Okay guys, message from Menagerie. I’m sorry if you don’t like the things I post for Christmas. I respectfully ask you, for the sake of those who enjoy these things, to just pass by. This isn’t politics, and there isn’t a need for debate here.
If you want to discuss politics, I respectfully ask you to go to the political posts. If you want to tell off color jokes, I respectfully ask you not to.
Thank you and Merry Christmas Treepers.
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Thank you, Menagerie. A wonderful perspective.
God certainly gives us His best …
Merry Christmas to all! 🙂
I like that Phoenix! I would have said “gave us His best” when Jesus came down to Earth. But you have given it a present-tense.
A Christmas Rant Redux – Advent and the birth of Christ to me is so much more than just a “Christmas Story” with a donkey, manger, angels, shepherds, wise men, camels and gifts. See Mt. 1:23 “they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us.” How can that be? God is Perfect, Holy and Moral. We are imperfect, unholy and immoral. We can’t get close to God, or be with Him or dwell (hang) with God in any Holy place because of our immorality. As a result, we are alienated from God. That’s why He seems so remote, distant or uninvolved. Because God is immutable (He never changes See Heb13:8) He won’t compromise like Congress (which I loathe) and meet us halfway (I wouldn’t want a God like that). We have to go to Him. How can we do that? We can’t on our own. What God did was come down to us as a man yet fully God in Jesus Christ, without sin to reconcile us to God through Christ’s atoning sacrifice (death on a cross See Ro. 4:24 – 5:2). For anyone who truly believes in Christ our immorality has been removed, covered by the shed blood of Christ. That restores somewhat our moral likeness (created in His image See Gen 1:26-27) to God to the extent that we can have communion (not the Sacrament which is a bonus) /fellowship with Him. This new birth leads to eternal life which begins not after death but at the moment of this new second birth (See Jn 3:1-21). I don’t understand how it all works that is beyond me. God is ineffable. I just have faith. That is why Christmas has real meaning for a true sinner like me. I needed a Savior and got one. I don’t know how good my theology is I’m just an ordinary man like the Scarecrow before he got a brain but I believe this with all my heart and soul. So be it. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (See Rev 22:20). Merry Christmas to all the Teepers!
Found in the bin… 🙁
Yeah, we have to give Him our “worst” and our “best”.
As the year draws to a close,
I once again come upon yet
another birthday this Friday
(true fact)
and for my day experience
the day’s joy undiluted
So thank you to everyone
for experiencing joy and
making my day such an event
yet still remember the real
reason for this day …
Dear Menagerie,
I’m here mainly for the politics – but I also really enjoy your occasional articles! (The cooking ones are exceptionally welcome.)
I wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe & Happy New Year!
Kindest regards
The Beattie family, Australia
wlbeattie, some of Menagerie’s articles have been great reading and like you I enjoy the cooking ones too.
From this Tassie family to your family and to ALL treepers, Sundance and everyone involved in this amazing ” Refuge,” have a wonderful Christmas and may it be filled with lots of love and laughter and may 2021 be safe and a healthy and happy year.
Not quite a Christmas memory, but during the March/April closure of our churches, my whole family of 10 would listen to Fr. Mike say Mass online, we felt less alone, and his homilies were always spot on. Glad to see him get more exposure!
Boy, did I ever need to hear this ! Thanks, Sundance. And Merry Christmas, Treepers!
Merry Christmas and God Bless You all. Thank you for bringing sanity into this chaos.
“don’t like the things I post for Christmas”? Those must be the commenters who call liberals ‘snowflakes’ and soyboys and tell others to man the parapets, “This is ???!!,” from their daily spot at Starbucks. Well, Merry Christmas, snowflakes!
You just had to go there, didn’t you. SMH. 🙁
Menagerie, thanks for sharing! It was just a short vid, but such a profound message. I fully agree with Fr. Mike on all the songs, and now have a new way to respect the touching “Little Drummer Boy.”
