Advent Conspiracy

[Deslock]

I'm far from perfect. God knows I'm not.

But I can say this. Hate, and war, is not the answer.
Lord knows I've seen my share of hate and suffering in this world.

I can't stand it anymore. I've drank my share, your share, and many other's share in this world. And God knows how many good decent women I've hurt before finding my dear wife I have now.

Life isn't a joke.

Since I've grown older and my heart is a concern I face every single day, I never know from one day to the next, when I go to sleep, I damn well may not wake to see the next. I know my drinking doesn't really help, but it helps me sleep at night.

As drunk as I get, at least it keeps the nightmares at bay. For a little while.

Love your life. Every day you wake up is a blessing, and a chance to share the love in your heart. Give the love you've been given, to share with others.

Life is indeed short.

Live well, and love even harder.

The world sees enough death and pain every day. Let your life shine, and be a beacon to others.

Show your love. It's the very best gift that you've ever been given.

As one person said "Christmas is sbout Jesus's birthday, not ours."

Share his love, kindness, and forgiveness.

It's not hard, actually it's quite easy.

Just close your wallet, and open your heart.

Love hard. Lord knows it's far easier than hate.

Don't buy into the lie. It's not about presents, nor the price of them.

The truth of Christmas is about love.

Right now, there is someone in your family that would love that phone call from you.

What are you waiting for?

[Andy]

Life is way too short. Last year I lost a close friend of mine in a car accident. And you know what the amazing thing was? He didn't lose his life, he sacrificed it. He used his body as a shield to protect his younger brother who was with him in the car. And it worked too, his brother is alive today. Why can't people be more like that?

And it's not like this is a hidden fact. There is evidence all around us that life is too short. An employee loses his life at a Wal-Mart rampage, Bengals WR Chris Henry dies at age 26, Michael Jackson, the WWE wrestler Umaga, Billy Mays, etc. The evidence is right in front of us. People just need to open their eyes and look. It's the equivalent to walking into a wall. The wall is there in plain sight yet people still run into it.

[Gino]

I don't know how I missed this Des, its good to see to great minds think alike. This is the first year i haven't spent a dime on a Christmas gift ever. The only gift I usually buy for is my niece and nephew. i tell my parents not to buy me anything because how much I hate christmas and what people remember it by. Their gift. I believe Christmas should be a festival of families and friends being together to celebrate.

I have lost my faith with Christianity because of these Holidays that are nothing but ways for Capitalism to thrive. If I could have Christmas with all my friends and family, I would be the happiest SOB alive.

[Andy]

If I could have Christmas with all my friends and family, I would be the happiest SOB alive.

We all would Gino, we all would.

[Deslock]

First off, this is Des's wife. Des keeps asking me what I want for Christmas. That's easy. I want my Mom. I want to hug her, and talk to her, and feel the warmth and comfort of being held one more time.

I would love nothing more than to be able to go home to be with my Grandparents, Aunts, cousins, brother, sister, Father, Uncles, ect. No amount of money or materialistic B.S. can ever or will ever replace the love and warmth of family. All I want for Christmas is what I can't have. But knowing they love me, even from 1,200 miles away makes it a little easier to bear.

I wish the thundering herd of idiot people who trample each other to death for a Tickle-Me-Elmo could realize that the greatest gift you can give someone is a hug or your time. I would give back every gift I have ever received if I could have one more hug from my Mother.

God bless you all, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a healthy New Year. And remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

[Deslock]

I have lost my faith with Christianity because of these Holidays that are nothing but ways for Capitalism to thrive.

Gino, Man to man, let me tell you something.

Don't say that you've lost your faith in Christ, because I don't think that's so. Rather like myself, I think that maybe instead, it's better to say you've lost your faith in mankind. It wasn't Jesus that ruined Christmas, evil, greedy retailers did that, and the sheeple just bought into the lie, because they wanted to.

I'm not preachy, I don't tell others how to live, or that what they believe is wrong. I personally despise those kind of Christians. I'm a Methodist. We don't do that. Ever.

Why I posted about Advent Conspiricy is because over the years I've grown to hate what they've done to this special time. That people have become such mindless zombies, that they believe anything the idiot box tells them.

If you look at the whole story of the birth of Christ, they've taken one little passage that it mentions that the wise men, blessed by visions from God, were told that the Messiah and savior of ALL mankind was going to be born, and where.

