Tag Archives: Holidays

Shall you prepare some special meals the coming days

Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?

Lots of people shall have a good reason to prepare some special meals for the coming holidays.

I don’t mind having some special food for these days. I am blessed with a fantastic woman, who does not mind preparing some special dishes. I myself also shall spend some extra time together with her in the kitchen to make something special for our guests, but also for us both, just two of us enjoying a glorious meal between us both.

I do hope you shall not have to sit on your own, or have to feel like on a desert island.

Shall you have something special for Hanukkah, Christmas or Old Year’s Eve?

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Filed under Food, Lifestyle, Questions asked, Social affairs, Welfare matters

Making sure we express kedusha for 14-16 Nisan

Over a a few weeks for lovers of God, the most important days of the year shall have us to bring to remember how God provided salvation from slavery of man but also of slavery of death. Though both where installed by a covenant of bloodshed, one of the firstborns of the old world, the other by the firstborn of the new world, the second Adam.

This image was selected as a picture of the we...

This image was selected as a picture of the week on the Czech Wikipedia for th week, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Being the most set apart or holy days of the year, we should take care that our house does not get defiled by the wrong objects. In our living quarters non Jews and not real Christians should notice the typically absent are specifically “other” objects such as wicker baskets of chocolate Easter eggs and/or painted eggs and chocolate bunnies, or bacon and its smell.

Prohibited, and hence placed out of sight or otherwise rendered out-of-commission in particular times and places, are in some Jewish homes: bread and flour on Pasch/Pasach or Passover. (According to the Kitnot)

Coming closer to those special days and holy week, we can prepare ourselves for that grand memorial time. The coming days we can try to cleanse our body and soul (i.e. our full being).

We should make sure that every thing around us shall be able to embody, create, and express kedushah [holiness] by their actual presence, by a hidden presence of which one is consciously or subliminally aware, and also by the whole range of interactions to which such objects are subject or suggest and provoke. We should know that we do have to participate in the fulfilment of mitzvot, the commandments,  which should be engraved deep in our hearts.

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Preceding article

Christianity like Judaism God’s call to human responsibility

The Evolution Of Passover–Past To Present

Easter: Origins in a pagan Christ

It takes guts to leave the ruts

Reciting the Aleinu as a warning against temptation of idolatry

Commemorating the escape from slavery

The Last Supper was a Passover meal

A Single Seder, and Around the World

Thoughts on Passover

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Additional reading

  1. First month of the year and predictions
  2. Seven Bible Feasts of JHWH
  3. Holidays, holy days and traditions
  4. Remember the day
  5. Shabbat Pesach service reading 1/2
  6. Shabbat Pesach service reading 2/2
  7. Easter holiday, fun and rejoicing
  8. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #2 Testimony
  9. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
  10. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
  11. A Passover for unity in God’s community
  12. Pesach and a lot of brokenness in the world
  13. On the first day for matzah
  14. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
  15. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
  16. 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
  17. A Great Gift commemorated
  18. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
  19. A Messiah to die
  20. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
  21. The Song of The Lamb #5 Revelation 5
  22. The Song of The Lamb #7 Revelation 15
  23. This day shall be unto you for a memorial and you shall keep it a feast to the Most High God
  24. Exodus 9: Liar Liar
  25. Geert Wilders wants mandatory blackface at Dutch festival
  26. Like grasshoppers
  27. White Privilege Conference (WPC) wanting to keep the press out for obvious reasons

