Skip to comments.
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
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.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: easter; goodtime; mingle; singles; socializing
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 821-840, 841-860, 861-880 ... 1,281-1,297 next last
To: MHGinTN
LOL!
Don't fret. We can place you on a contract waiver for tonight. :-)
841
posted on
04/15/2006 10:16:54 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: MHGinTN
842
posted on
04/15/2006 10:17:17 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: Supernatural
Never knew that!
It's funny, considering I have relatives that live in Buffalo...;)
843
posted on
04/15/2006 10:17:19 PM PDT
by
rzeznikj at stout
(This Space For Rent. Call 555-1212 for more info.)
To: rzeznikj at stout
How does the Nov. elections look in your state? Is there any hope the Democrats in power would lose?
To: Supernatural
I had them just outside Buffalo actually LOL
845
posted on
04/15/2006 10:18:39 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: snugs
846
posted on
04/15/2006 10:19:40 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: Army Air Corps
Song played when I clicked the link.
To: rzeznikj at stout
Hey, you learn something every day.
I'm chock full of nearly useless information.
Or, as they said in one of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, "A mere scrap of information could save a man's life".
848
posted on
04/15/2006 10:20:02 PM PDT
by
Supernatural
(When they come a wull staun ma groon, Staun ma groon al nae be afraid)
To: Supernatural
We have a Buffalo Wild Wings here and they have some spicy sauces; nothing that reaches the "thermonuclear" level of Thai food. I had eaten a bowl of instant Thai noodles (Ma Ma brand, I think) - the flesh on my skull melted and every crevice of my sinus cavity was opened; therefore, i loved them and plan to buy more.
849
posted on
04/15/2006 10:21:16 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: TheresaKett
I'll try again. It may be some blasted firewall on my side.
850
posted on
04/15/2006 10:21:56 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: All
Hubby is home, and I am now off to bed.
Night everyone!
To: All
I almost forgot...HAPPY EASTER!!!
To: Army Air Corps
The Thai's have some of the hottest peppers in the world.
Indian food is pretty spicy too, from what I hear.
853
posted on
04/15/2006 10:24:33 PM PDT
by
Supernatural
(When they come a wull staun ma groon, Staun ma groon al nae be afraid)
To: Maximus_Ridiculousness
Happy Easter to you too!!!
To: Army Air Corps
I copied and pasted the URL into Realplayer and that did the trick.
855
posted on
04/15/2006 10:25:00 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: rzeznikj at stout; HitmanLV; Army Air Corps; All
Speaking of lawyers, I found this...
A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. "But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door." The jury foreman replied: "Oh, we did look, but your client didn't."
To: Victoria Delsoul
Here's how it's shaping up.
For governor, the Democrats are putting up incumbent Jim Doyle. Mark Green, a Congressman from Green Bay, is running solo on the Republican side after Milwaukee Co. Executive Scott Walker dropped out of the race.
The Attorney General has two Democrats and two Republicans vying for nominations. Peg Lautenschlager (the current AG, also referred to as "Keg" after her drunk-driving accident involving a state-owned car) is running against Dane Co. Executive Kathleen Falk.
On the Republican side is former US Attorney JB Van Hollen and Waukesha Co. District Attorney Paul Bucher.
And the RINOs in charge of the state party aren't running anyone against Senator Herb Kohl as of right now.
The state Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage will also be put to the voters--if it passes, it will effectively bar gay marriage and civil unions...
Of course, rumor has it that Tommy will announce his political decisions within the next few weeks.
Yep, it's a fun time to be watching Wisconsin politics ;)
857
posted on
04/15/2006 10:25:38 PM PDT
by
rzeznikj at stout
(This Space For Rent. Call 555-1212 for more info.)
To: Supernatural
Good point!!
858
posted on
04/15/2006 10:26:09 PM PDT
by
rzeznikj at stout
(This Space For Rent. Call 555-1212 for more info.)
To: rzeznikj at stout; Army Air Corps; All
I have a long drive back tomorrow, so I better get some sleep. Good night.
To: Supernatural
I am telling you those were some friggin' hot noodles. They put habaneros to shame. Man, I now have an urge to go to the Asian market tomorrow...
860
posted on
04/15/2006 10:26:33 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 821-840, 841-860, 861-880 ... 1,281-1,297 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson