Maybe there's a nascent book in there to stocking stuff along with Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln. Killing Christmas, perhaps?

A tree, lighted or not lighted, has NOTHING to do with the birth of Jesus.

I'm annoyed at the War on Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is lost in the cacophony of noise for that December holiday. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I wish we paid more attention to it. It's an American holiday and has ties to the founding of this country.

It seems to me that the American Thanksgiving is all about Christmas and that's too bad.

This much, you and I can agree on. It bothers me to no end to see Christmas displays during the Labor Day sales, and this past Thanksgiving, it pissed me off to see stores demanding that their employees leave their families on a day that's meant for families to be together, just for the almighty dollar.

O'Reilly and his Fox crew ( Warriors Judge Jeanine & Gretchen Carlson) could be on their way to the Vatican right now. His 15 years of Wars on Christmas can't be blown away by a mere Pope. This might get Gov. Chafee off the immediate hook.

He needs something to spew from Bulls##t mountain. The end of the election came and now...tis the season.

Or at least, the Old Testament teaching. "Honor the Sabbath and Keep it Holy." That should cut down on the Christmas Shopping.

No blinking LED lights on the leash and collar? Maybe thats just a Colorado Christmas parade dog thing.

Local Hanukkah celebrations are called 'Festival of Lights' and feature public lighting of Menorahs - usually sponsored by Chabad.

David-- No, no lites on the dog. :-)

CP-- same here. light, but steady.

It is our choice to listen or not.

"There you go, mrskjun. Every thing has a reason."

"God speaks to everyone--agnostics and atheists as well.
It is our choice to listen or not."

--------------

Amen to that. :)

Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day.
If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know; they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
>
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a 'Merry Christmas' that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My
name.
9. Here's a good one There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no 'Christmas' tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and l
oyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence.

Let people know by your actions (rather than your words) that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself.
Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.
Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

More than any other line in that whole disertation, I wish more Christians would take this one to heart.

I like this one.

Of course, some have become so bold that they are willing to propose and approve things that go against their teachings in public, like the Ryan budget.

...I tried to resist the temptation but as long as the imaginary war on Xmas is pushed every year by Fox and associates I'll continue to expose it's classic origins. Shame on O'Reilly for not doing the investigative journalism. Yes Bill, let's take our country back!

"Happy holiday, happy holiday
May the calendar keep bringing
Happy holidays to you

chorus:

Happy Holiday
Happy holiday, happy holiday
While the merry bells keep ringing
May your ev'ry wish come true

Come To Holiday Inn
If you're burdened down with trouble
If your nerves are wearing thin
Park your load down the road
And come to Holiday Inn

If the traffic noise affects you
Like a squeaky violin
Kick your cares down the stairs
And come to Holiday Inn

If you can't find someone who
Would set your heart a-whirl
Take your car and motor to
The home of boy meets girl

If you're laid-up with a breakdown
Throw away your vitamin
Don't get worse, grab your nurse
And come to Holiday Inn "

/whats this with the Holiday Inn?

It is torture - even to believers - listening to anyone's and everyone's version of Little Drummer Boy (second only to Jingle Bell Rock).

...so folks appropriate and exploit the appealing celebratory trappings of a religious event, reject the original meaning, and then become upset when those observing the true meaning remind them of that meaning?

If folks want a secular holiday, they should invent one.

Dogs barking out Jingle Bells is the perfect antidote.

Factoid that I just learned:

The Singing Dogs, however, hit # 22 on the Billboard chart in 1955 (it reached an even higher position upon re-release in 1971). How 'Jingle Bells' by the Singing Dogs Changed Music Forever

I'm fickle and have jettisoned the seasonal barkathon for gobbling on cue -- Jukebox: A Choir of Turkeys

Do Christians? Face it, the day and the prep leading up to it are huge. For example, my son's birthday is Dec 23 ... Christmas time provides the greatest selection of toys and the best prices. My daughter's birthday is Jan 5. We bought all of their presents then and got great selection and prices.

Then there's peer pressure ... between Christmas and Hannukah, there's a whole lotta present giving going on, businesses give you the day off, charities are begging for money, year end charitable giving is in the air ... just a good time to play along if you feel so inclined rather than invent a holiday at some other time that doesn't have all those perks (good sales, day off, etc.). Not that I don't give money to charities at other times, I do, but this just revs it up.

