Jesus vs Santa [Archive]

Dullhook

12-07-2006, 05:08 PM

This was printed in our church bulletin for December. We all love Santa but Jesus wins this competition hands down! :dance:

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS lives everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on water.

Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stocking with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks...and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of Jelly.
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO, HO, HO!
JESUS offers health, help, and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry!"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle, but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa put gifts under your tree,
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back into Christmas.
Yes, Jesus is better... He is even better than Santa!

Blessing to all ifishers and their families through this great celebration of the birth of our Lord. :angel:

Fast Water

12-07-2006, 05:59 PM

If you are bad, Santa gives you a lump of coal...

Dullhook

12-07-2006, 06:50 PM

So they say FW!

Here's hopin' that Santa owns a huge coalmine somewhere because each and every one of us has a lump headin' for our stocking! ;)

Bartman

12-07-2006, 08:39 PM

http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/themes/wessex/images/pixel.gifhttp://www.wessexscene.co.uk/images/articles/fatherchirstmas.jpg (http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/search.php?query=&topic=37)
" Sorry I just cant resist!!"

‘TIS the season for love and giving, I’m sure you all realise. But did you know, there is a dark tension bubbling beneath Christmas’ crispy sugar coated exterior?
If you go to Google and search for Santa vs. Jesus, you get site after site of Christian fundamentalist groups, (most of the American, naturally) demanding the extinction of every image of Santa, declaring him a false idol and a blasphemous image. On the other hand, you get counter-religious groups telling their Christian buddies just exactly where they can stick their opinions.

It’s a battle that’s been going on for centuries, but there just seems no way of settling it. So there seems only one possible alternative: A FIGHT TO THE DEATH!
That’s right, both competitors step into the ring with their supporters cheering them on, and their detractors calling for their blood. The match will have no time outs and the final bell will not be rung until one of the two has met a bloody end or, in the case of Jesus, another bloody end.Let’s see the tale of the tape:
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Kick Some butt!!
First off, the obvious: Santa has an incredible weight advantage. All those pies and candy canes have bloated Santa to Sumo-like proportions and he must weigh in near the 500-pound mark. This will put him in the favourite position early on in the match, but the longer the match goes, the more tired the big guy will get: Santa’s got to finish this one quick!
Being escorted to the ring by a pack of bloodthirsty reindeer has got to be an intimidating experience for the unlucky opponent, and that belly that wobbles like a bowlful of jelly means body shots against Santa are futile. Don’t forget, Santa’s been drinking a whole lot of Sherry and he’s ticked off and as anyone who’s ever been to the Croydon Wetherspoon’s before will tell you, it’s not a good idea to pick a fight with fat, ruddy nosed drunks.
But what’s probably Santa’s biggest strength are the hordes of children he has supporting him. Full of sugar and ready for a ruck, they form an army the likes not seen since Napoleon. Fuelled by capitalist ideology, they will stop at nothing as long as the big red machine romps home as the victor. Just don’t let them sit on his lap- that’s bad that is.
Jesus Christ For Once, Someone Else is Gonna Get Nailed!:It’s time for the world’s first hippy to lose the kid gloves. What El Saviour lacks in size he makes up in speed -, the boys so light on his feet he can walk on water. The longer the match goes the more it goes in his favour, and we all know the boy can take a kicking but just keep ticking.
Which is perhaps his main strength in this contest- he can resurrect himself. How can Santa kill him without him coming back? On top of this, he’s got to contend with Jesus hardened supporters, millions upon millions of Christians all over the world strictly dedicated to their cause.
However, this may also be a hole in Jesus’ armour, because although he has the larger numbers, they fiercely divided and don’t particularly get on that well. Will Jesus be distracted by his own supporters bickering and find himself on the wrong end of a Santa Whooping?
On the other hand, Jesus wins support through sheer charisma. Santa may have an army of Elves, but perhaps their cruel master has treated them as slaves for too long. If Jesus can win them over, then Santa will be hugely outnumbered and victory for the Jizzle may be inevitable.
OR on the other hand we could all just learn to get along this Christmas, and realise that it takes different strokes to rule the world and let everyone celebrate it in their own way. You never know, one day it might happen.
God bless us, every one.

rimrock

12-07-2006, 10:15 PM

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/santa.jpg

Personally I like the cool member’s jackets Santa gives away.:cool:

Actually I love the story of the actual St. Nicolas upon whom the legend of Santa is based.

