Twisted Christmas~

As with many things across our culture today the heritage and story behind the Twelve Days of
Christmas has been mangled.

This particular Christian observance may have been hijacked by eggnog swillers and little elves who choose to rewrite those things that would bring glory and honor to celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world.

For months now I have committed to take nothing for granted, to start from scratch and research my values and traditions, to make sure what I believe is not based on lies or half-truths.

This journey, while time consuming and sometimes tedious, has helped solidify my foundational beliefs.
As with many of our Western “traditions” The Twelve Days of Christmas is actually an historical Church tradition that begins on Christmas day and ends on the beginning of Epiphany (the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season).
This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King's Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany (a King's Cake also is part of the observance of Mardi Gras in French Catholic culture of the Southern USA)).

The familiar "Twelve Days of Christmas” song is not just a nonsense version for children with secular origins; it is a song with hidden meanings steeped in traditional Christian instruction. It’s believed, but not proved, that it was used during the 16th century by the Catholic faith as a secret means of preserving Christian tenets.

There are those who have questioned the historical accuracy saying this version actually is a myth.
(http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp)

Although there is not “hard” evidence to prove it true there really is none to refute the Catholic story either. So, since there’s no “proof” either way and it certainly is not worthy of a “crusade” to prove one way or the other, I vote that those reading this make the choice for themselves how to perceive the classic song, realizing that many of the symbols we use for Christmas, even including the date, are not inherently religious.

What I believe is important for Christians to remember at Christmas is the reason for the season, Christ; that we encourage our friends, neighbors and families to rejoice the birth of the Light of the world.

Hopefully this writing will inspire you to search, pray and reflect on your beliefs this Christmas season and to share your findings with others as we step into the beginning of a new year, a chance to change our world for the better becoming informed, engaged and empowered.

With all this in mind, here’s what the research I’ve done says are the intended religious symbolism of the “Twelve Days of Christmas:”

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

P.S.   I was sent this video by a friend on facebook and it is truly AMAZING~ Enjoy~ http://www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/1905/A-Social-Network-Christmas

Relient K - 12 Days of Christmas

Morning Roll Call~ News You Need to Know

 Arkansas News

Notice of Another Crisis? Storage …

In a story that has been playing out for a few days, outgoing Pulaski Circuit/County Clerk, Pat Obrien is wanting to shred court documents. In a story from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette “O’Brien said the records needed to be shredded to help avert a storage crisis. The files had been electronically duplicated, and made easily and reliably accessible by computer to the judges”

The story also reported that over 50,000 files from cases dating from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s by Obrien’s predecessor. So why the brouhaha now? Maybe someone in Pulaski county could let me know.

Game and Fish Commission Angling Again

Evidently the Chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission feels that the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act is a detriment for endangered species. YEA I would say shady officials. For months now this commission has been angling to dodge transparency, that begs the question, WHY?

Well I am sure it has nothing to do with a new story in the news today of a request from a former chairman to investigate the commission’s contract with a Little Rock communications firm.

Here’s the stories from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Agency: No papers for claim on species and     Nelson: Look at panel’s PR deal Wildlife funds misused, he says. What a bunch of rubbish.

Don’t let the Name Fool Ya

Progressive Arkansas is doing a series on Arkansas State Senators I would encourage you to read it and familiarize yourselves with those that govern us, come January it could prove useful.

The 2009 Tobacco Tax:

Was Children’s Health Care the Big Loser?  

Governor Beebe made a huge issue out of the tobacco in 2009. Tons of “promises” were made but according to this report from the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families only 5 of the 23 promised programs have been fully funded.

