Tag Jesus

February 2nd Candles or Ground Hogs?

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
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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.

Welcome to Gobblers Knob
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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The Christmas Light

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

image_thumb.pngA View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

And the light goes on shining in the dark; it is not overcome by the dark. John 1:5 (BBE)


Fourth man
Image by stuant63 via Flickr

Traveling East on the PA turnpike late Christmas Eve a strange thing happened. As I was approaching the city limits of Philadelphia the sky grew brighter and my visibility increased greatly. It was like the sun was starting to rise. The only problem was the clock read 1 AM, far too early for a sunrise. But the closer I got to the city the brighter the sky appeared. I was amazed at how much light was being refracted off the low cloud cover and the light intensity being reflected off the snow covered ground. I do not recall ever seeing anything like this before in my life and I was truly awestruck. In fact I had to double check the time to make absolutely sure it was only 1 AM.

Light is an amazing thing. It does not take a lot of light to illuminate the night. Prior to reaching Philadelphia I had logged over 200 miles of dark stretches of the PA turnpike. I drove past several cities and did not notice this daylight effect until reaching the outskirts of Philadelphia. I really do not understand the science behind this strange lighted nighttime sky but it was truly a remarkable experience.


Since it was Christmas morning I thought it was appropriate that the sky would be illuminated by a mysterious light. Astronomers will probably be able to explain to me how exactly the night sky appeared as if dawn was approaching and I would enjoy any knowledge that could be shed on this phenomenon. My little bit of research for this article did not uncover anything but I am sure there is an explanation.

Today the Christian church celebrates Epiphany, the story of the wise men coming to Jerusalem from the East to follow a light seen shining in the Eastern sky. They too were amazed at the bright light in the Eastern Sky and sought out the meaning of it. They traveled to Jerusalem for they knew that a King of Israel was born, and Jerusalem was the seat of government so that is where they went to inquire of the new kings birth. Herod called all the chief priests and scribes together to inquire of the scriptures as to were exactly this king was to be born. Wouldn’t it be nice if our own government leaders would take time to inquire of the scriptures to explain the times and seasons.

Now when the birth of Jesus took place in Beth-lehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is the King of the Jews whose birth has now taken place? We have seen his star in the east and have come to give him worship. And when it came to the ears of Herod the king, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he got together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, questioning them as to where the birth-place of the Christ would be. And they said to him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea; for so it is said in the writings of the prophet, You Beth-lehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the chiefs of Judah: out of you will come a ruler, who will be the keeper of my people Israel. Matthew 2:1-6

Unlike the wise me I, on the other hand, was heading East to join family and friends for Christmas day. I was not in search of a King, nor was I following a star, but because of this nighttime illumination I was reminded of the real meaning of the season. God’s magnificent creation was proclaiming all over again that Jesus is the Light of the world, and He had come to illuminate the darkness. Anyone who follows after the Light will not stumble around in darkness but have the light of life. John 8:12 NKJV


Have you seen the light? Has your life been illuminated by the light the shines in the darkness? Are you like the Wise men of old seeking the King whose star was seen shining in the Eastern sky? One day Jesus is going to come again and his coming will be like a light shining from East to West. Will you be ready when He appears?

Because as in a thunderstorm the bright light coming from the east is seen even in the west; so will be the coming of the Son of man. Matt 24:27 (BBE)

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)



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No Boundaries

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

clip_image002_thumb.jpgInsight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest http://www.eagleviews.org
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Do not move an ancient boundary marker that your ancestors set in place. Prov 22:28 (GW)–

 

Many cell phone plans offer unlimited usage without occurring additional cost. You pay one fee each month and use your phone as much as you want throughout that month without any additional cost. I am not exactly sure how the phone companies figure usage costs in order to properly charge everyone for the use of their system, but in any case these plans are out there.

I however have a plan which offers me unlimited nights and weekends but during the day I am limited to the number of minutes I may use. My service provider recently came out with a plan that allows me to call any cell phone on any plan free. WOW that is almost like getting unlimited minutes without having to pay the additional monthly fee. Considering most of the people I actually call all have cell phones it would appear I hit the jack pot with this new pricing plan.

