Conclusion- The LAST WORD

God's last word

But this was the Day God Died! >
Gentle Reader.

The following is a statement put out by the Journal of American Medicine about the death of Jesus Christ

"Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripelike lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion, his wrists were nailed to the patibulum and, after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post (stipes), his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock and exhaustion asphyxia. Jesus' death was ensured by the thrust of a soldier's spear into his side. Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicate that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross. "(JAMA 1986;255:1455-1463)

Call me old fashioned but when I discover a friend I believe in being loyal. I value loyalty just like I value family. To me each of you are family. And so we come (our whole family) to the Last words of our elder Brother. Who I call Lord! [Elohim, 'Elohim is God the Son, the living "WORD" with creature form to create (John 1:1. Col. 1:15-17. Rev. 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). "Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world." In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed]
He is also Jehovah. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, Jehovah is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (Cp. 2 Chron. 18:31). Jehovah means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Gen. 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now "in Christ". We can say "My God," but not "My Jehovah", for Jehovah is "MY God."

The name Jehovah is combined with ten other words, which form what are known as "the Jehovah Titles." in the Hebrew Canon

1. JEHOVAH-JIREH = Jehovah will see, or provide. Gen. 22:14.
2. JEHOVAH-ROPHEKA = Jehovah that healeth thee. Ex. 15:26.
3. JEHOVAH-NISSI = Jehovah my banner. Ex. 17:15.
4. JEHOVAH-MeKADDISHKEM = Jehovah that doth sanctify you. Ex. 31:13. Lev. 20:8; 21:8; 22:32. Ezek. 20:12.
5. JEHOVAH-SHALOM = Jehovah [send] peace. Judg. 6:24.
6. JEHOVAH-ZeBA'OTH = Jehovah of hosts. 1Sam. 1:3, and frequently.
7. JEHOVAH-ZIDKENU = Jehovah our righteousness. Jer. 23:6; 33:16.
8. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH = Jehovah is there. Ezek. 48:35.
9. JEHOVAH-ELYON = Jehovah most high. Ps. 7:17; 47:2; 97:9.
10. JEHOVAH-RO'I = Jehovah my Shepherd. Ps. 23:1.
The Seventh word is Christ's Invincibility

In the Gospel of Luke (That's Dr. Luke to you dear reader,) we find this written in Chapter 23 and verse 46 "And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost." But look if you will at what was going on around him at the time "And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour" (Luke 23:44)the suns light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. The Vail that separated the very God Jehovah was ripped in two like a piece of paper! Showing to all the God was no longer in the temple

With a loud voice Gentle Reader, even in the pain He was fully conscience and strong to the very end of His life.Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father. (John
Chapter10 verses 17,18 )

No one took His life He gave it UP!!!

This Jesus of Nazareth introduced a new consciousness of God AS Father Jehovah Elohim becomes Our Father!

So Dear Gentle Reader, it is with the utmost confidence we can face tomorrow because we know that Our Father will receive us as He did our Lord and saviour (dare we say our older Brother) Christ Jesus. No longer Jesus, the name of His humiliation But The Lord Christ Jesus the Name above every name! . For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God IS eternal life in Christ JESUS our LORD.

"Jehovah appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (The Prophet Jeremiah Chapter 31 verse 3) And you and me Gentle Reader, God is and has drawn you to Himself the reason for the Death of Christ (You were the reason and so was I!) To bring us to the Father!

"Behold, I have GRAVEN thee upon the palms of my hands... " (The prophet Isaiah Chapter 49:16)

But Gentle Reader, that is not all but you will have to wait until later to get the rest of the story.

