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The First Two Thousand Years

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Halloween dates back to the Ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which is actually the word for Halloween in a few Gaelic languages. The Celts who lived around 2000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, threw this Festival on October 31 to celebrate the end of summer and the end of the harvest season. The Celts actually believed that the first day of November marked the beginning of their new year and the onset of winter. To them the days of sunshine had passed and had been replaced by darkness. The cold and gloom of winter was also seen as a time associated with human death.

It was commonly thought by the Celts that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became very hazy. Therefore on 31 October, they celebrated Samhain when it was believe that souls of the underworld would return to earth and those that died that year would pass to the next life completely. This would mean the dead and the living would mingle more than at any other time of the year. Samhain was a festival dedicated to the dead and was common for people to tell tales of their ancestors on that night.

Traditionally, Samhain was time to take stock of the herds and grain supplies, and decide which animals would need to be slaughtered in order for the people and livestock to survive the winter. A big bonfire would be lit to unite villages and burn the bones of the slaughtered animals. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. The bonfires were also lit to honor the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. It was feared that the dead were powerful on this special evening and as a result may ruin the crops of the harvest if not treated with respect.

Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. These people were very dependent upon the fruits of the earth and thus the prophecies were very important for them, as they sought comfort for the long, dark winter ahead. Sacred bonfires were also lit by the Druids where the people would gather to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. Such practices show how superstitious practices were taken very seriously.

The Festival was the biggest and most significant holiday of the Celtic year, which consisted of four major holidays. During the celebrations the Celts would wear costumes particularly made of animal skins and heads. They also attempted to tell each others' fortunes. When the celebration came to an end, the people would re-light their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

The First Two Thousand Years

GPS tracking from (global positioning satellites) is becoming almost standard equipment on cars today. The penchant to ?know? may be what is driving the consumer more than the fear of getting lost. Add to that the lack of time in today's fast paced society, who has got time to sit down and read a map?

In addition to tracking devices Detroit is equipping autos with gauges and devices that can read such things as the air pressure in the tires or the condition of your motor oil. Almost every system in the car is now monitored by computers and the information is fed back to the driver in one form or another including voice messages.

Evangelists and preachers have used the adage that the ?Bible is the road map for life? many times in their messages and missives throughout this generation. Out of the genre of strictly American bred music comes a similar message from what is known as Appalachian Mountain Music. The old Bluegrass song is widely known and is aptly entitled ?I'm Using My Bible as a Roadmap.?

Some might say the words are too simplistic but hardly anyone wouldn't say that in today's fast paced and complicated world, simple and direct is exactly what we need. The straight up message can be seen in the first stanza of the song.

I'm using my bible as a road map

Ten Commandments, they tell me what to do

The twelve disciples are my road signs

And Jesus will see me safely through

How many Americans see the Bible as a roadmap to life? Fortunately for the moment that number is still very high in this country but reports say the numbers are rapidly falling. The pace of modern life in America is blamed in part for the decline but even more so is the proclivity to follow cultural and popular trends. Fitting in and riding the present wave are more desirable to many than any old fashioned notion of trusting God, personal responsibility and building character.

The perception that the entire Bible is a declaration of ?Thou Shalt Nots? is anything but accurate. When it comes to the New Testament hardly any restrictions are noted. It is rather a ?How To? kind of message. It covers all subjects having to do with our relationship to God, to others and even to ourselves.

The New Testament message far precedes modern psychology's message of the need for self esteem with such verses as ??love thy neighbour as thyself.? Mark 12:31

Long before Congress formed legislation to curb and punish hate crimes the New Testament said ?If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?? 1 John 4:20

Most Christians are aware of the many books written on the 700 or more promises of God. Not as well known are the books called ?topical Bibles.? The topical Bible is a comprehensive listing of all the subjects covered by the Bible. Perhaps it is time for someone to make an electronic device that can bring up that categorized information at the touch of a button or a voice command much the same as a GPS device.

Actually that has already been done. The device even predates the New Testament. It is the human heart. By some systematic and applied study the entire New Testament can be learned and called upon by ordinary people in a split second of time when needed. David the ancient King and writer of the Psalms said it the best in Psalm 119:11 ?Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.?

Jesus said he would empower the God given tracking device years after David mentioned its existence. ?But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.? John 14:26

The beauty of Gods GPS tracking system is that it is available to anyone rich or poor. No one needs to own a Lexus or a Lincoln to empower their system. They need only faith in God and a willingness to program the device with Gods word.

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Both Patrick Omari & Rev Michael Bresciani are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Patrick Omari has sinced written about articles on various topics from Celebrities, Hotels and Hostels and Science. Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in airport hotels and. Patrick Omari's top article generates over 823000 views. Bookmark Patrick Omari to your Favourites.

Rev Michael Bresciani has sinced written about articles on various topics from Politics, Movie Reviews and Politics. Rev Bresciani is a Christian author and columnist. His articles on many important subjects are now read in every corner of the globe. For a list of subjects and news from around the world visit. Rev Michael Bresciani's top article generates over 27100 views. Bookmark Rev Michael Bresciani to your Favourites.

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