Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Today is Rosh Hashanah, which marks
    	the beginning of the Jewish New Year.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard

    And we are close to the fall equinox, which is important to anyone
    attuned to the planet.
    
    DR

    Re: .1
    
    If Rosh Hashanah is here can Yom Kippur be far behind? (Sundown
    September 28).
    
    Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement. It is the second most holy
    day on the Jewish calendar (trivia question: what is the *most* holy
    day).
    
    To the Jewish Christian this holiday evokes the rememberance of the
    Atonement that Jesus made for us on the cross.
    
    I would like to ask what significance, if any, this holiday has in your
    life and how is it observed (moderators: if you do not intend this note
    to be a place for discussion, let me know and I'll start a new thread).
    
    
    - Barry W.

re Note 14.3 by LABC::WALLIS:

>     (moderators: if you do not intend this note
>     to be a place for discussion, let me know and I'll start a new thread).
  
        Discussion is entirely appropriate.

        Bob  

    With the sunset this evening, the high and holy day of the Jewish faith,
    Yom Kippur, commences.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard

    Monday the 8th is the American civil religious day of observance
    called Columbus Day.  It is integral to the myth and vision of the
    people of the United States who are called Americans.

    Peace,
    Richard

    This Sunday, my church, St John's Episcopal of Athol Mass celebrates
    its 100th anniversary. Don will be playing the organ, and our
    oldest daughter Judi will be confirmed.
    
    Bonnie

    re: -1
    
    That's really great, Bonnie!! Congratulations on all counts -- and have
    a great, glorious day of joy!
    
    Love,
    Nancy

    Thankyou Nancy,
    
    and love to you too!
    
    Bonnie

    My sweetie gave me a short history lesson today.
    Chris C. ordered the natives of Hispaniola to each bring his people a
    thimble-full of gold on a regular basis. As there is no gold native to
    that island, this presented a problem for the natives. When they ran
    out of solutions, Chris C. had his people start amputating hands and
    feet of back-sliders. When this failed to produce more gold he had
    those natives he could catch sold into slavery. The rest died out due
    to disease of the body and the disease of the mind afflicted by having
    such brutality introduced to their paradise. It is believed that there
    were no survivors other than the slaves which were scattered across
    Europe. I guess we are now Americans because Vespuci never visited such
    a horror on an unsuspecting populace.
    	Enjoy Columbus Day. ;-/

    
    Dave:
    
          I thought we were "Americans" because Vespucci was a 
    cartographer on an ego trip.
                                  :-)
    
    
                                                       Mike
                                                       
     

    Gee! shouldn't this conference have a note one the concepts/evils of
    Halloween ? 

    Jim

    re: .12
    Jim,
    
    You're welcome to start one!

    Today is United Nations Day.

	"Love has no nose, because poor people sometimes don't smell
so good; so love can have no nose."

					-Tammy Faye Bakker

    November 1st - All Saints Day
    November 2nd - All Souls Day
    
    * May your days be good, saints and souls! *
    
    Richard

    November 16, 1990 is the one-year anniversary of the murder of 6
    Jesuits and 2 women in El Salvador by government forces.

    Tomorrow is Thanksgiving (U.S.).  Avoid over-consumption, friends.
    Gluttony is a sin, you know.
    
    Some GI's are wishing that, instead of going to Saudi Arabia,
    Bush had just invited the troops to have dinner with him at the
    White House.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Hannukah begins at sundown today.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    The following article is reprinted, with permission, from the
    November/December Washington Newsletter of the Friends Committee on
    National Legislation:

             WOUNDED KNEE CENTENNIAL:  A TIME TO REMEMBER AND REFLECT

        In the winter of 1890, Sioux Chief Big Foot and a group of his
        followers surrendered to U.S. cavalry troops and were led to
        Wounded Knee Creek.  There, on December 29, they were surrounded by
        more troops, who prepared to disarm them.  In a tense moment, a
        single gunshot of unknown origin set off a flurry of violence which
        became a massacre.  When the guns fell silent, an estimated 350 to
        375 Sioux men, women, and children were dead or wounded.  Of the
        cavalry, 60 soldiers had been wounded or killed.

        Some refer to this incident as the last armed conflict of the
        "Indian wars" period of U.S. history.  But that view of the event
        is misleading.  By 1890, the Indian wars had already largely
        concluded.  The Sioux were already resigned to living on their
        reservation in Dakota.

        But times were not easy for the Sioux.  Nearly ten years had passed
        since the center of their economy, the buffalo, had disappeared. 
        The U.S. government had encouraged the decimation of the buffalo as
        a way of weakening Indian societies and pushing them towards
        assimilation.  In 1876, the discovery of gold on Sioux land led to
        a massive loss of reservation land, including the Black Hills.  And
        in the preceding year, 1889, Congress had unilaterally taken
        another bite out of their reserve.

        These trials bred despair.  As a result, the teachings of Wovoka, a
        Pauite shaman, became immensely popular and spread rapidly among
        the Sioux.  His message, a combination of Christianity and native
        religion, promised a good life for those who would remain at peace,
        live honestly and industriously, and perform a "ghost dance" which
        God had taught Wovoka.  The Sioux came to modify the nonviolent
        message somewhat, so that it became more antagonistic to their
        white oppressors.

        Consequently, the dramatic spread of the Ghost Dance alarmed
        government officials who perceived it as a threat to their
        authority.  This fear prompted officials to seek the arrest of the
        Ghost Dance leaders.  Efforts to arrest Chief Sitting Bull on
        December 15, 1890, led to that chief's death.  Two weeks later, the
        massacre at Wounded Knee took place.  The event was clearly an
        overreaction by the cavalry.

        One hundred years later, it is important for U.S. citizens to
        remember this history, and to grieve, alongside our Sioux brothers
        and sisters, over this tragic loss of life.  It is equally
        important that we reflect on the cross-cultural misunderstanding
        and injustice which continue to divide us.

    Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
    
    
    Love and Peace,
    Karin

    Aside from being New Year's day, January 1 will also mark the first
    anniversary of the slaying of two nuns in northeastern Nicaragua (one
    of whom, S. Maureen Courtney, was an American) by the Contras.
    
    -- Mike

    January 6th = Epiphany, which means "manifestation."  In this
    celebration, perhaps "humanifestation" might be more appropos!
    
    Peace,
    Richard

My daughter and I had an unusual experience at the celebration of Epiphany at
the Episcopal church we attend.  The pastor had called all the small children
to the front of the church as is the custom on the first Sunday of each month.
He was asking them about the new year when there was a loud banging at the side
door.  Kendra and I looked at each other in fear as the banging continued.  An
usher went to the door and opened it.  To our surprise, in walked the three wise
men looking for the Christ child.  They proceeded to the front of the church and
had an interesting and humorous interaction with the children.

As Kendra and I were driving home, she said her first thought when she heard
the banging was that someone was going to enter the church and blow us all away
with a machine gun.  I exclaimed that was my reaction too.  It seems like a sad
commentary on our society that our immediate response would have been one of
threat and violence even in a house of worship (or maybe we've just been 
watching too much Stephen King ;')  ).

Ro

    >   <<< Note 14.24 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE "Watch your peace & cues!" >>>
    >    -< Could be such a thing as "E-Grace-ny", do you suppose? :-) >-
    
    
    Well, I *do* have knees!  (*8
    
    E Grace

    ...it's my understanding that one of our moderators had a personal
    celebration this weekend.... hmm?
    
    (Now if more than one did, this should prove interesting!)
    
    :) :) :)
    

    Well, I celebrated living through another full rotation of the
    Earth's orbit around the Sun since the day I was born.  Is this
    the one you mean?
    
    Richard

    Congratulations!!!

Article          628
From: [email protected] (JAMES ROSEN)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.hot.east_europe,clari.news.religion,clari.news.lifestyle,clari.news.top.world
Subject: Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas
Date: 7 Jan 91 22:49:46 GMT
 
 
	MOSCOW (UPI) -- Russians, Georgians and Armenians put aside political
differences Monday to celebrate Christmas in common observance of the
Eastern Orthodox holy day celebrated legally for the first time under
Soviet rule.
	Believers in the giant Russian Federation joined the faithful in
Armenia and Georgia, sites of two of the world's most ancient Christian
cultures, in marking the Orthodox religion's Christmas Day two weeks
later than in the West.
	``It is the first time since 1917 that Christmas is marked not only
as a religious holiday, but also as a state one in Russia,'' the
official Tass news agency said.
	``Now, when all the ties are breaking -- ethnic, economic, human and
family -- the revival of this old tradition is very timely,'' Tass said.
	Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II led a prayer service in Moscow's
Danilov Monastery after conducting an earlier mass on Christmas Eve at
the Cathedral of the Epiphany in the Soviet capital.
	Prayer services were held in all 36 functioning churches of
Leningrad, the country's second-largest city, where glowing candles
illuminated Christmas trees.
	Leningrad television broadcast a telethon to raise funds for
restoring the city to its former grandeur as the capital of Imperial
Russia when it was called St. Petersburg.
	Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the Armenian nationalist leader elected
president of the southern republic last year, attended Christmas Eve
mass in his capital of Yerevan at the oldest cathedral in the Armenian
Apostolic Church.
	Christmas was declared a state holiday in the Russian republic, and
the Ukraine, as well as in Georgia and Armenia, which have their own
national churches under the umbrella of the Eastern Orthodox rite.
	``For the first time in the last seven decades, we celebrate this
holiday on such a broad scale on the soil of Russia and several other
republics,'' said the official government newspaper Izvestia.
	Izvestia acknowledged the baneful effect of the ban on religious
holidays over seven decades of Communist rule, after the 1917 Bolshevik
Revolution and before the advent of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
	``One should not think that we can regain all that we have lost just
by marking this day on our calendar, the newspaper said.
	In his Christma Eve service, Alexei II called on his followers ``to
pray for mutual understanding and conciliation everywhere, for the
spiritual revival of our people and the recovery of our state.''

Article          629
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: clari.news.religion,clari.news.lifestyle,clari.news.group,clari.news.gov.international
Subject: Russian Orthodox celebrate Christmas in Alaska
Date: 7 Jan 91 23:45:08 GMT
 
 
	ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UPI) -- For the 20,000 Russian Orthodox faithful in
Alaska whose diocese sticks to an old calendar, Christmas came Monday.
	At Saint Innocent Orthodox Cathedral in Anchorage and in more than 80
other towns and villages throughout Alaska, Christmas was celebrated in
a mix of English, Russian, old church Slavonic and Alaska native
languages.
	Alaska is the only diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in America
that still celebrates Christmas when the Russians do, in January,
following the old Julian calendar, though a handful of scattered
parishes elsewhere also adhere to this part of the old tradition.
	Other dioceses have since conformed their church calendar to the
Gregorian calendar used by the rest of the Western Christian world.
	Every year, Russian church leaders in Alaska confront the issue of
whether to keep to the old calendar or switch to the new, as other
dioceses did years ago, but the division in opinion has not militated
for change and Father Nicholas Molodyko-Harris of Saint Innocent said, 
``It's better to leave it as it is.''
	One of the most enduring traditions of the Russian Christmas
celebration in Alaska is ``starring,'' in which entire villages follow a
priest carrying a large twirling star -- representing the star of
Bethlehem -- with an icon of Jesus while going from house to house
singing and sometimes even traveling to neighboring villages.
	In Anchorage, a city of a quarter of million people, where it is
impractical to go starring to the homes of the Russian Orthodox,
Molodyko-Harris conducts starring activities every Christmas at the
Alaska Native Medical Center hospital and at a nursing home.
	When Russian explorers reached Alaska and established settlements,
they also established their religion. Russian churches were built in
southern coastal areas and inland as far as Russian missionaries
traveled. By the time Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867,
the Russian Orthodox religion had taken root.
	About 70 percent of the Russian Orthodox in Alaska are Aleuts,
Eskimos and Indians, according to estimates by a church official in
Kodiak.

    >Well, I *do* have knees!  (*8
    
    Not only do you have knees, E, but they *have* been known to blush
    before.  :-)    
    
    -- Mike

    
    
    Happy birthday Richard!
    
    :^)
    Carole

    A very happy and wonderous birthday to you br'er Richard!
    
    Love to you,
    
    Kb         

    Did'ya do anything special, Richard?

    Hope your day was as special as you are Richard!!!
    
    Love to you,
    
    Ro
    

    Happy Birthday, Richard!
    
