A Christmas Message

Ain't free speech wonderful? You can post whatever you like, but you can't bar anyone else from responding, just because they answer No to a bunch of questions.

First off, Happy Christmas! I wish you all the best on your special day and hope you enjoy it in good health with your family and loved ones.

Next, if "he came to the world to die on the cross," then how come Judas is reviled as a bad guy? Judas is only a bad guy if Jesus was not supposed to die, and he messed things up by fingering him. But if Jesus was supposed to die, then Judas is even more important to Christianity than Paul.

I think there are some Christians who believe that Judas made the ultimate sacrifice for Jesus: that Jesus asked Judas to turn him in so that he could fulfill his destiny, that Judas did not want to, knowing that he would be reviled for it, but that Jesus insisted, and finally, for love of Jesus, Judas relented and agreed. According to this theology, Judas sits at the right hand of Jesus in heaven, as his best beloved disciple.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 24 2006, 08:50 PM) [snapback]366430[/snapback]</div>

Ditto on the first part Daniel. I too claim to be a Christian, but a rather pragmatic, enlightened, and accepting one from my point of view. . So while I celebrate the birth of Christ this evening I know that this is not his true birth date (mid-summer, July I think), and that the formation of Christmas and attachment of Christ's birth to December 25 by the church was to curtail pagan rituals. Thus, I also celebrate, thanks to my Finnish and German heritage, winter solstice, the birth of Mithras, and the celebration of the evergreen (with a decorated evergreen) as a reminder that more light and green trees would be forthcoming as winter begins to wane .

Happy Holidays and Winter Solstice to all!

Make sure you have some pickled herring ready for New Year's! My grandmother said you must eat some New Year's Eve for good luck in the next year.

 

Merry Christmas, Schmika!

 

Merry Christmas, Schmika.

I'm so glad you brought up Pride.

I happen to think there is no sin in having a little, honest Pride. In fact, I think more people should display a little pride and teach their children to have some pride as well. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in a job well done. Being proud of an honest day's work or accomplishing a task is a good thing. I think too many people belittle their efforts or dismiss their accomplishments because they are afraid that showing a little pride is "sinful". (And too many children don't know how to *do* anything positive or creative. They don't knit, sew or build anything.)

Now, I do think there are certain acts for which pride is a sin. I think taggers that take pride in spray painting their tags on peoples property are sinful, both for the pride and for the destructive act.

I think the only destructive act you should take pride in is in the demolition you do prior to a remodeling job. Other than that, taking pride in negatives is a sin. Taking pride in a positive should be a virtue.

So let's teach our children to take pride in the positive things they do and model that behavior ourselves.

Now let's hear a big "I DID THIS!"

Some of my handiwork.

 

Godiva: That's some beautiful work. I think I'd want one of those cushions on the His and Hers chairs, though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schmika @ Dec 26 2006, 07:56 AM) [snapback]366691[/snapback]</div>

I have a tendency to express my views openly, and to present logical reasons for them. This has never made me terribly popular, though people who agree with my views perceive me in a very different light than those who disagree with them.

But as I mentioned in another thread, and has been pointed out more than once, the absence of tone of voice and facial expression on an on-line chat board leads to much misunderstanding. I do get very angry at social injustice. I should probably take your advice and be more laid back and unconcerned when my country kills innocent people in the name of national security or oil or whatever, or when religious conservatives pass laws saying that friends of mine cannot marry each other merely because they are the same gender. But I get carried away.

Sufferin' Prius Envy often accuses me of being very angry. In fact, I am seldom angry. Only when topics of social justice or war come up. On the other hand, SPE seems very angry to me. Seems to me he rants more than I do.

In real life, I am quick to anger (in the face of social injustice) and quick to calm down, and I seldom post when angry. I am aware that people who cannot tolerate my opinions view me otherwise.

My first post in this thread was, first, to wish you a happy Christmas; second, to point out that you cannot bar anyone from posting in any thread; and, third, to ask about your comment that Jesus came to earth "to die on the cross." Turning Judas's name into a synonym for "traitor" seems inconsistent with the common Christian belief that Jesus's purpose in life was to be crucified.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 26 2006, 10:15 AM) [snapback]366682[/snapback]</div>

Thanks. They're actually not that bad to sit in just as they are. But I want some cushions just for the look. I have some lovely gold and black silk brocade to make them with. I'm going to put a regular cushion on the bottom with a small round bolster (with tassels) on each side. I think that will look entirely decadent. That's the look I'm going for. Since I sew and do other handy things I can afford to "look" decadent without the cost.

I'll certainly update the pics when I get the cushions done. But don't hold your breath. It will have to wait until I finish my (second) masters degree.