So this weeks DODO bird award goes to the officials of Minnesota who actually thought up this lame brain idea. This one certainly has flown over the Cuckoo’s nest.
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Cold Weather Stalls Windpower in Minnesota
Where Your Tax Dollars Really Go
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February 2nd Candles or Ground Hogs?
- Image via Wikipedia
The Feast of the Presentation, often called Candlemas, commemorates the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple, which took place 40 days after his birth as Jewish law required. According to Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered unclean for seven days. Also, she was to remain 33 days “in the blood of her purification.” Luke tells us, quoting Exodus 13:2,12, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem because every firstborn child was to be dedicated to the Lord. They also went to sacrifice a pair of doves or two young pigeons, showing that Mary and Joseph were poor. Once in the temple, Jesus was purified by the prayer of Simeon, in the presence of Anna the prophetess. Simeon, upon seeing the Messiah, gave thanks to the Lord, singing a hymn now called the Nunc Dimittis:
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Simeon told Mary, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” Simeon thus foreshadowed the crucifixion and the sorrows of Mary at seeing the death of her Son.
The name Candlemas comes from the activities associated with the feast. It came to be known as the Candle Mass. In the Western Church, a procession with lighted candles is the distinctive rite. According to post Vatican-II discipline, (if possible) the beeswax candles are to be blessed somewhere other than where the Mass is held. Often your local parish will hand out candles, or you may bring your own, to be blessed before the procession. These may be saved for later use in your home. After an antiphon, during which the candles held by the people are lighted, there is a procession into the church. During the procession to the church, the Nunc Dimittis is sung, with the antiphon “Lumen ad revelationem” (Luke 2:32). This procession into the church for Mass commemorates Christ’s entrance into the temple. Since Vatican II, the feast is reckoned a feast of the Lord (as opposed to a feast of Mary), and officially designated “The presentation of the Lord.”
History
Egeria, writing around AD 380, attests to a feast of the Presentation in the Jerusalem Church. It was kept on February 14th. The day was kept by a procession to the Constantinian basilica of the Resurrection, with a homily on Luke 2:22-39. However, the feast had no proper name at this point; it was simply called the 40th day after Epiphany. This shows that the Jerusalem church celebrated Jesus’ birth on the Epiphany Feast (as is common in some Eastern Churches today).
In regions where Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25th, the feast began to be celebrated on February 2nd, where it is kept in the West today. In 542, the Emperor Justinian introduced the feast to the entire Eastern Roman empire in thanksgiving for the end to a great pestilence afflicting the city of Constantinople. Perhaps this is when Pope Gregory I brought the feast to Rome. Either way, by the 7th century, it is contained in the Gelasianum Sacramentary. Pope Sergius (687-701) introduced the procession to the Candlemas service. The blessing of candles did not come into common use until the 11th century.
While some scholars have asserted that the Candlemas feast was developed in the Middle Ages to counteract the pagan feasts of Imbolc and Lupercalia, many scholars reject this, based on Medieval documents. While the feast does coincide with these two pagan holidays, the origins of the feast are based in Scriptural chronology. Some superstitions developed about Candlemas, including the belief that if one does not take down Christmas decorations by Candlemas, traces of the holly and berries will bring about the death of the person involved. In past times, Candlemas was seen as the end of the Christmas season.
Candlemas Day was also the day when some cultures predicted weather patterns. Farmers believed that the remainder of winter would be the opposite of whatever the weather was like on Candlemas Day. An old English song goes:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
Go winter, and come not again.
Thus if the sun cast a shadow on Candlemas day, more winter was on the way; if there was no shadow, winter was thought to be ending soon. This practice led to the folklore behind “Groundhog’s Day,” which falls on Candlemas Day.
Today, the feast is still celebrated on February 14th in some Eastern Churches, including the Armenian Church, where the feast is called, “The Coming of the Son of God into the Temple.” Most churches celebrate it on February 2nd.
