Slower pace and restfulness of this week between Christmas and New Year

Looking from the window from the flat of one of the children in Frankfurt, I notice the quite opposite street with the university building, not many people passing by. At home in Belgium, even living in the countryside, we always have a lot of noise, much more than here in this big German financial city and much more than when I lived in London.

The 24th until the 26th we had one family gathering after the other. Having very good food, having eaten more than we should have done, there was also the business of all chatting and laughing.

Today there were actually not that many people in the streets and shops of Frankfurt city, where the sales were trying to entice people to spend some money anyway.

After the busy, noisy celebration of Christmas, the slower pace and restfulness of this week, between Christmas and New Year’s is for many somehow refreshing.

These days, perhaps many of us shall not follow so much the news events and shall let the world pass the family places. The calmness may come over us. Now we also can think of the man who came to earth so many centuries ago. He preached about the way we better should live. But not so many people wanted or want to listen to him. There were even several people who wanted him dead, and managed to have him killed as a murderer, hanged at the wooden stake.

Several Christians remembered, a few days ago, the birth of that Nazarene man, who shall bring peace to us all. For many, this holiday season is the special occasion that they think of the one who can give peace in our hearts and who can bring peace to the world. Would it be not nice if we could enjoy true peace? Also, being at peace would already be nice. Finding a serene, relaxing, time with no worries. How many of us would not love to get away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. We should know, we do have to find first peace and love in our own hearts, before we can find peace outside ourselves.

The world is still waiting for that moment of ‘eternal peace’, but for sure it shall come one day.

Finding peace is what most of us would like to do. There is a peace and rest available to us that is deep enough to remain even in the most hectic times, and secure enough to withstand the most severe troubles.

The state we are living in, is man’s own fault. We also have our past, that we should dare to put away and forget about it all. That Nazarene master teacher, some 2 000 years ago, gave us a good example of how to live, but not many want to follow his teachings. In case already all those who call themselves Christian would keep to those teachings of Christ, we would already have a much better world.

Here on the European continent, we have seen many wars, where both fighting parties prayed that God would be at their side and help them to conquer the enemy. Instead of wondering if God would not disagree with them fighting. Some thought after World War II the fighting is now done over, but they are mistaken. The Yugoslavian wars and the recent invasion of Ukraine have proven how fragile peace in our region is.

Even in a part of the world that has been free from open war for a couple of generations, we have increased the security measures and still are not sure, there will be no invasions by foreign troops. We would love to see the space around us free of any danger of intrusion, terrorism, or fear for something bad to happen.

Oh, so often, people point their fingers at another. So many times we do hear that the trouble or fight is there, because of the other. But on the other hand, there are also many who do not believe enough in themselves and are afraid of the other. Such a negative attitude for themselves means that they cannot find peace in themselves. Finding inner peace is very important and necessary to be able to spread peace to others. In these dark days at the end of the year, let’s consider how we may or may not even have disrupted the peace of others, and how we can correct mistakes we have made.

We personally will not be able to do much about the war raging in Ukraine. But we can avoid any small ‘war’ around us and if we see resentment somewhere and find iniquity, we can make an attempt and take a measure to put an end to it.

For many Jews, Jeshuaists and Christians the last few days have been a “time of light”. By more than one miracle God has provided light in the world, and that light we should also show to others around us. Be it Chanukah or Christmas, when we put on the many candles or electric lights, it should be a sign we want to let others know about that light that can shine, because it is the Elohim Who provides the possibility. Both festivals are no holidays for seriousness, but for joy and glory.
And that means spreading light and joy.

These days we best meditate on whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, and whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.  We all have a Book of books offered to us in which we can find the way to the truth and the way to inner but also outer peace. That book should be our guide and give our hope for that peace that shall come, because all promises made in that book have or shall come true.

 

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Preceding

What Are You Seeking?

We all have to have dreams

Christians at War? Christians using violence?

How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace

High time to show the way to peace

As always God has a Plan

Window 190 – The door to our truth, can only be opened from within

True happiness, love and perfection

Being a Light in the World Award

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Additional reading

1. Just an Ordinary Day
2. Identity Crisis By millennials
3. Honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity and humanity losing faith in God
4. Spark Understanding, Stitch Connections
5. Facilitations of science and loss of peace of mindA new decade, To open the eyes to get a right view
6. Man’s own fault and the choice to flee from fear
7. How much does man wants to be dependent on a Divine Creator?
8. All I want is peace!!!
9. Running away from the past
10. Looking forward to the return of Jesus
11. Give your tears to God
12. Cry out to Yahweh
13. In the night His song shall be with me
14. Fullness of summer and abundance of harvest found in the satisfying plenitude of life in Christ
15. Will There Ever be Peace on Earth?
16. Look It Squarely In The Eye, And Say….
17. Israel, Fitting the Plan when people allow it
18. Memorizing wonderfully 48 John 16:33 That you may have peace
19. Looking for True Spirituality 8 Measuring Up
20. Not daring to show a connection
21. The quest for peace and order
22. Peace not the absence of disturbance
23. Poetry of Peace
24. Today’s thought “The breastplate of faith” (November 18)
25. Today’s thought “What sorrow awaits rebellious people” (December 17)
26. When examining ourselves
27. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness
28. Come ye yourselves apart … and rest awhile (Mark 6:31)
29. Ambassadors showing hope and a world of peace
30. Being comforted by the Most High and His familyThe World framed by the Word of God
31. Memorizing wonderfully 48 John 16:33 That you may have peace
32. Sings of the times – Difficult moments at the borders of Europe
33. Scripture words written for our learning, given by inspiration of God for edification
34. Not studying an abstract and arcane text of the ancient world
35. Only once and with consequences
36. Christian in Christendom or in Christianity
37. Back from gone #3 Giving worries to God and believing in His promises
38. Humbleness
39. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark
40. Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.

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Related

1. Christmas at grandma’s
2. Safe Space
3. Peace
4. Peace Prevails
5. Peace and Purpose in A Psalm
6. Finding Peace
7. Darkness
8. Happiness
9. The Peace of the Lord – Sermon for December 29, 2013
10. Strive to Enter God’s Rest – Sermon on Hebrews 4:9-13 (Feb 23/24, 2014)
11. Forgive Us As We Forgive Others – Midweek Sermon (April 9, 2014)
12. Peace Be With You – Sermon for Quasimodo Geniti (April 27th/28, 2014)
13. Keep Away From Mutual Enmity
14. Useful Ways of Leading a Happy Life – Imam As-Sa’dee
15. Guidelines with regard to Criticizing Individuals and Groups – Shaikh Rabee’
16. Christmas Tidings
17. Safe Space
18. Embrace doing nothing.
19. Live Lightly and Peacefully
20. EGW Inspirational Quotes
21. Daily Scripture Series – Dec. 28th
22. Living in the Faith
23. Ukraine latest: Kremlin rules out peace plan that does not recognize annexed regions
24. Give Yourself Permission to Change
25. Wednesday Blessings

Between Christmas and New Year or between New Year and Christmas

%%%
She complained
about the many kilos she would regain
between Christmas and New Year
and passed those between New Year and Christmas
with regal grace.
~ Markus M. Ronner
%%%

 

Feeling more go-go-go than ho-ho-ho.

A lot of people get a bit more stress at the end of the year, it is actually unnecessary and stupid that they are so rushed by the economic market that is flooding us with masses these days advertisements to buy this and that or to do this and that.

It’s the holiday season, yet not many of us feel rested. We’re more go-go-go than ho-ho-ho. It’s hard to pause when there’s always something we could be doing. We feel guilty admitting we need a break. And even if we do grab a quiet moment, we rarely mentally relax – we’ll check our emails.

Many argue that this is the time to celebrate Jesus’ birth and to be happy to bring the light into this world. However, many of them forget to put his message of peace into action and also feel completely free from the works that the Nazarene Jew did some 2,000 years ago.

By putting our attention more on him we could become a lot calmer, but commerce wishes to tell us that we have to provide many gifts and extensive meals this holiday season.

Many let their night’s sleep be disrupted by bobbing about what they were going to do at Christmas and what gifts would they buy for whom or who they would invite to those holidays.

The last few days, several people had put up candles, being it for Chanukah or Christmas. One would think it are both celebrations which bring us together to enjoy each other’s company.

When one loves each other there should be no reason to worry to have such a gathering, but should be looking forward just to being together. In these darker days, we also should find ourselves at ease in the warmth of our living room, with perhaps some warm drink and a cosy chat and film. Time to indulge in some relaxation.

Trouble is, rest is not an indulgence. It’s a critical part of our functioning, with one recent survey by Sleep School – The State of UK Sleep in 2022 – finding that 46% of us are currently unsatisfied with our sleep, and 58% feel unrefreshed on waking. Anxiety, stress and difficulty switching off mentally were primary contributing factors.

Too often, people don’t understand that lack of downtime or period of time when one is not working or engaged in a planned activity, is detrimental to their mental and physical health, says Dr Sabine Donnai, founder of the Viavi Health Strategy clinic.

“When people burn the candle at both ends, they’re releasing an enormous amount of cortisol, the stress hormone.”

Cortisol, also called hydrocortisone, the major glucocorticoid in humans is an organic compound belonging to the steroid family that is the principal hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent used for the palliative treatment of a number of conditions, including itching caused by dermatitis or insect bites, inflammation associated with arthritis or ulcerative colitis, and diseases of the adrenal glands.

We need that Cortisol because it plays a major role in our body’s response to stress. It helps to maintain blood glucose concentrations by increasing gluconeogenesis and by blocking the uptake of glucose into tissues other than the central nervous system. It also contributes to the maintenance of blood pressure by augmenting the constrictive effects of catecholamines on blood vessels.

Lots of people are so used to those cortisol rushes, they don’t realise they’re on high alert.

“They misunderstand this – ‘Oh, I’ve got lots of energy, I can just carry on, do a million things, cope on six hours sleep every night’ – and maybe they’re an A type personality that wants to do a million things.”

There are the good things of having cortisol, but like most things that can be good, having too much of it is bad.

We can need some stress to be active and get some work done quickly and in a good way. Our bow cannot always be tense. We must perform well at the right times, but we must also take the necessary rest at the right times in order to regain our senses and build up energy again.

Our stress response is supposed to be short-lived.

“If I’m chased by a lion, I’m either going to outrun it, or kill it, or it’s going to kill me,”

says Donnai.

“Either way it’s not going to take long.”

But if the stress response goes on and on and on, she says,

“your adrenal glands become fatigued and that’s what we call burnout.”

> Please read more about it: > Why putting your feet up is vital for good health – Having plenty of energy might be a sign you’re close to burnout

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Preceding

Coming together in dark days

Death and rest

The Proper Place of Excess

Witnesses of Christ and of his gospel

Soul Pampering Time

Hope on the Horizon: Pandemic Anxiety Management II~

Broken daily routines

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Additional reading

1. Bereshith 1-2 The Creation of the World – The Seven Days
2. Hellenistic influences
3. Looking at September 2016
4. The express train of the speeding time
5. Come ye yourselves apart … and rest awhile (Mark 6:31) (Our World) = Come ye yourselves apart … and rest awhile (Mark 6:31) (Some View on the World)
6. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
7. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #1 Before rain of food from heaven
8. Not withholding the Good News

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Related

1. Sabbath Rest
2. Alone on Christmas Eve…
3. Rest
4. Merry Christmas!!!
5. between now and then,
6. Refuge
7. Taking A Mum Break
8. How resting can aid your mental health
9. Christmas Reflections
10. Security
11. Dealing with Discouragement
12. Relax During the Holidays
13. 🥰Arts And Craft Time With My Boy And Sisters!🥰
14. 12 Activities For You To Try Out During Boxing Day
15. 6 Tips For Reducing Stress in 2023
16. How To Meditate Properly? 8 Simple Points To Follow
17. 🥰Fashionable Cozy Xmas Selfie Time With Grinch And Max Lol🥰
18. December 26th – Psalm 46:10
19. A Better Way of Life … A Rest For Our Souls
20. How To Meditate Properly? 8 Simple Points To Follow
21. A Relaxing Environment

Going to the abundance of Christmas

*

For many, tonight enters a period of cozying up together
and celebrating Christmas.
On these days of abundance in our regions, let us
the shortages for many in areas far from us
not forget.

 

Ecogreen Christmas ideas for gifts

Although Christmas is a pagan festival that is also anchored in many Christian communities, this period is also a time of cosy togetherness that no one can be against.

In these dark days, many families make time for socialising as well as giving presents and wishing each other all the best for the coming year.

It’s not a bad idea to think about these gifts and how to make them as pleasant as possible for those around us.

THE PRODIGY OF IDEAS

Do you really want to save the planet and the lives of your children and grandchildren?
Then buy gifts that don't destroy nature.
Make the right choice.

Here are 10 supportive and sustainable gift ideas:

Books printed on recycled paper, notebooks and diaries made from recycled paper.

Gift voucher from an NGO or a non-profit organization.

Gift certificate from WWF, Greenpeace or SeaShepherd.

Give a tree.

Fair trade products.

Cosmetics not tested on animals
Sustainable and natural clothing.

Today more than ever it is important to choose consciously because our choices as consumers are the only possible tool to be able to really change things. Unfortunately we tend to forget it (me first of all) and let ourselves be carried away by compulsive buying, but we must learn more and more to ask ourselves questions when we buy goods or services, because only in this way can we hope to…

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The True Significance of Jesus’ Birth

For four thousand years and more the promises of God, clothed in more or less of obscurity, had been given to mankind, intimating that ultimately the great curse of sin and death, which had come upon the world through father Adam’s disobedience, would be rolled away, and instead of a curse would come a blessing with life-giving refreshment. And then, by a miracle, came the voice of the angels when they broke forth in a heavenly strain, singing,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14

Today many celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Several Christians say they remember the birth of God, but they should come to know that God was never born. God has always existed. He had no birth and no death, Him being an eternal Spirit Being.

