The message of Christmas is simple: God loved us, so He sent His son to us. We're celebrating His birthday. Ways to celebrate this gift to us are many, and bring peace and joy to us, knowing that God loves us. We can spend time with those we love. We can spend time with those … Continue reading How to Kill the Christmas Spirit
Tag: Holiday
Christian Carnival CCLIV
I could call this the "Day After Trying to Recover From What Might Have Been a Minor Flu Edition," but I won't. Christmas Season and Flu Season accompany each other every year, like Hansel and Gretel, or Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. I had just enough aches and pains to baby myself to prevent a flu... heck, … Continue reading Christian Carnival CCLIV
The Tradition of Regifting
The Houston Chronicle has a story about the "tradition" of regifting Christmas presents - Scrambling to find the perfect, last-minute Christmas gift? Then put down that bottle of wine. And please — back away from the blender. Chances are the person you give them to will slap new bows on the boxes and pass them … Continue reading The Tradition of Regifting
A Big To-Do
I have a lengthy todo list. It's quite detailed; on my diet, I even include meals and snacks so I can check of my allotted portion as I go along. I almost go so far as toput "brush my teeth" on my todo list. I would put "wake-up" on my todo list, but apparently by … Continue reading A Big To-Do
Holiday Culture Wars
Beliefnet has setup a "Holiday Culture Wars Blog" that makes for some interesting reading. From a Christian perspective, they've highlighted television shows with sexually-explicit lyrics set to Christmas music, obscene art that is "rife with Christmas-themed debauchery," and how Christmas has become so secularized to the point where atheists "unhesitatingly wish everyone a Merry Christmas." … Continue reading Holiday Culture Wars
Christ is Missing
A manger scene without baby Jesus? ST. ALBANS, W.Va. - Christ is missing from Christmas in this small town. The community's holiday display has a manger with shepherds, a guiding star, camels and a palm tree, but no baby Jesus, Mary or Joseph. The parks superintendent said Jesus was left out because of concerns about … Continue reading Christ is Missing
Boycotting "Winter Holiday" Again
I'm boycotting "Winter Holiday" again. If you want to celebrate some sort of pagan winter thingy, you just go right ahead. But if a retailer can't acknowledge that I'm celebrating Christmas, then I'm not going to shop there. I did this last year, too. Some changes from last year, though - Wal-Mart firmly has the … Continue reading Boycotting "Winter Holiday" Again
Elephant's Memory — A Touching Story
In 1986, Mkele Mbembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from college. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed so Mbembe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot, … Continue reading Elephant's Memory — A Touching Story
LULAC, NAACP got nothin' on me.
Welcome to St. Patrick's day in America. The oldest traditional Irish holiday in the new world (1762 by some accounts). We were celebrating our differences in the melting pot of America long before other immigrant groups. Given for the Scottish son of the Roman Calphurnius and his wife, Conchessa. Padraig, at 15 became a cowherd … Continue reading LULAC, NAACP got nothin' on me.
It's a BK Holiday!
I was sure I posted this last year, but dang (or ding) I can't find it anywhere. So without further adieu, click the picture and ding, fries are done. Would you like an apple pie with that?
Banning Christmas
An administrator, Patricia Sonntag, at California State University, has banned Christmas. "Time has come to recognize that religious discrimination, as well as ethnic insensitivity to certain holidays, is forbidden," Patricia Sonntag, director of the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities, stated in the directive she e-mailed to members of her staff on Dec. 9. … Continue reading Banning Christmas
Still Boycotting Winter Holiday
I'm still boycotting the neopagan Winter Holiday, whatever that is. For this next year, I'm taking it one step further. Listen up schools, businesses, and retail stores: Christmas is a federal holiday, an official United States holiday. If you can't acknowledge that it's Christmas, I want nothing to do with you. I will assume that … Continue reading Still Boycotting Winter Holiday
More "Christmas," Less "Holiday"
As some of you know, I'm boycotting "Winter Holiday" again this year. I'm not even sure what that holiday is, but I'm pretty sure it's some sort of pagan / atheist thing. Whatever it is, I want none of it. For me, it's Christmas. And for many, it's Christmas. Why is so terrible to acknowledge … Continue reading More "Christmas," Less "Holiday"
A Simple Light
"In all of this haste, all of this shopping, all of this worrying about budgets and finding the right thing for that difficult-to-shop-for friend, amidst the travel and houses full of family, the grumpy uncles and the weepy aunts, it’s hard to remember this time of year offers some beautiful opportunities."
Hallelujah!
The politically correct Handel's Messiah, right here in my hometown: Both an awe-inspiring holiday tradition and a memorable religious experience, Handel's Messiah returns this holiday season. Guest conductor Christopher Seaman leads Houston’s premier performance of Handel’s choral masterwork, which includes the timeless Hallelujah Chorus. Would it be so bad to actually say that the music's … Continue reading Hallelujah!