Celebrate as you like, I'm all for a good holiday celebration. And I say Merry Christmas back to anyone who says it to me first. But please, do not make a mockery of Christ by pretending it's about His Birthday when really it's about getting converts over from paganism by stealing the yule log, misappropriating the tree, shoving poor Isis' son out of the way (sorry boy, there's a new kid in town) and lying to children. And it's not "American" either, the founders of this country considered Christmas to be pagan and inappropriate for Christians. Constantine simply didn't want to miss out on his winter party, so he changed the name of Mithra to Jesus and kept on celebrating. It doesn't matter, right? If you have made a big party for your mother, and she can't make it... just change it to your mother-in-law's name. Nobody cares ;)

I'd like to know how many are celebrating the Last Supper with bread and wine this year? How about Passover? Anyone? Because Christ COMMANDED us to commemorate these significant days and blatantly says not to pay attention to the celebrations of others.

The older I get, the more I respect Jehovah's Witnesses. Sure, they REALLY think homosexuals should be stoned to death. That's pretty archaic and brutal for me to wrap my head around and is disturbing and horrifying and just plain wrong. But at least they're doing their best to follow their book of their God. These dime store, sanctimonious, absurdly and patently false exhibitions of "Christianity" that are displayed like so many painted store windows at this time of year are bizarre and even more frightening because of the absolute refusal to see the truth.

You can't put the "Christ" back in Christmas because he wasn't there to begin with, except by Catholic Church who made a "deal with the devil" to get more converts by letting them keep their holiday and convert too. Don't bicker over who was here first or who has more of a right to celebrate or who can tell whom what salutation. It's trivial and it makes a person look ignorant.

I agree with Bill's post. If you're really gonna celebrate that Jesus was born, try reading a bit about the guy and then trying to do as he would have done. Go feed someone, go help someone, put yourself publicly as an equal to the lowest in your community and encourage others to commune and help the less fortunate.

I beg to differ. I like the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version

Nah, Jingle Bell Rock is worse.

Are these the same dogs who play poker and sit for paintings?

Really? So now "non-believers" aren't allowed to celebrate the holidays at all? Sounds like you skipped over Bill's post all together....

My kids believe in Santa Claus. That's good enough for me.

Yeah, I've noticed Christians doing that too Purple!!!

A day off work.

I'll celebrate ANYONE'S holiday if it will get me a day off work and a nice dinner.

So do I. In fact, I haven't heard too many versions I DIDN'T like. Might have something to do with my playing drums for my church's band when I was a kid.

Below is a youtube video of a flash mob at a mall singing the Hallelujah Chorus. I get goose bumps every time I watch it.

IMO these are priceless:

"Bill O'Reilly's bread and butter. Beat that dead horse, good for ratings."~David52

"Yes, O'Reilly's the four-star general in this annual battle...Maybe there's a nascent book in there to stocking stuff along with Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln. Killing Christmas, perhaps?"~Duluthinbloom

"Any place but Faux News and it would be mildly interesting.... a tree, lighted or not lighted, has NOTHING to do with the birth of Jesus. I'm annoyed at the War on Thanksgiving...I wish we paid more attention to it."~Momj47

Indeed, decorating with trees, & lights & such is a secular tradition. Decking the halls- fun, festive & fabulous as that may be, is not a religious practice. In fact, the religious spirit of the season for many Christians (ostensibly, including O'Reilly, btw, who was raised Catholic) is expressed through the observation of the season of Advent, which began this past Sunday. It is a somewhat penitential time (not as much so as Lent, but still, somewhat).

Brightly shining lights on trees & elsewhere are theoretically a no-no right now. Flashy stuff is simply not in keeping with the somber, reflective mood of Advent.

There is Gaudete Sunday (third week) when we light the rose colored candle & let our hair down a bit, but generally, we are supposed to quietly, intentionally, thoughtfully build toward the arrival of the light of the world on Christmas day during the weeks of Advent.

Doesn't O'Reilly realize that? What must the nuns be thinking? He should be demanding silence & reflection right now, LOL!

