How to Avoid a Blue Christmas

[Johny Joe Hold]

Each Christmas there is discussion about those who do not have family, friends or some circle of people for fun and fellowship. We here at Landover Baptist have suggestions of ways to make Christmas a wonderful time.

First and foremost, be generous. A card for each of our Pastors with some cash will be noticed and appreciated. When our Pastors know your name you are well on your way into the circle of our church. Cards with cash in them are warm ways to thank your Republican politicians. Being a known Republican will bring you happiness for years. Lastly, attend Landover Baptist Church on Christmas Eve. Most churches have beautiful music and an Christian-lite messages. Pastor Zeke comes down on sin. I look forward to this sermon every year.

5 practical steps to cope with holiday blues and loneliness

[MitzaLizalor]

Although not experiencing loneliness myself, in conversations I've heard the most dreadful advice.

“Oh, I'm not doing anything this year, just be a quiet afternoon in with my pudding.” [translation: I haven't done anything last year either or the year before that and probably will still be doing nothing in five years' time.]

“Well, don't stop in! Meet up with us at the nearest {bar} {rave} {sauna & plunge pool} {pub} {Chinatown fermented horse milk festival} {other} (DELETE AS APPROPRIATE) there's always someone there to talk to!”

“That's a good idea.” [translation: You're obviously all mad.—.even though I don't know any benchmark sane persons.—.and you'll probably sell me to the Arabs.]

We all know the sorts of events put on by Santa Clauses and the like, aka the demiurge of the solstice, invariably fancy dress is required with prizes for those wearing the least fabric or even dressing oneself in tree decorations, shiny baubles, little bells. Honestly, can you even imagine sitting in a sauna done up like a bedecked conifer? And as for the Arabs, they'd be the least of her worries! Mediterranean hareems are quite well-appointed, apparently, and Arabians surely want to outdo "them" i.e. Libyans, Sicilians and the like (although Libya may have gone downhill a bit recently) surrounded with woven wall hangings, precious gemstones, they presumably feed you. But to God, we are ourselves jewels and as Christians we are never lonely.
.

Malachi 3:16a 17b
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another
. . . And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that
day when I make up my jewels & I will spare them as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him.

No thank you, Satan. I belong to Jesus.

[GanduHindu]

Each Christmas there is discussion about those who do not have family, friends or some circle of people for fun and fellowship. We here at Landover Baptist have suggestions of ways to make Christmas a wonderful time.

First and foremost, be generous. A card for each of our Pastors with some cash will be noticed and appreciated. When our Pastors know your name you are well on your way into the circle of our church. Cards with cash in them are warm ways to thank your Republican politicians. Being a known Republican will bring you happiness for years. Lastly, attend Landover Baptist Church on Christmas Eve. Most churches have beautiful music and an Christian-lite messages. Pastor Zeke comes down on sin. I look forward to this sermon every year.

5 practical steps to cope with holiday blues and loneliness

On a side note, Mayor, my friend, you may not hear this often, but I wanted to express my profound gratitude for allowing me to participate in this Godly forum. I can feel the Jesus vibes resonating through my seven Hindu chakras. Energy healing with seances is, in my view, a waste of time and unproductive, but many people believe in it (though I don't, and I just play along for fun).

I noticed the conversation went quiet. I don't want to be the Grinch who stole your Christmas. I would feel terrible about that. So please, carry on. I would return at a more appropriate time in the next calendar year when Jesus wasn't born, died, or ascended to heaven.

Now there's a nice book I'd recommend costing $8 but anyone can PM me for absolutely free access. Only if you want to. If you're a man (or woman) of God, you'd love it. Trust me, a very pleasant read.

[Johny Joe Hold]

On a side note, Mayor, my friend, you may not hear this often, but I wanted to express my profound gratitude for allowing me to participate in this Godly forum. I can feel the Jesus vibes resonating through my seven Hindu chakras. Energy healing with seances is, in my view, a waste of time and unproductive, but many people believe in it (though I don't, and I just play along for fun).


Now there's a nice book I'd recommend costing $8 but anyone can PM me for absolutely free access. Only if you want to. If you're a man (or woman) of God, you'd love it. Trust me, a very pleasant read.

We're happy to have your posts here Most-Grand-of-Hindus. We are experts at converting the fallen and see in you great Christian potential. Once you come to understand the gravity of your sins and the consequences of eternal fire you will come around. We have a crowd of converts.

As to the book you recommended, I looked up reviews. It appears to be a book reflecting two of the most evil words to enter this Godly country, "critical thinking." Ever since Pastor Zeke's father began preaching about sin we have had the truth standing right in front of us. Do we at Landover Baptist have a need to "question everything" or even question anything? Hardly.

