the is the first year that I am going through the holiday season without my Mom. It has been hard this year. I found out due to my Mom's will that I may haave been the first, but by no means the favorate. My sister had mental lymphoma. I was her stem cell donor. My brother had throat cancer, and had half his neck removed to get rid of the cancer. he looks strenge when u first look at him, but after awhile one gets used to it. My sister has had difficulty getting her amune system back to normal. They r both cancer free, but were of great concern to my parents.
My brother has saying attached to him, never, never be his enemy! He wrote a very hateful letter to me when my son was in the hopital recuperating from a very serious accident. He almost died, and had brain injury. I had left a dinner he made for me because I wanted to be with my son, and my father had asked him to please remember charity begins at home. My brother had been giving to charities in our names for Christmans presents for a couple years...my brother mad me his enemy. My parents stood by my side until jay told them of his cancer, and they welcome him back with open arms, and in a way I was forgotten again.
My sister always knew how to deal with my parents, and she was Dad's baby girl. Well Dad helped build a home on their property, so when he died, my sister could be cared by Mom and Mom could be cared by my sister. I lived far away. My sister has a cute, adorable daughter, and she got $500,000.00, my sister got the beautiful house on Chesapeake bay worth millions. Jay and I shared the rest. My son got nothing!!!!
I was upset, not because of what I go or didn't get, but that my son was left out of the will totally, like he didn't exist, that hurt more than anything in the world. Then they got upset I got upset. I tried to find things at the house that my son might like to make up for his loss, but all i heard was that is for Katie, my sister's daughter. It was very cruel, but I realized this was something my sister had worked towards for a long time. she can have all that material stuff. My Mom was gone, and I never got to say good bye. I just wanted to know if my Mom loved me, was I such a pain in the ass that my siblings act like I am.
At Mom's memorial, the siblings didn't tell me that the man that was going to speak for Mom, couldn't do it, so they got together and created nice things to say about Mom, but they did not ask me. they once again left me out.
My sister sent an email telling me she has shingles (pay backs r tough) and moving into Mom's house. Oh yes Happy thanksgiving. Not a word from the brother, he has blocked me from his email. He hates me, but I know karma will hit him soon too. You reap what you sew!!!
Christmas will be the same, but I have decorated my house , and I am determined to have a nice quiet Christmas with my son. He is the only family I have left, blood family that is.
A positive note, I have never blogged before, I now have a family and friends that accept me, and are around when I need them. They are my Christmas present. I will miss Mom to the day i die, but I have a new family now. I have faith that life will be new , but better!
I keep being told to call 211 but it doesn't even exist in lake county I was then told to call the churches in lake county Still no help ,We are not even shore where we will be for christmas because we may loose our eletric not enough money coming in ,this is the worst christmas ever my children well be lucky to get one gift and that wont be from us.we have no money and what is coming in goes on bills....
"Ellwood" was a polite dog; he was also well mannered, obedient, affectionate and a tenacious bear hunter. He was the type of dog who could be trusted to take a "treat" from the hand of a baby, because he was SO polite, and well mannered; he always stood quietly while his "lead" was snapped to his collar, and he never, ever jumped up on anyone. Yet he was fearless, even when face to face with a bear that outweighed him by 200 pounds. Ellwood got sick on Tuesday, and I ran him to my "Old Country Vet," over in Umatilla. He diagnosed him with a stomach virus, after running some tests, and sent us home with some antibiotics. I came home from work last night, and found Elwood dead in his "house," wrapped up in his comforted, his "special diet" food untouched. I was so upset, I had to call a neighbor to come over and bury Elwood for me. I like to believe that God put animals on Earth because He knew how much we would fall in love with them, and how much we would enjoy them. I believe there will be animals in Heaven, too. I hope I'll see Elwood there. I'm sure he stood at "The Gates," and waited to be invited in before entering, because Elwood WAS a polite dog. Happy Hunting, Elwood! I'm really gonna miss ya!
"There probably isn't a god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
"Why believe in god? Just be good for goodness sake."