Till Next time,

Remember, God Loves you and so do I,

-Denis

Epilogue
"the Day the World stood still"
"The Day God Died" "The World held its Breath"

... And there was Silence

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

The "real" meaning of Christmas (part 6)

God's desire-The "real"reason for Christmas

Look at the cross...
God Died there! So we wouldn't have to. So that God could be the JUST and the Justifier of us all!
The Reading of Psalm 23
There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man show of readings and recitations from the classics.
He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23. Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation - "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want" - the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to conclusion.
But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up.
"Sir, do you mind, if tonight, I recite Psalm 23?"
The actor was quite taken aback by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and to stand front and center on the stage to recite the psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.
With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the psalm.
When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping.
The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears.
Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training, but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?!"
The young man humbly replied, "Well, sir, you know the psalm... but I know the Shepherd." It makes a difference.
Dear Gentle Reader,
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. ( Gospel of John Chapter 19: verse 30)
In the Greek the word is Tetelestai meaning the debt has been paid in Full! There is no more debt. Mark canceled across the face of the bill no more are we under the curse of death or the pain of Sin. God has been the Just and the Justifier
But what did that mean to God?
Look at the proceeding verse "After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst"
As He hung there suspended between heaven and hell His mind surveyed the Hebrew Writings all the prophecies on the Messiah's death. All the prophets are finger posts pointing to the Messiah -Redeemer. Whether it be Moses the law-giver-prophet or David the psalmist-prophet, or Isaiah the excelsior writing-prophet, or Jeremiah the brokenhearted-prophet, or Ezekiel the vision-prophet, or any of the other prophets, all pointed to HIM.
In fact if the many and varied predictions are not fulfilled in Jesus then the Hebrew writings become an inexplicable medley of non-fulfillment. Apart from the Christ of Calvary the Old Hebrew writings are a book of unexplained ceremonies, unachieved purposes, unappeased longings, and unfulfilled prophecies: it becomes a revelation without a destination.
Remember the Coming One must be like the second Adam, a prophet like Moses, a priest like Aaron and Melchizedek (Have no Beginning) , a champion like Joshua, an offering like Isaac, a king like David, a wise counselor like Solomon, a beloved, rejected, exalted son and the world's bread-supplier like Joseph, and other typical personages all in one.
He must be the ark of the covenant, the sacrifice on the brazen altar, the mercy seat in the sanctuary, the water from the rock, the manna from heaven, the brazen serpent lifted up, the Passover lamb, the scapegoat, the lion of Judah, the good shepherd, the lily of the valley, the "root out of dry ground", yet altogether "lovely"
The endless marvel is that all are perfectly fulfilled in Jesus!
As He went on His way to Gethsemane and Calvary we find him saying in prayer to the Father, "I have glorified Thee on earth. I have finished the work which Though gavest Me to do. ( Gospel of John Chapter 7: verse 4)
Once more Tetelestai "It is finished or paid" Was the shout of the Conqueror exulting in His costly but victorious conquest over the power of death and the powers of darkness. Even so, in His Gethsemane wrestle and Calvary death, the Lord Jesus as our Champion fought off the hounds of hell, death and the grave which were bent on our eternal ruin.
And now "who is he that condemneth? Christ died; yes and rose again for you Gentle Reader and me!
-Denis
So that God could be the JUST and the Justifier of all of us!

He's Here -The Great day has arrived

Gentle Reader,

Marti and I wish you a very Merry and blessed Christmas from our home to yours. Our last story is one of the best from a dear brother and it is called:

Christmas Hardships

The Workman

"Do you really expect me to go to Bethlehem?" Joseph banged down his chisel on the scarred bench.

Ephraim, his cousin, had just entered the low workshop. "You don't have a choice, Joseph. If you don't go the Romans will confiscate your house and your precious tools. Just try to carve a yoke with your fingernails."

"What are we, cowards?" the carpenter retorted. "Mark my words, Ephraim, this 'Enroll-in-your-ancestral-city' business is nothing more than a way to squeeze more taxes out of us. If we give into those foreign tyrants now they'll just be back for more money."

"What's more," Joseph continued, "you're crazy if you think I'd take Mary on a trip this month. She'd probably have the baby on the way!"

"Couldn't you just leave her with your mother for a couple of weeks? She'd be all right. Nobody says the women have to go. It's the heads of households who have to register."

"Register, hah! Be taxed, you mean."

"So why not leave her at home?"

Joseph brushed the woodchips aside and motioned for his cousin to sit down. The carpenter spoke in a low but earnest voice. "Mary's aunt has made life miserable for her ever since she found out Mary was pregnant. Some people were willing to let it go. Not Tabitha."

"She got my wife all stirred up about it," Ephraim volunteered.

"Not just your wife. Most of the women in this town go out of their way to avoid her. At the village well they whisper, "Little slut!" just loud enough for her to hear. Many's the day she's come running home in tears."