    If I'd known I would have come over and sung Happy Birthday to you over
    the wall!  :-)
    
    Nanci

Well, thank you Carole, Sr. Karen, Ro, Nancy and Nanci, for all the
birthday greetings. 8-)

I was pleased and surprised to find some notes of like expression in
my electronic mail.

I can't tell you *all* about my birthday ;-}, but the part that I can tell
you about is that we went and saw the movie "Ghost".  Light-weight, overly
simplified in the good versus evil aspect, but *a fun, fun movie*!!!  Whoopi
Goldberg's performance as a fraudulent medium who, without even trying,
becomes a genuine medium, is what really makes the movie.  Patrick Swayze,
IMHO, hasn't changed his character portrayal since "Red Dawn".  Demi Moore
is luscious, of course.  But, so are a lot of other actresses.

>    If I'd known I would have come over and sung Happy Birthday to you over
>    the wall!  :-)

I've heard of "Over the Rainbow", but unfamiliar with "over the wall!"
:-)

Peace,
Richard

    It's similar but.......
    
    
                 .......different.
    
    Nanci

    Happy Birthday and Shalom, Richard.
    
    (he says belatedly)
    
    -- Mike

    re .40
    
    Thanks, MV!  As I recall, we are nearing your birthday, also,
    are we not?
    
    Pax Vobiscum (and Box o' Nabiscos)
    Richard

    Your memory is excellent, Richard.  And Box o' Nabiscos to you too!
    
    -- Mike

    hmmmmmmm....how to celebrate, how to celebrate?
    
    E Grace

    I know!!! 8-)  Let's get him a tee-shirt!!
    
    Richard

    re: -.2
    
    			******YIIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE***********

    hhmmmmmm...hope you had a nice birthday, Michael!

    Re .46
    Ahem,...Is this remark certain to cause a blush to appear
    on M_Valenza's knees?
    
    Richard

    As E Grace pointed out in her PROFILE/PERSONAL_NAME, today is the
    actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., though as a holiday
    it is scheduled to be observed next Monday, January 21st.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Yes, E, I had a wonderful birthday, including a delicious birthday
    dinner.  :-)
    
    Mike

    Today we're celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr..
    
    We're 9 years away from the year 2000.
    
    And, we can't figure out a better way to settle our differences
    than through damnation, dehumanization, destruction, disablement
    and death!
    
    Richard

        Today we remember the explosion of the space shuttle
        Challenger and the deaths of its crew of seven.

        How ironic it is that five years later we are celebrating the
        success of high-technology in war, whereas then the world
        mourned the failure of high-technology in science and
        education.

        We got what we paid for, I guess.

        Bob

    Tuesday, February 12: Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)
    
    Wednesday, February 13: Ash Wednesday (Lent begins)
    
    Thursday, February 14: St. Valentine's Day

This coming Sunday is Mr. Patrick's Day.  Yes, many calendars still call it
St. Patrick's Day, which is evidence of the strength a tradition can hold
on a culture.

Peace,
Richard

    This coming Friday is St. George and the Dragon's Day, a holiday
    created by my Mom in a fit of silliness.  It's the Friday following the
    Monday following St. Patrick's Day and you have to wear purple or
    you'll get knocked in the knee.  You won't find it on any calendar but 
    you'll know who observes this incredibly silly day by the purple garb
    they wear.  :-)
    
    Nanci

    Nanci,
    
    	I'm afraid that accurately it should be "Mr. George and the Dragon's
    Day."  George took the plunge along with Patrick and Christopher.
    
    Richard

    This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday celebrating the triumphal
    entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Tomorrow is St. Joseph's Day.

    			Alfred

    re .55
    
    Richard - 
    
    I suppose you're right technically but somehow "Mr. George" just
    doesn't have the same ring to it that "St. George" does!  
    
    :-)
    
    Nanci 

        Tomorrow, Elaine and I will have been married for eleven years.
       I guess that qualifies as a celebration or observance; maybe
       even both.
         If I didn't have a slip of paper from the City Of New York as 
       evidence that this is true you would have a real hard time trying
       to convince me that it has really been that many years.


                                                               Mike

    
    
    Congratulations Mike!  Continued happiness to you and Elaine.
    
    Carole

    And I remembered to wear purple today!

    Congratulations, Mike and Elaine.  Celebrate heartily your day!
    
    Richard

Thursday, March 28th:  Remembrance of the Last Supper

Friday, March 29th:  Remembrance of the Crucifixion
		     Passover begins at sundown

Saturday, March 30th:  Fishing season begins in many states

Sunday, March 31st:  Remembrance of the Resurrection

[As I recall, Easter is determined as the first Sunday after the first
Monday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.  I kid you not.]

Monday, April 15th:  Remembrance of the crucifixion

Richard

Does fishing season start as an observance that some of the disciples
went back to their fishing nets after the death of Christ? :-)

    According to some calendars, today is celebrated as the Ascension
    of our Lord.
    
    Richard

    How do folks here typically observe Memorial Day?  (Monday,
    May 27th, this year.)
    
    Richard

    RE: .66   Richard,
    
    
                          *SLEEP*!!!!!
    
    
    Dave.....aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.....

    
    plant my garden,,

    in New England, it is traditionally the best weekend to plant
    un frost hardy plants...
    other than that, it is the last weekend that kids who are in 
    band have to go to a parade, and be dropped of and picked up.
    Also, we sign the 'service hymn' on Sunday.



    Bon

      This year I'll be running in a 10K race to raise money for
    the pediatrics dept. of a local hospital. 
      I am hoping it isn't too hot. Racing in 90 deg. heat ain't 
     a very good time even if it is a for a good cause.


                                                              Mike

    I'll be gathering with friends to drum, chant and meditate 
    at a nearby waterfall for the purpose of healing and communing 
    with each other and the Cosmic Christ.
    
    Prayers will be expressed for all who have requested such in 
    C-P's official prayer request note that evening as well.
    
    Karen

    
    
    I'll be participating in the group activities with Karen! :^)
    
    I also try to remember *all* the people I have loved and cared for
    during my life who are now in spirit.
    
    Carole

    
    like many people, i expect...
    
    my partner and i will go to the cemeteries and care for the graves..
    
    
    
    
    peter

        Many of the towns in my area of north-central Mass. have
        Memorial Day parades.  My son and I are in Boy Scouts -- we
        will march in our town's parade.  My daughter is in the
        neighboring town's Brownie troop -- she will be marching in
        that town.

        Afterwards, people tend to have barbecues.

        Bob

    Don just left for a weekend retreat on healing the earth...
    
    hold him and those who go in the 'light' please?
    
    Bonnie

    I'll be spending the weekend babysitting for my 14 month old nephew. 
    He and Emily and I are going to the Museum of Natural History in Denver
    on Sunday.  We'll probably stop in at the Planetarium about
    mid-afternoon so I can take a surreptitious nap!  :-)
    
    Nanci

    As of just a few minutes ago, the movers have left my apartment.  E
    Grace and I are now officially cohabitating.
    
    -- Mike

the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is this Friday (or maybe last)..

that might seem a little casual, i'm not casual about the Sacred Heart
but it's not a feast recognized in the Anglican tradition and so it's
not listed in my Church Calendar. usually it's the last Friday in June
but not always.

i first learned about the Sacred Heart when i attended Mass at the Mustard
Seed, a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality. Father Bernie talked about
how when he was young the image of the Sacred Heart would be displayed in
the three deckers up on Grafton Hill and then he spoke to what the Sacred
Heart of Jesus really means.

for me it's a time to especially remember the poor, the helpless and the
sick..feelings of caring for others, all the things that come from the heart

peter

    How are folks celebrating the upcoming Interdependance Day?
    
    Richard

    
    i'm driving up to Quebec ville to rendezvous with my brother and
    his family...
    
    i'm staying a couple of days and i'm anticipating a glorious time..
    
    peter

	Usually we have a cook out with our neighbor. Perhaps we'll go to
	the next town and watch their "big" fireworks show.

			Alfred

        After a long string of 7 day work weeks and 16 hour work days,
      I plan to spend the first 24 hours of the long weekend flat on
      my back performing a detailed inspection of the inside of my
      eyelids.

                                                              Mike

We will attend the 6th annual Fourth of July pool party at a friends house.

This has also become an opportunity for them to reach out to International
Students.  Last year, about 100 people came.  Naturally, we will
throw the host and assorted other people into the pool.  :-)

Collis

    A family cook out on the 4th, and a day of quiet contemplation and
    thanksgiving out in nature, my church of choice, on another day.
    
    The rest is unplanned and reserved for whatever the holy spirit 
    wishes to do. :-)
    
    Kb                                             

I'll be spending the weekend in Boulder at my Mom's.  Family will be gathering
on the 4th and the 7th.  A family birthday celebration is slated for the 7th
and Mom's birthday celebration is slated for the 4th.  (Shhh!  It's a secret!
Her birthday was on the 19th of June but none of her kids were around so we're
going to give her a surprise party on the 4th!  Emily's having a wonderful
time keeping it a secret!)  

:-)

Nanci

	Sharon and I are planning to visit the home of my pastor for
a backyard barbeque in the early afternoon.  The entire church has
been invited.  Later on, we plan to attend the annual Interdependence
Day gathering at one of the local hospitality houses (See related Note
66.22).  This event traditionally includes a cookout and the yearly
event everyone eagerly awaits:  The talent show and awards!  Very
tongue-in-cheek and always great fun.

Peace,
Richard

    miscellaneous note:
    
    I would love to see Independence Day renamed Interdepedence Day.
    It feels much closer to describing our true relationship
    within the earth community.
    
    Kb

    RE -1    Karen,
    
                        I like that!  My 4th was awful but thats another
    long story and I haven't the energy to relate it.  ;^)
    
    Dave

	Tuesday, July 9th, is the birthday of the inimitable Deb Arch,
who I happen to know is an occasional reader within these hallowed notes.
I wish Deb a most felicitous birthday and many happy returns of the day.
    
	  _    ,                   __                                  
	.' )  /                   /  )       _/_ /     /             /  /
	  /--/ __.  _   _   _  , /--<  o __  /  /_  __/ __.  _  ,   /  /
	 /  (_(_/|_/_)_/_)_/(_/_/___/_<_/ (_<__/ /_(_/_(_/|_/(_/_  o  o
	          /   /      /                                /              
	         '   '      '                                '               

Peace *and* love,
Richard

	Why, thank you, Richard!  <blush>

	Actually, I've been reading this file since you (and the others)
    started it last September.

	Thanks again, and peace, love and best regards to all,

	deb  8-}

    Glad to have you back here Dave!  
    
    --Karen

    RE: Richard & Karen
    
                Richard,
    
                            I echo your wish for Deb.  Her work informing
    people about AIDS has been a real help to understanding and acceptence.
    
    
                Karen,
    
                            Never has one person been *SO* glad to return
    from "hell" vacation.  :^)
    
    
    Dave

August 6th, 1946:  The dropping of "Little Boy," an atomic weapon, by
the United States on the metropolis of Hiroshima, Japan.

August 9th, 1946:  The dropping of "Fat Man," (named in honor of Winston
Churchill) an atomic weapon, by the United States on Nagasaki, Japan.

Peace,
Richard

    Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown this coming Sunday, September 8th.
    
    Richard

    Yom Kippur begins at sundown tomorrow evening, Tuesday, September 17th.
    
    Richard

    On Thursday, September 19th, CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE will be one year
    old.
    
    Richard

    Tomorrow evening is the Eve of All Saints, I believe; sometimes called
    Halloween [from Hallow(ed)E'en].
    
    Richard

    The first Sunday of Advent is this coming Sunday, December 1st.
    Also, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 1st.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

		Well, here it is, the day before Thanksgiving; the day
	set aside to remember our blessings, which has become for many
	simply a day of ceremonial engorgement and gridiron glazed eyes.

		I've always liked Thanksgiving -- even more than Christmas.
	Fewer pressures, fewer disappointments, but still a very festive
	and reverent occasion.

		I pray that God will make her Presence known at your
	table this Thanksgiving, 1991.

	Peace,
	Richard

    I think the real reason that Advent and Christmas are in the winter
    is not because of the Pagan holidays that took place at those
    times but because we need a special time to get us through the
    winter. Some hope that life will return. Christmas is the promise
    that life will return. Easter then is the confirmation that it's
    back.

    		Alfred

>>    times but because we need a special time to get us through the
>>    winter. Some hope that life will return. Christmas is the promise
>>    that life will return. Easter then is the confirmation that it's
>>    back.

Alfred,  This only applies to those in the northern hemisphere.  To those
south of us, they'd need the holidays during summer and fall.

