Christians are Permitted to Judge - Excercise in word study.

Highly recommended: Advance to the editorial page by clicking on the link directly below this entry for the excercise in word study.

When Jesus tells us what we should or should not do, it is an open and shut case. It is of little wonder we get the sense one of our inalienable rights is being revoked, when we are told we shall not judge.

To judge or not to judge, knowing this is a God given right to use common sense is a problem most Christians are not able to reconcile. Especially when Jesus commands us to not judge. Further more, the Bible instructs us to use discernment, to estimate; the Bible implies we are to judge; we are told we will judge Angels. And, we are instructed to have nothing to do with people who are belligerently obstinate to the will of God. To determine when we will have nothing to do with certain folk, we must, at some point exercise an ability to judge.... continue on to the editorial to finish reading.

Five of the Top Religious Stories of 2009

I've reviewed several of the top religious articles of 2009 from various magazines and have chosen five. Click here to access the links to the articles.

A Message to Evangelical Christian Liberals

Every Sunday morning in every church building you can lay your eyes on, the pulpits are both soft and thunderous in what 'thus saith The Lord'.

Then there is election season. The wallet and purse of every congregant become the focal point of many church administrations. And, somehow, ministers and people who call themselves 'Christian' begin to believe The Lord can not help our economic woes. We begin to behave as if we believe The Lord will not notice compromise. The error becomes viral and evangelicals (in general) are stricken with self. ...Continue to editorial page.

Obama reads The Polar Express and lectures using flawed theology, video attached.

Last week, President Obama spoke to a group of boys and girls at the Boys and Girls Club of Washington D.C. in the Richard England Clubhouse. He began his visit by reading The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. (This is something most of the journalist noted in their reports. Not a detail of the visit any self respecting journalist would want to miss reporting on. This is one of the endearing moments the President will be able to lock into the history books.)

After reading Polar Express, Mr. President called attention to the reason for the season.
He said, “You know, I think that the most important thing is just to remember why we celebrate Christmas.”...Click here to read at the Examiner editorial page.

Politically Correct is on the Naughty List

All too often, political correctness, wrongfully trumps the First Amendment.

John Whitehead, President of Ruthorford Institute says this should “never be the case”.
In lieu of 'play it safe' ideology, Ruthorford Institute has published 12 Rules of Christmas for public and government in observance of Christmas.The twelve rules cover issues such as religious paraphernalia, music programs with seasonal/religious language, education …Continue reading at the editorial page.

The Real 12 Days of Christmas

The 12 days of Christmas is actually the counting of days from December 25 to January 6. Western churches acknowledge January 6 as the day for when the magi were introduced to the baby Jesus. This day, January 6 is also known as Epiphany. Obviously, because there is not a known date for the birth of Jesus, there are also different beliefs concerning when Epiphany should observed. The calendar in use also creates confusion as to when the magi found the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Or, as previously stated, we also know that day of when the magi paid homage to the 'new king', the baby Jesus as the day of Epiphany. ...Please continue reading on editorial page.

The Bethlehem Star

The Bethlehem star; just to say this phrase may bring to mind a localized news paper. In fact, you have heard of this local herald of the Middle East. At least once a year, the words bring mention of an event which occurred just over 2,000 years ago.

The images we conjure are often of angelic beings among the radiance of this star, trumpeting the arrival of ‘Emmanuel', the long awaited Messiah. Angels, curious animals, three wise men (kings, maji); The Magi will be somewhat central to this story. The star meant something to them. How did they know Jesus would be born?

Dr. Michael Molnar, Ph.D. in Astronomy has written a book entitled, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi. In Molnar's work, he discusses having purchased an ancient coin from Antioch Syria. The coin commemorates the superstitious belief that a king would be born when ....Click here to continue reading.

Origin of the Candy Cane

Up to the point those neigh sayers at snopes.com have claimed to debunk this more than well told and plausible tale, the first historical reference to the candy cane has commonly been thought to be in the 1670's.

A choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, found a need to keep children occupied during the nativity services of Christmas mass. The popular sugar cane was, at that time a straight stick of peppermint flavored hardened sugar. Being creative, as a shepherd's crook is used to realign a wayward sheep, the choir master whimsically had the candy sticks formed with a bend inorder to appear as the crooks of shepherds....Click here to finish reading.

Silent Night

December 24, 1914 World War I soldiers on both sides of ‘no man’s land’ rest in the night. Mockery from one side to the other can be heard, jeering the efforts of men to sing some joy into their miserable existence on the battlefield. Then a voice sang, ‘Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht’ recognized by the allied forces to be the words introducing the first two measures of Silent Night. Men from both sides began to add their voices.... Click here to continue reading my editorial on Silent Night

Saint Nicholas. Connecting folk lore with legend

Every fourth Thursday in November, The Macy's Thanks Giving Day Parade concludes with Santa trailing the parade as if to usher in a new season. One report declares Macy's Thanks Giving Day Parade is actually a patron celebration with Santa, representing Saint Nicholas of Myra as the guest of honor.

Aside from Santa making his debut in the Macy's parade, annually, Santa begins distributing gifts, as early as December 5, the eve of Saint Nicholas Day in the Netherlands. This is where we get to the grass roots of who Santa Clause is...
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Kissing Under the Mistletoe

Kissing Under the Mistletoe

One popular ornament of Christmas which may inspire mischief to steal a kiss is the mistletoe. Just as the Yule Log was brought to Christmas by Scandinavians, the appearance of the mistletoe at Christmas time is also of Scandinavian origin.

Kissing under the mistletoe is a custom of interesting development, intended to show mistletoe as a plant of love and peace.

Why does anyone care, right? Well, the articulation of mythology often requires elaborate tales to justify an occurance for which patrons of mythological deistic schemes have plotted. Click here to finish...By finishing the article, you will generate credits that will, by some complicated formula translate into pennies that will be accumulated for a year. At this time, next year, I will contribute what is in the PayPal account to a charity.