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The First Words of Jesus available as fund raiser - CrossTies' first published book  is off to a fine start. So far we have distributed review copies to pastors from Texas to Minnesota and orders are coming in. Several congregations have accepted our offer to use the sale of the book as a fund raising project. The book is offered for $12.00. Any church group may keep $5.00 from each sale after they have paid for the cost of shipping. In a few weeks, we hope to make the book available directly from online book stores such as Amazon.com. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me directly at  alandsyl@airmail.net. As noted in earlier correspondence, The First Words of Jesus seeks to answer two questions:

 

• Why are the Beatitudes positioned in the New Testament as the first teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ?
• Are the Beatitudes indeed both the introduction to the person and work of Christ and the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments?

Early in the new year an accompanying 50 lesson workbook on The First Words of Jesus will be available. We'll keep you informed.

 

New Movies - We all probably do more complaining about the movie industry than complimenting. However, three new movies deserve a push. By this time you have probably seen Martin Luther. It did not receive rave reviews by people in the media industry (http://www.threemoviebuffs.com/reviews/luther.php). Many to whom I talked did, however, enjoy it and were encouraged to learn more about the Reformation - something I consider to be quite important in our day. As far as I know the DVD is not yet available. Perhaps soon.

 

The second is The Gospel of John: http://www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com/. It is faithful to the Bible. A powerful film, it follows the text of the Gospel in exact detail. What struck me was the bold, in-your-face claims of the young teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. He left no doubt about his claim to be the Son of God, the Messiah, the great I AM.  I've ordered the DVD. I intend to share it widely and urge others to purchase copies as well.

 

The third will be released early in 2004: The Passion, well-known actor and director Mel Gibson's upcoming movie about Christ's final hours (http://www.passion-movie.com/home.html ).  Danae Dobson, daughter of  Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family: http://www.family.org/) writes in a recent e-mail letter: "The film is an intense two hours. It uses unknown actors, which keeps the focus on the message. By the end of the film (a unique portrayal of the Resurrection), the viewer is exhausted! . . It is a soul-stirring film that deserves wide distribution and viewing. Its message is not just for Christians, but for everyone."

 

Celebrating Christmas on December 25 - Two main theories persist to explain  December 25th as the date for celebrating Christmas. For centuries before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, the sun-god, Mithra, was widely worshipped throughout the Roman Empire. The Cult of Mithra can be traced back to ancient Persia, Babylon and Assyria. Mithra, the "Unconquered Sun," was said to have been born on December 25.

 

Rome converted this legacy into a celebration of the Roman god Saturn and the rebirth of the sun god during the winter solstice period. Thus the winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and began the week prior to December 25th. The festival was characterized by gift-giving, feasting, singing and downright debauchery, as the priests of Saturn carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession throughout the Roman temples.

 

After the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 313 A.D., he proclaimed that the Christian faith was to be tolerated throughout the Empire. By the time of his death in 337, December 25 was being celebrated in various churches in Rome as the birthday of Jesus Christ. There is, however, no evidence that Constantine made any proclamation to that effect. Eventually, the practice of celebrating Jesus' birth on December 25 spread throughout the Roman Empire and from there around the world.

 

The December 25 date was later tied to various third century ideas regarding the date of the creation of the Earth. Through a literal interpretation of the Biblical genealogies and some questionable logic, some theologians held that the day of creation was March 25. They then reasoned that God's perfection required that the second great act of creation (Jesus' incarnation) should coincide with the date of the first creation. Therefore, they believed that Jesus was conceived on March 25. Add a perfect nine months to that, and you arrive at December 25. March 25 was later set as the Feast of the Annunciation of Blessed Virgin Mary (the date when the angel announced to Mary that she would bear the Holy Child). This date coincides closely to the vernal equinox. March 25 is preserved also in Lutheran worship calendars to this very day as The Annunciation of Our Lord (see Lutheran Worship, p. 107). Note also that March 25 may be the day, from time to time, when Easter is celebrated. It was so in 1951. It will happen again in 2035. The determination of the date of Easter is, of course, a whole other story (see the following websites: http://www.moonwise.co.uk/neweaster.htm and http://www.smart.net/%7Emmontes/CALFAQ)

 

Regardless of the origins of the Feast of The Nativity of Our Lord, I pray that your celebration this year may be filled with great joy and that peace which only the Prince of Peace brings.

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Keep our work in your prayers. Above all, we need your prayers. Also, if the Lord moves you to support our work, join us. Become a member. Send a one time or a monthly donation. We are only able to continue because of your prayers and your love. For more information go to http://crosstiesministries.org/membership/membership_information2.htm.

 

Dr. Alvin H. Franzmeier

CrossTies Theological Director. Write to me at   alandsyl@airmail.net