These are the messages that athiest and humanist groups are putting on billboards from London England to Washington D.C. The thrust of the message has shifted away from scientic opposition to the existence of God. The following article highlight s why leading athiests like biologist Richard Dawkins and physcist Victor Stenger are uncomfortable with an article in the current issue of Discover magazine.
I got this in an email an thought Id share it with everyone else. Theres always room for Hope an Faith.
Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa At the Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin . The child climbed up on his lap, holding a picture of a little girl. "Who is this?" asked Santa, smiling.
"Your friend? Your sister?'" "Yes, Santa,' he replied. "My sister,
Sarah, who is very sick," he said sadly.
Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "She wanted to come with me
to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!" the child exclaimed. "She misses you," he added softly.
Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy's face, asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted.
"What is it?" Santa asked warmly.
"Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa, but ...." the old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's
elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors. "The girl in the photograph... my granddaughter well, you see .... she has leukemia and isn't expected to make it even through the holidays," she said through tear-filled eyes.
"Is there any way, Santa . any possible way that you could come
see Sarah? That's all she's asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa."
Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon.
He knew what he had to do. "What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying," he thought with a sinking heart, "This is the least I can do."
When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where
Sarah was staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to
get to Children's Hospital.
"Why?" Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face.
Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother earlier that day. "C'mon.....I'll take you there." Rick said softly. Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would
wait out in the hall. Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and saw little Sarah on the bed.
The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met earlier that day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood by the bed,
gently pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead.
And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in
a chair near the bed with a weary, sad look on her face. They were
talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of
the family, and their love and concern for Sarah.
Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, "BLEEP, BLEEP, BLEEP!" "Santa!" shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IV tubes intact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old -- gazed up at him with wonder and excitement.
Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked
at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had
to force himself to choke back tears.
Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room.
As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully,
whispering "Thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes.
Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good
girl that year.
As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in
agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands.
Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels. "Oh, yes, Santa... I do!" she exclaimed.
"Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you." he said. Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing, softly, "Silent Night, Holy Night.... all is calm, all is bright..." "The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all.
When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah's frail, small hands in his own. "Now, Sarah," he said authoritatively,
"you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you
to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you
at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!"
He knew it was risky proclaiming that to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to give her the greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of HOPE. "Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed.
Sarah's mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa's side to thank him.
"My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. "This is the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and
hugged him.
One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. "Hi, Santa! Remember me?!" "Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a
"good" Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the "only"
child in the world at that moment.
"You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy -- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before.
He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines
smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.
That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus.
He had witnessed --and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "Thank you, Father. 'Tis a very, Merry Christmas!" If you believe in miracles you will pass this on...I did!
Well, the only thing I really want to say is, trying to go shopping for Hannakuah decorations or anything to do with this Jewish Holiday is like looking for a needle in a haystack..
I will be the first to admit, I am Jewish and proud of it....I also celebrate X-Mas with friends, but why are retailers so biast against The Jewish Holidays? Trying to find a Menorah, candles, etc., is terrible, one should not have to drive all around town just to find some Hannakuah items....we should be able to walk into any retailer, Walmart, KMart, Target, Publix, Winn-Dixie, etc., and should have a choice of Hannakuah items! Instead, all you see are rows and rows and rows of X-Mas items, decorations, but not one Hannakuah item! You would be lucky if you can find a couple cards for Hannakuah, yet, millions of choices for X-Mas Card..
This is not right, we of The Jewish Faith have just as much right to celebrate our Holidays as the Christians do, so in short, WHERE ARE THE HANNAKUAH DECORATIONS?
"God and His Word"... Can they be Trusted? ...Or Not?
This post is in response to those that… “Do not hold to the Complete Authority of The Bible”. As an example, to those that would… “Add Something or Take Away Something:… To or From the Word of GOD, for Christianity! I speak directly about… ‘A Moral Compass’.
God, I mean the God of the Bible, as HE describes Himself, and His Complete Authority for those that are Really His! I will simply… Use the Bible as… A Dictionary About GOD and His Word… which HE Calls… “Truth!”
As little as 50-years ago, when GOD was mentioned, it was understood, The God of The Bible, as HE describes Himself and His Creation and working with His Created, ‘Mankind!’ This Complete Authority, comes from The Bible, the Word of GOD! He, God, says so! To hold forth any other ‘Pseudo Authority’ above GOD... is to call “God A Liar!”
For example, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God” as stated in… “Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4”. This was quoted to the Devil, Satan… by Christ Jesus and the Word is stated as… “It is written!” But written where?
(Deuteronomy 8:3) And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger, and then He fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did your fathers know it, so that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of Jehovah man shall live.
Thus we may draw the conclusion that GOD did NOT say, ‘The Word… Plus’… “A Moral Compass!” God simply stated that His Word was Totally Enough for Mankind! Mankind has throughout the ages, tried to add to, or subtract from, the Word of GOD. The Bible was kept from the common man… “In order to have control over and to keep in ignorance”… so that mankind might have the control over mankind… Not God!
Did you know that… “GOD IS NOT MORAL!” Morality is a belief system, apart from God! It can be from… “Any Religion and not necessarily The Bible!” There are many world religions that have morality, even from the code of Hammurabi. Many Chinese religions have morality! The Hindus have morality. The Islamic have a morality!
Yes their… “Moral Compass”… allowed them to fly… Two Planes… Into the Twin Towers in New York City, September 11, 2001. We have been paying the price for increased security since then.
The God of the Bible… “Is Holy!”He is not… Moral! Perhaps IF we could see what God says about His Word. Once again… GOD, the God of The Bible… Is not Moral… “HE IS HOLY!”
(Leviticus 11:45) For I am Jehovah who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
(1Peter 1:15-16)But according to the Holy One who has called you, you also become holy in all conduct,
(1Pet 1:16) Because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
The Religious of Today… are just like the Religious of Jesus’ Day! The put forth their Own Ways and leave out God’s Word and God’s Ways! Simply read through the New Testament as see how many times, Jesus spoke about… “The Traditions of The Elders?”
Or in today’s terms, “The MORAL COMPASS… of the Elders! Simply substituting and or adding… A Moral Preference” or “A Moral Compass”… for and to… the Written Word of GOD!
In the Old Testament GOD revealed His Nature, through His Names! Jehovah Shalom, The God of Peace! Jehovah our Righteousness, and many other Names. But GOD, the God of the Bible, said His Word, was Exalted above… His Name!
(Psalms 138:2) I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your Name for Your loving-kindness and for Your Truth's sake; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.
(John 17:17) Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is Truth.
I could go on for hours… quoting Bible Verses that validate the Truth of the Word of GOD! But I will leave you with What GOD says about His Word?
(Isaiah 55:6-to-11)Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
(Isa 55:7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
(Isa 55:8) For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah.
(Isa 55:9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isa 55:10) For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring out and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
(Isa 55:11) so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do.
Frankly, how then could… “A Moral Compass”… even compare with such a statement… “By GOD About His Word?”
Or did you purposely miss…
(Isa 55:8) For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah.
(Isa 55:9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
What then can… Any Moral Compass… do for Mankind? Absolutely Nothing!
Word spreads fast. It did then and it does now. Widespread trade among our ancestors has been proven through archaeological research; products from an identifiable source appear thousands of miles away. With trade comes the sharing of knowledge and customs. And so the idea of religion spreads. As time goes by and localities continue discussion, subtle change inevitably occurs. Then these new aspects are spread by traders and travelers leading to complexity in belief and ceremony.
Humans love symbols and ceremony. It's part of our basic makeup and common planet wide. After many thousands of years religion has become an incredibly complex amalgam of gods, goddesses, rules and taboos. History is about to change and the effect is still here today. Greed becomes political policy and organized warfare and conquest emerge.
In neolithic times culture was based on kinship. The concept of kingship was formed and cooperation began to die a slow death. With conquest came the imposition of the religious beliefs of the conquerers and an end to tolerance. The theocracy was born and it was dominated by the male gender. Women lost their equality and were made subservient. They became property and the belief in the Earth as female provider faded. “Great” empires emerged with male gods ruling. Violence and conquest became the content of history and God and/or the gods became angry, demanding and jealous. Religion became an excuse for war and greed. Abraham now takes his family from Ur to Palestine and the mayhem and carnage begin in earnest.
