Every year, I hear people talk about where Christmas came from. Here are two discussions of how there came to be a celebration of Jesus' birth on December 25. From Philip Schaff, in his History of the Christian Church: The Christmas festival was probably the Christian transformation or regeneration of a series of kindred heathen … Continue reading The Origins of Christmas
Category: Holidays
Good Friday: The Long Silence
At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on a great plain before God's throne. Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the front talked heatedly - not with cringing shame, but with belligerence. "Can God judge us? How can he know about suffering?" snapped a pert … Continue reading Good Friday: The Long Silence
It’s a Festivus Miracle!
Miraculously, I made it to Michigan for Christmas. On Sunday, dozens of flights from Seattle were cancelled, and thousands of people spent the night at the airport, mostly because airlines ran out of de-icing fluid (Here's an article about it). Fortunately, I went to the airport late Monday night, and the change was amazing. Sure, … Continue reading It’s a Festivus Miracle!
Valentine’s Day 2008
I know, I know. You're asking, "Elliot, what did you do for Valentine's Day this year?" Well, friends, 'tis a sad tale. Mary is in the Caribbean on a cruise right now with about a dozen of our friends, having a fantastic time. I'm in Vancouver, and as is so often the case here during … Continue reading Valentine’s Day 2008
Break Pictures
I'm back in Vancouver, and as promised, I have uploaded some pictures from the break. Here are a few of them: This is the table at my grandparents' house, set for Christmas Eve dinner. This is my dad and grandpa in the Grand Rapids Art Museum. My nephew Calvin, in the hat that my grandma … Continue reading Break Pictures
A Taste of Things to Come
I won't post any of my own pictures until next week, but at the behest of my brother, I will post this one of his: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Theo Claus is here to give you presents. He doesn't keep a list, though, because he can't write.
The Break In Review
Well, it has been a few days since I've written anything, so I thought I'd let my friends far and near know what I've been up to: I've been on break from school, traipsing around the eastern half of the U.S. Class let out for me on Dec. 14, and I then spent a couple … Continue reading The Break In Review
Thanksgiving at a Glance
Well, it's Thanksgiving weekend, and it has been fun and relaxing so far. Regent has gone to two reading weeks per semester, and in the fall the two reading weeks coincide with Canadian Thanksgiving (in early October) and American Thanksgiving. So I've had the whole week off from classes, though I've been reading quite a … Continue reading Thanksgiving at a Glance
Elliot Ritzema 