Origin of Christmas – The Biblical Account
Posted by the Speaker - 12/11/11 at 07:11:55 pm
The origin of Christmas is detailed in the biblical account in the book of Luke. We’ll discuss how the story came to be and how other traditions became associated with this holiday.
So most Christians, the origin of Christmas is tied directly with the birth of Jesus Christ as detailed in the bible. But there are a number of customs and traditions related to Christmas which have absolutely nothing to do with the celebration of the birth of Christ.
For example Dec. 25th is the Christmas day. However no one is actually sure exactly when Christ was born. It was most likely in late summer or early fall about 2,000 years ago. So the use of this date probably originated with the ancient birthday of the son god Mithra who was a pagan deity. The significance of this deity became widespread in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries after the birth of Christ.
This lead to a celebration of various Pagan deities around this time of year. Eventually Rome converted this Pagan celebration to a celebration of the god Saturn and the rebirth of the god during the winder solstice period. This winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and it began a week prior to December 25th. This festival was characterized by gift giving, feasts and merriment. It was a very joyous and festive time.
Variations of this holiday flourished during the first few centuries of the new millennium. But in 336AD, Emperor Constantine officially converted this pagan holiday into the Christian holiday of Christmas.
Finding a Little Inspiration
Posted by the Speaker - 01/07/11 at 10:07:10 am
Inspiration is one of the best idea starters. But what is inspiration exactly? Inspiration by definition is something that inspires you to an action or influence. In plain English that means something that motivates you to move in a certain direction or do a certain action.
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Some people find inspiration in motivational speakers, quotes, art, nature, other people and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Inspiration is what creates passion for something. When you are inspired by an outside source to action it is usually because you have a real passion for it and the inspiration is guiding your passion.
The reason we need inspiration is to keep up our drive. If you feel bored or frustrated with a job or topic it can get a lot harder to trudge forward but if something inspires you, you will feel determined to see it through and most likely excel at it.
People look for inspiration when they are stuck and can’t move forward, when they fail and need to figure out how to pick themselves up and when they just need that extra push to get over the finish line. People also seek inspiration when they are faced with tough decisions.
If you are seeking inspiration just look all around you there are plenty of options to choose from. The right inspiration can get you right back on track doing what you need to be doing and being happy about it again. So be inspired!
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Democracy
Posted by the Speaker - 06/06/11 at 12:06:58 pm
Most people if given a choice on what type of government they would like to live with the most common answer would probably be a democracy because it allows a sense of freedom that is missing from many other types of government. However as with any style of government there are advantages and disadvantages of a Democracy.
The main advantage of a Democracy is that a country’s citizens feel a part of the process. Getting to vote on representatives allows you to have your voice heard no matter who you are. Free elections also allow for the people in Democracy to make changes to their government without having to resort to violence.
They way a Democracy is set up the people at the top also have certain responsibilities to Joe everyday citizen. The reality is if you want to be re-elected to your position you have to serve the people who have the ability to elect you again. There is no resting on your laurels in a Democracy.
There are a few key disadvantages to the Democracy as well. Just because people have the right to vote and can does not mean that they really understand complex government issues. So you can have large elements of people casting votes and not making very good decisions based on bad or misunderstood information.
Another disadvantage is that people can be heavily influenced by special interest groups in a Democracy. There becomes almost a team or mob mentality that makes people vote their party or their cause rather than critically thinking through what choice will help the most people.
The Life of Michael Jackson
Posted by the Speaker - 07/05/11 at 10:05:18 am
Michael Jackson is one of the most well known and well loved performers anywhere in the world. His music and dance have touched the lives of many for over 50 years. Michael first came on the scene as a young boy in a group with his siblings called the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 had such top hits as “ABC”, “Pretty Young Thing” and “I’ll Be There.”
In 1971 Michael Jackson set out on his solo career and propelled himself to being the top pop star of the 80’s. In the 1980’s Jackson fever was everywhere songs like “Beat It”, “Billy Jean” and “Thriller” were chart toppers and songs that marked a whole generation of people.
Michael Jackson’s 1982 album “Thriller” is the best selling album of all time and is still many times the #1 song on MTV video countdowns some 30 years later. The 1990’s had a very different turn for Michael. In 1993 he was accused of sexual molestation a charge that would become a theme in his later life.
For many years after the molestation accusations Michael laid kind of low out of the spotlight focusing on being a father and was ready to hit the ground with a brand new tour right before his death.
On June 25, 2009 Michael Jackson was rushed to the emergency room and was pronounced dead on his arrival. In usual Michael Jackson fashion his death created a huge outpouring of people coming out to show their love and support for him.
The circumstances revolving his death have been suspicious and there are currently ongoing criminal trials against the Doctor who was at the house the day Michael Jackson died.
Why Do People Need Government?
Posted by the Speaker - 19/11/10 at 07:11:22 pmWhy do people need government? This is a question that you may have asked at one point or another. This is especially true when you hear about so many corrupt policies taking place amongst members of the government.
The people need government for the welfare of themselves and their families. The government is responsible to be a voice and represent the best interest of the people as a whole.
There needs to be a regulating authority when a large group of people is involved and this is what America needs. If there were no governing body in charge of the people it would be a completely different word ruled by one ruler, or completely chaotic and out of control. The interest of the people in a whole would be ignored and it is likely that the benefits of a small group of people would be the only concern.
Economic security is another reason that people need a government. If this economic security was disrupted many people that rely on programs like disability would have no where to turn. This would make for a very scary situation for anyone that relies on much needed government programs to help them with their daily life.
The government is designed to provide the laws that the citizens want and need and when you are wondering why do people need government, you may want to think about a society that has no clear laws and also no one to uphold these laws. While many people are very critical of the current state of the government it can be much harder to imagine a society without this crucial element.
Another answer to why do people need government, is that the nation development depends on a governing body. If a body of people want to move forward in a concise way there needs to be a governing party to oversee this and make sure that it is done within the boundaries of set laws.
There are many answers to the question why do people need government. You may wonder what life would be like without a government and for many people this would bring about many bleak changes. A government is needed to represent the people and ensure that the country is a safe and prospering country. You may want to take a closer look at other countries without a government and see if this is a place where you would want to call home.