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Title: Exactly When Was Jesus Born? Not on December 25.
Source: Foodforthethinkers.com
URL Source: http://wp.me/p13mHb-i1
Published: Dec 24, 2013
Author: Douglas F. Newman
Post Date: 2013-12-24 22:24:43 by snoopdougg
Keywords: None
Views: 8764
Comments: 31

Jesus was not born on December 25.

More likely, he was born in September.

Full article here: wp.me/p13mHb-i1

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#1. To: snoopdougg (#0)

Nowhere in Scripture does it mention when Jesus was born. Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus. Christ mas literally means "the death of Christ". And in Scripture the Lord actually looks at the celebration of such a season as an abomination. Here in Scripture is where it is noted where Christ hates the Nicolaitians (promoters of St. Nicholas-Santa Claus) see Revelations 2:6 and 15

the decking of fir trees with silver and gold is an unholy act which the Lord also abhores. See Jeremiah 10:2-4

Christmas honors not the birth of Jesus Christ but honors instead Tammuz. See Ezekial 8:14

Have a blessed evening.

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-24   22:35:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: snoopdougg (#0)

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A "TREE"

Itistoolate  posted on  2013-12-24   22:56:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: snoopdougg (#0) (Edited)

Here is more info on the accuracy of my post.

eternalgod.org/qapdf/5769 (you'll need to save this in a pdf format and then read it.)

"Where did the name 'Santa Claus,' or 'Nicholas,' come from? In Revelation 2:6, we are introduced to the sect of Nicolaitans which taught and practiced wrong concepts and doctrines... Nicolaus, the founder of the sect of the Nicolaitans... is none other than 'Nicholas' or 'Santa Claus.' In German, for instance, the similarities of these two names are even more striking. 'Nicolaus,' the founder of the 'Nicolaitans,' is rendered in German as 'Nikolaus' - and 'Santa Claus' in German is 'Nikolaus' as well."

Far from being an obscure short-lived ancient sect, the Nicolaitans are well and alive today in the "Christian" world. After all, Christ's message to the seven churches was not just meant for the seven ancient church congregations at the time of John, but it was also prophetic and addressed to the Church of God throughout its existence until the time of Christ's return. And, the message is a warning to all true Christians, not to repeat the mistakes which some of the ancient church congregations committed.

The deeds of the Nicolaitans became doctrine, and orthodox Christianity adopted the pagan festivals of Christmas and St. Nicholas Day--in honor of the "founder" of the Nicolaitans--and teaches it today as some of the most important festivals of Christianity. In addition, the unbiblical concept of the worship of the Virgin Mary and her "ascension" to heaven, where she is believed to reside as the queen or "Mother goddess" of heaven--as the early Gnostics worshipped the "great Mother goddess of heaven"--gradually became an established dogma in the Catholic Church. But Jesus said twice in Revelation 2 that He hates the deeds and teachings of the Nicolaitans.

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-24   23:17:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: snoopdougg (#0)

More likely, he was born in September.

About 20 or so years ago I had it all laid out on paper. The date fell somewhere between (on our calendar) late September to October 3rd.

It had to do with Mary's conception in relation to the birth of John the Baptist and John's father (a Levite) schedule for serving in the temple.

Others have suggested early April for similar reasons as that would equate to the alternate period when John's father would have had temple duties.

It's the bankers fault !

Buzzard  posted on  2013-12-24   23:40:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: snoopdougg (#0)

Orthodox Christians in central and eastern Europe and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on January 7. The Christmas dates around January 7 may vary among some churches.

Some Orthodox Christians observe the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds (those who visited baby Jesus) on January 6, followed by the Adoration of the Magi (three wise men or kings) on January 7.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who many Christians believe is the son of God. His birth date is unknown because there is little information about his early life. The Gospel of St Matthew in the Bible claims he was born during Herod the Great’s reign. Herod, who was a king of Judaea, died in 4 BC. Many Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25 but there are some who hold tradition by observing the date on January 7.

