The Lords Day

This day is dedicated to rest and worship. It holds its roots in the Jewish Sabbath but was moved to a Sunday from Saturday because of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ was held on a Sunday.
Palm Sunday

This day marks the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem where he would face crucifixion five days later. The tale of Palm Sunday is told in four gospels and is often celebrated with palms in a manner to celebrate Jesus’ entry into the city.

The spring festival (Easter)

Easter is the most important of the Christian holidays. It marks the three days after Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection. It is marked by a 40 day period of fasting and repentance called Lent, held just before Easter, and a 50 day Easter celebration which runs to Pentecost. The origin or the name Easter is largely unknown, although the goddess of spring, Easter is attributed to it.

Twelfth Night

One might associate this particular holiday period with Christmas. Interestingly enough, it is held exactly opposite what is usually thought of as the twelve days of Christmas before the 25th of December as is the general custom. When correctly scheduled the festival is held during the 12 days and 12 nights beginning on the night of the 24th. Past the rituals associated with the period historically, it is its ending on the 12th night following its start on the first night December 24th with the adoration of Christ by the Magi. The twelve distinct nighttime celebrations are counted along with twelve distinct days. During these 24 distinct time periods opposite rule tends to be the order/disorder of the day/night. Women may dress as men and men as women. Employers serve servants and servants often take on the auspices of employers. This traditional holiday has its roots well before Christ and is generally thought to have its roots in Pagan rituals. Its end on the 12th night is followed by the beginning of the Carnival season.

St. Andrews day

Saint Andrews day is held on November 30th in honor of the Patron Saint of unmarried women, Russia and Scotland, St. Andrew. Andrew is considered the first Apostle and brother of Saint Peter. Andrew was a fisherman that followed John the Baptist and eventually Jesus at John’s suggestion. Up until just recent times Andrew has had an uneasy rest. His body’s remains have been moved and moved again since the 3d century for reasons of reward and recognition. Not the least of his body’s travels is his head in three separate instances.

For one particular dictionary definition (Christian answers.net), start with the Holy Trinity: There is one God; but he consists of three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. First form from; Trias (Greek) for this specific purpose. First used by Theophilus (AD 168-183) 1) That God is one, and that there is but one God 2) That the Father is a distinctive divine person, distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit 3) That Jesus Christ was* God, and yet was a person distinct from the Father and Holy Spirit 4) That the Holy Spirit was* a Distinct divine person. Although equal in divinity, the Father has hierarchical authority over Jesus.

*direct quote
What the Holy Spirit did and does from a laypersons point of view

The Holy Spirit is God; he just happens to be one particular part of God. When it comes right down to it the Holy Spirit is the part of God that does all the creating and makes all the miracles. When you hear that the world was created in seven days…the Holy Spirit was on the job and took the seventh day off.

Past the point

With each of these definitions, the actual point of the Holy Spirit is a bit clearer but nonetheless not to the point. The Holy Sprit is what you see of Gods work. It is the wonder that is Gods creation. When you want to contemplate your place in the world and the existence of God, it is the Holy Spirit part of God that you are talking to.

The hope of life

The Holy Spirit gives us what we need to carry on when all seems lost. It makes us feel joy after a hard springtime rain. It keeps us fed when we are hungry. If one were to become glib about the Holy Spirit he would say that the Holy Spirit is the verb part of God.

Christianity has had a long time to put God and religion into perspective. One of the ways that it does this is to make a list and assign a priority to it. If you happen to be a Bishop or a Pastor this may be a suitable way to get things done. When it comes to God, however, assigning priorities and hierarchies is a bit overreaching when one comes to think about it. Instead, when thinking about the Holy Spirit, think about happiness and the warmth of a spring day.

Think about the love and joy that your children have playing in a babbling brook. Not only will this make you feel better about yourself and your relationship with God, it will kill a few less brain cells wondering about if this particular definition or that particular definition is correct. Work on your relationship with God; with your definitions not some person’s definitions from 200AD definition.

Christianity, as a whole, enables you to travel your own path as you find God within. This journey can take many paths and is a personal one that may lead you in some interesting directions. Whatever paths you happen to take, know that God is there to aid you in your personal quest. Along the way you may experience setbacks and challenges that test your personal faith. God forgives you as you face these challenges right, wrong or indifferent. Since you are on a personal quest there is no real finish to the quest except your final journey. With this in mind, finding God within is a series of decisions to test you without fear of judgment by anyone but God.

A flexible God

Christianity in of itself is a flexible religion, letting different interpretations of what is a central belief system flourish within each of us. People may be created

equal but they are not created the same, except in Gods image. To think that every person must search for their relationship with God in the same way would diminish the true meaning of Gods’ love and understanding that he has for his children. This should enable you to seek the path that suites your personal relationship with God within in whichever way you feel works for you. If this relationship is best discovered working with children then this is part of your relationship with God within. If your relationship with God within revolves around being a beer drinking Harley rider with a bible in your saddle bag this is fine too. How you find your personal relationship within is a flexible process as long as you are journeying toward a desired goal of developing the relationship.

Asking for help

Approaching your journey toward finding God within will present many challenges as you make your way along its path. Christianity has provided for help as you face these challenges. Nobody ever said developing your relationship with God was going to be an easy task. Christianity and its followers are there to give their perspective about how they may have dealt with similar challenges along their own personal journey. Taking advantage of help is part of your journey and possibly a challenge that you might need to face.

Being honest with yourself

You may have heard the phrase “you’re only fooling yourself” a few times in your life. A search for God within is the true test of this phrase. God may judge and is forgiving, but it is you that must ultimately come to terms with how you feel about your relationship with God. You may travel far and wide to find your personal relationship with God but it is you that has to live with the reality of your relationship.