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The Red-Suited Gnome
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A Reflection Back In 1968 or 69, I wondered for a little, “Why couldn’t Santa deliver to me a pogo stick?” I really wanted that pogo stick and I never got it! Santa left a note instead saying, “I’m sorry I didn’t bring you a pogo stick but I brought you and your brother a TV instead.” Now, I was happy about the TV which my brother and I enjoyed many TV programs on it growing up. We did not mind sharing. So I pondered a few hours, “Why didn’t Santa deliver?” If you were good, as I was, then why couldn’t he deliver a pogo stick because of my good behavior??? Hmmm. The handwriting on this note looked a lot like Mom’s. I must also add, now that memory serves me right (funny how we remember), this was also the first time Santa had messed up and had to leave a note. Why, I thought? Santa messing up!!! The stores had plenty of pogo sticks that I saw on the TV commercials. If Santa didn’t have time to make one, then why couldn’t he have dropped by the store to get me one? Back to the Note: I figured out this was indeed Mom’s handwriting and confronted her with it. She told me the truth that it was all made up! It’s just a story to make you feel good about yourself, I was told. It’s a good thing I was strong emotionally even then, because I didn’t cry about it. I just accepted it and moved on. But can all children do this? The answer is No! My brother knew the whole time, and I didn’t get mad at him either. But the thought came to pass quickly. “What else is not true?” It’s a good thing that even at that young age I never gave up believing that all the stories in the Bible are TRUE, which our Dear Mother would read to us. So quickly I believe, Yahweh had put it in my heart to quickly figure out there was no bunny, no tooth fairies, nor anything else but His Word of Truth. These are the thoughts of children at an early age. They are not dumb. They do form thoughts and opinions on their own! Countless times we have seen over the years that children turn into teenagers and become rebellious. Why? Because of these very same thoughts I had. They still remember all the lies they are told which are not true. They remember and this is the reason why many of them fall into unbelief as they move on to College! This falsehood is what churchianity and most of the world teaches. Hence, the falling away of so many when they get out from under their parents’ wings. If I can remember this at my age now, surely a child can remember it now. His Word tells us not to lie, so parents quit telling your children lies about Santa Claus, who doesn’t exist! Please don’t give me “That Santa’s in your heart thing” either. Your heart is wrong in this! The Father Yahweh and His Son Yahshua tell you these things are wrong in His Word. To tell your children and to yourselves as parents that these things are ok, is irresponsible according to His Word! Please reconsider and come to the Holy Days of Yahweh and out of the bondage of Babylon and Egypt. |
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Fairy Tales The “image” of Santa Claus is one of the most familiar in the world. For as long as anyone can remember, the jolly, elderly, fat, bearded man in a red suit trimmed with fur has been the symbol of the nation’s most popular “holiday.” We can name his flying reindeer. We know he lives at the North Pole, where his elves spend the year churning out toys for children who have been good. But like many things in life, his origins are complicated. In earlier traditions, he punished as often as he rewarded. It sounds like Santa is a respector of persons, something that Yahweh or Yahshua is not (emphasis mine). And he didn’t always look the way he does today. As few as 140 years ago, Santa could be portrayed as a gnome-like little man, or a dashing beardless violinist, or a dignified bishop wearing a traditional mitre. The history of Santa’s changing form is closely tied to the history of christmas, perhaps the most American of all “holidays.” (Excerpts from www.findarticles.com) Now I’m not against the Irish at all, I grew up with some friends who have Irish ancestry. But, I still recall reading childhood books of gnomes, leprechauns, fairies, and let’s not forget the ugly trolls who live under bridges, waiting and lurking, ready to pounce on some poor innocent victim. This is what these are, Fairy Tales, just like old Santa. Do you really want to teach your children this? What will you say when they really want the truth from you? |
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Ho, Ho, Ho, Mary ChristMass The above headline is quoted many times during this coming “winter” season. Let’s find out just exactly what it means and who is saying it, and why. All the Clauses surely know this saying don’t they? I know I used to say it in my ignorance. Satan is very cunning and wily, but we can know what this means spiritually in Yahweh through Yahshua. Ho – an interjection: Used to express surprise or joy, to attract attention to something “sighted,” or to urge “onward.” (free online dictionary) Questions anyone…? Did I ever really hear Santa say this? Or was it just repeated by tradition? The first thought I have is I’ve never seen Santa, except some guy in a store with a fake beard, with possibly bad breath and a fat belly. I can hardly believe I sat on his lap. Secondly, we are being urged onward to believe in something that is not real nor seen. Thirdly, attract attention to what? Something not real, that takes our minds away from Yahweh and His Son Yahshua, as well as to take you away from His Word, and proper worship? And