Memorize:

"But My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19 (KJV)

Monday, December 20, 2010

An In-between: Christmas Past Around the World.

I happened to find a website about Christmas around the world. Each blurb appears to be written by a native author. It's very interesting, so I thought I'd share some of the neat, different things that we here in America don't really think about.

For instance, in Australia, (written by a very tongue-in-cheek author) there is no such thing as a 'white' Christmas. For them, Christmas is more like our Fourth of July. Not because it's an Independence Day, but rather it's the biggest summer holiday. And who ever in America would have ice-cream and seafood! Santa Claus is just as big Down Under as it is Up Over Here, but 'Swag Man' is almost as big. The Aussies felt they had to come up with something other than Santa, because they're afraid of Santa 'suffering from heat stroke.' Swag Man does not ride in a sleigh. Instead, he drives a very large four-wheel drive. Christmas is made up of picnics, midnight mass, food, 'mateys', and swimming.

Likewise, in Brazil, Santa Claus is really "Father Noel." Father Noel lives in Greenland, and wears silk when he's visiting Brazil; because of the heat. Instead of Dickens's classic Christmas Carol, a folk play called The Shepherds is featured in which all the shepherds are female and the baby Jesus is kidnapped by a gypsy. The traditional Christmas tree has no greenery, but is rather made of electric lights. Other decorations are usually fresh flowers.

In Czechoslovakia, home of the 'Good King Wenceslas,' Christmas is celebrated by putting a cherry tree in water indoors. The hope is that it will bloom on Christmas thus giving 'good luck' and the 'hope of a short winter.' St. Nicolas lives in Heaven and climbs down on a golden rope with his companions; an angel and a whip-carrying devil. (For the good and bad little boys and girls of course)

In France, Christmas trees are rarely in evidence, and the same goes for a real Yule Log. Instead, a Yule log cake is made. The biggest thing is a nativity scene found in nearly every home. Along with the traditional nativity scene pieces, figures of local dignitaries are made, (called little santons, or saints.) These are also a part of the nativity scene. As in Brazil, it is Father Noel who distributes gifts. Except, he's accompanied only by the 'stern disciplinarian' Pre Fouetarrd, who reminds the forgetful Noel who was good and who was not. Gifts among adults are exchanged on New Years' Day.

I considered making a German joke in favor or France, but, well, perhaps I'd better not, especially since their traditions happen to be rather more 'Christian' than any other country so far. The Germans were those who began the tradition of the Christmas tree. It is especially exciting to the children since they are not allowed to see it until Christmas Eve. Christmas Carols are usually sung, the Christmas Story is read, and sometimes sparklers are lit. Only then are the presents opened. St. Nicholas visits with his little 'book of sins.' if the child has been good, delicious things are placed in the shoe or boot near the fire. If not, the shoe is filled with twigs.

In Japan, Christmas is very American, having been introduced by missionaries. It is the only time that the children ever see a cradle, (in the Nativity scene) since Japanese babies are not put in a cradle. Hoteiosho, a priest or 'god' is the 'all-seeing' Santa Claus.

Christmas in Russia, was once a largely-celebrated holiday. During the Communist regime however, many traditions were crushed. St. Nicholas for instance, became 'godfather frost.' St. Nicholas in former times was not the gift bringer, but rather the miracle worker. Baboushka was the gift bringer, and was also crushed during the Cold War. Baboushka has returned however and the tradition has nearly grown to it's former size. Christmas Trees were banned, but Russians continue to decorate their 'New Year's Tree.'

In Iraq, 'Christians' light a bonfire of thorns on Christmas Eve. When the fire dies, each person jumps over it and makes a wish. Another bonfire is lit in the public square on Christmas. The bishop carries a figurine of the baby Jesus, and touches the person next to him. The touch is passed among all the people until all have received the 'touch of peace.'

In Sweden, a fourth century Sicilian saint, Lucia, is revered. During early Christian persecution, she allegedly brought food to hiding Christians. She has become known as the 'queen of light.' On Christmas, the eldest girl in the household wears a white dress and a wreath on her head with seven lighted candles. She brings coffee and buns to each member of the household in symbolism of Lucia's visit. The Tomte is the gift-bringer.

In Bethlehem, the city is ablaze every year with flags and other decorations. The annual Christmas Eve parade is made up of horsemen and mounted police on Arabian horses, followed by a solitary horseman on a black horse carrying a cross. Other officials and churchmen follow until the procession passes through the doors of the Church of the Nativity. Dark winding stairs lead to a grotto. In the grotto, a silver star marks the place where Jesus was born. Another star is located in the center of town. Christians celebrate by decorating their doors with a cross and each home houses a home-made manger scene.

Merry Christmas!

