My prayer to you all

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[Perry Bell]

As you celebrate this festive season,
May the hand of god guide you, as we remember,
the birth of our savior.
May his words of wisdom handed down through the ages,
Help us to understand the values he taught ,so we can become better.
May the compassion he showed on the day of his death, rekindle the love, we carry in our hearts.
May his resurrection help us realize that he is always with us, even in our darkest hours, he walks with us lights our path and show us the way.
May you my friends on this special occasion enjoy the life you have been given, by sharing of your self with the ones you love, not holding back for fear of rejection or anger; this is the time to forgive so we can remember the innocence of the child that was born.
xo

Perry

[ian]

Hey, and I thought Jesus' resurrection was a method used to promote the religion. Doesn't seem much of a sacrifice if he gets resurrected afterwards. I prefer the historical version of Jesus.

My apologies if this is offensive. It is a bit tongue in cheek though I don't think this is necessarily the arena to promote a belief system in a non-aikido context. Hope you will forgive me ;) and sincerely, I do wish you a happy easter/solstice. Would be interested in discussing further, though maybe outside aikiweb.

[Dirk Hanss]

Hope you will forgive me ;) and sincerely, I do wish you a happy easter/solstice.
he (Perry) will probably not, but HE has already forgiven you.

@Perry
As you included us all, without knowing each of us, without excluding any religion or confession, let me just than you.
I do not know, how much which prayer could help, but as I do not beleive, it could harm, I appreciate any prayer from protestants, roman catholics, orthodox christs, hindu, muslim, buddhists, jewish, shintoists, taoists, or any other religion/group I missed here, without any meaning of the order.

Happy Easter to all, and for those, who had a hard time, may it be the end of your personal Lent.

Dirk

[James Davis]

he (Perry) will probably not, but HE has already forgiven you.

@Perry
As you included us all, without knowing each of us, without excluding any religion or confession, let me just than you.
I do not know, how much which prayer could help, but as I do not beleive, it could harm, I appreciate any prayer from protestants, roman catholics, orthodox christs, hindu, muslim, buddhists, jewish, shintoists, taoists, or any other religion/group I missed here, without any meaning of the order.

Happy Easter to all, and for those, who had a hard time, may it be the end of your personal Lent.

Dirk
Thanks, Dirk. Lent has been pretty rough this year, and not because I gave up chocolate! :uch: :)

[Qatana]

The only thing worth giving up for Lent is celibacy...

[Mark Freeman]

The only thing worth giving up for Lent is celibacy...
:D

[James Davis]

The only thing worth giving up for Lent is celibacy...
I'll write that down for next year! :D

[Dirk Hanss]

Thanks, Dirk. Lent has been pretty rough this year, and not because I gave up chocolate! :uch: :)

I did not mean only fast, but time of passion in the meaning of suffering.

And 'though I like not to take it too serious, this is not the Humour section, please.

Best Dirk

[ian]

Yep - sorry Perry. Dirk was right; it was unfair to comment severely on something that was with good intentions. Unfortunately I cannot share your belief in a ressurection and feel it is sad that so many 'Christians' do (indeed, that an early offshoot of chistians defined themselves though the belief in the ressurection rather than through the following of Jesus' teachings is unfrotunate). However I think its safe to say many christians and non-christians alike, although they may resent certain aspects of christianity as an organised religion, they do see great value in the core teachings of Jesus, and I appreciate your sentiment. Excuse my crassness.

Info on Easter origins and easter bunnies!:
http://www.locksley.com/6696/easter.htm

[Dajo251]

who is this jesus fellow you seem to speak of?? j/k

[Perry Bell]

Hi all,

Thank you for your comments, no harm done :) , each and every year I write a poem at Xmas and easter, for all the people of the world, coming from a Christian upbringing they tend to say more about my faith, when in fact the intention is just to hope that people can stop and reflect on their own lives and the ones around them, in the hope that we can forgive each other for what we might perceive as their short comings, the poems I write, I usually show to the people I think would truly appreciate them for the intention they were written. I did not post it to start a debate or discussion, that is why I originally posted it is spiritual and not the open forum, some how it was moved here but hey thats cool, you all still got to read it.

If my poem has caused any of you to feel offended Please accept my apologies, it was not my intention, I was acting out of respect for all human beings, in an honorable way.

I wish you all well, not only during this festive season but each and every day.

Take care, be happy, smile heaps and love lots,

perry :)

[merlynn]

The only thing worth giving up for Lent is celibacy...

im sorry but i have no idea what celibacy means????? :D ;) this is coming from a woman with 4 kids :p :D :D

[Mark Uttech]

Jesus was the original cross trainer.

[deepsoup]

And spare a thought for Eostre - It can't be easy being a pagan goddess when some johnny-come-lately new religion pops up and pinches your big festival (and your bunny).

Sean
x

[Mark Freeman]

And spare a thought for Eostre - It can't be easy being a pagan goddess when some johnny-come-lately new religion pops up and pinches your big festival (and your bunny).

Sean
x

And not forgetting the winter solstice! ;)

[Mark Freeman]

Hi all,

Thank you for your comments, no harm done :) , each and every year I write a poem at Xmas and easter, for all the people of the world, coming from a Christian upbringing they tend to say more about my faith, when in fact the intention is just to hope that people can stop and reflect on their own lives and the ones around them, in the hope that we can forgive each other for what we might perceive as their short comings, the poems I write, I usually show to the people I think would truly appreciate them for the intention they were written. I did not post it to start a debate or discussion, that is why I originally posted it is spiritual and not the open forum, some how it was moved here but hey thats cool, you all still got to read it.

If my poem has caused any of you to feel offended Please accept my apologies, it was not my intention, I was acting out of respect for all human beings, in an honorable way.

I wish you all well, not only during this festive season but each and every day.

Take care, be happy, smile heaps and love lots,

perry :)

Hi Perry,

thanks for your good thoughts for us/mankind in general, I for one appreciate it.
My feeling is that us non believing secular folk are happy for christian folk to follow their particular religion, particularly if they actually really do do their best to follow the wise words of the man they call jesus. The best way to convert is by example.
I think that some of us have a problem with those that say they follow the teachings of a man and by their actions show that they don't, ( fighting aikidoka? )

I hope that your easter is a good one, :)

regards,

Mark

[Neil Mick]

Jesus was the original cross trainer.

Was that meant to be...funny, Mark? :)

Say it isn't so!! Mark Uttech makes a funny?? Gads, what new depths will this site reveal, next? :D

[Hogan]

im sorry but i have no idea what celibacy means????? :D ;)

So, as I was syaing, I'll be in England in Nov....

..this is coming from a woman with 4 kids :p :D :D

Ummm... never mind.

(just jokin'!)

[Kevin Leavitt]

Man this is a tough crowd!

While I would not probably be considered a "Christian" by most Christians that I know of (I hate labels anyway!)...I like Dirk appreciate and admire someone willing to take and spend the time to right something from the heart that has the intent of spreading good will!

We may all disagree with the meaning, symbolism, interpretation of the events surrounding the life and death of Jesus, but what I find striking and amazing is the love, sacrifice, and example he made for the world.

Believe or not, he was an influence on the world. Too damn bad many have decided to capitalize on his life for personal and selfish reasons...but that is another story and this is not the time or place to do so!

Thanks for the prayer Perry!