And in their kindness, and wanting to show respect to God, they brought gifts of incense, a small amount of Gold, and a few other things. Not mounatins of wealth, herds of camels and sheep, a HUUGE temple built in his name (Even though he deserved it). They wanted to give small gifts of kindess. Just one sentence in the Holy Bible of showing respect to God, the retailers turned it into the horrific nightmare of spending we see now.

And we all sat there and bought right into it. After all, who doesn't like to recieve cool gifts?.

Six months from now the toys given will be forgotten about in the closet. That jewelry will be in a box. The cards thrown away, the wrapping paper discarded.
And coming now, is a credit card bill you know you don't want to see.

Lucifer must sit on his throne and howl with laughter !

But you can stop the lie. The power is in your hands. Take back the story.

If you're a Christian, show your love to God.

Take a 'lil bit of money throuhout the year and save it up. And give it to the battered women's shelter, the Salvation Army, or the poor no kill animal shelter.

Donate it to the Police or Firefighter family fund. These guys risk their lives every single day to protect us. These funds go to supporting their families if they lose their lives helping us.

I'm not saying don't give your families small gifts of respect in Jesus's name. All I'm asking is that you keep them small, and meaningful, as we do.

If you're poor and can't give cash money, that's cool too. Be brave enough to give up some time. Every Tuesday my wife donates time to help homeless kitties to find homes for a no kill animal shelter in front of grocery stores.

Donate your time and become a "Big Brother"...Hell, anything. Pick your cause and run with it.

Just please, please stop spending money on trinkets. Let your life be meaningful.

I saw this myself at my wife's mother's funeral. Here was a poor woman. I was astounded to see that my wife, and her whole family lived in basically a four room house with a bathroom. No shit, I kid you not.

Two parents, and four kids. with only one room with a wood stove.

But at her Mother's funeral, it was literally standing room only. I had to stand so other could sit. I didn't ever think in my life that you could stuff that many people in a room. Poor as she was her entire life, she gave her life meaning.

She was adored by everyone in this small town with only one traffic light. The outpouring of love about her blew me away. I could feel the love, and it astounded me. And I couldn't help but feel...

This was a meaningful life.

I could see it in the outpouring of sorrow of her being gone by everyone there. This one woman, meant soo much, that when she passed, it broke the heart of the entire community.

Now that's what it means.

In the end we are judged by the kind of life we lived. Not how many riches we achieved, nor all the people we stepped on to achieve power, or personal wealth.

Bernard Maddoff achieved great personal wealth, and power. And when he passes, I don't doubt a bit that there will be a line of people waiting to urinate on his grave.

How do you want to be remembered?

Truth be told, in the end of things, it is indeed a lesson.

Just give a little to your fellow man. Just imagine if each every human being gave a little bit to ease, and stop the suffering.

The wonders we could do.

Just by spending less,

and giving more.


Tie.

[Andy]

Speaking of the Advent Conspiracy, I don't know if anyone caught this article that was on the front page of Yahoo! News about the organization. It really is a great read.

Advent Conspiracy Article

[Deslock]

The message is being heard.

I'm so glad to see that people are becoming sick of this over commercialized lie that's been rammed down our throats on the idiot box over the years.

That people want more of Jesus, and less of "Santa".

How the heck this great person and saint was transformed into a fat dude that lives eternally on the North Pole truly astounds me.

Magical flying reindeer, and he can see all year if you've been good..? WTF..?

Only two Deities can do that. God, and Jesus. Not some long dead saint.

What's next? Saint Valentine will be able to see into your soul and tell if you've been good to your spouse all year from the grave?

I knew that when I saw ads on TV for Veteran's day sales that retail was just becoming too much. And this needed to be stopped.

I'm sure as those oh so brave men charged headfirst into the machinegun nests at Normandy, being sprayed with death and maiming pain were thinking "I hope 60 years from now Sears has a sale on riding lawn mowers $100.00 off in our honor".


The National Retail federation has proved to our very faces, that indeed, nothing is sacred than getting that almighty dollar from us. And that exploiting their workers to the utmost, and milking every dollar from every customer is their primary concern. NOT customer service, nor loyalty. From either their employees, or customers.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lwlx3GnLGs"]YouTube- They Live - Obey, Consume, This is your God[/ame]

Stop the lie, and take back the story.