Judy

    I have to admit, every time I visit Florida during the winter holiday
    season, I always find it a little strange to see Christmas decorations
    in the midst of palm trees and 80-degree temperatures.  Somehow I just
    associate Christmas with cold weather.  Maybe it is the way our culture
    portrays the holiday, associating Christmas with snow, Santa Claus, and
    the North Pole.  I suppose if I lived in Florida I would get used to
    it.

    -- Mike

    .101
    
    	I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.  And, yes, it seems
    quite normal to me to celebrate Christmas with temperatures in the
    "cool" 60's and 70's.
    
    	I've been told that Phoenix is close in climate to that of Bethlehem.
    So, in a sense, the snowless desert is really more appropriate than the
    arctic conditions we typically associate with Christmas.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    RE: .102 I grew up with cold Christmas' often with snow. I spent
    one Christmas in Bethlehem and somehow it felt very natural in spite
    of the weather. :-) I suspect I could get used to a warm Christmas 
    every year. I don't think I could get used to a cold winter without
    Christmas though. 
    
    			Alfred

Today is Friday the 13th.  I have heard that the reason Friday the 13th
evolved into a time which is considered less than benign is because Jesus
was crucified on a Friday and that it was the 13th person at the last supper
who betrayed him (Judas Iscariot).

Peace,
Richard

    Today is the Winter solstice -- the day the sun appears at the most
    southerly point on the Earth.  It is the day with the least amount
    of daylight time between sunrise and sunset in the Northern hemisphere.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Wednesday is the traditional Western Christmas holiday.
    
    Our Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters celebrate Christmas at a later
    date.  I tried to convince my family that we should do the same, and that
    way we could take advantage of the after-Christmas sales! 8-}  They didn't
    buy into it. :-{
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    re -.1
    
    	I'm with you on that score. Every year on January 8 I say Merry
    Christmas and People look at me like I'm crazy. We could call it
    Procrastinators Christmas ;^) 
    	There are fairly good subversive reasons to celebrate 2 Christmases
    I think that it would help decommercialize Things. Afterall, you can't
    have a blowout twice. It would also underscore the fact that we don't
    really know when Jesus was born.
    	I think Christians ought to celebrate Channukah also. It should be
    celebrated as Religious Liberty week. Even secular people ought to see
    it as celebrating the struggle against monocultural imperialism.
    
    12 more days til Christmas....        johN

    Well, since my daughter went to visit her Dad this Christmas I bought
    and put up my tree on the 26th and haven't quite finished my shopping
    and wrapping yet.  This has made a big difference in my budget but the
    stress didn't lessen at all.  It just came a little later.  :-)
    
    Anyway, Epiphany is coming up a week from today so Happy Epiphany
    everybody!
    
    Nanci
    

    ...Happy Kwanza

Today is the last day of calendar year 1991.  I pray the new year will
bring greater goodness through the Author of life in Christ into all
our lives.

Peace,
Richard

    
    Happy birthday-on-Sunday to you,
    
    
    
    Happy birthday-on-Sunday to you,
    
    
    
    Happy birthday-on-Sunday dear Richard,
    
    
    
    Happy birthday-on-Sunday to you!
    
    

    Why, thank you, Nancy. :-)
    
    It's true.
    
    If anyone's curious, I'll be 44.  Pretty good for someone who wasn't
    supposed to live beyond the teen years, eh?
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    
    P.S. I'll be preaching Sunday night at worship.  Please keep me in your
    prayers.
    

    Richard,
    
    Have a wonderful birthday.  Will keep you in my thoughts during the
    service.
    
    Love and hugs,
    
    Ro (who also thinks 1948 was a very good year)  ;')
    

As Nanci so astutely observed in 14.108, Epiphany begins today.  Epiphany is
one of those words which many recognize, but which, like Christmas, Easter
and Trinity, doesn't appear in the Bible.  Epiphany, in its root, means
"appearance" or "manifestation".

Thy humble servant in Christ,
Richard

    Today marks the date of the birth of our own Mike Valenza.
    
    Happy Birthday, Mike!
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Aw, shucks, the cat is out of the bag.  :-)

    Happy Birthday.
    
    
    Pat

    Best Wishes for a most joyous day!!
    
    Hugs and Love,
    
    Ro
    

    Happy Birthday to a man of Note!  ;-)
    
    hugs,
    Nanci

    Have a noteworthy one, Mike!
    
    ;-)                   

    Happy  Boithday Mike !
    
    Jim

    I'm touched by all the happy birthdays.  Thanks to all of you!
    
    -- Mike

    Monday, January 20th, honors the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
    preacher, civil rights activist, Christian.  I would venture to say
    that King is probably the most quotable man since Gandhi.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

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	Although more importantly it's Thelma and my 15th wedding anniversary.

			Alfred

    congratulations Alfred and Thelma!  
    
    Nanci

    Alfred .125,
    
    Congratulations and best wishes to you both!
    
    Richard

    Tomorrow is known in some parts as Mardi Gras, which is French for
    "Fat Tuesday."  It is followed by Ash Wednesday, the beginning of
    Lent.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

                       Kendall Henri Seabury
       
                       Born: March 24, 1992 at 7:04 AM

                       Weight: 7 lbs. 2 oz. 

                          
               The greatest anniversary present that Elaine and I could
              have ever received.  

               Words cannot describe the joy that I have known this day.


                                                               Mike 

    
    Wow, how exciting Mike!  Congratulations, and welcome to the world,
    Kendall!
    
    Carole

    That's *terrific* Mike!!  Peace and many blessings to you dear Kendall!
    
    Karen

   Mike,
   	
   Children are the truly golden gift from God.  May he live well and
   enjoy the fruits of his effort.

   Allison

    Mike,
    
    Joy and blessings on your household!  Children are a sign of hope.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Hooray!  May all be well and propser (and, hopefully, manage to
    get a little sleep)!
    
    Nancy

    
    A belated congratulations, Mike!
    
    Best wishes to you all!
    
    Cindy

     Re. Last Few


              I would like to send out a most sincere "Thank You"
            from Elaine, Kendall and myself to everyone who has
            expressed such warm, kind thoughts to us in this 
            note and in mail messages.

                                                               Mike

    April 16th -- Maundy Thursday
    April 17th -- Good Friday
               -- Passover begins at sundown
    April 19th -- Easter

This coming Sunday, June 7th, is Pentecost Sunday.

Peace,
Richard

August 6th marks the anniversary of the detonation of a nuclear weapon by the
United States over Hiroshima, Japan.

August 9th marks the anniversary of the detonation of a nuclear weapon by the
United States over Nagasaki, Japan.

Peace,
Richard

    August 14 marks the unconditional surrender of Japan ending World War
    II and bringing peace to Asia and the Pacific.  The war commenced with
    Japanese aggression against China in 1931, 14 years earlier.

The Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is
observed on August 6th.

	O God, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses
	thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in
	raiment white and glistening: mercifully grant that we,
	being delivered from the disquietude of the world, may
	be permitted to behold the King in his beauty.  Who with
	thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth,
	one God, world without end.  Amen.

Dave Dawson,

	Congratulations on completing yet another cycle of the Earth's orbit
around the Sun since the day of your birth - September 6th - a festive
occasion, indeed!

Richard

    Warm birthday wishes and hugs to you Dave!!  Missed your presence
    yesterday...
    
    ... and speaking of celebrations - I got married yesterday and I wish
    to thank the C-Pers who were there to share the day with us and
    those who couldn't attend but were there in spirit - you made it even
    more special for us.
    
    Ro Reinke
    

    Ro,
    
    Congratulations.
    
    Patricia

Ro,

	Congratulations and best wishes.  May your union be blessed with
unbounded wisdom, compassion and passion.

Peace,
Richard

    Ro,
    
    Yours was the most special and beautiful wedding I've ever
    attended. :-)  And Richard, knowing the wedded couple as I do, 
    you'll be happy to know that the blessing of wisdom, compassion 
    and passion is already blooming in this union and touching those
    around them in very positive and healing ways.
    
    And happiest of birthdays to you, Dave!
    
    peace & many blessings,
    Karen

    All the happiness in the world to you both, Ro.
    
    With love,
    
    Brian.
    

    
    Roey.....it was a privilege to be part of your and Don's special
    day.  There was so much love and joy in the air!!!!
    
    I love you both.
    
    Carole

       Thank you both, Kb and Carole.  It was a joy for us to have our
       dear friends perform in the wedding ceremony and at the reception.
    
       and we love both of you...
    
       Ro
    
       p.s. Richard, hope you received your memento in the mail!
    
    

    I don't know if Richard did but I got mine yesterday!  
    
    Thanks so much for including me, Ro!
    
    love to both of you,
    
    Nanci

Ro .150,

	I did receive the memento of your wedding day.  Thank you so much.
What a celebration it must have been!  And how resilient you must be to be
at work this week!

Love to all,
Richard

   Ro,

   Congrats, long life and all good things to ya.

   Peace,
   Allison

Next Saturday, the 19th of September, 1992, marks the second anniversary of
CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE, the notesfile.

Peace,
Richard

Hanukkah begins at sundown tomorrow evening, Saturday, December 19th.

Shalom,
Richard

Hurricane Andrew - the Los Angeles riots - Somolia - Amy Fisher - Geoffrey
Dahmer - Amendment 2 in Colorado - Ross Perot - Rodney King - Bill Clinton -
George Bush - Measure 9 in Oregon - the breakup of Fergie and Andrew - the
breakup of Di and Charles - civil war in Yugoslavia - the resurgence of the
religious right - downsizing - TFSO - SERP - reductions in workforce - Pat
Buchanan -

May God be with us in 1993

Richard

    And may we be blessed to KNOW and FEEL God's presence in the times when
    life's twists and turns have so often in the past pulled us away from the 
    Divine One.  May we remember that God loves us.  May we remember that
    God loves others.
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    

In celebration of the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
pastor, prophet and witness for peace.

The Lenten season begins this week on February 24th, which is Ash Wednesday.

The Tuesday before is regionally celebrated as Mardi Gras, which means "Fat
Tuesday."

Richard

    
    Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, died in about 598.
    
    Founder of many monasteries, there are many stories about
    him but very little reliable information.
    
    Many of the Welsh mark today by wearing a sprig of leek
    (leeks are held especially dear by the Welsh and there
    are numerous folktales detailing the vegetable relationship
    with them)
    
    peter

    Today is Caesar Chavez' birthday.  He is 66.
    
    Richard
    

    Sunday is Palm Sunday.
    
    It is also the anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin
    Luther King, Jr..
    
    It is also my wife's birthday.
    
    Richard

    In the U.S., except Arizona and Hawaii.
    
    Richard
    

    Passover begins at sundown today.
    
    Richard

    shopping for prune juice starts tomorrow morning! ;-)

    Pentecost is this coming Sunday.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    
    Gee, I thought it came some 2000 years ago.   ;^)
    
    Jill

This weekend, states that are on Daylight Savings Time go back to Standard 
Time.  This typically means either extra sleep time, or getting up an hour 
early for church by mistake.  .-)

Personally, I'd rather be on DST during the winter, when we need to save all 
the daylight we can!

Sweet Dreams,

Jim

    May all realize the blessings of their lives.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

For those who follow the Liturgical calendar,

Happy New Year!

Jim

    Tomorrow, December 5th, is the second Sunday in Advent.  Time to light
    another candle.
    
    Monday, December 6th, is observed by some as the feast of St. Nicholas.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    Today is recognized by many Americans as Pearl Harbor Day, which
    "lives in infamy."
    
    It is also my brother's birthday.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    At sundown today, Hanukkah begins.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Tomorrow, December 12th, is the third Sunday in Advent.  Time to light
    another candle.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    Fourth Sunday before Christmas, AD 1993.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Glory to God in the highest, even in the most ordinary of circumstances.
    

    ....and the first day of the rest of your life.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

re:  Note 14.177 by Richard "On loan from God" 

"...and the last day of life as we know it."

				-- Jim

    Tomorrow, January 5th, is the 12th day of Christmas that you've heard
    so much about in the song.  It is followed by Epiphany, January 6th.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    Today marks the birth of that latter-day prophet marked by his
    humility, self-abasement and frugal eating habits, Rush Limbaugh.
    
    Also born in January,
    Richard
    

    RE: .180
    
    Have you listened to Rush for awhile? I have, and if you get past the 
    bluff and fluff, he's not bad.
    
    Marc H.

    RE: .181 Actually his books are better then the TV/radio shows. Even
    Richard would become a conservative if he read Rush's latest book with
    an open mind.

