspect of this conundrum is confusing. But here is where it gets tricky. Normally it seems I can get a glimpse of the relief when I think about being in the desired state. When I think of being less overweight, I can get a glimpse of that state. When I think of doing nothing that I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't (watch most any movie, play most any game, etc...), and doing the things I should, such as being in church, living as I should, I don't feel any peace about it. I guess all I can do is try, but it is a pickle to be sure. And yes, for those keeping score, this is year 3 of mostly inactivity and mostly unkept covenants...

I so wish I had something to offer, but I am not nor have I ever been in such a situation. I saw your topic and while I want to post one of my own I just felt the desire to see if I could help before asking for help. The only thing I feel I can offer is perhaps this. Feel thankful there -is- a Mrs. Bytor. I am in a boat that I will have to get out of and walk on the water so to speak to find my own Mrs Commandersouth. I would say be thankful that many challenges you have had to face are over, and tackled successfully. While this race of mortality may be half over in one possible sense, you have the whole of eternity ahead to spend with the ones you love, and enjoy the buildings on the foundation you have, are, and have yet to lay... I normally am not the one to try to be uplifting so if I messed up I'm sorry, I just felt like I should try to help...

I sang that many times in my parent's Pentecostal church. Does Bolton do that too? I know Ray Boltz did it. Amazing song.

I agree with that analysis, I've always thought about it from the angle that there are more than enough people to tell you sin is wrong, and that message will be spread far and wide. It's also nice to have somewhere to go to hear something you know will be uplifting and not condemnation. (Though obviously you can't live there forever and forego the purging of sin in your life) I often joke that if you want the stuff Joel doesn't preach just go listen to someone like John Hagee :)

It's funny you mention Cowdery's divining rod, I just was looking through there and saw "Oliver Cowdery's Gift" and immediately opened in new tab :)

Anyone else listen to him? He's one of the few preachers from my old pentecostal days I still listen to. I never have to worry about him condemning my faith, in fact he confirmed his belief that LDS are Christian in his mind. I just like to listen to uplifting messages, and I usually don't find too much I disagree with. Just a good change of pace from Fire and Brimstone preachers (though I do enjoy a good fired up message). What about you all?

I know that is in fact such a big jump. But coming out of the pentecostal church, in the south, I have always grew up loving hymns like "The Old Rugged Cross", "I'll Fly Away" and the like, and then just before baptism I had really grew to love groups like Casting Crowns, Third Day, and Phillips Craig and Dean. I should ask, anyone know of anyone else in the vein of The Nashville Tribute Band, or The Lower Lights, or any CCMish LDS music? Also and fans of SG/CCM around these parts? I figured it would be nice to post a topic about something other than crushing depression, guilt, testimony deterioration, etc... :)