It could be called “strange” that so many people say they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but do this on an other day than he was born. Him being born on October the 17th has no reason to celebrate his birth on the name day or birthday of the goddess of light.

For ages the Hebrew people had spoken about what happened in the Garden of Eden and how prophets repeated that messages of God that there would come someone to solve that problem of the curse of death. With the birth in Bethlehem, the city of King David, of that child of Mary, a king for always came unto the earth. It was God’s promise, or His Word having come in the flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Joh 1:1 KJ21)

The Speaking of God brought the second Adam in this world. Jesus was a 2° Adam because he was created by God and placed in the womb of the virgin Mary. Now the world could see a special son of man, who was called Immanuel and son of God. When this man who could be seen by many, the God Who no man can see, declared Jesus to be His beloved son.

“16 And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up straightway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. 17 And lo, a voice came from Heaven, saying, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.”” (Mt 3:16-17 KJ21)

It would not stay with that one time at the river Jordan; Some months later Jesus repeated His saying, so that people would not forget who was standing there in their midst. It was also said that there would come a time that the earth will be full of the knowledge of this man, the root of Jesse, as the waters cover the sea.

“6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

10  “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to It shall the Gentiles seek, and His rest shall be glorious.” 11 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.” (Isa 11:6-11 KJ21)

“1  And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up onto a high mountain apart. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. 3 And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. 4 Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles: one for Thee and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice out of the cloud, said, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. HEAR YE HIM!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and be not afraid.” 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, “Tell the vision to no man until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead.”” (Mt 17:1-9 KJ21)

At first, there should not have been spoken so much of that son of man, but years later that became very important and when coming closer to the end-times that would even be more important, because of God’s Word than be preached all over the world. coming closer to the end-times more people shall have to know that there is salvation in no one else than in this sent one from God. Namely, God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

“Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”” (Ac 4:12 KJ21)

It was made clear that salvation would come out of the Jews, from the root of Jesse, a king in the lineage of King David. Lots of Christians still want others to believe Jesus would have been an incarnation of God. They consider the person Jesus “The mystery” and some would say that

the profundity of the incarnation caused another layer of reflection … … this Christmas season. It is an almost unbelievable fantastical story if you really think about it: first of all, just the idea that a divine being would become a human being is crazy enough. {The Christmas Story}

At the same time they forget their fantasy story gets even more ridiculous when they would say God died at the cross for our salvation. They forget than this god would have fooled all mankind and had all people waiting for ages before really bringing salvation to them, because we all still have to suffer and many do not see an end to that suffering.

Jesus was not God who

choose to be a person who was part of a small, struggling, nomadic nation during a time of foreign occupation and oppression {The Christmas Story}

At no time ever did the Jews think their invisible God coming to perform a play, doing as if He died, and then to chatter their

pipe dreams of freedom and prosperity when a great leader would release them from oppression. {The Christmas Story}

Christmas is certainly not the day that

God modeled humility by taking on mortal flesh for our sake. The greatest one became a little one. The strongest one became one of the weakest and most vulnerable ones. He did it for love. {Humility: The Heart of Christmas}

The man born in a stable in Bethlehem was the son of a simple manual labourer and a young woman from the tribe of King David. As a devout family they educated their children in the Torah and learned them to honour only That One True God of Abraham, Who is One (and not two or three). They also learned their children always to tell the truth. From Scriptures we also learn that Jesus was without fault and did not sin. That means he did not tell lies, so when he said he could not do anything without his heavenly Father who is greater than him, he meant that and did not fool people so-called by hiding that he would be God. Jesus proclaimed God’s Truth without compromise.

“But now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard from God: this did not Abraham.” (Joh 8:40 KJ21)

“44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.” (Joh 8:44-45 KJ21)

“Pilate therefore said unto Him, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”” (Joh 18:37 KJ21)

“Ye have heard how I said unto you, ‘I go away and come again unto you.’ If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice because I said, ‘I go unto the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.” (Joh 14:28 KJ21)

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (Joh 5:19 KJ21)

God is also not Someone Who would tell lies.

“God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent. Hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Nu 23:19 KJ21)

“that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we, who have fled for refuge, might have strong consolation to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Heb 6:18 KJ21)

Either all those saying that Jesus is God, do not believe God is an All-knowing God. Because when Jesus was asked when the end of this era would come and who would be seated next to him in his kingdom he said he could not tell because it is only to God to know such things. But when he would have been or would be God, then he would have known and would not have said the truth, and as such would have told lies. People making Jesus into God, makes not only of Jesus and God liars as well as characters who fooled mankind with their tricks.

People should know that Jesus is not God, but is really the one he claims to be and the one who his heavenly Father tells us him to be.

“ 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him (Jeshua/Jesus), and a voice came from Heaven, which said, “THOU ART MY BELOVED SON; IN THEE I AM WELL PLEASED.”” (Lu 3:22 KJ21)

That son of God, born in October 4 BCE fulfilled an incredible task. He always managed to put his own will aside, to do the Will of God. In the short period of his public life, he tried to make clear Who God is and what God wants from mankind. As the chosen one from God, sent by God to show the way to God, Jesus gave his body as a Lamb of God. His sacrificial offering was not God faking His death, but was a real man of flesh and blood, dying, giving himself as a ransom for the sins of all.

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Please come to read:

1. A promise given in the Garden of Eden
2. Foretold Messiah 2 a Voice giving The Word to His servants
3. With child and righteousness greater than the law
4. The Beginning of the life of Jesus Christ
5. Matthew 1:18-25 – Genesis of Jesus Christ
6. Matthew 2:1-6 – Astrologers and Priests in a Satanic Plot
7. Matthew 2:7-12 – Pawns of Herod, the Magi Find the ‘Child’
8. Hosea Say What?
9. Jesus son of God
10. Called Immanuel does not mean to be Jesus being God
11. Salvation (Christadelphians)
12. Salvation (Bible Students)
13. God’s salvation
14. Salvation is of the Jews
15. Why think that (2) … Jesus claimed to be something special
16. People believing they need to celebrate the birth of God
17. Which hero to celebrate in December 2020
18. The wrong hero
19. When you believe Jesus is God: who do you think is the mediator? #1 Son of man
20. Ignorance of Today’s Youth (and Adults)
21. Roman, Aztec and other rites still influencing us today
22. Thought for the Christmas time: A sense of history
23. A way to look for Christ, the Bible, Word of God

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Related articles

1. The Coming of Christ our Savior, 2020
2. Hear Ye Hear Ye!
3. The Signs of Christ
4. Matthew 1
5. Longing for Bethlehem
6. Bethlehem of Judaea
7. Making Room for Jesus
8. O, Glorious Night
9. Unto Us
10. The Nativity You Never Knew? An in-depth, historical look at Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1-20
11. For Unto Us Jesus Is Born? Understanding Isaiah 9:6
12. I am Joseph
13. Mary’s Treasure
14. Why the Stories of the Virgin Birth Fit Together
15. The Promised Messiah
16. even closer
17. What Child Is This? #1
18. What Child Is This? #2
19. The Birth of Christ and the Cancel Culture
20. Advent Story Revealed part 9
21. Advent Story Revealed part 10
22. Christmas 2020 – Immanuel: God with Us
23. Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains
24. Three Incarnation Truths
25. A Shepherd Among Shepherds, Part 1 (Luke 2:8–20)
26. Verse Of The Day – Matthew 17:5
27. Emmanuel’s Tabernacle
28. In the Humble Son, We see Father God
29. The Baptism of the Lord, Cycle A
30. Beloved son
31. “beloved son” … mentioned in The Holy Bible (KJV)
32. Transfigured on God’s Holy Mountain
33. Once more- a voice from heaven
34. No one else!
35. The Unravelling: a nativity
36. Silent lights
37. The Christmas Cheer
38. A Stream of Consciousness on Christmas Night
39. Lovingly
40. The Christmas Story
41. Humility: The Heart of Christmas
42. Merry Christmas! (2020 Edition)
43. Week 4: Friday, Christmas Day, The Nativity of the Lord
44. December 25
45. Why Christmas is Important to me
46. If but for the birth of Christ…
47. The Gift of Sympathy
48. God in a Cave
49. Merry Christmas

Not missing your appointment in 2017

Soon we will turn over the page of the dark year 2016.

These past days and the coming days lots of people had very important gatherings they would not like to miss. This time of season it are days of appointments which have us looking forward to pleasant cosy being together moments.

In the new year, people shall again make and keep lots of different appointments that they would never miss. For many the people are so important, they would never cancel. The circumstance may also be so pressing that those meetings cannot be put off.

The need so urgent, we cannot afford to overlook it. The desire so great, it cannot be denied or postponed. {Don’t Trade Away God’s Help Today}

But what about the most important meeting of the year, the season or even of the day?

Lots of Christians say this is the season of the year and that they are celebrating the birth of their god. Those Christians also say the bible is the word of their god, though most of those Christians do not read that Word of God. For sure then they would perhaps not worship Jesus as their god and would not take part in the heathen Christmas events.

Many Christians far too quickly dismiss their daily appointment with the God of the universe as soon as life gets a little busy. The other appointments stack up, and our time to sit with the Most High and heavenly Father of our Saviour, seems to fade away so quickly and easily. Not many of those Christians who have Jesus as their god know his words or know the Words of his heavenly Father. Though those Words are very important and each follower of Christ should know them very well.

Perhaps it is

Arrogance, because we don’t think we need God’s help and wisdom enough to consistently ask him for it (James 1:5). Apathy, because we’ve let other things drown out the call to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). {Don’t Trade Away God’s Help Today}

Not many people do know why and how important it is to come to read the Bible. Many have no idea how to start doing it. At my first series I look on this matter “Reading the Holy Scriptures“. In it I try to show how reading the Bible is a way of  hearing God’s Word and a way to let us be strengthened. It is a way to allow ourselves to grow whilst we are guided by the One Who knows everything. He is the Omnipotent Who is pervasive, extensive, omnipresent and willing to help us at any moment of the day and night.  He is the Most Trustworthy Supreme Being Who is prepared to be there for us whenever we need Him. He is the One Who can tell us how to prepare for life and is willing to show us what to do and how to serve Him. We can turn to the Bible in times of sadness, joy, worry or bereavement and receive comfort from Gods word.

Too many are not aware how easy it is to have the most super guidebook in the world and the most intense appointment with the Most High Person in this world. We may wonder why so many Christians miss such an appointment regularly. Because their God has asked them to remember Him and to take time for Him. He told them to take a Sabbath, a day of rest to give and share it with Him. But we do not see many accepting that invitation or going to that appointment.

Many Christian churches are running empty today. There are not many worship places where Christians are really worshipping the Most High Elohim. We may find lots of churches where false gods are worshipped, but also they are having difficulties to keep their members. Many Christian even have no place for God on the day that they say would be especially for Him. At Christmas most energy is put in the cooking and preparing for the festivities and the presents. But there is no place for many Christians and not much thought about the Most High Present, namely the Saviour Jesus Christ. That child in the mangler is mostly forgotten or a detail in their life which is consumed by all the material things around them.

Moshe had given a task, like Jeshua also has given a task to his followers. They told the task of the leader is to remove that Din and bring everlasting Chesed and Rachamim to us. We should do away with all wrong traditions, all heathen connections. Believers in, and lovers of God should be different than atheists. Their way of life should be pure and according to the wishes of the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, and to know those wishes God has given the best manual for life: the Bible, the Book of books. We should read it, making time to have close and fine words with the One who we should love and honour as the most Important One.

Taking up the Bible is taking up and keeping your appointment with God. Do not forget to meet Him and His Word in 2017.

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Please come to find following articles on Immanuel Verbondskind:

• Best to read and study the Bible
• How to Read the Bible
• How to Read the Bible (sequel 1)
• How to Read the Bible (sequel 2)
• Making time for God is crucial
• How to Read the Bible (sequel 3)
• and find sequels 4 and 5 later, in the New Year

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Wishing you a happy and blessed spiritual New Year

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Did you come to read already our Vision and mission. Have a look at our page: Our Vision and mission.

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Find additionally

1. People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions
2. Walking alone?
3. Try driving forward instead of backwards
4. Gathering or meeting of believers
5. Truth never plays false roles of any kind, which is why people are so surprised when meeting it
6. God has not destined us for wrath
7. Hearing words to accept
8. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously
9. Witnessing because we love

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Further reading

1. The Ten: Lesson 1
2. Summaries of Catholic Teaching Topic 31: The first commandment
3. Ethical Implications in the Ten Commandment
4. God of Our Relationships
5. The Loving Lawgiver
6. Better late than never
7. Never Can Say Goodbye
8. No Appointment Necessary
9. When will it be Your day?
10. Will I make the appointment? 
11. 10 reasons why I love my hospital appointments
12. Are You Engaged?
13. Calm the shit down 
14. Monday Morning Thoughts
15. I Am Alive
16. Measuring Time
17. I’m Getting What I Want and Now I’m a Little Scared
18. God’s Appointment
19. Sunday Appointment Pimpama
20. Our daily grateful post
21. The first appointment
22. Out of Eden
23. Happy New Year!
24. How Wide is the Saviour’s Catchment?
25. Repeat The Sounding Joy…All Year Long!
26. Teaching the Crowds, Instructing His Disciples
27. His Name Is…Prince Of Peace
28. Christmas Day At My Church
29. Light and Life to All He Brings
30. Five Ways To Revive Evangelism In Your Church
31. Repeat The Sounding Joy…All Year Round! Finale
32. My year long Bible adventure
33. Reading On Faith
34. Like John Taught His Disciples
35. Job 28:28 Wisdom And Understanding (Part 2)
36. How to Read the Bible
37. Healthy Leaders Can’t Lead On Empty

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Save

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• Megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley Says Christianity Hinges on Jesus Christ’s Resurrection
• God Rest Ye Merry, Gentle People
• Jesus, our Emmanuel: The Fourth Sunday of Advent
• A new look at Christmas
• A LOVE to die for…
• Faith In action ‘Time To Reflect’
• Jesus Christ: Jewish radical or bathrobe Republican? The “reason for the season” remains an enigma after 2,000 years
• Celebrating Christmas in the Midst of Islamic Domination
• Christmas: Let`s renew our hope in God – Fayose
• How Long Can You Keep Christmas Decor Up?