lastly, there’s no joy in Santa. Only surprise that people steal in his name for something that’s not true, and go into debt for a cause that only causes selfishness in the early or latter years of those who want to take instead of give, or give to receive. Isn’t it better to give than to receive, instead of giving to receive? I see Satan using Santa against the people who have no knowledge whatsoever that he is doing this to them. He’s a deceiver and his gifts of joy bring out the worst in people. Is this something the people should really be following blindly? The blind gifts are deceptions of Satan. Mary Christmas – Well, we know Mary is asleep, she is not a deity as the Catholics claim. Let’s put the true Mary (Mariam) into perspective. Scriptures indicate an angel of Yahweh, as well as Elisabeth, said she is “Blessed among Women,” Luke 1:28 and 42. And she is, because she is whom Yahweh the Father chose as a virgin to give birth to our Saviour. But when the fullness of the time was come, Yahweh sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law (penalty of death with no Saviour until Yahshua) that we might receive the adoption of sons, Galatians 4:4-5. “Might” means to accept and believe, and to endure until the end. Now, after his death and resurrection! Oh, to be baptized in Yahshua’s Name. So Mariam is indeed blessed, but to exalt her to a deity is far fetched based upon “one” scripture! Salvation is in Yahshua, not in Mary. It is clear that “Merry” is a play of Satan upon the English name Mary, in the religious sense the Catholic Mary, to whom a lot of people worship falsely, and Satan uses this to make it sound real pious and good. But it’s an exposed lie. Make “Merry.” Do what you want to, just believe, and all is well! Let’s remember that this is all coming from just one sentence of Claus and his cronies! Christmas – Worshipped in Catholic to Protestant to Fundamentalist churches and beyond. The word Christmas itself reveals who married paganism to the true believers in Yahshua, before they fell and during, and to those who would fall afterwards! And as the Jews and Gentiles died off (the true believers), the customs of Yahshua and the commandments of Yahweh were supposedly changed from the Law and the Testimony (Isaiah 8:20 and Revelation 12:17). The word Christmas is a combination of the words “Christ” and “Mass.” The word Mass means death and was coined originally by the Roman Catholic Church, and belongs exclusively to the Church at Rome. (Most excerpts from www.lasttrumpetministries.org) The ritual of the Mass involves the death of Christ (Messiah) and the distribution of the “Host” wafers. Our unleavened bread they are misusing, (Now remember in Catholicism, Mary is first and Messiah second). Hence, Ho Mary! The word “Host,” in Latin #5 of (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1983), means hoste, oste which is eostre, which is Easter, which is not Passover, and the definition of host is – Eucharist, sacrifice, the eucharistic bread. Many of the world believe Messiah died for them, but are following the ways of Babylon. Eating and drinking Messiah’s blood through fermented wine, week after week. Rather it’s a memorial service (Passover) done only once a year. Yet, and they offer the bread of life each week as though Messiah has to do it all over again and again. (Hebrews 9:24-28) Also the Nicholaus host precedes # 5. Hence, Mary Christmas, along with Nicholaus (Santa – St. Nick), with Satan’s approval, no doubt, is a lie. Without going into extreme detail, we know that the Roman Catholic Church thinks that each sun-day morning mass, and partaking of what they may think, is Passover. But it is Eucharist only and is really quite disturbing according to the Word. Passover is once a year, Easter and Eucharist is every week, and on sun-day, which is nowhere to be found in Yahweh’s Word! They put the wafer symbol of the Holy Spirit in a box, which is made of pure gold. It supposedly represents the Ark of the Covenant, They pray and worship to a box, as well as praying to idols and statues, and rubbing rosary charms. Now I could go on and tell you more, but I would then have to write a book. But just remember that Diana of the Ephesians is the same tool of Satan used at that time and has never left the world, and he creates new tools all the time, just to deceive! All that from Santa Claus in one short sentence. Just a tip I found from the iceberg! Satan’s ruse (trick), his lies exposed!!! |
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The Facts vs. Santa There was a man named Hagios Nikolaos (his real Greek name), who was the Bishop of Myra in modern day Turkey and did kind things and acts we are told, whose name we now know as St. Nicholaus. He reportedly died around 350 C.E. His name became a version, as well as a perversion, of many myths and legends. (Excerpt from w.lone-star.net). It seems old Claus has many mythological names from many countries across the whole world. Just to name a few, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Pope Noel (No-El?), perish the thought! The Kristkind, Sint Klaas, Shengdan Laoren, Black Peter, Pa Norsk, and Grandfather Frost (some excerpts from w.lone star.net). All these different names from different countries are worshipping a man who has been long dead. We know there’s only One Name for Salvation under Heaven whereby men must be saved and that is Yahshua, Acts 4:12. Why are people in the U.S. as a whole worshipping a mythological person with flying reindeer who doesn’t even exist? We shall see! |