Job 36:26-31 God provides our food.
Its not the government's job to feed us.
1Tim 6:17 (NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
We are to put our hope & trust in God who provides us with everything, not to look to the government to take care of every detail of our lives.
1Tim6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
It is the command of the Lord that we are to help each other and those in need who are around us personally. When the Governent takes your money to give to others, they are interfering with this relationship that God wants us to have with eachother.
It is the responsibility of the Church to take care of those who are TRULY in NEED. When the Government does it, they are interfering with God's plan, and imposing on the free exercise of religion.
1Tim 5:16 (NIV) If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
It is first the family's responsiblity to take care of their own, then the churches. When Government does it, accountability is removed from God's plan.
James 1:27 (NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Matt 25:31 (NIV) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
It is also against God's plan for people who are able to live a life where they do not earn what they consume.
2Thes 3:7 (NIV) For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Those who are poor because they are lazy should not be rewarded and enabled by the Government taking money from the “rich” and those who work hard and diligently to give to those who are able to work, but don't want to, and support their sinful and unbelieving way of life.
Prov 10:3 (NIV) The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
When the Government does this, it teaches people to trust in it instead of trusting in God.
Hebrews 10:38 (NIV) But my righteous will live by faith in God our Heavenly Father.
If we depend on what the Government can do for us, and supply us with what we need, then we are not living by faith in God, we are living by faith in the Government. This makes us serve the Government and not God. The Government becomes our master.
Cleveland Fox reporter was on Fox and Friends this AM showing how her THANK YOU GOD bracelets are popular. The Ohio State Star players were on a segment too.
Read the WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN page... which is true.
Author unknown
I dreamed I went to heaven and an angel was showing me around. Wewalked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here is where all the prayer requests to God are received." I looked around in this area and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out all the prayers from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, " This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was in there. There were so many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth. Finally, at that farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the doorof a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel who seated in there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrssed. "How is it that there is no work going on here?"I asked. "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments." "How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked. "Simple," the angel answered, "Just say, Thank You God."
I had a great holiday here in Orlando last year and am back again, during my last visit Ibought a W.I.I. games station. When I returned home I realised the console and the games were not compatible with the European system, so I have brought evreything back , and am looking for an orphanage maybe to donate it all to, if anyone can help, please let me know
It seems some do not think so. They think they can pick and choose those they like, and ignore the rest. I say all are valid, and there is no deviation from the Law of God.
Psalm 119: 41: Show me how much you love me Lord, and save me according to your promise.
42: Then I can answer those who insult me because I trust in your word.
43: Enable me to speak the truth at all times, because my hope is in your judgements.
45: I will always obey your law, forever and ever.
45: I will live in perfect freedom, because I try to obey your teachings.
46: I will announce your commands to kings and I will not be ashamed.
47: I find pleasure in obeying your commands, because I love them.
48: I respect and love your commandments; I will meditate on your instructions.
Matthew 19: 16: Once a man came to Jesus, "Teacher" he asked, "what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?"
17: "Why do you ask me concerning what is good?" answered Jesus. "There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life."
Romans 2: 13: For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.
1 John 2:4: If someone says he knows him, but does not obey his commands, such a person is a liar and there is no truth in him.
John 15:10: If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Psalm 1: 1: Happy are those that reject the advice of evil men, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God.
2: Instead they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night.
3: They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.
4: But evil men are not like this at all; they are like straw that the wind blows away.
Are the Ten Commandments valid? Or just a guideline.
I was watching your segment on "being thankful" on 11/20/2008 and I am a very positive thinker but the holidays really hurt me I had a tramatic childhood and my family is also facing regressed memories so when we get together after our mother died we are so distant because we do not talk about the horrable secrets that plege us.I am a disables mother of two with two dead beat dads trying to find a way to provide thanksgiving dinner and christmas dinner and gifts to two children and life circcumstances should not stand in the way of not having a christmas for my children.I do journal,I do belive in god kinda but it is hard when my mother tourchered me for 11 yrs.[I do not know if I should say on hear] and my back has 4 buldging discs in my back that despratly need surgery but I can't right now and somedays I can'y walk so my dr.wont let me work and I need help to give thanksgiving and chritmas to my children.Please if you can please help.Thank you,Lynn
I've found that many otherwise well meaning folks here are scared off by the term "Pagan". "Heathen" seems to push some buttons too. The dictionary won't help here as the definitions therein do not refer directly to the ancient beliefs. So let's get started.
The first person to acknowledge an unearthly spiritual creating entity or force was a Pagan. He/she probably looked up at the night sky and thought "OOooo, what are those and where did they come from? Nice!!" The correlation between copulation and birth is a relatively modern connection. Animals and ancient folks knew it was fun, so it was done. Folks long, long ago witnessing a birth must have truly been amazed. Jeez, a little person came out of that lady! WOW!!!
So here are just 2 marvelous things begging to be understood. Imagine folks around the evening fire discussing these things and trying to come up with a logical explanation. Really, think about it and don't sell our ancestors short; we wouldn't be here if they were dullards. Here's the first group of people contemplating their creation. No reference material available, just a series of opinions and possibilities. That must have been a conversation that lasted well into the night.
Archaeology has shown us that they did, indeed, come up with an answer. Since the aspects of creation they personally witnessed were made possible by the female sex, perhaps what ever created everything was female. Makes sense, right? And so it went: the Creator was a Creatrix. The earliest religious art is exclusively female. Let's remember that in ancient times survival demanded equality. Everyone pitched in for the common good. All did what had to be done to get by no matter what the task. Division of tasks came much later. Yes, the women hunted too. New findings, particularly in Europe, have disclosed a peaceful Goddess worshipping group of societies that thrived 20,000 years ago.
So is God female? I don't think so. I believe that which created genders need not have one. Genderizing God was done for convenience and it's still being done in our male dominated society today. Me? I'll go with that old time religion with a Goddess. It was good enough for our ancestors and it's good enough for me.
First let me say, that I don't ask this in any kind of judgmental fashion. My educational background is a major in Bible and Theology and a minor in Christian Counseling and Christian Education. I tend to look at things in an examination way. You have herd me talk about "Fleshman" vs. "Spiritman". When I speak of it, I am relating to the human nature of man vs. the spiritual wisdom nature of God. An example would be: A lady who was a volunteer in the nursery got upset because someone didn't show up one week and she ended up serving two weeks in a row. She was like, I'm not going to serve because so and so, blah, blah. Her attitude turned her away from service and she justified it by getting sucked into the all about me human nature. Someone of a strong spiritual nature would see through this and not get wrapped up in the story of all of it. It is actually a ploy of the enemy to destroy the body of Christ. To stop the gathering of believers. Everyone should be more mindful of that.
We are called to gather together. So, do people think they are being disobedient to God's word by not going to church? I realize some can not attend because they may be caring for a sick family member. Perhaps they have a child with a health problem or issue that makes attendance impossible. People have different situations to be considered. I'm just wondering about people who are able, but choose not to.
Psalm 106:48 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let ALL the people say, Amen! Praise the Lord.
Interesting to note this verse along with Psalm 106 that forms the concluding verse of the book IV of the Psalms. This is a beautiful liturgical call for all the people to come together to bless their faithful God.
Philippians 1:27-28 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God.
Philippians is also a good scripture to read. It is discussing conduct united for a singular purpose. Paul is instructing the people to shift their "perspective" from the earthly realm to a heavenly one. They should live in this world as if it were the Heavenly kingdom. Stand fast means, they were not to stand alone in isolation, but come together as one in spirit and mind, united for a common goal. "Striving together" - which reflects a meaning of teamwork, expressed in Greek, which literally means, "to engage together in an athletic contest!