Revenues increased by an estimated $80.5 million so where is it? Check out the story~

Here, Here

John Brummett and I rarely see eye to eye but in his column “Here’s Government without Politics” he did a wonderful job

FEEDS

@ArkansasOnline

Beebe revives state workers’ cost-of-living raises: Gov. Mike Beebe announced Thursday that he’s reinstating cos... http://bit.ly/hVgBke

Don’t shred files, justices tell O’Brien: A three-sentence order issued Thursday by the Arkansas Supreme Court e... http://bit.ly/guB5VF

Flu virus arrives in Arkansas, outbreak minimal: The Arkansas Health Department says seven cases of influenza ha... http://bit.ly/fUAoPZ

@Region8News

Arkansas Marine killed in combat in Afghanistanhttp://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13610234

@ur_tax_break

Beebe: No general revenue for highway improvements: Arkansas has a per-gallon gasoline sales tax of 21.5 cents, ... http://bit.ly/fcLd9x

@fayetteville_ar

University Of Arkansas Announces Retroactive Pay: University of Arkansas officials say career-service and merit ... http://bit.ly/fMABpq

@ArkEducNews

U.S. commits to providing a complete & competitive education for every student, from cradle through careerhttp://bit.ly/eHTPlp

Update 120210

Sounds like the making of a 24 episode~

Fox16 reports~ Radioactive gauge reported missing

According to the Arkansas Department of health, the gauge fell off a truck while it was being transported between Little Rock and Bryant.

Topsy vs Turvy

This is extremely confusing on report says;

 “Department of Finance and Administration Director Richard Weiss said Thursday the state's net available revenues in November were $47.2 million below last year and $3.4 million below forecast. The state's net available revenues for the year are above forecast by $25.4 million.”

Vs

This report:

“The Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration reported Thursday that year-to-date (July-November) total revenues are $2.198 billion, up 2.4% over the same period in 2009. The percentage gain for the first five months of the fiscal year slipped from the 7% overall revenue gain in the first four months of the fiscal year.”

 Giving way to this story

“Gov. Mike Beebe on Thursday said he's asked the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to end the freeze on state worker pay.”


UPDATE~
Earlier today I posted a story (http://ow.ly/3j72I ) that the way I read it Arkansas was $47.2 million down from last year, when in fact that was just the November number.  After a discussion with the Governor's office I have learned that Arkansas is $51 million ahead of last year and that is why the Govern unfroze gov't pay raises.~
(sorry Blonde moment) 

More money (I mean debt) pouring into Arkansas

TalkBusiness.net “U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced a $1 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to Pulaski County to help build the Six Bridge Innovation Conference Center at the Verizon Arena in downtown North Little Rock.”

Twitter Feeds

@ ArkansasOnline

Supreme Court declines to hear order on court shredding: The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday declined to cons... http://bit.ly/hoGWam

Negotiators work on tax deal as House holds vote: A Democratic bill to make middle class tax cuts permanent whil... http://bit.ly/hdoKFn

@RobyBrock

#ARLeg 1st bill filed that draws attention to majority/minority party representation. Filed by Rep. Jane English (R). http://bit.ly/g7jyMe

Nov. dip in state revenues slowed YTD growth from +7% in 1st 4 months to +2.4% in 1st 5 months of fiscal year. http://bit.ly/hs0OIm

#ARLeg Advocacy group says programs touted in tobacco tax inc. not funded or underfunded.http://bit.ly/fwrWm7

Morning Roll Call~ News You Need to Know

Arkansas News-

Bringing Home the Bacon- $90 Million Worth

If ever a case were made for parents and citizens to go to school board meeting it is now~ Arkansas's School's will receive $90 million of a $10 billion federal Education Jobs fund signed into law last August  Fayetteville School Dist will get $1.6 million and Springdale $3.5 million. 

The NWA Times Reported:

“Each district will receive $193 per student based on its 2009-10 enrollment. It must be spent by Sept. 30, 2012.

Money can be spent on existing salaries, new hires, rehires or raises and bonuses, according to a memo from the state department.”

The bill $16 billion for Medicaid over 10 years, Congressman Boozman voted against the final version of the bill because he believes we need to cut spending and this is not the way to do it.

Congressman Ross voted for the bill and Representatives Marion Berry and Vic Snyder were absent for the final vote.

From TalkBusiness.net:

BEEBE: 'HAVE A WAY TO PAY' FOR TAX CUTS 

Gov. Mike Beebe told Arkansas Farm Bureau members at their 2010 convention on Wednesday that lawmakers must have a plan for proposed tax cuts in the 2011 legislative session.