    			Alfred

    Actually, the bluff and fluff is a great gimmick.  It worked for
    another January babe, Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali), too.
    
    Richard
    

    RE: .183
    
    He was the greatest!
    
    
    Marc H.

    .184  Not only that, but he told us that ahead of time. :-)
    Musta' been a prophet!
    
    Richard
    

    Born under Capricorn, like me and ...er... Jesus.
    
    Greetings, Derek.

    .186,  Well then, Happy Birthday (a little early or a little late),
    Derek!
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    	re -1.
    
    	Early: 19th. Thanks.
    
    	I just squeezed in. With a bit of bad weather at the time, I
    	could have been an Aquarian!
    
    	Greetings, Derek. And happy birthday to all fellow Capricorns.

    Another born under the zodiac sign of Capricorn was Reverend Doctor
    Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life we honor tomorrow (the actual
    birthday) and Monday, the King holiday observed.
    
    Richard
    

    Coincidentally, it's Groundhog's Day.
    
    Lent begins in 2 weeks.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    This is also Catholic Schools Week in the US.
    
    			Alfred

This is also National Dentistry Month.

I wonder why they chose the shortest month of the year.  .-}

                                               toothy grin-^

Jim

Monday is St. Valentine's Day.  Tradition has it that Valentine was
incarcerated for marrying couples against the orders of the ruling
authorities.  Valentine was said to have woven messages made of flowers
to his loved ones, asking them to "Remember your Valentine."

I cannot tell how much of this tradition is purely legend, but it is
certainly a delightful one to have follow one's name.

Peace,
Richard

  This is National snack food week.





 Jim

Note 14.194

>  This is National snack food week.

No wonder today is called Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

;-}

Richard

From Clement's First Letter to the Corinthians:

Let the one truly possessed by the love of Christ keep his commandments.
Who can express the binding power of divine love?  Who can find words for
the splendor of its beauty?  Beyond all description are the heights to
which it lifts us.  Love unites us to God; "it cancels innumerable sins,"
has no limits to its endurance, bears everything patiently.  Love is
neither servile nor arrogant.  It does not provoke schisms or form cliques,
but always acts in harmony with others.  By it all God's chosen ones have
been sanctified; without it, it is impossible to please him.  Out of love
the Lord took us to himself; because he loved us and it was God's will,
our Lord Jesus Christ gave his life's blood for us -- he gave his body
for our body, his soul for our soul.

See then, beloved, what a great and wonderful thing love is, and how
inexpressible its perfection.  Who are worthy to possess it unless God
makes them so?  To him therefore we must turn, begging of his mercy that
there may be found in us a love free from human partiality and beyond
reproach.  Every generation from Adam's time to ours has passed away;
but those who by God's grace were made perfect in love and have a
dwelling now among the saints, and when at last the kingdom of Christ
appears, they will be revealed.  "Take shelter in your rooms for a
little while," says Scripture, "until my wrath subsides.  Then I will
remember the good days, and will raise you from your graves."

Happy are we, beloved, if love enables us to live in harmony and in
the observance of God's commandments, for then it will also gain for
us the remission of our sins.  Scripture pronounces "happy those
whose transgressions are pardoned, whose sins are forgiven.  Happy
the one," it says, "to whom the Lord imputes no fault, on whose
lips there is no guile."  This is the blessing given those whom
God has chosen through Jesus Christ our Lord.  To him be glory
for ever and ever.

    Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
    
    I noticed today the Easter candy is already on the store shelves
    and many of the Valentine goodies are � price.
    
    Richard
    

re Note 14.197 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE:

>     I noticed today the Easter candy is already on the store shelves
>     and many of the Valentine goodies are � price.

        Because of the bad weather we have had here in Massachusetts,
        Gov. Weld has proclaimed this week to be "Valentine's Week".

        (Gov. Dukakis did likewise after the Blizzard of '78.)

        Bob

    I can't find it on my calendar.  Does Pentecost begin on May 22 this
    year, or another date?
    
    Peace
    Richard
    

When Easter is on April 3rd (as it is this year), Pentecost is May 22nd.

/john

    .200 Thanks!
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

What's green and comes out in the summertime?




Patty O'Furniture!  ;-}

Many celebrate St. Patrick's Day, which really should be called Mr. Patrick's
Day, this weekend and next.  March 17th is the actual date.

Shamrocks o' Shalom,
Richard

    
    RE: .202
    
    Sorry I missed it Richard...but why should they call it Mr. Patrick's
    Day rather than St. Patrick's Day?  
    
    Jill
    

    .203  Back in the 1960s, the Roman Catholic Church announced (don't
    know the proper term) that several saints (Some popularly known,
    such as Saint Nicholas and Saint Patrick) were not actually saints.
    
    John Covert or Bob Fleischer could possibly provide more detail.
    
    Wanna buy a Mr. Christopher's medal?  Yep, he was dropped, too.
    
    Sure & Begorrah,
    Richard
    

Wrong, Richard.

It is not true that the Roman Catholic Church announced that St. Patrick,
bishop of Armagh, was not actually a saint.  His commemoration appears
on Roman Catholic calendars on March 17th at the option of local bishops.

The cathedral of the R.C. diocese of New York is dedicated to him.

St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, is also still a saint.  He feast day appears
on Roman Catholic calendars, at the option of local bishops, on December 6th.

However, research has produced no evidence that Christopher actually existed
as a historical person.

/john

    .205  Son of a gun!  Must've been a vicious rumor!  Sorry, Jill, to
    have misled you.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Welcome, first full day of Spring!

Jim

 Snow tonight %-/

    re: Note 14.207 by TFH::KIRK

    > Welcome, first full day of Spring!

    Jim, you pagan heathen, what has this got to do with Christian
    Perspective, you equinox worshiping druid type. :^) :^) :^) 

    Hee, hee.

    	Eric

               
    Actually, at the Equinox, the position of the Mayan temple at
    Chichen-Itza is such that the light/shadows cast upon the steps 
    leading up to the top look like a serpent climbing the pyrimad.
    This represents the kundalini rising.  The crystal skulls that 
    exist - there is a place for one of them at the top.  The 
    information and knowledge stored in the crystal skull is then 
    made available to those in attendence who are attuned. 
    
    I hope to attend the gathering in a few years with a Mayan shaman
    (holy man.)
    
    Cindy

    RE: .210
    
    I'm curious about the Mayan's. The only info I read was  about
    their sacrificies of humans and how these sacrifices were  connected
    to a failing argicultural industry.
    
    Very Curious people...
    
    Marc H.

                                                             
    Re.211
    
    That is an unfortunate time in the Mayan history...kind of like the
    Dark Ages or the bloody Crusades were to Christianity, if one were 
    to draw some kind of analogy.  It wasn't always that way.
    
    To read more about the esoteric side of the Mayans, I can recommend
    "Secrets of the Mayan Science/Religion", by Hunbatz Men.  They were
    a very advanced civilization, actually. 
    
    I was in a workshop led by Hunbatz Men, and he was one of the speakers
    at the Hindu conference I worked on last August.  A particularly
    touching moment was when he presented a prophecy on a parchment scroll
    to the Dalai Lama's representative.  Later on I read it, and it said
    something about the new times coming when their Brothers from the East,
    wearing colors of the sun (Buddhist monk colors are red and yellow)
    would come and they would meet.  
    
    There are many, many similarities between the Hindu/Buddhist cultures 
    and the Mayan culture, especially in the languages.  The book that 
    Hunbatz wrote goes into that somewhat, though I understand he has 
    another book out that goes into depth on this subject.  Interesting that 
    the Dalai Lama's representative's name is Ven. Doboom Tulku, and 'Ku' is 
    the name of God (sort of...leaving out quite a bit here) in Mayan.
    
    Cindy 

Note 14.209 

>    you equinox worshiping druid type. :^) :^) :^) 

Funny, he doesn't *look* druish! &^}
    
    

re: Note 14.209 by Eric

Thanks, Eric.  I needed that.  (or should that be I "needed" that?)

.-)

Jim

    RE: .212
    
    Thanks for the info. The Mayans have always been of interest.
    Like lots of things in my life, I don't much time....maybe in the
    future though.
    
    Marc H.

At sundown tomorrow, Passover begins.  According to the rabbi I heard last
Friday, the synagogues will be relatively empty.  The reason for this is
that Passover is celebrated around the household table.  The youngest in
the family has a key role - to ask the four questions.

Passover, in addition to being a time of remembering, is a time of new
beginnings, new life and new hope.  In this way, Passover is much like
the Christian celebration of Easter.

Shalom,
Richard

    RE: .216
    
    I went to a Passover celibration , once, in my fraternity. The Jewish
    brothers put it on.
    
    Oh sure, as know it all college students we would chuckle at certain
    parts.....but...years later I always remembered the significance of
    it.
    
    Marc H.

    Tomorrow, Sunday, March 27, is Palm Sunday, the last Sunday before
    Easter.  It is also the full moon, which at one time had some part
    in gauging on what Sunday Easter falls.
    
    John Covert has more detail on this in the string entitled "Religious
    holidays?"
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Tomorrow, April 1, is Good Friday.
    
    Someone asked recently why it's called "good" when the events were
    so filled with pain, suffering, degradation, and ultimately, death.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Christ is risen!

	Christ is risen, indeed!

Peace,
Richard

    Is was on an April 4th that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was shot and
    killed.
    
    Richard
    

              -< What will become of the dream when the dreamer is gone? >-
    
    There was not just one dreamer.
    
    			Alfred

    .222 Alfred,
    
    	You probably realize I was merely paraphrasing what Joseph's
    brothers said.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    RE: .223 No I did not. I just thought it a statement from somewhere
    out in far left field. In this context I still believe so.
    
    			Alfred

    .224  What can I say?  I'm a left-fielder.
    
    Richard
    

    Today is Cinco de Mayo.
    

 And, National Day of Prayer






 Jim

re Note 14.226 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE:

>                              -< The Fifth of May >-
> 
>     Today is Cinco de Mayo.
  
        Of course, and tomorrow is the sixth.

        Bob

    
    I believe that on May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first US 
    astronaut in space.
    
    Cindy

 That's right!

    Cinco de Mayo is roughly the equivalent to our nearest neighbor to
    the South as the Fourth of July to the United States.
    
    Richard
    

    I always get a chuckle when gringos ask "When is Cinco de Mayo?"

Note 14.227

> And, National Day of Prayer

I cannot speak for others, but every day is a day of prayer to my way of
thinking.

Shalom,
Richard

RE:           <<< Note 14.233 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE "Copernicus 3:16" >>>
                    -< Have I been in prayer prematurely? >-


>> And, National Day of Prayer

>I cannot speak for others, but every day is a day of prayer to my way of
>thinking.



 ..and to me and to just about everybody who participates in the National
 Day of Prayer...however this day is where we are as one focused on the 
 leaders of our country and asking God to heal our land..2 Chron 7:14



 I'm sure you new that, however.   






 Jim

Note 14.234

> I'm sure you new that, however.   

No, I didn't know that.  Guess I'm out of touch.

Richard

 Well, guess it didn't get a lot of publicity.




Jim

    Sunday, May 8th, is Mother's Day, much to the benefit of Hallmark
    Cards, florists, and restaurants.
    
    How will you honor your mother or the mother of your children this
    year?
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    We will likely have a quiet day at home. The mother of my son and
    her mother will be there. My own is with the Lord.

    There will be giving of gifts and cards. Expressions of love and
    thanks are of course a year round event.

    		Alfred

    RE:   Note 14.237 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
    
    I'll get her a card, bring her some flowers and take her out to
    dinner.
        
    Eric :^)

    This is the first year since Mom died that I haven't been overcome with
    an aching sense of emptiness.  I shall cherish her memory.
    
    I miss you, Mom!
    
    Richard
    

I confess.  I, too, picked out a couple of Mother's Day cards for my wife.
I also spent some bucks on some really nice foo-foo (perfume).

It's not in the budget to go out to eat.  Maybe when Father's Day rolls
around.

Richard

    Pentecost is this coming Sunday, May 22nd.
    
    Someone once said that ever since Pentecost, which was ushered in
    by wind and fire, there has been a whole lot more wind than fire.
    Reminds me of C-P and our sister conference(s).  ;-}
    
    Rest on us, O flames of Yahweh!
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Breathe your holy and empowering Spirit upon us, O Sovereign One!
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Come, thou Holy Spirit, come; and	Thou who art the Light most blest,
  from thy celestial home send thy	  come fulfil their inmost breast,
  light and brilliancy.			  who believe most faithfully.
Come, thou father of the poor, come	For without thy Godhead's dower, man
  who givest all our store, come the	  hath nothing in his power, save to
  soul's true radiancy.			  work iniquity.

