Christian Tradition

In this country of England, centuries of Christian tradition have so permeated our life that we forget how our moral sense has been conditioned by a dilute, but genuine, Christianity. Our attitude toward women and children, toward the weak and helpless, or toward animals, for instance is not nearly so "innate" as we think. It was a shock to many men of our armed forces who were stationed abroad during the last war to discover how poor and blind was the moral sense in these directions in countries which had no Christian tradition. No doubt many put this down to the fact that the inhabitants of these countries had the misfortune not to be English! It would be truer to say that they had had the misfortune not to have had their moral sense stimulated and developed by Christian training, upbringing, and propaganda.
-- J.B. Phillips, Your God Is Too Small, 1961.

If you want to know about JESUS

...read the Gospel of Mark!

"...We do not expect him [St. Mark] to answer questions which fall outside his purview. In particular, he is not writing a biography of Jesus or responding to a commission to compose a "Life of Jesus" to gratify the curiosity of of those in his day who wanted to understand "what made Jesus tick." Such a psychologizing approach to Jesus is remarkably absent from the New Testament interest. Only within nineteenth century liberal Protestantism did this "human interest" motif get the upper-hand and the result was a crop of Lives of Jesus, made up of partly factual and partly imaginary reconstructions of "what must have gone on in Jesus' mind." But Mark is no party to this sort of inquiry, and offers no ecouragement to our modern counterparts of the liberal pursuers of the "quest of the historical Jesus," for example in Dennis Potter's play Son of Man or in the libretto of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar." Ralph Martin in Mark, Evangelist and Theologian

Raise Your Eyes to the Stars

A code signal is flashing! The earth needs a Savior. There is hope! Christ is born in Bethlehem, True God and True Man.

This image is from an old copy of the picture book "The Littlest Angel". This is the image of Bethlehem many people have. God so loved the world, He sent His Only Begotten Son to save us from our sins and lead us to Heaven. The Kingdom of God is not of this world.

It's Time for Christmas Cookies!

Celebrate Diversity by carrying on the family traditions; do things just the way Mom and Grandma did. Here is a favorite sugar cookie recipe circa 1960, it came with those cute transparent red plastic cookie cutters. Christian mothers in their yellow and pink and blue Populuxe kitchens delighted their well-cared for kiddies with cookies shaped like Christmas bells, Christmas stars and even Baby Jesus in his crib! (Note: I think the shortening makes the dough not stick to the tops of the cookie cutters.)

SUGAR COOKIES

Cream together and beat until light and fluffy: 1/2 cup shortening and 1 cup sugar. Add and beat well: 2 well-beaten eggs and 1 tbsp milk. Sift together: 2 1/2 cups sifted flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp nutmeg. Add sifted dry ingredients to first mixture. Shape into mound, wrap in waxed paper and chill thoroughly. Roll on board lightly 'floured' with confectioner's sugar, until dough is about 1/4 inch thick. Dip cutter in confectioner's sugar each time before cutting cookie, then place cookie on lightly greased baking sheet. bake in moderate oven ( 375 degrees F) for about 8 minutes, or until delicately brown.

Why did God the Son become man? God the Son became man to satisfy for the sins of all men and to help everybody to gain heaven.

Do what you love. Go towards the light. The people who complain that Jesus should be shown as darker, shorter, fatter and with a bigger nose never complain about Mary of Nazareth's looks. Thank Goodness! A Jewish woman played the role of Mary in Mel Gibson's "The Passion", and she looked like Jacqueline Kennedy, an attractive woman. She was not made to put on a false nose, nor was the beautiful actress that played Mary of Magdalene. People that promote a "Yassir Arafat" look for Jesus are thinking too hard. Follow your heart!

TED NEELY, "THE BEST JESUS EVER!"

"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4-5

Italian Christmas Carol

"In a porch, full of cobwebs, between the mule and the ox, the Savior of souls is born...In that porch at Bethlehem are star, sun and moon: the Virgin and St. Joseph and the Child who lies in a cradle. In Bethlehem they touch fire, from the porch the flame issues; it is a star of heaven which has fallen into to the straw. I am a poor gipsy who come hither from Egypt, and bring to God's Child a cock. I am a poor Galician who come from Galicia, and bring to God's Child linen for a shift. To the new-born Child all bring a gift; I am little and have nothing; I bring him my heart." (From "Christmas Customs and Traditions, Their History and Significance" by Clement A. Miles. He says this is from an Italian cradle-song of the Blessed Virgin, as given by Signor de Gubernatis in his "Usi Natalizi". )

The Birth of Christ

Christian Heritage and Tradition: Since earliest Christian times the birth of Christ has been depicted in carvings, manuscript illuminations, stained glass, and wall paintings. Christ is the Reason for the Season! The beloved "Manger Scene" is rarely seen on public display in the United States of America, and this is largely thanks to the efforts of the ADL, a Jewish organization that ardently recommends banning ancient Christian religious symbols and replacing them with the Jewish menorah. The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish struggle to maintain their racial and religious exclusiveness. Go figure!

Jesus, Infant Savior, Give Peace to the World!

Pictured: a much loved portrait of baby Jesus with a beautiful face and golden curls. This picture would be found in many Catholic homes in the USA of yesteryear.