Question about Advent?
916221
From the perspective of the candle significance:\n\nFirst Candle        Faith     The Patriarchs \nSecond Candle  Joy        The Prophets \nThird Candle       Love     John the Baptist \nFourth Candle     Hope    The Virgin Mary \n\n\nhttp://www.holycrossredmond.org/think/dear_ms_p_17.htm
1173621
because christmas was a pagan holiday.\n\nChristmas Dec 25th.  No clue who came up with that date but it isn't correct.  Jesus was born in the spring time with flowers blooming and songs singing, so says the bible.  Even in Israel, that still translates to April-ish not December.  It snows in Jerusalem in December.\n\nBefore Christmas was Christmas it was known as Appollo's birthday as well as Mithras.  Both popular religious sects in Rome, before Christianity was founded (yes I did just say founded, read up some)  There was an old belief that the Holly King and the Oak King were born opposite one another on the yearly cycle.  The easiest way to explain this idea is the winter king and the summer king.  winter king was born in December (or snow) so that his rule would be transfered at the height of summer.  summer king was born in the height of summer so his crown would transfer at the height of winter.  Appollo was thought to be the holly/winter king and his birthfeast was afixed to december.  more than likely around the solstice December 20th or 21st.  As Christianity absorbed these sects the traditions came with them.  the apple was the signature fruit of Appolo.\n\nNow the celebration of Christmas had always been a somber and less than joyful celebration.  In the English area, the commoners celebrated Yule, while the nobils or rather highborns celebrated christmas....they were christians.  Once Christianity became the adopted form of religion Yule was prohibted, but again since Christianity was a Roman creation....it followed the roman ways, adopting things and calling it theirs.\n\nThe Christmas celebration had always been much tamer in the Protestant homes as they concentrated on the sacrifices Jesus made, until....\n\nOne English Queen married a German Nobil and the German Tradition (which was really a leftover from the Viking Era) was the Christmas tree.  This now German born English King refused to give up his winter/yule tradition and thusly the Christmas Tree tradition was born as everyone wanted to be like the Queen.  \n\nThen in the early 18th century, Christmas became a little less formal and more of a family affair about brotherly love and so forth.\n\nChristmas has seen a huge change since it's inception.  Anything to party and have fun, right?  Every reason is a reason to get together.
1761
The Bible. What could be better this time of year? I would suggest the book of Luke in the New Testament.\nIf your not sure you believe in the Bible, try reading The Case for Christmas. It's written by a former atheist that investigated the claims of Christ and His birth. Merry Christmas!
64856
God's salvation has always been available to all people. People were saved in OT times the same way they are saved today: by the Grace of God for those who are faithful believers. The date of the incarnation, crucifixion & resurrection are rather insignificant - as soon as God makes a promise it is as good as done - there was no waiting for the Messiah for salvation. He could have come right after the garden of eden or he could still be coming for the first time sometime in the future... & it wouldn't matter to any believer's salvation.
480432
order children's book, adjustable for dif ages.  aroun $12 donation. 1-800-643-4645.  \ni wish they made a game like little army men so we could react all those battles in the old testiment.\n\ni need to chat WITH YOU seiously about easter.  it was a bad translation one time in new testiment.  \n\nput your thinking cap on, now.  was JESUS our istar lamb or PASSOVER LAMB? passover is still the same celebration that the children of israel had and is held the same time of year that they held it then.read exodus again. \n\nPLEASE CONTACT ME ON myPROFILE FOR STUDY MATERIALS FOR PROOFS.\n\nI'VE HUNTED EASTER EGGS WITH THE BEST OF THEM, BUT I'VE LEARNED DIFFERENT NOW.it will not hurt kids to hunt eggs as long as they know they have nothing to do with RESSURECTION.  hope we can be friends.
6940
As an evangelical Christian (speaking only for myself), I can honestly say that I think most people are getting way too worked up over this issue.\nThe reality is that much of what we associate with Christmas in America (trees, lights, shopping, Santa, etc), has little to do with Jesus or the Bible; and no, Dec 25th is not a Biblical date.\n\nUnfortunately, people (who might or might not be followers of Jesus Christ), tend to get very outspoken about their 'faith' when the issues involve tradition or political policies, but flatly ignore Jesus' commands to share the Gospel, help the poor, etc.\n\nI do think that much of the Christian community's public reaction to this issue is a result of frustration with our "political correctness"-obsessed society.  We are under increasing pressure to keep our beliefs to ourselves (although our God and our consciences clearly tell us to do the opposite).  We often feel that we're being asked to concede our 'free speech' rights in order to avoid offending someone, while also being asked to tolerate other people's statements that are very offensive to us.  All the frustration comes out in these highly-publicized and 'easy' issues.\n\nBottom line:\nIt's easier and less controversial to say "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", than to say "God came to earth as a man, died on the Cross in payment for your wrong-doing, and rose to life again so that you can have eternal life with God."