(This has been: An In-between. Look in next time to read: Snippets of:__)

Monday, December 13, 2010

A Day in the Life of: Sgt. R__

One of my favorite people that I actually know is an elderly gentleman in my church. He's like another grandpa. Besides being kindly and intelligent, he's also an excellent story teller. And the great thing is that his stories are true. I considered recording his stories and perhaps I still might sometime. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a tape-recorder. So, while I can't tell his stories with quite the impact that he tells them, I'll do my best, because they're worth telling. His are the stories which can inspire and amuse generations to come, but only if they're written down.

If you knew Mr. R__ today, you would never believe that he could ever have been anything other than a wonderful, gentle and meek man. He was however, when a younger man, a very colorful character with a colorful life that comes with all non-Christian Army drill instructors, Army Sergeants, and Police chiefs.

Sgt. R__ tells this story of his time as an Army Sgt. during WWII. He was a squadron leader of tanks, and they were practicing with the 10th group of something or other. The 10th group of something or other used jeeps with rocket launchers. Sgt. R__ and the tanks under him would practice fighting the 10th group rocket launchers. They used duds for practice, not live rockets.

Each time, after the practice was over, the two groups would leave the field. Usually, the tanks went first. 10th group had a 'twisted' sense of humor. As the Sgt. R__'s tanks would leave the field, the 10th group would launch blank rockets at the tanks. Even a blank rocket is nothing to laugh at. They made huge noises, and packed an even larger wallop.

After a time of enduring this harassment, Sgt. R__ had a fantastic idea. All soldiers were issued cans of pork and beans for their meals. With his fellow soldiers, Sgt. R__ opened these cans and poured them out into a couple of empty shells. Then, they put masking tape over the top of the shells to hold the pork and beans in until it was time.

Then, after practice, they started off the field. As usual, the soldiers in the jeeps launched their duds and then raced off ahead of the tanks laughing. The men in the tanks ducked, the duds hit, the men in the tanks got up, and Sgt. R__ loaded the 'live' cartridges. He cranked the gun on his tank down, waited until the jeeps were in his sights and then...BAM! out of the barrel flew a couple of cans worth of pork and beans! DEAD ON!!! The joke was on the other guys.

The way Mr. R__ tells it, it was worth a million bucks to see the looks on their faces.

"Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him." Proverbs 26:27

(This has been: A Day in the Life of: Sgt. R__. Look in next time to read: Snippets of__)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Fountain of Thoughts: Context, Context, Context

I recently posted a list of my goals for the year. Regrettably, I have only completed one of them to date. However, the result of that goal, that is, to read the Bible in three months, was, in my opinion, rather interesting. My main reason for conducting the experiment was because I had heard quite a bit about its benefits. I had heard, specifically, that 'it put the Bible in a whole new perspective.' After having completed the experiment for myself, I must beg to disagree in part with the review. I found, that instead of giving the 'Bible a whole new perspective' it rather put the Bible into perspective.

'Context, context, context' is an oft repeated refrain in my church and house, so, I've always known that the Bible was in context. Nevertheless, I don't believe I have ever seen it for myself so clearly. It is easy in most cases to see the context between individual verses. It is even sometimes easy to see the context between chapters. I have very rarely however been able to see the incredible context between whole books.

While my Bible is not in chronological order according to events per se, reading it in three months pictured the order of events almost as if I was seeing them happen. It was frankly quite fascinating. I was able to 'see' Isaiah prophesying at the same time as King Hezekiah was dealing with the multiple Assyrian invasions. Another thing I noticed was that the Books of Kings, dealt with both the rule of Israel, and the rule of Judah, while Chronicles dealt only with Judah. By reading the four books in a short period of time, I was able to see the correlations between them in context.

Another perhaps benefit I observed was the diminishing of the tediousness of certain sections. I.E., the genealogies and the temple measurements. While I probably like these sections more than the average reader, I still find them, like most people, to be tedious. I found this tediousness nearly if not completely eliminated by reading them in two, or at the most three days. I'm still not sure though, if this is a benefit, or just a general gratefulness for getting to read something else sooner.

I've always had a little bit of a difficult time understanding Paul's longer epistles. I now know why. Each of his chapter's builds upon the other so that it is nearly impossible to read one and understand it without reading the preceding chapters. This time around, I think I have finally discovered why most people love Paul's writings. He is very logical. I must confess however that while I really enjoyed Paul's letters, I still like the writings of John better, even though I found them particularly convicting this time.

When I finished my little experiment, I came to the conclusion that I should highly recommend it to others. It only takes fourteen chapters per day. I was able to do this from between thirty minutes and an hour. And this was yet another benefit: the spending of more time in the Word was really good for me. After you all try it, maybe we can get together and do the other experiment: having a read-aloud Bible marathon!

(This has been: Fountain of Thoughts. Look in next time to read: A Day in the Life of:__)