AP – New Baltimore, Ohio – Scientists are puzzled by the strange appearance of a cat growing out of an Ohio man’s beard. “I have been feeling a little sick of late, so I have not shaved for awhile,” Matt R. was quoted as saying. “He’s a friendly fella, so I may have to leave off shaving for a bit.” Both man and cat appear to be doing well.
The Royal Fools, CVCA’s premier improv group, is proud to announce the opening of the 2006-2007 Fools’ season with a show on Friday, December 15th at 7:00 in the CVCA library. There will be food, fun, and Fools! Come on out and see what improv is about.
Tuesday, Mer and I were bad people and went out on a school night! Moreover, we pulled one of our colleagues and her husband (Ami and Nate) into our wanton ways. We went out to my favorite Italian restaurant, Ristorante Di Gianni, which is in Kent. The food is good and authentic, the restaurant only holds about 75 people, and it is in a converted house. We had a leisurely supper (over an hour) with much laughing (and eating). We then headed the short distance to the oft-cited Kent Stage to see the band Over the Rhine.
Mer has known about Over the Rhine for over 15 years. Two of the founding members were students of her father when he was teaching at Malone College; he was even invited to their wedding. Mer is a big fan; she is usually slow to make a decision, but when we found out Over the Rhine was playing at the Kent Stage (last week), she let me invite Ami and Nate immediately. We have seen Over the Rhine twice before in Chicago (including Mer being responsible for me and her roommate going to a bar for the first time in our lives to hear them – don’t worry, no alcohol was consumed by us). I have known about Over the Rhine since about 1994 when Mer sent me two CDs. I like the band, but I am really fond of their later stuff (the last five years). The lead singer, Karin Bergquist, has a fantastic voice, but on the early albums she held it back, which I found frustrating. I knew this woman could sing, but she would not let it go. A few albums back, she finally let it go – I do not know the reasons why, but I am most pleased that she did.
Ami was looking forward to the concert as well. She had attended Malone College (and had one class with Mer’s father!), so she knew about Over the Rhine, but had never had a chance to see them. Judging by her and Nate’s responses to the songs and the concert, I’d say it was worth the wait.
The concert was just shy of two hours, including the two encores. The band had four people, and they had keyboards, accordion, guitar, upright and electric bass, and a drum set (the guitar got passed around a lot). They did mostly newer stuff, including several songs from their new release of original Christmas music, Snow Angels, which is excellent. It has a wide variety of songs and song styles. They even did a few songs from a CD they are releasing in 2007. It was a good concert, and shared in fun company – a radical evening for rebels wildly out on a school night who got to bed AFTER 11:00.
Side note – I am listening to Folkalley.com as I write this, and Over the Rhine just came on with “Firefly.” Neat-o.
From the MRI report:
“Cerebellum, brainstem, and sella turcica are all unremarkable.”
Shesh. Even the medical establishment is insulting me!
The older I get as a Christian (and in general, I guess I get older), the more I become convinced that we have to base beliefs on the Bible and not on cultural tradition. I am aware that culture informs the reading of the Bible, but at least you have a text to start with. Too often, I think Christians can take cultural things as Biblical, and we need to be more careful to make sure we at least have some Biblical text as a starting point. To show what I mean, see how you do on this quiz about the Christmas story; what is Biblical and what is tradition? Answers based on Matthew and Luke are at the end. And, yes, some are VERY picky. My quiz, my rules.
Christmas Quiz
True or False
1.____ There are no records of Joseph speaking in the
Christmas story.
2.____ The wise men were kings from the orient.
3.____ The little drummer boy came to the manger after the
other shepherds.
4.____ The star appeared above the manger.
5.____ The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary first and then he
appeared to Joseph.
6. ____ Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
7. ____ Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of a
decree by Caesar Augustus.
8. ____ Shepherding was considered a very noble occupation.
9. ____ Both Joseph and Mary were told to name the baby
“Jesus”.
10. ____ When Herod heard about Jesus he was the only one
concerned about this new king.
11. ____ The wise men found Jesus lying in a manger in the
town of Bethlehem.
12. ____ After the angels’ announcement the shepherds went
straight to Bethlehem to see Jesus.
13. ____ Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel
appeared to him.
14. ____ Some of the shepherds doubted and refused to believe
the message they heard from the angels.
Multiple Choice
1. How many wise men were there?
3
4
12
The Bible does not say.
2. Did Joseph meet the wise men?
Yes
No
The Bible does not say.
