December 25, 2005

• Happy Holidays

  
  

   Today is the world known celebration of Christmas. Yesterday was quite a day for my family and I, but I'll talk about that later. My original plan consisted of a full fledged update including reports on the progress of "OSM", the world's news and the exposure of Christmas truth.

  
  

   Well, that plan went out the window when my sister April hijacked the computer after my relatives went home from our annual family gathering. April had the computer all day long and didn't get off of it until a couple hours after I passed out on the couch. Which meant that I wouldn't have enough time to pre-type the usual lengthy update in time for a mid-Christmas posting.

  
  

   The regular style update ("OSM", World News) will be posted by the end of tomorrow night; as I will be working on that throughout tonight and tomorrow. I assure you that there is alot to report on, in both subjects.

  
  

   Tonight, I wanted to continue with my plan to "expose" the truth about Christmas. What day is more appropriate than Christmas Day itself??

  
  

  A True Christmas Story:

  
  

   In reality, Christmas is more ancient than many Christians would like to believe. There is some blinded thought amongst many that Christmas was created by our religion; this isn't true. In fact, many centuries before Jesus Christ was born; the Pagans celebrated the Winter Solstice. Many pagans celebrated during this period of time because it apparently marked the ending of winter's worst days.

  
  

   Yule, the pagan celebration of the sun god's rebirth, was widely celebrated near the time that modern-Christmas is recognized. In honor of this holiday; the pagans would gather logs into their home and feast for as long as the log was on fire. They believed that every spark within the fire resembled the birth of another cow and/or pig for the coming year.

  
  

   The decoration of pagan homes for Yule was not only a way to uplift the evergreens in a period of time where no other plants were growing, but the decorations were meant to capture or scare away any and all evil spirits that may threaten the household. The idea of Elves is actually derived from Yule tradition. As it was told that the Elves would ride on the back of goats delivering presents to the people in exchange for the Pagan god Thor's offering of porridge.

  
  

   Kissing under the Mistletoe is another Pagan tradition. Mistletoes were commonly used for medicinal purposes by native Americans, and as a symbol of respect and peace between enemies. Druid priests would cut mistletoes off of trees and distribute them amongst the public so that they could hang them above their doorways (for the same purpose of other yule decorations). The kissing part is the most interesting, as it is explained here in pagan mythology:

  
  

  "The Norse god Balder was the best loved of all the gods. His mother was Frigga, goddess of love and beauty. She loved her son so much that she wanted to make sure no harm would come to him. So she went through the world, securing promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--fire, water, air, and earth--that they would not harm her beloved Balder.

  
  

  Leave it to Loki, a sly, evil spirit, to find the loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow from its wood. To make the prank even nastier, he took the arrow to Hoder, Balder's brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at Balder's heart, and he fell dead.
  

  Frigga's tears became the mistletoe's white berries. In the version of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that she reverses the reputation of the offending plant--making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it."

  
  

   Christmas trees even have their origins in Yule - to an extent. The Germans had festivities with regards to trees because of the evergreens significance in the end of winter's worst days. In fact, those trees were pretty much worshipped because of their high significance. St. Nicholas himself was derived partially from the German mythology of their God Wotan; whom rode the night skies. The modern idea of Santa Claus and his Sleigh that was pulled by eight reindeer came from the earlier noted myth of Elves that rode on goats - or another animal, such as a reindeer in some pagan cultures - to exchange gifts for a certain offering. Does milk and cookies sound familiar?

  
  

   Some Pagans decorated their trees (the sign of Fertility) with symbols that pagans treasured most; including stars, the sun and the moon. They also decorated their trees with symbols that remembered the souls of those that had passed away in the previous year.

  
  

   Many - if not all - of our so-called Christmas Carols are even mocked by pagans in response to what our ancestors did to their traditions. Can you really blame them at this point?

  
  

   Aside of the regular pagan traditions that Christmas is derived from; the Romans can also be to blame for some of the Christmas practices. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia and Juvenalia at this same time. Saturnalia was viewed as the celebration of the Roman god Saturn; the god of agriculture. In this celebration; the Roman society was twisted to temporarily suspend the status quo and allow the slaves to become masters for a short period of time.

  
  

   During this period of time, the upper classes also celebrated the birth of the Roman god Mirtha; the god of the unconquerable sun. It was believed by some Romans that this holiday was the most sacred of days...when was this birthday celebrated? December 25th!! The ancient celebration of this holiday was seen as a time that the richest among the people had to repay the less fortunate or face mischief, but it was often used in mockery to the biblical demands of God for helping the sick and needy!!