Coming together in dark days

A few hours before I shall light the first candle at nightfall I shall look at the 1st day of Chanukah but also shall see how many come to celebrate a feast, they also call the feast of light, but has its main day on the birthday of the goddess of light, December 25. Lots of heathen but also lots of Christians shall have little candles in their decorated trees.

In my home the coming days there’ll also be some light, spiritual and literal, to have me thinking of the wonders of the Most High. The Eternal Being have been for ever, having made us in His image, has always been prepared to be there for those who want to be with Him. These present times there may be lots of darkness, violence and hate against each other. The heavenly Creator never created the human beings to go fighting against each other. Those people who claim to be lovers of God, be it Jews, Christians or Muslims, should all feel united under the same umbrella of their Divine Creator. Especially in these darker and colder days of the year we should make more time to come in each others warm houses to feel the generous warmth of solidarity.

It is in those darker days when we do not have to go to work, but can enjoy some free time, that we should bring up remembrances of how we and our ancestors grew up. We must become aware of how our minds get filled with lots of stuff as we grow from baby to adult, and how we are modelled by it. Growing up we come to certain believes and want to follow certain ideas. The beliefs we create are part of what forms our being, but they are also based on our genetic heritage, what other’s tell us, and what we accept as fact based on our experiences.  (Which explains why siblings can be alike or different and also why some twins raised in separate home turn out to have similar tastes and beliefs.)

English: The Byzantine army under Nikephoros Phokas captures Halep (Berrhoea), Syria, in February 963. Ελληνικά: Κατάληψη του Χαλεπίου (αρχαία Βέρροια) της Συρίας από τον βυζαντινό στρατό του Νικηφόρου Φωκά, Φεβρουάριος 963. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The day that Byzantine troops led by Nicephorus Phocas, who had lead an expedition against the Saracen Emirate of Crete, and stormed Chandax and wrested control of the entire island from the Muslims, in 961 defeated Moslem forces and seized Aleppo, we once more have a picture of a destroyed Aleppo and a ruined city of Mosul.

As the 10th century temporary turn of events could not have been good for the Jews who had been living in Aleppo since Biblical times because it was the Moslem conquest of the city in 636 that removed the disabilities placed on the Jews by the Byzantines. Lots of times the Jews had to face difficulties and many generations had to suffer under persecution, like the ones who found themselves squeezed out of the major cities and ports into the area known as White Russia on  this day in 1791 when Great empress of Russia Russian Yekaterina Velikaya, also known as Catherine II (the Great) created the Pale of Settlement.

When tonight I, like the Jewish troops with General Sherman, who kindle the first light of Chanukah in Savannah, GA. in 1864 (24^th of Kislev, 5625) I’ll try to remember the good thing which happened to the Jewish community and the many signs which proof that they are a special blessed people. The world shall have to know that the Jews are the Chosen people who have been promised to reside in a Holy Land. This Holy Land may perhaps be something lots of people will not like to see realised, but the world must know that the Plan of the Most High Maker shall become a reality.

In the ancient books is being told of that Great Plan. Not only Jews know of it; Christians and Muslims are also told about the prospects believers in God may expect. In the Torah the Most High calls people to share the news of a Messiah, a liberator for all. Generally lots of Jews look perhaps at a different Messiah than the Messianic Jews and Christians. Though perhaps because many of the Hebrew people forgot about their Creator, it can well be that This Holy Creator made His call also clear to the goy or goyim. For that reason Christians and Jews should look at each other, know their roots, know their common writings, and should learn from each other how to prepare themselves for the day that Messiah may come or return to this earth for finally bringing to Jerusalem full glory, as the capital of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Jewish wedding in Aleppo, Syria, 1914. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Though thick-skinned the Jews always tried to find a way to survive, never loosing their faith in their Maker and the hope in the promise made to him by their patriarch Abraham. Christians and Muslims today should also know that the Most High spoke about a terrible time, when more natural disasters would come over man, but also where children would come to stand up against their parents, and religions would come to fight against each other. We may well see lots of signs described in the Holy Scriptures as being the sings of the Endtimes.

Not having the pretension to be a spiritual leader or rabbi, but looking at the Torah, I can only come to the impression we have arrived in times that those who really love God should come together, unite and should come to spread the Good News. Lovers of God should spread the love and message of peace. Together they should become strong to help each other in the coming difficult times. By helping each other to come to understand each their way of life and come to see the religious teachings having to grow to a point where they shall be in line with God His teaching and not keeping any more to human dogmatic teachings.

Perhaps not regularly writing here, nor on my own site, I am honoured that I am allowed to share some thoughts from the Holy Scriptures and that I hopefully may show some ways Jews see the world and hold their religion high. By bringing also some news from the Jewish site I do hope this shall shed some light on present and future events and shall bring some more mutual understanding between the different religious groups our world has created .

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Please do find my introductions to my site

• About Immanuel Verbondskind – עמנואל קאָווענאַנט קינד
• First blog post
• A beginning by the 2016 Chanukah celebrations

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Additional reading

1. Roman, Aztec and other rites still influencing us today
2. Holidays, holy days and traditions
3. Germanic mythological influences up to today’s Christmas celebrations
4. Solstice, Saturnalia and Christmas-stress
5. Pagan Holidays
6. The imaginational war against Christmas
7. Objects around the birth and death of Jesus
8. With child and righteousness greater than the law
9. Continues Syrian conflict needing not only dialogue
10. To freeze the fighting in Aleppo
11. Old texts saved behind a wall at the Mar Behnam monastery

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Further related articles

1. Living Beyond Our World
2. Chankkah
3. Chanukah/Hanukkah/Chanukkah?
4. Hanukkah the Feast of Dedication. Is it Biblical?
5. Frum or Krum: Using the Shamash on Chanukah
6. Toldos – Generations
7. Happy Chanukah, Y’all!
8. Holiday Traditions – Chanukah
9. Our Style: Happy Chanukah!
10. Good News Friday
11. Gut Shabbes and Freilichen Chanukah!
12. Wrapup 2016
13. Kislev and Chanuka
14. Menorah graces front of Jewish Institute for Chanukah
15. Celebrating Chanukah 2016
16. The Reform Movement’s Rick Jacobs Has no Understanding of Tolerance
17. A Jewish Buddhist at Christmas/ Chanukah/ Solstice Time
18. Heading Home for the Holidays
19. The “holidays”
20. Of Grandchildren, Chanukah, and Christmas
21. This Chanukah: New Dedication
22. Kitschy Chanukiahs? Yassss
23. The Heart Knows More Than the Mind Can Tell
24. The Sort-Of True Meaning of Hanukkah

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Related articles

• Dozens rally against “Islamophobia” and the mistreatment of Muslims
• White nationalists target Jews in small Montana town
• Some of Britain’s top universities are becoming no-go zones for Jews, Baroness Deech claims
• Chanukah, Trump and David Friedman
• Twas the night before….
• World War On Christmas
• I awoke to my lawn covered in ornaments, and I don’t even celebrate Christmas
• Jeremy Corbyn is turning a ‘blind eye’ to anti-Semitism in his Party, Theresa May warns
• Holiday Dread: Christmas Trees
• Indonesian Christians on Edge at Ahok Trial

Spring playing hide and seek

Photographer Mike Powell knows that spring has truly arrived when he starts to walk around with a macro lens on his camera. You may find some nice shots of a Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax) on the boardwalk the 4th of April at Huntley Meadows Park in his article Jumping spider in early April.

With new vegetation springing up near the edges of the ponds at Huntley Meadows Park, some of the ducks are now hanging out within range of his camera rather than in the middle of the pond. This past weekend he was able to capture the unusual beauty of this male Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata). (See: Unusual beauty)

In Belgium the temperatures are still low for the time of year and the sun does not seem to be able to get through the clouds. Hyacinths may stand droopy, but the hortensia (or hydrangea) coloured green in just three days, as soon as we got, at last, some higher temperature. For some kids and adults again a time to play ducks and drakes (throwing flat stones so that they skim along the surface of water)

Female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) at Mike Powell’s favourite marshland park.

At moments we can see the Great Blue Herons hover over the bare fields, him not having to fear that a Belted Kingfisher would catch our attention, him sitting on a throne of a piece of wood, overlooking everything as a king. (See: Old faithful & Look both ways)

After the terrorist attacks the people living in Belgium are not at all afraid to get some fresh air and to go places. They find lesser tourists on their track. Many of those who had planned their vacation cancelled the trip to France and Belgium, but those who were already underway enjoy the less busy squares and enjoy very much their stay in this small country.

Every season heralds the might and mystery of superior designs emergent on earth and it is up to people to see the beauty of it all or to adapt to them as needed, respecting their place in the botanical, animal and mineral kingdoms, and our place in theirs.

For lovers of God once more every season is a whirlwind of proofs of the Hand behind this wonderful world. By all the changes taking place around us we can see how wonderfully made this nature world is and how it is impossible for man to create himself such a marvellous world.

In certain countries ‘Spring Break’ and ‘Holy Week’ coincided. In Belgium people do have their Easter holiday. Being a so called Catholic country there was the time to reflect with ‘Holy Week’, but where most went to look for sun and warmthin an other country or went on to the traditional Belgian coast Easter holiday.

Having had the pagan Easter Sunday with kids looking for eggs, others went to have a walk in parks.

Sue, a Presbyterian who lives in Missouri, the California girl Lori, living in Kansas and Ruth, living in New Jersey, having no particular religious affiliation, also look at Spring and write

In this part of Missouri, spring is making an appearance.  The land is still a little grim looking, all grey and brown, but there are also signs of growth, signs of hope. {Easter: Making Time for God}

SueBE recognises that it is easier when she is alone and when she has some time to both wander and wonder. she writes

I know, I know. It means I missed time that could have been spent in group worship.  And we missed a dinner.  But I also got to connect with God and having done that I can say it was truly worth it. His message?

Breathe. Just take a moment, stand still, and breathe.

It isn’t a message I would have received in worship or with family but it was definitely a message that I needed to hear.

We can spend time in group worship, but than we also should wonder if we are worshipping the right God and not a human concoction of a three-headed god. Though we do know that also in such groups or churches people can connect with God. there they should come to listen to Him and should follow His Wishes. Often for many living in this materialistic world that is very difficult. Most people prefer to keep to the human traditions, like Easter and Easter bunnies, Christmas and Christmas trees, instead of keeping to the by god given holidays like 14 Nisan or Pesach.

Belgian traditions are full of pagan rituals. All our culture is interwoven with Celtic and Germanic traditions, people having those gods interposed on their Catholic gods and religious figures.

Those looking for God shall have the difficulty to step aside and to leave those human traditions for what they are and abandoning those human teachings which have made integral part of the West European culture for centuries. Not only the Roman Catholic Church made use of those old customs. For man it is not always easy to finish such habits or to come to see that those are not laudable customs but are abominations in the eyes of God.

As Spring is a time of refreshment it is also an ideal time to start a fresh. It is a time to begin a new life, like nature also brings new life in view.

A God called Love, full of Grace and Mercy, tenderly loving us, is looking at this world and hoping His children will come back to Him. He is calling the, every moment of the day and night.

Now the darker days diminish we should come to see more of the beauties God has given this world and should take time to renew our sense of purpose by building the house of our life on the foundation of God’s Word.  {Life with a Purpose}

There are so many things that can affect the flow of God’s word and presence into our lives. Like deep sea divers, we must continually remind ourselves that nothing—nothing—is as important as that life-giving flow. {Pray as if Your Life Depends on It!}

writes Mitch Teemley in one of his ‘Stories with a Message.’

the Belted Kingfisher is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But to have God being able to work at you, you shall have to open up yourself and be willing to listen to His Words. We ourselves have to decide if we shall stay connected with this world, being of this world, or wanting to belong to God, being of His world.

Lots of name Christians who as a child had some religious activities have become ‘dried up’. Frustrated with the dryness in their spiritual life they do not know which way to turn. Instead of daring to take a step back and to explore again the magic of this world around them, seeing the Creator His acts in it. when they would go up a mountain or do some long walk and give their mind to nature, they will be surprised to hear something and to feel something special in them. That are the moments we can come close to God, and of which we should take use.

Such photographers like Mike Powell, Cindy Dydyer, Cindy Barton Knoke, and sites like Purple Rays are there on the net to bring beauty for beauty and show those things which are so much greater than a human being, and are the ‘given presence’ of the Greatest Designer of all universe.

If you are limited by the limitations or boundaries of your body, the chains in this life, such writers on the net make it possible to go all over the world and see the beauty of this world. When you are bounded to a wheelchair or not able to move far places, do enjoy their pictures and let you be taken away on a magic journey. Let the pain disappear by enjoying the beautiful pictures and please do take time to let your mind hover over thoughts which can bring you closer to That Maker of everything.

Taking His Book of books shall ad wisdom to it all and bring you to see who is who and what you shall have to believe and how you too can look forward to a much better life than this one you might have in this system of things, this time of this world.

Even if we can not be sure about the seasons, you should know that God is not hiding so that He can not be found. He is there … to be found by you.

Find also to read: All about love, not needing disasters

Preceding: Springtime is coming

 

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Additional reading

1. Dealing with worries in our lives
2. In a world which knows no peace sharing blessed hope
3. Are you looking for answers and Are you looking for God
4. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
5. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #7 Prayer #5 Listening Ear
6. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #8 Prayer #6 Communication and manifestation
7. Cognizance at the doorstep or at the internet socket
8. Best intimate relation to look for
9. God’s never-ending stream of much-needed mercies
10. Easter: Origins in a pagan Christ
11. Eostre, Easter, White god, chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies and metaphorical resurrection
12. Exodus 9: Liar Liar
13. Geert Wilders wants mandatory blackface at Dutch festival
14. Irminsul, dies natalis solis invicti, birthday of light, Christmas and Saturnalia
15. Christmas customs – Are They Christian?
16. Wishing lanterns and Christmas
17. Christmas trees
18. Days of nisan – Pesach or Pasach/Pascha
19. Pesach and a lot of brokenness in the world

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Further related articles:

1. Fantasia of Spring
2. Time Out for This Bird
3. Easter: Making Time for God
4. Life with a Purpose
5. Pray as if Your Life Depends on It!

