Christmas Gifts

WITHOUT CHRISTMAS – THERE COULD BE NO EASTER!

WITHOUT EASTER – THERE COULD BE NO CHRISTMAS GIFTS!

“... whoever loses his life for my sake will find it!” (Matthew 10:39)

I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10: 10 & 11)

• Regeneration -- i.e., the change of the sinner’s nature by the action of the Holy Spirit!
• Justification -- i.e., the change of the sinner’s standing by a declarative act of God in which sins are remitted and the sinner is freed from condemnation!
• Sanctification =d the process by which regenerate persons are gradually transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ!

Salvation by Grace through Faith!

More Christmas Reflections

St. Nicholas

• He lived during the 4th century in Lycia, a province on the southwest coast of Asia Minor.
• Traveled to Egypt and Palestine.
• Became Bishop of the church at Myra.
• During the period of Christian persecution he was imprisoned by Diocletian.
• Later released by Constantine the Great who issued the Edict of Milan in AD 313 which called for a toleration of all religions.
• Protestant churches in Germany transformed St. Nicholas into Father Christmas. Kriss Kringle -- Christ Kindle, meaning Christ child.

CHRISTMAS comes from the Old English term Cristes maesse meaning Christ’s mass -- a festival service of worship help on Dec 25th to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Three masses in the Roman Catholic Church on Christmas day.

• Midnight represents the birth of the Lord before the ages.
• Dawn supposedly represents the birth by the Blessed Virgin.
• Daylight hours represents the birth in the hearts of the faithful.
  

Christmas Reflections

One year while preparing a Christmas message, I ran across some interesting information.

Clement of Alexandria said some people believe Christ’s birth was April 20th, others say it was May 20th, and others say January 6th.

The Eastern Orthodox church reportedly chose January 6th – Epiphany – which some say was the date Jesus was consecrated and the three wise men arrived (Matthew 2: 9-12 and Luke 2:39).

The Western church based in Rome claims December 25th as the date to celebrate Jesus' birth.

In the 4th century, Christmas tide – 12 days of Christmas from December 25th through January 6th -- was established.

During the 6th century, Dionysius Exigus (a monk) invented the calendar system AD & BD to calculate the correct date for Easter.

• The death of Herod was established as 4 BC (Matthew 2: 19).
• The Epiphany - the star (Matthew 2: 1-2) = a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in 6 B.C.
• 6 B.C. was also about the same time that Herod reportedly slew children 2 years old or younger (Matthew 2:16).
  

The term CHRISTMAS comes from the Old English term Cristes maesse meaning Christ’s mass -- a festival service of worship held on Dec 25th to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Saturnalia -- an ancient Roman pagan festival – Dec 17th – Roman winter feast of merrymaking and gift exchange

Christmas Colors of Red & Green --Green denotes continuance of life through winter and Red symbolizes the blood Jesus shed at His Crucifixion\

Holly -- prickly leaves and red berries reminded people of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion and the berries symbolized droplets of blood.

St. Nicholas

• lived during the 4th century in Lycia, a province on the southwest coast of Asia Minor.


• Traveled to Egypt and Palestine.


• Became Bishop of the church at Myra.


• During the period of Christian persecution he was imprisoned by Diocletian but later released by Constantine the Great who issued the Edict of Milan in AD 313 which called for a toleration of all religions.


• Protestant churches in Germany transformed St. Nicholas into Father Christmas -- Kriss Kringle -- Christ Kindle, meaning Christ child.

WITHOUT CHRISTMAS – THERE COULD BE NO EASTER!

Second Post

It is Rivalry Saturday -- the Iron Bowl, and all the rest. To quote an old television commercial, "ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?" You betcha!

Cherai, my daughter, is visiting for the weekend with her friend Bryan. He seems like a nice fellow. We are going to have to come up with an additional or other name for Bryan since Cherai's brother is also named Brian. Of course, we could always go with Bryan Y and Brian I since you really can't hear the difference.

Well, it is the time of year when some people like to put up the Christmas tree(s). Now that all the children are grown, gone and we are empty nesters, we have two Christmas trees! Go figure? Hey! Isn't life grand? Since Cherai is the Christmas Tree Putter Upper designate and she has asked for assistance -- when I'm finished -- now that is a motive not to finish --however, it is inconceivable to me that i could go typing this for days just to avoid putting up a Christmas tree -- oh silly me! One tree? No way Jose! Aha, my destiny awaits.

Actually, I came into, my study to work on getting passport applications together but got sidetracked into this blog thing. By the way, do you know that in Indiana they want each individual to come and apply for their own individual passport in person. What's up with that? You'd think they don't trust people? You think? I mean after all ........

Obviously I really have no idea what to write here. Kind of a diversion type activity. Isn't it? Oh well, since it is kind a like a public diary, I figure it really doesn't matter.

Have fun. I think I did!

Have a good day, Bob

First Post

I have no idea what I am doing! My youngest son and his beautiful wife are bloggers. They convinced my daughter to establish a blog. I think my oldest son has a blog. I am pretty sure my wife doesn't have a blog but who knows?

I bet "The Shadow" knows.

In any event, it seems like this might be a fun thing to do -- AND -- Since they have gotten me into the world of texting, I might as well explore the world of blogging. I think this technology may be useful to me and the Council On Aging of Elkhart County, Inc. (Indiana) where I am the Executive Director. So, in order to figure this whole thing out and get started, here goes my adventure into the world of blogging.

Obviously this thing doesn't have spell check because as I reviewed what I just wrote, I see where old (literally and mentally) fat fingers blew a couple of words. If you see others, please forgive this aging relic of a person.

I sure hope no analyst reads this stuff -- they may think I have some phobia with the whole (half or any portion thereof) idea of aging -- which is not true! I mean after all, no one is going to get out of this world alive! There was only one person who did that but then he created the world so for him it was no big thing but for the rest of us, I don't believe it is going to happen!

Oh well, it is time for me to stop rambling and see what kind of trouble I've gotten myself into. Until the next time, "take care and God bless!

Love to all, Trebor Siwel