Some new thoughts on the Christmas Star! My grandson's birthday!

Jesus was born June 17, say scientists

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 

UPDATED: 04:57 EST, 9 December 2008

Researchers tracked the 'Christmas star' to a reveal the date of Christ's birth as June 17. It may not be too late to send the presents back, as astronomers have calculated that Christmas should not be celebrated on December 25 - but on June 17 instead.

Researchers tracked the appearance of the 'Christmas star', which the Bible states three wise men followed to find Jesus. Australian stargazer Dave Reneke used complex computer software to chart the exact positions of all celestial bodies and map the night sky as it would have appeared over the Holy Land more than 2,000 years ago.

He discovered that a bright star really did appear over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago - but pinpointed the date of Christ's birth as June 17, and not December 25.

Scientists claim the Christmas star was most likely a magnificent conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter, which were so close together they would have shone unusually brightly as a single 'beacon of light' which appeared suddenly.

Mr Reneke says the wise men probably interpreted it as the sign they had been waiting for, and they followed the 'star' to Christ's birthplace in a stable in Bethlehem, as described in the Bible.

Generally accepted research has placed the nativity to somewhere between 3BC and 1AD.

Using the St Matthew's Gospel as a reference point, Mr Reneke pinpointed the planetary conjunction, which appeared in the constellation of Leo, to the exact date of June 17 in the year 2BC.

Mr Reneke, who is editor of Sky and Space magazine, said: 'We have software that can recreate the night sky exactly as it was at any point in the last several thousand years.

'Venus and Jupiter became very close in the the year 2BC and they would have appeared to be one bright beacon of light.

'We are not saying this was definitely the Christmas star - but it is the strongest explanation for it of any I have seen so far. 

'Astronomy is such a precise science, we can plot exactly where the planets were, and it certainly seems this is the fabled Christmas star. There's no other explanation that so closely matches the facts we have from the time.

'This could well have been what the three wise men interpreted as a sign. They could easily have mistaken it for one bright star.'

He added: 'December is an arbitrary date we have accepted but it doesn't really mean that is when it happened.

'This is not an attempt to decry religion. It's really backing it up as it shows there really was a bright object appearing in the East at the right time.

'Often when we mix science with religion in this kind of forum, it can upset people. In this case, I think this could serve to reinforce people's faith.'

Previous theories have speculated that the star was a supernova (exploding star) or even a comet.

But Mr Reneke says that by narrowing the date down, the technology has provided the most compelling explanation yet.

A leading theory behind why December 25 was chosen as the date to celebrate Christ's birth, was that it was selected by the church as it aligned closely with a major pagan festival, which allowed the church to claim a new celebration for Christianity.

However, if the findings are correct, it would mean a change from Christmas cards featuring traditional snowy scenes to sunny beach views in June.

Little boy, big faith!

My wife was speaking to our three year old grandson,Will, about our forthcoming trip to see him at Christmas. She asked him if there would be any snow in Shreveport, (Louisiana) suggesting the chances of that are slim, to which he immediately replied, "I know, but God's in charge". His response made us laugh, but it also made us think about Jesus' words, "For of such is the kingdom of heaven".

A little boy's quick faith-teaching to his grandparents becomes fodder for all of us to consider two critical questions: Who is God?, and, How does He work with people? The depth of those two simple questions can keep thinking people occupied for life, but the answers are not always as forthcoming as they are for Will. 

Some glibly speak of how God immediately cured their loved one's illness because someone in the family prayed. Unfortunately, other believers pray for healing but get different results, sometimes death. 

The image of a doting God can change quickly when life goes awry. While no one of any substance glibly suggests their prayers are more effactious than those whose loved one's die, there are no good explanations for such things - or even for why it snows some years in Shreveport and not others.

This is a good season to focus on those two simple questions about God's nature and involvement with us. With age and experience we learn that life, like God, is not predictable, sometimes wondering secretly who He really is, or why He's not picking out our socks for us, like some insinuate He does for them. 

Regardless of whether you think Will's answer is perceptive or naive, it all eventually comes full circle to faith. His Momma and Daddy tell him God can do anything, so for now, he believes it. So, if it doesn't snow in Shreveport next Wednesday, he may forget it all about it, or He may just figure God decided to send the snow to some other expectant little boy's house in Minneapolis. I hope he doesn't ask me why. I have no answer. 

Merry Christmas anyway.

JG

The good father makes a good point about Revelation 13

Wednesday of the Second Sunday in Advent – Revelation 13

A moving story about unseen kindnesses.

I just watched a video on You Tube where a retired State Trooper speaks in the form of a poem about how doing unseen good deeds can impact people down the road. (No pun intended!) See the video on the column left.

I responded to my sister about how impactful unseen kindness can be, and I think anyone who reads this note can piece it together for themselves. The last paragraph refers to my wife's mother Carol Thomson, passing away yesterday. You will get the gist.

Wow. That shakes my timbers because it makes us think about those little touches we give to others and how they remain vivid in their lives. Hopefully they see the deepest motivation of our hearts, not just the surface action. We have the greatest life now because we can do things for people without fanfare or religious structure. We do it because someone once helped us. Like Jack Manzella who was my scoutmaster so many decades ago still influences me. Like family and other friends who do thoughtful little things, never expecting that we remember, but we do. I sometimes live in the fallacy that people only remember the bad things I've done, something that can put a damper on life. 

This little video helps us remember the positive side of life and how we can influence, and motivate someone in a bad place to keep going THROUGH their valleys. 

Thanks sister(s), who have done so much of this for others. I think our parents taught us that lesson in spades. The best service is the the least known. If heaven holds any allure for me it could be that we may get to see the real heroes up there who never got the rank or credit here. That brings a smile to me today. 

As we think about Barbara's mother today, the majority of the comments relate to her kind smile and welcoming ways. Small things that caused our first soldier from 1973 to write, "I still love her".

Love

Jack

Bob Welsh - My Christmas Eve