General Chat

Paula+ Merry Christmas to you. :-D :-D

I think it is a time to think of our loved ones, yes. It can bring back lovely memories. My children are ancient now, but I so remember their excitement after Santa had been. Running into our bedroom and jumping all over us so our early morning cup of tea redecorated the bedroom.

Santa that called at our house was slim and curvy and very attractive. This old grumpy bloke used to help her a bit ;-)

Re your first sentence, that is why I started http://www.genesreunited.co.za/boards/board/general_chat/thread/979039
five years ago.

CarolP Just to say I think that was beautifully put, thank you. :-)

I do love Christmas, but also feel sad as so many of my loved ones are no longer here to share it. Life goes on and I have so many happy memories, but just miss them so much.

Merry Christmas John :-)

Sorry, Chris and Maggie. If any consolation, I get names of children mixed up as well :-D :-D

Leni. Many thanks. And wish you a very happy Christmas :-D :-D

I believe you have addressed last post to wrong person.

You really should be careful of all that you type.

Thanks for the thread John.

I wish everyone many blessings at this holy time.

Leni

Maggie (Edit). Christmas Time is Advent from 2nd Dec till 24th. Then I would say it included the next 12 days of Christmas till Epiphany. I would not agree with Tesco that it starts in September and ends in February.

I agree with what you are saying, but am contrasting that with what is seen on the link from Cynthia - which shows almost everybody joining in with lots of smiles everywhere.

The nearest Muslim festival this year sees to be Ashura on 24 Nov. And Hannukah is from 8th Dec to 16th Dec, I believe. So finishes today, though Jewish friends will now be extending that till 6th January to empathise with Christian friends.

Missed out on my lovely Eid and Divali snacks this year. Too late now :-( :-( :-(

I totally agree with your last sentance Carol. I KNOW that my end will be much easier in the belief that I will once again be with those that I have loved and who have loved me. I remember that my Granny believed this totally, and that it gave her immense comfort at the end of her life, and to feel that she was comforted at a rather difficult end gave us all enormous comfort and strength too, so I don't care what anyone says, that has to be a good thing.

John,
I don't mean to be contentious, but can't really let this piece of mis-information go by unchallenged.
I refer to your post on page 1 where you state:

"I do think the modern Christmas is very inclusive. It brings together Eid and Divali and Hannukah and lots of old pagan images as well".

That statement is a bit presumptious, and assumes every other religion wants to be included!!

What (in reality) happens is, that occasionally Divali & Eid are around about Christmas time (Eid was last year). This is pure coincidence, as they don't follow the same calender as the Christian church, and these celebrations are moveable..
.
This year Divali was in November, Eid in October Hannukah started on December 6th, and ends today. Not exactly at Christmas time, were they?

Carol Wherever you are preaching next, I want to be in the congregation. :-D :-D

Not being sarky at all. I think that was an absolutely lovely post and addresses all of us - wherever we think we stand with God this Christmas time. :-D

We all believe in different ways & in different things & our faith is our own.
I was brought up with the adage ‘Do as you would be done by, defend others as you would hope they would defend you’. Though at times I have been disappointed by people I loved &/or respected, this has resulted it many firm friendships.
There have been times in my life when my faith in others has proved to be wrong, my faith in a god tested to the limit, but that belief remains.
All over the world there are people with strong beliefs, these religions differ in many ways like our languages, but whatever we may call these beings I believe they are the same one. Whether you believe we are reincarnated to improve ourselves, join the ones who have gone before us/pass into a third dimension, or are taken back into Mother Earth, it comes down to a belief that there is a future after death.
There will always be ‘Doubting Thomas’s’, after all it took our ancestors many years to believe that the world was not flat & you could not fall off of the edges!
The future will tell, at the end we will all know the truth, but I know that that end will be easier believing that I go to join the rest of my family.

I think that perhaps the late Dave Allen had the right idea when, at the end of his programmes he wished everyone goodnight and 'May your God go with you'. That sentiment would, I think, cover everyone of any faith.

Apart from the gun laws in America, faith is also being scrutinised there right now.

A disillusioned, exploited & a gun-wearied nation is glad to believe & hope again. The hope of Heaven is a vital need to counter the balance of the wicked & the misfortunes of the dead school children.

Cynthia. It was Dermot, not Merlin.

I think it is an absolutely lovely sentiment, whichever version it comes from.

It introduces one of my most favourite chapters in the Bible (Hebrews Chapter 11). Linking these Old Testament saints to all of us. Saying that neither they nor us will be complete in heaven without them.

It gives me the sure and certain hope that Abraham and Moses are waiting for all of us one day. They are not complete without ME. Or any of us who have been picked or will be picked. We in 2012 can know a lot about Jesus through the New Testament writers. These saints of the Old Testament believed - yet had few of our advantages. :-D :-D

Thanks Merlin - you know your King James bible - it's from Hebrews 11.1


I must admit that we never use the King James version at church - so haven't heard that translation for ages :-D


I actually like the translation from the New Living Bible :

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."


It's one of those quotes which needs someone with knowledge to explain. I find
the verse from somewhere in Corinthians helpful in understanding it.....

"We live by faith, not by sight".



As Scozz says......Each to their own :-D



ps. I'm reading at church this morning so I'll try and remember to check which version we use.

A favourite hymn or song in churches today is:

"God's spirit is in my heart;
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do-
What I have to do:

He sent me to give the good news to the poor,
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the down-trodden free.
And go tell everyone
The news that God's kingdom has come."

I agree that there are times and places for that - Cynthia's link was an example, nativity plays and Christmas Eve mass, carol singing in public places, Joy with her Sally Army friends are other examples. But we do try and tell people why we feel so wonderful :-D

'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen'.

Happy Christmas!

I don't follow any Christian religion, but I respect it.
Our own personal beliefs should be kept private .
Whatever gives you comfort is your own affair, and shouldn't be laid open to ridicule.
I love the Christmas season, or Yuletide, and hope everyone enjoys this time in their own way. :-)

I'm not "churchy" at all.

But!!! I don't understand why those who are not interested in religion add their views to this post!

The subject line said what it was.

Each to their own :-)