I have been thinking, at this season of the year, about writing a new poem which relates to "Christmas" (not the Winter Solstice Feast which it replaced). As a Christian, I said a prayer both last night and this morning before starting this poem as I wanted so much to say the right words. I have tried to write a very simple poem that everyone could understand (because Jesus used simple language in his messages) - yet to put over the most important message which He brought to this earth,. We hear so much about hatred, and some associate hatred with religion , which is not what God would want. As a carpenter in Nazareth Jesus led a simple life, and yet, he brought the powerful message of love, which is well-known today, but not put into practice - from what what we constantly hear on the news - which I find so sad. I would love to hear your reviews on this one please - especially if you are not Christian. What do you think of His message? Surely if we all put the message of love into practice, the world would be happier, and wouldn't this be good? Have I put over the simplicity of the life he led? His 3 year ministry won the following of millions? I'm sure I couldn't do better than this with my life.
Let’s remember "Christ" in Christmas,
Who was the founder of the feast.
He was poor but was hardworking -
Although a preacher, not a priest.
He was born, not as a rich man,
Or in a palace like a king
Yet, for His welcome on this earth
God’s angels came to sing.
His goals were not as ours are –
To pass exams at school.
He never owned a house in fact –
And he never came to rule.
His parents both were poor folk –
His father worked with wood -
Jesus learnt to be a carpenter,
A trade considered good.
He never travelled far from home,
Unlike people of today –
But he spoke of love and caring,
And He taught us how to pray.
The most important words He taught,
Which should spring to every mind
Were: “Love your neighbour as yourself” –
Show goodwill to all mankind.
Copyright 2006
www.whiteheadm.co.uk|
Written by rilLie (324 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | excellent. advent's coming, good timing, and i am very much excited. 
-rilLie | Thanks RiLie
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | Thank you RiLie. Your church might like this poem for Christmas, but please also see the poem called: "The Best Donkey of Them All" in the children's section. I do hope the schools and churches will find it useful for the children to enjoy. | Nothing new...
Written by Talisker (1300 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | Can't you see the banality in this Josie? It's all been said before, again and again and again. But I'll correct you in matters of fact:
(1) The Midwinter festival which was adopted by Christianity, pre-dates Christ by millenia. Christianity has been adept at "stealing" pagan feasts.
(2) Religion is correctly asociated with hate, because it has been so from the start. The Christians went on crusade to slaughter thousands in the name of Christ. The Moslems came to New York to slaughter thousands in the name of Alah. Religion IS the people who practice it - it doesn't exist outwith that.
(3) You don't need to be a Christian to espouse the "love your neighbour" creed. Surely you're not trying to suggest that this didn't exist pre-Christ, or that Christianity has a monopoly on love and kindness? In fact its a purely logical (necessary) approach for any group of people who wish to co-exist.
Its more commonplace, condescending, trite, baloney to be fed to kids. Sorry, but thats the way I see it.
Oli.
P.S. I have no problem with you being a Christian, and I was brought up a Catholic. We live in a multi-culture, multi-faith and non-faith society. Can't we just celebrate love without putting a ridiculous mystical label on it?
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Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3137 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | You ask for non-Christian views on this but if you are an unbeliever how can you have a view on it? It's like asking an adult for his views on the tooth fairy. You either believe or you don't with no common ground. We'll just agree to disagree
cheers
BBS | NO, NOTHING NEW
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | Oli, you are absolutely right when you say "nothing new" and I go along with you in all that you say. I haven't written a complicated poem about what people have done on this earth since the powerful message of "love one another" came. You would think that this message was simple enough for people to learn, but the rejection of the message has led to misery in the world (which is not what God wants) and, as you say, sadly rejected in the name of religion all too often (but by no means always). I have only written a simple poem about why the name of Christ IS in Christmas (because many people really don't know) - and to try to tell the story of this simple, ordinary man who came to earth with his message of love. You can celebrate love without a "Christian label", of course, (and I hope you do) - but I feel that the present of love, which Christ gave to us all, was the best present we can give to each other,and worth a mention. So, Oli, I love you and hope you love me too, and I'm sure others on this website have sent you a lot of love during the last few difficult days so the message has been seen to being put into practice.
As for Christmas as a time of cooking, buying presents, sending cards, making cakes and pies, pushing and shoving in queues, I have also written 2 poems about these things, ha ha. Now it's your turn. Wht do you think is a better Christmas present than love?
I do hope you are holding up well Oli, for, although you may not want it, I have prayed for you and you have been much in my thoughts. Keep going forward and don't look back. Best wishes - Josie | It's difficult...