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Related articles

• Frosty cold night… but great news for Easter weekend
• When is sunrise on Easter Sunday?
• Photo: Belted kingfisher enjoys her view
• Zoo animals to enjoy Easter Sunday activities
• Red Rocks Easter Sunday sunrise service canceled
• ‘Easter Retold’: An introduction
• Christian values, traditions, real or false stories, pure and upright belief
• Seven Bible Feasts of JHWH
• Who Celebrates Easter as Religious Holiday
• Who Gets to Say What the Bible Says?

Continued nostalgic Christmas memories

In Christmas in the 1950s we looked a first time at the way we and Equipping The Saints experienced the Winter holidays and enjoyed watching the movies.

When Equipping The Saints had started sixth grade in Gretna, Louisiana to spend the next three years at the same “Grammar School” his life was common to those of his school mates.

Cover of one of the books of the Robert L. May story by Maxton Publishers, Inc. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Like in our country he had also real Christmas holidays, and had real Christmas programs at school. When we do hear our grand children and see what is done at schools for the Christmas holiday we do not see such nice activities like we had in school. Though, Today there are more people stressing that this is the Season of the Year, and several Christians are shouting that Christmas should be the Reason of the Season. But when they want to celebrate the birth of Christ, not much seems to remind people to that birth of the Jewish rabbi who is our saviour. On the streets and in the shops the so called Christmas songs do not really mention Jesus Christ but go on about reindeer, Santa(s), jingle bells and present, though not that special present or precious gift you could call Jesus Christ. The winter-related songs celebrate the climatic season, with all its snow, dressing up for the cold, sleighing, etc. and with the years all the pagan elements came more and more to the forefront, new mythical characters created, defined, and popularised by these songs; “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman” both introduced by Gene Autry a year apart (1949 and 1950 respectively).

In the previous century we gathered and special presentations were offered to sing carols.

Equipping The Saints remembers

We would sing Christmas carols, which included biblical songs. The school would give the children song sheets that showed the words to those biblical songs. Teachers were free to talk to their classes about their church lives. {120714 – Christmas Of Simpler Times}

Today lots of teachers are not allowed to speak about their religious life. They are not allowed to talk about Jesus Christ being the saviour. church live and talks about God are in many schools not authorised any more.

The kids have also nothing to share about church life, because most of them never go to church or just have some periods of church activity to prepare them for the first and/or second communion. they are not really interested in anything to do with church or with religion. The talk of the day is the new smartphone or any other new electronic gadget, plus laughing with one or the other posting on Facebook. Television lost grace in the hand of our grandchildren. The present generation does not watch so much television as we did or do, but have their eyes focused on the computer screen, watching al sorts of postings or games.

Most of my friends watched the same television programs. {120714 – Christmas Of Simpler Times}

writes Equipping The Saints

We didn’t have cable tv or dish types, so our selection was limited to traditional network programming. The programs were family oriented and were not restricted to “church and state” limitations.The Cleaver family went to church and Sunday School. Andy, Barney, Aunt Bea, Opie, and Gomer were shown in their church, even when Gomer might fall asleep and snore during the “Reverend’s” sermons.
The Christmas programs that were produced and shown by ABC, NBC, and CBS did not hide the fact that “Jesus was the reason for the season.” Television hosts did not omit “Jesus” from their discussions when they were talking about Christmas. Jesus was truly “God with us” during those programs. {120714 – Christmas Of Simpler Times}

Jesus nor God are the subject of this season. It is time that those who call themselves Christian and find that this should be a time to think about Christ Jesus, perhaps should do better to have others thinking about that special man who was sent by God for a specific reason.

In Belgium we listened, behind frosted windows, to songs like the one of Frank Sinatra who sung about the songs for you and me, but were told that this was all about that heathen character the Americans loved so much, because their country had become slave of consumption. Today we in Europe are not better off. Most people are slave of money and consumption. As in the previous article told, they even get so much stress that we have already time spend in the media about that ‘Christmas stress‘.

Of the time when every one falls in love there is not so much to see. In some American writings we hear that it is now fashionable to have a divorce around Christmas. Many have new years dreams of having some extramarital adventures with some delicious unknown and some even think it can be good fun to have some extra sex with somebody of their own gender. Those same gender relations are also promoted extra in this time of year. This week for example we had on television some gays who prepared meals for each other and talked every episode about the ‘Christmas kitsch’.

Merry Christmas (Bing Crosby album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the 1950ies and 1960ies from the States we got Andy Williams and Bing Crosby who be the must haves and must hears at the Winter holiday season. You may wonder what glow it is when snow would appear these days. But even the snow has given it up and Winter does not want to let see her face. Bing Crosby reminded people about what happened in Bethlehem and asked people to remember it not just in this particular season but the whole year through.

Judi Harbin remarked

Just as we cannot benefit from a wrapped gift under the Christmas tree until we open it, so gratitude can be seen as our way of opening the gift of God’s love intended by all the small and big positive events of our lives

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One of the Biggest Christmas hits in several families for years

“White christmas” by Bing Crosby (1942) Original

Later he made a more fluent, faster version, which I like more

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O Little Town Of Bethlehem – Bing Crosby

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Bing Crosby “The Secret Of Christmas”

“The Secret Of Christmas” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn for Bing Crosby, and was first performed by Bing in the 1959 film, ‘Say One For Me’. Bing recorded “The Secret Of Christmas” with an arrangement by Frank DeVol for a single that year released by Columbia Records. Bing recorded the song again in 1964 for the album 12 Songs Of Christmas with Fred Waring and His Orchestra.

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It may well be that after World War II our families had to overcome the shocks of the Great War and the last atrocity which showed the cruelty of man and made it so much more important to focus on the better soul of mankind. Perhaps it was truly a much simpler time of Christmas in our nation’s not too distant history.

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Preceding articles

Solstice, Saturnalia and Christmas-stress

Christmas in the 1950s

The Proper Place of Excess

Looking for the consummation of presents

One can buy a lot in the supermarket, but not hope

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Additional reading

1. Creator and Blogger God 11 Old and New Blog 1 Aimed at one man
2. Objects around the birth and death of Jesus
3. Our love for Jesus – A Christian Science perspective
4. Isaiah 55-56, Revelation 11
5. God’s wrath and sanctification

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Further reading and listening

1. Celebrating 365 Days of Legends, Folklore & Spirituality for December 17 – 23 – Saturnalia
2. Countdown to Christmas 17: Saturnalia
3. War On Christmas Memes: Saturnalia
4. Christmas: it’s all about money, not messiahs.
5. Why Did He Come?
6. What Really Happened?
7. He Loves You So
8. 10 Tips for Maintaining a Healthy, Happy, Glow Over Christmas and Into the New Year
9. Cancer survivor supports others battling the disease with massive Christmas light display
10. Giving money for Christmas: When and how to do it right
11. Carols by Candlelight
12. “Hush, now listen…”
13. Hymn, ‘Mary, Did You Know?’
14. Carol, ‘I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing on Christmas Day’
15. Joy to the World, Not Just Another Christmas Carol
16. Christmas Carol Day 17
17. Jubilation
18. Manifestation
19. “For hate is strong and mocks the song”–A Civil war Christmas carol
20. Celebrating Christmas as a Family
21. Holiday Decoration: Celebrate Christmas in Style
22. Dec 18: My somewhere peaceful is Christmas magic
23. New trending GIF tagged 80s christmas vhs 1987…

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Related articles

• Bring Crosby and David Bowie Sing ‘The Little Drummer Boy’… Together
• Countdown to Christmas: Little Saint Nick Plus the 1957 Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby Christmas Special
• Yello80s Advent Countdown day 19: G-d Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
• When Hollywood Celebrated Christmas And Marriage
• Christmas Home Tour {Part One} – and a $500 Giveaway!
• Movie Review – White Christmas with Bing Crosby (1954)
• Unkind not to point
• You’re a good show, Charlie Brown Christmas!
• You need God
• How the world looked when Jesus was born, according to Roman geographers…

Christmas in the 1950s

Equipping The Saints on the 24th of December 2014 found himself enjoying that Christmas Eve evening by watching one of his favourite of all time films and he had to talk to you about the movie, and the times.

Original poster for the 1947 Christmas comedy-drama film written and directed by George Seaton and based on a story by Valentine Davies

Seaton, George American screenwriter and director original name George Stenius April 17, 1911 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. July 28, 1979 Beverly Hills, California American screenwriter and film director who was perhaps best known for his work on Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and The Country Girl (1954), both of which earned him Academy Awards for best screenplay. The son of Swedish immigrants, raised in Detroit, got his breakthrough with the holiday classic about a young girl (Natalie Wood) who begins to believe that the elderly man (Edmund Gwenn in an Oscar-winning performance) hired to play Santa Claus at Macy’s department store might actually be St. Nick. After a jealous fellow employee frames him for an assault, Kringle is placed in a mental hospital. At the ensuing sanity hearing, Kringle and his attorney attempt to prove that he is indeed Santa Claus.

“Miracle On 34th Street” has always found a place of warmth in my soul. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

Equipping The Saints writes

As I see the downtown store scenes of Christmas shoppers in the movie, my mind drifts back to the days of my childhood. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

The actor John Johnson who played the official Santa Claus for St. Albans finds that Gwenn who starred in the 1947 holiday film classic, helped set the standard for what a movie Santa Claus is supposed to be. When we were children looking forward for the many presents we could find under the Christmas tree we nearly every year got to see a performance of a homespun Christmas Street with a group of neighbours smitten by sugar-plum dreams and equipped with lots of extension cords, Santas, Snoopys, and inflatable snowmen, nativity scenes and teddy bears, model trains and flashing rooftop sleighs. In several stage versions we got to see as a child the scoundrels were mad more obvious and there were more of them. Also according to the times and popularity of names, the names of some of the characters were adapted to be more contemporary and to find more recognisable characters.

Some of our friends had lost their dad in the war and others had their parents working so hard that they had not so much time for their kids. also the writer of 121714 – Christmas In The 50s his step-father was usually away from home working as a merchant seaman, so his mother would take his younger brother, sister, and him “downtown” on shopping excursions.

My mother was very good at shopping and not letting us know that all of the wrapped boxes “were not really ours.” As with many downtown shopping areas in America “in the 50s,” we had streets in my home town that were lined with tall buildings, such as Sears, Penny’s, Woolworth’s, McCrory’s, Kress’s, and you know the rest of them. The streets were nicely decorated with “Christmas” markings (not Happy Holidays yet!). The store personnel would always say, “Merry Christmas,” without the fear of being fired! {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

Here in Belgium in front of nearly every big store there were Christmas singers for a good cause and the Salvation Army was unmistakably part of the Christmas Season picture.  In town you could not pass one shopping street without finding a Salvation Army band singing carols, around their little ‘fire’.

At that time the shops were still so incredibly decorated we just went to gaze in front of the shopwindows for all the magic bringing us into many special Christmas dreams. Everywhere you could feel the special spirit and people seemed much more friendly than the rest of the year.

Equipping The Saints also remembers

My family didn’t have a car, so we would always ride a city busy or take a cab. The drivers were very friendly and would also give “Christmas greetings” to us. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

Global warming had not reached us and we still could find real Winters with freezing cold days, having people to warm themselves very warm.

Equipping The Saints can remember the long kelly green coat that his mother wore;

she always had a wide black belt around the coat; and, she would have on black high heels – she had given up on wearing a hat and white gloves (sort of what Aunt Bea would wear!). And, we didn’t have a television at home. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

We at home having one of the first television had that extra dimension in the holiday period able to see the Christmas specials in the salon, after we had spend hours of reading in the library of the house and having had nice Christmas sweets in the lounge and some interesting chats in the parlour.

So, now you know all about my family. Now! Back to the movie. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

The writer of 121714 – Christmas In The 50s was very envious of the people of his age who were able to do their “downtown shopping” in the cities of Boston, Philadelphia, New York, St. Louis and the other large cities.

The stores that are mentioned in “Miracle On 34th Street,” such as Macy’s, Gimbel’s, Stern’s, Bloomingdale’s, McCreery’s and Hearns must have been wonderful places to shop. In the movie, a Macy’s store employee referred a shopper over to Gimble’s for an item that cost $2.98; can you imagine that? the price or the courtesy!  {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}

The Christmas window displays seen in the film were originally made by Steiff for Macy’s. Macy’s later sold the window displays to FAO Schwarz in New York. FAO Schwarz then sold the windows to the Marshall & Ilsley Bank of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they are on display every December in the bank’s lobby on North Water Street. {Miracle on 34th Street (in the United Kingdom first released as The Big Heart}

On the stage as well on the screen many versions saw the light and tried to bring some nice atmosphere in the Winter Holiday season. today there doe snot seem such a search for family warmth and ‘togetherness’ any more and the shops do not make so much work for decorating their shop-windows. In the shops and at the Christmas markets everything focusses on material gadgets and on alcoholic drinks, whilst non-peaceful music is yelling out of the loudspeakers. Though I must agree it sometimes was too much of having for weeks all those Christmas songs and jingle bells coming out our ears. 😉

Equipping The Saints thinks rightly that many of our age have those “Miracle on 34th” times of Thanksgiving and Christmas memories neatly and protectively stored in the wonderful areas of our minds. He  writes

I can vividly remember how J.C. Penny looked on Broughton Street; Sears & Roebuck was actually located about a mile away. Lerner’s was a dress store, kind of high-end, that made me really think that I was in New York… I trust that you will always cherish those memories, just as I do.