Not being a person who really spends a great deal of time talking or texting on the phone anyway I hardly ever used up my allowed minutes which kept my phone plan reasonably priced. However I recently purchased a new phone which required that I upgrade my service to an unlimited data plan in order to fully utilize the phone’s features. At first I was concerned about what the company meant by UNLIMITED. In today’s world we always need to define terms in order to be sure we are getting what we agreed upon.

I long for the days when a man’s word was his bond. You could actually trust the information people were giving you as factual and honest. Today it seems everything is subject to redefining. We have those who are attempting to redefine what marriage means and what freedom means. We have those in government who are determined to redefine what the limits of the constitution are. Free is not always free, and something for nothing usually has strings attached so you understand my hesitancy to accept, at face value, an unlimited plan from my phone service provider.

After reading most of the fine print I felt reasonably confident that my current service plan will provide me with the service that I need at a price I am comfortable paying. Until l actually get my first bill under this new plan I still reserve some trepidation.

No limits, a world without boundaries sounds good under certain circumstances but is a “no boundaries” policy a good one to implement across the board? Is it wise to bring up our children, for example, without giving them limits to what they can and can not do? Is it prudent to offer no money down and no interest financing plans for major purchases? Is it considered good financial policy to continue to rack up debt? Is it good policy to allow anyone and everyone to enter your home without permission? Does it seem prudent to allow strangers to enter into your home without some kind of verification that they mean you no harm? How can it be determined you are engaging in proper conduct if there are no limits or guidelines? How can you tell in what direction you are going if there are no landmarks?

Could it be said then that when it comes to cell phones, no limits may be a good thing but when it comes to life having limits, it is not only wise, but necessary?

How can a society function without the “Rule of Law “? The United States of America was established with the constitution being the LAW OF THE LAND. It was required that everyone, rich or poor, great or small, would all be subject to the rule of law. This principle can be found in the Judeo-Christian beliefs the founding fathers brought to the table when they drew up the plans for this country. Having grown up where the government had no boundaries or limits, they knew the dangers of limitless power held by a central government. Tyrants love it when there is chaos and confusion. They love to stir up factions within a society. They love passing restrictive rules and regulations upon the governed in order to control their every aspect of life.

Then there is the other extreme where lawlessness runs wild. We see this in Afghanistan, a nation that has been run by MOB RULE for many generations. Maintaining a civil society under such conditions is practically impossible. So which do you suppose is better? A society where there are no limits or one where there are agreed upon limitations? There exists a third way which is a mixture of the two extremes. A society where there are very restrictive limitations for a select few and a differing set of rules for those setting the rules.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach. They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Matt 23:1-4 (GW)–

 

Jesus addressed this issue when he preached against the Scribes and Pharisees of his day. To these ELITE he spoke most harshly primarily because they did not practice what they preached. They exempted themselves from the rules they imposed upon those who elected them as leaders. Sounds familiar does it not?

Christianity stands opposed to both extremes. In fact a truly moderate person could be considered a Christian. Of course the word moderate has a different meaning today then in Jesus’ day. To be moderate in Bible times meant to not go to any extremes. You set limits on yourself. You would not allow yourself to go without boundaries. You were in control of your passions and desires. You considered the welfare of others and not just your own.

But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal 5:22-23 (GW)–

 

 

All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor]. 1 Cor 10:23-24 (AMP)–

 

Although I am permitted to use my phone for as long as I want without limits, I choose to place limits upon my own usage. I refrain from making unnecessary phone calls and keep text messages to a minimum. Without limits it is easy to get sucked up into the world of excess. It is easy to forget that somewhere, in someway, somehow, those excesses are going to have to be paid for. Whether they are paid for by you or by someone who comes after you, because the old adage still holds true, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Our actions affect others. For an example, when using a cell phone, just because you may have unlimited minutes it does not mean that the person you call has the same advantages you have. They may be on a limited plan to save money and every minute you talk to them counts against they own minutes. For every minute you use of their time the less time they have to use themselves.