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Further reading

  1. Equinox, Easter and the arrival of Spring in Austria
  2. Easter Eve
  3. Easter: Holiday of the devil
  4. Wordless Wednesday – Egg-straordinary Eggs
  5. Painted easter eggs
  6. Celebrating Easter in Romania
  7. Stampin Friends Easter Hop
  8. 7 Mind Blowing Facts About Easter You Probably Didn’t Know!
  9. The “Bunny Song”
  10. A holiday
  11. I got nuttin!
  12. Annual Passover Gathering
  13. 19 March 2017 Bible Reading
  14. Lenten Meditation: Never as Planned
  15. Why The Seder?
  16. Passover Stuffed Cabbage
  17. Mar 19 God’s Plan
  18. Passover is coming and the strangers in our midst need help (Part 1 of 2)
  19. Am I Ready To Hear What God Says?
  20. The Way Ahead
  21. Shabbat Ki Tisa 5777 Parashat Parah–This Is Not Bull
  22. Matzo Project 5777 Will Fulfill Your Passover Unleavened Fantasies
  23. To bean or not to bean, that is the question!
  24. For Real, How Rare Is a Red Heifer?
  25. Matzah, Matzo, Matzoh
  26. It’s time to start thinking about Pesach!
  27. Autonomy, Individualism & Sincerity, #inspired for the whole year!
  28. Jennifer Abadi’s Turkish Style Harósi 

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Filed under Being and Feeling, Food, Lifestyle, Religious affairs

Golden Week a cluster of holidays from late April to early May

In “May, for many a month for mothers and many celebrations” you could read that for the European citizens the month of Spring brings a lot of holidays. In Japan it is also such a month full of holidays and the same as here there are gaps in between meaning that they never really get a literal week of holidays.

In Japan they have Showa Day (April 29), referring to the birthday of previous Emperor Showa (known to most non-Japanese as Hirohito, Japan’s Imperial ruler during World War II); Constitution Memorial Day (May 3) for the ratification of Japan’s new post-war constitution; Greenery Day (May 4); and Children’s Day (May 5).

Greenery Day was originally on April 29th, as the former Emperor Showa was a lover of nature and a fan of plants and flowers.

However, thanks to an obscure law, May 4th must be treated as a holiday since it falls between two other national holidays. In any case, Greenery Day was moved and April 29th was renamed. {Celebrate: Golden Week 2016}

Such holidays in Japan mean that the roads get congested; plane and bus tickets get sold out; hotels fully booked (and prices raised). As in Europe such days of festivities mean you can expect crowds at most tourist spots.

But many Japanese professionals are so busy that even though they have paid holidays, they either don’t or can’t really use them, so public holidays are the best chances for them to travel. Some avoid the Golden Week crowd by travelling overseas, though.

golden week madness train station crowds tokyo

Read more about it:

  1. Tokyo Cheapo’s Tips for Avoiding the Golden Week Crowd in Tokyo
  2. Golden Week Holidays, a truly golden time
  3. Japan Diaries: Showa Day (Golden Week)
  4. Goden Week by Jennifer Bachdim
  5. Golden Week by Japan 39etc
  6. Golden Week 3
  7. Golden Week Starts with Great Weather
  8. Golden Week Nothings
  9. Golden Week Day 1: Chichibu
  10. Avoiding crowds during Golden Week
  11. Celebrate: Golden Week 2016
  12. Japan Diaries: Greenery Day (Golden Week)
  13. Episode 53: Edgar’s Adventures!
  14. The blue sensation at Hitachi Seaside Park
  15. For Golden Week, I’ll Blog Every Single Day!
  16. Bugaku & Traditional Weddings at Meiji Shrine
  17. Hong Kong warning icons
  18. Inner Mongolia Trip part 1 | Great sights but . . . NEVER AGAIN ! | Golden Week Holidays in China !
  19. Inner Mongolia Trip part 2 | Wudang Temple | Golden Week Holidays in China !
  20. Inner Mongolia Trip part 3 | Gobi Desert + Dschinghis Khan Mausoleum | Golden Week Holidays in China !
  21. 中国的黄金周 – China’s Golden Week
  22. 兵马俑土地 – The Land of Terracotta
  23. Golden Week: Kyushu~! The JR Kyushu International Student Pass
  24. Golden Week: Kyushu~! Day One: Train-hopping from Fukuoka to Miyazaki
  25. Golden Week: Kyushu~! Day Two: Absorbing the ashes of a volcano
  26. Golden Week: Kyushu~! Day Three: Catching ferries and climbing bridges

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Preceding article: May, for many a month for mothers and many celebrations

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May, for many a month for mothers and many celebrations

At least the sun is showing it warmer rays and embraces us like mothers do. In several countries the month of May is the month where mothers are honoured. In several Catholic countries or regions the 15th of August is mothers day. (In our family the 15th of August was always that special day for coming together with the whole family honouring the mother who spent so much energy of her life in taking care of the next generation.)