Dotta Raphels remarks

America in her generous bid to be tolerant and welcoming, has completely lost the essence of benevolence. She has allowed tolerance not only consume and blind her, but now, the many she welcomed with open arms are threatening to usurp her original self and traits. I know this country has seen many ugly sides such as slavery and denigration of fellow man, I do not speak of these times or traits, but rather of true fellowship of his ways and words, and the freedom to practice so, without being labeled one ridiculous thing or the other.

What about these generosities be reverted and extended to the people of America who still have traditional values and beliefs, regardless of how politically incorrect some may view their take?
I have a different sort of memory myself growing up in Christmas times back in Nigeria. It was a period of joy and celebration for us. A time when parents travelled back with families from cities to small hometown and villages, so the extended kin can all gather to celebrate our Lord and gift.

Many kids got their very own new cloths or shoes for the first time that period because parents saw it as a good time to reach deep into very thin pockets to give as Christ gave to their kids.
Total strangers would give kids money or sweets, and families would invite strangers off the streets to sup or dine with them. It depicted true brotherhood and such were glory days.

Today, it’s completely different. There are rapes, murders, crime of all imaginable sorts, and small hometowns and villages now overrun with thuggery, kidnapping ,rage and you name it.
The utopia Christmas no longer exits, and kids are no longer happy with sweets, new clothes and shoes or a simple supper. Everyone wants a mac, kindle, I Phone 6 or tablet, …

People of faith and followers of Christ are made to feel inferior for having an opinion and the very government that should protect everyone’s right to free worship, is now the same stifling some who want to celebrate our Lord.
We don’t all have to believe in the same thing, but the founding fathers of these united states as many mistakes as they made, in my humble opinion got one thing right… That is stating firmly that In God We trust. America is not and will never be anything other than In God We trust. If only present people will allow us follow our oath.

 

***

A fragment of the 1947 film with the little Dutch Girl and Mary Field as her Mother, where the child shows the true spirit of Christmas, to be with some one loved. After she tells the Santa she does not need anything else than to say with the nice lady she sings the Dutch Saint Nicholas song in Dutch “Sinterklaas kapoentje”

Miracle On 34th Street with Mary Field – 1947

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Miracle On 34th Street (1955 version)

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Preceding articles

The Proper Place of Excess

Looking for the consummation of presents

One can buy a lot in the supermarket, but not hope

Solstice, Saturnalia and Christmas-stress

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Additional reading

Change

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Further reading

• St. Albans Santa Stars in ‘Miracle on 34th Street’
• Baltimore’s Own ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ Light Display

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Related articles

• Miracle on 34th Street > SN&R reviews Woodland Opera House’s production of Miracle on 34th Street.
• U.S. States Most Enthused About Christmas Movies
• 7 Surprisingly Dark Moments From Your Favourite Christmas Movies
• The Spirit of Christmas: Our Favorite Santa Movies
• Best Christmas Movies
• 3 must-see holiday movie screenings, Dec. 19-23
• Two Holiday Shows at the Warner Theatre
• The Nativity Stories: The Best (and Worst) Christmas Movies Ever
• Wrist to Christmas?
• Santa Claus Land – Santa Claus, Indiana The only fully colored…

Solstice, Saturnalia and Christmas-stress

Today lots of people tend to treat things such as Christmas trees and holiday gift giving as if they’ve been with us forever. While these are old traditions, they were once far more localized. In this world of media everywhere, we tend to forget that customs were once far more specific to the area. Lots of people also have lost the connection of those festivals and have transposed it to their group of people, believers or non-believers in Jesus Christ or in God.

From the Saxon days there was Yule for mid-winter and in the regions of West Europe the autumn storm brought many ideas alive to think about gods who controlled everything in nature. The days becoming darker demanded for and still demand for some more light bringing into it. In the old times to honour the gods it was custom to put all sorts of things in the trees as an offering to the gods. On December the 25th it was the day of the goddess of light. Time was taken to celebrate her.

Traditional Christmas card with holly and mistletoe. Circa 1880s

Druids, Celts, and even the Romans used evergreen branches made into wreaths in winter solstice celebrations. Because so many things lost colour and seemed to have died people looked up for those elements in nature which could be so strong that they stayed green. Pagan symbols as holly and ivy remained green and were taken as a promise of life to return in dead of winter. Holly – prized for its ability to bear fruit in winter and its healing uses – were the blessings people hoped they could have in the house and share with each other. Healing elements were very important to get through Winter.

While the Romans were holding the feast for the god Saturn — which occurred about the time of the winter solstice — they decked the outsides of their houses with holly. At the same time the Christians were quietly celebrating the birth of Christ, and to avoid detection they outwardly followed the custom of their heathen neighbours and decked their houses with holly as well. In this way holly came to be connected with Christmas customs. The plant was also regarded as a symbol of the Resurrection.

The missionaries coming in these regions quickly understood how the pagan traditions were so strong and how people would not like to give them up. This we still see today happening. As Christians should come to know more about traditions and about usages all over the world, plus having the Holy Scriptures to find what they could or could not do, we see that those who call themselves Christian still do not like to give up those pagan traditions and pagan festivals.

The Roman Catholic Church had already given in to Constantine the Great allowing the false teaching of the trinity be part of the Catholic Faith, so it was a further small step to adapt the Western Celtic and Saxon traditions to the Roman Faith. In 336 CE, during the time of this so called  first Christian Roman Emperor for the first time on December 25th “Christmas” was being celebrated.

A very early Christian tradition said that March 25^th was the day when Mary was told she’d give birth to Jesus (called the Annunciation). And nine months later, of course, would be December 25^th. But the Bible doesn’t mention the exact days of that annunciation, nor of the birth of Jesus, though from all the secular writings we do know when the cencus took place, when the falling star appeared and that it was in October that Mary and Joseph went to fulfil their duties. We can take it was in 4BCE on October the 17th that rabbi Jeshua from the tribe of King David was born. For those who would love to celebrate his birthday it is strange that they than not do this around the period Jesus was rally born.

An image from the necropolis under the Vatican in which Jesus = Mithras (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is true that in many cultures we can find a festival of lights, also the Jews have such a festival of lights. Germans and Scandinavians had their yule festival. Celtic legends connected the solstice with Balder, the Scandinavian sun god or Norse god of light, son of the chief god Odin and his wife Frigg, who was struck down by a mistletoe arrow from the blind god Hödur (or Höd). At the pagan festival of Saturnalia, Romans feasted and gave gifts to the poor. Drinking was closely connected with these pagan feasts.

The Babylonian sun-god and god of agriculture and flocks, Tammuz, lover of Ishtar, born on the winter solstice according to legend was also celebrated on December the 25th and by the Roman Catholic Church his symbol was taken as the symbol for Jesus (the sign of Tammuz or the cross), placing Jesus as the bringer of light and god of light.

The leaders of the instituted organisation of clergy who accepted the trinity, agreed to adopted the saturnalia day of the ‘day of birth’ or ‘day of new life’ as a remembrance day of the new life Jesus has given to all mankind. For them it was easier to get more converts by keeping the folks from indulging in the old pagan festivals as part of the pagan culture, now transformed or redressed in a Roman Catholic dressing.

Branches that had thorns became to be the thorns Christ wore on the crucifix (sign of Tammuz) and the berries were stained red by his drops of blood. From the Norse and the Druids, the Mistletoe you may find growing here everywhere and at that time was considered special because of it found growing on the sacred oaks, was featured in several old myths and held to be sacred and associated with fertility, which led to kissing boughs.

Also today at the Christmas markets we can find the gangway where there is the kissing bough custom one holds that a woman who refuses the kiss shall have bad luck, and that those who kiss underneath it shall be having a blessed and fruitful year.

Not all the following years Christmas was part of Christian life. During Cromwell’s rule, Christmas was even banned. Charles II restored the holiday in England. However, the Parliament of Scotland officially abolished the observance of Christmas in 1640, to purge the church “of all superstitious observation of days”, and it was not restored as a public holiday in Scotland until 1958.

Julbocken, by John Bauer (1912)

From the 4th to the 19th century the tradition of the Northern people their celebration for their chief god and the father of Thor, (Thunor, or Thonar), Balder, and Tiw, Woden or Wotan became more and more also liked by the people from Holland and Belgium and the man with a long white beard who rode a horse through the heavens one evening each Autumn became their Sint Niklaas (Sinterklaas) or Sint Nicholas  (saint Nicholas) and in the Anglo Saxon countries Father Christmas or Santa Claus/Sancta Claus.

1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, along with Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus

From the 20th century onward that Father Christmas started gaining more popularity and the presents became more and more the focus of the people for that season were the darkness seemed to have darkened their Christian sight. Lots of Christians enjoyed decorating the ‘Christmas tree‘ and telling their children the Saint from Spain had brought presents for all those who had behaved well the previous year. Later in the month it was the Santa who once more brought presents in the house.

History illustrates the awesome outworking of initial events from when the Divine Creator has declared

Zephaniah 1:17-18 The Scriptures 1998+  (17)  “And I shall bring distress on men, and they shall walk like blind men – because they have sinned against יהוה  {Jehovah}, and their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.”  (18)  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of יהוה  {Jehovah}. And by the fire of His jealousy all the earth shall be consumed, for He makes a sudden end of all those who dwell in the earth.

This comes from the Christadelphian bible reading for December 15 when we started reading this short and somewhat overlooked prophecy of Zephaniah. He would have been one of the prophets Peter referred to, as we read the final chapter of his second letter of the same day-reading, he told them they should remember

2 Peter 3:2 The Scriptures 1998+  (2)  the words previously spoken by the set-apart prophets, and of the command of the Master and Saviour, spoken by your emissaries,

Today we may find lots of people who have stress about the coming days when they have to present nice meals and many presents and have to fulfil many family visits and social obligations. Their eyes are closed for the real issue in life. Not a Santa shall bring salvation and he from the North has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. When we look at the many Christmas markets we even do not see much what reminds us of the Saviour who was sent by God to this earth.

Ages ago holy prophets told about the eyes of people which would become blinded. Today we

“should remember their predictions”

Folk tale depiction of Father Christmas riding on a goat. Perhaps an evolved version of the Swedish Tomte. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We also should remember that they also warned for the time that scoffers were going to come and would lead people following their own sinful desires. About the promised one who was born, lived for a very short time here on earth, died, was resurrected from the dead and showed that he was not a spirit, but the one brought back alive by his heavenly Father, that master teacher is not remembered much these days and many do not think about his return or even do not believe in it.

Yes many laugh at us and say,

“Where is the promise of his coming?”

Many children have to promise their parents that they will be good next year. Then they also will get some present. But not many children learn about that man who died for our sins. Not many take time in this ‘Time of the year’ to read the Bible and to meditate on what God and his son Jesus had to say.

Today lots of people are concentrating on their self and do see all those refugees coming in our regions as a possible threat to what they can enjoy. Many are afraid they shall have to share with those poor people who travelled thousands of miles to find their luck in our Western world where money seems to flow like moulted butter.

Many people do not see what is really going on and how those set apart men of God had warned for certain situations we can see today. Also Jesus told about the signs of those days we have today. That time Jesus spoke about, may be much closer than many think. Many are blinded by the money this world is offering. Lots of people think everything can be said with presents and with the value of money. The real value for life they often do not see. Capitalism has put sand in their eyes.

The ways of godless thinking and living will be seen for all the foolishness they are; and we must never forget, there are only 2 ways: the broad way and the narrow way. Those on the narrow way are

2 Peter 3:12-15 The Scriptures 1998+  (12)  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat!  (13)  But according to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells.  (14)  So then, beloved ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,  (15)  and reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother Sha’ul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him,

“waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (verses 13,14).

Included in what they (we) are waiting for, is what Job perceived and that we read today. He declared,

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” (19:25-27).

He believed in resurrection!

That final comment is most thought provoking. Our hearts will be in danger of fainting within us for multiple reasons, when God “bring(s) distress” – the experience will be awesome for believers! But how imminent then will be the time when they will “see God” through seeing his Son, marvelling in anticipation of the ultimate time when

“God himself will be with them as their God … for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3,4).

Let us anticipate in faith the things that “our eyes shall behold” to carry us through the coming time of “distress”.