St. Nicholas was a bishop who was later canonized as the Patron Saint of Children. Santa Claus is a variation of the name Saint Nicholas. In Dutch, St. Nicholas is translated as Sinterklaas (or Santa Claus).:smile:

If we took the time to learn more about the real Santa Claus and you will see it’s based on a Christian man who by his great generosity touched the lives of so many all due to his love for Christ. You have to admit it’s kind of funny how Christians can get so upset about Santa and don’t even know the story of the man behind the myth. For the truth of the real story is yet another testimony of what the love of Jesus can do for someone, and how that love spills over into the lives of others.

I don’t even mind “Happy Holidays”, because Holidays comes from Holi-days or Holy Days. Another Christian reference and after all it is a celebration of a Holy Day.

Enjoy the Season don’t worry. Just smile when people love those candy canes – yet again another Christian symbol created by a Christian candy maker long ago.:)

Bartman

12-08-2006, 12:09 AM

http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/themes/wessex/images/pixel.gifhttp://www.wessexscene.co.uk/images/articles/fatherchirstmas.jpg (http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/search.php?query=&topic=37)
OR on the other hand we could all just learn to get along this Christmas, and realise that it takes different strokes to rule the world and let everyone celebrate it in their own way. You never know, one day it might happen.
God bless us, every one.

:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

Bartman

12-08-2006, 12:31 AM

The American version of the Santa Claus figure received its inspiration and its name from the Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas, brought by settlers to New York in the 17th century.
As early as 1773 the name appeared in the American press as "St. A Claus," but it was the popular author Washington Irving who gave Americans their first detailed information about the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas. In his History of New York, published in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving described the arrival of the saint on horseback (unaccompanied by Black Peter) each Eve of Saint Nicholas.
http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/images/nast2a.jpgThis Dutch-American Saint Nick achieved his fully Americanized form in 1823 in the poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas by writer Clement Clarke Moore. Moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; Santa Claus's laughs, winks, and nods; and the method by which Saint Nicholas, referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney. (Moore's phrase "lays his finger aside of his nose" was drawn directly from Irving's 1809 description.)

http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/images/nast3.jpgThe American image of Santa Claus was further elaborated by illustrator Thomas Nast, who depicted a rotund Santa for Christmas issues of Harper's magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. Nast added such details as Santa's workshop at the North Pole and Santa's list of the good and bad children of the world. A human-sized version of Santa Claus, rather than the elf of Moore's poem, was depicted in a series of illustrations for Coca-Cola advertisements introduced in 1931. In modern versions of the Santa Claus legend, only his toy-shop workers are elves. Rudolph, the ninth reindeer, with a red and shiny nose, was invented in 1939 by an advertising writer for the Montgomery Ward Company.
In looking for the historical roots of Santa Claus, one must go very deep in the past. One discovers that Santa Claus as we know him is a combination of many different legends and mythical creatures.
http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/images/history_4.gifIn North American poetry and illustrations, Santa Claus, in his white beard, red jacket and pompom-topped cap, would sally forth on the night before Christmas in his sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, and climb down chimneys to leave his gifts in stockings children set out on the fireplace's mantelpiece.
Children naturally wanted to know where Santa Claus actually came from. Where did he live when he wasn't delivering presents? Those questions gave rise to the legend that Santa Claus lived at the North Pole, where his Christmas-gift workshop was also located.
In 1925, since grazing reindeer would not be possible at the North Pole, newspapers revealed that Santa Claus in fact lived in Finnish Lapland. "Uncle Markus", Markus Rautio, who compared the popular "Children's hour" on Finnish public radio, revealed the great secret for the first time in 1927: Santa Claus lives on Lapland's Korvatunturi - "Ear Fell"
The fell, which is situated directly on Finland's eastern frontier, somewhat resembles a hare's ears - which are in fact Santa Claus's ears, with which he listens to hear if the world's children are being nice. Santa has the assistance of a busy group of elves, who have quite their own history in Scandinanvian legend.
http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/images/history_5.gifOver the centuries, customs from different parts of the Northern Hemisphere thus came together and created the whole world's Santa Claus - the ageless, timeless, deathless white-bearded man who gives out gifts on Christmas and always returns to Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland. http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/images/history_6.gifSince the 1950s, Santa has happily sojourned at Napapiiri, near Rovaniemi, at times other than Christmas, to meet children and the young at heart. By 1985 his visits to Napapiiri had become so regular that he established his own Santa Claus Office there. He comes there every day of the year to hear what children want for Christmas and to talk with children who have arrived from around the world. Santa Claus Village is also the location of Santa's main Post Office, which receives children's letters from the four corners of the world.

rimrock

12-08-2006, 07:44 AM

And it all started out of the life of a real Christian bishop who loved children and many others expressed by his great generosity, out of the love he received from Christ. You protest a little too much. Relax, Jesus will always be apart of this season.

Read the story of the candy cane it's all about Jesus. That's just how it is, no casue for concern there either. After all they taste pretty good.:)

Bartman

12-08-2006, 08:29 AM

. You protest a little too much. Relax, Jesus will always be apart of this season.

Huh?? just sharing the origins of santa claus in the 2nd post, the 1st is just a "funny". Dont remember going after Jesus.

P.S. Jesus may very well always be a part of this season, and thats great, but lets also not forget the true origins of the season and its Heathen beginings.
May Odin,Thor,Frigga,Frey and Freya bless you during this Yuletide season.
Good Yule and Merry Christmas!!!:flowered: :flowered: :flowered:

Dullhook

12-08-2006, 07:41 PM

but lets also not forget the true origins of the season and its Heathen beginnings.

Actually Bart, this is a misconception that is shared by various groups including some Christians. Christmas began in Rome as a "response" to pagan festivities which were centered around the winter solstice. The pagan holiday was first instituted by Roman emperor Aurelian in 274 AD. It was translated into " the birth of the invincible sun" which took place around December 25th.

As Christians we do not worship things created by God but only the Creator Himself. :angel:

It is evidenced that in earlier years that Christians made a concerted attempt (before the pagan holiday) to calculate the exact date of Jesus' birth, but scripture doesn't pass down a firm birthday. We can only get a general time frame recognized by the census and other factors revealed in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Anyhow, I'm not sure any of this is of any real importance. We found out just a few years ago that my mother (87 now!) was not born on the exact day written on her birth certificate. In those days many babies were delivered at home with the help of midwives and not in the hospital. Records were not very accurate.

Do we dwell on this or love her any less because of this error? Did we stop celebrating her birthday? Of course not.

As Christians we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior with great humility and thankfulness. It's all about Him and not a bunch or reindeer, dates, or retail madness. It is a time of worship and prayer for this undeserved gift sent to us by the Father because of His love for us.

Blessings to you and your family in this joyous season......Dh. :flowered:

johndeeregreen

12-08-2006, 08:51 PM

Bartman

12-08-2006, 09:43 PM

Actually Bart, this is a misconception that is shared by various groups including some Christians. Christmas began in Rome as a "response" to pagan festivities which were centered around the winter solstice. The pagan holiday was first instituted by Roman emperor Aurelian in 274 AD. It was translated into " the birth of the invincible sun" which took place around December 25th.

I didnt realize that history was a "misconception". the fact that many early church leaders did everything they could, including claiming pagan rituals as their own, is no mystery.here is the truth about origins of Christmas.

In the Western world, the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, replacing an earlier date of January 6th. The Christians had by then appropriated many pagan festivals and traditions of the season, that were practiced in many parts of the Middle East and Europe, as a means of stamping them out.
There were mid-winter festivals in ancient Babylon and Egypt, and Germanic fertility festivals also took place at this time. The birth of the ancient sun-god Attis in Phrygia was celebrated on December 25th, as was the birth of the Persian sun-god, Mithras. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of peace and plenty, that ran from the 17th to 24th of December. Public gathering places were decorated with flowers, gifts and candles were exchanged and the population, slaves and masters alike, celebrated the occasion with great enthusiasm.
In Scandinavia, a period of festivities known as Yule contributed another impetus to celebration, as opposed to spirituality. As Winter ended the growing season, the opportunity of enjoying the Summer's bounty encouraged much feasting and merriment.
The Celtic culture of the British Isles revered all green plants, but particularly mistletoe and holly. These were important symbols of fertility and were used for decorating their homes and altars.
New Christmas customs appeared in the Middle Ages. The most prominent contribution was the carol, which by the 14th century had become associated with the religious observance of the birth of Christ.
In Italy, a tradition developed for re-enacting the birth of Christ and the construction of scenes of the nativity. This is said to have been introduced by Saint Francis as part of his efforts to bring spiritual knowledge to the laity.
Saints Days have also contributed to our Christmas celebrations. A prominent figure in today's Christmas is Saint Nicholas who for centuries has been honored on December 6th. He was one of the forerunners of Santa Claus.
Another popular ritual was the burning of the Yule Log, which is strongly embedded in the pagan worship of vegetation and fire, as well as being associated with magical and spiritual powers.
Celebrating Christmas has been controversial since its inception. Since numerous festivities found their roots in pagan practices, they were greatly frowned upon by conservatives within the Church. The feasting, gift-giving and frequent excesses presented a drastic contrast with the simplicity of the Nativity, and many people throughout the centuries and into the present, condemn such practices as being contrary to the true spirit of Christmas.
The earliest English reference to December 25th as Christmas Day did not come until 1043.

Joe Schwab

12-09-2006, 08:11 PM

Merry Christmas everyone! Let's enjoy the season and it's traditions, be they fact or fiction.

Arguing about who invented Santa?????:sleep: :sleep:

There are not enough days in the year for everyone to have their own holidays and still get some work done so let's share.:angel: :angel: :angel:

Bartman

12-10-2006, 09:48 AM

Arguing about who invented Santa?????:sleep: :sleep:

what are you trying to say!! Santa isnt real?? then who buys,wraps, and leaves those presents for my daughter??:jester: :jester:

Good point, and well taken!!:bowdown:

I know many of you probably dont believe it,But I truly do wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Good Yule, and a happy, SAFE!! New Year.:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :flowered:
Bart

Bartman

12-10-2006, 09:51 AM

In honor of rimrock!!

Did you ever wonder about the origin of the candy cane?The symbol of the shepherds’ crook is an ancient one, representing the humble shepherds who were the first to worship the newborn Christ. Its counterpart is our candy cane – so old as a symbol that we have nearly forgotten its humble origin. Legend has it that in 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them quiet during the long Living Creche ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he had the candies bent into shepherds’ crooks. In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard of Wooster, Ohio, decorated a small blue spruce with paper ornaments and candy canes.
http://www.ideafinder.com/images/features/won-candycane.gifIt wasn’t until the turn of the century that the red and white stripes and peppermint flavors became the norm. The body of the cane is white, representing the life that is pure. The broad red stripe is symbolic of the Lord’s sacrifice for man. In the 1920s, Bob McCormack began making candy canes as special Christmas treats for his children, friends and local shopkeepers in Albany, Georgia. It was a laborious process – pulling, twisting, cutting and bending the candy by hand. It could only be done on a local scale.
In the 1950s, Bob’s brother-in-law, Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest, invented a machine to automate candy cane production. Packaging innovations by the younger McCormacks made it possible to transport the delicate canes on a scale that transformed Bobs Candies, Inc. into the largest producer of candy canes in the world.
Although modern technology has made candy canes accessible and plentiful, they’ve not lost their purity and simplicity as a traditional holiday food and symbol of the humble roots of Christianity.