Come, of comforters the best, of the	What is filthy make thou pure, what
  soul the sweetest guest, sweetly	  is wounded work its cure, water
  and refreshingly.			  what is parched and dry.
Come, in labour rest most sweet, shade	Gently bend the stubborn will, warm
  and coolness in the heat, comfort	  to life the heart that's chill,
  in adversity.				  guide who goeth erringly.

		    Fill thy faithful who adore, and confess
		      thee evermore, with thy sevenfold
		      mystery.
                    Here thy grace and virtue send, grant
		      salvation in the end, and in heaven
		      felicity.  Amen.  Alleluia.

       [And this is said daily until the following Saturday inclusive.]

Today is The Feast of The Visitation, which commemorates the visit of Saint
Mary, pregnant with Our Lord, to Saint Elisabeth, pregnant with Saint John
the Baptist.

The Visitation is the second feast in the Christmas cycle which follows the
Gospel of Luke from the beginning of Our Lord's life at the Annunciation
(March 25th) through His Nativity on Christmas Day to the end of the cycle
forty days after his birth with the Presentation at the temple (February 2nd).

The bible tells us that when Elisabeth heard Mary's greeting, the unborn
Baptist leapt in the womb -- quite a strong statement about life in the
womb -- and that Elisabeth, filled with the spirit, said in a loud voice:

    "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

							[Luke 2:42b, KJV]

    Yesterday... at some time, can't remember, the boys and I watched the
    Frugal Gourmet make omelets... and you know I did it his way this
    morning and the boys were like, "Wow, this is the best omelet I've ever
    had... and I've been making omelets for a while now. :-)
    
    Nancy
    

re:  Note 14.246 by Nancy "Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze" 

>    Yesterday... at some time, can't remember, the boys and I watched the
>    Frugal Gourmet make omelets... and you know I did it his way this
>    morning and the boys were like, "Wow, this is the best omelet I've ever
>    had... and I've been making omelets for a while now. :-)
    
Good for you!  Yum.  I think the Frugal Gourmet is great.  Did you know he was 
a minister?  Methodist, I think.

Peace,

Jim

    .247  That's correct about Jeff Smith.  He's an ordained minister in the
    United Methodist church.
    
    Richard
    

    Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday.  Happy Jewish New Year!
    (6 thousand and change, as I recall)
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Calendar says 5740+  (maybe even 5754?)

    Yeah.  Letterman said it was 5755 on his show Monday night.
    

$ hcal 9 6 1994
Tishri 1, 5755 normal leap

    Yom Kippur begins (or began, depending on where you are) at sundown.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    This coming Sunday, November 27, is the first Sunday of Advent.
    
    Hanukkah begins at sundown the same day.
    
    Tomorrow, of course, is Thanksgiving, which is followed by what is
    traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Saint Nicholas, a Christian known for his kindness, generosity, and
    compassion for children.  Would that we were all so known.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    For those of you with little ones, you may want to pick up an Advent
    calendar real soon.  We have one, not sure who it's from, but it has a
    sticker for each day of the month up to the 24th.  When finished, it
    will have a nice little manger scene.  If you have kids, you'll know
    they love stickers!  Meryl Doney makes some really nice ones, with
    pop-ups too.  I'd also like to recommend the book "Follow the Star" by
    Alan & Linda Parry.  It will help reinforce the Advent lessons when you
    light the candles.
    
    I'm hoping to post some family outlines for Advent later this week as I
    did for Hannukah.
    
    Mike

The celebration of Advent is a way for families to celebrate Jesus throughout
December.  A beautiful tradition for your family to begin is the lighting of the
Advent candles.

Advent Wreath - this is a circular candle holder (if on a budget, you can
festively decorate a styrofoam circle and insert 4 candle holders into it).
Four candles are placed on the wreath, 3 purple or royal blue, and 1 pink.  A
big white pillar type candle is placed in the center of the wreath.  A candle is
lit on each of the 4 Sundays before Christmas.  The candles may be lit every
morning during breakfast, before church or each Sunday night at dinner.  The
white pillar candle is to be lit on Christmas Eve.

Week 1 - Light the first purple candle.  This candle represents PROPHECY.
Talk briefly about the many prophecies concerning Messiah Jesus' coming (See
partial list of Messianic prophecies below).  You can sing a song or a
Christmas carol ("Come Thou Long Expected Jesus") and they pray together.

Week 2 - Scripture reading is Luke 1:26-56.  Light the first PROPHECY candle and
then the second purple candle representing BETHLEHEM.  Tell the story of the
annunciation, Joseph's dream and the journey to Bethlehem.  Sing a song or
Christmas carol ("O Little Town of Bethlehem").  Pray together.

Week 3 - Read Luke 2:8-14.  Light the PROPHECY, BETHLEHEM, and then the third
purple candle representing THE GOOD NEWS.  Talk about the Shepherds receiving
the Good News from the angels that Jesus was born.  Sing a song or Christmas
carol ("Angels We Have Heard on High").  Pray together.

Week 4 - Read Matthew 2:1-12.  Light the PROPHECY, BETHLEHEM, THE GOOD NEWS
candles and briefly review what they have learned.  Then light the pink candle
which represents THE WISE MEN.  Tell the story of the Wise Men following the
star to Bethlehem to worship the prophesied Messiah.  Sing a song or Christmas
carol ("We Three Kings").  Pray together.

Christmas Eve - Read Luke 2:6-7, John 3:16, John 1:1-5,14.  Light all the purple
candles, and the pink one and briefly review what has been learned.  Now light
the white pillar candle which represents JESUS HAS COME.  The prophets foretold
it; born in Bethlehem; Shepherds received the good news; and Wise Men traveled
to worship the Messiah.  Sing "Joy to the World" and pray together.

Other Advent Suggestions
------------------------
1. Advent Calendar - these can be bought at any Christian bookstore.  They have
   activities for each day for the children to perform.
2. Nativity Scene - put a complete set next to your wreath.  You can also add a
   piece every night or add pieces corresponding to the lighting of the
   candles.
3. Jesse Tree - Uses different symbols to represent Jesus' ancestry.  Prop a
   branch in a flower pot or draw a tree on paper.  Add Biblical symbols: a harp
   for King David, Ark for Noah, shepherd's staff for Jesse, star for Abraham,
   sprig of wheat for Ruth/Boaz, crown for King Solomon, etc...
4. Light up the Cross - The cross is the real Christmas tree!  It is the tree
   (Galatians 3:13-14) upon which Jesus died and bore the curse of our sins
   and brought us the blessings of Abraham.  Take Christmas lights and attach
   them to a cross made of 2x4's.  Place your gifts under Christ's tree.
   Obviously this teaches the whole family to remember that the greatest gift of
   all, eternal life was purchased for us and offered to us at the cross!
   (Romans 3:23, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5)

Messianic Prophecies
--------------------
The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ - Revelation 19:10

These are some of the prophecies and their fulfillment concerning the birth
of Christ.

    Prophecies Concerning His Birth                 Prophecy Fulfilled
    1. Born of the Seed of Woman - Genesis 3:15  Matthew 1:20, Galatians 4:4
    2. Born of a Virgin - Isaiah 7:14            Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-35
    3. Son of God - Psalms 2:7                   Matthew 3:17
               I Chronicles 17:11-14             Matthew 16:16
              II Samuel 7:12-16                  Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35, 22:70, 
                                                 Acts 13:30-33, John 1:34,49
    4. Seed of Abraham - Genesis 12:2-3          Matthew 1:1
                         Genesis 22:18           Galatians 3:16
    5. Son of Issac - Genesis 21:12              Luke 3:23,34, Matthew 1:2
    6. Son of Jacob - Numbers 24:17              Luke 3:23,34
                      Genesis 35:10-12           Matthew 1:2, Luke 1:33
    7. Tribe of Judah - Genesis 49:10            Luke 3:23,33
                        Micah 5:2                Matthew 1:2, Hebrews 7:14
    8. Family Line of Jesse - Isaiah 11:1        Luke 3:23,32
                              Isaiah 11:10       Matthew 1:6
    9. House of David - Jeremiah 23:5            Luke 3:23,31
                     II Samuel 7:12-16           Matthew 1:1,9:27,15:22
                     Psalms 132:11               20:30-31,21:9,15,22:41-46,
                                                 Mark 9:10,10:47-48, 
                                                 Luke 18:38-39, 
                                                 Acts 13:22-23, Revelation 22:16
   10. Born at Bethlehem - Micah 5:2             Matthew 2:1,4-8, John 7:42, 
                                                 Luke 2:4-7
   11. Time of Birth - Daniel 9:25,              Luke 2:1-7
                      Genesis 49:10
   12. Presented with Gifts - Psalms 72:10-15    Matthew 2:1,11
                        Isaiah 60:6
   13. Herod Kills Children - Jeremiah 31:15     Matthew 2:16

Daily Bible Readings for Advent
-------------------------------
Two readings are suggested for each day in Advent.  The first is a prophecy from
the OT and the second is the fulfillment prophecy in the NT.

Week 1                                   Week 2
Sun: Genesis 3:1-15; Galatians 4:1-7     Sun: Malachi 3:1; Mark 1:1-11        
Mon: Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 3:17-26        Mon: Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:7-15
Tue: Genesis 17:15-21; Matthew 1:1-2     Tue: Isaiah 40:3-8; Matthew 3:1-12  
Wed: Genesis 28:10-17; Luke 3:23,33      Wed: Isaiah 40:1-2; John 1:29      
Thu: Genesis 49:8-10; Luke 3:23,33       Thu: Isaiah 40:9; John 1:32-34    
Fri: Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-23       Fri: Isaiah 49:1; Luke 1:30-31    
Sat: Isaiah 7:10-17; Matthew 1:18-23     Sat: Haggai 2:6-7; Luke 2:1         

Week 3                                   Week 4
Sun: Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-21         Sun: Genesis 22:15-17; Luke 2:8-11   
Mon: Micah 5:2-4; Matthew 2:1-6          Mon: Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:30-33    
Tue: Isaiah 49:3-6; Luke 2:25-32         Tue: Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:34-35       
Wed: Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-11       Wed: Isaiah 53:1; Matthew 27:32-44 
Thu: Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2:1-12       Thu: Isaiah 40:1; John 10:1-42    
Fri: Jeremiah 31:15-17; Matthew 2:16-18  Fri: Isaiah 45:8; Luke 2:1-20     
Sat: Hosea 11:1-4; Matthew 2:13-23       Sat: Isaiah 9:1-5; John 1:1-14      

Daily Bible Readings for the 12 Days of Christmas
-------------------------------------------------
The 12 days of Christmas begin December 25th and end January 5th - the
traditional date for the appearing of the Wise Men (which is merely conjecture).
The Psalms can be a joy, delight, and comfort to read.  Read a Psalm both
morning and evening during Christmas.

Day                        Morning                Evening
December 25                Psalm 2                Psalm 98
December 26                Psalm 116              Psalm 27
December 27                Psalm 34               Psalm 19
December 28                Psalm 110              Psalm 111
December 29                Psalm 96               Psalm 97
December 30                Psalm 93               Psalm 89:1-8
December 31                Psalm 100              Psalm 45
January 1                  Psalm 8                Psalm 99
January 2                  Psalm 48               Psalm 9 
January 3                  Psalm 15               Psalm 107
January 4                  Psalm 20               Psalm 121
January 5                  Psalm 29               Psalm 119:1-24

    The official beginning of Winter -- when daylight starts hanging around
    a little longer each day.  I welcome it.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    God chose to shake up the world not with a bomb, but a baby.
    
    Glory to the newborn King.
    
    Richard
    

    Today is the twelfth day of Christmas that you hear about in the song.
    "On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."
    
    And yes, it's my birthday.  (No gifts, please)
    
    Tomorrow (January 6) is Epiphany.  It's also Mike Valenza's birthday.
    
    On his birthday a few years back, I gave Mike a coffee mug with one
    Hebrew word inscribed on it.  That one word was:
    
    	SHALOM
    
    Richard
    

.261>  And yes, it's my birthday.  (No gifts, please)


	HAPPY BIRTHDAY squire!



hugs,
andreas.

    If memory serves me, it is also the birthday of a daughter of one of
    our moderators, too!
    
    Richard
    

    My, but you have a good memory!  Or a good note book? :-)
    
    Yes, today my middle child, my second daughter turns 8.  
    
    And I think I'm getting senile - I agreed to let her have a sleep over
    as her birthday party. 8-}

    Happy Birthday, Mike Valenza, wherever you are!
    
    Richard
    

    Today is the 60th birthday of Elvis Presley, American idol.
    
    I've never been a fan of Elvis, but I recognize that he could sure
    sing a stirring rendition of _The Battle Hymn of the Republic_!
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Today is the birthday of Rush Limbaugh, viewed variously as:
an American
		news source
		political commentator
		media personality
		humorist
		crestrider on a wave of white male backlash

Shalom,
Richard

Today is the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Christian
preacher and pastor, civil rights leader, peace activist, proponent of
nonviolence.

Shalom,
Richard

    Today is the birthday of Mohammed Ali, American pugelist who,
    for reasons of faith, chose to serve time in prison rather than
    supporting nationalist bloodshed.  Ali is not a Christian.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Today is the 99th birthday of George Burns, American comedian, actor,
    and singer.  Burns played the title role in the movie "Oh, God!" and
    its sequel.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Yesterday began the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. This is a thirty day
    period of fasting, self-sacrifice, prayer and reflection.

    This strikes me as similar to the Christian observance of Lent.

    Peace,
    	Eric

    Isn't February 2nd the day that we celebrate Jesus being brought to the
    temple and being seen by the old man - I think the name was Simon?

    .272  Don't know, Debby.  However, on a folklore-ish level, today is
    Groundhog Day.  I hear there'll be an early Spring this year.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    But we haven't had winter yet!
    

    	re .272
    
    	Yes.  The Presentation.

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple
or
The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From the travels of Egeria, Abbess:

[late fourth century]

The Fortieth Day after [the Nativity of Our Lord] is observed here with
special magnificence.  On this day they assemble in the Anastasis.  Everyone
gathers, and things are done with the same solemnity as at the feast of
Easter.  All the presbyters preach first, then the bishop, and they interpret
the passage from the Gospel about Joseph and Mary taking the Lord to the
Temple, and about Simeon and the prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel,
seeing the Lord, and what they said to him, and about the sacrifice offered
by his parents.  When all the rest has been done in the proper way, they
celebrate the sacrament and have their dismissal.

    > ...they celebrate the sacrament...
    
    John,
    
    Is this a reference to Holy Communion?
    
    Eric

Yes.

    Today is what is known as "Fat Tuesday."  Lent begins tomorrow.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Actually, in English it is known as "Shrove Tuesday".

/john

Comedian, actor, film director, humanitarian Jerry Lewis celebrates his
69th birthday today.  Currently Lewis stars on Broadway in "Damn Yankees."
His role?  The devil.

Shalom,
Richard

April 4th

Martin Luther King, Jr., shot to death.

My spouse Sharon's birthday.

Shalom,
Richard

    This Sunday, April 9, 1995, is Palm Sunday.
    
    It is also the 50th anniversary of the execution of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
    

Today is Maundy Thursday; the name comes from the Latin "mandatum"
which means "commandment", for on this day Our Lord gave his disciples
the new commandment, to love each other as He has loved us.  As a sign
of his love and continuing presence with us, on this evening he instituted
the Lord's Supper.

A Reading from a Sermon of Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Friar [1274]

The happy commemoration of today's feast with its immense concourse of
people invites us to prolong fervently our praises of the Most Holy
Body of Christ.  What could be sweeter, what more pleasing to the
heart of the faithful than to exalt the abyss of his divine charity,
and to glorify the overflowing torrent of his love!  At the table of
new grace the hand of the priest distributes ceaselessly his Flesh
as food and his precious Blood as drink, to those who are his children
and heirs of the kingdom promised by God to those who love him.

O endless Emanation of the goodness of God and of his immense love
for us, admirable and worthy of all praise!  In this sacrament, where
all former sacrifices are done away with, he remains with us to the
end of the world; he feeds the children of adoption with the bread of
angels and inebriates them with filial love.

This is the food and drink for the elect, living bread and spiritual
nourishment, remedy for daily weaknesses!  It is the table which Christ
has prepared for his friends and guests, like the one the father
prepared for his son on the day of his return, to replace the symbolic
lamb.  This is the Passover in which the victim immolated is Christ;
O Christ our Passover, you want us too to pass over from vice to
virtue; as once you delivered the Jews, so now you set us free in
spirit.  You are the food that satisfies all but the most hardened;
food that is eaten by faith, tasted by fervor, assimilated by charity.
O viaticum of our pilgrimage, you lead travellers to the height of
virtue.  Confirm my heart in good, assure it in the paths of life,
give joy to my soul, purify my thoughts.

The Eucharist is bread, real bread; we eat it without consuming or
dividing it; it converts but itself is not changed; it gives strength
without ever losing it; it gives perfection and suffices for salvation;
it gives life, it confers grace, it remits sins.  It is the food of
souls, a food which enlightens the intelligence of the faithful,
inflames their hearts, purifies them from their shortcomings, elevates
their desires.

O chalice that holy souls love to drink of, chalice of fervor, chalice
changed into the Blood of Christ, to seal the new Alliance, withdraw
from us the old leaven, fill our souls with yourself, that we may
become a new paste and that we may go to the feast with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth.  For the Lamb without spot, who knows no
touch or stain of any sin, ought to be eaten with unleavened bread.
We should not approach without being cleansed by confession, without
having a solid foundation of faith, without being in charity.

Come to the Lord's supper, if you wish to come to the nuptials of the
Lamb; there we shall be inebreated with the riches of the house of
God, we shall see the King of glory and the God of hosts in all his
beauty, we shall eat this bread in the kingdom of the Father.


Taken from "Readings for the Daily Office from the Early Church" edited
by F. Robert Wright, Church Hymnal Corporation.

    Passover is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did on the cross.
    
    -Jack

    Who will answer this ancient greeting?
    
    	"Christ is risen!"
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

	The Lord is risen indeed!

    .290
    
    That is it!  Thank you and blessings to you.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

	(Book of Common Prayer, U.S.1979, p. 323)

Although the May observance is credited to Anna Reeves Jarvis, the concept
of a "Mother's Day" was first introduced by Julia Ward Howe during the Civil
War.  Howe suggested that July 4th be renamed Mother's Day and urged that
it be celebrated as an occasion for promoting peace.

Howe, I was fascinated to learn, wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Shalom,
Richard

    	Wasn't she also the one who didn't want Mother's Day to be
    	a commercial event?  Maybe it was A.R. Jarvis who called for 
    	that...

    It's my birthday.
    
    It's also the birthday of the guy who sits next to me...except he's
    old!

	Jack Martin, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!


Glen

    Well..THANK YOU GLEN!!!  It's about time somebody noticed!!!
    
    -Jack

happy birthday jack!!


does that make U 34??


andreas.

    Yes ....the big 34.  And I found out I'm older than Glen by 5 months so
    that means I'm wiser than him! :-)
    
    -Jack

    Happy birthday, Jack!  May you enjoy many more rotations around that
    yellow dwarf star we call our sun.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Knowing my luck, it will turn into a red giant!!!!!

	More wiser??? Older maybe.... :)

today is pope john paul II's (karol woytila[sp?]) birthday. 
i think his 75th.

and it's andreas' mum's birthday! she's a fan of the pope.


a happy birthday to both!
:-)

andreas.

Today is Ascension Day, when Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ took our
Humanity with Him to the Throne of the Most High God.

			God is ascended up on high,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!
			With merry noise of trumpets' sound,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!

			And princely seated in the sky,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!
			Rules over all the world around,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!

			In human flesh and shape he went,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!
			Adorned with his passion's scars,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!

			Which in heaven's sight he did present,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!
			More glorious than the glittering stars,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!

			Lord raise our sinking minds, therefore,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!
			Up to our proper country dear,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!

			And purify us evermore,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!
			To fit us for those regions clear,
			  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Pentecost Sunday is just ahead.  June 4, 1995.

    I know this was the day in Acts chapter 2.  But what was the day of
    Pentacost for anyway!?
    
    -Jack

    It's a 2 day celebration - Sunday to Monday.  It commemorates the
    giving of the Torah, the rapture of Enoch, as well as the crossing of
    the Red Sea during the Exodus.  All the 7 Feasts of Israel are very
    much prophetic too.  Many believe the Feast of Pentecost is symbolic of
    the Church.
    
Shavuot - Pentecost (June)
--------------------------
The 50-day counting of the Omer culminates in a celebration - Pentecost, or
Shavuot in Hebrew.  Also called Natan Torah, "Giving of the Torah," it was then
God gave the 10 Commandments (Exodus 19).  Tradition teaches that the Lord
offered the 10 Commandments to 70 nations in Deuteronomy 32:8.  His voice was
divided into those 70 languages amidst thunder, lightning, and a trumpet blast.
The giving of the Torah was surrounded by signs and wonders.

The festival of Shavuot arrived, and the believers gathered together in one
place.  Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent
wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They they saw what
looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each of them.
Each was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different
languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak (Acts 2:1-4).

Every Jewish male was required to be in Jerusalem for Shavuot.  As a result of
the supernatural intervention of God, this small group of Messianic Jews spoke
in tongues, or languages, of the many pilgrims from out of town.

When the Torah was first given, God inscribed it on tablets of stone.  With the
coming of the Spirit, God wrote his Law on human hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
Signs appeared again on the "living stones," the believers (1 Peter 2:5).  They
heard the "blast," felt the rushing wind, and spoke, as tradition says God did,
in languages of the nations.  The message of Messiah was spread as each Jewish
believer returned home from Shavuot.

Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-10, Acts 2

    .306
    
    Pentecost is celebrated by some as the birthday of the church.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Pentecost is the second most important liturgical feast in the Christian
calendar, ranking right after Easter and much more important than Christmas.

It is the Sunday which occurs on the fiftieth day ("pentecost") counting
beginning with the Sunday of the Resurrection.

The bible records that on this day, some 500 disciples were gathered in
a room and were touched by the Holy Spirit in a way that gave them the
strength to spread the Christian faith throughout the world.

It is a traditional day for ordinations, baptisms, and confirmations.
Its English name is "Whitsunday" or "White Sunday" from the white garments
worn by candidates for baptism.  However, the liturgical color for the day
is red, representing the fire of the Holy Spirit.

My parish will be celebrating it at 11:00 with a Festival Solemn High Mass;
our choir will be joined by a 16-piece orchestra and extra soloists, and the
music of the Mass will be Schubert's Mass in B-Flat, Op. 141.  There will
be a champagne and strawberries reception in the garden afterwards.

/john

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first test of an atomic weapon,
detonated at 5:30 AM at the Trinity site at Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA.
Such an instrument would be used on two Japanese cities less than a month
later.

Shalom,
Richard

    Just think, I wouldn't be here today if Truman hadn't made that fateful
    decision!
    
    -Jack

    
    > Just think, I wouldn't be here today if Truman hadn't made that fateful
    > decision!

    Just think of all the people who aren't here today because of that
    fateful decision! While I will not second guess Truman's decision, as
    it may well have hastened the ending of the war, neither do I take
    comfort and joy in it.

    In the scheme of things, I think the bombing of Japan had little to do
    with ensuring my birth.

    	Eric                                              
         

    I can speculate on the motive for bombing Japan as opposed to Europe
    being that most Americans at that time had European heritage within
    them.
    
    Nobody takes any joy in this kind of activity Eric.  I do however, see
    the merit in the decision that was made.  I believe had the sequence of
    events continued, the war would have dragged on and there would be more
    casualties than there are now.  
    
    -Jack

    .311
    
    The truth is Truman didn't make the decision.  The truth is Japan was
    on the verge of surrender anyway.  The truth is...ahh, never mind.
    
    Richard
    

    No....please go on.  I was told this by my father who was on a suicide
    mission to Japan just as they dropped the bomb....and I do happen to
    believe that story as it was verified.
    
    Consider the following however.  The bomb would probably have been used
    in Korea...now you have assualted Chinese allies and that wouldn't have
    been too good.
    
    -Jack

>    No....please go on.  I was told this by my father who was on a suicide
>    mission to Japan just as they dropped the bomb....and I do happen to
>    believe that story as it was verified.

This sounds like the typical WWII spin.

I would recommmend reading (among others) "Blank Check," by Pulitzer
Prize-winning journalist Tim Weiner.  I checked it out from a public
library over a year ago.  I'm sorry I cannot send you a copy.

Richard

        You know, you both may be right.

        Japan *might* have been near to surrendering.

        Yet it is quite certain that the US would conduct a massive
        invasion, which would undoubtedly incur great loss of life,
        if the A bomb failed or wasn't dropped.

        Bob

    for what it's worth, Newsweek has a lengthy article on the decision
    to use the atomic bomb on Japan in the current issue. 

    Richard:
    
    Thanks for the suggestion!  My dad's unit was made aware of their fate 
    when docked at Pearl harbor.  They were rerouted to the Philippeans.
    
    -Jack

August 6, 1945
"Little Boy"
Hiroshima: 140,000 dead, mostly civilians.

August 9, 1945
"Fat Man"
Nagasaki: 70,000 dead, mostly civilians.  Some killed in the blast were
American POWs.

    Richard, in your opinion, how many lives do you believe were saved?

    On 18 August 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was
    ratified, giving women the right to vote. Although not a religious
    or Christian issue, per se, I think it is important to note since
    we often discuss the role of women in a religious context. The
    fight for gender equality, although only recently granted, had
    gone on since the constitution was barely 50 years old. The
    following is from the editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal:

            "And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm. I
         have plowed and planted and gathered into barns, and no
         man could head me. And ain't I a woman? I could work as
         much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it -
         and bear the lash as well. And ain't I a woman? I have
         borne 13 children, and seen 'em sold off to slavery. And
         when I cried out with a mother's grief, none but Jesus
         heard me. And ain't I a woman?...
            That little man in black dar, he says woman can't
         have as much rights as men because Christ wasn't a
         woman. Where do you think Christ come from? From God and
         a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first
         woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world
         upside-down all alone, These women together ought to be
         able to turn it back and get it right side up again, And
         now they is asking to do it, and the men getter let 'em."

         		Sojourner Truth, speaking at Akron, Ohio, 
                              Women's Rights Convention, May 1851
                                                           

CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE, the notesfile, was created 5 years ago this
coming Sunday, September 17.

Happy anniversary, C-P!

A special thanks to Bob Fleischer, a humble Christian, the initiator
and namer of the conference, and the only moderator to have served
continuously from CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE's outset.

Shalom,
Richard

    Congratulation to CP and to Bob Fleischer for his efforts.
    
    I certainly have benefited enormously from this conference.
    
    
                                 Patricia

Let peace shine in each of us,
  bright enough for all to see,
clear enough for all to follow.*

HAPPY NEW YEAR
(Rosh Hashanah)


Shalom,
Richard

*Courtesy of a greetings card I purchased.

    
    Well Done, Bob!!!
    
    Don't get over here often, but always appreciate it that it *is* here.
    
    Cindy

    - Feast of Trumpets is still going on.
    - Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is Wednesday.
    - Feast of Tabernacles starts this Sunday night.
    
    Also all this month is "Praying for the 10-40 Window."  See the last
    topic created in Christian today for more info and what cities to pray
    for each day.
    
    Mike

    	Oct 13.  The day the sun danced.

    Sharon and I married each other (literally) sixteen years ago today.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Happy anniversary, old timer.

happy anniversary to you richard and sharon!




andreas.

    
    Mike, guess how many years I've been with DEC...
    
    	Yup. 15.

    	Scary, ain't it. (In my Bugs Bunny voice)

    congratulations, Richard.

>    Mike, guess how many years I've been with DEC...
>    	Yup. 15.
>    	Scary, ain't it. (In my Bugs Bunny voice)
    
    when were you hired?  where?
    
    Mike ;-)

14.335, 14.336, 14.338

Thank you all.

I'm a little sad with the realization that if my first marriage had survived,
we would have celebrated our 25th anniversary this year.

Richard

                                                                        
    I got you both beat, Eric and Mike - I've been here for 16.5 years now. 
    (;^)  (Though unfortunately I'm now working for a vendor as part of the
    ingenious plan to 'Let's Just Outsource the Technical Writers'.)
    
    Congratulations Richard!  Though I know what you mean...had my marriage
    survived, it would have been 15 years next year.  Fortunately for me 
    and my continued health and wellbeing, it only lasted for half that time.
    
    Cindy

My calendar indicates that today is United Nations Day.

Some consider the United Nations to be sinister.  Others believe it has done
a lot of good.

Shalom,
Richard

_    /|            _    /|             _    /|            _    /|
\'o.O'             \'o.O'              \'o.O'             \'o.O'
=(___)=   Aack!!!  =(___)=   Aack!!!   =(___)=   Aack!!!  =(___)=   Aack!!!
   U                  U                   U                  U

    It is no secret that anything good can become corrupt.  The Pharisees
    for example.
    
    The UN is taking upon itself more responsibility than I would care to
    relinquish.  It needs severe reorganization and focus on intent.
    
    -Jack

Ephesians 5:11
    And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead
    even expose them. (NASB)

    Translation:  Halloween is Satan's Christmas.  (My version)
    
    Funny but I kind of feel like Lot's wife with this one.  I grew up in a
    neighborhood with about 200 kids and Halloween was an absolute blast!
    And yet I am still compelled to take my children to Pizza Hut this
    evening for Pizza and good family fun!  Running from it but tending to
    look back!!
    
    -Jack

| <<< Note 14.347 by MKOTS3::JMARTIN "I press on toward the goal" >>>


| Funny but I kind of feel like Lot's wife with this one.  


	You're made of salt? :-)

    Ha ha ha...
    
    Grrrrrrrrr..........

    Halloween is derived from the Pagan holiday Sahaim.  It is perhaps one
    of the holiest days of the Pagan calendar and should not be made fun
    off.
    
    Satan is an invention of Christianity and should not be linked to the
    Pagan holy day!
    
    
                                         Patricia

    Interesting.  First you state that the Pagan holiday should not be made
    fun of and then you insult the Words of Christ.
    
    "He was a liar from the beginning and there is no truth in him.  For
    whenever he speaks he speaks from his own nature.  For he is a liar,
    and the father of lies!"
    
    -Jack

re Satan as an "Invention of Christianity"

It appears that no matter how many times you are proven the truth, you
will continue to repeat the falsehood.

/john

Paganism and Satanism are unrelated.  Pagans do not recognize the deity
or spiritual being called Satan.

Though Satan is not original to Christianity, the Christian notion of Satan
is not identical to the Jewish notion of Satan.

Richard

    Satan, Samhain, Lucifer, there is no difference.

    	Halloween (All Halloweds Eve) was originally celebrated by
    	early Christians in Rome shortly after the end of the Christian
    	persecutions in the first centuries of the Church.  During
    	the persecutions it was well known the bravery of the
    	martyrs who died for their faith, and that death was often
    	gruesome, painful, humiliating, slow.  Professing one's 
    	faith meant dying at the claws of the lion, or torture,
    	or crucifixion, etc., usually after watching your children
    	die first.
    
    	When that ended, Christians wanted to celebrate the valor
    	of their hero martyrs, and remembered them by dressing as
    	them and acting out their passions in plays.  Gruesome
    	costumes depicted the harrowing tortures endured by their
    	heroes -- flayings, maulings, beheadings, burnings.  St.
    	Sebastian was shot through with arrows from a firing squad
    	of archers, only to survive and continue preaching.  When
    	he was caught again he was finally blugeoned to death.
    	Other costumes depicted the evil beings who could perpetrate
    	such heinous deaths.
    
    	Originally All Halloweds Eve was celebrated in the spring,
    	but befitting the earthly death that occurs in late fall
    	as winter approaches, and because Rome was better supplied
    	right after the harvest to support the influx of celebrants
    	and pilgrims, it was moved to its current time on the calendar.

    Actually they moved it to reach the Druids in Europe.

.352 John Covert

>re Satan as an "Invention of Christianity"

>It appears that no matter how many times you are proven the truth, you
>will continue to repeat the falsehood.

John,

What is the truth and where is the proof?

Regarding halloween in general, what does it matter what it used to 
represent. It obviously has a vastly different (and pretty benign) meaning 
today.

Steve

    Steve:
    
    In the context of a CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE conference, The proof is in
    the words of Jesus Christ in the gospel of John.  If you believe the
    gospel of John is forgery, or bunk, then that is your perogative but it
    is considered valid proof in Christian circles.  Jesus believed in the
    person of Satan.
    
    -Jack

    .358
    
    Jack,
    
    Pagans aren't Christians, but they're not Satanists, either.  Why is
    there such a tendency to lump them all together?  Would you lump
    Moslems with Buddhists?
    
    Richard
    

    Understood!

    
    > Would you lump Moslems with Buddhists?

    Some would -- the binary thinkers. There are those who see everything,
    everything but their personal vision of Christianity, as a cult, as a
    false teaching and therefore by definition the product of Satan's
    influence. 

    Eric 

    Mike,
    
    The only difference to me is whether a particular religion or a
    particular understanding of a religion is a religion of love or a
    religion of hate.
    
    All true religions of love, reveal the divine.
    
    All religions of hate do not reveal the divine and are not redemptive.
    
    I am tolerant of all religions of love.
    
    I stand steady and intolerant of all religions of hate!
    
    Satanism (if it exists) is not Paganism.
    
    It is my opinion  that much of current day Paganism is a
    demytholigizing and remytholigizing of Christianity in its most
    revelatory form.
    
    It is a rejection of that in Christianity that tends to the separation
    of people into children of light and children of darkness.
    
    It is a rejection of the notion of a God that selects some specifically
    for depravity and then hates those whom are selected for depravity.
    
    It is a rejection of the God of Warfare potrayed in certain parts of
    the Bible.(i.e. the book of Judges)
    
    It is a acceptance and appreciation of the spirit of love,
    connectivity, and wholeness.
    
    Paganism, is a rejection of the male only  identification of the
    divine.

>Regarding halloween in general, what does it matter what it used to 
>represent. It obviously has a vastly different (and pretty benign) meaning 
>today.
    
    Somebody forgot to tell Satan this.

�    > Would you lump Moslems with Buddhists?
�
�    Some would -- the binary thinkers. There are those who see everything,
�    everything but their personal vision of Christianity, as a cult, as a
�    false teaching and therefore by definition the product of Satan's
�    influence. 

    Correct, it goes back to the source.

    Eric:
    
    The testing of the spirits is supported in not only the Old Testament
    but also the gospels and the epistles.
    
    -Jack

    
    See what I mean...

.363 Heiser

>Regarding halloween in general, what does it matter what it used to 
>represent. It obviously has a vastly different (and pretty benign) meaning 
>today.
    
    Somebody forgot to tell Satan this.

Huh?

    Satan likes it when people don't believe in him.  Makes his job much
    easier, it does.

Cindy Painter's birthday.

Many felicitations on this, the occasion of yet another complete solar
revolution since your birth.

(Tooting of Horns, Tossing of Confetti)

With love,
Cousin Richard

    
    Thanks Cousin!  (;^)                                                  
    
    Cindy (picking the confetti out of everything now, and having lots of fun!)

                                 Happy New Year!

	Lo! he comes, with clouds descending...

	Every eye shall now behold him,
	  Robed in dreadful majesty;
	Those who set at naught and sold him,
	  Pierced, and nailed him to the tree,
	  ||| Deeply wailing, |||
	Shall the true Messiah see.

    ... Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.

14.371  Thank you, John Covert, for reminding us.

Wednesday, December 6, is the Feast of Saint Nicholas.  I remember because
it is the evening that a local UU pastor annually treats the other church
staff to dinner at a restaurant of his choosing.  My spouse used to be DRE,
Director of Religious Education, at the church.

Shalom,
Richard

    Today is the Third Sunday of Advent.
    
    Hanukkah begins at sundown.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent 1995.

This evening is the eighth of Hanukkah.
It is also Christmas Eve.

Shalom,
Richard

    Today is the first day of calendar year 1996 and the eighth day of
    Christmas.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Today is the twelfth day of Christmas.  Tomorrow is Epiphany.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    The Twelth thing that Christ-mas is such a pain to me...
    
    Singing Christmas Carols...
    Cooking for the in laws...
    Batteries not included...
    Waaaaaa...I want a choo choo...
    Five...Months of Bills....
    Sending those greeting cards...
    Hangovers....
    STRINGING UP THEM LIGHTS...
    And a day of finding a tree....
    

Genesis 37:19-20 (KJV)

And they said one to another, Behold, this �dreamer� cometh.
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him
into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured
him: and we shall see what will become of his �dreams.�

 ZZ    and we shall see what will become of his �dreams.�
    
    And society has made progress in SPITE of racist bigots like Farrakhan,
    Sharpton and Jesse Jackson!
    
    -Jack

<----do you ever think, before you write?

    
    Is there a reason why your list only includes black men as racist
    bigots? 

