Easter

[Nurvingiel]

Nooooo one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise, surprise and fear. Our two weapons are... [/Python]


That's interesting stuff JD. Well, it's off on Easter holidays for me! I have to admit that the holiday that goes with Easter is foremost in my mind, over religious and cultural meanings. I really, really needed this holiday.

Glad Påsk!

[Lief Erikson]

I've only seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," so I don't recognize the quote. I loved that film .

[Earniel]

Zalig Pasen! (Happy Easter)

Here we have the Easter Hare because of the nice alliteration it gives in Dutch (Easter Hare = Paashaas). But I was wondering if anyone also has the tradition of the flying Easter Bells? In my family it wasn't the hare or bunny that came to deliver the chocolate eggs but the Easter Bells, even a whole flock of them.

My parents made my sister believe in a little bell that usually came a little earlier and saw everything. And everytime she would pester her little sister (being me) that little bell would write it down in a little note book and then she would get less eggs.

[me9996]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

Remember Me9996, the Spanish Inquisition was full of "Christians" as well .

True, but you could do that to any religon...

(For example: The moors were muslem)

[Lief Erikson]

Originally Posted by me9996

True, but you could do that to any religon...

I absolutely agree. That doesn't matter though. My point is that just because some people call themselves Christian, that doesn't mean that they are. When I call myself a Christian, I might still be an unrepentant, stuck-up, arrogant, selfish, cruel, devious, greedy, conniving, griping, whining, gluttonous, peevish, snottish, vicious, callous lump of fiendish, malicious, brutal, cutting, sniping, biting vices. In short, I might not be a true Christian at all. The title "Christian" says nothing about who a person is, and little about whether they are saved or not. That's my opinion .

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Zalig Pasen! (Happy Easter)

Here we have the Easter Hare because of the nice alliteration it gives in Dutch (Easter Hare = Paashaas). But I was wondering if anyone also has the tradition of the flying Easter Bells? In my family it wasn't the hare or bunny that came to deliver the chocolate eggs but the Easter Bells, even a whole flock of them.

My parents made my sister believe in a little bell that usually came a little earlier and saw everything. And everytime she would pester her little sister (being me) that little bell would write it down in a little note book and then she would get less eggs.

What do these bells look like? Are you talking of beautiful people, as in the French use of the term, or ringing bells? I've never heard of that before, but it sounds fun .

[me9996]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

I absolutely agree. That doesn't matter though. My point is that just because some people call themselves Christian, that doesn't mean that they are. When I call myself a Christian, I might still be an unrepentant, stuck-up, arrogant, selfish, cruel, devious, greedy, conniving, griping, whining, gluttonous, peevish, snottish, vicious, callous lump of fiendish, malicious, brutal, cutting, sniping, biting vices. In short, I might not be a true Christian at all. The title "Christian" says nothing about who a person is, and little about whether they are saved or not. That's my opinion .

What do these bells look like? Are you talking of beautiful people, as in the French use of the term, or ringing bells? I've never heard of that before, but it sounds fun .

Yes but it meens they're going to heven when they die...

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

What do these bells look like? Are you talking of beautiful people, as in the French use of the term, or ringing bells? I've never heard of that before, but it sounds fun .

Heheh. No, no belles. Although I imagine a lot of people would want to believe in those.

No, the bells I mean are like church bells. And in the sense of Easter Bells, they come with faces and often cute little wings. (Darn, I tried googling for an image but I can't find good enough drawing. I'll have to concoct something myself...)

[Lief Erikson]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Heheh. No, no belles. Although I imagine a lot of people would want to believe in those.

Lol!

Originally Posted by Eärniel

No, the bells I mean are like church bells. And in the sense of Easter Bells, they come with faces and often cute little wings. (Darn, I tried googling for an image but I can't find good enough drawing. I'll have to concoct something myself...)

You've got me imagining a cross between a fairy and a cupid .

Originally Posted by me9996

Yes but it meens they're going to heven when they die...