Twitter Stories

@RobyBrock-

Shale drilling drives growth in U.S. natural gas reserves to a 40-year high. http://bit.ly/hdkm5K

#ARLeg Beebe gives some of his strongest comments to date regarding potential tax cuts in 2011 leg. session. http://bit.ly/eZhhVM

@ArkansasOnline-

Arkansas National Guard troops to depart state: One-hundred-seventy Arkansas National Guard troops are leaving f... http://bit.ly/et5rR9

O’Brien is out of line, justices told: Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Pat O’Brien does not have the authority to s... http://bit.ly/g6KzUk

LR school chief agrees to resign: Little Rock School District Superintendent Linda Watson will step down from he... http://bit.ly/hNW8WF

@KARK4News

Are Better Highways down the Road for Arkansas? http://bit.ly/fxyk8h

Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office Warns of Counterfeit Billshttp://bit.ly/fz9Ffk

Many Thanksgivings~One Meaning

Many believe the “First American Thanksgiving” occurred in December, 1621. But as with many American traditions, it’s difficult to pin down the precise origin. American truly is a melting pot of worlds. In doing a little research I found many celebrations claiming to be the first American Thanksgiving. The earliest one I found was in May 1541 when “Spanish explorer, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, led 1,500 men in a thanksgiving celebration at the Palo Duro Canyon. Coronado's expedition traveled north from Mexico City in 1540 in search of gold. The group camped alongside the canyon, in the modern-day Texas Panhandle, for two weeks in the spring of 1541. The Texas Society Daughters of the American Colonists commemorated the event as the "first Thanksgiving" in 1959.”

Then, from that same source on June 30th 1564 “French Huguenot colonists celebrated in solemn praise and thanksgiving in a settlement near what is now Jacksonville, Florida. The colony was destroyed by a Spanish raiding party in 1565. This "first Thanksgiving," however, was later commemorated at the Fort Carolina Memorial on the St. Johns River.”
Other Thanksgivings that notably occurred, 1607 when English settlers led by Captain George Popham joined Abnaki Indians along Maine's Kennebec River for a harvest feast and prayer meeting. And another in 1610 in Jamestown, Virginia where colonist held a thanksgiving prayer service after English supply ships arrived with food.

Settlers held their first Thanksgiving at Berkeley Plantation on December 4, 1619, a year before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth. The settlers of James River at Berkeley actually made a proclamation that the first Sunday in November be a Thanksgiving Festival.

This is the first time an annual celebration was arranged that I could locate. Here’s their proclamation: "Wee ordaine that the day of our ship’s arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."

One hundred and two brave passengers set sail leaving Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620, arriving over two months later in Massachusetts during late November. Upon landing, the new settlers wrote and signed Mayflower Compact which says:

“In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.”

Not being prepared for the harsh winter meant nearly half lost their lives before spring, leaving only 53 people, twenty-two of the survivors being men. The settlers were prayerful people; and as God so often does, he brought people alongside them to help: Samoset and soon after, Squanto. These men of Divine intervention were among the participants of that “First Thanksgiving” feast.

You might be interested to know the foods of the dinner as were chronicled by William Bradford and Edward Winslow. You might also want to view their full diaries William Bradford~ Of Plymouth Plantation and Edward Winslow~ Mourt’s Relation.

You might think that the tradition of Thanksgiving by this point had been set. But you’d also be wrong by a long shot. The next recorded Thanksgiving Day came in 1623 when the pilgrims gratefully received rain after Governor William Bradford called for a day of solemn prayer seeking God's mercy to end a drought. When the rain came he proclaimed a day of thanksgiving.

From there our history is rife with days of fasting, prayer and thanksgiving. I found one woman’s desire to find answers about the history of American Thanksgiving most interesting Karen Nelte. Her account from 1621 forward is well sourced http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/thanksgiving_nelte.html, and I enjoyed reading it.

Connecticut is believed to be the first place in America to set up an annual Thanksgiving Day although although the mid-1600s, Thanksgiving as we know it today began to take shape. Records show proclamations of Thanksgiving for September 18, 1639, as well as 1644, and after 1649.

From 1775-1784 Congress issued eight separate national Thanksgiving Proclamations and seven separate proclamations for times of fasting and prayer, for a total of 15 official prayer proclamations during the American Revolution.

America’s first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789. President George Washington on October 3, 1789 signed the "General Thanksgiving," decree and appointed that day "to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." This was to commemorate the completion of the draft of Bill of Rights, which had been completed on September 25th of that same year.

