Tag: Jesus

Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas 2025: “Thou Shalt LOVE, Not Hate” — Day Two 12/2/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

From December 1-25, I’ll be sharing a quote and its truth from John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, the book Robert and I are currently and fascinatingly reading.

An odd Advent Calendar, of sorts.

If you’re interested, you can see the introduction to this new blog category here:

https://nealenjoy.com/2025/12/01/countdown-to-christmas-2025-thou-shalt-love-not-hate-introduction-12-1-25/

“Jesus was:

A peaceful, radically nonviolent revolutionary

Who wasn’t American and never spoke English

Who hung around lepers, hookers, and crooks

Never sought tax cuts for rich Nazarenes

Was anti-wealth and anti-death penalty

Anti-public prayer, too (Matthew 6:5)

Never asked lepers for a co-pay

Never called poor people ‘lazy’

Never even slightly antigay

Never mentioned abortion

Supported paying taxes

And was a long-haired

Community-organizing

Authority-questioning

Anti-slut-shaming

Brown-skinned

Palestinian

Unarmed

Homeless

Jew …

But only if you believe what’s actually in the Bible.”

Preface, Separation of Church and Hate

A favorite ornament from many, many years ago. Still in good shape.

Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas 2025: “Thou Shalt LOVE, Not Hate” — Introduction 12/1/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My Countdown to Christmas series this year is inspired by a recent simple book recommendation from dear friends Jo and Kathi. “You HAVE to read Separation of Church and Hate! It’s FULL of truth, and it’s often laugh-out-loud funny!”

I Googled the book and saw the full, never-ending title: Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds.

“Whoa,” I thought, “That title sounds far too Holiday Heavy.”

But then Robert and I started to read, and we were absolutely flabbergasted by the clear, undeniable truth and push for lovingkindness presented by author John Fugelsang. (And yes, I have laughed out loud many a time during our read.)

So I plan to share with you a quote and its truth from the book each day starting today, December 1 and ending on Christmas Day.

An Advent Calendar, of sorts.

And of course, I realize that everyone is not Christian or religious. That many folks have had awful and problematic issues with organized religion. I get that. And we’ve experienced the same thing. But we are happy today to have found an inclusive, love-embracing and creatively fun congregation here in Savannah, Asbury Memorial.

If possible, may you receive the kernels of truth in these posts without being bogged down by the “Christian-ness” of them.

And may Christmas 2025 for us ALL be a season of pulling away from hatred — and embracing all-encompassing, inclusive Love.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-37

Love, then, is the apex of the Christian faith, and I would surmise at the apex of every faith or even non-faith (if that makes a lick of sense).

Adding to the words of Jesus (can I do that?) …

Love Is ALL.

See you tomorrow.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/7/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Realizing last Saturday night that I can, as Cher so desperately wished, turn back time.

Goodbye, daylight savings time.

2. Embracing (well not literally) the Joy of Candles! Especially autumnal pumpkin spice-smelling candles.

(My heart was a bit broken recently when I discovered that pumpkin spice really has nothing to do with actual pumpkins. It’s called “pumpkin spice,” of course, because those spices are frequently found in pumpkin pie. Wouldn’t you think someone my age would know that?)

3. The ability to smell. (Well, most of the time.)

4. Our little potted Japanese Maple (aka JM), stubbornly refusing to admit that it is now FALL.

Here’s our little fellow about this time last year …

I haven’t shown the photo to JM. I don’t want to rush him and be one of those parents who cause their kids to develop “hurried child syndrome.”

5. And finally, this is a follow-up to my post the other day about finding those little Jesus figurines (!) on the gas pump at Kroger. Remember?

Well, yesterday HR and I went to Publix for our weekly It’s-Wednesday’s-buy-one-get-one-free shopping spree.

We were minding our own business, when lo and behold, I looked down at the BOGO queso and saw …

Wait. Look closer.

See Him?!

Yet another Little Jesus! Seriously!

I made Robert snap a photo for documentation (quickly, because people were beginning to stare.)

Somebody must SERIOUSLY be on a mission here in Savannah.

And may you complete a Serious Mission to find some Autumn Happiness this weekend.

Posted in JoyInciters

Someone Felt I …

Posted on by Neal Saye

Pulling up to the gas pump at Kroger this morning, I got out of the car …

Walked closer to the pump …

Closer still …

A tad closer …

And I saw Him/Them …

Someone felt I needed … a little Jesus.

I agreed. So I filled up my tank — and walked away with Him.

Posted in Humor

Three Good Arguments

Posted on by Neal Saye

A funny, slightly irreverent and heartwarmingly truthful look at the various ways of seeing who Jesus “was” …

There are 3 good arguments that Jesus was BLACK:

1. He called everyone brother

2. He liked Gospel

3. He didn’t get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was JEWISH:

1. He went into His Father’s business

2. He lived at home until he was 33

3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was ITALIAN:

1. He talked with His hands

2. He had wine with His meals

3. He used olive oil

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a CALIFORNIAN:

1. He never cut His hair

2. He walked around barefoot all the time

3. He started a new religion

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an AMERICAN INDIAN:

1. He was at peace with nature

2. He ate a lot of fish

3. He talked about the Great Spirit

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was IRISH:

1. He never got married.

2. He was always telling stories.

3. He loved green pastures.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was MEXICAN:

1. He treated his mama like she was a saint.

2. He always wore llantas and a serape.

3. He was a carpenter who could fix anything.

But the most compelling evidence of all – 3 proofs that Jesus was a WOMAN:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment’s notice when there was virtually no food

2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn’t get it

3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do.

(Robert found this somewhere on the internet but couldn’t remember where.)

Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas: “Images of Peace” 12/24/22

Posted on by Neal Saye

For this blog category, “Countdown to Christmas: Images of Peace,” each day between December 1 and 25, I share some of our photography that invites rest, peace, tranquility and love.

Christmas Eve Peace

Weary travelers, from long ago, making their journey to Bethlehem.

I invite you to take a moment (well, one minute and thirty seconds to be exact) snd enjoy this sweet and peaceful little Christmas meditation.

Jacquie Lawson Cards

(The video is actually a beautiful virtual Christmas card I received last year from a friend.)