Actually, it doesn't. Paul describes wolves coming among the flock, but I'm not talking about only that. I can't find the scripture at the moment, but Jesus himself says that many people will call on him but will not be saved, because he never knew them. Even some of them will be miracle workers and people that have cast out demons. Even people God has used so strongly as that won't all be saved. It's in the scripture. I just don't have time to find the passages for you, at the moment. If I call myself a Christian, that's not enough to know that I'm saved. I'll say a bit more on this soon; at the moment I have to help my sister make some pizza. It's not all grim news! It's just that Jesus requires committed disciples, and most people that call themselves Christian in my opinion are not committed disciples. I'll get to you on this soon.

[me9996]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

Lol!

You've got me imagining a cross between a fairy and a cupid .

Actually, it doesn't. Paul describes wolves coming among the flock, but I'm not talking about only that. I can't find the scripture at the moment, but Jesus himself says that many people will call on him but will not be saved, because he never knew them. Even some of them will be miracle workers and people that have cast out demons. Even people God has used so strongly as that won't all be saved. It's in the scripture. I just don't have time to find the passages for you, at the moment. If I call myself a Christian, that's not enough to know that I'm saved. I'll say a bit more on this soon; at the moment I have to help my sister make some pizza. It's not all grim news! It's just that Jesus requires committed disciples, and most people that call themselves Christian in my opinion are not committed disciples. I'll get to you on this soon.

Some say they're christans...

[Lief Erikson]

Note to Admins: This is the only such message I will send on this thread! I won't discuss religion in depth anymore here after this post. If me9996 and I have anymore discussion on this, it will be over PM. Please spare this message .

To me9996

My main point above was that not all people that believe they are Christians are real Christians. Many of them aren't. In fact, I think that probably most of them aren't, which is truly tragic for our religion. It says in the scripture that those who believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord are saved. Now if someone believes something, he'll act on it. Jesus said, "if anyone would come after me, he must take up his cross and follow me." He also said that they must be willing to give up everything for him, including family and friends- nothing must come before him. He made some very, very demanding moral and ethical assertions. A lot of people think that after they're Christian, they're home free to do what they want. That is absolutely not the truth, and people like that are often really bad examples for everyone around them. Jesus said to his disciples, "be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect." That is the goal that we aspire to, that we strive to fulfill. Most Christians couldn't handle the rigorous words of Jesus. They think they are Christian, but they aren't. So the fact that I call myself a Christian isn't that impressive. If you see Christ through my actions, then that is good.

One extremely good piece of news is that we don't have to fulfill the rigorous teachings of Jesus on our own. He said, "my yoke is heavy and my burden is light." When Jesus comes into your heart, when you believe in him, he helps to change you from inside out. He may actually sometimes speak to you so that you can hear him. As you come closer and closer in your relationship with him, he will purge your life of his own choice of those things that are bad. So that's good, my great relief . He's in control. By ourselves, we cannot succeed in following his teachings. None of us can. However, when we are born again, Jesus comes into our lives in a very literal way. Spiritually he is inside us, transforming us. We can expect him to change us, though we ought to help him. If he puts something on our conscience, we should pray about it. We can try to change, and Christ will change us, and we all the time know that we are forgiven.

Anyway, I think that's basically it. If you have any response, or any questions or arguments or anything, please send it over PM.

[Nurvingiel]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

I've only seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," so I don't recognize the quote. I loved that film .

Me too! I've seen it upwards of twelve times. The Spanish Inquisition sketches are greatness.

If you want to keep talking about religion on the board you could always bump "The REAL debate thread for RELIGION". (Just so you know you have the option.)

[Earniel]

Okay, let's get back to the things that matter: chocolate!

Hm, maybe I am too one-track-mind for this.

Anyway, I had a little fun with Paint to give you an idea of an Easter Bell that sometimes delivers the chocolate eggs in these parts. Oh, and I remember they were said to come from Rome every year.

[Nurvingiel]

Awww that's really cute!

But it's delivering those eggs in a rather questionable manner... oh yeah, it's just a bell!

I like different countries' Easter traditions. In Belarus Easter is celebrated at a different time. (I forget when though. )

[Lief Erikson]

I forgot about that thread. Good idea, Nurvi!

