| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"UK Ministry of St Luke" |
| Date: |
11 Dec 2005 06:11:00 AM |
| Object: |
Catching the Christmas Spirit |
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Should we decorate the house? Plan Christmas parties? Take gifts to the
underprivileged?
What happens when you just can't psych yourself up for Christmas? The answer
is simple. We get excited about Christmas by sharing Christ.
Read Luke 2:8-20
Know the Meaning of Christmas
What does Christmas mean to you?
Heaven Is Opened
a.. Describe the circumstances that surrounded the original "closing off"
of God's presence in heaven to the world of humanity, in Genesis 3:23-24.
b.. Describe the people who first heard that Christ had come to "open"
heaven, in Luke 2:8-9.
c.. Where were they and what were they doing? What does this mean to you?
d.. To whom has heaven been opened, according to the angel in Luke 2:10?
See also Revelation 21:25-27, 22:17.
e.. Relate this to Genesis 28:10-12, John 1:47-51 and John 14:6. Who is
the "ladder" that spans the gulf between heaven and earth, between God and
man?
Heaven Is Offered
a.. When heaven was opened, who was revealed? See Luke 2:11.
b.. What does the name "Jesus" mean? See Matthew 1:21.
c.. Look up the definitions for "Lord" and "Christ" and write them out as
they apply to Jesus.
d.. What was the Good News of Christ's coming, as related to heaven being
closed since the beginning of human history?
e.. What was the purpose of this first Christmas morning? See Luke
2:13-14.
f.. Write out in your own words what Christmas means, according to Luke 2.
Come and Meet the Miracle of Christmas
What is the miracle of Christmas?
Compelled by an Awareness of Emptiness
a.. Describe the dramatic visual, physical and emotional contrast between
Luke 2:3-14 and Luke 2:15.
b.. How do you think the shepherds might have felt initially when the
angels left?
c.. Have you ever had a feeling of letdown or extreme loneliness around
Christmas? How have you responded to that feeling? Are you trying to
maintain the emotion of Christmas or are you focused on the message?
Compelled by an Attitude of Expectancy
a.. How did the shepherds respond to the Good News? See Luke 2:16.
b.. Why did the shepherds drop everything and hurry off to find the Baby?
c.. How was the promise of Luke 2:12 fulfilled in Luke 2:16? How does this
also confirm Jeremiah 29:13? Proverbs 8:17?
d.. Use your imagination to write out a description of Luke 2:16,
including the search, the scene and the stunning privilege of staring into
the face of God.
e.. What time and effort will you make to "find the Baby" in the midst of
your Christmas celebration?
f.. What will you do to help someone find Him this Christmas?
Go and Tell the Message of Christmas
What is the message of Christmas? See John 3:16-17.
Personally
a.. What phrase tells you this encounter with Jesus was a personal one?
See Luke 2:17.
b.. Following their encounter with the Baby, what did the shepherds do?
See Luke 2:17-18.
c.. How does the shepherds' personal encounter with the Baby relate to 1
John 1:1-3? John 1:1-2, 14? Acts 4:20?
d.. What difference does it make if your witness is based on secondhand
hearsay or a personal, firsthand experience?
Patiently
a.. Of all those who were "amazed" at the shepherds' testimony in Luke
2:18, how many does the Scripture say went to see the Baby for themselves?
b.. Do you think the lack of response indicates there was something wrong
with the shepherds' witness?
c.. How many people do you know who celebrate Christmas without "seeing"
the Baby for themselves?
d.. How is this also addressed in Acts 28:23-31? 2 Timothy 4:2-5? Hebrews
6:12? 10:36?
e.. If you have shared the Christ of Christmas but have had no positive
response, how are you encouraged by Acts 28:23-31? 2 Timothy 4:16-18?
Hebrews 12:1-3? Galatians 6:9?
With Praise
a.. How were the shepherds' practical circumstances the same after they
had seen the Baby? How were they different?
b.. What evidence is there in Luke 2:20 that the shepherds had caught the
Christmas spirit?
c.. Will verse 20 be a description of your attitude on December 26? If
not, why?
d.. What phrase in verse 20 describes the total confidence the shepherds
had in what they had seen and heard, regardless of the response of others?
e.. Is there any part of the Christmas Story that you doubt? What is it,
and why? What will you do now to resolve that doubt, so that you can tell
others the Good News of Christmas with confident joy?
Once you know the true meaning of Christmas, then catch the Christmas spirit
by going into stores, schools, businesses, offices, neighborhoods and
churches, telling everyone that, "A Savior has been born to you; He is
Christ the Lord-a Savior who has opened and offered heaven to everyone who
would believe and receive Him."
http://www.billygraham.org/DMag_article.asp?ArticleID=624
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| User: "Doc Smartass" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 04:32:56 PM |
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"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in
news:JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
I've already had the flu this year. I don't need another illness.
--
Doc Smartass XP - New Interface, Same Old *****
RELIGION! It's the illness, not the cure.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 11:54:52 AM |
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"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com...
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Since when is it a requirement?