Not being Catholic, I wasn’t familiar with Fr. Mike – though I used to watch my fair share of Mother Angelica on EWTN. (Loved her.)
Totally LOVE his idea of not being ashamed to give The Lord our worst. Completely new perspective, in under 5 minutes – and so important for those who are lacking in any way. One thing we all possess in equal measure is our ability to give ourselves to God.
I’m sorry you have to give the comment disclaimers now, and hope you enjoy this vid (if it shows, ha!)
Thanks for the Christmas well wishes… This past year has been tough for many and a good old “Merry Christmas” and a reminder of the story of the miraculous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is a much welcomed reminder of God’s promises.
Lovely—timely—vital! I’m never quite ‘ready’ for Christmas, but that’s entirely my own fault for not practicing mindful Advents!
Thanks for keeping up the anchor posts like these, Menagerie; always love to read recipes and stories to help frame each holiday. And God bless Ad Rem and others who work so diligently to sustain the best moderated comment section on the internet, bar none!
I appreciate your posts. There’s plenty of room on the other threads for politics. Merry Christmas and thanks to all who write for this site/monitor comments. The CTH is one of my daily go-to sites.
God Bless.
As Father Mike spoke about The Little Drummer Boy, I thought about the duet of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. The very thought of that makes me teary eyed, since it reminds me of a much simpler time. Progress is great, and it is inevitable, but is is not always better. Sigh.
My thoughts exactly. One of my favorites!
Just say’n… 😉
Another Golden Oldie…
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your family — everybody!
Thank you for posting this. I needed to hear about how those around us dont need the best. Not being perfect makes us human. Holidays are rough & hearing that those of us damaged souls need christmas the most rings true with me esp this year. I will be going to our celebration. Thats huge for me. Thank you
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you, Sundance, Ad Rem and the rest. Great job you guys did this year. God Bless you all.
Thank you, Menagerie! This was great!!
May God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas and always.
Thanks for a most excellent, and needed, Christmas message!
I had never heard of Fr. Mike before, but now that I’ve heard him I’ll have to search and hear more from him. I really enjoy a bit of humor mixed in with serious matters. It’s a rarity in most clergy.
Merry Christmas to everyone and don’t forget the reason for the season!
OMG! Moving. Thank you….
Merry Christmas to all. God forgive us all. Thank you.
Very nice. I think my favorite Christmas song would be the drummer boy version by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. The banter back and forth at start is so funny and just the overlap of 2 eras of music is really fun and great.
My daughter said this was profound, I said it was awesome. Thank you so much for sharing, Menagerie. Don’t usually “do” youtube but now have a link setup to Fr. Mike.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas and all of 2021.
Thank you Sundance
God Bless
Dearest Menagerie ,
You have an uncanny knack for Always Posting
the Right Thing at the Right Time ?
Thank You So Much
and
Merriest Christmas
to You and Yours !? ?
Can’t take credit. I think the Holy Spirit kind of tosses things at me until I wake up and do something.
Well that’s certainly in character for you. ?
I think the Holy Spirit pings a lot of people but not everyone has their “receiver” turned on…… ?
Agreed. Thank you for being soft hearted to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in obedience, trust.
Merry Christmas! Jesus is our King & his kingdom is without end.
Thank you so much for this post!
Merry Christmas Menagerie, Sundance and everyone behind the scenes at the Treehouse ???
Excellent post Menagerie.
It reminds me of when I was a kid when:
*Ike was President
*Grandma and Gamps had real candles on the tree that was decorated on Christmas Eve by Saint Nicholas
*If you received any presents they had to fit in the stocking you hung up
*You were 21 before you realized tangerines were available year round
*You just knew in six months your mother would be crushing up leftover candy canes to put in her homemade fudge and brownies.
*And most importantly there was no doubt in your mind whose BIRTHDAY you were celebrating.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!
Thank you Menagerie.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all everywhere.
Know that only God can open a door that no man can shut, and shut a door that no man can open.
It is truly time to rejoice. The strongholds have been pulled down.
I rejoice because I have complete confidence in you 2 Cor 7:16
Trust God. Fear not.
Freedom is Ours.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7
Okay, Menagerie.
I can’t believe you would post something like this on this forum. You know, something positive and uplifting. We come here to become depressed and to yell a lot.
In spite of your being so inconsiderate – that sure was a great video!
Our Faith transcends all else in our lives – even politics. And we each have a few “worst” traits to share with the Lord. Me, I have more than average and need to put a bunch of ’em on His shoulders often.
Merry Christmas to you all!
That was lovely and funny. Thank you for posting. Merry Christmas fellow treepers. God bless each and every one of you.
Drove out from L.A. to AZ to see family for Christmas and listened to Christmas music about half the drive. It always stikes me how much passion and love for God and Jesus those songs convey — nothing like the vapid run-of-the-mill pop songs. I have always loved O Holy Night and Silent Night.
And yes, John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album ALWAYS makes the cut!
Thank you palafox and Menagerie for your posts. Just started listening to Christmas music on a local university radio channel Its puff stuff carols.
My Mom’ favorite was Pavarotti. Don’t even know if I have the strength to listen to a concert VHS re this young tenor singing. A family tradition is also watching the short animated film “The Snowman.”
This is not the first time in human history the “holidays” have brought up an admixture of chagrin. Read Shakespeare. Alexander Pope. There is such a great work of art in literature. Uh and Duh. Electronic shaming of the emotions re the Christmas experience sorks.
Love the Movie “the man who invented Christmas,” George C Scott in “A Christmas Carol,” and Jimmy Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Interesting that movies about REDEMPTION OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT seem to occur mostly around the Christmas Holidays. I guess this is when such stuff is allowable.
That was incredible! Thank you for sharing! Excellent timing as well!
Merry Christmas to the best place on the web, with the very best people!
x
Dear Menagerie and extended family of Treepers, wherever you may be. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and God bless each and every one of you. From a Treeper family in Texas.
Good message for Christmas!
After a brutal day that was a wonderfully uplifting and fun video to watch. God has my worst, and God Bless him for taking it. I don’t know how he does it, but I am grateful. Thank you for that much needed video.
Wonderful message. Much thanks and blessings…
Great message – thank-you
Every year CTH goes through this…some empty holes where God used to be get so bad sometimes posting has to stop.
Satan is such a kill joy.
The spirit of Christmas lives on , the Comforter, our Holy Spirit roams the Earth, and Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God is great!
John 1:14
King James Version
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
I love Fr. Mike! He is a treasure. Merry Christmas, all. Have faith and trust in God’s plan.
Great message! Have a holly jolly Christmas!
Father knows best. Amen.
Matthew 23:9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
I don’t get it…
Did Christ come, not only to be our Savior, but also to be our, “role model”? Did He not call Abraham, “Father Abraham”? There’s more to it, but I won’t go into it. Do a bit of reading and investigation, starting from the time/s of the Church Fathers.
Have a Blessed Christmas!!!!
Thanks. Great post and Merry Christmas to you, Menegerie.
I had a red ryder. HO HO HO. Great message, thanks Menagerie.
Missed commenting on the holiday cookie thread. Pignoli (pine nut) cookies. Simple and can be shared with gluten intolerant/coeliac friends.
This Christmas will be my older brother’s last, he has terminal brain cancer and time is running out. So he asked myself and my three sisters to cook him is favorite foods. Oh lord, he loves anything that has sugar, lots of sugar. I hate to bake, really hate it –but I’ve been doing a lot of it for him, how someone so sick can eat pans of brownies, pumpkin squares, carrot cake, ginger bread and a tons of cookies. I’ve just taken out a double batch of homemade beans out of the oven, the things we do for love. Life is so short, embrace every moment because we never know when our time on earth is done. One of my favorite inspirational videos:
Thanks. I needed that.
I love this. Have a blessed Christmas.
Amen…