The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/234948
The Press-Dispatch H Why December 25? Continued from page 2 100 years, Christmas was on the calendar record. Christians looked to December because the early church was far more interested in Jesus's death. His death and resurrection is what matters to the Gospel, and that was the date the early church focused on. "Around 200 A.D., Tertullian of Carthage reported the calculation that the 14th of Nisan in the year Jesus died was the equivalent to March 25 in the Roman calendar," said Andrew McGowan last year at the Biblical Archaeology Society. That would be the day of Crucifixion. The math from there is rather simple. Nine months later would be Dec. 25. Early church history held as fact that the prophets and martyrs of the church were conceived on the day they died. So if Christ died on March 25, it was also the anniversary of his conception. Separately, and more directly from the Bible, Luke 1 tells us Zacharias, John the Baptist's father, was in the priestly division of Abijah. Based on a calculation of this and the division of priest in the temple in 70 A.D. when the temple fell, a number of early Church historians presumed Zacharias would have been in the temple in early October. Later historians, however, speculate it would have been June. The Gospel of Luke tells us when Zacharias left the temple, his wife conceived. "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David," Luke 1:25-26 notes. Six months after Zacharias left the temple would be March as Mary's time of conception. Fast forward nine months and again we find ourselves in December. With the very earliest Church fathers settling on March 25th as Christ's death and believing fully that Christ's death would occur on the anniversary of his conception, the early church reinforced its belief well before there is any written accusation or evidence of the church incorporating Saturnalia or Sol Invictus into its celebrations. It is important to note, however, that most scholars reject setting Christ's birth to Zacharias's temple service because of problems related to really knowing when he was there. But there are three final points. One can look at all of this and conclude the church fathers got it wrong. But the real question is whether they themselves thought they got it wrong. They were pretty sure they were right. The earliest Christians refused to celebrate birthdays, but by 300 A.D., there was growing evidence the Church had noted Christ's birthday around December 25th. Second, some of the earliest traditions of the early Church held that Christ was born on what would be a Wednesday. This year, we too will celebrate Christ's birth on a Wednesday. Finally, the date of Christ's birth is not important. What is important is that He is. H Roast duck? Continued from page 2 vative Christian what he/ she thinks about gay marriage or sex. Do you think the answer will be "duh, to each his own?" At least one journalist has taken a step back and ponder if A&E did not purposely use this interview to either try to besmirch the family's Christian faith, find reasons to get rid of Phil, or to bolster the show into even higher ratings. The executives at A&E had previously lost a tug-of-war with the family trying to get them to tone down the "prayer thing" and using the name of Jesus so much. So, is this a set-up or what? If it was it boomeranged on them. Many Americans have angrily demanded that the PC crowd allow people to express their opinion without fear of retribution. Several Gay Rights advocates have backed off of their condem- nation suggesting that they might have over reached or reacted to this incident. You think? America has reached the point where the formally oppressed GLBT (the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered) have become the oppressor (Is there a question here)? The entertainment industry is full of degeneracy. Madonna openly mocks Christianity, Lady Gaga is an absolute loon, and Miley Cyrus is praised for her lewd lyrics and dances, while Christians who claim that there are absolute morals are ridiculed. Decency has become a public sin. All Americans, not just Christians, need to take the gloves off and defend civility and their rapidly decaying culture. Phil did and stood his ground as the media shot back. Think about it! Wednesday, January 1, 2014 Court report Criminal Docket Pike Circuit Court Tony D. Taylor requests intrastate probation transfer from Spencer County. Tony Craig Martin requests intrastate probation transfer from Spencer County. Anthony N. Wallace charged with battery, in front of minor child, a class D felony. Somer L. Wallace charged with battery, in front of a minor child, a class D felony. Traffic and misdemeanor Pike Circuit Court Scott A. Birk charged with count I possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor; count II resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; Katiedid vs... count III disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor and count IV criminal trespass, refusal to leave, a class A misdemeanor. Raymond P. Schlomer charged with hunting upon privately owned land without consent, a class C misdemeanor. Cameron P. Schlomer charged with hunting upon privately owned land without consent, a class C misdemeanor. Civil Docket Pike Circuit Court Ricky D. Rader sues Stephanie M. Rader for dissolution of marriage. Tina M. Boling sues Donald W. Timmons, Jr., Kenneth J. Cavanaugh, Jason D. Ainscough and Progressive Paloverder Insurance Co. on com- plaint. First Financial Bank, NA sues Jason R. Wagner on complaint. In re: The matter of Phillip J. Bayer petitions to restrict disclosure of felony conviction records. Debbie O'Bryan sues Krempp Corporation on complaint, demands jury. David L Leslie petitions for vehicle title. Small Claims Pike Circuit Court LVNV Funding LLC sues Amanda D. Fidler aka Amanda Figler for complaint on account. Infractions Pike Circuit Court Aaron D. Jenson charged with speeding 49 mph in a 30 zone. by Katiedid Langrock New Year's on fire New Year's Eve glistens with promise. And I'm not just talking about from the Goldschlager. It's the promise of a new tomorrow. When