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
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| User: "Mark K. Bilbo" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
13 Dec 2005 10:08:06 PM |
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In <405rp9F18ldodU1@individual.net>, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com...
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Since when is it a requirement?
And do they have the vaccine available?
(Which reminds me, I should check on flu shots again)
--
Mark K. Bilbo
--------------------------------------------------
"We need everything you've got"
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R2726554C
Forgotten Already
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H1233272C
Feds are treating Louisiana like enemy
"...it may be that they may have written us off."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O21E51C1C
http://www.nola.com
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
14 Dec 2005 10:44:00 AM |
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"Mark K. Bilbo" <alt-atheism@org.webmaster> wrote in message
news:R-mdnbdohpE7BwLeRVn-gg@megapath.net...
In <405rp9F18ldodU1@individual.net>, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com...
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Since when is it a requirement?
And do they have the vaccine available?
(Which reminds me, I should check on flu shots again)
I've got the entire family on a waiting list. The only critters in my house
hold that can get shots are the cats (though not flu shots, of course).
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
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| User: "Mark K. Bilbo" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 06:09:42 PM |
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In <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>, "UK Ministry of St Luke"
<rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Should we decorate the house? Plan Christmas parties? Take gifts to the
underprivileged?
What happens when you just can't psych yourself up for Christmas? The
answer is simple. We get excited about Christmas by sharing Christ.
No thanks, I'm not hungry.
--
Mark K. Bilbo
--------------------------------------------------
"We need everything you've got"
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R2726554C
Forgotten Already
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H1233272C
Feds are treating Louisiana like enemy
"...it may be that they may have written us off."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O21E51C1C
http://www.nola.com
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| User: "*nemo*" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 03:04:52 AM |
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In article <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>,
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Why should it be mandatory?
--
Nemo - EAC Commissioner for Bible Belt Underwater Operations.
Atheist #1331 (the Palindrome of doom!)
BAAWA Knight! - One of those warm Southern Knights, y'all!
Charter member, SMASH!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~jehdjh/Relpg.html
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
Quotemeister since March 2002
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 11:09:05 AM |
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"*nemo*" <nemo0037@earthlink.dieSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:nemo0037-2F8023.04025812122005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
In article <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>,
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Why should it be mandatory?
Exactly. Know when I'll be in the mood for Christmas? After my 3rd beer at
my sis-in-law's house Christmas Eve.
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
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| User: "UK Ministry of St Luke" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 03:47:25 PM |
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"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in message
news:405p3eF1981l3U1@individual.net...
"*nemo*" <nemo0037@earthlink.dieSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:nemo0037-2F8023.04025812122005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
In article <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>,
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Why should it be mandatory?
Exactly. Know when I'll be in the mood for Christmas? After my 3rd beer
at my sis-in-law's house Christmas Eve.
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
Are you an alcoholic? It seems strange that you need to drink to relax.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 03:54:17 PM |
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"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:yKmdnaQPkI5ucgDenZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@giganews.com...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in message
news:405p3eF1981l3U1@individual.net...
"*nemo*" <nemo0037@earthlink.dieSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:nemo0037-2F8023.04025812122005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
In article <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>,
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Why should it be mandatory?
Exactly. Know when I'll be in the mood for Christmas? After my 3rd beer
at my sis-in-law's house Christmas Eve.
Are you an alcoholic?
Not at all. Are you?
It seems strange that you need to drink to relax.
Sorry, but I never made any such statement.
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
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| User: "UK Ministry of St Luke" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 03:57:57 PM |
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"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in message
news:4069q6F188u6pU1@individual.net...
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:yKmdnaQPkI5ucgDenZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@giganews.com...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in message
news:405p3eF1981l3U1@individual.net...
"*nemo*" <nemo0037@earthlink.dieSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:nemo0037-2F8023.04025812122005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
In article <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>,
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Why should it be mandatory?
Exactly. Know when I'll be in the mood for Christmas? After my 3rd
beer at my sis-in-law's house Christmas Eve.
Are you an alcoholic?
Not at all. Are you?a
No. I never touch the stuff. I could be called upon at any time to Minister
or witness to someone.
It seems strange that you need to drink to relax.
You said you'd be in the 'mood for Christmas' after drinking.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
12 Dec 2005 04:07:56 PM |
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"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:ofKdnXCtaNf2bwDenZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@giganews.com...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in message
news:4069q6F188u6pU1@individual.net...
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote in message
news:yKmdnaQPkI5ucgDenZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@giganews.com...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in message
news:405p3eF1981l3U1@individual.net...
"*nemo*" <nemo0037@earthlink.dieSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:nemo0037-2F8023.04025812122005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
In article <JpadnToo6K7EigHeRVn-rQ@giganews.com>,
"UK Ministry of St Luke" <rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Why should it be mandatory?
Exactly. Know when I'll be in the mood for Christmas? After my 3rd
beer at my sis-in-law's house Christmas Eve.
Are you an alcoholic?
Not at all. Are you?a
No. I never touch the stuff. I could be called upon at any time to
Minister or witness to someone.
It seems strange that you need to drink to relax.
You said you'd be in the 'mood for Christmas' after drinking.
So? Where did I ever state that I wasn't relaxed?
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
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| User: "Les Hellawell" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 01:16:01 PM |
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On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 12:11:00 -0000, "UK Ministry of St Luke"
<rev@ukministry.org> wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Should we decorate the house? Plan Christmas parties? Take gifts to the
underprivileged?
Certainly a decorated fur tree to bring light to the winter darkness
and decorations to herald the coming new year is a good idea. It
helps set the festive mood.
What happens when you just can't psych yourself up for Christmas? The answer
is simple. We get excited about Christmas by sharing Christ.
Err I am not a Christian so obviously I do not participate in the
mumbo jumbo ritual you call the Christ's Mass but I do celebrate the
end of the year of course.
Know the Meaning of Christmas
What does Christmas mean to you?
Nothing whatsover but then I celebrate something else. What is the
meaning of our year end festivities to you? When you have gone
to your churches and celebrated your Christ's Mass on err is it
the 24th or 25th I can never remember when you do it, do you then
join us and have a good year end bash to welcome the new year?
Heaven Is Opened
e.. What was the purpose of this first Christmas morning? See Luke
2:13-14.
You go to church and celebrate the special Christ's Mass and pretend
you are eating your Christ and drinking his blood in some kind of
throwback to canabalism. Wierd but if that's what you want to do
it is fine by me. Err enjoy?
f.. Write out in your own words what Christmas means, according to Luke 2.
Come and Meet the Miracle of Christmas
What is the miracle of Christmas?
What miracle?
Write down on a blank sheet of paper all the evidence that
demonstrates the existence of a god and justify your belief that
a god exists.
b.. How do you think the shepherds might have felt initially when the
angels left?
Indifferent?
c.. Have you ever had a feeling of letdown or extreme loneliness around
Christmas?
Nope.
of the response of others?
e.. Is there any part of the Christmas Story that you doubt?
All of it.
What is it,
and why? What will you do now to resolve that doubt, so that you can tell
others the Good News of Christmas with confident joy?
All of those who wrote about it wrote it long after the event and
never met any of those they clam were there. The Bible, in which
these accounts are assembed is a notoriously unreliable document.
Once you know the true meaning of Christmas, then catch the Christmas spirit
by going into stores, schools, businesses, offices, neighborhoods and
churches, telling everyone that, "A Savior has been born to you; He is
Christ the Lord-a Savior who has opened and offered heaven to everyone who
would believe and receive Him."
OK I will go round telling people it is a load of nonesense and just
for those who believe such stuff as you suggest. Nah perhaps not,
I am too busy enjoying the end of the year festivities.
Les Hellawell
Greetings from:
YORKSHIRE The White Rose County
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| User: "Uncle Vic" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 07:20:43 PM |
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Once upon a time in alt.atheism, dear sweet UK Ministry of St Luke
(rev@ukministry.org) made the light shine upon us with this:
Read Luke 2:8-20
Why? Stephen King does a much better job of putting me to sleep.
--
Uncle Vic
aa#2011
Supervisor, EAC Department of little adhesive-backed "L" shaped
chrome-plastic doo-dads to add feet to Jesus fish department
-----
Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of
a catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving God while this same
God drowned infants in their cribs. - Sam Harris
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| User: "Chris Johnson" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 04:46:48 PM |
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UK Ministry of St Luke wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
Enjoy yourself, rather than focus on the birth of your martyr god?
(Which, incidentally, probably never happened, and almost definitely
didn't happen by during Saturnalia.)
Should we decorate the house? Plan Christmas parties? Take gifts to the
underprivileged?
If you'd like.
What happens when you just can't psych yourself up for Christmas? The answer
is simple. We get excited about Christmas by sharing Christ.
So we've finally found a use for the Bible: Cheering up depressed Neds!
Well that's nice. Unfortunately, I think the book does more harm than
good. You might want to just keep the parts that teach hope and
generally nice things, lest you spawn extremists that use your religion
to justify hatred and violence.
Now you know what'd be swell? If you would stop trolling alt.atheism.
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| User: "Thurisaz, Germanic barbarian" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 12:04:31 PM |
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UK Ministry of St Luke wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for
Christmas?
I suggest either making it a purely secular festival (disgusting if you ask
me, but still a valid option) or celebrating the real thing - Yuletide.
http://www.billygraham.org/[blahyadda]
www.jesusneverexisted.com
--
"To his friend a man a friend shall prove,
And gifts with gifts requite;
But men shall mocking with mockery answer,
And fraud with falsehood meet."
(The Poetic Edda)
Must have been written with fundies in mind...
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| User: "JessHC, aa#2220 thanks to Jason Gastrichs effort" |
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| Title: Re: Catching the Christmas Spirit |
11 Dec 2005 09:26:13 AM |
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UK Ministry of St Luke wrote:
How do you catch the Christmas spirit if we're not in the mood for Christmas?
Apparently, by trolling alt.atheism.
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