- Image by Eddie~S via Flickr
So whether it is a religious celebration or simply a weather forecasting gimmick February 2nd holds different significance to different people groups. A parallel can be draw between Simeon’s forecasting the life and death of Mary’s child Jesus with the farmers forecasting an early spring if there was no shadow cast on February 2nd. Punxytawny Phil causes quite a stir around these parts each year when thousands gather at Gobblers Knob to witness the ceremony. This annual celebration turned a small town in Western Pennsylvania into a tourist attraction. In fact there is a statue of a ground hog right in the center of town.
Punxytawny Phil may be the main attraction on Ground Hog day but as Christians our focal point should be Jesus Christ and the cross. It was the shadow of the cross that Simeon saw that day when Jesus was presented to him at the temple for dedication, and it is the shadow of the cross that can turn your wintertime of hopelessness and despair into a springtime of renewed life. So whether there is going to be an early spring or a much longer winter really depends on how you view the shadow of the cross and not the shadow of the woodchuck.
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February Edition of Pop Goes the Gospel
'Pop Goes the Gospel'
Welcome to the February 2010 edition of Pop Goes the Gospel. After taking a month off for much needed rest and reflection Pop Goes the Gospel is back bigger than ever. I had so many great contributions this month that I feel this edition is the best ever!
Taking a month off really improved the quality of submissions and there are many first time posters in this edition. Be sure to read ever article this month so that you do not miss a blessing.
It is such a blessing each month to read what others share about their reflections of Christ in their day to day lives. I really is an honor and a privilege to publish this carnival each month.
Be sure to visit each site and leave behind some words of encouragement. Even negative comments can be an encouragement for the author to continue to write. But remember to be kind and gentle with your remarks so as not to be offensive.
Now on with this month’s edition
Feature Article
Emily Simmons presents Adornment and The Holy Spirit posted at Be In Health Now Emily Simmons’ post takes us on a thought journey as she addresses the issue of ADORNMENT. Looking at the Seventh Day Adventists teaching prohibiting the wearing of jewelry I liked how she includes us in her interaction with her thoughts. The conversational tone in which she writes this post helps you to think along with her as she forms her conclusions. Whether you agree or disagree this is a must read and because it is so well done it earns the prestige of being this month’s FEATURE POST. Well done Emily and I hope you submit more posts! Not bad for a first timer eh?
In Culture
Shannon Christman presents Church Daycares posted at The Minority Thinker Shannon Christman a first time poster to this blog tackles a growing trend in churches today, DAYCARE! Shannon postulates that perhaps the church is responding to the cultural needs of the day rather than seeking to change them. She feels that perhaps instead of providing daycare and thus enabling the further decline of our culture, instead the church should be looking to encourage thrift, time management, and child rearing on the home front. Talk about stirring the pot! Stop over and voice your opinion, I surely hope Shannon is flame resistant, and she is because she is covered by the blood of Jesus. Nice job Shannon and thanks for tacking this HOT TOPIC!
Justin Allison presents Birth Control, Global Warming, and the Bible? posted at Old Testament Ecology Justin Allison tackles a subject near and dear to my heart. Global warming activists insist that people are the cause of global warming. I strongly disagree with their assertions on two levels..#1 I do not believe that CO2 is a pollutant and #2 I do not believe that people should be considered expendable. Global warming activists seem to believe that population control is the best way to fight global warming. I do not think that is what God had in mind when he told Adam to be fruitful and multiply. See what Justin has to say on this topic.
Ann Shorb presents Let’s Talk About Jesus posted at A Light for My Path Ann Shorb relates a news article from York County PA. where someone carefully wrapped a South African gold Krugerrand coin worth $1200 in a one dollar bill and placed it in the Salvation Army kettle this Christmas. Everyone is still talking about it today. What have you done recently to cause people to talk? What are they saying? Is what they are talking about bring joy to others who hear? What can you contribute to the conversation that will have people talking for days, month’s even years? Jesus, God’s most valued treasure was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lain in a hay filled manger over 2000 years ago and yet the world is still talking about Him.
