El Niño brings rain for Christmas

 Image courtesy of: Gabriel Prieto/Huanchaco Archaeological Project.

Joel Kontinen

El Niño is not a recent development, at least in Latin America ,New research posits an ancient desert wall in northern Peru was built to protect precious farmlands and canals from the ravages of El nino floods, 

“These phases are now known as  El Niño — Spanish for "The Boy," a reference to the child Jesus — because they bring heavy rain to the region around Christmastime every few years. “

Earth Day is a misnomer. 

It used to be known as Earth Day. The United Nations has gone a step further and re-named it The International Mother Earth Day.

The green ideology behind this move could hardly have been more obvious.

Some would even say that the mushroom is our brother.

Some others want to give apes and rivers the same rights we have.

The post-Christian world wants its share of holy days, such as Darwin Day and Earth Day.

Source; 

 Metcalfe,  Tom, 2023.  1,000-year-old wall in Peru was built to protect against El Niño floods, research suggests Live Science 27 June. 

 

President Trump thanks God for sending His son to redeem the world

Joel Kontinen

Here’s what President Trump said in a video that has been banned by You Tube:  

“To every family across our nation, the First Lady and I want to wish you all a very, very Merry Christmas.

For Christians, this is a joyous time to remember God's greatest gift to the world. More than two thousand years ago, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. He said, ‘Do not be afraid, you have found favour with God.’ The angel told her that she would give birth to a baby boy, Jesus, who would be called the Son of the Most High. Nine months later, Christ was born in the town of Bethlehem. The Son of God came into the world in a humble stable.

As Christians everywhere know, the birth of our Lord and Saviour changed history forever. At Christmas, we give thanks to God and that God sent his only Son to die for us and to offer everlasting peace to all humanity. More than two millennia after the birth of Jesus Christ, his teachings continue to inspire and uplift billions and billions of people all over the globe. His Divine word still fills our hearts with hope and faith. And, Christians everywhere still strive to live by Jesus' timeless commandment to his disciples, ‘Love one another.’

Tonight, we ask that God will continue to bless this nation. And, we pray that He will grant every American family a Christmas season full of joy, hope, and peace.

On behalf of Melania and the entire Trump family, Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a very, very great and happy new year. Thank you.”

 Source:

Baklinski, Pete. 2020.  Trump thanks God for sending Jesus to ‘redeem the world’ in powerful Christmas message that’s gone viral Life Site News 16 December. 

 

Glória in excélsis Deo

Gerard van Honthorst: Adoration of the Shepherds (1622). Public domain (Google Art Project).




Joel Kontinen

Glória in excélsis Deo are words that mark the time God began a new era in His dealings with mankind.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”(Luke 2:14, NKJV), the angels and heavenly hosts told the shepherds to whom they announced these glad tidings.

Adam’s descendants were unable to set right the wrong things their predecessor had done by rebelling against his Maker, so God had to step into human history to reconcile mankind to Himself.

Christmas fulfilled the prophecies uttered by Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah and Micah.

Christ, the Lamb of God, chose to live among human beings to lead us to salvation.

Christmas Reminds Us that We Can Trust the Bible

The prophet Isaiah prophesied about Jesus’ coming 700 years before He came as a baby in Bethlehem. Image courtesy of the Providence Lithograph Company. public domain.




Joel Kontinen

Several Old Testament prophets foresaw major events in the life of Christ hundreds of years before they took place.

Micah prophesied Jesus’ birthplace:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2).

And Isaiah foresaw His virgin birth:

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Christmas was not built on fables but on real history.

For atheists, the birth of Christ might be a difficult occasion, hence they invented the Christmas wars.

Some sceptics would like to celebrate Newtonmas instead, as Sir Isaac Newton’s birthday is on 25th December.

The idea is a bit absurd, as Newton believed in the historical accuracy of the Bible.


Scripture verses from the New King James Version (NKJV).

Christmas and the Precision of Bible Prophecy

Christ's birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.