In Dutch there  is the saying: “In mei leggen alle vogels een ei”, “in May all birds lay an egg” pointing out to the season where good thoughts and many new adventures get their start.

English: Brocken Spectre from the summit of Me...

Brocken Spectre from the summit of Meall an Fhudair (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After Walpurgisnacht or Heksennacht or Hexennacht (literally “Witches’ Night“) the night of 30 April,when the people in Northern Europe (Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Estonia) remember how the witches came together at the Brocken spectre the highest peak in the Harz Mountains (3,747 ft or 1,142 m high), a range of wooded hills in north central Germany between the rivers Weser and Elbe. The Brocken spectre is a magnified shadow of an observer, typically surrounded by rainbow-like bands, thrown on to a bank of cloud in high mountain areas when the sun is low. The phenomenon was first reported on the Brocken.

In Germany the holiday is celebrated by dressing in costumes, playing pranks on people, and creating loud noises meant to keep evil at bay (You can compare it with Halloween). Many people also hang blessed sprigs of foliage from houses and barns to ward off evil spirits, or they leave pieces of bread spread with butter and honey, called ankenschnitt, as offerings for phantom hounds.

In Catholic countries many of those traditions are taken into the church rituals and people put ‘palm’ (buxus cuttings) around the house to protect their belongings.

People at a Vappu picnic in Kaivopuisto in 2008

In Finland Walpurgis Night and May Day are effectively merged into a single celebration that is usually referred to as Vappu and that is among the country’s four biggest holidays along with Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and Midsummer (Juhannus). It is the biggest carnival-style festival held in the streets of Finland’s towns and cities. Initially, Walpurgis Night was celebrated by the Finnish upper class. Then, in the late 19th century, students (particularly engineering students) took up its celebration.  Many lukio (university-preparatory high school) alumni (who are thus traditionally assumed to be university bound), wear a cap. One tradition is to drink alcoholic beverages, particularly sparkling wine or  sima, a home-made low-alcohol mead, along with freshly cooked funnel cakes

Children dancing around a maypole as part of a May Day celebration in Welwyn, England

Walpurgis Night bonfire in Sweden

In many regions it is a special month to celebrate the gods and to invoke their goodness.
May Day on May 1 is such an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday. After having looked at the witches and having hold ‘revels with the devil’, people now turn to their masters and gods of nature. In some parts of northern coastal regions of Germany, the custom of lighting huge fires is still kept alive to celebrate the coming of May, while most parts of Germany have a derived Christianized custom around Easter called “Easter fires” (Osterfeuer).

In several villages the goddess of the flowers and of the renewal of nature is celebrated and Maypole dancing is part of the “Þrimilci-mōnaþ” or “Month of Three Milkings“. Also known as Ashtoria Day in northern parts of rural Cumbria people hope for nice weather to have a celebration of unity and female bonding.

In several places where there is water a Flower Boat Ritual is hold, like in Kingsand, Cawsand and Millbrook in Cornwall.

In Edinburgh, the Beltane Fire Festival is held on the evening of May eve and into the early hours of May Day on the city’s Calton Hill. An older Edinburgh tradition has it that young women who climb Arthur’s Seat and wash their faces in the morning dew will have lifelong beauty.

GentseFloralien_fleurmagazine.be2This year the Floralia Gent show or the 35th edition of Floralies took place from 22 April to 1 May 2016, in the Arts Quarter of Ghent (Citadelpark, Sint-Pietersplein, Leopoldskazerne and Bijlokesite) where flowers and plants intertwined with prestigious landmarks in the city.