"People sure can be cruel," Ephraim said. "At least you and Mary went ahead and got married."

Joseph bit his lip, but didn't say more.

Ephraim got up. "Well, you are going to Bethlehem, aren't you? You'd be a fool to get the Romans on your back. You know what they did to old Ben."

Joseph stood up slowly. "Yes, I'll go. But Mary'll have to come along. There's no way I'd leave her in Nazareth by herself!"

However, when Joseph talked to Mary about it, she didn't seem nearly as sure as her husband. "How could I walk all that way?" she said. "I waddle now. I just can't make it."

"Mary, we'll bring old Jake. You can ride him when you get tired."

"Have you ever ridden on Jake?"

"Well, no."

"That animal is the most bony, jolting mule in Nazareth. I'd rather walk!"

She did ride, though ... some of the way. Joseph would finally stop for the day when Mary just couldn't take any more. He'd help her down off Jake, then he'd fix a fire while she would unload their heavy blankets and try to find some shelter under a tree or large rock.

Mary would always be the center of attention among the few women traveling that time of year.

"I remember when I was carrying Levi," one would start. "Made my feet swell. I couldn't do anything for months."

"That's nothing," replied another, "my sister got so big everyone thought she was carrying twins. But her time came there was only one baby. Died though."

Joseph glanced over at Mary in the flickering firelight. He could see fear flit across her face. Her hands moved to her swollen belly so she could feel the baby's reassuring kick.

The women didn't notice. The first one went on, "Oh, the pain's so awful! I'm glad I'm too old to have any more babies."

Joseph put his arm around Mary's shoulders and pulled her close. Only one more night on the road before Bethlehem.

They reached the sleepy village of Joseph's ancestors just about dusk the fifth day. Joseph went to the inn and nearby houses trying to find a place to sleep. "God," he whispered as he combed the town, "can't You find us a decent place to have this baby?" Nothing.

All at once he saw Mary's face tighten. She tried to suppress a groan as she fought with the pain. It was a long moment before she relaxed, but he could see worry written all over her.

Joseph went back to the innkeeper again. "Are you sure there isn't any room? My wife's about to have a baby. We've got to find a place out of this wind tonight!"

The innkeeper thought a while. "Did you try the house at the end of the street? They sometimes take people in."

"I tried an hour ago."

"Any relatives in town? Any second cousins?"

"No."

Mary was shivering now, in obvious discomfort. "Joseph," she said weakly, "I've got to lie down somewhere."

"Well, there's the stable in the back," offered the innkeeper at long last. "Of course, it's full of animals from all the visitors in town for that blasted Roman census. But if you can find a place in the corner, I guess that'd be okay." He paused. "Just don't keep the animals awake all night."

It was the other way around. The dozen donkeys in the strange barn never stopped moving. And the smell was overpowering to Mary who had been fighting nausea as her pains got stronger.

In the wee hours of the morning Joseph knocked on the innkeeper's door again.

"What do you want this time of night?" the innkeeper snarled when he finally came to the door.

"Is there a midwife in town?"

"Oh, it's you. A midwife? Yes, old Martha lives in a little house about three blocks from here. You go down the main road, turn left at the two-story house, and go to the alley. You can't miss it. You go down the alley and across the pasture. She lives in a shack just behind the third house after that."

"I ... I really don't think I should leave my wife. Her pains are coming awfully fast now.... Could you go?"

"Jonathan!" the innkeeper yelled into his darkened house. "Get up and fetch old Martha. A lady's having a baby in the barn. Hurry!"

He turned to Joseph as he closed the door. "Have some pity, man. My whole family's awake now."

Pretty soon the door opened again and a young lad ran off in the chilly air. After a while he returned, walking slowly so he wouldn't outdistance the old midwife whose arthritis certainly didn't to take to cold winter nights. The boy was shivering by the time he got to the stable.

"Here's Martha, sir," he muttered quickly, and darted back into the warmth of his house.

The old lady put them at ease right away. She had Joseph fetch water and cloths from the innkeeper. It must have been nearly two in the morning by the time the baby came, and another hour before Joseph dug into his robe for a few coins to give the old woman as she hobbled away.

