A CHRISTIAN THREAD

[tom_no.1]

Welcome to a place where Christ should be exalted and "Self" should be abased!!

Welcome to a place where the BIBLE can be discussed rationally, intelligently, and positively without unnecessary argument!!

Welcome to a place where prayer can be requested and encouraged!!

Welcome to a place where positive and encouraging thoughts from scripture can be shared in a caring and loving way!!

Welcome to a place away from all the arguments, recriminations, and negativity of the outside world!!

Welcome to a place of rest and safety!!

Welcome to a place where Philippians 2:3 is practiced: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

Welcome to this Christian thread.



(Please leave all aggression, bitterness, and philosophy outside the door and please wipe your feet before coming inside!!)


  

I live in my own little world. But it's OK... They know me Here!

[survivornikki]

Hi April:-x

[spendmama]

(((Nikki)))

Tyler gets out of school next week, but he may stay the weekend with his GF and Kim & Josh are getting in on Boxing Day.

My brother and I have met in Winnipeg 2 or 3 times this past year and when Kim & Josh were here summertime - he came out to Vancouver to meet Josh. I'm hoping to go to Phoenix maybe in January - no nix that - I'm not going anywhere until after Kim goes back to Australia.

People don't care what you know until they know that you care.

*Prayers for Barry*

[themagicoftime]

Dropping in to say hi. Haven't peaked in in awhile.

Waves , prayers, and gentle hugs where needed.

Smiles and goodwill to all.:-x

[survivornikki]

Nellie--it sounds like your house will be happily full this Christmas. By the way, your description on how you felt about your church gave me the impetus to finally get to a church and see if it would work for me. DH is getting very enthusiastic even telling people that we are going because both of us want to be there, not just me! (Of course he was very relieved to find this church doesn't tithe. LOL)

Andrew--very nice to "see" you. I miss your postings.

Christine--I need your address--or is it there at the other place and I am missing it?

[thetickletrunk]

Nikki, sent it through FB.

Have a wonderful evening!

[thetickletrunk]

Oooh Nikki, since I have you 'here' lets compare weather today!

Bright blue skies all during the day with a warm sun, very very mild, no need for heavy coats or mitts 😄

You have it that good today too?;-) Being where you are, you probably did!

TTYL!

[stripeofzebra]

Peace on Earth.

[survivornikki]

We had a little snow this morning Christine. Was talking care of DGS who is 17 months, while his parents and DB were in Vancouver, and speaking of the Christian thread--I sure was praying that the snow did not pile up so his parents could not get home. It didn't, they got home, and DH and I are exhausted. He is a charming little soul, but he has tummy problems and a very good sleep for him is 2 hours.

Hi stripeofzebra!

[valve37]

Merry Christmas fellow Christians on C.T.S. and to All where ever you are!

From: Jonathan Falwell
Date: December 14, 2007

Christmas and Christianity in the Modern Culture

As our nation continues to drift into a state of secular monotony that guarantees that nobody is offended (unless you are a Christian), we are again witnessing many retailers deciding to abolish “Christmas” in favor of the “holiday season.”

Because Jesus Christ — the Son of God who came to earth to save us — does not meet contemporary criteria for “diversity” and “multiculturalism,” the day that bears His name is becoming increasingly unacceptable. And yet these retailers that want to take advantage of the Christmas tradition of gift giving have become painstakingly opposed to the mere mention of “Christmas.”

I certainly understand that Christmas has become largely plagued by consumerism in our modern culture. Nevertheless, I find it troubling that secularist engineers are recklessly encouraging American companies to sweep the term under the rug because it might be offensive to a few people.

This effort has seeped into virtually every part of our culture. On a radio commercial I heard this morning for a national restaurant, a female character declared “Happy Holidays” to her husband as she presented his presents to him. I was amazed that the restaurant ad would allude to the Christmas gift-giving tradition but reject the word “Christmas.”

Liberty Counsel, one of our affiliate ministries, is a religious freedom legal organization working to protect the rights of Christians in this new age of secularist tyranny. Attorneys at the organization see how this religion-free mentality is bringing about an aggressiveness against religious expression.

Mathew and Anita Staver (he is the founder of Liberty Counsel who is now the dean of the Liberty University School of Law and she is the president of Liberty Counsel) tell me how the organization is actively combating swelling myths regarding the constitutionality of displaying Nativity scenes.

Liberty Counsel’s recent activity has centered on Ohio, where controversy involves displays outside government buildings and in public parks. First, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently ordered all state parks to remove Nativity scenes, citing a complaint. Second, the city of Whitehall, received a complaint from an anti-Christian organization (The Freedom from Religion Foundation) because of a Nativity scene at the city hall. The Nativity is part of a display that contains a Christmas tree and the secular symbol of reindeer.

These two cases are indicative of the American culture wars. Typically, a handful of irritable atheists — and sometimes just one — raises an uproar about a Christmas display and a secularist legal group starts throwing around threats.

However, one cannot read our nation’s founding documents or observe the Judeo-Christian influence of iconic works of art and architecture in our nation’s capitol without seeing that America was founded by men who understood the need for Americans to publicly express thanks to God. (As an aside, a great Christmas present in this regard is Newt Gingrich’s “Rediscovering God in America.”)

So what do we do to take a stand in these modern culture wars?