Christmas on January 7 is also known as Old Christmas Day. Eleven days were dropped to make up for the calendar discrepancy that accumulated with Julian calendar when England and Scotland switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Many people, especially in rural areas, did not accept the loss of these 11 days and preferred to use the Julian calendar.

Many Orthodox churches recognize the holiday dates according to the Julian calendar. Christmas is still on December 25 in the Julian calendar so the January 7 date is only valid between 1901 and 2100 The Gregorian date for Orthodox Christmas will be January 8 in 2101 if the Julian calendar is still used.

The Julian calendar was revised in 1923 and this version is more in line with the Gregorian calendar. A few Orthodox churches follow the revised Julian calendar but most Orthodox churches follow the more traditional Julian calendar, which has the original dates for Christian observances prior to the Gregorian calendar’s introduction.

www.timeanddate.com/holid...on/orthodox-christmas-day

 photo 3wisemen.jpg>
“With the exception of Whites, the rule among the peoples of the world, whether residing in their homelands or settled in Western democracies, is ethnocentrism and moral particularism: they stick together and good means what is good for their ethnic group."
-Alex Kurtagic

X-15  posted on  2013-12-24   23:59:45 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: purplerose (#3)

Spot on ! Modern day Christians, as well as secular folks have learned or been taught to rationalize whatever they want or choose to believe. But, that don't make it so !

"A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.

Thomas Jefferson

noone222  posted on  2013-12-25   7:24:38 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: noone222 (#6)

and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.

Greed for wealth, lust for power, is the norm for this government and for far too many of its citizens.

Cynicom  posted on  2013-12-25   9:04:17 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: snoopdougg (#0)

August 21

122:8.1 All that night Mary was restless so that neither of them slept much. By the break of day the pangs of childbirth were well in evidence, and at noon, August 21, 7 B.C., with the help and kind ministrations of women fellow travelers, Mary was delivered of a male child. Jesus of Nazareth was born into the world, was wrapped in the clothes which Mary had brought along for such a possible contingency, and laid in a near-by manger.

122:8.7 These wise men saw no star to guide them to Bethlehem. The beautiful legend of the star of Bethlehem originated in this way: Jesus was born August 21 at noon, 7 B.C. On May 29, 7 B.C., there occurred an extraordinary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation of Pisces. And it is a remarkable astronomic fact that similar conjunctions occurred on September 29 and December 5 of the same year. Upon the basis of these extraordinary but wholly natural events the well-meaning zealots of the succeeding generation constructed the appealing legend of the star of Bethlehem and the adoring Magi led thereby to the manger, where they beheld and worshiped the newborn babe. Oriental and near-Oriental minds delight in fairy stories, and they are continually spinning such beautiful myths about the lives of their religious leaders and political heroes. In the absence of printing, when most human knowledge was passed by word of mouth from one generation to another, it was very easy for myths to become traditions and for traditions eventually to become accepted as facts.

123:2.13 It was the custom of the Galilean Jews for the mother to bear the responsibility for a child’s training until the fifth birthday, and then, if the child were a boy, to hold the father responsible for the lad’s education from that time on. This year, therefore, Jesus entered upon the fifth stage of a Galilean Jewish child’s career, and accordingly on August 21, 2 B.C., Mary formally turned him over to Joseph for further instruction.