Alisha Harmann presents 25 Excellent iPhone Apps for Bible Study posted at Accredited Online Bible Colleges A handy guide to iPhone Apps of Biblical proportions.
NCSue presents Do we “send the crowds away”? posted at IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING A regular poster here at Pop Goes the Gospel NCSue once again submits a timely post. With all the suffering around us and a world that seems to be out of control, do we as Christians send the crowds away to seek their own remedies to life’s ills, or do we as a church rise up to meet those needs?
In Church Life
Trent Cotton presents Scars posted at Christian Men-Christian Warriors Trent writes about the scars of life that remind us of where we have been, what we have done, and abuses we may have suffered. Those scars can be a testimony to others of what Christ has brought you through if you are willing to bear those scars for Christ’s sake and show others the healing power that Jesus provided on the cross.
LOCKSMIF presents Study The Bible Not The Sermon posted at Study The Bible Not The Sermon Locksmif’s post although poorly titled does post an interesting question. What is God’s name really? Perhaps that would have been a better title since his post deals with the names of God. He concludes that God’s name is Jesus for Jesus is God. Check it out. Thank you for your submission Locksmif!
Kerin Gedge presents The Bankers of Heaven posted at Kerinthian’s Kerin Gedge gives a new spin to the word banker. Although demonized today Kerin points out in his post on the parable of the talents just how valued these bankers were to Jesus.
Diana Hall presents Epiphany: a process posted at damascusmoments Diana Hall another first time poster to this carnival takes on a journey as we follow the Magi who discover something quite unexpected. She writes that as we journey with God and follow His lead He shows up where we least expect to find Him. Great post Diana thanks for sharing!
Rick Schiano presents Let Go, 2012 Is not the End posted at Ricks Victory Blog. Rick takes a stab at the end time pronouncements of 2012. There seems to be a growing number of people who believe that the end is near. As far as human predictions goes this is just another in a long list of disproved prophecies of end times. BUT that does not mean that we should not always be watchful and diligent always expecting the Lord’s soon return. All these failed prophecies has a tendency to make many skeptics, but we do have this assuredly. Jesus will return, when we do not know but return He will.
Bible SEO presents Rich Young Ruler and Jesus | Luke 18:18-27 | Bible Study posted at Bible Study Exposition Online. This well written post addresses the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler. Since Lent will be here in a few weeks perhaps we all should answer the question asked at the end of this post… “What are the things God is asking you to give up?”
In Media
Madeleine Begun Kane presents Telling Tiger To Convert Just Ain’t Kosher posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog I was not sure what to make of Madeleine’s post but I thought I would leave it in for the “entertainment value”. After all she does say her blog is a humor blog. And the more I read her post I did get a chuckle out of it. Basically Madeleine pokes fun at Brit Hume’s remarks about telling Tiger to convert to Christianity. Her point I believe was to many the words of Brit Hume seemed hollow and trite. There is more to redemption then changing religious affiliation. There must be true repentance and fruits born of that repentance. As a believer however I understood what Brit Hume was trying to say. Tell her what you think.
Anthony DeFazio presents Legion posted at sannyasa, saying, “A Christian biblical preview of the movie, “Legion.”” Anthony tackles a movie review that at the time of his post was yet to be released, IT has since hit theaters nationwide. The screenplay to the movie “Legion”, Anthony contends, is a perversion of the 12th chapter of Revelation. I have not yet seen the movie nor am I inclined to do so and based on Anthony’s post it is probably not worthwhile anyway. Satan has long been an imitator of what is good. Satan has always been the accuser of the brethren. Satan since the beginning of time has been distorting the scriptures in attempts to mislead many a soul. It is not hard then to see how this movie is just another attempt to rewrite the scriptures to fit another world view. Well done Anthony and thanks for your post.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of pop goes the gospel using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
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Administration Considers Changing Terror Trial
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