Author Topic: Dear Children  (Read 2630 times)

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The_Professor

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Dear Children
« on: November 29, 2007, 10:56:07 AM »
Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

 Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember : I LOVE YOU.

JESUS

source: unknown, or is it?
***************************
"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation for western civilization as it commits suicide."
                                 -- Jerry Pournelle, Ph.D

hnumpah

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2007, 12:08:53 PM »
Nice reminder.

Though I'm a nonbeliever myself, I do think people spend 'way too much time fussing over what to call the holiday, or the tree, or whether it is a religious holiday, or simply 'borrowing' an old pagan holiday. They would be much better off simply celebrating it whichever way they feel is right, and allowing others to do the same.

Kind of like they should do all year 'round, actually.
"I love WikiLeaks." - Donald Trump, October 2016

Richpo64

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2007, 03:07:08 PM »
Jesus wrote this did he?

I'd be very relutant to sign God's name to anything.

kimba1

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2007, 08:01:58 PM »
I just think we should not bother with having a reason and just celebrate for the sake of it.
christmas/easter was originally not a time to celebrate,but for reflection.
this path of never being happy just sounds dumb.
note how soo many religions lean toward that direction and still get recruits
humanity ain`t all that bright is it?

Xavier_Onassis

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2007, 08:55:22 PM »
Christmas was not a holiday designated by Jesus. He probably wasn't born in December, as shepherds do not graze their flocks around Bethlehem in December, as there is no forage at that time of year. Dec. 25th is the date of the birth of Mithra, another fellow said to have been born of a virgin worshipped in the First and Second Centuries.

As I have said before, Jesus should have written his own book, and before witnesses. It sure would have made his religion less confusing.

Here in Miami, some Megachurch passed out some very tenacious "He is the Reason for the Season" bumperstickers, and they must be really hard to peel off, because they are there throughout the year, year after year.

"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."

Henny

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2007, 07:01:52 AM »
Christmas was not a holiday designated by Jesus. He probably wasn't born in December, as shepherds do not graze their flocks around Bethlehem in December, as there is no forage at that time of year. Dec. 25th is the date of the birth of Mithra, another fellow said to have been born of a virgin worshipped in the First and Second Centuries.


Hate to nitpick, but December in Bethlehem is part of the rainy season in the region. There is rain only from approximately October - March. After that, you're unlikely to see anything but blue skies again until October.

By December some of the brown and withered plants are starting to come back to life and you will see some green on the landscape. There can be the occasional snow, but it melts rather quickly and doesn't do much damage to the new growth.

In other words, the flocks are the happiest with their shepherds at this time of year in Bethlehem. Although they do graze year-round, during the dry months they chew leaves off low hanging branches of olive trees.

(I'm not suggesting that Jesus was actually born in December, BTW. I don't think anyone really knows.)

Richpo64

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2007, 10:59:16 PM »
>>Christmas was not a holiday designated by Jesus. <<

Was there any "holiday" designated by Jesus himself? I can only think off him specifying the Mass.

Cynthia

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2007, 12:33:45 AM »
Jesus was probably born on or around the end of September.


http://users.cybertime.net/~ajgood/HBJ.htm
http://www.new-life.net/chrtms10.htm
Since John was born on Passover, the 15th day of Nisan (the 1st Jewish month), Jesus would have been born six months later on the 15th day of Tishri (the 7th Jewish month). The 15th day of the 7th month begins the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:34-35), also known as Sukkot. Jesus was born on the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles! In the year 5 B.C.E., this fell in the month of September.
 http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/birthday.htm


The_Professor

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2007, 10:28:46 PM »
Jesus wrote this did he?

I'd be very relutant to sign God's name to anything.

Rich, you miss the message contained therein, a message that obviously Christ would support, would He not? If Christ is the Reason for the Season, then why are we so consumed with materialism?

If Santa Claus is the reason for the season, then the discussion changes a great deal.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2007, 02:21:24 PM by The_Professor »
***************************
"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation for western civilization as it commits suicide."
                                 -- Jerry Pournelle, Ph.D

Richpo64

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2007, 01:31:38 PM »
>>Rich, you miss the mesage contained therein, amessage that obviously Christ would support, would He not? If Christ is the Reason for the Season, then why are we so consumed with materialism?<<

I agree with the message, I just don't like the idea of someone writing something and calling it God's word. No bid deal.


The_Professor

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2007, 02:25:18 PM »
>>Rich, you miss the mesage contained therein, amessage that obviously Christ would support, would He not? If Christ is the Reason for the Season, then why are we so consumed with materialism?<<

I agree with the message, I just don't like the idea of someone writing something and calling it God's word. No bid deal.



This is the end of the post:

"source: unknown, or is it?"

I feel this is clear. I just did a Google search for you. Apparantly, Serenity Seekers posted this some time ago.
***************************
"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation for western civilization as it commits suicide."
                                 -- Jerry Pournelle, Ph.D

Richpo64

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2007, 02:29:37 PM »
Actually this is the end of the post:

<...>

JESUS

source: unknown, or is it?

Xavier_Onassis

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2007, 02:44:48 PM »
"Jesus is the reason for the season" is more like a motto of believers who would like Jesus, rather than crass commercialism and greed to be the resaon for the Christmas season.

I doubt that a bumpersticker, or a hundred million bumperstickers, will ever successfully turn Christmas into an exclusively religious holiday. They even celebrate Christian ferociously in Japan, where there are only a token number of Christians.

It would appear that there is some need of an annual holiday of mass consumption and unbridled greed.

Greed and commercialism are to Christmas in the USA what sex, nudity and lust are to Brazil in carnaval season.

The question is, do we enjoy their holiday more, or do they?
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."

Richpo64

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2007, 04:11:59 PM »
>>It would appear that there is some need of an annual holiday of mass consumption and unbridled greed.<<

I suggest that people who worship mass consumption and greed are not the norm. I'd suggest that they are the atheists and unbelievers who have the gall to actually celebrate the holiday in their cheap and taudry way.

The_Professor

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Re: Dear Children
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2007, 04:41:32 PM »
and the millions of Christians who also do this. Sorry, dude, but materialism is at all all-time high just as other ills such as divorce are. As an example, the divorce rate for Christians is just as high as it is for non-Christians. And this is present even though many Christiians still suspect God will punish them for their divorce, even if they divorced for issues such as spousal abuse, emotional and/or physical and so on...

What might this indicate?
***************************
"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation for western civilization as it commits suicide."
                                 -- Jerry Pournelle, Ph.D