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Additional reading

1. Holidays, holy days and traditions
2. Christmas customs – Are They Christian?
3. Christmas, Saturnalia and the birth of Jesus
4. Irminsul, dies natalis solis invicti, birthday of light, Christmas and Saturnalia
5. Focus on outward appearances
6. Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
7. Christmas in Ancient Rome (AKA Saturnalia)
8. Christmas trees
9. Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart
10. With child and righteousness greater than the law
11. Objects around the birth and death of Jesus
12. Politics and power first priority #3 Elevation of Mary and the Holy Spirit
13. The imaginational war against Christmas
14. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 1: Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
15. Manna from Sint Nicholas
16. Traditionalists Vow to Fight Charges of Racism in Netherlands
17. Ignorance of Today’s Youth (and Adults)
18. Sancta Claus is not God
19. Brits believe Santa present at Jesus’ birth, new poll reveals
20. Wishing lanterns and Christmas

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Further reading

1. Winter Solstice and Yule
2. Yule is upon us!
3. Dickens’ Christmas Story as an Intertexteme in Leskov’s Yule Short Story
4. Winter Solstice 2015: Shortest Day Of The Year Celebrated As Pagan Yule
5. Commercialmas
6. Yule 2015 #15 performing magic
7. Yule 2015#16
8. A radiant vision of splendour
9. Yule prep
10. Yule Wreath and Garland
11. 13 Trolls
12. War Against Christmas?
13. Holiday King of the Hill
14. SGC Admin: From our inbox to you from: Patti Wigington: Paganism/Wicca Expert
15. Yule – Wicca subject of the week
16. Happy Yule 2015
17. How to bring some real Christmas spirits into your Yule-tide
18. 10 Ways to Celebrate Yule
19. Santa Claus, Krampus,The Wild Hunt and Me.
20. Vigil
21. Use Yule Bells For Positive Energy
22. Irish Christmas
23. Christmas, the Weridest Holiday of the Year; Part one
24. Holly Tree
25. Holly, Plant of Saturn and Mars
26. Symbol of Yule: Holly Mistletoe and Bayberry Candles
27. Memories of Yuletide
28. A Little history on the holly tree
29. Let It Be Done Unto Me
30. Annunciation
31. Annunciation: a reflection for Advent
32. This Annunciation
33. The Annunciation, according to Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich
34. Tuesday 15th December
35. Wednesday Writings – Annunciation
36. Mary’s Heart
37. Angels & Advent: In His Shadow – a sermon podcast
38. And the virgin’s name was Mary
39. Angels of Advent: Encountering the Annunciation
40. Somersaults /Wednesday, December 9, 2015
41. Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
42. Mary and a “Yes” to God’s Request
43. Joseph’s Pregnant Advent
44. The Overshadowing of Mary –Pentecost
45. Christmas
46. Saturnalia
47. From Sukkot to Saturnalia: The Attack on Christmas in Sixteenth-Century..
48. Togas, Laurels, Chariots and Some Roast Lambs’ Testicles
49. Countdown to Christmas 17: Saturnalia
50. Saturnalia Is a Fleadh by Another Name. Just Don’t Tell Jerry Buttimer
51. By Jove! It’s Christmas: Did the First Christian Roman Emperor Appropriate..
52. War On Christmas Memes: Saturnalia
53. War On Christmas Memes: The Yule Tree
54. Christmas: it’s all about money, not messiahs.
55. Geranium Lake Properties, Saturn and Sol
56. Advent Calendar Day 15: Christmas: The Perfect Excuse For A Fight? by Lucy Brazier
57. Pig Washing 1, “Christmas”
58. Christmas is Pagan!
59. Christmas — Who gives a rip HOW we came up with the date we use?!?
60. Christmas is Tammuz’s Birthday?

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Related articles

• Santa preparing sleigh for ride through Nipomo
• Which Christian sect is the only true Christian church?
• 25 Orthodox rabbis issued a statement on Christianity
• Objects around the birth and death of Jesus
• Updating the Roman Catholic Church…
• Why Are Catholics Unable To Admit That, Yes, They Do Pray To Mary?

The Proper Place of Excess

The Word of God given to us in the Bible or Holy Scriptures tells us to know Who we should worship and what we should not worship. Idolatry of money has crept into the soul of mankind and has poisoned their hearts.

The wisdom teacher of Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for all things under the sun, no to agree with the excess man loves so much, but as a warning how to behave and how and to what to focus.

For those who want to celebrate Christmas for whatever reason they want to give, Christians should remember that it is originally a pagan festival and should better abstain from it. But we do agree in Wintertime it is ideal to socialise at the dark hours and it may be lovely to exchange presents around the turn of the year.

When we provide presents for others they should be given with joy and when it brings such a stress like we hear many tell on television, than there is certainly something wrong.

In so called Christian countries, we also see lots of Christmas markets, but at those ‘great events’ there is not much to see about what they call would be the “reason of the season”. At most Christmas markets there are not many stall about the nativity of the Nazarene Jew nor about that man’s ransom offering. Jesus Christ his birth they often call the reason for the season, but we can not see him much in that season or in people’s homes. Also the attitude of those people gathering at those markets does not speak of such an attitude that master teacher asked from his followers. Most people strolling around at those markets are more concerned about the food and drink opportunities and in buying (ridiculous) gadgets and not to expensive presents.

So many feel obliged just to find an other gadget or an other extra surprise and do hope they themselves also will receive many presents.

In this society where excess has become a way of life, for many it might well be also a way of understanding the world, a way of being and interacting in the world, but for sure many chapters in the bible warn for such an attitude and ask us to focus on the more important immaterial things.

Those who call themselves Christian should wonder where they fall in the consumer trap of the capitalist society and why they do not keep to the festivals ordained by the Most High? the festival for the goddess of light and a celebration for a Santa Claus for sure are no part of those.

*

To remember

Thanksgiving here + gone > too much to eat + drink = Excess = regular part of natural order

Excess > consequences = plays important role in survival process

Survival of the fittest + the fertilized

Northern Hemisphere winter = season of rest + recuperation

ancestral winter seasons > forebears rejoiced in gathered harvest, savored freshly slaughtered meat, + delighted in new beer + wine.

Northern Hemisphere ancestors celebrated = winter solstice = December 21 = marking the rebirth of the sun = traditionally been associated with feasts + festivals replete with excesses => secular Christmastime holiday = direct descendant of these revelries.

Roman Saturnalia + misrule, centered on feasting + gift-giving > societal role reversals where servants + peasants became lords + ladies for a day or short season => usually steady tables of fortune turned for a moment

misrule (common in European societies and colonial America) individuals of low socioeconomic status demanded wealthier neighbors + patrons treat them – the servants + peons of society – as if they were the wealthy + deserving

Puritans of Massachusetts infamously outlawing Christmas in late 1600s =/= legendary anniversary of the Savior’s birth > simultaneous misrule celebrations that exalted excesses, some acceptable + others decidedly distasteful.

1800s, misrule evolved > new type of social inversion > persisted to our own day => Christmas made for children

children = miniature adults = occupied bottom rung of social hierarchy along with peasants + servants

Modern secular Christmas – family celebration – created at this time with children becoming focus of charity + goodwill

starting with Black Friday Eve (used to be called Thanksgiving) + continuing through New Year’s Day celebrations = unmatched devotion to consumerism, materialism, consumption, waste, and over-indulgence.

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Preceding

The Culture of Excesses- Losing Humanity

Learning that stuff is just stuff

Material wealth, Submission and Heaven on earth

Looking for the consummation of presents

One can buy a lot in the supermarket, but not hope

 

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Additional reading

1. A time for everything
2. The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
3. Irminsul, dies natalis solis invicti, birthday of light, Christmas and Saturnalia
4. Holidays, holy days and traditions
5. A new year with hopes and challenges
6. Opportunity!
7. A season of gifts
8. How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace
9. Material wealth, Submission and Heaven on earth

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Further reading

1. Presents, Presents, and more Presents.
2. Christmas Stress
3. Buying All the Gifts
4. Christmas time!
5. The spirit of Christmas
6. Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. ~J.L.W. Brooks
7. It’s the Thought that Counts?
8. 30 Ways to Have Yourself a Thrifty Little Christmas
9. 17 Things Only Girls Who Hate Shopping Understand
10. How The Garden Grinch Saved Your Christmas
11. 2015 Holiday Gift Guide
12. My Christmas Gift Guide 2015
13. 15 ways to get into the Christmas Spirit
14. A Special Package
15. The Gift & the Giver
16. Baby Jesus Brings the gifts
17. Blogmas Day 14: Christmas Gift Guide 2015
18. On the 14th day of Christmas…
19. Dear Santa
20. Secret Santa!
21. Why we don’t do Santa
22. Nativity?
23. Christmas Blogging Challenge Day 2 – My Favourite Christmas Tradition
24. The Gift That Keeps on Giving
25. The Holiday Gifting Struggle
26. Do you search? BlogMas
27. Finding God
28. Why Not Do Something Different This Christmas

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Related articles

• Autumnal Equinox
• Autumn Serenade: The Fall Music Puzzler
• What Exactly Is the Autumn Equinox?
• Watch: Man surprises girlfriend by proposing to her on roller coaster
• Christmas Traditions around the World
• Christmas comes earlier for Toronto Bay shoppers
• This Day in History: September 21st- There is a Santa Claus
• Sneak Peek: Do You Hear Jingle Bells?

The T. Carlos Blog

Thanksgiving, once again, is here and gone. I know I had too much to eat and drink. How about you?

Excess is a regular part of the natural order. Our bodies turn excess calories into fat cells – technically, stored energy for later use. Most excess weight, however, is simply lugged around serving unwittingly as a contributing factor to health problems. Alcohol, on the other hand, is eliminated by the body. But a morning-after dehydration headache, caused by excessive drinking, lets you know you overdid it. Long-term excessive drinking, of course, will kill you.

Excess has its consequences.

Excess, nevertheless, plays an important role in the survival process. You and I are here thanks to an excessive amount of spermatozoa, from which emerged one little victor to join forces with an ovum. Survival of the fittest and the fertilized! And not only that, some of the plants which provide food, oxygen, and beauty upon the earth produce seeds for their own reproduction numbering in excess of hundreds…

View original post 687 more words

The Culture of Excesses- Losing Humanity

Our society has put its eyes on material things and some like to find a good excuse to receive some more. The heathen festival at the end of the year, having received its misleading name Christmas, is full of pagan symbols and the majority of people who celebrate it with the excuse as the remembrance of the birth of Christ, which was in 4BCE, October 17, do not really have many remembrance elements for this Messiah, who gave his life for mankind.

*

To remember

many things which I do not want

people just cannot get enough of what they have + want more > current culture of Consumerism = people know price of everything but value of nothing

‘citizens’ = equal partners in downward spiral of humanity

first citizens on earth + then consumers in traditional concept of market driven society.

race to own multiple profiles on various networking sites = most senseless thing that people of our generation especially youth are attracted to do

a person’s stature = judged by number of followers or friends s/he has on networking site

media both print + electronic = trashed ethical principle of ‘informing’ people of what’s happening around => become producer of news which has to be fed to consumers in typical market terminology

media = competing with ordinary citizens to get most likes + shares on social media => information at the heart of good governance = ignored

media has turned into retailers selling products in the guise of news through common people who are acting as sales and marketing agents

culture of excesses and consumerism = current culture of seeking materialistic pleasures or satisfaction<= tendency to attribute happiness to external materialistic sources

wild chase of things we do not want but yet seek created emptiness in our souls => to fill such emptiness = if we buy something new, maybe we will feel good = cognitive process based on a hollow logic = creates a cycle

feeling sad > purchase > repress our need to feel complete temporarily => not sustainable => coped up with another purchase

new purchase brings temporary satisfaction = makes us believe that what we need a constant dose of newer stuff in order to feel happy => begin journey of seeking happiness from external sources.

forgotten > key to happiness lies within ourselves

not even connected to ourselves  > understanding of self has degraded to superficial concepts such as looks, outwards personality

animalistic concepts of existence of God or supernatural power + focus on finding a divine connection which can flush out the negativity from our minds and instil only positive thoughts => connection can only be established with nature or higher self

first of all humans + then customers or consumers or whatever terminology one wants to ascribe to us = meant to act as cohesive unit since humanity demands us to live for each other = as long as we are secure within ourselves + this security provides us with confidence to be useful to others.

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Preceding articles

Learning that stuff is just stuff

Material wealth, Submission and Heaven on earth

Material gain to honour God

How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace

Stop and Think

One can buy a lot in the supermarket, but not hope

Looking for the consummation of presents

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Further reading

1. Psychic Weather Week of December 14, 2015
2. What You Need to Know
3. Daily Devotional: “Half-Baked Prayers”

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Related articles

• The Ins and Outs of Sex and Social Media
• 5 Ways To Bring Humanity To Your Brand
• The Three Things People Love Most About Social Media
• Real-Life Social Media Blunders You Have to See to Believe (And How to Avoid Them!)
• How Analyzing a Social Media Milestone Is Helping Us Prepare for the Next One
• Are Casket Selfies Really Necessary?
• The Adverse Effects Of Social Media: Talkspace Brings Attention To How Overuse Can Harm Mental Health
• The Good (and the Bad) of Social Media Engagement
• Can social media tools help to strengthen relationships?
• 7 Strategies to Give Your Email Campaign a Human Touch

MohnishBagree's Blog

How many things are there which I do not want, was once said by Socrates. But it seems that people just cannot get enough of what they have and want more. As the current culture of Consumerism perfectly justifies what Oscar Wilde mentioned, today people know the price of everything but the value of nothing. It would be wrong to blame the producers alone for the consumerist culture that we are leaving in. The ‘citizens’ are equal partners in this downward spiral of humanity. Why is it a downward spiral will be unfolded subsequently but for now let us focus on what has this consumerist tendency been doing and how. In addition to this, it is important to understand that we are first citizens on earth and then consumers in traditional concept of market driven society.

When will the charm of a new phone end? When will we be satisfied…

View original post 1,347 more words

Looking for the consummation of presents

When the end of the year is coming
people are looking for the consummation of presents

the sexy santa assistants were there to take a photo of you in front of the xmas tree or you could just ask them to take a photo with you and pretend that your girlfriend is a sexy santa assistant See where this picture was taken. [?] (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We are coming closer to the Winter holidays and in the down side of this globe the Summer holidays. The holidays can be an unsettling time for atheists and the Christmas holidays may be an stressing times for trinitarian Christians. Those Christians also often want to know how atheists can cope with what those Christians call the Season of the Greatest Gift on earth.

Sarah, a dog-faced atheist currently living in North Carolina, writes

Once when talking to a family member who is aware of my atheism and verbal about it, she asked: “Does it bother you when you get Jesus stuff for the holidays?” The truth, yes and no. {Holiday Shopping For Your Token Atheist Friend}

She, like many other atheists and lots of Christians, does not seem to know that all this Christmas event has nothing to do with Christianity or the real Jesus born in Bethlehem. Christmas is a pagan feast of which real Christians should abstain. But many Christians love to think about the true real Greatest Gift on earth mankind received. That was indeed the saviour or the Kristos, Jesus Christ, who was really born in 4BCE, October 17. So, we could wonder why they like to celebrate his so called birthday on the birthday of the goddess of light and on the pagan holy day for that goddess.

Therefore it is strange that as self-proclaimed resident holiday gift adviser, this Sarah gives her guiding rules on how to shop for heathens as follows:

1. Don’t give your atheist friend anything religious.

2. Avoid gifts that use “Christmas” or “Xmas.”

3. Coffee is good. Atheists like coffee. {Holiday Shopping For Your Token Atheist Friend}

When we look in the shop windows we also do not see much that reminds people of the Messiah and what he has given to mankind and why we can look at him as the best gift the world ever got.