we create our New Year's resolution—whether it be to diet, change jobs or get that long-desired tattoo of Nancy Reagan—the real question being asked is, Whom do I want to become? This question was never more important than in the year 2000. The nation was panicked over the potential of worldwide devastation from Y2K. As a senior in high school, I already felt that my world was ending. Dec. 31, 1999, was a night to go wild, to push limits, to make bad choices. If there was ever a New Year's Eve to redefine myself, this was it! That is, if Y2K didn't kill me first. My friends and I took to the city to see what we could find on the last night of the world. It had to be epic. Intense. Worthy of a Jack Kerouac novel. A night that would both haunt and inspire the grandkids. In a city sparkling with life-altering potential, we wound up at a house party of some guy who graduated from my high school. Not exactly the most desired location, but I figured some dude's damp basement was as good a place as any to be reborn as a new me. Whom do I want to become? At 17, I wanted to be cooler—not in the popular sense but in the less spastic sense. I resolved to behave in the new millennium with intention, to carry myself with grace and confidence. I would prove it that night. My friends and I rounded the basement corner to where a bunch of guys were playing beer pong. "Who wants a shot?" I raised my hand. The guys looked over, brows furrowed. "Why are you raising your hand?" "I would like a shot of the drink of alcohol," I said. "You don't have to raise your hand. You're not in class." I lowered my arm as the host scoffed, "High schoolers." A kid from my English class passed around red plastic cups of Champagne as I shook off my fumble and prepared for the ultimate test in my New Year's resolution of suave-itude: drinking my first shot while looking like a pro. The disco ball in Times Square dropped as a shot dropped into my hand. "It's a flaming Dr. Pepper. Very girlie. You'll like it." I didn't care about the gender of my drink. I was far too preoccupied by the fact that my drink was on fire. The flaming Dr. Pepper was literally aflame. No matter, I reassured myself. Sure, I never had drunk a shot before, but I was familiar enough with the concept. One, two, three, knock it back and wince. Now, the flame, of course, posed new problems, but I assumed there was some trick to it. The breeze from my swinging my arm to my mouth must extinguish the flame. Or perhaps the wet- ness of my tongue would extinguish the fire before I felt pain. Or when I would close my mouth, the lack of oxygen would kill the blaze. There were plenty of ways in which I could drink this shot and not be harmed by it, I thought. The important thing was that I didn't ask how. I refused to look like a loser by inquiring how to drink a shot. It was a new year. A new me. And in the year 2,000, I was determined to have grace under fire—or when drinking fire. Just as I put the flaming drink to my mouth, I heard the host yell out, "Stop! You have to blow it out first!" But it was too late. The shot scalded the top of my mouth and burned my upper lip. I spent the first few hours of the new millennium in a corner of a cramped basement with an ice pack to my face. The great New Year's resolution for 2000 did not come to fruition, but neither Y2K nor graduation incited the apocalypse, so the year was relatively successful. Ever since then, I've changed my "Auld Lang Syne" tune. I ignore the swirly drinks and sparkly beads and commit to not getting wrapped up in the promise, pressure and spiked punch of New Year's Eve. The risk of hospital bills is simply too high. Whom do I want to become? Me. Just me. With our thanks for your patronage We're overflowing with gratitude for all the folks who have spent time with us this year, and want to wish you much health, happiness and success in the year ahead. Your friendship is important to us and we look forward to seeing you again next year. Joe Mama's Pizza 354-2606 350 W. Main, Petersburg H Danger of incivility Continued from page 2 er. Our nation is divided as never before between the left and the right. We are at loggerheads on profoundly important political and social questions. Civilization itself is under barbaric attack from without. Sadly, too many us are not rising to these challenges as a democratic people. Rather than helping to reverse this decline, the rising chorus of incivility is driving out citizens of honest intent and encouraging those who trade in jeering and mockery. If we are to prevail as a free, self-governing people, we must first govern our tongues and our pens. Restoring civility to public discourse is not an option. It is a necessity. Who will begin the restoration of civility? It falls to all of us to help revive this important virtue. There's a world of difference between attacking a person's argument and attacking a person's character. We need to do more to respect that difference. To engage in rational debate and either hold our own or lose with grace. We must defend our convictions with all the spirit we can. But we should do it with all the civility we can muster, no matter what our opponents do or say. May that be our gift to one another, this year and every year. Ed Feulner is founder of The Heritage Foundation (www.heritage.org). C-3 2014 Double J Collision Center Please accept our very best wishes for a joyous celebration and a happy and healthy new year. at Double J autoMotive 350 W. Main, Petersburg, IN 47567 354-9670 Help Wanted At the birth of the new year, we pause to reflect on the great memories we've shared with our customers and friends. Thank you for making us feel so at home here in the community. Applicant must be experienced in industry electrical maintenance. Must know 440 volt control circuitry. Must also be able to troubleshoot for genWe the year ahead delivers eral repair of welders, overhead hopehealth, happiness and cranes, and peace, metal-forming equipment. Resumes prosperity to you and yours. can be faxed Happy New Year, friends! to 812-354-3809; e-mailed to joni.stroud@fourstarfab.com; or mailed to Four Star Fabricators P.O. Box 67, Petersburg, IN 47567