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The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- Easter Weekend (April 14-16)
April 14, 2006
| Victoria Delsoul and Army Air Corps
Posted on 04/14/2006 4:28:37 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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The True Meaning of Easter
By: Paul Arinaga
There's a lot of controversy about the true meaning of Easter. Some claim that it's actually a pagan celebration in origin. Others lament that retailers, greeting card companies and television are changing Christianity's greatest feast into something with meaning "the size of a jelly bean."
In any case, the most common view about the real meaning of Easter is that it's a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that through this act, sin and death are conquered. Easter also can be seen as a season of joy. The time of sorrow is over. Lent's penitential forty days have passed, and the fifty days of the Easter season have begun. Winter is over and spring is in the air. In times past, it's said that priests would regale their parishioners with funny stories. Easter was truly a time to rejoice. To rejoice that Our Lord has Risen and that one day we too shall pass through death (which has lost its sting) and rise to New Life!
While I am certainly not erudite enough to give you the definitive answer on what Easter means. I believe that it offers many valuable insights about life, no matter what your religious beliefs. In fact, the Easter story is so powerful that it probably offers something even to an open-minded atheist!
One of the biggest lessons from the Easter story, I believe, is the power of forgiveness. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about what forgiveness actually is. In my opinion, it doesn't mean condoning the wrong that has been committed or allowing it to happen again. Moreover, the act of forgiving is not necessarily something you do for the transgressor (although it can be), although its power can transform the transgressor, too. It is something you may do for yourself.
When you can forgive, you can finally be free of the burden of guilt, anger, hatred or resentment. The healing process can begin or finally conclude. You can also let go of the person who hurt you. This makes you stronger and removes the power that person has over you. It's somehow ironic that by not forgiving we allow the person who has harmed us to continue to harm us, even if they themselves are unaware of the long-term damage that is being inflicted. Of course, ultimately, we are responsible. By taking responsibility now for our own interpretation of what happened in the past, we become much stronger - I think that's what people mean when they talk about "self-empowerment".
I'm not sure whether forgiveness is the main lesson of the Easter story or even a primary message from it. But I am sure that it is a valuable one. And I'm also certain that if we can learn how to forgive, we will be more productive - and happier - human beings.
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Hi everybody. The themes for today are sports and movies:
1- Strange sports stories where you either participated or were a spectator. (Anything that seemed out of the ordinary and made you laugh.)
2- Favorite romantic films. Tell us about your most memorable tv/movie romances, or romantic moments.
3- Tell us about your favorite romantic movie dance scene: actors, actress, songs, soundtrack... which particular scene you thought was the best, famous quotes, etc.
And as you all well know, “in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes” and since it is also a tax weekend, we'd like to add some tax trivia, too.
Make sure to read this great essay regarding the history of taxes in the U.S. written by Army Air Corps. Outstanding job, AAC. Thanks.
Tax Trivia:
1. In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was passed. What did it do?
2. About how much did the U. S. government collect in Income Taxes in the year 2001?
3. Which country does NOT have an income tax?
4. Why was the first U. S. Income Tax implemented?
5. Which U. S. President was responsible for the largest Federal Income Tax cut in the 20th century?
6. Which President implemented the very first Income Tax in the United States?
7. As a percent of income, which country has the highest tax rate?
8. As of the year 2000, the U. S. Internal Revenue Code (or tax code for short) is how many pages long?
9. Who writes the Income Tax laws in the United States?
10. What does the Internal Revenue Service call their electronic method of filing Income Taxes?
Please, join us for some fun.
Your hosts for the weekend are:
 
Victoria Delsoul Army Air Corps
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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: easter; goodtime; mingle; singles; socializing
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Hi, RWI--
I've been quite preoccupied with biz and social matters, had little time to even lurk or post. But I'm here for the moment, thanks for the greeting.
Happy Easter!
21
posted on
04/14/2006 4:48:02 PM PDT
by
The Spirit Of Allegiance
(SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
To: Victoria Delsoul
Happy Easter to you, Victoria!
Jesus is Risen!
22
posted on
04/14/2006 4:49:06 PM PDT
by
The Spirit Of Allegiance
(SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
To: Blurblogger
Amen.
Stick around and play a little. Do you like any of the songs?
To: Blurblogger
To: Victoria Delsoul
Just helping dad to bed when I do I will be back for an hour or so
25
posted on
04/14/2006 4:52:12 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: snugs
I'll be waiting. See ya soon, Snugs.
To: Victoria Delsoul
Where's your partner tonight?
To: rightwingintelligentsia
AAC will be here a bit later. He's having dinner with some family members, but he'll be here for sure.
To: All
So what's everyone doing for Easter Sunday?
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Sunrise services, serving lunch at a shelter, and grilling steaks later. Should be fun.
30
posted on
04/14/2006 4:57:52 PM PDT
by
SoDak
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Maybe they're just listening to the songs, LOL.
To: SoDak
That does sound like fun. Nice of you to volunteer at the shelter--are you doing it on your own or as part of a church project?
To: Victoria Delsoul
Songs? Bah! I'm a manly-man. No music for me. I yodel.
I yodel I Am, I Said, for example....
;^)
33
posted on
04/14/2006 5:04:29 PM PDT
by
The Spirit Of Allegiance
(SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
To: Blurblogger
OK, how about the trivia, or romantic movies, or funny sport events?
To: rightwingintelligentsia
church group, although I've done it on my own, as well as with a work group before. It's a good reality-check.
35
posted on
04/14/2006 5:06:58 PM PDT
by
SoDak
To: Victoria Delsoul
My strange sport story:
I used to attend several games a season at Yankee stadium when I lived in nyc. I've seen my share of wins and losses, extra inning games and antics in the stands.
Late in the 1993 season, I was still relaxing after taking the NY Bar Exam in July and decided to attend an afternoon game with a friend. The pitcher was Jim Abbott, a MLB player most notable for having only one hand. Jim had beaten the odds by getting into the major leagues and becoming a Yankee!
The Yankees were a couple of games behind Toronto and were hoping to catch them for the division crown. The game was important, but no more notable than any of the other 161 games that season.
Except that was the day that the one handed pitcher made history! He dispatched the first Indian batters handily. Looking good.
Three innings later, the crowd was stirring a bit. People looked over at the scoreboard. Zero hits.
Two innings later the intensity was there. Nobody discussed it in the stands (an oldschool mlb jinx) but we all alluded to it. After the 8th inning of no-hit ball, we went into the 9th inning on the brink of history.
And Jim Abbott did it! One of the few major leauge ballplayers to ever pitch a no hitter, and the only one-handed man to pitch a no hitter! The only no-hitter I attended, too! HISTORY!!! :-)
36
posted on
04/14/2006 5:11:41 PM PDT
by
HitmanLV
(Some people like to dash it out, but they just can't take it!)
To: SoDak
Our church hosts a "part-time" homeless shelter (just weekday afternoons), so every year we invite the homeless folk in for a dinner around Christmas. They're usually so grateful to get a good meal, and it's helpful for our congregation to get up-close to some of the people we're helping all year.
To: Victoria Delsoul
I am into soccer my team is Arsenal. Dad and I are share holders (one share each :0) - but still share holders).
Arsenal are one of the top teams in England and even Europe. One year they won the league and cup double as shareholders we were allowed to have our photo taken with the cup. Here is dad with the cups in the famour Arsenal marble entrance hall.
38
posted on
04/14/2006 5:15:54 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: HitmanLV
Wow, that's exciting. Great story, Vinnie.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
To: snugs
Oh wow, fantastic! Love the pic.
How about romantic movies, and romantic movie dance?
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