From the Urantia Book and it was written by Celestial beings.

~~~~~~~~
Dollar DVD Project Liberty needs patriot activists
to help wake the town and tell the people. Do your
friends and family know what you know?

wakeup  posted on  2013-12-25   23:17:01 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: wakeup (#8)

I am well familiar with the writings of the Urantia Book. It is satanic in origins as everything in it seeps of false doctrine. For example, writings in here depict life and humanbeings that procreate bisexually which is contrary to the word of the Lord in the bible which hates such perversions. But that is just my opinion. I'll let others read this section for themselves. http://www.urantiabook.org/newbook/papers/p046.htm

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-26   2:35:45 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: purplerose (#1)

interesting..

the Santa myth has always bothered me. i never perpetuated the silly lie to my son that some old man climbed down our non existent chimney, to give him gifts. why should a stranger get the credit for the gifts that i and his father generously and lovingly chose for him?

To question is to value the ideal of truth more highly than the loyalties to nation, religion, race, or ideology.

christine  posted on  2013-12-26   10:17:37 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: christine (#10)

I think that Santa crap instills the belief that some lies are OK.

"A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.

Thomas Jefferson

noone222  posted on  2013-12-26   11:00:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: noone222, christine, 4 (#11)

Agree completely re: the Santa lie.

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken

Lod  posted on  2013-12-26   11:39:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: Lod (#12)

Two reasons for Santa...

Commercial and, small children understand concept of Santa more readily than coming of Christ.

When I was a kid, never bought into the Santa thing because he never stopped at our house.

It takes many threads to make a string, many strings to make a rope, so it is with faith.

Cynicom  posted on  2013-12-26   12:01:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: purplerose (#3)

In addition, the unbiblical concept of the worship of the Virgin Mary and her "ascension" to heaven, where she is believed to reside as the queen or "Mother goddess" of heaven--as the early Gnostics worshipped the "great Mother goddess of heaven"--gradually became an established dogma in the Catholic Church.

Some might say the Virgin Mary is a physical representation of the Holy Spirit, Feminine in Nature. In unison with the Father, They created Their Son.

There's considerable food for thought there.


"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen

FormerLurker  posted on  2013-12-26   12:13:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: christine (#10)

The Santa myth began bothering me when I was in the 3rd grade and would get christmas cards from faculty and staff with the words "Merry X-mas" and the other cards reading "Merry Christmas". This not only bothered me but confused me. I would wonder about the "X-mas" part a lot. Of course, when I would ask my folks of such meanings they would have no explanation for the reason X-mas is on my cards. So, throughout the years I felt like a complete dummy for not being able to fully understand this all until I (age 12) discovered it was all a lie. I had to do the searching for myself. It's one thing to keep your kids innocent but its still another when you enslave them with myths and lies like this.

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-26   12:25:12 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#16. To: FormerLurker (#14)

Mary may very well be a physical representation of the Holy Spirit but that does not make her Holy or Divine. It just means that she was chosen to deliver The Savior. Such doctrines that teach her as being Holy and Divine are false doctrines in that they teach people that she had Divine status as equal with God. No man, including Mary, was equal with God at that time. The only one who shares equal standing with God is Jesus ( and noone else) and this has caused so much controversy even amongst Christian people and in the ministry. Many people have died because of this way of thought. But it is true.

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-26   12:32:07 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: purplerose (#16)

The only one who shares equal standing with God is Jesus ( and noone else) and this has caused so much controversy even amongst Christian people and in the ministry. Many people have died because of this way of thought. But it is true.

Humans have created their own beliefs to explain that which they feel they must understand, yet those beliefs are simply that, beliefs.

Those who hate others because of "incorrect" beliefs are not following the path to God, and those who have tortured others and murdered them in the name of their god are NOT following the basic teachings of Jesus, ie. do unto others as you would have them do unto you.


"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen

FormerLurker  posted on  2013-12-26   12:49:23 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: purplerose (#9)

Santanic?

I guess I missed that part after reading and studying it for forty years.

~~~~~~~~
Dollar DVD Project Liberty needs patriot activists
to help wake the town and tell the people. Do your
friends and family know what you know?

wakeup  posted on  2013-12-26   22:34:33 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: wakeup (#18)

Well, I was fascinated with the book too until I discovered some things about it that made me re-think about the credibility of the author. One thing to note about what you mentioned about Jesus being born on August is that Jesus was born of lowly social status. No Jewish member of the Sanhedrin Council would ever recognize this man as King of the Jews and nor would the Governor of Rome. Only kings and those of high noble birth recorded and celebrated birthdays. Those born in the lower caste system did not have birthdays recorded.

