Radio show for 12-18-2008: A brand new studio recording with Threshing Floor hosts, Sue Patterson and Randy Maugans.
” Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with an ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.“-Jeremiah 10:1-5 KJV
Part 1 discussed the pagan roots and scriptural admonitions against the observances of the heathen, the graven images and the tree that is cut down in the forest and “decked” with gold and silver. But did you know that scripture also talks about an artificial tree as well?
Notes:The Graven Images of Christmas
“The Graven Images of Christmas”-complete (21 ppg.-5.94 MB)
Related Article: Santa & The Tammuz Tree by James Lloyd
Part 1 discussed the pagan roots and scriptural admonitions against the observances of the heathen, the graven images and the tree that is cut down in the forest and “decked” with gold and silver. But did you know that scripture also talks about an 






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I found this article trending on Yahoo today:
Are Poinsettias Poisonous?
By Melissa Breyer
More from Care2 Green Living blog
Pity the poor poinsettia. All it ever wanted was to be a nice emblem for the holidays: To be patiently wrapped in red foil and hoisted on hostesses, to festoon festive Christmas sweaters, and to be eternally mimicked in plastic. But somewhere along the way it picked up a bad-girl reputation as a lethal beauty — lovely to look at and terribly toxic if tasted!
But are the rumors true? Are pretty poinsettias potentially poisonous? About 70 percent of the population will answer yes, and although every year there is a bumper crop of stories explaining otherwise — the myth persists. And myth it is. Poinsettia’s are not poisonous, merely the victim of a popularly enduring urban legend.
It all started back in the early part of the 20th century when the young child of a U.S. Army officer was alleged to have died from consuming a poinsettia leaf — a story which was later retracted.
But, as these things have a habit of doing, the toxic potential of the poinsettia took on a life of its own. Now many people treat poinsettias as persona non grata (or poinsettia non grata, as the case may be) in their households.
According to the American Medical Association’s Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, other than occasional cases of vomiting, ingestion of the poinsettia plant has been found to produce no ill effect. And other experts have weighed in as well.
The Society of American Florists worked with the academic faculty of entomology at Ohio State University to thoroughly test all parts of the poinsettia and conclusively established that there were no adverse effects. In 1975, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission denied a petition to require warning labels for poinsettia plants.
As for your pets, the American Veterinary Medicine Association of America does not include poinsettias on its list of plants that are a threat to animals. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states that ingestion of poinsettias may cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting, and/or diarrhea — but nothing severe or fatal.
Mistletoe, on the other hand? Not so innocent. Along with inspiring smooching if stood underneath, mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal distress, a slowed heartbeat, and other reactions if ingested, due to the presence of harmful chemicals like viscotoxins. Although not thought to be fatal, it can cause severe reactions.
In pets, mistletoe may cause gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular collapse, dyspnea, bradycardia, erratic behavior, vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood pressure. Yikes!
So keep the mistletoe securely fastened above your door, but fear the poinsettia no more.
[...] The Graven Images of Christmas-Part 2 - 2008-12-18 - Part 2 – ….and the tree that is cut down in the forest and “decked” with gold and silver. But did you know that scripture also talks about an artificial tree as well? [...]
Jer 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
I am surprised you did not catch this when you were expounding on this verse in part 2. the idols cannot do evil nor good…..doesn’t the tree of the knowledge of good and evil lead to the tree of life? Man had to partake of it first and experience death before life can come. (John 12 “except a seed fall into the ground and die…”) It is just another rejection of the cross and the death process!
Excellent teaching…I am just sorry I had to wait 40 years to hear it!!