It isn't about how much you spend, but rather how much you give.

Close your wallets. Stop spending money, and give your time, and love.

Stop the lie, and enter the story.

As Jesus said, you cannot serve the love of money, and love your fellow man.

You can spend your whole life trying to accumulate wealth, and become very, very rich. But not one dollar can add one day to your life, nor even one minute.

You can't take it with you. So share your blessings while you can.

I spend a lot on Halloween, and I have the joy of sharing it not only with my neighbors, but the whole community. I give, so that others may have joy and fun. If only for one day out of the year. It's a lot of work, and money, but it's worth it.

The fun I bring for everyone is sooo cool.

Just like visiting the Children's hospitals in my stormy armor.

The smiles bring pain, but it's soooo worth it.

Stop thinking of yourself, and just give.

It's worth every dime. Trust me. :D

Tie.

[Deslock]

Chances are your wife doesn't need a matching pair of slippers to go with the pajama set you bought her this holiday.

But if you spend $5 more, you get free shipping on your order. So it would be silly not to buy them -- right?

As the crucial holiday shopping season progresses, retailers are desperate to make sure the few dollars consumers part with this month are spent at their stores.

By offering gimmicks such as free shipping, they're also hoping shoppers will splurge on that extra little something that wasn't on their list.

And the deals are more aggressive than ever.

"Everybody is in the discount business these days," said George Whalin, president and CEO of Retail Management Consultants. "If they [aren't], they won't get the customer through the door."

Because self-spending levels dropped off at the height of the crisis, a new strategy retailers have employed is distributing gift cards to customers who spend a certain dollar amount in their stores, analysts said.

Some consumers are more apt to spend a few extra bucks to earn these free credits because they seem like a bigger bargain than receiving a percentage off, said Brian Sozzi, equity research analyst at Wall Street Strategies independent research company. But often, the deals aren't as great as they appear.

At Abercrombie and Fitch, for example, shoppers who spend $100 receive a $25 gift card. The hitch, however, is that the cards can't be used until January. When shoppers return to the teen retailer then, the steep discounts are gone, and there isn't much in the store that fits into the $25 or less category, Sozzi said.

"You're spending maybe $150 on an entire outfit and you're only getting $25 off," Sozzi said.

That means two trips of increased sales for the retailer.

Free shipping offers similarly stimulate online sales, especially when customers have to spend a certain dollar amount to receive it. According to a study by the National Retail Federation, nearly 80 percent of online retailers plan to offer free shipping with conditions at some point this season.

At Bed, Bath and Beyond, for example, shoppers receive free standard shipping when they spend $100 or more over the Web. Even though shipping typically doesn't cost very much, this method persuades shoppers to buy that item they were up in the air about, Sozzi said.

Wal-Mart Stores offers a variation on this method, allotting customers free shipping to a nearby store. The discounter markets the service as a convenience, but it's another way to get shoppers into their locations, where they might add items to their carts, Sozzi said.

"In-store pickup programs can be an important differentiator against lagging multichannel competitors and a key tactic against online-only rivals," according to a Forrester research note.

Perhaps the biggest consumer peg this holiday is packaged deals, such as buy one get one free sweaters at Ann Taylor, Sozzi said.

Limited Brands has long marketed its products this way, offering "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" scents at Bath and Body Works stores and "5 for $25" cotton panties from Victoria's Secret.

And as always, retailers have designed their stores so that shoppers first have to walk through more expensive sections, such as apparel, to get to the highly reduced inventory, Sozzi said.

"They make it easy to pick up scarves and belts and other various accessory-type items," he said.

Retailers have also become more aggressive in offering discounts for those who spend a certain amount of money in one visit, such as at Express, where consumers get $15 off if they spend $30. But Whalin said he's worried that some stores may be taking the discounts too far.

"That's an awful lot [off]," he said.

Still, an NRF study found that impulse spending will fall again this year. What's more, experts agree it will be hard to break consumers of the crisis-bred expectation that they should never have to pay full price for an item.

But 2009's marketing approach is still an improvement over last year -- when retailers slashed up to 70 percent off on apparel -- because they had time to strategize deals and cut back on inventories, said Ellen Davis, vice president of the National Retail Federation. Plus, it's a way to move products out the door.