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Santa Claus and The Saturnalia During Roman times, winter solstice marked a period of darkness and cold with little harvest for the people. So festivals were held in the honor of the god of agriculture, Saturnalia, and gods and goddesses of harvest. Masquerades, parties, and great feasts were held for days on end. Slaves became masters, schools and businesses were closed, and peasants ruled the cities. People threw off the mores of society for a month of festivity and debauchery. Children were honored around the same time with a special festival called Juvanelia, held in honor of Mithra, the infant god of the unconquerable sun. It was believed the infant was born on December 25, which was considered the most sacred day of the year. When Christianity began to spread during the third century , Constantine was seeking a way to reach the so called pagans or non-converts. Religious leaders combined Roman religious practices with Christian beliefs and December 25 was transformed from the birth of the sun god Mithra, to the birth of [Yahweh’s Son, Yahshua]. Religious leaders knew that by holding Christmas at the same time as the Roman festivals, it would be more readily assimilated into Roman culture and would make the process of converting the people to Christianity easier as well. Let it be known that by this time they had dropped the Name Yahshua for Jesus, a man-made name. Originally known as the Feast of The Nativity (Christ’s Birth) , the religious custom spread along with Christianity into Egypt by 432 C.E., and to England by the end of the Sixth century. (Excerpts from Sherri Daus, w.lakelandmirror.com) By the time of The Middle Ages, Christianity had completely accepted this as the norm. Contrary to popular belief, our Saviour was not born on the 25th of December, and many reputable scholars claim to know when He was born. Some say in the fall, some say in the spring, but no man alive knows, and it is not made completely clear in the scriptures. To do so is to add your “own thoughts” to His Word as to actually what day it was!!! For more information read “The Untold Story of Christmas,” an in-depth booklet, as well as “Biblical Holy Days,” another in-depth Booklet—what you find may surprise your interest! |
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Santa With Flying Reindeer? Santa’s sled is a magical imagination no doubt, but couldn’t this also be considered a Chariot of Old? Indeed a Chariot of the sun! (2 Kings 23:11) Christmas and Easter go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other, these are not the Holy Days Of Yahweh! We know Ashtoroth is Ashtoreth, which has become modern day Easter, and is celebrated by not only Christianity |
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but other faiths as well. Yahweh condemns such practices of the people round about in following the spring full moon equinox as well as the winter full moon equinox. These are “holidays” that Yahweh condemns, as they are not His Holy Days nor His Feasts (see 1 Kings 11:5-13).This is the very reason Yahweh divorced Israel until Yahshua came and died on the tree for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to Yahweh through Him! The reason why Yahweh divorced the 12 tribes of Israel over time in the Old Testament, was because of the mixing of the Babylonian system of the gods of the people round about them. This is what Churchianity is doing now and has been for over 1900 years!!! (2 Kings 23:11-28 and 1 Kings 11:33) The 8 days of Christmas with Santa and the false flying reindeer correspond to the 8 days of December 25th through New Years Day. These 8 days are a perversion of Satan counterfeiting the 8 Holy Days of Yahweh in the seventh scriptural month known as the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. The 8 days of Easter in the spring is a perversion of Satan counterfeiting the one day memorial of Yahshua dying for our sins (Passover) and the seven days of Unleavened Bread which follow. These are well known facts, and the early assembly in the NT kept these days, not the “holidays” that are kept now. They kept the Holy Days before Constantine started this messy abomination! (1 Cor. 5:6-8) The Protestants indeed “protested” against the Catholic Church to be able to interpret the Bible on their own, not through an earthly high priest man, as the catholic priests said that “they only” held that right. The Protestants over time and torture won out, but they kept the very same abominable “pagan holidays” of the Catholic Church, and do keep them still unto this very day, including sun-day worship! They only “protested” the right to study the scriptures for themselves, but held onto the pagan “holidays”! Yahshua is our High Priest in heaven now, and also will be when Yahweh sends Him back to this earth to redeem us so that we can reign with Him a thousand years! And beyond. You’re not going to hear this in sunday school. This is what is meant by the scriptures concerning Yahshua saying in Revelations to “Come out of (her) Babylon my People,” Rev. 17:5 and 18:2-8. Please heed His Word as it will save your lives. |
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Witchcraft What does Yahweh say about witchcraft? He says, And Yahweh spake all these words, saying, I am Yahweh your Elohiym, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, Thou shalt not have no other elohiyms before Me.Thou shalt not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:Thou shalt not bow down youself unto them, nor serve them: For I Yahweh your Elohiym am a jealous Elohiym, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them who hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments, Exodus 20:1-6. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it Holy, Ex. 20:8. The New Testament provides excellent witness against witchcraft, which is what the celebration of Christmas is. Howbeit then, when ye knew not Yahweh, ye did service unto them which by nature are no mighty ones. But now, after that ye have known Yahweh, or rather are known of Yahweh, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain, Gal 4:8 11. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Yahweh, Gal 5:19-21. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of Yahweh? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of Yahweh, 1 Cor 6:9-10. And what agreement hath the temple of Yahweh with idols? for ye are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith Yahweh, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith Yahweh El Shaddai, 2 Cor 6:16-18. |
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Fables Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than righteous edifying which is in faith (so do), 1st Tim. 1:4. But refuse profane old wive’s fables, and exercise yourself unto righteousness, 1 Tim. 4:7. And they shall turn their ears away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables, 2 Tim. 4:4. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth, Titus 1:14. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Sovereign Yahshua Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of His Majesty, 2 Peter 1:16. |
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Lies Then Yahweh said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in My Name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: They prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their heart, Jeremiyah 14:14. Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life, Ezekiel 13:22. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Proverbs 19:5. Wouldn’t telling and teaching your children about Santa, his reindeer and elves, be considered lies? They surely would be! |
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Gifts As for you, O House of Israel, thus saith Almighty Yahweh; Go you, serve you every one his idols, and hereafter, If you will not hearken unto me: but pollute you no more My Holy Name with your gifts, and with your idol, Ezek. 20:39. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts, Proverbs 19:6. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves, everyone loves gifts, and follows after rewards: They judge not the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come unto them, Isaiah 1:23. These are just some of the reasons it’s better to give than to receive! Let me follow up with these last few scriptures. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Messiah, Colossians 2:8. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but Mighty in Yahweh to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Yahweh, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled, 2 Cor. 10:3-6. For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, Ephesians 6:12. |
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Conclusion We can clearly see now that from the scriptures we are not to be joined with Santa, his flying reindeer, nor his elves, which do not exist. These are just the traditions of men and women from the past 1700 years or so of this make believe story, which truly comes from Satan, and then through man, ridiculing the Salvation and true worship of the Saviour Yahshua. “Thinking to,” but not really. For those of us who know better, who study daily the Word, of thinking to “replace” Yahweh’s Feasts and Holy Days with a man-made Babylonian worship style religion of man and Satan. The very same religion of Satan as in what started at the Tower of Babel (confusion), which was of Satan. Yahweh is not The Author of Confusion through His Son Yahshua. But He did bring it about at the Tower of Babel because of man’s disobedience! This Christ-mass thing is the very same Babylonian religion Satan started through Nimrod, with Semaramis, his evil mother. Yahweh’s Holy Days are not weak and beggarly. They are what He said they are, Holy! To be treated with respect and proper reverance. You cannot find this with silly make-believe things that don’t exist but in the hearts and minds of false people, worshipping false mighty ones. For those of you who are celebrating these events, I implore you to seek these things out for your own good, happiness, salvation, and personal welfare in Messiah Yahshua. I can tell you this truly that I quit keeping Christmas about 26 years ago because it was not in His Word, even though I was a Sunday keeper until 2002. By the grace of Yahweh and His Son Yahshua, and because I studied to show myself approved in His sight, He led me to understand about His Feast Days from 2004 to 2006 from a dear friend of another Assembly. But, I didn’t get to partake until last year 2007, when I went to my first Feast of Tabernacles. What I noticed and felt immediately when I arrived was that we were all in “one accord” as the scriptures teach. There was no strife, no backbiting, no one getting angry for any reason whatsoever. It was what I had been searching for all of my life. There was and is perfect peace in this and I beg you by the Name of Yahshua to search out the mening of the Holy Days as they show His Perfect Plan of Salvation. It will bring you complete fulfillment in His Word and in your life. This is what you’re seeking, and when you find it, hold onto it with your very life!!! Seek out a Yahweh/Yahshua (Salvation in) Assembly in your area. You will not regret it! Shalom! |
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-Brother Tim Stallings |
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