Many may say that

“The Word became flesh.”

but do not really know what this means.

A certain Chandy who is also knowing that she is been given a gift, likes to share it, but considers it impossible. she also seems to see the reason.

No one’s bothered, which is fine. People have their own choices and finally, Jesus does love them. Others possibly communicate their theology but I can’t. And in some senses I wish I hadn’t learnt it. {Despairing Resonance}

This December she writes

Blood, bodily fluids, wordless crying are at the heart of Christmas story. It is icky, joyful and fills the senses. {Christmas fragment 1}

When we carefully look around everything turns around getting presents and just making lots of fun. Naturally nothing is wrong with making lots of fun and giving each other presents. Lovely. But to have stress about it?! And to say it is all for Jesus?!

Chandy at WordPress continues

It is icky, joyful and fills the senses.

This is why with so many objects criss crossing the planet it fulfils part of the spirit of Christmas. The handling of the card, the wrapping of the gift, the prising of the plastic, the eating of food, the drinking of wine affirms our bodily humanity; for God affirms bodily humanity in its messy state by taking on a breathing, weeing, gurgling body. {Christmas fragment 1}

Looking at mankind they all seem to look for their luck in stuff.

Everyone seeking love, joy, hope, peace, contentment and seeking to find it in stuff. Anyone who has an eternal perspective sees how silly this is – chasing after wealth and popularity and power. Still the pull of this world is strong. Smell that cheddar? Don’t worry about that spring loaded wire it’s sitting on. “People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”  Wealth isn’t the issue.  Idolatry – love of money is.  (But sometimes wealth breeds the other.) {Contented Consumer?}

Even those Christians who say this is the season of peace are arguing that all those refugees better stayed in their country and would leave our developed society on its own, they not coming to take away some food and quality of life. They forget they themselves never brought anything themselves into this life at start, but got everything given to them, life, education, edible plants, sunshine, rain, the earth. Man is so selfish he thinks he has done it all by himself and that everything belongs to himself. To share it with others is difficult. For that reason such a gift season may not be so bad, because than people have to provide something for somebody else, and they have to spend something from their own money for it, which is not so easy for them. but many have fallen in the trap of the ” tyranny of expectations surrounding this so called Holy Day”.

Those who belong to the wealthy better should think about those who have less. This time of gifts should bring them to think about what gifts we all get in our life. Scripture is not against products that make life better for those who produce them.  It is also not against consuming products. but it warns us how we use our money and warns us about the attitude we can take or have to take with the things we can enjoy.

Scriptures does not say at all that luxury would not be allowed, but it gives us an indication that we should be willing to share with others. The Bible tells us the “Love of money” is wrong and corrupting.

Studies show that those with a lot of it are more narcissistic and less generous.  Our tendency is to think – that’s people who are richer than we are – They are self-absorbed and greedy. {Woes and Watch-out Warnings}

In the West we have become a “Consumer driven society”

Buy, buy, buy. Get, get, get. We’re all buyers; consumers of stuff. There are things we need and things we want. Separating our wants from our needs has become more difficult with the growing ideology of consumerism. The encouragement of acquiring more and more stuff at an increasing pace continues to change our society. The “one who dies with the most toys” philosophy has propelled the age of consumerism as our appetite to acquire things has skyrocketed. I wonder though if this is healthy for our society? {Top Risks for a Consumer-Driven Society}

The Spirit of Christmas (short film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The way people want to consume is changing and shopping becomes for some less a social activity, but a lonesome internet action, not really interested were it comes form at what cost, as long as he can get it the cheapest.

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Distinguished Programs Joseph DeRosa warns

So as we enter the Holiday season – whatever Holiday you celebrate – think about your own gift giving habits. If it’s cheaper online, I get it. That’s simply being fiscally responsible. But if it’s not, I’d challenge you to go to the store, walk the aisles, smile at others and say hello. Let’s not slip so far into our rabbit holes that we forget that the difference between living and being alive is the amount of interaction and experience we have with one another. Would any of us really want to be walking around this planet alone? Would that be alive? Not me. Make the choice to live alive. Connect with someone. Today.

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Preceding

Family happiness and little things we do

Halloween is Satanist Christmas

He who beams never walks in the dark

The Evolution Of Passover–Past To Present

Welcome to Easter 2014

Next: One can buy a lot in the supermarket, but not hope

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Additional reading

1. A season of gifts
2. Holidays, holy days and traditions
3. Focus on outward appearances
4. Irminsul, dies natalis solis invicti, birthday of light, Christmas and Saturnalia
5. Christmas, Saturnalia and the birth of Jesus
6. Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
7. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
8. Objects around the birth and death of Jesus
9. Christmas in Ancient Rome (AKA Saturnalia)
10. Wishing lanterns and Christmas
11. The imaginational war against Christmas
12. Hanukkahgiving or Thanksgivvukah
13. Thanksgivukkah and Advent
14. Holiday tolerance
15. Exodus 9: Liar Liar
16. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 1: Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
17. Traditionalists Vow to Fight Charges of Racism in Netherlands
18. Geert Wilders wants mandatory blackface at Dutch festival
19. Being Religious and Spiritual 8 Spiritual, Mystic and not or well religious
20. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
21. Christian values, traditions, real or false stories, pure and upright belief
22. I believe in you…
23. Ember and light the ransomed of Jehovah
24. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
25. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
26. Nativity scene of the birth of the Bill of Rights
27. Brits believe Santa present at Jesus’ birth, new poll reveals
28. Sancta Claus is not God
29. What Jesus sang
30. Merry Christmas with the King of Kings
31. Weekly World Watch 12th – 18th Sept 2010‏
32. Christmas trees
33. I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late !
34. God’s Special Gift
35. What do you want for Christmas
36. Speedy Christmas!
37. Don’t Envy the World

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Further related postings on the net

1. Christmas Twinkle and Festive Helsinki City Lights
2. You Lived Your Best Life If You Had These ’90s Toys When You Were A Kid
3. 27 of the best 90s toys that prove Christmas used to be way better
4. Five holiday light displays you can’t miss this holiday season
5. The North Poles’ Secret by Zoey Hart #CinnamonTreats
6. Bending History
7. Advent No.12: Gifting guide for friends…
8. Seventh day of Christmas 
9. Joy to the World
10. Advent Day 12
11. 12 Days Of Christmas… ‘This Time Of Year’ by Only Girl
12. The Twelve Days of Christmas: Preparing Families for Emergencies
13. BoyChild Chooses: The 12 Reviews of Christmas, Day 12–McDuff’s Christmas
14. Bear With Me While I Wait For Santa
15. Christmas Gift Guide
16. It’s beginning to look a lot like…
17. How to find the Christmas gifts for your friends and family?
18. Transcending the Financial Border
19. Prepare ye the way of the Lord
20. He Loves to Hear You Pray
21. Christmas prayers for children
22. Christmas 31 Day Scripture Writing Plan: Day 12 – Malachi 3:1-3
23. Advent 2015 – Day 14 – Perfect Peace
24. Holidays for Earth Part II
25. New Bond Street – Xmas 2015
26. The Culture of Excesses- Losing Humanity
27. The foolish man

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Halloween is Satanist Christmas

Those who at last come to see that Halloween is a heathen feast should also recognise that Christmas is also a pagan festival and also to being avoided by Christians. Jews, Christians and Muslims do not have to bring all those heathen elements of Christmas in their house and should not have a Santa Claus coming into their house.

*

To remember

• Behind playful facade, Halloween celebrates perversion = real meaning of the occult = “indoctrination into Druid paganism, witchcraft, and Satanism.”
• felt transformed into something more powerful than my self
• masks, chants + dancing used to invoke spiritsperson wearing mask feels internally transformed + takes on temporarily qualities of the god or demon represented by the mask
• Satanic Bible ranks Halloween = one of the two most important festivals on the Satanic calendar. 
• Oct 30-31: All Hallows Eve + Halloween Nightblood + sexualsexual climax, association with the demons, animal and/or human sacrifice > any age (male or female and/or animal)
• Nov 1Satanist High: (Holy Day related to Halloween) blood + human sacrifice any age (male or female)
• 2° “holiest” time is May Day, the Communist-Satanist founding day.
• Halloween part of family heritage = ancient harvest festival called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”) > from old religion of the Druids
• Julius Caesar described the Druid Samhain harvest festival in ‘The Gallic Wars’ > described Druids as a theocracy that enslaved peasant population through terror
• joy of harvest festival was combined with mass human sacrifices, when thousands of men, women and children were burned alive in giant ‘Wicker Man’ structures.
• 1° Roman historian Strabo recorded: Romans put a stop to these customs + to the ones connected with sacrifice + divination => conflict with own ways
• Romans = broke up Druid theocracy
• Roman Church Christianized most of the festivals => Samhain belief spirits of the dead + demons roam nights of Harvest Festival became “All Saints Day”.
• masked + cloaked Druid priests of old replaced with peasant in masks + costumes
• Christianized visitor asked for food in return for saying a prayer for departed members of the household
• All Saints Day has absolutely nothing to do with anything in the Bible.
• Gallic Druid mass sacrifice tradition resurrected by the Illuminati during French Revolution
• ancient festivals relentlessly resurrected under various covers.
• more to Halloween masks than changing suits => person wearing mask feels internally transformed + takes on temporarily qualities of the god or demon represented by the mask = opportunity to act out one’s desires or fantasies => night of inversion
• statistical spike of rapes associated with costume parties, especially if drugs are involved
• Devil’s Night or Hell Night = crime wave of Halloween violence + vandalism
• most famous + destructive = ‘Hell Night’ in  Detroit, Michigan from the 70s through the 90s which crossed the line from smashing windows to major + widespread arson,  gun fights, + murder.
• Halloween designed to be framework for self initiation into the Luciferian way of thinking
• Halloween mushroomed since 1966, so has obsession + ‘revolution’ of perverted sex, the occult, and admiration of serial killers and psychotics.
• Halloween = religious indoctrination + formation into Druid paganism, witchcraft, + Satanism.

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Preceding posts

Family happiness and little things we do

He who beams never walks in the dark

Welcome to Easter 2014

The Evolution Of Passover–Past To Present

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Continue reading

1. October month of witches and spirits
2. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 2 Summersend and mansend
3. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 3 Black Mass, Horror spectacles and pure puritans
4. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 4 Blasphemy and ridiculing faith in God
5. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 6 Bonfire night
6. Halloween custom of the nations
7. Holidays, holy days and traditions
8. All Saints’ Day
9. All Souls’ Day
10. The imaginational war against Christmas

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Further reading

1. Should Satanists Indoctrinate their own kids?
2. Halloween in Japan
3. 2 LAFD Firefighters Charged With Assaulting Man Handing Out Halloween Candy
4. This Is Halloween
5. The clitoris is the devil’s doorbell! / Mooning snowmen / Grammar!
6. Eye spy you… ~ WP Photo Challenge
7. Halloween 2015
8. Yale University Teacher Resigns After Saying Students Should Be Free To Wear ‘Offensive’ Halloween Costumes
9. Pagan Holidays
10. Welcome to my world of Magic
11. October 2015 – In which the wincy wincy spider comes out for Halloween
12. This is Halloween (Sneaky preview)
13. Happy Hallonksmas
14. Tish, I love it when you speak French!
15. Halloween has never been my thing
16. Halloween Sewing
17. Wades World ep 9 The Magic Kingdom and stuff
18. Every Day is Halloween!

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Related articles

• Christmas Traditions around the World
• The Church Lady vs. The American Church: Which is more ridiculous?
• Christmas comes earlier for Toronto Bay shoppers
• This Day in History: September 21st- There is a Santa Claus
• Hey, Impatient Ones, Here Are Some FreakNight Line Up Leaks
• Consumers Expected To Spend More Than $6.9 Billion On Halloween Costumes, Candy & Decorations
• Explore Haunted London During The Month Of The Dead
• All Hallows Eve: October 30th (2015)
• Ash vs Evil Dead BTS: The Reluctant Hero and His Crew
• 5 Halloween Myths and Folklore Explained

Family happiness and little things we do

The actions we undertake daily and seem to be such ‘little things’ we do in our everyday life, go further than we anticipate in solidifying or weakening the relationships in families. At the end of the track they proof to be very important and a necessity to have been structured in solid clay.

Many may think that annual family vacations have to be going abroad and that we all have to be partakers of worldly traditional feasts, like Christmas celebrations and Valentine’s Day gift-giving practices which have become integral consumption rituals in contemporary families. These man made artificial celebrations are no guaranty to family happiness. It is a wrong idea to think a family can not be happy when it does not celebrate Christmas, Easter or any other heathen or so called Christian feast.

Those who want to keep to God’s Will and as such abstain from the heathen feasts like Halloween, Christmas, Easter, still can enjoy very happy moments together. All the material presents may be very nice surprises with bring joy, but they also can be given at other moments. And all family members should be aware that it is not the material which brings happiness, but the feeling of being together and sharing a happy time with each other.

We have been socialised by media, family and other social institutions to dedicate more attention to these rather conspicuous consumption experiences and have gradually become less concerned of the importance of the mundane, everyday consumption behaviour to our relationships and overall family wellbeing.

In many families we can see that parent buy their children. When divorced and one parent gives something the other parent want to give something more expensive and bigger.

we fail to recognise and appreciate the underpinning significance of these frequently taken-for-granted consumption experiences to happiness, satisfaction and stability in our family relationships. Instead we seek to construct family bonding through perhaps rather superficial, conspicuous consumption acts such as buying expensive gifts for loved ones, committing to elaborative annual family holidays and following extensive Christmas rituals.

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Preceding articles:

Families with four or more kids most happiest

How to Raise a Happy Child

 

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Additional reading:

1. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
2. Focus on outward appearances
3. Being Religious and Spiritual 8 Spiritual, Mystic and not or well religious
4. Holidays, holy days and traditions
5. Thanksgivukkah and Advent
6. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 6 Bonfire night
7. Halloween custom of the nations
8. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 1: Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
9. Christian values, traditions, real or false stories, pure and upright belief
10. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
11. A season of gifts
12. Irminsul, dies natalis solis invicti, birthday of light, Christmas and Saturnalia
13. Wishing lanterns and Christmas
14. Christmas, Saturnalia and the birth of Jesus
15. God’s Special Gift
16. Christmas customs – Are They Christian?
17. The Evolution Of Passover–Past To Present
18. Who Celebrates Easter as Religious Holiday
19. Eostre, Easter, White god, chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies and metaphorical resurrection
20. Easter: Origins in a pagan Christ
21. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
22. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
23. Easter holiday, fun and rejoicing
24. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
25. Seven Bible Feasts of JHWH

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Related articles

• CFP: IMPAG XVI, The archaeology of consumption in Ireland c.1550-1950
• Hop On Board the Easter Bunny Express
• Gift Jealous of Gift
• WELL, THAT HAPPENED: Hallow-weenies
• Christmas vs. Halloween
• ‘Pumpkin creep’: Orange-you glad it’s nearly October?
• If a relative doesn’t give, should he or she still get?
• How the Catholic Church included paganism to create Easter, Christmas, Good Friday
• Ready or Not, Christmas Shopping Has Begun

View original post 1,230 more words

He who beams never walks in the dark

The Western World has her holy cow : the free market economy. GNP and welfare are its arteries. It is convinced that here, now and immediately, everything always has to go quicker and better, while its adage is one of ‘always more’. The average westerner is chasing his salary, from early morning till late at night. His holy cow has eaten every scrap of him in the meantime. As well as the soil that has produced the animal .
 
That is the problem.

Light beams in smoke02 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We have reached the limit. It is not easy to admit that we have grown crooked towards ourselves, away from the other; alienated from the essential, away from our heart. We are collectively indulging in navel-staring at our individualism, while we are searching  with our remaining energy, for new stimuli that have to give us a feeling that we are still alive. Essentially, we are squeezed dry. Empty. Exhausted. Notwithstanding all our knowledge and abilities, we are like a giant with feet of clay who screams from a deep nostalgia he cannot name.

Nostalgia: the sign of our times
“Homesick”, the English call it, “Sehnsucht” for the Germans. Our heart shouts that is ‘sick’ for its ‘ home’, wants to “come home” and “longs to see”. We are directed by a longing we cannot name, that drives us and of which Zen Master Hisamatsu says :

“it rises from the heart of existence itself”.

When we stop making a playground of our life and become aware of our emptiness and longing, a deeper force is released from within us. Against all odds it is experienced as ‘light’. Light without darkness, hope without despair, fullness without emptiness. This light is not only there, but essential. Small and humble, but beaming with life. He who stands in this light, no longer walks in the dark. Never again.

In this time of  Christmas  MWN wants to spread this light. We do this thanks to your support. Your contribution in this sensitive time is for people in need and for us of vital importance. We wish you and your family a Christmas full of light and life.

– The proverbs are the most visible part of MWN. Together they represent a potted philosophy, and a handful of wisdom! Download now!: Proverb of the month.
MWN and URI Europe wish to contribute to a better world in a substantial manner. We want to set an example and have therefore introduced the URI proverbs.

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Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Wie straalt, loopt nooit in het donker

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Find also:

Searching for fulfillment and meaning through own efforts, facing unsatisfaction and depression

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Welcome to Easter 2014

In Belgium and in many other countries we can see around us, in the shops and on social media that more and more attention is given to a time of celebration with gifts. Everything turns more around the material gift instead of the spiritual gift of blessings and of the Grace given to humankind.

*

In this writing:

1. Easter about big rabbit who invaded home and left candy everywhere
2. large meals (usually brunch) or fancy dinner
3. materialization of goods at Easter.
4. like Christmas, Easter =  becoming about how much money can be spend on children or grand children
5. Holiday’s = disguise Needs as gifts
6. when do we draw the line?
7. Easter has (like Christmas) lost it’s true meaning over the years
8. Generations trying to compensate for what they never had?
9. Trying to “be the parent you mother/father wasn’t”?
10. holiday become just another money grab.

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Related articles

• Easter Eggs, Bunny Rabbits and Easter Time Fun (roomtogrow.co.uk)
  With Easter fast approaching your little ones will be getting excited about the eggs that the Easter Bunny will no doubt bring them.  Easter is a fab festival with lots of craft and play activities that children enjoy.  Here are some great Easter activities that you can enjoy with the kids as they wait for the arrival of the Easter Bunny.
• Bunny Snake Is Ready for Easter (neatorama.com)
  DeviantART member NocturneJewel loves her pet snakes. She dresses them appropriately for different holidays, including Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, and East
• Avoiding the Empty Calories of Chocolate Easter Eggs (connectevolvethrive.com)
  When I was a child, a neighbor who was a devout Christian came over to our house and sat distraught, talking to my mother. She had just returned from the grocery store and found it filled with chocolate bunnies and cream eggs for Easter. She said to my mother, “we, as Christians, have already lost Christmas to commercialism, if we lose Easter too, our religion is in serious trouble.”What my neighbor was decrying was the substitution of commercialism for content- of surface for substance. When advertisers come in to our lives and try and sell back to us our own experiences, they diminish them.
• All About Easter (cristina1395.wordpress.com)
  The Easter Bunny is another story. He wasn’t always the pink or white bunny that hides chocolate eggs in your house. Long ago, he was called the Easter Hare. Some say he was a large, handsome bird who changed himself into a rabbit, which explains why the Easter Bunny now builds a nest and fills it with colored eggs.
• 10 Kids Completely Freaked Out By the Easter Bunny (k99.com)

  Bunnies, in their normal form, are small, cute, bouncy and fluffy with cute little cotton ball tails. But, the Easter Bunny is no regular bunny. For children, the Easter Bunny is not only a source of chocolates and marshmallow Peeps, but also a source of terror. (Like you weren’t scared of a giant walking bunny dressed in human clothes when you were a wee one.) Here are 10 adorable videos featuring kids who are completely freaked out by the Easter Bunny.

  Read More: 10 Kids Completely Freaked Out By the Easter Bunny | http://k99.com/kids-scared-of-easter-bunny/?trackback=tsmclip

  Bunnies, in their normal form, are small, cute, bouncy and fluffy with cute little cotton ball tails. But, the Easter Bunny is no regular bunny. For children, the Easter Bunny is not only a source of chocolates and marshmallow Peeps, but also a source of terror. (Like you weren’t scared of a giant walking bunny dressed in human clothes when you were a wee one.) Here are 10 adorable videos featuring kids who are completely freaked out by the Easter Bunny.

  Read More: 10 Kids Completely Freaked Out By the Easter Bunny | http://k99.com/kids-scared-of-easter-bunny/?trackback=tsmclip

  Bunnies, in their normal form, are small, cute, bouncy and fluffy with cute little cotton ball tails. But, the Easter Bunny is no regular bunny. For children, the Easter Bunny is not only a source of chocolates and marshmallow Peeps, but also a source of terror. (Like you weren’t scared of a giant walking bunny dressed in human clothes when you were a wee one.) Here are 10 adorable videos featuring kids who are completely freaked out by the Easter Bunny.

  Read More: 10 Kids Completely Freaked Out By the Easter Bunny | http://k99.com/kids-scared-of-easter-bunny/?trackback=tsmclip

  For children, the Easter Bunny is not only a source of chocolates and marshmallow Peeps, but also a source of terror. (Like you weren’t scared of a giant walking bunny dressed in human clothes when you were a wee one.) Here are 10 adorable videos featuring kids who are completely freaked out by the Easter Bunny.

  Read More: 10 Kids Completely Freaked Out By the Easter Bunny | http://k99.com/kids-scared-of-easter-bunny/?trackback=tsmclip

• Would Jesus Like Easter Lilies? (thedivinenatureproject.com)
  Would Jesus like Easter lilies? Maybe. Maybe not. I mean, think about it–Easter lilies—those showy, scented, “look-at-me-flowers” are everything Jesus was not:
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  According to legend, lilies sprouted in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ’s crucifixion—popping up from the sweat-soaked ground after his brutal bout of suffering.From this legend, the multi-million dollar Easter lily business is believed to have grown. And this week those stately flowers will adorn the altars of thousands of churches, representing hope and purity.
• Easter: An Awakening of Spirit (allthingsfulfilling.com)
  Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice.
• Easter for the Dead (timmybrister.com)
  I’ve been thinking this week about the phenomena of Easter services as a cultural indicator or remnant of Christendom. Why do a rather large people attend an Easter service (and churches cater to these people) who otherwise have little to no interest in God? Certainly we want to seize the opportunity to preach the gospel to those in our communities who are open and accessible during this time (who otherwise would not have interest in God). But I can’t help but wonder if there is a serious disconnect or irony at play here.
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  Going back to the mass of people who will attend Easter services this Lord’s Day, are these realities motivating them to celebrate Easter? If so, then should not the good news mean more than a proverbial hat-tip to the greatest sacrifice by the greatest person who ever lived? Should not a true appraisal of Easter be that we find our death in His death, our live in His life, and our resurrection and in His resurrection? Certainly union with Christ and the presence of His indwelling Spirit would magnify the resurrection of Christ so that Easter is an every day reality, should it not?
• 5 Reasons you’ll want to be at BBC this Easter! (asocialshift.com)
  All families are invited to join us for BBC’s 3rd annual Easter Eggstravaganza! This is a free gift to the community for all boys and girls from babies through 5th grade. Free egg hunts, bounce houses, face painting, snacks and fun Easter photos! We’ll also have a special egg hunt for our children with special needs!
• Are You Amazed By His Love? (beyondbeautyblog.wordpress.com)
  Our Lord’s birth is the reason for the fun-filled, wildly decorative, frenzied gift exchange of  Christmas.

  But Easter…oh, Easter!  It is the celebration of God’s greatest gift to us.  By His death and resurrection, those who believe in Him will receive the gift of eternal life.

 

ColleenKnapp92

Easter^{[nb 1]} (Old English Ēostre; Latin: Pascha; Greek Πάσχα Paskha, the latter two derived from Hebrew: פֶּסַח‎ Pesaḥ^[4]) is aChristian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament.^[5][6] Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter )

Now, I’m not of religious views, so when I was a child Easter was about a big rabbit who invaded your home and left candy everywhere. Then the family would gather around for large meals (usually brunch) or a fancy dinner and just enjoy what the Easter Bunny brought us. Talk, and have family time. But I’ve noticed something that disturbs me…

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The Evolution Of Passover–Past To Present

We can find many Christians who celebrate Passover or Pesach as the most important day of the year. But there can also be found many Christians who do prefer to keep to the heathen traditional feasts of light and fertility (Christmas and Easter). For those Christians and others, it is not bad to have a closer look at the 14th of Nisan. The man which title gave the name to a religion (Christ > Christians) was himself a devout Jew who kept to the Jewish feasts which were ordered by the Only One God.
Too many Christians forget this Jewish connection and have forgotten the Law of God or His Words of which celebration was never to be left out. As such not only Jews should have to observe when the Israelites were passed over by the wrath of the Most High Elohim Hashem Jehovah, as He moved through Egypt slaying the firstborn of each family. Even before the first Passover occurred, Moses ordered that the day would be kept as a memorial and a feast (Exodus 12:14).

Let us all remember.

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Find additional reading:

• Over pagan celebrations
• Christmas
• Easter

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1. 1 -15 Nisan
2. Day of remembrance coming near
3. Another way looking at a language #4 Ancient times
4. Self inflicted misery #5 A prophet without a hedge around him
5. The Advent of the saviour to Roman oppression
6. Seven days of Passover
7. On the first day for matzah
8. A Great Gift commemorated
9. Jesus memorial
10. Observance of a day to Remember
11. A new exodus and offering of a Lamb
12. In what way were sacrifices “shadows”?
13. What does ‘atonement’ mean?
14. Why did Jesus say he wouldn’t drink wine again until the kingdom when he ate and drank other things? (Mark 14:25)
15. Children ate the OT passover so why not NT bread and wine?
16. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
17. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
18. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
19. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
20. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
21. 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
22. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
23. High Holidays not only for Israel
24. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
25. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
26. The Song of The Lamb #7 Revelation 15
27. Servant of his Father
28. For the Will of Him who is greater than Jesus
29. A Messiah to die
30. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
31. Death of Christ on the day of preparation
32. How many souls did the death of Jesus pay for?
33. Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross
34. Why 20 Nations Are Defending the Crucifix in Europe
35. Impaled until death overtook him
36. Misleading Pictures
37. A time for everything
38. 2013 Lifestyle, religiously and spiritualy
39. Fixing our attention
40. Control your destiny or somebody else will
41. Allowed to heal
42. A secret to be revealed
43. Your Sins Are Forgiven
44. Slave for people and God
45. Liberation in Christ
46. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
47. Holidays, holy days and traditions
48. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
49. Peter Cottontail and a Bunny laying Eastereggs
50. Bread and Wine
51. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
52. The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread
53. Deliverance and establishment of a theocracy
54. Focus on outward appearances
55. Fraternal week-end at Easter in Paris

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Jewish Engagement

The legacy passed to the future.

Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is the most widely celebrated Jewish Holiday. It begins on the 15^th of the Hebrew month of Nisan and lasts for either seven or eight days depending upon location and religious orientation. In Israel, all sects of Judaism celebrate Passover for seven days with one Seder (Passover ritual feast and in Hebrew means “order”) on the first night, while in the Diaspora (communities outside of Israel), traditional Jews celebrate it for eight days with two Seders held on both the first and second nights. This year Passover will commence at sundown on Monday, April 14^th with the first full day celebrated on Tuesday the 15^th. Passover is a Biblical Holiday, which commemorates the story of the Exodus—G-d freeing the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and bondage; establishing the Covenant with them as a people not just…

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