If God were to make a Valentine's Day card, what would it say?

My guess is:

Roses are Red
Violets are blue
You suck at life
But Jesus loves you!
(Even though you don't deserve it you vile, wretched sinner.)

I've always celebrated Christmas but now...I don't know?

I love singing Christmas songs be it Santa or just songs about the season.
I also always enjoyed saying Merry Christmas because I never thought of it as "Happy Jesus' Birthday" it was more like "Happy Day of Presents!!"
I was never really a Christian but my folks and siblings are.
I still want to go Christmas shopping as a family.
I don't want to be outcasted....plus they still don't know I'm atheist.

Christmas was originally a pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Most symbols and practices associated with Christmas are of pagan origin - holly, ivy, mistletoe, giving gifts, decorated tree, flying reindeer. December 25th was a date recognized throughout the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Western church leaders have attempted to ban these celebrations several times over the centuries. As pagan peoples were conquered and subjected to the church between the 7th and 10th centuries, they continued to observe their pagan rituals and celebrations. The Church forbid such practice under penalty of death, but they continued nonetheless. The Church finally capitulated with the practices morphing into a celebration of the birth of Jesus, yet maintaining elements of the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Enjoy the season and it's fine to let others have their own fantasy, as long as they don't use it to "beat you over the head." You are smart enough to see their folly. Stay above it, their belief has no consequences at all for you.

The Bridge: All the Way In or All the Way Out – Part 1
*African Americans are on the way out. We are out of style, out of line and many of us are out of our minds. And I suggest that we go further out. Until there is nowhere left to go. It’s like learning to swim the hard way. You get thrown into the deep end of [...]

Xians...do you believe in the Loch Ness Monster?

There is more proof that the Loch Ness Monster exists/has existed than Jesus. There are pictures and eyewitness accounts. Why don't you believe in the Loch Ness Monster?

Hmmm first off, these are the opening words of the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Now let me ask you a question about your news that you read. Does every journalist eyewitness exactly what they are reporting on? No! How do they find out what happened? They ask people what happened. If there was a car accident or other terrible disaster and asked 5 different witnesses what happened, you would get 5 different stories, and each witness would probably emphasize a different aspect of the event. That is normal, that is humans for you, we don't always see things in exactly the same way. But here's the thing, there would be a minimum set of facts which you can get from their stories to begin to produce something of an account of the events.

Santa Clause Vs. Jesus......?

Santa Clause is Saint Nicholas. He is Santa or Saint because he was a pastor in the church that Christ established. That he has a lot of tradition and folklore wrapped around him doesn't make him oppose Christ. He is brought out each time of the year for one celebration, the birth of his Lord, Jesus Christ. In fact, Chris Kringle means Christ Child in German, so the association is especially strong there. There is no "versus," it is one because of the other, and we can enjoy both while recognizing that the star of the season is the incarnate God that gave the gift of eternal life to both Santa and the children of history that looked for St. Nick's temporal Christmas gift blessings.

Last supper zombies eating Jesus poster?

I love this picture here.

Why would you answer this question just to tell him you're offended? HE DOESN'T CARE. NOBODY DOES. STOP B!TCHING.

dream interpritation? i dreamt i was possessed as then saw jesus?

I often suffer nightmares but last nights dream was very disturbing and im sure it must mean something, the basics of the dream was that i fell asleep and was actually dreaming in my dream, i could not wake up from my dream and it was scaring me, my mother and bf was in the room and i floated to the ceiling, i was terrified my mam wast trying to coax me down but my bf was laughing and it was making me turn evil. when i came round i was so scared i went to seek help i was given some random gifts by a stranger they were images of the devil and 666 so i assumed i was possesed by the devil. a christian woman found me and we prayed together! my body ran uncontrollably to a beautiful water fall where a vision of jesus was looking down at me all bright colour i ran up to him and was saved!