We are about to start our egg hunt now. We have just finished eating one of the most delicious lunches imaginable (to me ), homemade pizza burgers. It may not sound that good, but it IS. It IS. !!!!!!!!! Our morning was taken up by five opossums (how do you spell that?). We had so much wind last night that five of babies fell out of one of the trees in our backyard. One died and the other four were scrabbling around, amazingly cute. We took them to an animal shelter. Now we are entering the afternoon . . . the more chocolate coated part of our Easter .

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

But it's delivering those eggs in a rather questionable manner... oh yeah, it's just a bell!

Trust me, most children don't question it.

I like different countries' Easter traditions. In Belarus Easter is celebrated at a different time. (I forget when though. )

I know the koptic christians use a different calendar. My sister is currently staying at a koptic village in Egypt and she says Easter there falls only around the end of the April or so.

[EDIT: Happy egg hunt, Lief. Mine's only starting tomorrow.]

[Lief Erikson]

Pretty much finished with the egg hunt now. I was the first to get all I was allowed . And that's despite being a little late to begin, because I was finishing a post on this thread.

[Janny]

Lief, may I? Unless I am much mistaken, you are 17 years old? Pray tell, where are you finding the hunts that let you join in?! I want in!!!

[Lief Erikson]

Originally Posted by Janny

Lief, may I? Unless I am much mistaken, you are 17 years old? Pray tell, where are you finding the hunts that let you join in?! I want in!!!

Nineteen . Home.

[me9996]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

Note to Admins: This is the only such message I will send on this thread! I won't discuss religion in depth anymore here after this post. If me9996 and I have anymore discussion on this, it will be over PM. Please spare this message .

To me9996

My main point above was that not all people that believe they are Christians are real Christians. Many of them aren't. In fact, I think that probably most of them aren't, which is truly tragic for our religion. It says in the scripture that those who believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord are saved. Now if someone believes something, he'll act on it. Jesus said, "if anyone would come after me, he must take up his cross and follow me." He also said that they must be willing to give up everything for him, including family and friends- nothing must come before him. He made some very, very demanding moral and ethical assertions. A lot of people think that after they're Christian, they're home free to do what they want. That is absolutely not the truth, and people like that are often really bad examples for everyone around them. Jesus said to his disciples, "be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect." That is the goal that we aspire to, that we strive to fulfill. Most Christians couldn't handle the rigorous words of Jesus. They think they are Christian, but they aren't. So the fact that I call myself a Christian isn't that impressive. If you see Christ through my actions, then that is good.

One extremely good piece of news is that we don't have to fulfill the rigorous teachings of Jesus on our own. He said, "my yoke is heavy and my burden is light." When Jesus comes into your heart, when you believe in him, he helps to change you from inside out. He may actually sometimes speak to you so that you can hear him. As you come closer and closer in your relationship with him, he will purge your life of his own choice of those things that are bad. So that's good, my great relief . He's in control. By ourselves, we cannot succeed in following his teachings. None of us can. However, when we are born again, Jesus comes into our lives in a very literal way. Spiritually he is inside us, transforming us. We can expect him to change us, though we ought to help him. If he puts something on our conscience, we should pray about it. We can try to change, and Christ will change us, and we all the time know that we are forgiven.

Anyway, I think that's basically it. If you have any response, or any questions or arguments or anything, please send it over PM.

Now I see what you're saying, as my pastor says:"Sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car"
I'll stop now.

[Lief Erikson]

I am excited! My Easter is nearly over, now. We did the egg hunt. My youngest brother was having trouble finding anything, so I prayed that the Lord would show him where the final egg was- the toughest one, the one that we all get bonuses for. Apparently the Lord agreed with me, so he showed the youngest of us where the toughest egg was. Very pleasant .

Then Dad gave us a great logic problem which took us hours to solve, in order to find our Easter baskets. Luckily, I didn't need to figure that out on my own. My other siblings helped, and I bore a fair piece of the work. It was tough. Dad is skilled at things like that, him being a mathmetician. My Easter basket has several of the spiritually inclined books that delight me. This Easter has been a splendid one . I'm just about done. We didn't manage to see "The Passion." Oh well. It's still been marvelous, and I'm very happy.

What were some of your Easters like? Do, do, do tell!