Written by Clifftown (619 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | I am an atheist, and I remember from my own childhood adults who looked down on our family for not being religious, yet were thoroughly dislikeable people who thought going to church every Sunday absolved them of all their bad behaviour towards others. This poem would therefore not have rung true with me as a child, because it was at odds with the things I experienced.
That said, I can also see the good religion can do for people and how faith can help believers through difficult times.
To truly appreciate this poem you would need to be a believer. I do like the sentiments behind it and think the poem is written and structured well, but I essentially agree with Talisker in that you don't need to be Christian to be a good and caring person. | To Jane
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | Jane, I only asked if people could comment on the simplicity of how I had told the story of a man whose name is in Christmas - of the simplicity of his life on earth, and on the fact that his message of love often isn't the important thing in the "Christmas" of today. There will be people who will say that we only hear of bad things (quite right) - but there is a lot of good being done in the world and lots of deeds of love being done by one person to another - which is exactly what He wanted. He wasn't a complicated man. He told his stories in a simple way - stories which told people to show compassion to each other and care for each other. I believe that these principles of living are right, whether they are Christian or not. I don't know what you don't believe in, or think is wrong, about the story I have written about. I wasn't interested in bringing into this simple story how things have turned out, only how they started. | PS
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | Just to add one thing: The Christians that I know are mostly trying to follow the principles of living set out for us - - but it is a very hard path to follow at times, and many fall short. However, as we all fall short (and probably by a long way) - perhaps, with some guiding principles, we can pick ourselves up and start again. Don't forget that Christians go to church because they realizxe they are sinners and need help - so, hopefully, Clifftown, your horrible neighbours may eventually have learnt something, ha ha. Thanks for your reviews everyone. | I appreciate it
Written by Talisker (1300 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | The balance of your response Josie, given the depth of your faith.
I also appreciate your parayers very much indeed. Good thoughts can never be a bad thing.
Hope your God blesses you,
Oli  | And you also Talisker
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | I know for certain that He is with you and you definitely will come out of all your problems well, and probably a stronger man. We are all on your side too. God bless you too. | Feel compassion for the misinformed ...
Written by johniebg (538 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | Anecdoted ...
Written by johniebg (538 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | Let’s remember "Christ" in Christmas,
Who was the founder of the feast.
“Jesus was not christian. It was only those that followed after his death that anointed him as such. Christmas was founded by the orthodox Christian church which as an order of Christians arrived on the scene some three centuries after the death of Jesus.”
He was poor but was hardworking -
“The gospels clearly indicate that Jesus did not work and was primarily supported by his female followers.”
Yet, for His welcome on this earth
God’s angels came to sing.
“Did they? Can you name the gospel this is described in (The gospels being the only written record of his life)”
A trade considered good.
He never travelled far from home,
“If you believe the gospels then he actually travelled from Bethlehem, to Egypt, then back into Palastine as it was known in those days, spent some time nipping backwards and forwards across Galilee and then travelled into Jerusalem where he was crucified as a criminal. So all things considered very well travelled)”
And He taught us how to pray
“Did he, I thought the church did that? It originates from a reluctance of the church to let people read the bible and so people were issued with prayer books written by the church. The bible was only published for public use just over three hundred years ago”
Were: “Love your neighbour as yourself” –
Show goodwill to all mankind.
“Love your neighbour is a saying through multi civilisations across the planet, through every religion (apparently it seems there is more than one god) and on many occasions long before people started inflicting orthodox Christianity upon mankind.”
So the moral of this story. Christians have been foisting this sort of hokum on people for 1600 years, most of us are over it. If your going to do it you need to at least try and get your facts right. As a work of fiction in this section, I suppose it has promise (needs filling out) but has already been done extensively elsewhere.
Time for a lay down.  | My Goodness! - Is this little poem an e
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | 1. I never said Jesus was Christian. He wasn't. He was a Jew as most people know.
2. He worked hard as a carpenter and worked hard teaching people. Not a 9 till 5 job. We read often in the Bible how tired he got and seeked peace and rest. I never said about who kept him in food etc.
3. The angels are mentioned in the four gospels.
4. He never travelled more than 200 miles from his place of birth from what I read. I don't know the exact distance from one place to another, only what I read.
(http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com/2005/12/putting-christ-back-into-christmas.html)
I said "he never travelled far from HOME", I didn't say how MANY journeys he made. I travel to the shops most days, and I'd hate to think how many miles I travel.
5. Jesus taught us "The Lord's Prayer" - others may have taught other prayers. He didn't tell us to read this in a book. He was standing in a field when he spoke these words to people. I am talking about things that happened when he lived, not what people have done since.