Joel Kontinen

The Old Testament speaks a lot about the Messiah who would come to redeem His people. The details of prophecy rule out chance. OT writers predicted His birthplace, His roots and His mother, for instance:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Christmas reminds us that the Bible can be trusted. It is God’s Word:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Scripture passages from the New King James Version (NKJV).

The Real Message of Christmas

Christmas is not just about baby Jesus.



Joel Kontinen

Christmas is nothing less than a miracle. It marks the beginning of Jesus' earthly life. He became a human being in order to atone for the sins of mankind.

The incarnation of Christ was necessary because of the bad news that we read about in Genesis. Whereas the First Adam failed, the Last Adam (i.e. Christ) succeeded.

The First Adam sinned by eating forbidden fruit from a tree; the Last Adam died on a cross (made of a tree), and because of His unique sacrifice the door is open for us to enter His kingdom by faith in Him.

No Christmas Wars in Canary Islands Buses

This bus wishes us a merry Christmas.




Joel Kontinen

Christmas wars seem to be an American phenomenon that hardly exists in Europe. For instance, some buses in the Canary Islands promote Chrismas.

While the word for Christmas in Spanish does not include the word Christ, navidad explicitly refers to birth, and in this case not just to any birth, but that of Jesus in Bethlehem.

And Christmas Eve is nochebuana or '(the) Good Evening'. Feliz navidad!

Avoiding Christ: The Case of Neil deGrasse Tyson

John Leech: Scrooge and Bob Cratchit. Image courtesy of Gutenberg.org.


Joel Kontinen

There are many Ebener Scrooges among us. Like the character in Charles Dickens’ Christmas story, they seem to hate the time we usually associate with the birth of Christ.

Christmas is obviously a hard time for atheists as they tend to spend much time and energy in trying to fight against it.

This is understandable, because if – as Christians believe – Jesus, although He was the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem in human form, atheism has to be false. This means that the very idea of Christmas is dangerous for unbelievers.

Atheists are well aware of this. As Thomas H. Huxley (1825–1895), who was known as Darwin’s Bulldog, put it, “Christian theology must stand or fall with the historical trustworthiness of the Jewish Scriptures.”

I would suggest that this also applies to atheistic dogma. It is an either – or situation.

Michael Shermer has promoted the celebration of Newtonmas on December 25 as a replacement for Christmas. This is a bit odd given that Sir Isaac Newton was a Bible-believing Christian, but it shows what atheists are willing do, if it helps them to escape Christ.

Recently, Neil deGrasse Tyson of Cosmos fame illustrated this trend. On December 25, he first tweeted:

“QUESTION: This year, what do all the world's Muslims and Jews call December 25th? ANSWER: Thursday.”

He followed this up with:

“On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec 25, 1642.”

Finally, he actually used the word Christmas:

“Merry Christmas to all. A Pagan holiday (BC) becomes a Religious holiday (AD). Which then becomes a Shopping holiday (USA).”

While there’s a hint of truth in his tweet, his strategy speaks more of his ideology and the wish to avoid coming to grips with the truth.

It seems that all kinds of everything that remind atheists of Jesus Christ cause them to have a bad conscience. Thus, they will go to extreme lengths to avoid confronting historical facts that remind them of the Creator and Redeemer they want to avoid.


Source:

Twitter

2015: Why We Still Count Our Years from Christ’s Birth

El Greco (1580): Christ Carrying His Cross. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.




Joel Kontinen

The Christmas season provides us with ample opportunities to remember the Incarnation of Christ, when the sovereign God stepped into human history as flesh and blood and for a while lived among us.

New year reminds us that Jesus lived in a particular era of history. While no one can be absolutely certain of His birthday or even the year He was born, AD 2015 tells us that something very remarkable happened that prompted early Roman Christians to start counting their years from His birth instead of the founding of Rome.

We don’t count our years from Muhammed’s Hijra or flight from Mecca to Medina or the establishment of the Nazi Third Reich, but from the birth of the Prince of Peace who came to give His life for all humankind.

Some may choose to hate the cross and every other thing that potentially reminds them of Jesus, but for those who believe, the gospel is the power of God that miraculously transforms individuals into new creatures.