[MitzaLizalor]

Trust me, a very pleasant read.

Do you think we haven't heard of Marcuse What next? Kristeva, Foucault and Jacques Derrida? So-o-o last century.

Or the one before that. In fact their economic models predate the Medieval era. At least then there were piles of actual treasure. But a 1% share of a pile is better than 50% of nothing. Did you know Foucault considered insane persons to be rational?

[GanduHindu]

We're happy to have your posts here Most-Grand-of-Hindus. We are experts at converting the fallen and see in you great Christian potential. Once you come to understand the gravity of your sins and the consequences of eternal fire you will come around. We have a crowd of converts.
.....we have had the truth standing right in front of us. Do we at Landover Baptist have a need to "question everything" or even question anything? Hardly.

Well, Mayor, I gave it a fair shot, but as you may have noted, I have been rebuked by none other than your "Man" himself. This got me reflecting on our discussions and contemplating the way forward, if there is one."

I do not understand his erratic behavior. I thought he would be in a better mood on his birthday, but that's not important. Honestly, like everyone else, the Son of God is entitled to his whims and fancies. The issue is I promise to study the ways of the Bible and all, but he can't intrude every time I'm at a Hindu temple or doing something important to Hindus. That's an invasion of privacy. He mentioned keeping track of every movement, bowels, and even involuntary ones. Honestly, that's too intrusive, and I don't feel comfortable with that.

Still, for the sake of rapprochement, if you could put in a good word for me, I would appreciate it and owe you a favor in the future.

The real issue, however, will remain unaddressed. What I've seen from all of you is a tendency to believe in a messianic concept of Jesus's role in history; an intolerance of non-Christian outlooks and values; a pronounced and sustained vilification of my Hindu way of life, and my language - Sanskrit. An insistence on isolating Hindu people from our way of life; a secretiveness and deviousness which many Baptist missionaries in India display on a large scale, sometimes with fatal consequences.

Also, from your team members, I've found a seeming inability to understand anything in the nature of a permanently peaceful and equal relationship between Western Christians and the Hindus, a tendency to view every amicable discussion as being in the nature of a provisional armistice; a tendency to think conflict and argument as the normal, peaceful get-alonging (which you have displayed many times to me) as the provisional and abnormal.

Pray, how do we move ahead, with such a stalemate. I am trying to familiarize myself into your Christian belief system, but the totalitarianism of your boss (the kind of love he demands is what you find in an abusive marriage), is, though not a deal-breaker, extremely, extremely difficult.

[Johny Joe Hold]

Well, Mayor, I gave it a fair shot, but as you may have noted, I have been rebuked by none other than your "Man" himself. This got me reflecting on our discussions and contemplating the way forward, if there is one."

Also, from your team members, I've found a seeming inability to understand anything in the nature of a permanently peaceful and equal relationship between Western Christians and the Hindus, a tendency to view every amicable discussion as being in the nature of a provisional armistice; a tendency to think conflict and argument as the normal, peaceful get-alonging (which you have displayed many times to me) as the provisional and abnormal.

Pray, how do we move ahead, with such a stalemate. I am trying to familiarize myself into your Christian belief system, but the totalitarianism of your boss (the kind of love he demands is what you find in an abusive marriage), is, though not a deal-breaker, extremely, extremely difficult.

GanduHindu--Thank you for that thoughtful post. I'm afraid we have not presented ourselves properly to you. You find "totalitarianism" in the True Christian^tm faith. Nothing could be further from our intentions.

God absolutely recognized the existence of other gods. One of our favorite Commandments tells us, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) Thus, when groups passing through history have fake gods, we acknowledge them but recognize they are mere gods of the mind and do not consider them as important as the real God. We need to remember Moses received the Ten Commandments on a personal visit not with an imaginary god but with the only real God.

I do not agree we have a "stalemate" here. There is definite movement toward agreement that we here at Landover Baptist Church have this thing figured out. We know we are at war with Satan and the sin he tries to slip into our lives. Big Sin is tolerated, maybe even promoted, in other faiths. Homerism is being treated across the globe as some variation in human behavior and not the sin we know it to be.

I encourage you to continue to post here about Sunscript and the out-of-date faith call Hinduism. When Hinduism has been replaced by Christianity your posts here will be mined to learn about this long-abandoned religion. I hope this illustrates our openness and acceptance that other false faiths exist.

[handmaiden]

. . . but [H]e can't intrude every time I'm at a Hindu temple [. . .] That's an invasion of privacy. He mentioned keeping track of every movement, bowels, and even involuntary ones. Honestly, that's too intrusive, and I don't feel comfortable with that.