As the economy improves, Davis said she predicts retailers will begin to market different perks, such as the best customer service. But for now, price remains key.

"We all want a bargain, I don't care who we are," Whalin said. "Frugality is definitely the way of life today."

Stop the lie, and kick these assholes right in the teeth.

Spend less....give more. And let your family love you more.

Stop the lie, and stop being manipulated by retailers.

It's about Jesus and kindness, and love.

Not about how much you spend.

Do mankind, and your money a favor. Spend less.

Tie.

[Deslock]

I had an adorable Central American lady stop me today in my store to ask me a simple question. She told me that this year she was trying to promote the Nativity, and asked me nicely, "I looked all around the store, and I can't find anything with the Nativity, or Jesus. Do you have anything here that pertains to Jesus, anywhere?"

And I had to answer her...:

"No".

And that was an honest answer.

Now how sad is that?.

It's like a customer asking you on Halloween, "why don't you have any pumpkins, or scary stuff ?"

Why have we allowed this to happen?

Is fighting the crowds fighting (literally) become more important than just spending time with the people we love, and care about?

Why has this great Holiday celebrating the birth and life of one of
the greatest men that HAS ever lived, that represented kindness, ultimate love, and forgiveness, been turned into this horrible nightmare of materialistic orgy of greed and spending ?

So much so that humans will trample to death a man trying to protect a pregnant woman?

I've had many, many people wish me a "merry Christmas".

How can I do that?

My poor wife is forced to work long hours on Christmas Eve, and been scheduled to be at work at 6am the day after. The only Holiday a year we get off, retail workers are forced to work long hateful hours at work the day before, and be back in first thing in the morning.

It isn't worth it.

And it's only a matter of time before they take that away from us too.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhX5W7JoWI"]YouTube- Money - Pink Floyd + Lyrics[/ame]

Just ask yourself honestly...

Would Jesus approve of this unholy ruining of the celebration of his birth?

Is it really about talking Snowmen, imaginary people that live on the North Pole, and a omnipotent figure that can see if you're naughty or nice all year?

Or about a brave man that took a stand against all the powers that be at the time, that loved everyone..Everyone, that dared to listen to his message of love for all people everywhere? No matter what the cost?

Take the story back !

Love hard, spend less, and give more!

I hope all and every single one of you reading this have a great year !

I hope all of you prosper and have another great year of love, kindness, and forgiveness. And good health.

Let bygones be bygones.

Let your life be about love.

Love, be kind, and be brave enough to forgive.

God bless you all forever.

Tie.

[Zabka]

Materialism and the love of things has replaced the love of God in our society. Things have become our false idols. I don't dispute these statements broadly. However, having things and buying things is not a sin. Loving those things more than God is. But to have Santa claus and to have faith in God are not mutually exclusive. At the end of the day Christmas is a celebration. Gifts and good tomes can enhance that celebration-- but shouldn't be central to it. As has been said time and again, moderation in earthly things is important.

However, I disagree that offering deals is evil. The public has to want the goods. And if the goods are cheaper, it enhances consumer surplus. This benefits all as saved dollars can either be saved literally or in other economically stimulative ways. Consumerism has raised our standard of living. The consumer is the lions share of GDP. If people stop buying, our economy stops working. If they are buying useless stuff, that is the fault of the consumer. I like free shipping. It saves money that I can put toward other purposes. Des, your position on this subject is extreme. There are indeed despicable practices and society has lost its moral compass at times. However, you can't ignore the import that the basic exchange of goods and services has on our lives. People have jobs as a result of consumerism. These jobs feed families. Capitalism is not the culprit. Society's selfishness is more the root of the issue. That doesn't change if you kill Santa and gift giving. A return to civilized human interactions would however.

[Deslock]

I know that posting about this issue is like farting in the face of an incoming hurricane.

I've learned this lesson the hard way over 20 some odd years in retail.

That our corporate masters have truly won.

I've tried to fight the good fight, but over time I've learned the lesson Ron Paul learned. If you try and tell the truth about things, no one will care, and mayhaps damn you for it.

I'm a child of the 60's and 70's. When Thanksgiving was a beloved time to share love and build memories that would last a lifetime. When America was strong, and hadn't yet sold out all it's jobs to China for slave labor goods for "cheap" prices, at the very cost of our own economy,livelyhood, and our future as a nation.