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-27   0:50:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: purplerose (#15) (Edited)

The Santa myth began bothering me when I was in the 3rd grade and would get christmas cards from faculty and staff with the words "Merry X-mas" and the other cards reading "Merry Christmas". This not only bothered me but confused me. I would wonder about the "X-mas" part a lot. Of course, when I would ask my folks of such meanings they would have no explanation for the reason X-mas is on my cards. So, throughout the years I felt like a complete dummy for not being able to fully understand this all until I (age 12) discovered it was all a lie. I had to do the searching for myself. It's one thing to keep your kids innocent but its still another when you enslave them with myths and lies like this.

Xmas - Wikipedia | Chi-Rho/XP/XPI Pic: The labarum, often called the Chi-Rho, is a Christian symbol representing Christ

The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass, [My note: like "Go, you are sent."] while the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word [...] which comes into English as "Christ". [...] This X and P [Rho] arose as the uppercase forms of the Greek letters [...] (Greek for "Christ"), and are still widely seen in many Eastern Orthodox icons depicting Jesus Christ. The labarum, an amalgamation of the two Greek letters rendered as ☧, is a symbol often used to represent Christ in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches.

Santa is a cultural story symbolic of humanity; based on the gift-giving of the Three Wisemen at the Nativity (the likely traditional origins of our birthday celebrations culturally with gift-giving, as well) and on St. Nicholas of Myra, Turkey (not Nicolaitians/Nicolaitans/sp?, referenced at Posts #1 and #3, which aren't about St. Nicholas at all). More on St. Nicholas at Post #24.

Edited last two paragraphs + spacing.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-27   21:42:22 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: FormerLurker, purplerose (#14)

Some might say the Virgin Mary is a physical representation of the Holy Spirit, Feminine in Nature. In unison with the Father, They created Their Son.

There's considerable food for thought there.

Sefer Yetzirah: "Book of Formation" or "Book of Creation"

Creation Mysticism: Fashioning the World From Letters - myjewishlearning.com

"By means of the twenty two letters, by giving them a form and shape, by mixing them and combining them in different ways, God made the soul of all that which has been created and all of that which will be. It is upon these same letters that the Holy One (blessed be he) has founded his high and holy name."

The letters are of three types: mothers, doubles and singles. The mothers (aleph, mem, shin) symbolize the three primordial elements of all existing things: water (the first letter of which is mem in Hebrew) is symbolized by mem; fire (of which shin is the most prominent sound) is represented by shin; air (the first letter of which is aleph) is designated by aleph.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-27   22:06:59 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#22. To: purplerose (#1) (Edited)

Christ mas literally means "the death of Christ".

No it doesn't. What language-translation are you alluding to there?

mas - Wiktionary example:

from Latin magis (“more”)

Edited for formatting.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-27   22:45:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#23. To: GreyLmist, 4 (#22)

reality check on Santa -

deer santa: I wud like a kool toy space ranjur fer Xmas. Iv ben a gud boy all yeer. Yer Frend, BiLLy

Dear Billy,

Nice spelling. You're on your way to a career in lawn care. How about I give you a frigging book so you can learn to read and write? I'm giving your older brother the space ranger. At least HE can spell!

Santa

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is peace and joy in the world for everybody!

Love, Sarah

Dear Sarah, Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn't they?

Santa

Dear Santa,

I don't know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I'd like for my mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do.

Love, Teddy

Dear Teddy,

Look, your dad's banging the babysitter like a screen door in a hurricane. Do you think he's gonna give that up to come back to your frigid, fat mom, who rides his ass constantly? It's time to give up that dream. Let me get you some nice Legos instead. Maybe you can build yourself a family with those?

Santa

Dear Santa,

I want a new bike, a Play station, a train, some G.I. Joes, a dog, a drum kit, a pony and a tuba.

Love, Eugene

Dear Eugene,

Who names their kid 'Eugene' nowadays? I giving you a doll instead because I bet you're gay.

Santa

Dear Santa ,

I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for your reindeer outside the back door.

Love, Susan

Dear Susan,

Milk gives me the shits and carrots make the deer fart in my face when riding in the sleigh. You want to do me a favor? Two words: Jim Beam.

Santa

Dear Santa,

What do you do the other 364 days of the year? Are you busy making toys?

Your friend, Thomas

Dear Thomas,

All the toys are made by little kids like you in China . Every year I give them a slice of bread as a Christmas bonus. I have a condo in Vegas, where I spend most of my time making low-budget porno films. I unwind by drinking myself silly and squeezing the asses of cocktail waitresses while losing money at the craps table.

Santa

P.S. Tell your mom she got the part.

Dear Santa,

Do you see us when we're sleeping, do you really know when we're awake, like in the song?

Love, Jessica

Dear Jessica,

Are you really that gullible? Good luck in whatever you do. I'm skipping your house.

Santa

Dear Santa,

I really really want a puppy this year. Please please please PLEASE PLEASE could I have one?

Timmy

Timmy,

That whiney begging shit may work with your folks, but that crap doesn't work with me. You're getting an ugly sweater again.

Santa

Dearest Santa,

We don't have a chimney in our house, how do you get into our home?

Love, Marky

Mark,

First, stop calling yourself 'Marky', that's why you're getting your ass kicked at school. Second, you don't live in a house, you live in a low-rent, ghetto apartment complex. Third, I get inside your pad just like all the burglars do, through your bedroom window.

Sweet Dreams, Santa

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken

Lod  posted on  2013-12-27   22:50:48 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: Lod, purplerose, 4 (#23) (Edited)

reality check on Santa -

Real reality check on Santa:

Saint Nicholas - Wikipedia

also called Nikolaos of Myra, [he] was a historic 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra (Demre, part of modern-day Turkey) in Lycia.

Nicholas was born a Greek in Asia Minor during the third century in the city of Patara (Lycia et Pamphylia), which was a port on the Mediterranean Sea

He was the only son of wealthy Christian parents

He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus

In his most famous [legend], a poor man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. [...] Hearing of the girls' plight, Nicholas decided to help them, but being too modest to help the family in public (or to save them the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to the house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the house.

One version has him throwing one purse for three consecutive nights. Another has him throwing the purses over a period of three years, each time the night before one of the daughters comes of age. Invariably, the third time the father lies in wait, trying to discover the identity of their benefactor. In one version the father confronts the saint, only to have Saint Nicholas say it is not him he should thank, but God alone. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plan and drops the third bag down the chimney instead; a variant holds that the daughter had washed her stockings that evening and hung them over the embers to dry, and that the bag of gold fell into the stocking.

The episode with the three dowries is commemorated by showing him holding in his hand either three purses, three coins or three balls of gold.

the three gold balls referring to the dowry affair are sometimes metaphorically interpreted as being oranges or other fruits.

Saint Nicholas Day

The tradition of Saint Nicholas' Day, on 6 December (19 December in most Orthodox countries), is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of Saint Nicholas, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the British Father Christmas, derive from these legends.

The saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus (Naoṁ Nioclás) is believed to have been buried in Newtown Jerpoint in Kilkenny some 800 years ago. Originally buried in Myra in modern-day Turkey, his body was moved from there to Italy in 1169, but said to have been taken afterwards to Ireland by Nicholas de Frainet, a distant relative.

Santa Claus in Northern American culture

Sources and Further reading

King, Josiah. The Examination and Tryal of Old Father Christmas; Together with his Clearing by the Jury ... London: Charles Brome, 1686. Full text available here

Edited for sequencing, grammar and punctuation.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-27   23:20:44 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#25. To: GreyLmist, rose, 4 (#22)

What Does “Christmas” Mean?

By Dr. Richard P. Bucher

The word "Christmas" occurs nowhere in the Bible. It is an old English word that means "Christ's Mass" which refers to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, i.e. the Mass. The earliest occurrence of the word on record is 1038 A.D. Christians at this time considered the Mass (Lord's Supper) to be the most important part of the celebration of Christ's birth, hence it came to be called Christmas.

See Francis X. Weiser, The Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Company, 1958) and Clement A. Miles, Christmas (New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1912).

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken

Lod  posted on  2013-12-27   23:23:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#26. To: Itistoolate (#2)

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A "TREE"

Three trees, a manger, a boat and the cross

A while back someone sent me a story that I would like to share with you today.

Here’s the story:

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams, when the first tree said,

“Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”

Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”

Finally the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.”

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree, I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said ‘Peace’ and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

(Author Unknown)

In conclusion, notice that each of the trees got what they wanted … just not in the way they had imagined.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-28   0:51:44 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#27. To: purplerose (#1) (Edited)

the decking of fir trees with silver and gold is an unholy act which the Lord also abhores. See Jeremiah 10:2-4

Christmas honors not the birth of Jesus Christ but honors instead Tammuz. See Ezekial 8:14

Jeremiah 10:2-4 (KJV) doesn't mention any particular kind of tree but implies the crafting and adorning of idols/making images of false gods [Reference verses 9 and 14].

2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

Christians aren't idolatrous heathens. Idolaters and heathens aren't being persecuted much for their observances, as Christians are and even by the supposed "Puritanicals" among them; who are quick to join in with atheists and others in their ritualistic bedeckings of Christmas and whatever else about Christianity as Paganism. That amounts to something like them trying to decorate Christendom like "trees" with a bunch of confounded abstractions and distortions that don't really apply.

Mark 8:22- 25

Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Catholic Answers Forums

As I understand, the pagans (contrary to popular belief) had not calculated the solstice times correctly, and as a result it moved forward a couple days each year. By the time the Church set Dec 25th as the Feast of the Nativity, the pagans were celebrating the solstice in, I believe, late October.

Edited for spelling.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-28   2:40:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#28. To: GreyLmist (#27)

It was the Nicolaitians who promoted St. Nicholas and Christmas which Jesus hated and the Lord. I have already referenced biblical citation for this. The Nicolaitians were practicing paganist practices to mislead followers of Christ away from Christ and the truth from Scripture which actually forbid such feasts and celebrations. Sadly, many who claim to be followers of Christs STILL disobey his heeds concerning such practices which he hated.

purplerose  posted on  2013-12-28   2:49:30 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#29. To: purplerose (#28) (Edited)

It was the Nicolaitians who promoted St. Nicholas and Christmas which Jesus hated and the Lord. I have already referenced biblical citation for this. The Nicolaitians were practicing paganist practices to mislead followers of Christ away from Christ and the truth from Scripture which actually forbid such feasts and celebrations. Sadly, many who claim to be followers of Christs STILL disobey his heeds concerning such practices which he hated.

I don't know where you heard all that about Nicolaitians (sp?), purplerose, but it's incorrect. I don't know much about them other than that they were a heretical sect of immorality -- promoted adultery, etc. Their "deacon" was named Nicholas, as many other people have been through the milleniums, but the Book of Revelation that mentions the group predates St. Nicholas of Myra by hundreds of years, as far as I know.

Various edits.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-28   3:09:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#30. To: All (#29)

truth from Scripture which actually forbid such feasts and celebrations. Sadly, many who claim to be followers of Christs STILL disobey his heeds concerning such practices which he hated.

Judaism has many feasts and celebrations and Jesus is noted numerous times in the Scriptures as observing them too; also as making preparations for them. If I recall correctly, the Feast of Tabernacles is the one that's expected to outlast all the others. Just a guess but the incessant embattling of Christian feasts and celebrations might be part of the elimination process.

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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC

GreyLmist  posted on  2013-12-28   4:03:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#31. To: purplerose (#19) (Edited)

That is small potatoes and does not compare to the monumental truths to be found in the Big Blue Book. I am a true believer and little can sway my thinking on the Urantia Book.

Imagine someone trying to persuade you that your mother really didn't love you after all. Nonsense.

I have openly joined the cult. The Christian cult believes that Chosen People, Rapture, Armageddon, Atonement Doctrine silliness. Sorry, I have moved on.

Just read a page from the Jesus Papers toward the back of the book and you will be hooked. 'Promise.

~~~~~~~~
Dollar DVD Project Liberty needs patriot activists
to help wake the town and tell the people. Do your
friends and family know what you know?

wakeup  posted on  2013-12-30   1:46:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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