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In the capital of Belgium it will be in the Summer that a carpet of 75m x 24 m brings 1,800 m2 of begonias, or around 300 cut flowers per m2! Every other summer, on the weekend of August 15th, the Flower Carpet offers a chance to stroll across the Grand-Place, a jewel of Gothic architecture, to inhale the fragrant scent of the begonias and admire its details. This extraordinary spectacle is made complete by a visit to the balcony of the Town Hall, which offers a wide-angle view of the work. A musical theme is especially composed for each edition. A concert is given on the Grand-Place every evening and accompanies a magnificent sound-and-light show. A hundred volunteers assemble the carpet in 4 hours. The first Flower Carpet of Brussels was created in 1971 and has been a showstopper every two years on the Grand-Place since 1986.

De socialistische bewegingen trekken door de straten. - Foto Rutger LievensVakbond ABVV | ActiesFor atheists or those who did not believe in gods the day, being a holiday was taken to come together to talk about our society and how work and family-time had to go together.  Labourers and the working classes are put in the picture that day. The date was chosen for International Workers’ Day by the Second International, a pan-national organization of socialist and communist political parties, to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886. { Foner, Philip S. (1986). May Day: A Short History of the International Workers’ Holiday, 1886–1986. New York: International Publishers. pp. 41–43. ISBN 0-7178-0624-3.}

Various socialist and communist organisations hold parades in different cities on that day to react to what is going wrong in the country and for telling the politicians what is really needed for the people.

eerlijker is beter

After the 1st of May, labour day, when no labour is done for most of the people, they soon could find themselves either in a full week free (half term holiday or bank holiday) or could face a long free weekend starting with the 4th or Vetran Day or with the 5th of May (for Catholics the feast of Jesus bing taken up in the skies), in several countries the special “Cinco de Mayo“,  the Mexican army‘s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, followed by the May 8 “Mother’s Day” and on the 15th of May for many “Pentecost” followed by Pentecost Monday. In several countries one or the other day of the month is also taken to remember the war days and as such we had yesterday and today Remembrance and Veteran days plus on May 21 “Armed Forces Day” followed by May 30 for many countries another “Memorial Day”

In the Chinese Zodiac, 2016 is the year of the Monkey (Yang Water) whilst for the Native American Zodiac the 5th and 8th of May, 2016 shall fall under the Beaver.

Hope all you moms had fun today!

Moms to look at! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On that mother’s day, people can remember the birth of Harry S. Truman (US President), David Attenborough (British broadcaster), Sonny Liston (Boxer) and Enrique Iglesias (Singer). By that day of mothers, from the writing of this article, 345,600 seconds will have passed between now and the 8th of May, the earth having travelled approximately 178,329,600 miles through space whilst perhaps 4,147 meteors shall have entered the earth’s atmosphere.

We all have a special connection with our mother, she being the one who brought us unto this life. We can never never outgrow her and no one shall ever be able to deny the roots of that special person who is responsible that we are. It is to that person we should be grateful for what we are today. Your mother made you. Thanks to her you got an education, got to know things about yourself and those around you.

Often it are also those mothers who take care that there is plenty of food on such festivals as mentioned above. Mostly it are they who make the best of a special day by providing the best of food.

In a way every day of the year should be a mother’s day.
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Preceding articles: All things seem possible in May

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Further reading

  1. Floraliën Gent don’t miss out
  2. Floralies Ghent
  3. Anniversary: 20th Flower Carpet! An ephemeral show on the world’s most beautiful central square
  4. Celebrating the Netherland’s King’s Birthday.
  5. Best of days: 2016 May 8
  6. April Writing & Reading Goals Check (May Goals)
  7. Hello May
  8. 1 May: Blind, Unknowing, Zealous Jenny
  9. How Do You Set Your Goals?
  10. Monthly Goals
  11. May Goals. 1
  12. May Goals 2
  13. May Goals 3
  14. May Goals 4
  15. May 2016 Goals! 5
  16. May 2016 Goals 6
  17. May Goals 7
  18. May Savings with Georgine
  19. Mother’s Day Sentiments
  20. When Your Friend Is Grieving On Mother’s Day
  21. My mother is strong, fierce—and fragile
  22. Mom
  23. Before It Is Too Late
  24. 12 DIY Mother’s Day Gifts (that she’ll actually like)
  25. Mothers’ May – 5/4/16
  26. Writing Prompt Wednesday
  27. Mother’s Day Card 2016
  28. Clear the List: May 2016
  29. Change of Plans
  30. June Goals