3. How did Mary get to Bethlehem?
She rode a camel.
She rode a donkey.
She walked.
The Bible does not say.
4. What type of building was Jesus born in?
Cave
Stable
Inn
The Bible does not say.
5. What animals were present at the Nativity?
Cattle
Sheep
Doves
All the above
The Bible does not say
6. Who besides the wise men saw the star?
The shepherds
King Herod’s astrologers
The Bible does not say
7. How soon after Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem was
Jesus born?
Immediately
That same night
That same day
The Bible does not say
8. When Mary became pregnant, Mary and Joseph were
Married
Engaged
The Bible does not say
9. Jesus was born
During the winter
December 25
January 6
During the Spring
The Bible does not say
10. When the wise men came, they found Jesus
In an inn
In a manger
In a cave
In a house
Answers: 
Christmas Quiz
True or False
1.__T__ There are no records of Joseph speaking in the
Christmas story.
2.__F__ The wise men were kings from the orient. –they were not kings–
3.__F__ The little drummer boy came to the manger after the
other shepherds. –there is no record of a drummer boy–
4.__F__ The star appeared above the manger. –the star led to the house Jesus was living in when he was about two years old–
5.__F__ The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary first and then he
appeared to Joseph. –we do not know the identity of the angel who appeared to Joseph–
6. __F__ Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. –there is no record of how Mary traveled–
7. __T__ Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of a
decree by Caesar Augustus.
8. __F__ Shepherding was considered a very noble occupation. –Shepherds were considered lowly, and even unclean by religious law–
9. __T__ Both Joseph and Mary were told to name the baby
“Jesus”.
10. __F__ When Herod heard about Jesus he was the only one
concerned about this new king. –Matthew reports “[Herod] and all Jerusalem” were troubled–
11. __F__ The wise men found Jesus lying in a manger in the
town of Bethlehem. –Jesus was almost two years old by the time the wise men arrived.–
12. __T__ After the angels’ announcement the shepherds went
straight to Bethlehem to see Jesus.
13. __T__ Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel
appeared to him.
14. __F__ Some of the shepherds doubted and refused to believe
the message they heard from the angels. — Luke 2:15 (it sure seems to indicate they all went)–
Multiple Choice
1. How many wise men were there?
The Bible does not say (the language is plural, so more than one).
2. Did Joseph meet the wise men?
The Bible does not say.
3. How did Mary get to Bethlehem?
The Bible does not say.
4. What type of building was Jesus born in?
The Bible does not say. Mangers were kept in stables, in house courtyards, in caves, and more. It is fully possible that Jesus was born in a cave or an enclosed courtyard.
5. What animals were present at the Nativity?
The Bible does not say
6. Who besides the wise men saw the star?
The Bible does not say, but Mt. 2:7 implies that King Herod’s astrologers either saw it or were able to figure out when it appeared. Tricky question!
7. How soon after Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem was
Jesus born?
The Bible does not say
8. When Mary became pregnant, Mary and Joseph were
Engaged
9. Jesus was born
The Bible does not say
10. When the wise men came, they found Jesus
In a house –Jesus was almost two years old–
Sorry if some of these were too picky. How did you do? I wrote this a few years ago, and even I tripped up on a couple of the tricky ones.
Mer and I finally got to see Pirates of the Caribbean at the cheap theater, so now Carribbeaner can talk to us again. Since it was a weekend night, it cost us $3 to see it instead of $2, but it was worth it. It was a fun movie – I loved the fight sequence on the water wheel. Also, if you see it again, make sure you sit through the credits – there is a little bonus at the end. I’m looking forward to the third movie – I like the character of Jack Sparrow.
So, I got a call from my family doctor, whom I am very fond of. She told me the results were in for the MRI of my head, and that everything looked okay, but there were a couple of odd things that needed a specialist to explain. So, she wants me to see a neurologist and that looks like it might be 6-8 weeks before that can happen.
I really don’t need an expert opinion. It is obvious to me what is going on in my head – my mutant powers are finally manifesting themselves. I was hoping for telekinesis (“the Amazing Mu-ver”), but one does not get to choose one’s own powers. It appears that I am developing the ability to read minds. Mer was anxious over the fact that my brain is clinically odd. I told her that I was clearly developing powers. Just then, I was stuck by the extraordinary knowledge that my wife was thinking she had married a loon. When I confronted her with proof of my growing abilities, she did not try to deny it.
I will try to respect your privacy, but you have been warned!