Our actions affect those around us. Our excesses can overflow to our neighbors, that is why it is wise to do everything in moderation. Keep the excesses to a minimum, or better yet eliminate them. And remember that just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should. Set up some boundaries, God did, he called them commandments. His laws were not supposed to enslave us but rather steer us clear of the entrapments and allures of excess. His intent was to have a civil society set within reasonable boundaries. Remove these boundaries at your own risk.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

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November Issue of Pop Goes the Gospel Blog Carnival

Allen Frederick 3 Comments

Welcome to the November 6, 2009 edition of “Pop Goes the Gospel” blog carnival.

jesusinabox

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

I am excited to offer this month’s blog carnival because I received great submissions from first time submitters. In addition to the regulars who post here each month I believe you will find the new comers a welcomed addition. Their contributions I believe made this carnival the greatest yet. If you have not submitted an article to this blog carnival in the past please consider doing so for future editions.

There will be no December blog carnival because I will be taking some time off for some spiritual enrichment but we will be back in January Lord willing.

Therefore without further delay on with the carnival.

This month’s feature article really touched my heart, and represents the true character of this blog carnival. How everyday life is impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Feature Article

Ed Jones presents It Worked Just Like Dad Said! posted at Lessons Learned From My 2 & 4 Year Old, Ed relates a very touching moment about his family and about the love of God. Being a parent gives you a different perspective on how to relate to your heavenly Father. This lesson learned from “Big E’ will make your heart smile when a child learns that “It worked just like dad said!” Doing things God’s way works the way God said they will as well.

In Culture

NCSue presents Ban the bells? posted at IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING. Here is an interesting post on censorship. Of course the only censoring that usually goes on is the silencing of the “lambs”.

Rodney Sutton presents Ever Get Tired Of Feeling Like A Lonely Little Island? posted at Happy Hog Speaks!. Rodney offers a thought piece when he prods the self-absorbed person seeking happiness. Does living for self bring about self-satisfaction? Well does it? Although Rodney did not offer an answer to this question he surely sparked thought.

In Media

Herbert Anderson presents Top 50 Blogs for Online Scripture Study posted at Accredited Online Bible Colleges. Another list of links for those seeking online bible study sites. There is something here for everyone take a look and see if there is something that interests you.

Suzane Smith presents 20 Incredible iPhone Apps for Christian Evangelists posted at Christian Universities, “Here are the top 20 incredible iPhone Apps for Christian evangelists. The apps can help with prayer, Bible study, productivity, and much more.” Thanks Suzabe.

halston presents Jesus Freaks Commentary 1 posted at Halston Williams, Halston relates the story of the Columbian shootings and the stand of faith offered by a 17 yr old student. Excerpted from the book “Jesus Freaks” Halston states that taking a stand for Jesus may cost your life in on earth but most assuredly will usher you into a much better life in heaven. Are you being a “Jesus Freak”?

In Education

Rick Schiano presents Let Go, Forget the Past, but not All of It posted at Ricks Victory Blog. Rick offers a refreshing post on the need to forgive and forget. He is not talking about forgiving others but actually forgiving yourself. Christianity allows for the mistakes we all are prone to make. Never forget that you are MUCH LOVED by God and forgiven through Jesus Christ His son. Amen Rick!

BWL presents Finding the will of God for your life posted at Christian Personal Finance, Steve offers a short tutorial on finding God’s will for your life. Although writing primarily about financial issues, this tutorial can be used to assess God’s purpose for your life no matter what it is you are seeking God for. Very well done Steve.

In Church Life

Bible SEO presents Beatitudes: Blessed are Pure in Heart – 6 of 8 Part Series posted at Bible Study Exposition Online.This continuation of the study of the Beatitudes picks up where we left off last month. This month our focus is on what it means to have a pure heart. How does one attain it, and what are the benefits of it and the consequences of not attaining to a pure heart status.

