Friday, December 23, 2005
Merry Christmas
There is a controversy in my family. One sibling at a very young age decided that since there was a Christmas Eve, there must be a Christmas Adam. The controversy is that we cannot remember whether it was supposed to be Christmas day, or whether it was supposed to be the day before Christmas Eve. At any rate, merry Christmas Adam, Eve, and Feliz Natal to all.
First, I must apologize for not getting a weekly update out last week. I tried to write something and nothing came out but some of my ideas on European politics. I was also planning on a wait until now to share some Portuguese traditions at Christmas, including some recipes for those of you curious, but here I am finally with a chance to write, and without my notes. I do have a good enough memory to share some important things, though.
Portugal is a popular destination at Christmas time because it is much warmer than the rest of Europe. I find the traditional food at this time quite foreign, but seafood seems to be a tradition across Europe. As common as the ham or turkey to which I am accostomed, Portuguese eat bacalhau. I do not know my seafood well, but someone told me that it is whitefish. It comes in huge piles in the stores, salted and dried.
Portugal may have joined the tradition late, but it has jumped on the bandwagon and started driving it. I say bandwagon, but I should say sleigh. Santa Claus (Pai Natal) is everywhere. There happens to be one about two stories tall outside the very shopping center from which I write. It is quite humorous to hear about his arrival, though. All of my teachers at university have said that he was invented by Coca-cola about 30 years ago. The Dutch friends here are quick to refute that, but it is no use counting real stories of a Dutch woodcarver.
Another humorous note results from my reputation as being a bit cold-blooded. I am still running around in just a sweatshirt, but nearly everyone else has on the obligatory hat, coat, gloves, and sometimes even more. I guess temperature can seem relative.
Before I close I ought to say happy birthday to my Grandma Johnson. She always says that we should return those congratulations to Jesus, since it is supposed to be His birthday on December 25. I think that maybe Jesus gave my whole family a gift when He gave us her on His birthday.
Finally, I am a bit of an Ebenezer Scrooge at Christmas due to the fact that I get so sick of hearing about the spirit of Christmas from people who either do not care about Christ, only care about Him at Christmas, or miss the point of His birth. Sure, He was a baby king. The angels sang peace on earth goodwill to men. But the greatest miracle was that God loved you and me so much that He was willing to become incarnate. There are so many blessings that came of this, but I am always shocked and blessed to read what the writer of Hebrews had to say about it "For truly He did not take the nature of angels, but He took hold of the seed of Abraham. Therefore in all things it behoved him to be made like His brothers, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people" (Hebrews 2:16-17). So much more is written on this. I would reccomend reading the whole chapter. But I stand in awe that the Creator did this not just to make subject matter for poems and traditions, not just to give us outreach opportunities and cantadas and programs. He did this because He loved us. His incarnation was the only successful way to provide for our sin and separation from God. What a great God, personal God, a saving God He is!
Merry Christmas
First, I must apologize for not getting a weekly update out last week. I tried to write something and nothing came out but some of my ideas on European politics. I was also planning on a wait until now to share some Portuguese traditions at Christmas, including some recipes for those of you curious, but here I am finally with a chance to write, and without my notes. I do have a good enough memory to share some important things, though.
Portugal is a popular destination at Christmas time because it is much warmer than the rest of Europe. I find the traditional food at this time quite foreign, but seafood seems to be a tradition across Europe. As common as the ham or turkey to which I am accostomed, Portuguese eat bacalhau. I do not know my seafood well, but someone told me that it is whitefish. It comes in huge piles in the stores, salted and dried.
Portugal may have joined the tradition late, but it has jumped on the bandwagon and started driving it. I say bandwagon, but I should say sleigh. Santa Claus (Pai Natal) is everywhere. There happens to be one about two stories tall outside the very shopping center from which I write. It is quite humorous to hear about his arrival, though. All of my teachers at university have said that he was invented by Coca-cola about 30 years ago. The Dutch friends here are quick to refute that, but it is no use counting real stories of a Dutch woodcarver.
Another humorous note results from my reputation as being a bit cold-blooded. I am still running around in just a sweatshirt, but nearly everyone else has on the obligatory hat, coat, gloves, and sometimes even more. I guess temperature can seem relative.
Before I close I ought to say happy birthday to my Grandma Johnson. She always says that we should return those congratulations to Jesus, since it is supposed to be His birthday on December 25. I think that maybe Jesus gave my whole family a gift when He gave us her on His birthday.
Finally, I am a bit of an Ebenezer Scrooge at Christmas due to the fact that I get so sick of hearing about the spirit of Christmas from people who either do not care about Christ, only care about Him at Christmas, or miss the point of His birth. Sure, He was a baby king. The angels sang peace on earth goodwill to men. But the greatest miracle was that God loved you and me so much that He was willing to become incarnate. There are so many blessings that came of this, but I am always shocked and blessed to read what the writer of Hebrews had to say about it "For truly He did not take the nature of angels, but He took hold of the seed of Abraham. Therefore in all things it behoved him to be made like His brothers, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people" (Hebrews 2:16-17). So much more is written on this. I would reccomend reading the whole chapter. But I stand in awe that the Creator did this not just to make subject matter for poems and traditions, not just to give us outreach opportunities and cantadas and programs. He did this because He loved us. His incarnation was the only successful way to provide for our sin and separation from God. What a great God, personal God, a saving God He is!
Merry Christmas
