tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638382943535174775.post7466070547631085223..comments2023-08-13T10:18:21.687-03:00Comments on Zirbert, The Irritable Saint: Grinch, Humbug, Scrooge - I've Heard Them AllZirberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023870424747584252noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638382943535174775.post-71187971141183637632008-03-17T23:38:00.000-03:002008-03-17T23:38:00.000-03:00Having never been blessed (or cursed) to have met ...Having never been blessed (or cursed) to have met TB (despite hearing MANY MANY MANY stories), I cannot say who would need the Master of Arts in Diplomacy more...<BR/><BR/>Might not do either of you any harm! Isn't that what you always wanted??? To be more like DS (my husband, who would not be offensive, even if he really, really tried).<BR/><BR/>It takes all types!HomeSchoolerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17049486049395488105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638382943535174775.post-9599100367241984192008-03-17T21:50:00.000-03:002008-03-17T21:50:00.000-03:00Homeschooler said "TB - the funniest part about yo...Homeschooler said "TB - the funniest part about your comment was that when I put the link in my browser and went there, only the top advertisement showed for a few moments: "Master of Arts in Diplomacy" - just what Zirbert needs... and will NEVER get!!!"<BR/><BR/>Ironically, TB is actually far less diplomatic than I am. I think we became good friends because few people can stand either one of us (and the sentiment, unfortunately, is often mutual - hence the adjective in my blog title).Zirberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08023870424747584252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638382943535174775.post-26634606116851790042008-03-17T20:39:00.000-03:002008-03-17T20:39:00.000-03:00TB - the funniest part about your comment was that...TB - the funniest part about your comment was that when I put the link in my browser and went there, only the top advertisement showed for a few moments: "Master of Arts in Diplomacy" - just what Zirbert needs... and will NEVER get!!!<BR/><BR/>Actually, I came back again because today (Saint Patrick's day) reminded me why it is important for us, as Christians, not to "write off" even minor religious holidays... <I>especially</I> when they've virtually been appropriated entirely by the secular world. Much can be said by the <I>way</I> we celebrate.<BR/><BR/>To give a concrete example, during high school (when some whom I know and love were trying to alienate as many people as possible... I'm not naming names...) my best friend and I took great delight in celebrating even obscure holidays (I'll never forget the joy of Waitangi Day!). But whenever a recognised semi-religious holiday came round (one that most people wouldn't know had any faith component, despite the "Saint" at the beginning of the holiday's title), we used it for our covert evangelistic operation.<BR/><BR/>It went something like this. We bake TONS of cookies in a fun shape (shamrocks, one Saint Patrick's Day, with green frosting, of course), divide them up, and take them with us to all our classes, asking to be allowed to hand out one to each person there (this offer was NEVER refused) and if we could tell the history of the holiday. Almost inevitably we were accepted on this second offer as well - we were telling a free history lesson, after all!<BR/><BR/>Naturally, in telling our stories, somehow the Gospel just "slipped" out!!! Which isn't surprising when you're talking about Saints and Martyrs. Since the mini-sermon happened to be combined with a history lesson and a yummy cookie, nobody ever complained. In fact, we were complimented on the cookies and frequently told something like, "Oh I never knew <I>that</I>! So there really <I>was</I> some dude named Valentine?"<BR/><BR/>It's really amazing with you see someone who lives a distinctly un-Christian lifestyle, thinks morals are things of the past, and listens to music that would have instantly gone in the fire had I even considered bringing it home to listen to, come up and ask, "Can I get one of those things you were giving out?" He was refering to candy canes with attached little tracts that had a Bible verse relating somehow to Jesus' birth, which we had been given in bulk by our local Protestant nuns (yes, they exist - and so do Protestant monks). We had dressed up as elves, itchy tinsel and all, handing them out, but had run out of the candy canes, and told him so. But he still wanted his own little Christmas verse!!!<BR/><BR/>Now, Zirbert, I doubt that ANY amount of money could convince you to dress as an elf, let alone handing out candy canes to stangers (even with a verse attached). And if you ever did something so silly, I can't even begin to imagine the reception you'd receive. (Okay, I <I>can</I>, but let's not go there, okay???) It's not <I>your</I> way. Deep theological discussion, tough questions, and points of logic you'd be all over, which is cool. I've gone that direction sometimes too, and will again when the situation calls for it. But the Lord calls all sorts, and that's because He uses all sorts, in their own ways, to minister and evangelise to those who wouldn't "get" it any other way.<BR/><BR/>Just don't let the pagans who have tried to suck all of the faith-basis out of <I>our</I> holidays have all the fun! And never, ever, ever let them forget (insofar as you are able) that there is a <I>reason</I> for and an <I>history</I> of the holiday, and that perhaps they should let a little of that reason speak to the <I>way</I> they choose to celebrate it.HomeSchoolerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17049486049395488105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638382943535174775.post-28787470077768868602008-03-17T10:23:00.000-03:002008-03-17T10:23:00.000-03:00Just so I feel like I know something-http://worldn...Just so I feel like I know something-<BR/><BR/>http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57978<BR/><BR/>TBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638382943535174775.post-70470007845631699212008-03-16T23:33:00.000-03:002008-03-16T23:33:00.000-03:00Bravo!!! I agree with almost everything! But I s...Bravo!!! I agree with <I>almost</I> everything! But I still like a Christmas tree. NOT because they're particularly "Christian" (although the majority of the ornaments on mine do have something to do with celebrating Christ's birth), but because they're fun.<BR/><BR/>Something to think about... If you're not willing to celebrate Advent and Lent, should you really be "celebrating" Christmas and Easter?HomeSchoolerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17049486049395488105noreply@blogger.com