Jesus Is Not The Reason For The Season

Dec 052011

THE Relationship Blog

So, this is the post that gets us in trouble. Please understand, we do not mean to offend but to clarify. Currently there are a lot of tensions building over a topic that we consider to be asinine and ultimately way off the mark. We are talking about the idea of keeping Christ in Christmas. We are talking about the campaign to boycott retailers who do not acknowledge Merry Christmas and instead use the antiseptic term Happy Holidays. We are talking about a large group of people who have completely lost the true meaning of this time of year to lobby for the Almighty. Here’s a hint, God does not need PR.

Let’s get something straight, we love Jesus. Love His style. Love His message. Love how He loves! When we hear things like ‘Jesus is the Reason for the Season’, our educated self screams at the stupidity! Let us clarify our position. Jesus is a great guy and everything but by no means does he monopolize December. For Christians, December means Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ. For Jews, December is the time of the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, where they celebrate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem for 8 days. Muslims sometimes celebrate the Islamic New Year in December depending on the day it falls. Buddhists have Boddhi Day which celebrates the day that the Buddha attained enlightenment. African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa which celebrates universal African American heritage and culture. Pagans have long celebrated Yule and the Winter Solstice around the 21st of the month. So, by saying only Merry Christmas, we are completely ignoring, disenfranchising and disrespecting the faith and priorities of others. Now, that does not sound like Jesus Christ, does it?

Another known fact that Christians tend to pretend not to know is that Jesus was born at the end of September around 2 BC, not December 25^th. Therefore, why all the fuss about keeping Christ out of Christmas? If you know it really isn’t his birthday and just an arbitrary day to reflect and celebrate the birth of the Christ than why monopolize the entire season of celebration?

Yes, Santa has taken some of the focus off of the religious significance of the season. You can say that retailers have bogarted the end of the year to fill their coffers with silver before the long winter. You can say a whole lot of stuff but it still does not give you the right to believe that your religious observance is any more important than anyone else’s. Christians are supposed to love their neighbors as Christ taught you, not bludgeon all of society into wishing you a Merry Christmas because we wouldn’t be drinking eggnog without Christ’s birth.

All of the arguments are stupid, near sighted, exclusive and bigoted. This is a time of sharing for all faiths and to pretend that your celebration is more important than that of others is downright….unChristian. Jesus would be on our side on this one. Jesus brought people together and did not encourage us to build walls to separate us. Jesus doesn’t need your fury, activism or violence but requires all of us to love one another. And besides, Jesus celebrated Hanukkah and never wished anyone a Merry Christmas.

So Happy Holidays to everyone in whatever way you celebrate this precious time of year. May you be blessed with an abundance of health, prosperity, joy and love. May your family stay together and support one another and honor the gifts they are given. May you and your loved ones have a wonderful time in all of your celebrations, no matter what they are.

The Not Gift Guide For Women

Monday, Heavy Monday

Nov 282011

THE Relationship Blog

What are you doing sitting there? Did you know you only have 22 days to shop for my birthday(oh, and 28 days for that Christmas thing…if you’re into that)? I know it is difficult. What do you get for the woman who has everything and more? Instead of giving you a shopping list which would require you to put no thought into the gift, I am giving you an unshopping list. So, consider this the 2^nd annual Women’s Un-gift guide (or in other words, shit you don’t get women unless you really don’t like them- guide).

Brookstone – Boogie Board Paperless LCD Writing Tablet – Black

Seriously?! You would spend 40 bucks on this electronic blackboard? Look, if you need to make a list, write yourself an email or use a pen on the back of an envelope but for the love of cupcakes do not spend money on this. Better yet, give me the 40 dollars and I’ll keep your lists for you. How about making it fun and getting one of these instead
and save 35 dollars. Sucker!

Marmot Connect Gloves

If you read CoupleDumb, you know we moved from tropical Miami to the mountains in California where it snows. The thickest jacket I owned prior to moving was a hoodie and gloves were a Halloween costume accessory. Now, I have several jackets and I have gloves that protect my fingers from frost bite. These gloves are special because you can still use them to work your electronics. Like I’m really going to be sending a text while standing outside! Listen, I know we are neck deep in the electronic age and texting, tweeting and typing are all essentials if you want to make it but if I need to wear special gloves to do my job I need to reconsider my priorities. Can’t I do text my sister, inside, next to a fire, perhaps with a lovely hot toddie? I’ll stick to my big gloves and text you when I am warm enough to move my fingers.

Peanut butter & Jelly of the Month Club

I love peanut butter and jelly. I really do. But, do you know how much PB&J I can buy for the amount of money you are going to spend on this stupid gift? A lot. This is once again one of those gifts where you can give me the cash and call it even. I’ll buy myself my own PB and J and even some bread and still have money left over for a glass of milk.

The World’s Largest Gummy Worm

They say that a dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste. I can’t even look at this picture and not wonder if this monstrosity has been used in porn. I just have a question: Do you eat it or fuck it?

Pajama Jeans

I like being comfy like everybody else. I have bathrobes, loungers, muumuus and house dresses that just ooze relaxation. I don’t think I have ever needed to or desired to be both relaxed and sporty at the same time. I cannot recall a time where I really wanted to leave the house wearing one of my comfy wardrobe pieces nor have I wanted to fool people in thinking that I left my pajamas at home. I fear that these Pajama Jeans are the evil workings of some diabolical madman who wants to enslave the world while we are trying to wear pajamas as every day wear. Just a thought.

A Gift As A Show Of Gratitude

Monday, Heavy Monday

Nov 212011

THE Relationship Blog

Thanksgiving! This is the one day of the year we are supposed to stop and say Thanks. Not just a thank you but a feeling of thankfulness, in other words, gratitude. We started this month discussing attitude and it was a prelude to this auspicious occasion. People talk about having an attitude of gratitude and assume they are saying thanks at every turn. Gratitude is a deep seated feeling of appreciation. It is an acknowledgement of benefit. Gratitude begets giving back. And gratitude is what we are feeling for our readers right now.

For our very special readers we are offering our book Dysaffirmation: Because This Kind Of Stupid Takes Work for FREE. Yes, you read that right. FREE!

Go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104816 and download the e-book to your e-reader (Kindle, Nook, whatever). We are doing this for you and while you’re at it, give it to a friend too!

On December 5^th it will go up to its original price of a whopping 99 cents. This is the best gift you can email a friend. Bring a smile to someone who made you smile. Give it to someone who can use a laugh. Give it to someone you secretly judge.

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading!