Bitmaniac

Patricia Raybon on “I Told the Mountain to Move”

Patricia Raybon ...

Bound for Glory: Celebrating the Gift of African American Spirituals through Expressive Calligraphy $11.12 Bound for Glory is a powerful gift book inspired by a collection of calligraphic paintings by world-renowned calligrapher Timothy R. Botts. The book features 52 paintings that are visual interpretations—in words and pictures—of African American spiritual songs. These amazing songs are an important part of our American heritage, and they continue to give us hope in the face of life’s many cha...

My First White Friend: Confessions on Race, Love and Forgiveness $4.41 Newspaper columnist, writer and NPR commentator Patricia Raybon admits that she hated whites for years. She even tried unsuccessfully to whip up a similar rage in her parents. But anger got her nowhere. Eventually, in the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, she found an alternative: forgiveness. The first part of the book is a series of essays on the life experiences o...

The word "Christmas" means "the body of Christ," which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, whose life and message was powerfully influenced the Western thought and culture far beyond any other person in history to today. So much so that the date in the history of the date of his birth. Of course, "BC", ie before Christ was born and "AD" (Latin "Anno Domini") refers to after his death. Although some say it was real, as other historians Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy say their investigation concluded that there was a man of flesh and blood and the stories surrounding him were just that – stories. In the stories of teaching that were around long before the story of Christ's birth. However, no matter what their beliefs no doubt that the skills associated with it are illuminating and transformation.

Christmas is celebrated since the 4th century. Before this Easter was the main event the early years of Christianity and Christmas was originally called "Feast of the Nativity" and the Middle Ages, Christianity had nearly replaced religion pagan. During the Middle Ages, Christmas Day after church believers celebrated loudly and has been documented to suggest in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere and as part of the celebration of a beggar or student each year was chosen and crowned "Lord of Misrule" and eager celebrants played the role of their subjects. It was also common that the poor go to the houses of calls from them for gifts of food and drink, which was given by the upper classes and was seen as their way of paying his "debt" to society, giving to the less fortunate.

However, the religious reformation in the early 17th century Europe changed the Christmas celebrations. In 1647 the British Parliament officially abolished the celebration of Christmas. Oliver Cromwell vowed to rid England of decadence. Cromwell Christmas canceled and banned Christmas carols and parties up to 1660. It was not until Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, which was returned for Christmas. Moreover, English Puritans who came to America for Christmas influence outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681. At this time if caught in a festive spirit of any kind he was fined five shillings! Although Christmas is happily practiced in other parts of America after the American Revolution, English customs, including Christmas fell out of favor and we saw the first Christmas under the new constitution of the United States in 1789, the Congress in session on this holy day and once concluded. It was not until over a hundred years after the popularity of Christmas to reemerge in full force with the declaration of a federal holiday declared 26 June 1870.

One of the major influences of the popularity of Christmas was the work of Charles Dickens. In 1843 he published "A Christmas Carol", which influence much in this period with an important message of charity and goodwill toward all, but advocated the benefits of the celebration of Christmas.

It has been said America re-invented Christmas celebrations for what we know today. It was the American who adopted a more peaceful, good-hearted, the focus family oriented unlike the noisy party of the first times in Europe. Also a great center of attention was the gift giving especially for parents to give their children. Therefore, becoming the Christmas party of the perfect family in America as well as in many other parts of the world.

Today, Christmas is the most Holiday universal renown in the world. It has become a celebrated case of the magic, myth and religion, with approximately 2.1 billion Christians in a population global total of 6.6 million, is the largest religion worldwide. And for many people who are not religious is a festival of light, generosity, of goodwill, a union of all people in the celebration of community and good spirit toward each other, especially in the spirit of generosity synonymous the figure of Santa Claus.

And the author Bernadette Dimitrov (aka Mrs Claus) invites you to visit her radio podcast show Conversations with Mrs Claus http://www.TheFamilyYak.com An inspirational show with world-wide experts, best selling authors, celebrities, film makers and more plus prizes to be won! Also come visit http://www.HoHoHoChristmas.com and join her free inspirational Christmas newsletter with great recipes, insights & gift ideas & receive inspirational free gifts!

Spirituality/Gnostic author Timothy Freke in-depth interview

Goodbye Liza Jane: Hello Western Swing! $8.99 ...

Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording) $17.98 Mary Rodgers is usually heralded as musical theater's sole woman composer, but this new recording of a long-lost gem introduces us to another brilliant member of Broadway's thin female ranks: Kay Swift. Collaborating with her husband, lyricist James Paul Warburg (writing as Paul James), Swift penned a splendid collection of tunes-in turn touching, daffy, percolating and tender-for this 1930 show. ...

Peter Gandy ...

The Hermetica: The Lost Wisdom of the Pharaohs $3.05 The first easily accessible translation of the esoteric writings that inspired some of the world?s greatest artists, scientists, and philosophers. Here is an essential digest of the Greco-Egyptian writings attributed to the legendary sage-god Hermes Trismegistus (Greek for thrice-greatest Hermes)?a combination of the Egyptian Thoth and the Greek Hermes. The figure of Hermes was venerated as a grea...

The Jesus Mysteries: Was the Original Jesus a Pagan God? $6.25 “Whether you conclude that this book is the most alarming heresy of the millennium or the mother of all revelations, The Jesus Mysteries deserves to be read.”-- Fort Worth Star -TelegramWhat if . . .* there were absolutely no evidence for the existence of a historical Jesus?* for thousands of years Pagans had also followed a Son of God?* this Pagan savior was also born of a virgin on the twent...