1156969
A Direct quote from an Anglican minister:\n\n"And where are we told in the Scriptures that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the seventh; but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day .... The reason why we keep the first day of the week holy instead of the seventh is for the same reason that we observe many other things, not because the Bible, but because the church has enjoined it."
807907
Neither Christmas nor Easter have any connection with Christianity. So-called "Christmas" celebrates the pagan Saturnalia and the appropriately-named "Easter" celebrates the pagan goddess Eostre.\n\nJesus was not even born in December. Nearly all so-called Christmas customs dishonor Christ.\n\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/19981215/article_02.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20001215/\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_01.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/19981215/\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm\n\nChristendom adopts "Easter" from pagan worship of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre (or Oestre). Most Easter traditions merely repackage pagan fertility festivals and concentrate on eating, decorating, and frivolity. Christ certainly never wanted that.\n\nBy contrast, it's tragic that the one holiday Christ actually *DID* ask Christians to commemorate is entirely ignored by almost all of Christendom. It is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death, sometimes called "the Last Supper" or "the Lord's Evening Meal".\n\n(1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NWT) The Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup.. Keep doing this... in remembrance of me.” \n\n(1 Cor 11:24, 25, NEB) "Do this as a memorial of me.” \n\n\nChrist Jesus himself personally celebrated and explained the significance of that Last Supper to his followers (see Matthew 26:26-29). Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have done so on the same Jewish calendar date as Jesus did, Nisan 14, which generally falls between late March and mid-April. Interestingly, Christians in the centuries immediately after Christ's impalement were sometimes called "Quartodecimans" which literally mean "Fourteen-ers", because the early Christians were well-known for this true holy day.\n\nHow would Jesus feel to learn that the holiday he commanded was widely ignored, while his so-called followers chose to celebrate a pagan false god and their own traditions of men? We don't need to wonder.\n\n(Matthew 15:6-9) You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”\n\nLearn more:\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/lmn/article_08.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_02.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20011115/article_02.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/jt/
912652
I see this question so much. I have wondered myself when the correct time is. I for one have not been able to celebrate Christmas for the past 20 years, and this will be my first one. I am SO excited and can barely stand to wait. And then I stopped and thought about it. Why is there a "correct" time? Why do we care so much about what others think? And why do people have such a fit if someone puts their decorations up early? What if that person only had a few weeks to live? No one knows anyone elses circumstances, we shouldnt judge! The correct time is any time we want to. It hurts no one. Life is short. Sometimes far too too short. Put your tree up when you want to. Turn up the Christmas carols and enjoy! Celebrate!
188438
please do visit www.adventnet.com\n \nthey will offer you a program that can help you
822214
Well, here in America, there is a movement afoot to return Christ to Christmas again. In Portland, Maine we are having an argument about what to call the Christmas tree in our town square. The city fathers insist it is a holiday tree, so as not to offend anyone, but of course all the Christians are offended because they know it's a Christmas tree. Great attitude to set the stage for a happy Christmas, huh. And so it goes. I just spent about three hours up in our attic trimming down all our Christmas things and I brought it over to the waitstaff where we have our lunch every day - Newick's Restaurant. Now I have just TWO boxes of things as compared to FOURTEEN boxes a year ago. You have to get the whole thing under control or you will knock yourself out for nothing all over again. Every year is the same. But if you take it all apart before the season "kicks in" (gets under way), then there is a good chance you will be able to get it under control. But you have to be determined. Some people go all out at Christmas, and they also decorate their homes with millions of lights. My partner and I have been together for forty-seven years and we are very modest now in our celebration of the season. We have a four-foot little tree with lots of little coloured lights that twinkle in the darkened living room, and it looks just lovely. Between the two of us we send about forty cards. Three gifts. And that is it. I like to meditate on Christmas in complete silence, because that is where I find the real meaning to me of what Christmas and Christ are all about. By the way, Merry Christmas to you and everyone reading this. Sent with happy energies from Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old.)
863322
Does it really matter why we celebrate Christ's birth in December.\n\nk1
323819
Okay . . . Okay . . . the questioner is correct . . . \n\nChristmas is originally a pagan holiday . . . a week long festival . . . actually 12 days long . . . reminds you of a song.\n\nThis holiday was adopted to convert pagans into Christianity . . . and they accepted it hook, line, and sinker.\n\nThe majority of the holidays celebrated by Christian have pagan origins . . . but back to Christmas . . . \n\nSome of you said you celebrate this day in remembrance of the birth of Christ.  Did Christ ask his followers to remember his birth?  No he did not . . . instead he commanded his followers to commemorate the last supper in his remembrance . . . . Not do perform it daily or weekly . . . but annually like the early christians did . . . prior to 325 AD.