  
  

   Garland, wreaths and many other Christmas decorations can be attributed to the celebration of Saturnalia. The Romans decorated the trees where they grew and exchanged gifts in honor of their "god".

  
  

   What does the Bible say about Christmas? Nothing. We were never instructed by any of God's prophets - or Christ himself - to celebrate Christmas. It became a Christian Tradition when Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, and sought to retain his pagan traditions alongside his newfound beliefs.

  
  

   What did Jesus say to the Pharisees and Scribes about their hypocrisy?

  
  

  Matthew 23:25-33: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"

  
  

   Are we not hypocritical if we partake in the traditions of the world that mocks us? Is it not sinful to adopt worldy practices that belongs to unGodly practices. If you are a true follower of Christ; you will cease claiming that Christmas is a celebration of Christ's birth and recognize it for what it is!! I'm not saying that you should go around condemning loved ones and neighbors for this practice; I'm just advizing that you personally look into the truth of what Christmas really is, and accept it.

  
  

   I have only attended the usual family traditions out of respect for my Mother and her side of the family. Personally, I haven't celebrated this "holiday" since 2001. Christmas 2001 was the last time I ever willingly celebrated the Pagan day with the assumption that it was Christ's birthday and that it was alright to deceive your little ones about a mythical figure.

  
  

   Think about it; how are you justified in knowingly lying to your child about the existence of any mythical figure that they can't see while you are teaching them about God, his Son; Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Do you not have to have faith to believe in those three? None of us can see God or his son, so we must have faith that they exist. Many people turn away from God; citing that He is just as mythical as Santa, whom they were also led to have faith in as little children. Christmas does more harm to our mission of witnessing than it does good!!

  
  

   Why celebrate the Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ on one select holiday? Why can't we just honor the great sacrifice - of the God's Lamb - EVERYDAY of our lives?! We are not pagans; so, we don't need to take part in pagan practices!! Stop punishing those whom spread the truth, and give the pagan traditions back to the pagans!!

  
  

   (From the linked story about the punishment of someone telling the truth)

  
  

  "Yes, Richland Elementary School, there is a Santa Claus.

  
  

  The music teacher who told a first-grade class at the Richardson school Monday that Santa is a mythological figure recanted her story Tuesday after school officials began getting calls from parents.
  

  "She told the students that in fact she had heard from Santa, and he wanted to reassure them that he is alive and well in the spirit of Christmas," said Jeanne Guerra, Richardson school district spokeswoman.
  

  Ms. Guerra said the teacher, who teaches part time at Richland and other Richardson schools, misspoke during a lesson about holiday traditions.
  

  Ms. Guerra said district administrators think the class was discussing how Christmas presents were delivered. The teacher apparently told students that parents provide the presents.
  

  One student quickly disputed that theory.
  

  The teacher then changed the subject when she realized what she said and the age of the students. The district declined to identify the teacher, who will face no disciplinary action.
  

  Still, the remark upset a few dozen parents, spurring angry phone calls and prompting the district to publicly support Kriss Kringle.
  

  "Santa Claus is an important part of the holiday season for many children," a district statement said.
  

  Tresia Eaves, whose 9-year-old son goes to Richland, said parents should be the ones to decide what a child is told about Santa and when.
  

  "My son still believes, and by God he should be able to," she said. "Reality comes soon enough."
  

  Ms. Guerra and officials at other districts said they don't have policies on how teachers should address Santa.
  

  "Our first obligation is to follow state law," said Tim Carroll, a McKinney school spokesman. "After that, it's to use common sense."
  

  Ms. Guerra said teachers also should weigh students' culture, diversity and family beliefs.
  

  "If a student asks, teachers usually respond by asking the student 'What do you think?' or 'What does your family say?' " Ms. Guerra said.
  

  "She made a mistake.""

  
  

  Tonight's Conclusion

  
  

   I would just like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and remind you all that saying that phrase doesn't constitute a "war on christianity" as the idiots at Fox "News" and the Mainstream Media suggest, but it is a way of respecting the diverse beliefs among us. I urge you all to remember what I've pointed out today, and prepare for a regular update to be posted - hopefully, no later than - Tuesday Morning.

  
  

   Until then...

  
  

  TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS

  • 11:40 am
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