Now our stores have taken away the tradition of "Thanksgiving" day so that we may all bow to them for "cheap" crap and "deals".

"Black Friday" has now become "Gray Thursday". That Americans openly refuse to spend oh so precious time with their loved ones that is LITERALLY irreplaceable, so they can get a "good" deal, on crap they don't need, but the allmighty TV tells them they HAVE to have to be "complete".

Only in America would you have a "holiday" where everyone thanks God for everything they have, and yet the next day trample other people for crap they don't need or have yet.

Unless you are Pharoah, you can't take it with you, and it won't be buried with you.

This crap is meaningless. It's just toys and utter shit.

Do you honestly think Jesus would approve of this in his name....????:



This is all done in the name of Jesus...?

This is how we all are now..?

Please just spend this time with those you love and care about,]
Show them your love, and that you really love them.

That is what Christmas is truly about.

[JDEZ09]

And on that i agree brethren. You see i too am a truther but lets walk through a scripture to help summerize all of this.

Check out Jeramiah ch 10:1-8

"Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

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[JDEZ09]

In the previous passage it is clear that christmas is the subject. Now notice that this is the book of Jeramiah, written way before christ walked the earth in that body. This means that their pagan practice was established way before christ.

But it doesnt stop there, its not just holidays that satan has manipulated.

The nationalities of the people here on earth also have been name changed.

I am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Issachar, whom the people of today wrongly call mexicans. This is an example of one of the tribes. There are 12. The tribe that i belong too is one that was blessed with the knowledge of the stars and times. This is reflected in history when you see how we created the myan calander in our ignorance.

But what of christ? Because Ephesians 3:4 states that even christ is a mystery.

Christ was seen in visions by both john the revelator in Revelation chapter 1:13-15 and by Daniel in Daniel chapter 10:5-6

In that you can prove christs skin tone.
This is completely opposite of the image that people recognize as christ.

That image comes from leonardo devinci's art where he had Cesare Borgia king of rome, pose as Christ.

Cesare borgia was basically tyrannical even for a roman leader. It is his image that is a lie also. For the world to turn back into a prosperpus land, the truth must be brought out so that we may move forward. The Israelites that are still in captivity EVEN today are mostly and unfortunately ignorant to the truth, which is why you may see some of us acting a fool on days like black friday, because we are so in need of comfort that we look anywhere to find it. But only in the word will we find it.


I will post the visions of christ in Revelation and Daniel in the next post.


I will post them if necessary.

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[Deslock]

I guess that's why I HATE this "holiday" (Holy day) soo much as a Christian.

That "Christmas tree".... Pagan.

That "Yule Log"...Pagan.

"Mistletoe"....Pagan.

Santa as a magical "Elf" that lives on the North pole instead of an actual "real" Christian Saint that would be totally horrified to see what we've made out of his real life good works, into becoming a retail nightmare where other people threaten to "Smash other peoples' faces in" if they touch their internet tablet they want...Pagan.

The real Saint Nicolaus would be totally disgusted by this.

Rudolf, a "magical" reindeer that can fly thru the sky..... Pagan.

Frosty, a snowman brought to life by "magic"...Pagan.

But yet I ask fellow people why they don't decorate for or celebrate the "Halloween" we love soo much.....:

Because it's a "Pagan" Holiday, and NOT "Christian".



So we have a holiday(Hallloween) where it's perfectly okay to share your kindness and give sweets to others in our neighborhood without any need for yourself, and is given freely without any want for yourself, just to give treats for everyone lovingly.

But fellow Christians have called this Holiday..."Pagan", and "UnChristian".

Maybe, just maybe we have our priorities wrong.

I've NEVER seen that anyone ever was trampled to death for Halloween candy, but I've sure as Hell seen people killed over "Christmas" gifts, because of these Nightmares, that these retail masters cause.

Our life isn't about how much wealth or "stuff" you can accumulate during your lifetime. It's about HOW you lived your life, and the impact you've haved on those that love you.

To give love to those that love you in return.

No "gift" can ever replace that; ever. Besides sharing your love with them.

And that is truly priceless, and certianly nothing you could ever buy at a store.

But what do I know ?.

*Sighs*.