Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas message from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr.



Here's a great speech by an outstanding American during a time of unrest, violence, hate and, yes, hope.


Martin Luther King: A Christmas Sermon On Peace - 1967




Bleeding Heart


Everything Christ talks about here is exactly what the conservatives attempt to denigrate liberals with what, they seem to believe, is the derogatory expression of ‘bleeding heart’.


Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Luke 6-27-38

Jesus explains well what it means to be a good follower of His; a good explanation of one type of Cross He has asked us to bare. Also, for those of us who dare to call ourselves Christian it’s a good example of how to be a ‘bleeding heart liberal’.
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I would like to wish everyone who reads me a beautiful Christmas that nourishes both body and soul.


For all who celebrate Hanukkah please have a joyous holiday filled with light, family and friends.

Finale' of a Muppet Family Christmas

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If you're Christian the religious nature of the holiday shouldn't be forgotten in all the confusion and gaiety. I really like this little video. When we celebrate the birth of Rev. Martin Luther King we are not remembering little baby Martin but his whole life and legacy. Similarly, we shouldn't be recalling only the nativity story but the whole of who Jesus is and how he fits into our lives.

The Reason for the Season

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It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

- Dr. Seuss

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