That's called Omnipresence. It's an aspect of being The One True Divine Being in existence.

[. . .] but the totalitarianism of your boss (the kind of love he demands is what you find in an abusive marriage), is, though not a deal-breaker, extremely, extremely difficult.

what you call "totalitarianism", we call Omnipotence. Again, it's another aspect of being The One True God.

He made everthing that exists, (including us), so He gets to make the rules and any demands that He sees fit. When you can make Light and Dark and water and earth and animals and people, then you can send in your list of demands.

[GanduHindu]

He made everthing that exists, (including us),

So? If I build an aquarium, I don't just start killing off the fish that spawned there. As a good caretaker, I allow them to have fun, and largely stay out of their business. I would only punish the rogue Piranhas.

Unless I'm a mischievous kid that just wants to mess around and that's what this Jesus of yours has displayed here.



[

so He gets to make the rules and any demands that He sees fit.

Thankfully the Hindu conception of God is very different. Our scriptures give us the freedom to question everything including God's existence.

Our aquarium keeper (Krishna) is a sane, rational mind who doesn't lose sleep over what name you use to describe him, or conceive him as a Trinity or a single entity. He doesn't care about what goes on between your ears. It's your actions that count (Karna theory).

You could be a Western Christian or a brainless Moslem but God gives you unconditional love.

The True God is above petty thoughts of jealousy, anger, and hatred. It's all about the self-restraint which humans lack. Unless you're Buddha, but it's a very different topic.

Many other reasons why Eastern religions are superior to Abrahamaic ones.

[handmaiden]

If I build an aquarium, I don't just start killing off the fish that spawned there. As a good caretaker, I allow them to have fun, and largely stay out of their business. I would only punish the rogue Piranhas.

Please read Genesis. God laid one single restriction upon Adam and Eve, which they broached. This made them, in essence, the "rogue piranha" of which you speak.

Thankfully the Hindu conception of God is very different.

You have a "conception" of God. We have instructions given to us by God, who can conceptualize Himself just fine without human help.

. . . Many other reasons why Eastern religions are superior to Abrahamaic ones.

"Superior" to your human way of thinking, but not necessarily true and not at all useful for keeping you out of Hell.

[MitzaLizalor]

Hi

WARNING “On Topic” post follows

I avoided a blue Christmas this year by not attending any faux carol events, where everyone has idiotic plastic smiles, hold little candles like catholics or worse, get out a bunch of idols etc., etc.

Now I'm an easy-going person and as such know how some folk like idols or redefine them & stuff. Sure: they were born deserving of torture, The Bible explains, so making idols isn't going to get them any worse off come perdition. Jesus, on the other hand, does NOT like idols. Whatever is being celebrated using idols—as He defines them—therefore is not celebrating Jesus, as every Christian knows.

Anyone who'd read God's word would know that too. They needn't accept it but they'd know what it taught. And the love described is not unconditional: it is Perfect Love, requiring us to love Jesus and follow His commandments. If we do not reciprocate by loving Him, even though He's made it plain what the alternative is, then it's on us. The suffering He endured to make the invitation is unimaginable so obviously doing the exact opposite of what He commanded, even doing it with candles singing about The Manger, can have no Christian origin.

Yes, I avoided these together with avoiding secular carryings-on, no fancy dress discos, no indoor swimming pool competitions, just remembering Christ and the reason for His Perfect Love, the most conditional love of all.

[GanduHindu]

.....but not necessarily true and not at all useful for keeping you out of Hell.

As a pious Hindu, I'm destined for a beautiful place called Vaikuntha Dham, That's the abode of Vishnu, the real God (confirmed x million times) in every Hindu scripture.

If this Jesus of yours defines that place as Hell, sign me up for it. 🙏😉

To reach Vaikunth Dham, Tlthe path of Krishna as "instructed" in Bhagavad Gita (or Vishnu = same entity, no diffeence) gives very clear sreps. For correct navigation you will have to know Sanskrit. That's the only language God prefers to communicate in.

You can even become God. There is a clear path. It's a very difficult one, almost impossible. But it is there.

Probably this Jesus of yours was one such cunning human who hacked his way through the matrix designed by Vishnu. There's a Sanskrit word for it, "Maya."

And after becoming "God", he's been messing with you all of you since the last 2000 years or so.

Holy Krishna! I have such a beautiful mind.

[GanduHindu]

I encourage you to continue to post here about Sunscript and the out-of-date faith call Hinduism. When Hinduism has been replaced by Christianity your posts here will be mined to learn about this long-abandoned religion. I hope this illustrates our openness and acceptance that other false faiths exist.

Thank you, and I'd love you to try. But as I previously said many times, you'd have to know Sanskrit to attempt that debunking. Think of it as me throwing hints along the way.

Also tell your pal, Jesus if he's serious about his promises made in 2 Peter 3:9, that "none shall perish," then he better come with profound explanations on the following questions important to Hinduism, and not just "wing it" as he previously did on another thread related to his birthday.

• Why Hindu scriptures contain meaningful and logical answers to every question of humanity, viz. Pascal's Wager, The problem of Evil, every fallacy and paradox ever conceived by inferior Western minds. I can support my claims but as all of you are Sanskrit-illiterate, it means twice the task for me. You can't expect me to serve as a translator everytime. According to Hindu beliefs, any human being who doesn't bother to learn Sanskrit is stupid. Yes, that too is stated very clearly in our beliefs.
• Why Hindu scriptures are such an intellectual read. The nuances and philosophical outreach of the Bhagavad Gita far outscales the Bible or anything else conceived by Western minds. Even if you're a non-Hindu, just an objectively minded individual, there's just no comparison. Ask your Jesus why I don't feel even remotely impressed by the Old and New Testaments. (It's like all bleh! to me.) It takes more than a lifetime to absorb Hindu thoughts to a sufficient measure to acquire sufficient understanding. I can finish the Bible in a single seating.
• Why the conduct of most Christians is so un-Christian like, even in the light of the Bible. As a Hindu, I have answers to those questions. But again that requires a proper knowledge of Sanskrit.

Only 3 questions for a start. There'll be 10 more for the next weekend if you and your whole team can answer to my satisfaction.

100 more even difficult questions over the course of 2025. I'm not holding my breath, though, on whether you'll get past the first three.

But I'll be rooting for all of you.

Please, DEBUNK Hinduism and free me from the tyranny of Krishna. 😊😁👍

[handmaiden]

You can even become God. There is a clear path. It's a very difficult one, almost impossible. But it is there.

Genesis 3:22


“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:”


The ambition to "become God" IS the Original Sin. It was Satan's downfall, and then it became humanity's.

[MitzaLizalor]

I would only punish the rogue Piranhas.

Overlooking the fact that piranhas, from their own perspective, are acting quite properly (blissfully unaware that death has not always existed) brings us to the "rogue" element. According to piranhas, would their vegetarian fellows be the rogues? And how would rogue variants be determined, either way? God knew everything that had been contaminated, in your analogy an aquarium of rogues, plus one Noah. The status of Ham, Shem & Japheth is indeterminate at this stage.

Genesis 5:32 – 6:5; 7:6 Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth¹ and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose . . . When the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

.

You would probably say Krishna was one of these, the record predating Abraham by several centuries. Perhaps your material was derived from Japheth, before his migration to the subcontinent? Or (if you think he didn't migrate) from Shem, relocating from one subcontinent to another. Unless Krishna was Chinese, relating ideas associated with Pythagoras, Confucius and Siddhartha none of whom coalesced from ectoplasm but knew earlier stuff, one imagines. Thus easy to position Krishna in the historical record.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually . . . Noah was six hundred years old² when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

So that's piranhas everywhere and because I like your analogy, we³ can allow electric piranhas emitting shocks + psychoactive beams to engender madness + poison-secreting glands: still less vile than each and every one of us is perceived by God from our first breath all the way to death, or Salvation, whichever comes first. Although without the former, the latter persists in perpetuity; you may think of this as karma producing an ever less dignified world, fish upon fish, over and over again.

Eastern religions are superior to Abrahamaic ones.

Where exactly does "The East" start? Bengal? Turkey? Morocco? Let's say Jerusalem. That would make Abraham's faith an eastern religion. Note that God identified his faithfulness BEFORE he'd left Ur.

Nehemiah 9:7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham

Ur no longer exists, in your paradigm the ever-deteriorating cycle of karma turned everyone into scorpions and microbes feeding one upon the other. Great! [NOT] God helps us to understand that even when a city (Ur) or a society (Sumer) or even an entire culture (Cities of the Plain) warrants destruction, it's because He loves us, something we need to be told due to our version of love being imperfect. In the last example, the annihilation was total. Not a trace remains. If even a stone goblet were found, that culture would not be utterly blasted. Happily in this case no such goblet remains. It⁴ was total. Otherwise we'd all be piranhas.

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1. If you would like to calculate the world's population at this point, you may do so here Genesis 5:1-32
2. A more detailed timeline can be found here https://biblehub.com/timeline/genesis/1.htm
3. "We" means the readership generally, were any interested in pursuing your theme of fish, whether or not electric.
4. Genesis 19:29-31 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth