turkey, the holy bird

Many Christians in many parts of the world celebrate Christmas (happy birthday Jesus) with special feasts eating particular foods based on culture, tradition and/or society. In the US, the celebration of Christmas -- as well as Thanksgiving (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/11/giving-thanks.html) -- includes eating turkey.

When did eating the flesh of animals become part of any Christian celebration -- especially Christmas? Maybe it's time to spare a turkey (or any other animal, for that matter) and join Jesus in a temple during the celebration of God's incarnation and coming to earth.

Better yet, celebrating Christmas with a vegetarian dinner might even be a better idea. Why should we slaughter an animal to celebrate the coming of God? Shouldn't we better celebrate God by celebrating His creation?

By the way, if you're in NYC, come and join me at FAPC (http://www.fapc.org/news/502-advent-marks-new-season) to celebrate Christmas. I hope to see you there.

not giving thanks

One thing that annoys me is when I hold the door for someone (man or woman, well usually the latter) and that person "forgets" to thank me (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/11/giving-thanks.html). These people fail to realize that I've got no obligation to hold any door for anyone. Nonetheless these people think that society (me being part of) owes them something like holding a door and hence don't need to thank me or anyone else for that matter.

giving thanks

If we consider that we should thank others when do something for us that they're on no obligation to do, the American holiday celebrating how and why Native Americans helped the Pilgrims has a much deeper meaning. This act helped the Pilgrims not die, survive and establish colonies that over two centuries later have formed this nation led by and based on the Scriptures -- hence a true Christian nation. Of course, the formation of this Christian nation's tainted by the murder, rape, destruction and obliteration of several Native American societies (not to be covered on this entry).

Nonetheless as Christians, we should take this holiday to be thankful for the many or few things in our lives -- whatever generous bounty God's given us. We (myself included) fail to do so and simply complain. Of course, we in this nation have the right to work hard for what we want, of course, remembering that nothing's for free.

After giving myself this sermon, I should give thanks to God for

1. my health as limited as it could be to work for what I want and/or need,
2. all I've got including my work, habitat and what I've been able to give my children,
3. my children and the joy they give me,
4. my nine-year-old's health that could be much worse,
5. my friends and whatever little family I really have,
6. and all I take for granted that I can't think of right now as I'm writing (typing).

friends from other books

As a continuation of http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/friends-from-afar.html I wanted to emphasize that distance doesn't always mean geographical position of two object or persons.

After living abroad about one third of my life and living in NYC for the other two thirds, not all my friends are Christian of whatever denomination.

For example, my friends I-An and I-Chun (sisters) are Buddhist.

Coto is atheist or so he calls himself. After all, his wife is Christian (Catholic perhaps).

Julian is non-practicing Jew and married to a non-practicing Christian.

Several of my friends are Muslim. As a matter of fact, my friend Sheila converted to Islam after spending most of her life as a Christian.

Of course, many are Christian although they don't practice their faith. If they do, it might be limited to several times a year.

After a while, religion is not too important when making friends for life. Nonetheless I must admit that some (if not all) the friends whom I've made in church might be my friends (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-church-friends-unexpected-fellowship.html) for the rest our lives.

my church friends, unexpected fellowship

When I started going to FAPC (http://www.fapc.org/), making friends was something I had considered. After all, that had never been my experience in any religious circle. As a matter of fact, my experience had been that of the individual sharing practically nothing in common other than considering ourselves to be "true" Christians.

During the first months, I read a lot of information on Christianity, divisions and differences in the Church, denominations, schism, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and anything else I could get my hands on. I wanted to make sure that what I had considered to be a "true" Christian would somehow fit into whatever new ideologies I was encountering in this different church. Nowadays Protestant Christianity makes more sense to me than my previous 37 years calling myself and/or being considered Catholic (born into a Catholic family/society and going to Catholic churches, all the while considering Protestants wrong).

Going back to the main subject, I started talking to other church goers asking questions here and there -- nothing special, nothing personal, other than the Christian faith. I then started going to these one-hour talks/classes. I slowly started hanging out in church with the same group of people and making friends there without realizing (fellowship). I also took several Bible study classes and met others and got to know some of the previous group of people somewhat better.

These new group of friends are guys whom I can talk, joke, laugh, eat (perhaps the favorite activity) and most importantly share a common faith (being Christian, perhaps with some differences in Christology -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology --here and there). As a matter of fact, nowadays some of my dearest friends are from church. At the same time, I'm very grateful to some of them for helping me grow as a Christian and a better person (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/open-letter-to-my-friends-86-weeks.html).

I doesn't stop to amaze me how weird this one church is that these random people (myself included) have come together from different parts -- all coming to a common time and place in the universe. I don't think any of them is from NYC (myself included though living 27 years in this city).

an open letter to my friends, 86 weeks

an open letter (email) to my friends...

Hi (your name here),

I had a conversation with a Stephen Minister yesterday (well every Sunday actually). This person mentioned that I was gifted (talented) because I wrote poetry. This person pointed out briefly that a talent is a gift from God. Of course, I didn't see it and understand it that way right away. I had never seen it this way although you have mentioned this concept before. I still have lots to learn.

TALENT = GIFT FROM GOD
GIFT FROM GOD = TALENT

I'm including the email that I sent and this person's response this morning.

On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 05:11, XXXXX wrote:
Indeed! Gifts, blessings, talents... How nice to see things with fresh eyes. [...]
-XXXXX

On Sun, May 2, 2010 at 20:38, XXXXXXX wrote:
[...] I guess that I should have thanked you when you mentioned that I was gifted with writing poetry and numbers (code). I guess this is something that I have never thought of as a gift (maybe a talent, at most). Maybe I should thinking of my talents as gifts. Well it's never too late. Thank you.

I know that I usually send silly emails and maybe I shouldn't be sending this message, but I just wanted to share this with you and to thank you for your support for the past 86 weeks helping me grow as a Christian and a better person, helping me survive and grow emotionally and spiritually since 09/21/2008 that I've come to FAPC. You don't need to respond.

a quick thanks

On behalf of FAPC (http://www.fapc.org/), I'd like to thank all those who came last night for part one of the New York Concerns... New York Conversations (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-york-concerns-new-york.html) series. We had lots of fun and I hope you join us next Wednesday for part two.