Here we are again... the month of December.  It still is a special month for me because of what it represents, the birth of Jesus Christ, and the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. 

Time to enjoy again that excellent performance of George C. Scott in Charles Dickens' Chrismas Carol.  For me, the best production ever. And as you may remember, in this movie Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts representing the Chrismas past, Chrismas present, and Christmas to come.  Once again, they re visiting me.

Christmas past... where have those moments gone??  I remember when I was a little child and the family got together to put the Christmas tree in the living room, the lights in the balcony...  Now it's me alone who puts it there, along with the manger.

Where are those old movies that I used to watch, like The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Clause, Frosty, Rudolph, those innocent, yet touching movies for kids... the little kid still inside me is craving for them.

Where have all those family moments gone?  Is Santa still delivering presents on that night?? Am I still on time to submit my wish list??

Christmas present... what a difference from the past... now the tree doesn't have as many presents as before, and the "presents" I get are always predictable, usually the same things every year, the surprise factor rarely appears.  And this Christmas supposedly won't be the exception... another Christmas alone in some way, since siblings have their families and spend with them, while in my house just a lunch, or early dinner.  Both my parents are sick and I take care of them, so at least I will have them, but not the way I used to have them before. 

That causes me my traditional "Christmas depression", although I am eager to reach midnight and put Baby Jesus in my manger and pray to Him.  Let's see how it will go this year. 

And yes... Christmas yet to come... Scrooge was afrid of this last ghost, no wonder why... the representation of a dark, unknown, and unpredictable future...  What is to come here??  One day sooner or later, my parents will be gone, and I will stay alone. That is what scares me the most... loneliness.  It is not the same to be surrounded by those you love, sharing moment in family, that to be all by yourself, although it is said that if you have Christ in you, you have everything.  Yet, I'm still worried about my Christmases to come. 

But for the time being, let's see what this one brings, what tv specials, what gifts and bonuses from work.  At least a turkey, some sweets, wine, are to come, along with a small cheque. 

And as little Tim used to say... and God bless us all everyone. 

Merry Christmas from the center of the world. 

It's the third sunday of June, so happy father's day to all the fathers in englishclub :)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3: 16

Merry Christmas from the center of the world.

Blessings

THE FINAL SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do

Luke 23:34

Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".

This first saying of Jesus upon the cross was Jesus' prayer for forgiveness for those who were crucifying him: the Roman soldiers, and apparently for all others who were involved in his crucifixion.

Today you will be with me in paradise

Luke 23:43

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise".

Jesus is crucified between two thieves. In Luke's Gospel, one of them supports Jesus' innocence and asks him to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus replies to him using his set formula for important sayings: "Truly, I say to you..." (ἀμήν λέγω σοί, amēn legō soi). Then follows the only use of the word "paradise" in the Gospels (παραδείσω, paradeisō, from the Persian pairidaeza).

Behold your son: behold your mother

John 19:26-27

Jesus saw his own mother, and the disciple standing near whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son". Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother". And from that hour, he took his mother into his family.

Jesus entrusts Mary, his mother, into the care of a disciple. Traditionally, this is thought to be John the Evangelist, but he is only referred to as the beloved disciple. The Catholic Church interprets this phrase beyond just the disciple, saying that Jesus was giving his mother to all of the church, and consequently all of the church to her. The Catholic Church also uses this saying as a proof that Mary did not have any other children, because if she did have other sons who could have taken care of her, Jesus would not have needed to give her over to his beloved disciple — indeed, had Mary had other sons, such a transfer would have been incredibly insulting to them in the context of 1st-century Jewish culture. Another view on this saying is that Jesus, on the verge of giving up his life, and having had given up everything else in his life, was now giving up his only last "possession," which was his mother. Thus, he would be dying in absolute poverty, without even the benefit of a mother.

Eli Eli lema sabachthani

Matthew 27:46

Around the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, saying "Eli Eli lama sabachthani?" which is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Of the seven sayings of Jesus from the cross, this one stands out. It is the only saying recorded in Matthew and Mark, and is the only one that appears in two, parallel accounts. Intriguingly, this saying is given in Aramaic with a translation (originally in Greek) after it. This phrase also appears on the opening line of Psalm 21 (Psalm 22 in the Masoretic Text).

I thirst

John 19:28

He said, "I thirst".

This saying perhaps represents the total humanity of Jesus, and the thirst for God of those who are put far from him. As he is given sour wine to drink, soaked in a sponge on a hyssop stem, this may be a reference to Psalm 69:21, where sour wine is offered. It may allude to Jesus' statement about drinking the cup that the Father gives him (John 18:11).

It is finished

John 19:30

Jesus said, "It is finished".

Jesus announces that his work, atonement, is completed. Sometimes the meaning 'the debt is written off' is read into this verse. Although this is often seen as a theological statement (that the debt of humanity to God is cancelled, that Jesus had finished his mission, and so on), the Greek (τετέλεσται) is best translated by a simple English word: "completed", or "finished", without added nuance.

Into your hands I commit my spirit

Luke 23:46

And speaking in a loud voice, Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit".

This saying is based on Psalm 31:5. Because of this, it is unlikely that 'my spirit' refers to a disembodied soul, but simply to one's self: I put myself in your hands now.

Today in Ecuador we remember the birth of Juan Montalvo, one of our most famous writers. He was born in Ambato, place of birth of Juan León Mera, author of our anthem's lyrics, and also Juan Benigno Vela. All of them well known writers, reason for which Ambato is also known as "The cradle of the three Johns".  

In 1920, President Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno decreed this day as the day of the Ecuadorian Teacher.

So, a happy teacher's day to my fellow colleagues. :)

God bless us all.

This picture was taken this mid day here in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  It is called "Halo Solar" in Spanish. 

It is caused by the refraction of solar rays through ice crystals in the atmosphere.  First time I see this phenomenon.  Might also be a sign from God, asking us for a change. 

It is the Ecuadorian tradition to build a dummy that represents the year that is finishing, and burn it just before midnight on Dec. 31st. This dummy used to be made with old clothes and filled with paper or sawdust. Now, they are made with wood and cardboard too, and they may represent anyone or anything, from a cartoon character to a politician, or even an event that occured during the year. There are contests around the country with prizes for the best dummy, or the best representation of a situation or event.  There is also a contest for writing the old year's will. 

In the picture above we can see a dummy built by myself, which looks like a neighbour, and others that were bought. (a turtle, WALL-E, and Pucca) The one with the Miami t-shirt is Not a dummy, just in case ;-) jejeje...

This year I made one of our President.  Many people want to burn him.  But not only that we burn the bad things that happened during the year, but sometimes people burn this or that character because they like them, or thay have been good, as some kind of recognition. 

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. 

John 1, 14.

Merry Christmas to all.