Oh Christmas Tree
Some time in the 1990s, the annual spruce placed on the Washington Capitol grounds started being called the "Holiday Tree" instead of "Christmas Tree." Nobody seems to know why it was changed, but it was at about the same time Bill Clinton was in the same city and struggling to keep his pants up. Coincidence? … Continue reading Oh Christmas Tree
Intelligent Design in Public Schools
Andrew Coulson at the Cato Institute has a question - why are we fighting over Intelligent Deisgn vs Evolution? Does it matter to one parent if another parent teaches their child about God? Supporters of the theory of human origins known as "intelligent design" want it taught alongside the theory of evolution. Opponents will do … Continue reading Intelligent Design in Public Schools
Merry Christmas. It's Okay to Say It.â„¢
The Alliance Defense Fund wants you to know that it's ok to say, "Merry Christmas." Christmas is a cherished time of year when Americans come together and celebrate something bigger than ourselves, something that has united us for generations. An event that is the center of all history—the birth of Jesus Christ. Surveys show that … Continue reading Merry Christmas. It's Okay to Say It.â„¢
Two Tickets to Heidelberg
The Germany trip is half over, and this is a long German weekend. Monday is Unification Day and they're celebrating either the East-West German reunion or the fall of the Berlin wall. I've been told both by local Germans, and I'm currently without an internet connection to check. I'm typing this into Notepad to past … Continue reading Two Tickets to Heidelberg
Haphazard Posting
Stephen the Redneck Blogger will be filling in yet again for me over the next month. Give him a hand, but make sure he washes it first if he's been playing with his animals. I don't know how accessible I'll be over the next month - I have 3 separate business trips planned for Duisberg, … Continue reading Haphazard Posting
A Frosted Flakes Man
After I came across this story at Spin the Moon, I remembered this little episode this past weekend. While visiting my brother this past weekend, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on the other side of town. I went downstairs for breakfast and a father was there with his 4 year old son. The … Continue reading A Frosted Flakes Man
Go Dogs, Go!
A houseful of dogs for Christmas was most amusing. Patch is used to having the house by himself most of the time, and most of the time he's very well behaved. He leaves the occasional brown surprise behind the sofa, I suppose, but what dog doesn't? Patch doesn't usually chew slippers or possess other destructive … Continue reading Go Dogs, Go!
Tsunami Catastrophe
Coming back after the Christmas holidays, I've shocked by the news from Asia, where a tsunami has killed thousands - 22,000 at the last estimate I've seen. A huge, catastrophic number. Some of the pictures are personal - I vacationed once in Phuket, Thailand when my mom and sister came to visit me in Singapore. … Continue reading Tsunami Catastrophe
Winter Salutations
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions … Continue reading Winter Salutations
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
Eight Days till Christmas. Are you ready? Most of my family will be here for Christmas *SUNDAY* and I think I'm barely going to be ready in time. The rest of you lucky squirrels have another week to get ready. I've been occupied and forgetful, and I'm going to get all caught up in a … Continue reading These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
As Long as Democrats Think That, Republicans Will Win
Peggy Noonan has a great article about how the faith and politics today. It's too bad she only writes on Thursdays. The first example she had was when reporters questioned President Bush's speechwriter, Michael Gerson. The reporters wanted to know when the president refers to his "belief" whether he is speaking in "code" to evangelicals. … Continue reading As Long as Democrats Think That, Republicans Will Win
Bubble Wrap
Get yer holiday stress relief here!
Removing the Tree
I don't know if they called it a Holiday Tree or a Christmas Tree, but either way, it's gone. Since it was decorated with non-religious ornaments, I'm guessing it was a Holiday Tree. Here's a picture of the actual tree so you can see for yourself. In any event, it's been removed to "make sure … Continue reading Removing the Tree
Lump of Coal Campaign
As a follow-up to yesterday's "Boycotting 'Winter Holidays,'" Michelle Malkin describes this as a "persecution." She's starting a "Lump of Coal" campaign for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper for eliminating all references to Christmas: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper recently announced that next year the phrase "Merry Christmas" will be removed from the city building and replaced … Continue reading Lump of Coal Campaign
Boycotting "Winter Holidays"
Yep, I'm boycotting "Winter Holidays" as a completely useless and meaningless psuedo-pagan holiday. I'm celebrating Christmas. The birth of Christ, a reminder He came to die for our sins, the loving and giving we share with each other as we remember the loving and giving Jesus gave to us. I'll happily pile on the odd … Continue reading Boycotting "Winter Holidays"
The Economy Today
Two news stories today make it clear how the economy is fairing today. First, the economy is in the doldrums. Consumers aren't spending, businesses are losing money, the world is coming to an end: NEW YORK (Reuters) - Discount retailer Dollar General Corp. on Wednesday posted an unexpected profit fall with customers hurt by high … Continue reading The Economy Today
Santa Versus the Snowman
See if you can find the "Christ" in this Christmas movie: Santa v. the Snowman Santa vs. the Snowman follows a lonely snowman on his quest for friendship. Mesmerized by the magic of Santa’s village, the Snowman devises a plan to take over Santa’s job and win the adoration of children around the world. What … Continue reading Santa Versus the Snowman
Mechanical Investing for December
Mechanical Investing was good this month; in fact, I'm holding almost everything for another month, so turnover is light. I'm still following the SOS_Ancer and H52 screens primarily, and they're working out well this year. I'm going to try to change the format a little; the software I was using to calculate returns is a … Continue reading Mechanical Investing for December