Albie presents An angry, vengeful God? (Updated 24/10) posted at iDevelopWorld.ALbie offers a well written wrestling with the conflict between an angry and loving God. Written not from a theologians viewpoint but from one seeking understanding. Personally I found Albie’s conclusions to be very insightful considering he states plainly that he is not a biblical scholar. Thus proving the point that ALL WHO SEEK SHALL FIND, and you do not have to be a bible scholar to understand the bible. You just need to be sincerely seeking to know HIM!

andriel presents Jesus: The Fulfillment of the Law posted at ReturningKing.com, This month’s BIBLE STUDY looks at Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament law. He did not come to abolish it but to fulfill it’s requirements. This site offers the serious bible student plenty of food for the soul. We all should spend some time there each month.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
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The Scapegoat

Allen Frederick 4 Comments

clip_image002A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

By Allen Scott

He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 8 Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness. Leviticus 16:7-10


1scape·goat Pronunciation: \’skap-?got\

Function: noun

1 : a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur

2 a : one that bears the blame for others b : one that is the object of irrational hostility http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapegoat


(e)scapegoat
Image by mindfulness via Flickr

The scapegoat was a goat that was driven off into the wilderness as part of the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, in Judaism during the times of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day.

The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year.

In Leviticus God instructs Aaron on how to observe this most Holy of Holy days. He was to select two goats and present them at the door to the temple of the Lord and one will be sacrificed to the Lord and the other will be released as a symbolic carrier of the people’s sins. The scapegoat was to be released into the wilderness and left there to die.

20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. 22 The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. Lev 16:20-22 NKJV


Since this goat, carrying the sins of the people placed on it, is sent away to perish, the word “scapegoat” has come to mean a person, often innocent, who is blamed and punished for the sins, crimes, or sufferings of others, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes.

Scapegoating is an important tool of propaganda; the most famous example in modern history is the singling out in Nazi propaganda of the Jews as the source of Germany’s post-World War I economic woes and political collapse.

“Scapegoated” groups throughout history have included almost every imaginable group of people: adherents of different religions, people of different races or nations, people with different political beliefs, or people differing in behaviour from the majority. However, scapegoating may also be applied to organizations, such as governments, corporations, or various political groups. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapegoat

Scapegoating seems to be the method of choice, utilized by those in today’s political class. It would appear that in order to press forth unpopular policies and bills the politicians in charge look for a scapegoat to demonize. They wish to misdirect anger and blame away from themselves and onto another group, political party, race or social class. This is nothing new, and the practice is as old as time itself.

Even Adam and Eve looked for a “scapegoat” when confronted with their own failings. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent. (Gen 3:8-19). This is human nature. No one really wants to take responsibility for their own failings and usually attempt to find someone or something upon which to affix blame.

No matter how hard we try however, the guilt and blame can not be assuaged by a scapegoat. In fact this ritual, during the “Day of Atonement” mentioned in Leviticus, was only a temporary fix to a permanent problem. No amount of ceremony, ritual cleansing, or scapegoating could actual remove the stain of sin from a person’s life. The stain of quilt would still remain.

What started in the Garden of Eden (the missteps of Adam-sin) God finished in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus chose to be the ultimate scapegoat in order to carry away the stains of sin from the world. Jesus chose to be sent out to die as a scapegoat, to make the ultimate atonement for the people.

To a devote Jew, Yom Kippur is a necessary ritual that must be repeated each and every year in order to atone for sins they commit against God. To the Christian Yom Kippur is a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made in order to atone for our sins once and for all. It is therefore helpful to remind ourselves of this atonement day, but it need not be only on Yom Kippur.

Every time we feel the need to blame someone else or try to dismiss our own shortcomings by looking for a scapegoat, remember one has already been offered for you. So instead of pushing the blame onto unto another innocent party or group, why not simply acknowledge your need for the cleansing power of Jesus’ sacrificial offering and accept Him as your permanent scapegoat? Better yet why not accept Him as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world? (John 1:29)


But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)



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