All kinds of everything remind us of the One, whose signature is seen from the tiniest molecular machine in the cell to the largest galaxy observed by powerful telescopes.

The Purpose of Christmas: The Incarnation of God

Image courtesy of Ligonier.org.


Joel Kontinen

There’s one thing that mankind has succeeded in. Just watch the news, and you’ll see what I mean. It is making this world far less than an optimal place to be in.

This syndrome hails from the beginning of human history. Known as the Fall, it marks man’s rebellion against his Maker. Its consequences are evident everywhere in the world.

However, God, who created us in His image, knew this sad state of affairs. He stepped into human history as a being just like us to provide the ultimate antidote to sin, disease and suffering.

The first Christmas brought good news of great joy for all people who are willing to accept God’s Christmas present, the best He could give – Himself.

Why Christmas Is Dangerous

Joel Kontinen

While the Gospel of John is silent about the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, it goes back in time to the very beginning of the universe.

It also discloses why some people are afraid of the Lord Jesus. He is the true Light; as they love moral darkness and shun the light, they have reason to be afraid.

Thus, some will claim that the letters C-H-R-I-S-T in Christmas cause them anxiety.

However, in Spain buses will display the Feliz Navidad ('Merry Christmas') sign, and there is no dispute about whose birth it refers to. Christmas evening is Nochebuena ('good evening'). The good has to do with the birth of Christ. Almost every town, village, shopping centre and even hotel has its belen, featuring Jesus, Mary, Joseph and a host of other characters including shepherds, wise men, fishers and farmers.

Feliz navidad!

And remember: God’s perfect love casts away fear.

Christmas: God Gave a Lamb to Take Away Our Sins

Joel Kontinen

Throughout the Bible, a lamb symbolizes purity and our need to atone for our trespasses.

However, that is something we cannot do. God, who knows everything, knew this and so He provided a means for our atonement.

Adam’s sin brought bad things to our world. Christmas marks the time when God sent His Lamb – the Lord Jesus Christ – to the world to eventually provide the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

Without the initial trespass in Eden there would be no need for Bethlehem that was the first step towards Calvary where the Lamb of God took away our sins.

The First Christmas: When God Became Weak and Vulnerable

God gave us the best Christmas present.





Joel Kontinen

The Bible describes God as all-powerful (omnipotent), but for a brief moment He became weak and vulnerable.

That was at the very first Christmas. For a little while, He was as weak as any human baby, totally dependent on His earthly parents.

Christ became man in order to redeem fallen mankind.

While this might be something some people do not like, it is nevertheless true. The First Adam fell literally; the Last Adam came to set right that what had gone wrong.

Jesus Walking on Earth Was Far More Important Than Mankind Walking on the Moon, Apollo Astronaut James Irwin Says.

Joel Kontinen

Dr. Jerry Bergman has an interesting article on Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin in the November issue of Acts and Facts. Irwin, who spent over 295 hours on the Moon, was a firm believer in the Genesis account of creation.

For Irwin, being on the Moon strengthened his faith in the Bible. Many times he said that Jesus walking on Earth was far more important than mankind walking on the Moon.

This Christmas we celebrate the beginning of Jesus’ walk on Earth.

Source:

Bergman, Jerry. 2013. Colonel James Irwin: Creationist Astronaut. Acts and Facts 42 (!!): 16-17.

The Christmas Wars: Putting Christ Back Into Christmas

This sign in Hamilton in Victoria, Australia urges us to remember why we have Christmas.



Joel Kontinen

Sceptics tend to feel uncomfortable during the Christmas season. Perhaps it reminds them of the reason we have for celebrating one of the major events in Christian history – the birth of Christ.

Christmas is much more than a story about a baby in a manger. It marks the beginning of the first coming of the Saviour to the planet where the people He created refused to obey Him at the dawn of human history.

In other words, Christmas, just like creation and the Fall, is real history.

Unfortunately, some people would want to deny history.

No Christmas without Christ

Joel Kontinen

Some people are offended by the words Christ and Jesus. They would not want to allow other to use words like Christmas, which, after all, mean’s Christ’s Mass.

It is the celebration of Jesus’ birth as a human being into our world. God’s eternal Son took on human form because of our great need for reconciliation with God.