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Filed under Food, History, Lifestyle, Religious affairs, Social affairs

Counting Each Day – and Making them Count

IMG_3458 (1)In the Hebrew year 5774 (or 2013), a girl had more or less just started learning about Judaism and was still touching on the basics of each topic. Rosh Hashana had just ended and she was speaking with a friend about it, when she suddenly said,

“I’m sad because Yom Kippur is on a Shabbos this year.”

She came to learn that Shabbos is not actually the “day of the rest” that most people view it as

Following that line of thought, it would seem that the purpose of resting on Shabbos would be to regain energy for working the other days of the week. It would seem that Shabbos is serving the workweek. But in reality, the Only purpose of the previous 6 days is to serve the Shabbos. In Eliezer’s words:

“We work only to be able to properly sanctify Shabbos, we cook to be able to eat on the Holy day. We are fulfilling our physical requirements and monetary gain to be able to only connect and come close to G-d without any distractions. Ideally, we would have Shabbos 24/7/365. And there will be a time for that, soon.” {Shabbos}

As the young writer of this reblogged article writes “this is the month to be freeing ourselves from the things keeping us enslaved”.

Too many people get caught by the world and enjoy celebrating traditional holidays, without thinking about the background of them.
This can be clearly seen in Christendom where many have taken heathen feast and planted them in their religious calendar but still keeping all the pagan traditions, like decorating trees, having elfs and a Father Christmas coming from the North (Christmas) or bells from Rome and Easter bunnies laying eggs (Easter).

In Christianity the Christians also have to be careful not to become trapped by the world and just holding certain days because it is planned in the religious calendar.

shabbat-candlesFor Pesach for Christians and Jews the period should have them seriously consider them about slavery God’s people had but also the slavery many of us have today.

The Jews had already their salvation from the slavery in Egypt but the gentiles had to wait to the sacrificial offering of the Messiah, the Kristos Jeshua (Jesus Christ). He has liberated all people from the slavery of death and asks us to liberate ourselves from the slavery of this world. But most people want to stay “of this world” and keep to the traditional feasts and enjoy all those worldly pagan festivals instead concentrating on the feast Jehovah ‘G’d’ gave the world to celebrate.

Every year we should remember to have that year’s Passover our own personal freedom from something. And this applies to all holidays and months The Elohim Hashem Jehovah ‘G’d’ has prepared for us.

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Preceding articles:

The Last Supper was a Passover meal

Thought for the third day of the Omer

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Additional reading for this most important weekend of the year:

  1. Most important weekend of the year 2016
  2. 1 -15 Nisan
  3. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
  4. This day shall be unto you for a memorial and you shall keep it a feast to the Most High God
  5. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
  6. Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
  7. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
  8. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
  9. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
  10. The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread
  11. Day of remembrance coming near
  12. A new exodus and offering of a Lamb
  13. Observance of a day to Remember
  14. Jesus memorial
  15. Holidays, holy days and traditions
  16. Seven Bible Feasts of JHWH
  17. High Holidays not only for Israel
  18. White Privilege Conference (WPC) wanting to keep the press out for obvious reasons
  19. First month of the year and predictions
  20. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
  21. Death of Christ on the day of preparation
  22. A Great Gift commemorated
  23. Shabbat Pesach service reading 1/2
  24. Passover and Liberation Theology
  25. Seven days of Passover
  26. Kingdom Visions of Rainbowed angel, Lamb in Mount Zion
  27. Kingdom Visions of God’s judgements and Marriage of the Lamb
  28. The Song of The Lamb #2 Sevens
  29. The Song of The Lamb #7 Revelation 15
  30. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
  31. Easter holiday, fun and rejoicing
  32. Like grasshoppers
  33. Peter Cottontail and a Bunny laying Eastereggs
  34. Who Would You Rather Listen To?
  35. Focus on outward appearances
  36. After darkness a moment of life renewal
  37. Deliverance and establishment of a theocracy