187464
Along with mistleto, pine trees, gifts, celebrating the birth of Christ--NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE EVER COMMANDED IN THE BIBLE!!! Read the Book of Jeremiah Chapter 10! It explicitly mentions the "christmas" tradition--see what GOD really thinks about it all!
755964
I'm a substitute teacher in Nova Scotia, and I also did my student teaching here. From what I've observed, most schools here do Christmas, but it is totally secular, no Nativity is mentioned.
628641
The Incarnation simply means that God took on the body of a human being and became both God and Man. The simplest way to do this was to arrive in the way of nature, as a baby. \n\nGod chose Mary to be the mother of this child and sent an angel (Gabriel) to ask her would she accept the responsibility. Mary was puzzled, being a virgin and although engaged to Joseph had not yet consummated the marriage. The angel told her that she would conceive by the power of God and that the child she would bring into life would be the Son of God. Scarey stuff. But Mary took up the challenge, and by the power of the Creator conceived. In this way, Jesus became INCARNATE, meaning having flesh like us. \n\nSo now we have God the Father and God the Son. When Jesus arose from the dead as witnessed first by Mary Magdalen and then by the Apostles, he stayed for a while before returning to Heaven. To help us, he sent the Holy Spirit to be on our side in our continuing fight against the Devil. The Immortal,the Incarnate and the Spirit is a mystery called the Trinity, which needs faith to accept. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Three in One and One in Three. (St Patrick the most famous missionary to Ireland, illustrated this by picking a shamrock which has one leaf with three segments.)\n\nIn summary, Jesus took on a human body (Incarnation) becoming both God and Man. We celebrate the feastday of the Incarnation on March 25th every year. God didn't change, he just became easier to understand. He took on a human body to help people understand about the love of God for each and every individual in this amazing and lovely world. He has loved us dearly since before the beginning of human time. By becoming human, God the Son, Jesus, started a whole revolution in thinking which is still happening today. We aren't very good at doing what God the Creator wants, but we had Jesus and we now have God the Holy Spirit with us from now until we return to God's time.\nI hope this may help.\nYour sister in Christ\nGeorgina
981212
THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS\n\nIt was not until several hundred years after Jesus lived on the earth that people began to commemorate his birth on December 25. But that was not the date of Jesus’ birth.\n\nConsider the weather conditions at that time of the year in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. The Jewish month of Chislev (corresponding to November/December) was a month with cold and rainy weather. The month after that was Tebeth (December/January). It saw the lowest temperatures of the year, with occasional snows in the highlands. Let us see what the Bible tells us about the climate of that region.\nThe Bible writer Ezra shows that Chislev was indeed a month known for cold and rainy weather. After stating that a crowd had gathered in Jerusalem “in the ninth month [Chislev] on the twentieth day of the month,” Ezra reports that people were “shivering . . . on account of the showers of rain.” Concerning weather conditions at that time of the year, the congregated people themselves said: “It is the season of showers of rain, and it is not possible to stand outside.” (Ezra 10:9, 13; Jeremiah 36:22) No wonder shepherds living in that part of the world made sure that they and their flocks were no longer out of doors at night when December came around!\nThe Bible reports, however, that shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks on the night of Jesus’ birth. In fact, the Bible writer Luke shows that at that time, shepherds were “living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks” near Bethlehem. (Luke 2:8-12) Notice that the shepherds were actually living out of doors, not just strolling outside during the day. They had their flocks in the fields at night. Does that description of outdoor living fit the chilly and rainy weather conditions of Bethlehem in December? No, it does not. So the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth indicate that he was not born in December.\n\nSo why was December 25 chosen? Some who later claimed to be Christian likely “wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun.’” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) In winter, when the sun seemed weakest, pagans held ceremonies to get this source of warmth and light to come back from its distant travels. December 25 was thought to be the day that the sun began its return. In an effort to convert pagans, religious leaders adopted this festival and tried to make it seem “Christian.”\n\nThe pagan roots of Christmas have long been recognized. Because of its unscriptural origin, Christmas was banned in England and in some of the American colonies during the 17th century. Anyone who even stayed home from work on Christmas day had to pay a penalty. Soon, though, the old customs were back, and some new ones were added. Christmas once again became a big holiday, and that is what it still is in many lands. Because of the connections that Christmas has with false religion, however, those who want to please God do not celebrate it or any other holiday that has its roots in pagan worship.\n\nhttp://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm\n\n\n.