The First Christmas Present

A Lutheran church in Dalby, Queensland mentions the first ever Christmas present.

Joel Kontinen

Why gave the first Christmas present? A Lutheran church in Dalby, Queensland, Australia, shows that Mary wrapped the very first Christmas present.

God gave His only Son as a gift to people who had sinned against Him. Without the very first present we would not even have Christmas.

When Death Makes One Cry

The death of Kim Jong-il caused North Koreans to express their grief in public. Image courtesy of www.kremlin.ru.




Joel Kontinen

The death of the North Korean ruler caused his subjects to express their grief in public. It seems that for them the passing away of Kim Jong-il was a great tragedy (unless, of course, they were paid to cry and grieve in public).

Kim Jong-il died just two days after the death of atheist Christopher Hitchens.

Death reminds us of the Fall. Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator. Disobedience brought suffering and death to the world, causing the entire creation to groan.

However, God never ceased caring for mankind. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to remove the wall separating sinful people from a perfect Creator.

That is why we celebrate Christmas.

Singing Hallelujah! at a fast food restaurant

”And He shall reign for ever and ever”



Joel Kontinen

Praising God has been an essential part of Christmas since a group of shepherds at Bethlehem first got to know of the Messiah’s birth. However, few of us have seen a performance like the one that the customers at a Canadian fast food restaurant saw on November 13th this year.

As the pianist finishes playing Jingle Bells at the restaurant in Welland, Ontario, a dark-haired young woman wearing a red scarf pushes her tray forward. Speaking on a cell phone, she stands up and begins to sing the chorus of George Fridrich Handel’s Messiah. A man in a blue hoodie soon joins her. A couple in the food queue do the same. Then, a man and woman stand up on chairs to sing.

Some of the customers look puzzled but others begin to take pictures with their cell phones. Soon the entire fast food restaurant rings of praise to God.

Instead of performing on stage, the 80 singers of the Chorus Niagara sang where they happened to be, among the other customers of the restaurant. The woman who sang with a cell phone to her ear is soprano Stephanie Tritchew, who, thanks to YouTube, became a star.

Judging from the applause, the public was pleased with what they heard. With over 9 million YouTube views, the performance has certainly become a hit.

The singers wanted to ”spread Christmas cheer” at the mall.

In doing that they succeeded exceedingly well.


Source:

Debora Van Brenk. 2010. Handel's Messiah flash mob a Youtube smash. Toronto Sun. (1 December).

Let us praise science for it is good!

Jennie A. Brownscombe: The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth (1914). Image courtesy of Wikipedia.



Joel Kontinen

Last Thursday, Americans celebrated Thanksgiving. The early settlers had a tradition of giving thanks to God for a good harvest and the last Thursday in November has during subsequent centuries been part and parcel of the American heritage.

Recently, LifeScience editors Jeremy Hsu, Stephanie Pappas, Wynne Parry and Jeanna Bryner suggested a way for altering this tradition. They recommend that we should thank science for all the good that it has given us.

Few people would deny that science has brought about many good things. The medical sciences have given us cures to many diseases, and microscopes and telescopes have enabled us to understand life both on the micro and the macro level. However, science has also brought us some bad things, such as pollution, atom bombs and land mines.

That what the LifeScience editors advice us to do reminds us of a tradition that skeptics have embraced in recent years, i.e. celebrating the birthday of a man instead of Jesus at Christmas.

These ”free thinkers” obviously failed to realise that they will actually celebrate the birthday of the best-known creation scientist of all times, a man who wrote about Bible prophecies and definitely believed in a recent supernatural creation.

Sir Isaac Newton wrote, for instance:

” This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being. … The Supreme God is a Being eternal, infinite, absolutely perfect.”

Newton praised the Almighty God for His wisdom. In contrast, skeptics hope to deny His existence and praise man’s achievements instead.

Sources:

10 Science Discoveries to Be Thankful for. LiveScience 24 November 2010.

Thayer, H. S. 1953, Newton’s Philosophy of Nature: Selections From His Writings. New York: Library of Classics.