"What is Christmas to you?”

[Willowbirch]

Good Post Brother

While Santa puts gifts under your tree... Jesus became a gift and died on a tree, and through His resurrection, wants to set you free!

[Brother Love]

12 Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. Have you ever wondered about THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS?

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today, I found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol... so pass it on if you wish.


Brother Love

P.S. Hail Mary

[Forrest]

          Wow BL does that mean you changed your mind on RC.

[Brother Love]

         Wow BL does that mean you changed your mind on RC.

No way, I believe the Roman Religion is a False Religion.
I really mean I Know its a FALSE religion.
Grace & Peace

Brother Love

[nChrist]

         Wow BL does that mean you changed your mind on RC.

No way, I believe the Roman Religion is a False Religion.
I really mean I Know its a FALSE religion.
Grace & Peace

Brother Love

Brother Love,

Are you saying that a Catholic can't be a Christian and a Christian can't be a Catholic?

If so, what must a man do to be saved and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour according to the Holy Bible?

In Christ,
Tom

[Brother Love]

         Wow BL does that mean you changed your mind on RC.

No way, I believe the Roman Religion is a False Religion.
I really mean I Know its a FALSE religion.
Grace & Peace

Brother Love

Brother Love,

Are you saying that a Catholic can't be a Christian and a Christian can't be a Catholic?

If so, what must a man do to be saved and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour according to the Holy Bible?

In Christ,
Tom

Sure some Roman catholics are Christians.
And sure Christians can be Roman Catholics.
What I am saying is the Religion of Rome is a False Religion.
I dont H-A-T-E the people that are caught up in this FALSE religion, I H-A-T-E the religion. I dont believe anyone can get saved by this Religion. But what do I know, I only believe the Word of God (The Bible).

Have A Nice Day

Brother Love

[Willowbirch]

12 Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. Have you ever wondered about THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS?

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today, I found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol... so pass it on if you wish.


Brother Love

P.S. Hail Mary

WOW. (And, of course, the "true love" that gives all these things is God.)

[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Weeks Before Christmas!

T'was two weeks before Christmas, And all through Iraq,
The people still worried that Saddam would be back.
The soldiers went out on their nightly patrol,
Capturing the bad guys was always their goal!

With raids seeming endless in the triangle Sunni,
We hoped that not all of Iraq was so looney!
We gathered the tribe of Saddam, in Tikrit,
And suddenly now they all started to snit!

They told of a farm where Hussein just might be
Odierno then called on our boys- from the great 4th ID!
More rapid than Baathists our soldiers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Delta, Now Rangers, Now Cavalry too!
On Green Hats, on Pilots, I need all of you!
Go to that farm and secure it right now!
Capture his ass- you guys know how!

Off went our soldiers under cover of night,
So stealthy, so quiet with no trace of light
While we back at home were eating our lunches,
Our boys on the ground were following hunches!

And then it was time for the raid to begin.
The first target came up -empty within!
Could it be our Intel was wrong once again?
No! Somewhere nearby is the wolf in his den!

And then, in a twinkling, camouflage torn away
In a hole in the ground did their quarry lay
Dazed and confused, right at them he looked,
Did the stupid old fool know his goose was now cooked?

He was dressed all in rags from his toes to his head,
And his beard was as matted as 12 day-old bread!
How the mighty had fallen, could this be Hussein?
One look in his eyes was to know he's insane!

Our boys got their man - how proud we all are
The relief in our country is felt near and far
A bath he has had now -yet he'll never be clean
Forever tainted with mass torture and his Fedaheen

To our soldiers we give our undying respect
You always give more than we ever expect
We hope you can have now a night with some fun
Your loved ones back home say- JOB WELL DONE!



****MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS.  WELL DONE.  GOD BLESS.****

[Tibby]

If you want the get really technical, the twelve days isn’t a random number, either. Catholic run on a Liturgical Calendar. In each section of the calendar, we set a part to celebrate a part of Jesus’ life, Christmas, Easter, etc.



Back in the day, they had something called Christmastide, which was celebrated from December 25 to January 6, it is the celebration of Christian birth. Today, it extend to the 12th, which is the Baptism of Christ, but back in the day, it was only 12 days, the 25-6. There are twelve days of Christmas in the song, because back then, there was actually 12 days of Christmas.

Now you know the rest of the story

[Willowbirch]

If you want the get really technical, the twelve days isn’t a random number, either. Catholic run on a Liturgical Calendar. In each section of the calendar, we set a part to celebrate a part of Jesus’ life, Christmas, Easter, etc.



Back in the day, they had something called Christmastide, which was celebrated from December 25 to January 6, it is the celebration of Christian birth. Today, it extend to the 12th, which is the Baptism of Christ, but back in the day, it was only 12 days, the 25-6. There are twelve days of Christmas in the song, because back then, there was actually 12 days of Christmas.

Now you know the rest of the story

The Lutherans have the Liturgical calender, as well.

[Whitehorse]

And Episcopalians.

[Symphony]

The letters in Episcopal rearranged spell Pepsi Cola.


   

[Willowbirch]

Two Weeks Before Christmas!

T'was two weeks before Christmas, And all through Iraq,
The people still worried that Saddam would be back.
The soldiers went out on their nightly patrol,
Capturing the bad guys was always their goal!

With raids seeming endless in the triangle Sunni,
We hoped that not all of Iraq was so looney!
We gathered the tribe of Saddam, in Tikrit,
And suddenly now they all started to snit!

They told of a farm where Hussein just might be
Odierno then called on our boys- from the great 4th ID!
More rapid than Baathists our soldiers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Delta, Now Rangers, Now Cavalry too!
On Green Hats, on Pilots, I need all of you!
Go to that farm and secure it right now!
Capture his ass- you guys know how!

Off went our soldiers under cover of night,
So stealthy, so quiet with no trace of light
While we back at home were eating our lunches,
Our boys on the ground were following hunches!

And then it was time for the raid to begin.
The first target came up -empty within!
Could it be our Intel was wrong once again?
No! Somewhere nearby is the wolf in his den!

And then, in a twinkling, camouflage torn away
In a hole in the ground did their quarry lay
Dazed and confused, right at them he looked,
Did the stupid old fool know his goose was now cooked?

He was dressed all in rags from his toes to his head,
And his beard was as matted as 12 day-old bread!
How the mighty had fallen, could this be Hussein?
One look in his eyes was to know he's insane!

Our boys got their man - how proud we all are
The relief in our country is felt near and far
A bath he has had now -yet he'll never be clean
Forever tainted with mass torture and his Fedaheen

To our soldiers we give our undying respect
You always give more than we ever expect
We hope you can have now a night with some fun
Your loved ones back home say- JOB WELL DONE!



****MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS.  WELL DONE.  GOD BLESS.****

Military Christmas!   What a nice surprise!

[Willowbirch]

The letters in Episcopal rearranged spell Pepsi Cola.


   

PLEASE don't do that, I was drinking milk!!!!!  

[Tibby]

Yeah, the Christian church didn’t stop the liturgy until way after the Reformation. The Methodists, Anglicans, and Lutherans (just to name a few) still run there services in a Liturgical form. The Reformation wasn’t meant to form a whole new church, but to Reform the existing one.