Then he returned to his wife and took her hand as they looked into the puffy face of their son. Alone at last.

"I'm so tired, Joseph," Mary said, settling back into the blanket-covered straw.

The baby finally stopped crying and drifted off to sleep.

Joseph stirred a few minutes later as some men peered from the darkness into the lamp-lit stable. He nudged Mary awake and reached for his staff.

"What do you want?" Joseph said to the men in a forced whisper. "Don't wake the baby."

"We're shepherds," one called out. The baby started crying.

"We saw angels out on the hills an hour ago." The entire story tumbled out as the shepherds edged into the stable to see the baby. Joseph relaxed his grip on the staff.

The shepherd continued, "And the angel told us, 'To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Messiah the Lord.' The angel even told us about the swaddling cloths and the manger here."

"The angel told you about the manger, too?" Joseph interrupted.

"Oh, yes. That's how we knew where to look."

Joseph glanced over at Mary. Her eyes met his. He squeezed her hand.

"This baby is the Messiah, isn't he?" Joseph said quietly. "After all these hassles I had started to question. But..." He paused. "It's almost like God planned the whole thing: the trip neither of us wanted to take." He chuckled. "He must have seen you on bony old Jake." Joseph laughed out loud. "Even this smelly old barn and it's manger."

He stood up, still chuckling. "What do you know? In spite of the problems--no, in the midst of the problems--God's been at work all along."

Love,

Denis and Marti

The 4th Wise Guy (A story of Time at Christmas)

 

Gentle Reader,

With the season so close and with me not a place to preach, nor a home to call my own. I find I have a lot of time on my hands (so to speak) It's starting to get cold here and Marti wants me to purchase a new winter coat [I really wanted to get a train set] What I want money can't buy.... but that's another time. What I wanted to say is that with all this time I get to read a bit more ( just for the sheer enjoyment which I intend to share). I know, I know its the last few hours of prime time shopping and you haven't gotten Uncle Shamus and Aunt Tody  anything. My advice re-gift! How about that 12 year old fruitcake that your using as a doorstop in the winter and as third base in the summer? 

Well come in and sit, I'll wet some tea and we'll share a story that will entertain you and perhaps give you some last minute ideas . Ready? Ok. hold on here she blows....  

“The 4th Wise Guy”

I was miles from anywhere when I first saw him. He was walking at the side of the road, gas can in hand, and I assumed that he'd run out of fuel somewhere. I didn't remember passing any stranded cars on the road but figured he could have broken down on a side road. Anyone would have stopped to give him a ride.

Because I had one of those mental debates while deciding whether or not to stop, the car was quite a distance ahead of him when I brought it to a halt. I watched in the mirror as he approached. He was in no hurry, it seemed, just ambling along as though out for a stroll. When he came level with the passenger window, I leaned over and called out to him.

"D'you need a ride to the next gas station, pal?"

He stopped and leaned over so that he could see my face.

"Actually, Denis, I was hoping you'd take me all the way to Akron."

I swear I'd never set eyes on the guy in my life before. How could he know my name? And the fact that I was driving to Akron? I was too dumbfounded to say anything in reply and just watched while he opened the door to get into the car. As he sat down, he threw the gas can into the bushes.

"Aren't you gonna need that?" I asked.

"Oh no, I was only carrying it so you'd take pity on me and stop," he replied. "Bought it at that gas station where you're going to drop me off. But you wouldn't have seen that, of course. You were gone by then."

This was becoming confusing. Was he claiming to have met me before or was he some kind of lunatic with wild delusions?

"Pardon?" I said. "Have we met before or something?"

"Yes and no, Denis. Look, it's complicated. Why don't you get this thing moving and I'll explain as we go, okay?"

I realized then that he was right. If he was a madman, the sooner I got him to where he wanted to go, the better. He didn't look dangerous or anything, in his early twenties but slightly built and pale, as if he'd been locked away out of the sunlight. I could easily win any tussle with him, I figured. So he wanted to talk in riddles? That was fine; it might be amusing and help the journey to go that much faster. I eased the stick into Drive and let the car move off.

"How d'you know my name?" I asked as we reached the speed limit and I hit the cruise control.

"You told me," he replied. When I said nothing but raised one eyebrow a little, he continued, "I'd better explain from the beginning. As I said before... Oh, you won't remember that, of course. Fact is, Denis, I'm living backwards."

A dim memory sparked in my brain. "You mean like Merlin? I read a book once by T.H. White about him. Called The Once and future King, I think. Anyway, it was about King Arthur and all that but I remember Merlin was supposed to be living backwards in it. Is that what you mean?"

"Exactly," he said.

I waited for him to go on but he said no more; just sat there watching my reaction to his ridiculous statement. So I gave him none.

"Am I supposed to believe that?" I asked. "It's a pretty freaky thing to say, you know."

He laughed. "Yup, it's weird alright. Most people would be driving me to the loony bin by now. But that's why I chose you. You're going to believe me by the time we get to Akron."

I don't often snort but I did so then. This guy was a hoot. "Okay, pal, tell me more. I'll listen."

"We'd better get that sorted for a start. I'm not your pal, well, not yet anyway. My name's Merlin."

This time I couldn't hide my disbelief. I turned and looked at him. "Are you serious? Are you trying to tell me that you're the Merlin?"

"That's me," he said, without blinking an eye. "Old Merlin the magician, alive and well in the 21st Century, living backwards and loving it. Quite a kicker, huh?"

I couldn't help but smile. "You're crazy," I said. "Pretty entertaining, I grant you, but crazy as a loon."

He grinned back at me. "Yup, you're right. Nutty as a fruitcake, that's me. But that's got nothing to do with what we're talking about. I'm still living backwards."

There was a sincerity in his voice that stopped me from dropping him off right there and then. Crazy he may have been but I couldn't help liking the guy. I decided to play along and see how good his story was.

"So, okay, you reckon you're Merlin. But how can that be? He lived, oh, about fifteen hundred years ago, I reckon. How could you be that old? Look at you, you're no more than twenty-five at the most."

"Ah," he said, "That's the thing, you see. I'm living backwards so I'm younger now than I was then."

"But more than a thousand years? Come on, even living backwards you're not going to be born for a millennium at least."

"Always with the math," he sighed and eased himself back into the seat to watch the road ahead. "It's hard to understand, Denis, but basically it's like swimming against the tide. Easy enough for you folks just going with the flow; of course you live much faster. But for me it's a struggle. Takes me three hundred years to get ten years older."

I did some quick mental calculations. That would make him about seventy in Arthur's time; about right, I thought. And it also meant...

"So you're not going to be born for another six hundred years?"

"You catch on fast," he said.

There was silence for a long time then. I was trying to think of a way to catch him out and he seemed content to wait. The mid west hurtled by our windows.

Eventually, I thought I had sorted things out and was ready for him again.

"So, to you, the future is like the past? You can remember what's going to happen?"

"Yup," he said.

"And the past is like the future?"

"Just so," he returned.

I thought I had him then. "Ah, in that case, how can you know about King Arthur? How can you make jokes about being the great magician when you can't possibly know that's what he was?"

It was his turn to snort. "Oh come on, Denis; you can do better than that. I can read, can't I? D'you think we don't have books in the future? And, as it happens, I've read Mallory and that guy White you mentioned. Which reminds me..."

"What?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing. Was just thinking that I might drop in on old T.H. in a few years and give him some ideas."

"So now you're the reason he wrote that book?" This was becoming weird. "I suppose you created all our history on your way back to 500 AD?"

"Nah, don't be silly," he said. "Just think I might dabble a bit here and there."

"Oh great. Now we've got a lunatic running around in history, tweaking and fiddling."

He laughed again. "Hey, don't get worried. It's all past to you and anything I do is already incorporated."

We fell silent again as I pondered this. Then he began to speak and I just listened.

"You see, Denis, six hundred years from now we're going to be able to do things that you can't even dream of. Look at the pace of change over the last hundred years or so. It's accelerating all the time. In a few hundred years we're going to prove that time travel is impossible. But we're also going to find a way to turn ourselves around and live in the opposite direction. Not that many will, of course. In fact, I'm the only one. But it's a form of time travel, I suppose."

He paused to see how I'd react to this. Once again, I didn't. So he went on.

"We became aware that there was something that needed doing in the past. And I volunteered. I've always liked history and I wanted to see it for myself. To actually make a contribution to it was an unbelievable dream.

"It's slow, of course. Man, you can't imagine how slow it is. But it's the only way we've got. All to do with changes at the molecular level, you know."

He rambled on into a long explanation of how it worked but I couldn't understand it. He probably knew that but was just enjoying the opportunity to speak. And I turned everything over in my mind as I drove. It was all too much to be believed but he certainly made a pretty airtight story of it. His knowledge of my name and destination was hard to explain away especially. And that strange business of the gas can.

By the time we got to Akron, night had fallen. Merlin directed me through the dark streets towards the gas station and it occurred to me that he seemed to know his way around pretty well.

"You've been here before, haven't you?" I asked.

"Nope. Just remember it from the future. Take a left here."

"I'm sorry but I can't believe that."

He glanced at me then. "Okay, Mr Doubtful, get your head round this. When we get to the gas station there'll be a green SUV filling up. The driver's a young blonde woman in jeans and a pink top. And just after we arrive, a silver Honda will drive in from the opposite direction."

It was just as he said. I stopped the car and began to apologize for my doubts but he shrugged them off. "It's okay, Denis, I get it all the time. Thanks for the ride, by the way."

A thought crossed my mind then. "Oh, uh, Merlin, you said you chose me as your ride. Why was that?"

He winked. "Figure of speech. Actually I just traced you back from this moment."

He opened the door and was getting out when I realized that there was something else I wanted to know.

"And what about Arthur and all that?" I asked. "What was it that you have to change?"

He turned to look at me. For a moment he seemed to be considering something, as though he wasn't sure that I could be trusted with it, but then he shrugged and spoke.

"That Arthur thing wasn't it at all," he said. "It was just one of my little tweaks. After all, we know the Angles and Saxons win in the end, don't we?"

There was a slight pause before he went on. "No, after Arthur, I'm going to wander over to Persia. There's a couple of interesting guys there that I want to meet and get to know. And then, just before I die, the three of us have an appointment in a stable in a little town called Bethlehem..."

He turned away. The last I saw of him was a slight and unimposing figure walking into the bright lights of the service station.

Thanks to Clive Adams (Merlin)for that wonderful story

Time to go, be off with you have you no home?

Denis

Christmas in Ireland

Dear Gentle reader,

I broke a precedent... I had a cup of Irish tea! (Crowd gasps ooh) I know I know But to be frank it was my second cup of a hot beverage of the morning followed by a another of my famous coffee. Well it was cold out and the dogs needed walking and after raining for two days in a row with me on the end of the leash that gets splashed. You know how kids and dogs will walk right through a puddle of water when they could just as easily have walked around (which meant that I could not be outdone and had my feet wet clear up to where my socks end). Which was just below my knees! By the end of the walk my once new socks were down around my ankles and Marti just laughed and said "I knew you were a kid at heart but you make a six year old look like an old man"!

Well Gentle Reader, that has all changed I will return with some cakes and some good Irish tea the next time you visit. Have you bought your Christmas gifts yet? No? Neither have I! Well We both Herself and me wish you a very Merry Christmas! Here is a wee bit of the customs in Ireland.

CANDLE IN THE WINDOW

Many homes in Ireland still today will show a lighted candle, or perhaps today equivalent, and much safer, electric lights, in the window of their home on Christmas Eve. This stems from the custom that to show a light in the window lighted the way of a stranger out after dark. It goes back to most ancient times, when the laws of hospitality were stronger and not abused. To have a light in your window on Christmas Eve to welcome the stranger meant that you were welcoming the Holy Family too. To have no light meant that you shared the guilt of the Innkeeper at Bethlehem who said, "No Room"!

WHITEWASHING THE HOUSE

In many rural areas of Ireland still today the custom of whitewashing the outhouses and stores prevails. At One time, it was the whole farm, inside and out. The women would scrub and polish everything til it shone, and the men would take a bucket of whitewash, or limewash, and purify everything in honour of the coming of the Christchild.

This custom goes back long before christianity or even celtic civilisation. It was a purifying ceremony from the most ancient of times, the ancient Mesopotamians, 4000BC would cleanse their homes, sweep the streets even, in an attempt to assist their god in his battle against the powers of chaos. And in Central European lore, it was believed that the deity, Frigg, would check all the threshholds of each house to make sure they were swept clean. The links are so tightly intertwined, it becomes difficult to seperate one belief from another, Christmas is like a Tapestry, tightly and colourfully woven. It is almost impossible to find a thread and trace it to its beginning in the picture. From this ancient custom comes the modern traditions of putting up fresh curtains, a special Christmas Bedcover, cushions and table linens etc.

Early Christmas morning is the time when children discover what Santa Claus has brought - they will have submitted their 'wish list' on an earlier visit to see the man himself at a local store.

Family gifts are exchanged on Christmas morning in most families, though a few wait until after dinner. Most people will attend a church service on Christmas morning, if they have not already been to midnight mass the previous night.

Once the turkey is in the oven, those family members not directly involved in its progress use the extended cooking time to call to friends, relatives and neighbours to deliver gifts and share a drink or two. Then it is home and time for the big meal. This is eaten in the late afternoon or evening. There is more about Christmas dinner in our article about Christmas food.

After dinner most people simply flop in front of the fire and the television, to watch the inevitable seasonal movies, reruns and Christmas specials, too full and too exhausted to do anything more energetic!

St Stephen's Day

The day after Christmas day is also a holiday in Ireland, and in some places is celebrated with just as much vigour! The Wren Boys will be out in many places, calling to the door for money, with whole families dressing up and joining in the fun. Other families will head to a horse racing event, visit family or friends or just get out into the country for a long walk.

Few shops open on St Stephen's day, though some of the larger stores start their sales and are crowded with bargain hunters.

 Well, Gentle Reader,

That about wraps it up for now until next time,

We ale sending our prayers out to all of you from:

Denis & Marti       

and (FIDS) fur and feather critters

Christmas

Gentle Reader,

With lights stretched from high to low, ornaments scattered in hopeless array, and the smell of apple cider boiling somewhere near, the timely event of winter decoration sets the tone of our December. Until the house is fully lit up, somehow it just doesn't seem quite like the season has started. Like a Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie or a birthday without candles, some of our most precious traditions can be the simplest pleasures of a momentary occasion soon to pass. At the center of our common tradition are the Christmas trees that find themselves adorned with silver, laced with tinsel, covered in lights, and crowned with a star. During the late 13th Century, Thomas de Hales wrote a lengthy poem in Old English called A Luve Ron (A Love Song). During one of the stanzas, he referred to a "treowe king" by which he meant, "a true king." The word treowe took two different directions from the time of Hales to later scholars like Wycliffe and Tyndale (16th Century). Over a period of just 300 years, treowe became closely associated with both "true" and "tree" because in either case, it continued to mean someone or something that would not fall. A tree firmly rooted will never tumble unless broken by the axe. Greeks referred to their trees as xylon (think of the "wood" sound of a xylophone) while the Romans referred to them as arbor in Latin (think "Arbor Day" and the tradition of planting seeds). Trees have always symbolized a practical and essential part of sturdy construction, but the fir and pine trees are uniquely mentioned during the Scripture of Isaiah 60:13. "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious." Although we find that many planters now grow the fir and pine on a farm, the natural pine grows on the mountainside. In fact, it is the fir and evergreen tree that adorns the forest of these "beautified" mountains. And when the snow comes falling, every needle and every cone is covered in white by the decoration of God's design. The history of our modern Christmas tree can be traced back to the hills of Germany and the hero of the reformation. At various times during the winter, Martin Luther was known to take a small spruce tree and decorate it with candles as a symbol of the sparkling stars in heaven above. When German immigration began to increase on American soil in the 1830s (more than 300 years after Luther), English Protestants were initially frightened by what they perceived to be a very pagan tradition among professing Christians. But by 1838, just 32 years before President Grant declared Christmas to be a national holiday, the word "Christmas tree" had already become commonplace. Some of you will share legitimate concern for the practice and decoration of trees (Jeremiah 10:2-4) while others will view it as a harmless activity in the age of God's grace. Whether you enjoy the smell of fresh pine in your living room or prefer to avoid it altogether, may you find that the season is no less inviting for the family you love and the fires that you build.