As Christians, we must pledge ourselves to becoming proactive with our families, ensuring that our children and grandchildren understand the colossal Judeo-Christian influence on our nation’s founding. We must also teach them of their constitutional religious freedoms and rights to fearlessly live out their faith in Jesus Christ, even though they may face opposition. And, most importantly, we must make sure that our children understand that Jesus came to earth as a first step in providing the avenue to heaven for all who believe in Him.

And finally, in this land of the free, we must never be afraid to proclaim a “Merry Christmas!” to all!

[survivornikki]

Merry Christmas Valve and all my brothers and sisters!

Nellie, I read this morning in our paper that when an Anglican Church burned down last year, Seventh Day Adventists offered their building for their Sunday worship. I think that is lovely:-x

We went to Church today and after the service helped set up for their annual dinner. They have invited another church's members too and are so hoping that many of them come. It is a very old congregation--many 50th and 60th anniversaries. It is also a small congregation. It was rather touching to see these older people setting up, some tables with red tablecloths, some with green. The small crisis when they realized they did not have enough poinsettias for each table, but it was solved by someone going outside and snipping some holly from the bush by the front door and putting the sprigs in vases--and the consternation of finding there were watermarks on the knives. We gave them a good polish with a wet towel and they sparkled.

DH and I are not attending because it is our 40th wedding anniversary today. It would have probably been a good idea to spend it with our new community, but we will be at my daughter's helping her pack.

Hope your week is packed with joy, peace and love.

[squiddley_diddley]

Sounds like you had a wonderful day -- congrats on your 40th Anniversary!

[survivornikki]

Thanks Lucie!

Julie, if you are lurking, want you to know I am praying for your DH during all this horrible weather. Hope he manages to get some rest.

(((((Nancy, Christine, Deb, Kim, Kimberly, everyone in the path of these storms)))))

[cleanpartshere]

One never got snow


.

[spendmama]

(((((Nikki))))) that's how we're supposed to get along ... a common purpose, a common goal. I'm glad to see that.

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens

[survivornikki]

You are right, Nellie. It is so nice to see it and that it works. The Anglicans used the Seventh Day Adventists' Church for a year! The new Anglican Church just opened.

On Christmas Eve, the priest from the church we just joined, will do a service at a church that his is partnered with, also the priest there will take part and a Korean congregation who uses that church will be there, and their priest will also give a sermon. Nice to see all the cooperation.

We got a call this afternoon from the priest--someone told him there was an ambulance and a firetruck parked outside our home. It wasn't for us, but it was so nice to be thought of by this church. I think we will like being part of a community.

Off for the night. DD's closing for her new home did not happen today as scheduled. I am taking the little family dinner and a shoulder! She had asked us all over to help put up the tree in her new house and now that won't happen --or at least not tonight. Prayers offered that the closing happens tomorrow. The moving truck arrives at the house she sold at 9:00 and the new owners will move in Wednesday. Yikes!!!

[thetickletrunk]

Nice to read you. :-x

Facebook got boring eh! 😉

A lil birdy sent me some beautiful seaglass, and pendant, and tea. Any guesses who might have done that? BIG hugs to Nikki!

[survivornikki]

Hi (((((Christine)))))! So glad you like the seaglass. As for the tea, I live in Victoria--we have to put some Murchie's Empress Tea in any package--it is the law here. LOL.

Sorry about Facebook, I have been either totally off the computer, or on about 5 minutes a day. I have trouble with Facebook--too many places to look so I do my email, flyby ebay and then close down. I will try and do better in the new year.

My DD found my purse!!! I am so glad--my lists for Christmas are in it, and I needed them.

Has anyone heard from TOB? I know she has been very worried about her mother.

Or from Ralph?

Hope you are all enjoying these December days.

[themagicoftime]

Just a drop in post to wish each one the very best of the season....
Travelling for holidays today so will not be around for awhile.

Take care
waves to nikki and nellie and others

Onto us a child is born, and a Son is given. sweet words for all.

[cantstopshopper]

Seems like a good place to share this...

This morning when I took my children to school (Public, not Catholic)there was music piped through the speakers.

Even with all the 'political correctness' and 'religious debate' surrounding Christmas, my children's school boldly played "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night".

Tuesday night was their concert. It was a Christmas Concert, not a Holiday Sing-a-long.

I am so surprised and warmed by all of this, that I thought I would share.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE :-x

[tough_old_bird]

(((Nikki)))...thanks for thinking of me. :-x There are so many more important things going on in my life right now than being on the computer.

I am back home ...I had some things that needed to be taken care of here. The palliative home care nurse is coming out daily. Mom is using narcotics very frequently for pain control and so she spends a fair bit of time sleeping. (There is massive bone metastisis as well as kidney and liver with the lung being the primary site.) My sister seems to be managing quite well, getting help from friends and strength from the grace of God. I am so thankful that we have our faith at a time like this.

The plan is still for them all to attend the wedding in Victoria on the 29th. Oh how I pray that all goes well there, and that my niece can spend a wonderful wedding day surrounded by those that love her and those she loves. I'm sure it is what is keeping my Mum hanging on.

I will try and get back to my sisters/Mums in the early New Year. Each day that Mum has left is a blessing. I just hope that as the cancer spreads further Mum doesn't suffer. She is so ready to 'go home', and that is such a good thing.

Blessings to all for a wonderful holiday season. HE is the reason for the season. :-x