In regard to the most recent post...

If you feel like reading and thinking, then check this out, if not so much, then go ahead and move along.

I sent the BAR Christmas article to my dad. Here were some of this thoughts:

"I skimmed the article. Much of it I've read or heard in the last 37 years. My personal thought is that Jesus was born on the Feast of Trumpets, which would be in the fall, right before the Feast of Tabernacles. My reasoning is that Trumpets is when Jesus will come / return, with the blowing of "trumpets". So, if He is coming back on that day, it makes sense to me that He came the First time on that day. I have no proof. God just sorta does things like that. The Passover is when the death angel "passed over". The lamb / Lamb was slain. Trumpets; Jesus came?? / comes. Atonement; man is reconciled / atoned with God. Tabernacles; a time of peace and prosperity / the millennium. Etc."

"More thoughts.........if Jesus was 30 when he started his ministry......
LK 3:23, Num 4:3
and his ministry lasted 3 1/2 years......
Dan 10:7
He was 33 1/2 years old when he died
and he died in the springtime.......
14 Nisan
6 months before that, at 33, is very close to Trumpets
If he was 33 around Trumpets, he would have to be born 33 years earlier.....around Trumpets

Summary: Jesus had to be born close to (or on) the Feast of Trumpets in order to be 33 1/2 at his death in the spring."


I think his second rational for Jesus being born around Trumps is fascinating. I haven't looked into it for myself just yet. But it's interesting.

"How December 25 Became Christmas"

Here is a Biblical Archaeology Review article discussing various theories about how Dec 25 became recognized as Jesus the Chris' day of birth. I think it is written too conversational and lacks some description and facts that I would like included. However, it does make for some interesting reading.

How December 25 Became Christmas

The Stars are for Signs

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so."
- Gen 1:14, 15 ASV

"He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them."
- Psalms 147:4 NASV


This article goes into great detail about the stars, and how God "wrote the Bible" in them:
The Stars are for Signs

Popular Imagery

"Acceptance of the truths of faith does not require acceptance of the popular imagery used to describe them."


[- NAB SJ Ed study notes in reference to 2 Peter 3:5-10]

The Secularization of Christmas

I have heard many arguments that Christ should be put back in Christmas and so on. On one hand, I agree. If we are going to call it Christmas and consider it a Christian holiday, then perhaps they are right. But on the other hand, the only reason we have "Christmas" is because of a similarly timed ancient pagan holiday. We commandeered the holiday of a different religion and tried to make it into something of our own. Sure we have tried to put it to good use, but I don't think we can entirely blame non-Christians (and Christians) for secularizing an originally pagan holiday.

Thoughts on God and Truth

An interesting site worth some reading time. Realistic struggles are confronted and he makes you think:
Thoughts on God and Truth