December 2010
8 posts
4 tags
Redeeming the tree
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.
After surveying the grass and herbs and trees that sprung forth all over the earth, with satisfaction “God saw it was good.”
I imagine “God saw” thick trunks, abrasive...
3 tags
Christmas traditions: O Tannenbaum
A popular anti-Christmas argument is taken from the biblical admonition found at Jeremiah 10:1-2:
Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Interestingly, it’s been argued that the immediately following verses (3-4) can be interpreted as a condemnation of the ritual of putting up a Christmas tree:
For...
6 tags
Should a Christian celebrate Christmas?
John Beardsley, a Christian with a web site (a rarity, I know, says the Christian with a web site), asks the rhetorical question, “Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?”
At the link, he gives an extensive “no” to his own question. The article is good, in that it provides answers to the “where did we get this from?” questions about Christmas traditions,...
3 tags
A shepherd's story
Moonless nights were always difficult. With even a fingernail of a moon, shadows move and prowling dogs give up their secret movements. Tonight, though, everything was a shadow and my ears were my eyes. On nights like this the flock stood quiet, with the lambs nestled close to the ewes. It would be an exhausting turn at watch, with every noise demanding my attention. Overhead, the canopy of stars...
2 tags
In a rut?
Found this is my archives. I don’t think I wrote it…I don’t remember doing research on this. Unfortunately, I don’t have attribution to who did.
The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet 8.5 inches. That’s an exceedingly odd number.
Why was that gauge used? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and English expatriates...
3 tags
“Be more concerned with making a life than making a living.”
5 tags
“Reputation is your photograph. Character is your face.”
2 tags
Giving blood
I gave blood yesterday. I’ve always done it because I thought that my blood was highly valuable because of its rarity (I’m AB Negative, the rarest type).
As I’m checking in for my appointment, the kindly retiree volunteer tells me, “No offense, but your blood is the least desirable.”
I was offended. But then I quickly got over it, because there’s nothing I...