From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "Jim D"  wrote in message news:2018120314480689999-Not@ThisAddresscom...   
      
   > We do a small selection, about a dozen songs. Nothing too deep, too   
   > serious.   
      
   That's about all the Christmas tunes there are without the hymns and carols.   
      
   > And in my case, I celebrate, or take note of,  the celestial /   
   > astronomical event, solstice.   
      
   I'll have to be living at the equator before I can celebrate that...'cause   
   right now I'm freezing! ;)   
      
   > If someone wants to tie that to Jesus, then that's fine by me.   
      
   There's a LOT more than that tied to Jesus, like the Creation of the   
   universe!!!   
      
   The Bible says that there was Nothing that was made that He did not make!   
      
   > I don't care either way. Neiter commanded, or prohibited ... at least   
   > unless you're talking to an old testament legalist ... then they feel it   
   > is prohibited.  Just the 7 or so old testament holy days and nothing more.   
   > Of course, that's crazy, as taken to extremes that could prohibit just   
   > about any clelbration. Birthdays, anniversaries, the day some crooked   
   > politician finally goes to jail, all the fun things in life :-)   
      
   It's all there in Scripture, there's nothing to wonder or guess about.   
      
   > Right, but it's off only by virtue of our calendar being imperfect. The   
   > solstice is and has always been the event celebrated this time of year.   
   > That we call it by other names, that the Romans tied it to Jesus, bls bla   
   > .... it's the winter solstice .....   
      
   But it's not about the winter solstice, and what of the equinoxes?   
   That's astronomy, a fun subject, but Christmas is about Christ, and in the   
   book of Genesis, after stating the account of Creation, all it says   
   regarding God's connection with the cosmos seems quite simple and even   
   'trivial' - He made the stars also! Yeah, the stars, Billions of Billions of   
   Billions of then, in Billions of Billions of Billions of galaxies, in   
   Billions of Billions of Billions of *clouds* of galaxies, and that's only   
   what can barely begin to be seen. He sure made the stars also all right!!!   
      
   > I enjoy that get together.  That side of my family is almost entire cops.   
      
   Oh wonderful. Ever manage to talk about how the only way to have a Police   
   State is with police?   
      
   > So we sit and drink , have a big meal, and sometimes shoot guns out the   
   > back field.   
      
   At least that sounds like some fun.   
      
   > Or not.  Haven't done that in a few years. Rumor someone put a Thompson   
   > ( of old gangster movie fame ) round thru the ceiling.  I wasn't there   
   > that particular day. But I can say those guns really do " rise up " and   
   > want to get away from you, so I can see it happening.   
      
   It's a .45 ACP pistol round, a bit more power due to the longer barrel of   
   the Thompson but that's about it.   
   But still, that doesn't sound all that safe.   
      
   > It's the opposite of ours, isn't it ?  Like when it's getting cold here,   
   > it's becoming warmer there ?   I dunno. Don't plan on ever being there.   
   > I'm too old to change careers and become a pirate :-)   
      
   I've often wondered why everything is so 'north-centric' - sounds like bias   
   to me ;)   
      
   > Nah, enjoy life.  We were gonna put out some lights yesterday, didn't tho.   
   > Maybe tonight.  Oh, I'm supposed to move the new dog cage downstairs   
   > today. Better think about that, or I'll be making up things on fly when   
   > she gets home.   
      
   I'd enjoy life better with better weather ;)   
      
   > Yep, clouds here also. I did notice some interesting clust last night, due   
   > east about 20 degress from dead overhead.  Maybe I'll check that out on a   
   > chart, see what it was. Could have been just a high, small, cloud.   
      
   > Or.... a freekin' alien spaceship .... run, run for your lives   
   > ............   
      
   Last August 2, I took a cell phone picture of a strange huge circular cloud   
   northwest of my location several miles southwest of Chicago. Except for it's   
   circular shape, it appeared to be similar to a cumulonimbus, complete with a   
   *circular* 'anvil' top...talk about weird!   
   The 'closest' description *would* be a lenticular cloud, except this thing   
   was huge, of a cumulonimbus size.   
      
   The resolution isn't very good but I can send you the picture if you'd like.   
      
   Want to see some other weird clouds, check out:   
      
   https://twistedsifter.com/2012/03/15-incredible-cloud-formations/   
      
   > Nope, need the snow.  It'll keep the Romans from invading ...... those red   
   > skirts they wore weren't all that, um, comfy in the cold.  Been watching   
   > too much Time Team :-)   
      
   JimD   
      
   I'll Never need snow!   
      
   Ouisie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)