6. Love your neighbour: Good,I'm glad others recommend that we do this. If it is said so often, why don't people think it is something worth following? I think it is something worth working for.
Lastly, I haven't written this as a work of "fiction" (as you say) because the life of Christ has been clearly recorded in records which date back thousands of years, as everyone knows.
I haven't written this simple factual poem so that I can be examined, and I have made sure that my views are not reflected in any way in this poem. This is a factual poem about the life of Christ and his main message. I hope the facts are correct, to the best of my knowledge.
I have written this in connection with "Christmas" which we nearly all celebrate in this country in December because whether we like it or not, Christ is the name in the first part of the word.
Lastly, I hope I have answered your questions, and if not, you can read the Bible and do more research, as I am not an expert, only trying to be a Christian.
Enough!
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Written by JourneyAtNight (301 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | I'm not a Christian, but I liked this very much - there is feeling behind it and a very valid point.
It's a shame to see something from the heart being torn to shreds like this!
Luckily faith allows us to bounce back unscathed.
Take care
J.A.N x
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Written by johniebg (538 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | The birth of Jesus is only recorded in two of the Gospels.
Your being telling us next Jesus was an only child;
Mark Chapter 6 Verse 3
One of us has very thoroughly read the Christian New Testament and it wasn't you.
Enjoy your holiday celebrations
| Give me strength
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | You are not recorded in the gospels at all, but that doesn't mean you don't exist! For goodness sake, what on earth is the matter with you? The life of Jesus was written about in the four gospels, and the disciples of Jesus also knew him. The fact that he healed and ministered to many hundreds of people and died on the cross, must mean that he was born - or not? What on earth is bugging you with this very simple factual poem? Please go to someone else's work now. Do you think that older people are stupid? | PS
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | I'm going to write about "Humpty Dumpty" next. Goodnight! | Humpty Dumpty
Written by Talisker (1300 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | Humpty Dumpty was a seige cannon used to murder thousands of innocents!!!
You can't escape controversy, Josie 
Take a deep breath, its all about opinions, everybody love you Josie, who couldn't. But as the youngsters say, take a chill pill!!!
Oli | Ha Ha
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | | Taslisker, you are far more knowledgeable about him than I am. You write about him, but be prepared to take your history examination as I have done. Let's move on to Humpty Dumpty now. |
Written by Phil (6393 comments posted) 10th November 2006 | Crikey Josie, by the time I'd read all the reviews I'd forgotten about the poem and had to go back and read it. I can see why your poem provoked so many reviews. I would hope no-one would argue with the maxim: 'Love your neighbour,' but when it is couched in terms of a religion, it takes on all sorts of other connotations -whether you like it or not.
My understanding (and I confess it is limited) is that Christianity as we know it today is an invented tradition that began with St. Peter and the other apostles. Like anything that suffers organisation - and the church has suffered more of that than most - it has become distorted until no-one is sure what it started out as.
I know the Church is not the same thing as Christianity and faith, but it is so hard to separate them. As an organisation it has probably committed more sin than generations of ordinary folk. I speak as someone who was brought up by parents who were very chasismatic practitioners of their faith. Some of the twisted things I've seen and experienced will one day be written about, but at the age of thirty-nine, it's still too hard.
I admire your faith. I admire you for your honesty and the way you've dealt with some of the more 'direct' reviews. I admire the sentiments in your poem. What I can't do is set my morals (which I doubt would differ very greatly from yours) within the context of any religion. To be told it's right to think or do something is fine. To blieve it to be true because of love for humanity is surely more fitting and in the end, rewarding.
Please don't see this as an attack on your faith. Each to their own.
When it all comes down basics, all we have is love. Trite, but for me, true.
Phil. | My last message
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 11th November 2006 | To all of you who have written: I only have this to say: The name "Christ" is in the word Christmas because "Christmas" is the name which was given to the celebration of the birth Jesus Christ. It now also included general festivities,(gmany gathered from our pagan past) but for Christians it is the celebration of a birthday - as other religions celebrate their special occasions with their own names. My poem could have been written by anyone in this world - Christian or non-Christian. It was meant to be a simple, factual poem about the name of the man whose name comes up at Christmas. And Jesus was not a misery - he enjoyed parties too don't forget, and he would have been a young man at the centre of any party. Who would not like someone who could turn water into wine at their celebrations? This poem is not about my faith or your faith - it is a simple story of a simple man who, in his three short years of ministry, advised us all to love one another - and I think anyone today might give this message as being good. Have we come to the point in this country that we cannot mention the name Christ?
Well, I am not ashamed to mention the name of Jesus, and neither are millions. As I say, I will write about Humpty Dumpty next. Let this be the end! |
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