    FWIW, I not impressed with the 'progress' that has been made. In fact I
    would say that over the past decade or so we have seen more regression
    than progression in race relations. 

    Eric

    Glen:
    
    You should talk!  I believe my examples of racist bigots are perfect
    although I will commend Jesse Jackson, a man not looked upon too highly
    by MLK, for having the decency to apologize whenever he put his foot in
    his mouth.
    
    Eric:
    
    I have to disagree with you.  While I do agree there is more tolerance
    in general, I believe racism is just as alive and well as it used to
    be.  Otherwise, our friends of the left persuasion would eliminate the
    programs which tend to fan the flames of racism in the first place.  
    Eric, the reason I picked all black leaders was to keep it in context
    with the verse Richard used...
    
   ZZZ  and we shall see what will become of his �dreams.�
    
    Those who claim to be MLK's predecessors are botching it up....the ones
    I referred to.  
    
    Racism is still present.  It is just a little more subliminal than it
    used to be.  Take Glen's snide remark a few back.  Clearly a guy
    without the guts to admit racism exists from both sides!
    
    -Jack

    
    Well, I don't think institutional racism is as bad as it once was. For
    that I give credit to the programs of 'our friends of the left
    persuasion.' I do think that socialized or personalized racism is on
    the rise. 

    >...which tend to fan the flames of racism in the first place.  

    I am sad to say that your listing *only* black men as racist bigots
    certainly fanned something in me.

    > I picked all black leaders was to keep it in context with the verse
    > Richard used...
    >    
    >   ZZZ  and we shall see what will become of his �dreams.�
    >    
    > Those who claim to be MLK's predecessors are botching it up....the ones
    > I referred to.  

    I fail to see the context that you cite. None but Jackson claim any
    kinship to the legacy of Dr. King Farrakhan, in fact, is quit anti-MLK
    - hardly what I would call one claiming to be heir to MLK's dream (I
    thing you meant heir, not predecessor). 

    In any case, of all the way you could have said "and yet we strive
    forward despite the actions of racists, both white and black," I found
    that particular reply (not you personally) lacking in sensitivity
    and historical perspective.

    I am sure you did not mean to imply that the only racists you see are
    black. I will not belabor the point further. 

| <<< Note 14.382 by MKOTS3::JMARTIN "I press on toward the goal" >>>

| You should talk!  

	Splain, please.

| I believe my examples of racist bigots are perfect 

	This is true, you do believe this. Now maybe you will care to tell us
why?

| Take Glen's snide remark a few back. Clearly a guy without the guts to admit 
| racism exists from both sides!

	I luv this claim. You make several one, infact. Yet you seem to be
wrong much more than right. This is another one of those examples.


Glen

Can everyone who is making backbiting remarks (whether playfully intended
or not) please stop?

Richard

.382

>    ...although I will commend Jesse Jackson, a man not looked upon too highly
>    by MLK,...

What are the facts around the allegation that Jesse Jackson was "a man not
looked upon too highly by MLK"?

>    Eric, the reason I picked all black leaders was to keep it in context
>    with the verse Richard used...
    
>   ZZZ  and we shall see what will become of his �dreams.�

The connection eludes me also.

>    Those who claim to be MLK's predecessors are botching it up....the ones
>    I referred to.

You realize that predecessors are the ones who come before, not after, don't
you?
    
Richard

    >   ZZZ  and we shall see what will become of his �dreams.�
    
  ZZ  The connection eludes me also.
    
    No offense Richard, but as usual you started this by posting a verse
    from Genesis that coming from you could only have some sort of symbolic
    meaning.  MLK said that he had a dream and you quoted above that we
    will see what becomes of his dreams.  I assume you took what was
    written about Joseph and applied it to MLK.  Therefore, I was
    commenting on what became of MLKs dream.  What came of it is simply
    this.  MLK's heirs can't even stand in his shadow, and they have
    espoused the very opposite concepts MLK had about peaceful dissent.  I
    believe my comments regarding the three I mentioned are NOT backbiting,
    they are truth.  They squandered what MLK stood for.  I believe it
    would be intellectually disingenuous to believe otherwise.
    
    
    >    Those who claim to be MLK's predecessors are botching it up....the
    ones
    >    I referred to.
    
Z    You realize that predecessors are the ones who come before, not after,
Z    don't you?
    
    Opps...thanks for the correction.  
    
    -Jack

    ;-}
    

    Today is the day known as "Fat Tuesday."
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    *<8*}
    

    The first day of Spring, the Vernal Equinox.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Spring?  Oh, that must be why we have 6" of snow on the ground...  8^)

    PAGANS!
    
    :^)
    Eric

    May you all have a JOYOUS Easter!
    
    Eric

    February 12 is Ash Wednesday this year, the beginning of Lent.
    

    Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
    

    Holy Thursday.
    

    One of those questions that comes up from time to time....
    
    Doesn't Holy Thursday actually begin on Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM?!
    
    If that were the case, then Good Friday would begin in a few hours!
    
    -Jack

    .412
    
    Umm...hadn't thought about it.  I suppose by traditional Jewish
    reckoning, that would be right.
    
    Richard
    

However, the Maundy Thursday celebration actually commemorates things that
happened this evening:

1. The Maundy (I give you a new commandment: to love each other as I have
   loved you).

2. The institution of the Lord's Supper.

/john

Kinda humbling

As at this hour, Our Lord was hanging upon the tree of death, which for us
has become the way to life.

THE REPROACHES

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. Because I brought thee forth from the land of Egypt: thou hast prepared a 
Cross for thy Saviour.

R. Agios 0 Theos.  Holy God.  Agios ischyros.  Holy, Mighty.  Agios 
athanatos, eleison imas.  Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.

V. Because I led thee through the desert forty years, and fed thee with 
manna, and brought thee into a land exceeding good: thou hast prepared a 
Cross for thy Saviour.

R. Agios 0 Theos.  Holy God.  Agios ischyros.  Holy, Mighty.  Agios 
athanatos, eleison imas.  Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.

V. What more could I have done for thee that I have not done?  I indeed did 
plant thee, 0 my vineyard, with exceeding fair fruit: and thou art become 
very bitter unto me: for vinegar, mingled with gall, thou gavest me when 
thirsty: and hast pierced with a spear the side of thy Saviour.

R. Agios 0 Theos.  Holy God.  Agios ischyros.  Holy, Mighty.  Agios 
athanatos, eleison imas.  Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.

V. I did scourge Egypt with her first-born for thy sake: and thou hast 
scourged me and delivered me up.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I led thee forth out of Egypt, drowning Pharaoh in the Red Sea: and thou 
hast delivered me up unto the chief priests.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did open the sea before thee: and thou hast opened my side with a 
spear.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did go before thee in the pillar of cloud: and thou hast led me unto 
the judgment hall of Pilate.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did feed thee with manna in the desert: and thou hast stricken me with 
blows and scourges.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did give thee to drink the water of life from the rock: and thou hast 
given me to drink but gall and vinegar.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did smite the kings of the Canaanites for thy sake: and thou hast 
smitten my head with a reed.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did give thee a royal scepter: and thou hast given unto my head a crown 
of thorns.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

V. I did raise thee on high with great power: and thou hast hanged me upon 
the gibbet of the Cross.

R. 0 my people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee?  
Testify against me.

Rejoice now, all ye heavenly legions of Angels: all high things that
pass understanding: and celebrate the divine mysteries with exultation,
and for the King that cometh with victory, let the trumpet proclaim
salvation.

Sing with joy, O earth, illumined with this celestial radiancy: and
enlightened by the eternal God, thy glory, believe and know that
thou has put away the darkness of all mankind.

So likewise let our Mother, his holy Church, welcome the bright
beams of light shed upon her: and let his holy courts be filled
with the praise of his people.

It is very meet and right, that with the service of our lips we
should glorify thee, and with heart and soul should praise thee,
O God the Invisible and Almighty, and likewise thy only-begotten
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, who paid for us to thee,
O Eternal Father, the debt of Adam's transgression: and with his
dear Blood wiped away the reproach of our former offenses.

Now therefore we sacrifice our Passover, wherein for us the very
Lamb of God is slain, by whose blood the doors of the faithful
people are made holy.

Now is come the night, wherein our fathers, the children of Israel,
were led forth out of Egypt; thou dividedst the sea, and madest
them to go on dry land in the midst of the waters.

Yea, now is come the night, that with the fiery pillar hath purged
away the darkness of our condemnation.

Now is come the night, whereby all that believe in Christ upon the face
of the earth, delivered from this naughty world and out of the shadow
of death, are renewed unto grace, and are made partakers of eternal
life.  Now is come the night, wherein the bonds of death were loosed,
and Christ harrowing hell rose again in triumph.

For wherefore should man be born into this world, save that being
born he might be redeemed?  How wonderful then, O God, is thy
loving-kindness unto us thy children!  Behold, what manner of love
he hath bestowed upon us:  who to redeem a servant, delivered up
his only Son!

O how great is thy providence in man's necessity, to make by the
Blood of Christ from Adam's sin our salvation!  O blessed iniquity,
for whose redemption such a price was paid by such a Saviour; O
night verily blessed, to thee alone that time and that hour were
made manifest, when our Saviour Christ rose again from death unto
life!  Now is come the night, whereof David said: Behold, the night
is as clear as the day:  Then shall my night be turned into day.

The mystery therefore of this most holy night putteth to flight the
deeds of darkness, purgeth away sin: restoreth innocence to the
fallen, and gladness unto them that mourn: casteth out hatred,
bringeth peace to all mankind, and boweth down mighty princes.

Therefore in this night of grace, accept, 0 holy Father, the
evening sacrifice of this lighted candle, which as at this time thy
holy Church maketh before thee, and offereth to thee by the hands
of thy servants, the work of the bees thy creatures. Ye hear,
brethren, the meaning of this pillar we have set up, whereunto
in God's honor the bright flame of fire doth set light. Which though
it be never so much divided, yet knoweth not variableness nor loseth
aught of its splendor.  For the wax that melteth doth but feed the
flame, for thereunto have the creatures of God's hand brought it
forth, that it should give light in darkness.

0 night verily blessed, which did spoil the people of Egypt, and
enrich the Hebrews!  0 night, wherein heaven and earth are joined,
and mankind is brought close to God.

We pray thee therefore, 0 most merciful: that this candle which
we have lighted and consecrated before thee in thy own name,
may continue to shine forth without ceasing, and may vanquish
all the shades of darkness. That being accepted before thee as a
sweet savor, it may be numbered with the lights that thou hast
kindled. May the day-star find it burning when he dawneth into
day: the day-star that riseth, and knoweth not his going down:
but coming forth from the places of darkness gladly giveth forth
light unto all creation.

We beseech thee, therefore, 0 Lord most merciful: that thou
wouldest direct and guide us thy servants, and the hearts of
all thy faithful family: and all those also that minister in thy
service: so helping us with continual grace, that we may
pass our time in rest and quietness, in the glad solemnity of
our redemption. Do thou also have respect unto those who
rule in authority over us, and by the unspeakable gift of thy
love and pity direct their thoughts unto righteousness and
peace, that they, together with all thy people, may come
from the toils of this world unto their heavenly country.

Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord: Who liveth
and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one
God, world without end. Amen.

    May our lives reflect more the emptiness of the tomb that could not
    hold back the Divine, than of the chocolate Easter bunny --
    attractively packaged, but hollow.
    
    Richard
    

    Well said!!!

    Anyone celebrate Good Wednesday?

It came on Friday this year.

/john

    You mean Holy Wednesday by the gregorian calender???

No, Mike believes that the crucifixion took place two days earlier, on
Wednesday, rather than on Friday.

He uses some very poor biblical scholarship and a complete misunderstanding
of Hebrew idiom and culture to arrive at his conclusion.

/john

    ;-)  Good one, John.

    
    Actually, the Gregorian calendar is 4-6 years off on the birth of
    Christ.  We know that Christ was born between 4 adn 6 BCE.  That means
    that instead of 1997, this is really at least CE 2001 and at most CE
    2003.  Mankind has already made it to the third millenia.  We're just
    waiting for the calendars to catch up.

>    Mankind has already made it to the third millenia.

    You mean "Heaven's Gate" got onto the wrong comet?

    they got onto a lot of wrong things.

The Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Mt. Carmel compound of the Branch Davidians near Waco, Texas

Ruby Ridge, Idaho

Are these not connected by the date?
    

    You forgot Patriots day, and the execution of another sympathizer on
    april 19, 1995.  
    
    

    aka Whitsunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter.