Christmas

"Christians have celebrated the incarnation and nativity of the Lord Jesus on December 25 since at least the early part of the third century--just a few generations removed the days of the Apostles. By 336, when the Philocalian Calendar--one of the first calendars of the Patriarchal church--was first utilized, Christmas Day was already a venerable and tenured tradition. Though there is no historical evidence that Christ was actually born on that day--indeed, whatever evidence there is points to altogether different occasions--the conversion of the old Pagan tribes of Europe left a gaping void where the ancient cult festivals were once held. It was both culturally convenient and evangelically expedient to exchange the one for the other. And so joy replace desperation. Celebration replaced propitiation. Christmas feasts replaced new moon sacrifices. Christ replaced Baal, Moloch, Apollo and Thor. Glad tidings of great joy, indeed."

~From Christmas Spirit by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur, pg. 103

Photo by Jaimie Trueblood/newline.wireimage.com

Rethinking the Pagan Origins of Christmas by Brian Abshire

The twenty-fifth of December as just another day, and is of no religious significance. There is nothing “holy” about it, and it despite the efforts of the Fathers to calculate the right date, probably was not the day Jesus was actually born. However If the angels of heaven could publicly proclaim His birth, what possible problem can there be for us to likewise commemorate that wondrous event? How can it be wrong to sing those wonderful, postmillennial hymns which celebrate the birth of Christ during the month of December? And since the incarnation is so central to human history, then where is the problem with preaching a special series of sermons exploring the implications of the advent of the Lord Jesus?" Continue reading

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In Defense of Christmas by Melody Seppi
"During the early missionary movement in Europe after the fall of Rome, tribe after tribe were converted to Christianity, the winter cult festivals were gone—leaving a gaping void—and as a result of following Christ their cultures were radically changed, instead of sin, bondage, a culture of death and human sacrifice, there was liberty in His law, freedom in Christ, a culture of life, and the worship of the one true and living God." Continue reading

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Peter B's Christmas Poems:

The Fire of Christmas

also

The Joy of the Light

See the house of days gone by, decked out in greenery fine 

The cold, sharp wind about it rolls with specks of glimmer and shine 

Outside is quiet, only the wind, and trees that are moved to and fro’ 

Stir gently the stillness that lays all around the valley now covered in snow 

Inside there is merriment, laughter, and joy–the sound of the fiddle and flute– 

The lads and the lasses are dancing a jig, their tongues and feet are not mute 

The companions of work, of worship and thought, they now enjoy what they’ve won 

Relationships firm, founded on time, now exalted through music and fun 

Oh praise the Lord Christ! He re-made us to show this joyful and most loving way 

Who, when we were in darkness, came as the Light and delivered us unto His day 

Though days be dark, sharp, windy, and cold, we dare not submit to their gloom! 

We strike up a tune and go gallantly forth, proclaiming Him ris’n from the tomb! 

Thus the darkest of days 

Will submit to this praise 

And become the sunrise of morn! 

The darkness takes flight 

This day, our delight! 

For Christ the world’s Savior is born!

-Peter B.

 Deo Vindice

What Does The Bible Say About Food?

The Christian Philosophy of Food by Peter Bringe brings the light of Scripture into the confused and sometimes dangerous world of diet and nutrition. It is a door-opener for Christians to see what God has said about food. This courageous work is full of solid biblical principles for a life of health and blessing. 

Peter begins with a call to humility and fear of God: “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Prov. 3:7-8) and,“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7) 

He launches into Genesis 1:29: “God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.’” From this verse the author sees plant foods as central in diet and nutrition. This is a bold statement; the American pulpit has been long silent because of the volatile controversy of Vegetarianism. Peter responds with these words: “The Bible teaches that plant foods are more central and important...Only plant foods are given as food in the beginning, for animals as well as man. Even after the fall mankind was restricted to only eating plant foods until after the flood. It would follow that plant foods are the foundational food for mankind.”

Peter offers a Christian food pyramid that follows the progressive revelation of scripture. Prioritizing plant foods at the foundation base of the triangle (Gen. 1:29), clean meats following (Lev. 11), and unclean meats last (Mark 7:15-19, Acts 10:12-16). 

“A predominately plant food diet is a defense against the argument that we cannot produce enough food for a growing population and so should not obey God’s command to ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’” (Gen. 1:28) An acre of land used for cattle can supply 77 days of one adult’s protein needs. In contrast, if used for soybeans, it could supply 2,224 days of sustenance for an adult. “By eating more plant foods we are taking better and more efficient dominion of the earth.”

For some years a friend, Dr. Paul Shakespeare, came over every Monday and taught us about health, and the damages and dangers of unhealthy eating. As a missionary doctor in war-torn Biafra, in the 70‘s, starving refugees came, fleeing the devastation. Among these were pregnant mothers. Only those who were able to grow and eat black-eye beans, their babies lived (the beans contained enough protein and folate for the little ones to survive.)

Worried about protein deficiencies with a plant-based diet? “Broccoli contains more protein per calorie than steak.” Look at the apes and gorillas if you think you must have meat to build muscle. 

Next Peter addresses meat: “Even though plant food is more basic to our diet,” he writes, “God has also given us meat to eat.”

The Bible’s view of clean and unclean meats has been vindicated by Dr. David Macht in 1953. At John Hopkins University he studied the toxic effects of animal flesh. He found that clean animals were found to be nontoxic and all unclean meats were classified as toxic.

A byproduct our de-relationalized culture, Peter points out, is “pop-food,” which sacrifices health, lacks personal character, and appeals to the lowest common denominator of taste-buds.

Always keeping food and health in balance, Peter writes, “There is a time to eat conservatively, paying close attention to health, but there are also times to feast and make merry.” We are to be neither sensually self-centered or health obsessed, but to eat to the glory of God. “Food, hospitality, and relationships are strongly connected,” Peter writes. Food is meant to be enjoyed in community. “Simple and ancient things like eating and conversing together as a family are foundational to a Christian culture and society.”

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17)

In this book we find the wisdom and knowledge necessary for meaningful change, encouragement for eating more plant foods and a balanced biblical approach to diet and health. The book has fresh strength from God’s law as it advances Christian culture. We come to realize that all of life is holy. Behind this book is the covenant keeping God “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

You may wish to purchase Peter Bringe’s book at

TheChristianPhilosophyOfFood.com 

We highly recommend his blog: 

ForChristsKingdom.blogspot.com 

Hospitality Changes the World

Blessed by God

Blessed by Friends

Sound of the Trumpet Retreat

Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. 

Our God will fight for us." ~Neh 4:20

Many homeschooling families in our area 

gathered at a friend’s ranch over the weekend.

About 120 of the 200 people were young children. 

Family Economics Conference in North Carolina

Lance & I on the plane headed to North Carolina Family Economics Conference where Chad Roach/Kevin Swanson had invited us to speak in a Family Business panel. ~Dinah

Outside of Portland, Oregon. 

 Flying over Portland

Christy Hensley prepared for an overseas adoption, got a call that a mother just delivered a newborn in Florida and wanted to give her up. Since she went while the mother was still in the hospital an attorney did the paperwork without an adoption agency. Christy named her Hadassa because she was born around the time of Purim. I'd love to have a little one like this. ~Dinah

 Scott & Deborah 
hosted about 45 in their home 
after they put on the Sunday church meal.

Courter sisters in red are part of a family manufacturing business in the solar industry from Tennessee are in photo with Lacie & Laura Verret from Texas.

Lance and Dinah had great conversations about just war, national Israel, George Bush...with Aaron & Josiah Courter.

Binkley Chapel

Sunday morning Hope Baptist Church met at the Binkley Chapel to host the crowd. Kevin Swanson delivered a powerful message on the law of God. He quoted from Rom. 14:17 "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. It is righteousness, joy and peace in the holy spirit." Where there is war, that is not the kingdom. War is not a blessed time.

 Joshua & Jim with Lance

 Verret Family hosted us for the weekend

transporting us to the conference

lunch, church and out to the 

Scott and Deborah Brown home for Sun. evening.

 Scott & Deborah, with a heart for hospitality included comfy chairs in their kitchen.  We were delighted when the beans and cornbread were ready.

 You can talk with a friend or nurse your baby in the kitchen.

 Here is the sitting room before their big living room.

 This house is designed for many conversations.

 Here's the living room with the swing fastened to the right that can swing right over the dining table. About 45 of us gathered there hosted by Scott & Deborah. Scott concluded the evening by gathering us for a time of singing.

They built a barn, then decided it would make a great house.  The master bedroom is in the hay loft.

Here is the grandparents (Scott's parents) suite, 

off the sitting room in a remodeled garage. 

Grandparent's own living Room

 There are lots of beds in the loft for good times together with friends. We've heard of this house, now we got to see it. Hospitality changes the world.

Kevin & I enjoyed talking
about family business,
taking care of Grandpa
who built bee boxes at age 89.
He told me about his father.

Connie Verret with the youngest Miller.

 The Verret family is a great blessing, an answer to our prayers. The minute we got out of our taxi from the airport, we met the Verret family and enjoyed many meals together. They took us to the conference each day, out for lunch, to church and out to the Scott & Deborah Brown home.

The Miller family have the Golden Rule Air Conditioning and Heating business in Houston, Texas.  Their son Joshua chose to work with his family rather than as an air force pilot. I discussed war with him (Ps. 68). I heard he had gotten out of the air force, and was delighted we could go to lunch together.

I had the honor and blessing of traveling with my sister, Dinah. We had a wonderful time meeting so many people

on the airline and at the conference. I wish we could have gotten pictures of all the friends with whom we enjoyed conversations over this memorable weekend.

Jackie was our gracious hostess who got up at 2:30,
 took us to the airport at 3 A.M. 
We also enjoyed talks with 
her husband, Dan 
who takes care of his parents 
about 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. 

Lance's First Full Length Sermon

Lance gave a sermon entitled The Messianic Chararacter of American Education to a free (not incorporated) church. After his closing prayer they responded with several questions which Lance was delighted to answer.

One lady asked me, "Is that your son?"

I affirmed, "Yes he is."

She exclaimed, "Praise God!"

I asked Lance later if he is called to preach,

since some had asked me this.

He said he is NOT called to go to seminary,

but he loves to speak whenever God opens the door.

The Neel Family invited us over for a most delicious dinner.
Mrs. Neel says if she ever had a restaurant, she'd call it

Marilyn's Guinea Pig Gourmet

because she doesn't usually follow recipes.

Warm Wonderful Southern Hospitality