How can there be a war on Christmas when it lasts from Thanksgiving Day (now) until January 6th? There is no bigger holiday. Decorations abound - every store is decorated!

If the Bible was accurate in the details about the life and teachings about the man who was known as Jesus of Nazareth and if Jesus was the Son of God as he proclaimed to be, I would imagine he would also completely agree with your first paragraph, too.

On that idea - I'd bet Santa isn't the ONLY all-knowing one who is making a list and checking it twice! ;)

Thank you, stinky!

Thinking back to childhood... the Advent calendars we always had with a window to open each day up until Christmas.

Since when do you celebrate ANYTHING Christian?!? You sure know how to turn it on and off depending on your agenda.

My reverence concerning the Reason for the season is without question. However, I DO have a sense of humor, too. I'm sure if some liberal had posted that, you'd have found it hilarious. Let me ask you-- am I supposed to completely suspend my sense of humor until Dec 26th?

Boy, have you not been paying attention.

Liberation theology, social justice, pacifism -- these are Catholic themes which you have apparently failed to see in my comments.

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist." ~ Dom Helder Pessoa Camara, Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Brazil

I can't believe that you've never noticed my strong anti-war stance, nor my advocacy for social and economic justice.

Are you making the mistake that only those who think as you do are legitimate Christians?

I won't hold my breath.

"So now "non-believers" aren't allowed to celebrate the holidays at all?" Obviously this discussion will not result in the creation of any rules to allow or disallow anything. So of course not. But if you're asking me if that's what I meant by the phrase of mine you copied:

"If folks want a secular holiday, they should invent one." Then of course not again. If by "the holidays" you are still referring to Christmas, all I'm saying is that I take umbrage when someone wants to, IMO, steal something, then change the names of the whole thing or its' components. For example, from Christmas tree to holiday tree. If folks want to invent the holiday tree, great! Why do they need to steal the Christmas tree to do that?

Excellent collective point about most of the trappings being secular. Which brings us back to the Christmas tree. As a recent trapping glommed on to Christmas in recent past, perhaps folks, myself included, could/should be more accepting of such practice as changing the name to holiday tree. For those inspired to proselytize about "true meanings or such," it grants them the perfect opportunity...

As a member of a democratic society, I fully support people's prerogative to call it a holiday tree. My umbrage is not their responsibility. The right to not be offended, thankfully does not exist. So at times like these, I just relish the sensation and lively discussion, only available through the right to speak freely, and because next week, it's likely to be me causing umbrage right back.

You are way off base Bill.

People who treat religion like it's a competitive sport baffle me. 'nuff said.

You have the reason backwards; the aversion to right-wing politics stems from its disdain for social and economic justice... and the predominance of war mongers among its ranks.

I don't think I've ever seen a serious discussion of spirituality on HT. I've seen Hallmark-type facile sentiments expressed, snippets from maudlin e-mails, and abundant cliches, but other than that, nothing that I'd care to delve into... and also for fear of insulting others. I acknowledge that it is a difficult subject to address without resorting to cliches, but unless the ideas are expressed somewhat uniquely, and particular to the person, I already have enough exposure to the easy-faith happy talk (like the easy patriotism) that's awash in the U.S.

Personally, I'm a little suspicious of someone who has to constantly tell me about his/her faith. Rather like the saying regarding the dinner guest - the more he spoke of his honesty, the closer we kept an eye on the silver.

As far as being silent, opinions expressed here as just that - opinions. I'm not particularly thin skinned, and am not threatened by others having different views than mine. Most people don't believe as I do.

This is the first year in nearly a decade that I have had a Christmas (or holiday!) tree. I have wrestled, in years past, with how to integrate the spirit of Advent, which I do care about & want to observe, with secular traditions & trimmings that dominate the season.

I have taken a leap & decided to just "try on" being part of this particular kind of beauty & experience. I will also practice and observe the spirit of Advent in the midst of my (softly) glowing decor.

My hope is that I will feel stretched in the process, & will grow & gain insight as I learn to embrace & include this tradition back into my life.

Amen sistah!

Well, Christians stole the tree from ancient solstice rituals, so...

Here you go, David, from Wikipedia:

"Holiday Inn is a 1942 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.[1] With music by Irving Berlin, the film has twelve songs written expressly for the film, the most notable being "White Christmas". The film features the complete reuse of "Easter Parade", written by Berlin for the 1933 Broadway revue As Thousands Cheer. The film's choreography was by Danny Dare. In 1943, the film received an Academy Award for Best Original Song (Irving Berlin for "White Christmas"), as well as Academy Award nominations for Best Score (Robert Emmett Dolan) and Best Original Story (Irving Berlin)."

It is said that the motel chain was named for this movie. The song "White Christmas" debuted in this movie; the story was a failing ski lodge which needed snow for the holiday season.

Speaking of failing ski lodges, if Colorado doesn't get some more snow pretty quickly, things aren't looking good for the ski industry.

It will be OH Come all YE Faithful as well as it hsould be for the faithful let them be filled with their faith & leave the rest of us to party on with chic gift wrapped George Foreman Grills because nothing says The Word was Made Flesh like a gift card to AMAZON or WALMARTS or Bill O" Reilly being a jerk on TV or some appliance or cute wrapped sex toy that looks like candy cane!

It will be OH Come all YE Faithful as well as it hsould be for the faithful let them be filled with their faith & leave the rest of us to party on with chic gift wrapped George Foreman Grills because nothing says The Word was Made Flesh like a gift card to AMAZON or WALMARTS or Bill O" Reilly being a jerk on TV or some appliance or cute wrapped sex toy that looks like candy cane!

and then spy this footnote: This post was edited by labrea on Tue, Dec 4, 12 at 22:27

Please tell me the edit was for the photographs! I want to believe that you write genius-grade stream-of-consciousness on the first try.

Theoretically; I see theories as somewhat subjective.

The Catholic Encyclopedia explains Advent nicely:

"During this time the faithful are admonished

�to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love,
�thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
�thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world."

This could be a somber time, or a joyful one; depends on you.

"The popular idea that the four weeks of Advent symbolize the four thousand years of darkness in which the world was enveloped before the coming of Christ finds no confirmation in the Liturgy."

So if your celebration includes festive lights, music, etc. it's all good.

IMO.

The History channel usually covers this subject every Christmas season but as I have hardly had the television on much less even been in the area much lately, I could not tell you if this channel continues with the tradition of the offering of the education on all things concerning the Christian Christmas and the secular trappings which surround the holiday.

I did watch the whole series about five years ago and it was very interesting and informative, so I would recommend the series if you are interested and the History channel still offers it.

I miss the way Christmas was years ago. It's lost it's magic to me. I will go to the Xmas Eve candlelight service , my one trip to church a year, reminding me of the days when I was an acolyte. I love the old carols but detest the pop culture ones. One radio station here plays non stop Xmas music from before Thanksgiving till after New years day. 24/7!!

I saw where Bill was coming from (and even agreed, but reserved my judgement inside and out), and then you said that. I see that now. I do think that the older I get the closer I am to the same position. Makes a lot of sense. It seems to me that the deeper into relationship I get, the more I realize how right He was. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, give your money away, and unto God that which is God's, give your life to God. It's all so temporary. It's really difficult living without money, but it's still temporary. I know it. I live it. If I had to choose Him or money, the money would be completely gone. I'd sooner live in a box on the streets! It's taken me a long time to realize that the more I have [money]-the less I have [God]. But the converse is also true--the more I have [God] the less I need [money]. Because, if I have money, I find myself dependent on, well, myself.

My comments about lights & such being a "no-no" were slightly tongue in cheek, & made in response to O'Reilly's convictions about the sanctity of holiday decor. I felt it was important to note that there is a stance, an approach, steeped in tradition, (& a tradition that O'Reilly is presumably steeped in!) that runs quite counter to his assertions.

While I have had my own internal conflicts & have struggled to find a balance, I don't engage in finger pointing & criticism of others' choices. (Chase said it well!).

Labrea, great pics. Wow.

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.....

AND

A fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year of 2013, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only 'AMERICA' in the western hemisphere,) and without regard to the race,creed, color, a
ge, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original reading. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.

this wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.