A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-29 & 30-05...Let the Holidays Begin

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us again! This past weekend began the busiest time of the year for most of us - from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. About this time three years ago - our first Christmas at the Finest - we asked for help from our readers in guest-writing a holiday thread, and your response warmed our hearts; you were such a big help to us, and got us through a very busy time with fun, interesting, and unique holiday threads. We appreciate you and couldn't do it without your support!

As I did last year, I'm posting the links to all our previous Holiday Threads - from 2002 , 2003, and 2004. Hope you enjoy them - you may even see yourself there!

Twenty-seven days til' Christmas.

Below are links to all of our Holiday Threads. Thanks to some of our Finest Regulars pitching in we've already scheduled the next few weeks with fun, pretty, interesting, and new Christmas posts.....and no reruns!

December 2002
Gingerbread House Contest
(FreeTheHostages/Billie)

Holiday Top Ten List Contest
(FreeTheHostages/Billie)

What Christmas Means to Me
(WVNan, JustAmy, Pippin, Diver Dave, Aquamarine, ST.LOUIE1 /Billie)

Places in the Heart
(Molly Pitcher/Daisyscarlett)

Christmas Pets
(Billie)

Profile of IssaquahKing
(Libertina/Dansangel)

Christmas Music
(Aquamarine and Daisyscarlett)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(Daisyscarlett)

Merry Christmas
(Daisyscarlett)


December 2003
Holiday Contest Rumsfeld Doll
(FreeTheHostages)

Name that Freeper Santa!
(Billie)

Oh Christmas Tree
(Billie)

A Bracebridge Christmas
(Mama_Bear)

Shop 'til you drop!
(Billie)

A Christmas Contest (Play Santa)
(FreeTheHostages)

Finest's Christmas Music
(Aquamarine)

Let Us Rejoice
(Billie)


December 2004
Aloha Mele Kalikimaka
(Billie)

A Bracebridge Christmas Revisited
(Mama_Bear)

Let it Snow!
(Billie)

Sights and Sounds of Christmas
(Aquamarine)

Welcome Home, Allegra
(Billie)

Deck the Finest Halls
(Mama_Bear)

12-23 thru 26-04 Let Us Rejoice (Christmas)
(Billie)

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-28-05 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

[Billie]

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Billie.

Wonderful thread.I love your layout of your table.

[The Mayor]

November 29, 2005

Accident Or Design?

Read:
Romans 1:18-20

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. —Psalm 19:1

Bible In One Year: 2 Corinthians 10-13

The Bible opens with this magnificent statement: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). How simple those words are and yet how fathomless!

Dyson Freeman, one of today's most brilliant scientists, writes that nature's laws are marked by "the greatest mathematical simplicity and beauty."

While I am not a scientist or a mathematician, I am intrigued by this statement. If there is no Designer—no Creator God—how is it that our universe can be a law-abiding system marked by beauty and simplicity? I wonder, why isn't our universe in chaos?

The only reasonable explanation to me is the God of the Bible. As it says in Romans 1:20, "Since the creation of the world [God's] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that [we] are without excuse."

If it's only the reality of God's existence that explains the whole universe, that must also be true of our lives. We are not accidents but creatures designed by a Maker of limitless power and wisdom. Look for Him in what He has designed—you'll see Him there. —Vernon Grounds

So much about His character
God wanted to impart;
Creation shows His handiwork—
His Son reveals His heart. —Hess

The design of creation points to the Master Designer.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Can I Know There Is A God?

[Billie]

Good morning! Thank you - I love going back to all the holiday threads. Think Aqua said it best: "Seems as though we do our best work at Christmastime."

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I am getting ready to look at some of the older threads.

I think Aqua might be right.:)

[apackof2]

One of my favorite Christmas Carols sung by Twila Paris
from her Christmas CD, "its the thought",
which BTW is one of my favorite Christmas CD's!

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone

Snow had fallen snow on snow
Snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
So long ago

What I give him
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb

If I were a wise man
I would do my part
Yet what can I give him
Give my heart

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone

Snow had fallen snow snow
Snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
So long ago

Music: Twila Paris
COMPOSER: Gustav Holst, Christina Rossetti

[DollyCali]

Billie how festive.. how beautiful.. How YOU! and what a nice touch on the pledge.. old timey post card & english script..

thank you for the walk down memory lane for Holidays past at the Finest. I cant look now(well can, but shouldnt).. but will definitely take a long fun look over the next two days.

I thnk each year we do this past years thread it should be a two day thread to do it justice for all to take time to check things out etc. Turned out that way anyway. thanks for covering..

[DollyCali]

That is lovely. do you have a link for music?

I like Christina Rossetti's work.

[apackof2]

do you have a link for music?

No sorry I don't

[dutchess]

Ah sistah...What a wonderful way to enter the holiday season! And talk about a trip down memory lane! (are we getting old or what :o) ) I'm sure this will put all our Finest friends "in the mood" ((((billie))))) Now off to work (bah humbug! :o) )

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!

[NicknamedBob]

Good Morning, Pippin.

It is good to hear your perky, impetuous, piping this morning. Like hearing a songbird in midwinter.

Enjoy your morning!

[Pippin]

Enjoy! :o)

[Billie]

Good morning, Rus, thank you - I like today's words to start our day.

[Billie]

I think Aqua might be right.:)

And we've only just begun. We have a beautiful line-up for this year, too. :)

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

a bunch of wassail recipes...

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/212/0.shtml

wassail with alcohol...

http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink4946.html

[Aquamarine]

Thank you - I love going back to all the holiday threads. Think Aqua said it best: "Seems as though we do our best work at Christmastime."

And I should add - what alot of work we've all done here over the years. Thanks for supplying the links, it's fun to go back and reminisce.
Love what you created today, the poinsettia's are so pretty, I bought my first one yesterday.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

It's too cold to come out & FReep...

[MEG33]

Beautiful thread , Billie..Thank you!