I enjoyed this comment from Mike Sanders from the two_sticks@egroups.com
list.

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 12:48:00 -0000
From: "Michael Sanders" <mikesandrs@...>
Subject: Re: Replacing Pagan with Jewish Holy Days

--- In two_sticks@egroups.com, "Sterling D. Allan" <sterlingda@g...>
wrote:
[<snip by SDA>]
> ...we ought to start
studying
> the Jewish feasts and holidays, and little by little as we learn,
begin
> replacing our pagan U.S. holidays with true "holy" days. That way
she could
> have her decorating desires fulfilled, and I could have my desires
to not
> honor the pagan roots of American holidays fulfilled.
[<snip by SDA>]

Hi Sterling,

Thanks for your post! I too have begun to lead my family in this
direction. Abandoning the pagan holidays in favor of God's appointed
feasts. However, we still have included Thanksgiving in the program
as a time to remember God's sovereign acts in establishing this
nation. Which nation was established to produce an environment for
the birth of the restored church and Zion. Also the many marvelous
promises for those who would be faithful upon this land. A time to
offer up our thanksgiving for God's providence, fruitfulness,
protection, and blessing upon this chosen land. Independence Day
also deserves consideration as we consider God's hand in raising up
this nation and constitution through wise men for his purposes for
Israel to be fulfilled. Although, they need to be observed in a
different way possibly. Is not the hearts of the children returning
to their fathers. Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc... have
been discarded by our family for some time now. What we are now
trying to do is develop ways to observe the feasts days that call us
to remembrance and yet also reflect the meanings of such. We want to
honor Christ in our observances and also utilize the festivals to
teach the heritage of Israel to our children. We don't want them to
become traditions void of meaning, but rather instruments of
instruction, edification, and thanksgiving. These appointed times
will yet be significant in the future as well and we want to be found
watching and not sleeping. What beautiful opportunities the feasts
present us with to teach our children about God's appointments and
rehearsals. Observance of Israelite feasts keeps us rooted and
connected to our fathers and also compel us to look for future acts
from above. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts! We all need to
grow in this understanding.

Your friend,
Mike Sanders