++++ Jesus wants to Save you...you have to pray just like you were praying with the woman. Don't wait too late. ++++

Fohi basketball team loses to Yucaipa
Ejere Okorie of Fohi drives to the basket during the Steelers' game against Yucaipa. (Contributed photo by Bob Otto) YUCAIPA - The Fontana Steelers got balanced scoring from eight players, led by Valentine Gonzales with 11 points, but it wasn't enough as the Steelers fell to the Yucaipa Thunderbirds, 67-48, in Citrus Belt League play at Yucaipa last week.

Christians - why is some of the Law worth following but some not?

Many Christians say that they should follow the Ten Commandments and biblical laws such as those that prohibit homosexuality, yet biblical laws that prohibit the eating of bacon go ignored. According to Paul, Jesus freed the gentiles from the Law. If this is so, does this only apply to certain laws? If so, which ones? Why do Christians need to follow the Law relating to creating graven images of God, but are free to eat lobster? According to Jews, both are equal.

This is a serious theological question, not a criticism. Please respond seriously. I am not "Christian bashing." I am Jewish, have studied some Christian theology, and have some questions. Thank you.
Just to clarify - I'm not focusing entirely on food laws those just happened to come to mind right away. There's plenty of other laws to use as examples - leaving a corner of your field available for the hungry to take from, eating unleavened bread on Pesach, etc.

The practices of Christian peoples vary more than the practices of the various sects of Jews. Not all the Jews take the law as seriously as other Jews .. both as sects and as individuals. This is same with modern Christians of the various faiths.

And in the early church once it was decided to let the gentiles in(and some isolated groups didn't and died out) .. then the old law was considered over and the law was cherry picked for what was deemed important for the new people .. a people based both on book and faith .. and not book and only for one people and one faith. Peter's "kill and eat" is a famous comment.

Although some are loath to admit it, the deviations from the law stem from both the New Testament and also traditions dating back farther than most can remember.

And weird things entered in .. like the Catholic Friday fish meal (which has been recently dropped by modern catholics and dropped centuries before by other christians) probably comes directly from the cult of Osiris living in the Corinth area where much of early Christianity sprang. see Joseph Campbell for more. In the cult of Osiris it was important to eat some fish on the Sabbath to get some of the god into you. (sound echoingly familiar to another Christian practice related to bread and wine?)

The study of early Christianity is interesting. as a start you might enjoy "Beyond Belief" by Pagels. what was left in, thrown out, and what was thought to be thrown out and is still there.

For example hidden in Roman Catholism are interesting Sufi-like and Gnostic overtones which although there is a line in the sand of "heresy" .. these teachings are rumbling around in the Catholic teachings and practices for almost 2000 years. These are not really found in the more western versions of Christianity.

ps.
The cherry picking from both old and new testiments and revieled knowledge is still going on today.

ps.
Jesus' coments about Love and Compassion and Forgivness being the way transending law man and religious teaching echo in most other religions. If we can cut others some slack and give them at least 1 other chance the world would be a better place. This is NOT to say to let them walk all over you - which some christians would agree and others would disagree.

Good Luck in your search.

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Band conveys faith through simple melodies
Things are going well for The Avenue worship band, born out of friendships at Clovis Hills Community Church.

What can I do to prevent people from inviting me to 10th prestige lobbies in mw2?

Literally every time I start playing mw2 online I get no less than 8 messages from people offering a free or not free 10th prestige lobby. Sometimes I get like five messages in a row. Jesus Christ. I'm at the point where I don't even read them or listen to them I just delete them as soon as I get them. But more keep coming!!!!! I mean clearly if I'm at 4th prestige and I haven't joined your stupid lobby yet then maybe that's a sign I actually enjoy playing the game and doing challenges instead of sitting on a map doing 150 head shots for two hours.

I know dude its abhorrent. I'm sick of hearing whiny little kids or older guys without a job tell me to quick! quick! join their stupid lobby for 1600 micro points. I usually get a message after every game at least. At first I would go "Screw you, go away" and file a complaint but now there are too many messages. Seriously Infinity Ward needs to ban these stupid people. How hard can it be to find them? They are unabashedly broadcasting their hacks (which someone else probably gave them--I doubt any of these kids have any technical skill whatsoever) to everyone they play with.

There is no way to stop the messages unfortunately, that I am aware of. Even if you don't play MW2 people have sent me requests through friend's friends, or God knows friend's friend's friends.

People,Places and Things
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A small marble relief of Jesus Christ flanked by two angels and being held up by Mary was one of the last pieces that Italian Renaissance master Michelangelo ever created.

is Anita Bryant too old to be PIED in the face...again?

i wouldnt want to be charged with "bigot-slaughter" if she had a heart attack

Are you sure she's still alive?

Is Your Faith Strong Enough?

To take some ribbing and mocking or does the idea of any kind of joke, giggle, mockery, burn your buns?

lol

i think they're funny

Do you save one of the books of holy writ or the helpless babe? Be fair. You can only save one. No time for two. The flames are at your fanny.

Yes, there's some chance you can go back for a second rescue attempt, but right now the hope is too risky to influence your decision.

Let's say you pick one of the books. What will the people, who happen to see your choice through a flame-fraught window, think of you? And, as you rush out of the incinerating house and the baby goes up in flames with it, how will they welcome you?

Now, let's say you decide to save the baby and make for the exit. What will the people looking in the window think of you now? And when you rush out with the infant in your arms, while the house and its remaining contents are going up in flames, how will they greet you?

Even more to the point, which choice will make them think you're more religious?

Now, imagine that the house is the world aflame with terrorism, war, and an occasional inquisition and the baby is any person's life or, since we're at a particularly risky time, all of human life.

If you would still pick one of the books and leave the baby to the flames, please, answer the following four questions.

1. Did the book teach you to make the choice you did?

2. Did you possibly misunderstand the overall intent of the book?

3. Do people think more highly of your religion because of what you did?

4. Will the God the book teaches you to serve reward you for your behavior?

Now, let's imagine something even more terrible. What if the fire didn't start by accident but you set it to kill the baby - and the people looking in the window saw you light it?

Once again, please answer the four questions.

Since we can never know what the potential of any baby is until it has had time to grow up and reveal it, what if you learned that the baby was actually the infant Moses, Jesus, or Mohammed, come back to update his teachings.

Once again, please answer the four questions.

Let us express our own opinion.

We think, if you chose the babe, you are an ethical person and your religion is to be commended for whatever it has inculcated in you about right behavior.

On the other hand, if you chose the book, we think you are an unethical person and your religion cannot be commended for the values it has inculcated in you. Since you could choose which values in the book would guide you, we are willing to concede that you are primarily responsible for your behavior.

Now, let's talk about eternal prospects.

If you believe in one God, as all three books encourage you to do, then, not matter what name you call Him, He is the ultimate source of none other than the babe.

What about the book? Even though you maintain it was inspired by the God you believe in, it was recorded and passed down by men in the hope of communicating the sort of behavior they believed God told them is good.

Now, we come to the big question. Back at the burning building, what choice would such a God make? We believe He would choose the baby.

Why? The tyke is none other than the very embodiment of life itself.

Certain reformative conclusions seem to follow:

Incinerating people is not the way to please God; therefore, it is not the way to be whisked off to a heavenly reward.

Incinerating people is not the way to distinguish a religion, particularly one that is inspired by such a God. It is, in fact, the most likely way to disgrace it or, if you will, to pull the prayer rug out from under it.

Finally, we maintain you are much more likely to serve what you consider the Creator of life by putting the babe, or any other life, first.

We hope you found enough merit in this article to agree that it merits a place in our current perusal of the world's persistently explosive events.

By the way, if you're in a life-affirming mindset and would like to learn more about the commendable idea of putting life first, regardless of what else you believe, we suggest you go to http://www.toreasonpublishing.com, where you can enjoy a free read of the highly commendable and soundly reasoned book by Charles Blaise, Life Itself As A Modern Religion.

Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing "delightfully funny," "witty," with "great humor and ebullience" and "good, genuine laughs."