Well the Thanksgiving tradition STILL wasn’t an annual event following President Washington’s initial proclamation, national Thanksgiving Proclamations occurred only periodically: President Washington again in 1795, John Adams in 1799, James Madison in 1814 and again in 1815. There was lots of proclaiming going on.

In 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln gave his Proclamation of Thanksgiving on October 3rd. the following is taken from David Barton of Wall Builders and his “Celebrating Thanksgiving in America.”

“The Thanksgiving proclamation issued by Lincoln was remarkable not only for its strong religious content but also for its timing, for it was delivered in the midst of the darkest days of the Civil War, with the Union having lost battle after battle throughout the first three years of that conflict. Yet, despite those dark circumstances, Lincoln nevertheless called Americans to prayer with an air of positive optimism and genuine thankfulness, noting that:”
“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. . . . No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, Who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”
“That remarkable Thanksgiving Proclamation came at a pivotal point in Lincoln’s spiritual life. Three months earlier, the Battle of Gettysburg had resulted in the loss of some 60,000 American lives. It had been while Lincoln was walking among the thousands of graves there at Gettysburg that he first committed his life to Christ. As he later explained to a clergyman:”
“When I left Springfield [Illinois, to assume the Presidency], I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.
The dramatic spiritual impact resulting from that experience was not only visible in Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation (and also his 1864 call for a day of prayer and fasting) but especially in his 1865 Second Inaugural Address.
Over the seventy-five years following Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, presidents faithfully followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day (but the date of the celebrations varied widely from proclamation to proclamation). In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, and in 1941, Congress permanently established that day as the national Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving is the oldest American holiday and one with the richest spiritual thread. It is hallowed time where American’s know and publicly recognize their reliance on God, and the need to fast, pray and give thanks to the Creator of the Universe.

My hope and prayer this Thanksgiving is for Americans to be truly Thankful. President Lincoln so wonderfully wrote: “They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.”

Wonderful Opportunity to Build Community~

If we think that the fight for liberty is entirely on the steps of the capital, whether in Little Rock or Washington we are misinformed and misguided. The fight for liberty lies first and foremost in the hearts and minds of the citizens.

Being just a week from Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner I want to encourage you as you and your family prepare, sincerely consider your neighbors and community.

There’s no denying that now, more than any other time in my 44 years of life, people are in financial stress. In Arkansas nearly half a million people live in poverty. A recent published study shows Arkansas had the highest percentage of residents who lack consistent access to nutritious and well-balanced meals during the past three years while more than half of children enrolled in Arkansas’ public schools depend on free or reduced-price meals.

Arkansas children rank third worst in the nation with 26.9 percent living in poverty in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. I read in the paper on Monday that 772 homes were scheduled for foreclosure in October just in Washington and Benton Counties alone. Wool, according to Bloomberg, has gone up 70 percent already this year and retailers like Gap, Wal-Mart and Penny’s may soon have to raise clothing prices upwards of 30 percent.

Then there is gasoline at the pump jumping 4.5 percent nationally and KFSM reported: “AAA says in just the last week Arkansas gas prices have risen by nearly seven cents a gallon, to an average of $2.67. In Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, it’s even higher. The price per gallon is up nine cents.” On April 5^th a study reported that Arkansas was the 10^th most dangerous state to live in.

Seems like everywhere you look there is bad news unless you consider this a wonderful opportunity to truly engage in our communities and become even more deeply and personally connected with our neighbors. We also need to invest in our families not necessarily with money, but with our friendship and our time.

If our families are strong and our education is strong our crime rate also will drop. Everything in society becomes better with strong families and caring communities. It is vitally important for us to shore up our communities, whether you think there are rougher times ahead or just to cure the effects of what has
happened thus far.

So consider inviting your neighbors and less fortunate people to your home for a warm meal and a time of fellowship. Think about serving at a soup kitchen, donating to a shelter. You can adopt a family through your church or civic group for the holidays. Most would agree that giving gifts is far more rewarding that receiving them.

One more unsolicited suggestion ~ this year our family will concentrate more on needs than on wants. Different times call for different perspectives and measures~

God Speed