I just find it interesting that some attend and some don't. Then we have some, who are not believers in Jesus, but attend faithfully every Sunday, tithing and volunteering their time.
I just love how those that hate the Bible, will actually continue to have the audacity to speak for Jesus/God, with no knowledge of what they speak.
They speak for God, but have no knowledge of His Word. They espew thier own personal opinions of what they think Christ/God will say or do!
It is discraceful, but is expected.
Many false prophets will come in the end days.
I urge you all to actually read the Bible for yourself, and do not let a false prophet tell you what it says!
It is the Word of God. Let no one explain it to you. Read it for yourself. It is quite simple really. It is the Truth.
It is amazing, and far more interesting than any Harry Potter book!
It covers every topic, and tells the Truth, and the Way! If you have not read the Book of all Books, you should read it soon!
It is the best selling Book of all time, and has not only predicted everything that has happened for centurys, it speaks very directly to the end of times.
Good heavens! God help anyone who dares post a contrasting view or
questions the posts of some "christians" (small c on purpose) in the
Central Florida blogs! It's bad enough being told I will burn in Hell
forever ( I won't ) but now I'm a Satan worshiper! ( I'm not; I don't
believe in Satan). Satan is merely a scapegoat created by men so they
can blame their failures on someone besides their selves. Natural
disasters are of course the will of God; somebody did something real
bad so we all suffer. Reminds me of life in the Service, right?
Since I have no problem with Homosexuality, I must be one ( I'm not )
or an incorrigible pervert ( well, maybe ). These folks make
associations that make no sense. They mean to insult and belittle.
They judge. Hey, wait! I remember now! Judge not lest you, yourself be
judged. Don't you bigots remember that one? How about the Golden Rule;
you want others to treat you the way you treat me? I hope not and I
won't do it either.
So what do we have here? Bigots claiming to be Christians.
Dictionary.com defines a bigot as " a person who is utterly intolerant
of any differing creed, belief, or opinion." Got that? Read it again.
And again. Now go back and read the New Testament and see which example
you follow.
You can thump your Bibles till the hogs eat Pa but you sure as hell
ain't Christians. You MUST live as Jesus did and follow His example to
be a Christian. You must follow His teachings. So many of you arrogant
bigots don't. So who's gonna burn?
I ran across an interesting situation and I thought it would be a good topic for the Blog. Many of you know that I have been caring for my mother who is in the end battle of lung cancer. With her health declining and her increased medical needs I had to move her to a Hospice facility. Hospice is a wonderful place, I thank the Lord for the blessing.... I visit twice a day for hours at a time. Matter of fact, I'm there so much, some people think I work there. While I was in the Cafe area, one of their Chaplains struck up a conversation with me. After he found out I was a pastor, he asked me what denomination I was. I told him I was non-denominational. He asked me why non-denominational? I told him, I felt when denominations get involved, religious superiority seeks to trump the life and love of Christ. I am not willing to allow that to be the focus in a persons life. Some one's own personal relationship with God/Christ is more important to me. He inquired about my credentials and asked me if I would be willing to participate in a Continuing Education program that they are involved in, and perhaps work as a flex and or volunteer Chaplin in the future. I told him I was interested in serving down the road.
As I drove home, I began to think about people and their end time needs. I know many "Christians" would believe that their duty is to convert "Everyone" before they die. In a perfect world that may be true. The people at Hospice come from many spiritual backgrounds Buddhist, Muslims, Hindu, Atheist, Christian, Jewish. The job of clergy in that arena is to comfort a person. To ask them what is important to them right now. To ask them if they have any concerns or issues THEY want to discuss. To inquire if THEY want or need prayer.
I honestly don't believe that it is appropriate for someone to "Push" their own spiritual agenda in this situation. So, I ask the blogging community. Am I, along with the other Pastors/Chaplains, who serve in this difficult area of ministry, just Rare Birds, True Servants of Christ? Maybe, even both? Do some people even see us as a "False servant of God, because we seek to comfort rather than convert someone WHO is not interested in conversion?
Please feel free to post your comments. It's truly important to me, to see what other's think about this unique situation.