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Seeker Thoughts

Last Friday night I had my first Passover seder ever. I have no picture for evidence since it was on Shabbos (and a yom tov!), but I’d like to thank my friend rebbetzin Tiferes Levy and Chabad Manila a million times over for letting me come! It was an incredible experience, and my understanding of Judaism got that much richer because of it. I also have been very smiley all weekend thinking back on it, and not because I had too much wine. 🙂

Passover is a very special time for me personally because it was when I “officially” systematically started studying Judaism (for the simple reason that my friend Rivky wouldn’t be available to talk to for a week, so I began learning on my own). It was back in 2013 when I took a notebook and wrote down everything I could find online about each Jewish holiday, as…

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Responsibilities of Parenthood for sharing the Word of God

When the people of Israel got liberated from slavery in Egypt the parents took their saved children with them. God had asked them by way of Moses giving to them the Words of God, to lay up these Words of the Most High in their heart and in their soul.

18  “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 And ye shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19 KJ21)

 

English: Sunday school class, Manzanar Relocat...

Sunday school class, Manzanar Relocation Center, California People in church service, standing, holding hymnals. MEDIUM: 1 negative : safety film. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Parents are given the task to have that what they placed in their hearts, to share it with their children. It not only has to sit deep inside them, it also has to come out of them. It should be so strongly connected to their mind that it is as if their brains are tied with that knowledge of the Word of God. They should not only keep it as a reminder but also should teach them to their children. This is something what is often forgotten today.

Ideal moments to start picking up the thread again are such high holidays like the ones we had this weekend. The free days are ideal to take time to speak about what happened in the past to God’s people and how we should also be part of God’s people. All that we ourselves got to hear about the Most High divine Creator we should love to share with others and especially with our own children.

That what we got to hear from God we should share with the loved ones. At home but also outside of the house we should talk about those Words God has given us. Wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night.

Today we may find that not many parents are having time or wanting to spend time to educate their children concerning ethics, morals and faith matters. Today we have much more facilities than in the days of Moses where they could not take a bible or the scrolls at hand. In those times most of the upbringing and/or teaching was a personal responsibility. Centuries later the parents took time each day to read from Scriptures and to talk about the commandments of God. Many generations also got to Sunday School to have a religious formation. Today in not many countries are there still Sunday Schools or bible Schools for the religious people.

Today lots of people are avoiding that responsibility to teach the Word of God. Even speaking about good and bad is put aside in many cases. Today lots of children are also allowed to watch certain pictures on television which are not for their eyes at all. Many cruel or ugly words are allowed to enter the living room, via that screen what has become bigger and bigger.

Moses told the people that in case they diligently would keep all this commandment that Jehovah God commanded them to obey, sticking close to Him God on His part will drive out all these nations that stand in their way. so they should then not be afraid of those nations which are much bigger and stronger than them.

“22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him— 23 then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.” (Deuteronomy 11:22-23 KJ21)

Nothing has changed. Also for us today if we will be careful to do all this commandment that God commands us to do, loving the Most High divine Creator Jehovah as your God, walking in all His ways, and holding fast to him, then He will bless you so you inherit the promised land. We, ourselves must first teach ourselves from God’s words, messages such as this one – for ‘the promised land’ – the kingdom of God – is surely just over the horizon. Having taught ourselves we must teach any children we have – and others we can influence. The saying is that ‘actions speak louder than words’ – but words and actions together speak louder still. “A blessing” or “a curse” lie before us! Which have you chosen – or are on the point of choosing? There is no middle way.

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Preceding: Responsibilities of Parenthood fully discharged

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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...

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)

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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