Celebration Traditions (3)

Here we are, Christmas day has passed. Corrie and I watched the entire extended version of “the Lord of the Rings” on Christmas day. It was just the two of us. Traditionally we celebrate the gift exchange family gathering, commonly called “doing Christmas,” during the year end celebration. This leaves our children free to visit with their respective in-laws for Christmas.

We did attend Christmas eve services and were blessed with the real reason for the season.
The birth of the Son of God as the Son of Man.
The first step to the resurrection from the dead.
To provide propitiation. To be God in the Flesh, God with skin on...
Look at Rick's blog to get another view of the reality of Christmas.
Look at “Operation Christmas Child” to experience life changing gift sharing.
“God gave His one and only (only begotten) Son to be God with skin on, to be like us in every way, except sin; so that He could be propitiation.

Who is the Christmas Child?

In chemistry, he turned water to wine.
In biology, he was born without the normal conception;
In physics, he disproved the law of gravity when he ascended into heaven;

In economics, he disproved the law of diminishing return
by feeding 5000 men with two fishes & 5 loaves of bread;

In medicine, he cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs,
In history, he is the beginning and the end;
In government, he was be called wonderful counselor, prince of peace;
In religion, he said that no one comes to God, the Father, except through him;
So, who is he?

He is Jesus,
Son of God,
Son of man.

Join me and let's celebrate Him; let’s celebrate CHRIST-MAS

Celebrating Tradtions (2)

Grandparents Day. At our Thanksgiving day dinner, we were invited by Arn and Will to come to their school in Hollandale, Minnesota. The school usually has a Christmas Special to which specifically the grandparents are invited. This year was no exception. After volunteering at the local VA hospital on December 11, we headed north, to Minnesota. Every 40 miles we went, the temperature dropped 3 degrees or more. When we left Des Moines it was 37, when we got to Hollandale it was 19.
The next morning we went to Hollandale Christian school and the temperature was 2 chilly degrees.

The presentation of traditional Christmas songs and the view towards the cross was illustrated by “Chrismons.” These are iconic representations of events in the life of Jesus Christ and in the Christian church. These chrismons were placed on a wreath for all to see.
The kids performed really good. The teachers are to be commended for putting it together and presenting it flawlessly.
The grandparents were blessed.
After the presentation we shared cookies and drank some coffee ass we shared the classroom setting with each of our two grandsons. Another great tradition.

CelebratingTraditions

A real Dutch tradition is the feast of "Sinterklaas" or "Sint Nikolaas". He was a bishop who lived some centuries ago, in Asia minor. Sinterklaas is a special children’s celebration although a lot of grown-ups also enjoy it very much. Legend has it that he would put a gold coin in the shoe of a deserving poor child on the eve of his birthday. Which appears to be the reason for putting a shoe by the fireplace. Even in the week before they may put a letter or a drawing for Sinterklaas or some carrots for his horse. They sing some Sinterklaas songs and the next morning they may find some candy in their shoe. The feast is primarily celebrated on the evening of December 5. That night "Sinterklaas" on his white horse and his helper "Zwarte Piet," go over the rooftops to the houses to bring gifts for the children who have been good. The American tradition of Santa Claus is a bit similar. Even the name is related, sometimes even called Saint Nick.
There are some traditional things to eat and drink with Sinterklaas. We have chocolate initials, pepernoten (very small cookies,) thrown into the area by Zwarte Piet. Figures of Speculaas, know here as “windmill cookies” also a kind of chewy cookie, “Taai-taai” which is bigger and made with cinnamon and clove. For adults a nice drink is “Bishops wine”. Red wine with sugar, cinnamon and clove, usually it is drunk hot, nice on a cold winter’s eve.