11/18 The term "Carol" we use for any Christmas song. But Dickens was using the context of his time, a carol meant a song celebrating the birth of Christ. Thus he divides the book into "staves" instead of chapters. A stave is a stanza of a song.

11/19 The colloquial word "scrooge" means "to squeeze". Dickens point to use it as a name is to underscore his main character’s primary sin: greed.

11/20 Scrooge’s catchphrase "bah humbug" was the common term for non-sense. We think of him saying it a lot. Actually it is said very little in the story, and even by the end of Stave One he can barely get it out, as one of the first signs of transformation, and it’s never said again in the remaining four staves.

11/21 Marley’s death is "7 years ago this night" (Christmas Eve). 7 often seen as a Holy number. Also we celebrate Christ’s birth on Christmas Day. The implication is that Marley never knew Christ in life; and foreshadowing a rebirth for Scrooge.

11/22 Note that the first two spirits appear accompanied by light, but the third arrives shrouded in darkness.

11/23 Marley appears to Scrooge as "still agitated by the hot vapor from an oven", an obvious reference to hell.

11/24 Now in Stave Two: "He resolved to lie awake until the hour was past; and considering he could no more go to sleep than go to Heaven." Dickens gives a dual purpose with the words in Carol many times, this being one example.

11/25 "It is required of every man," returned the Ghost, "That the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world-oh, woe is me! And witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!" Dickens was having Marley speak of the Great Commission.

11/26 Scrooge is so consumed by money at start of Stave 2 that if the sun were blotted out his biggest concern is that people who owe him money will not be able to count the days to pay him in a timely manner. Two purposes in this: The extent of his greedy nature; and also the blindness of those who live in spiritual darkness even when surrounded by light.

11/27 The appearance of Ghost of Christmas Past is based on the German character the Christkind – according to legend was a heavenly messenger said to have announced the birth of Christ. Other stories say it is a child who brought gifts to infant Jesus. In parts of Germany and other countries it is this character who brings children their toys on Christmas and not Santa Claus.

11/28 "Good Heaven!" says Scrooge. A notable change early in Stave 2 from his earlier "Bah Humbug!"

11/29 When the First Spirit says he is there for Scrooge’s welfare, the worldly minded miser thinks of his physical well-being, causing the Spirit to clarify it is "reclamation", emphasizing a spiritual rehabilitation.

11/30 "It would have been in vain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes; that bed was warm, and the thermometer a long way below freezing; that he was clad but lightly in his slippers, dressing-gown, and nightcap; and that he had a cold upon him at the time." Dickens seems to satirize a list of excuses for not following the spirit. In our own lives we might compare this to a cold Sunday morning when we’d rather stay in bed than go to church.

12/1 Pencast (Bad Link) Something new today! "Scroogie" via Pencast. Today the Ghost takes Scrooge to his past, the scene at the schoolhouse. "The school is not quite deserted," said the Ghost. "A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still." Scrooge said he knew it. And he sobbed. What we do effects others – and can have a lasting effect for a long time. Be mindful of your treatment of others.

12/4 Pencast (Bad Link)

12/5 "Nothing," said Scrooge. "Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should have liked to have given him something: that’s all." His first pang of regret in the story. We must regret before we can experience repentance.

12/6 More family issues with this one. In Stave Two we see how much Scrooge loved his sister (Fan), compared to Stave One where we see he has not loved his nephew (Fred), nor has he loved his neighbors for that matter.

12/7 Charity is presented several times in Carol. Christmas Past takes Scrooge to his beloved old boss Fezziwig. In act of charity Fezzi closes shop early on Christmas Eve and hosts a festive party which young Scrooge enjoys. Compared to the Scrooge of the present who displays little charity to his employee and in fact would like for Cratchit to work on Christmas Day.

12/8 Pencast (Bad Link) Trying to fix that still.

12/9 Less in meaning today, but some good trivia. Mince Pie is served at Fezziwig’s party. Traditionally the pie must contain 3 spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg) to represent 3 gifts of the Magi. Also the traditional pies of Dickens time were often made in oblong shape to resemble the manger. The baker would often make a flat space on the top shaped like a star on which would set a Christ-child figurine. (Strange I know!)

12/10 Christmas Past shows the sad conversation between Belle and Scrooge before they part ways. "It matters little. Another idol has displaced me." Belle criticizes him for trading allegiance to sacred love for a sacrilegious one. Dickens makes another biblical reference here, Exodus 32 and the "golden calf".

12/11 At the end of Stave 2. "He turned upon the Ghost, and seeing that it looked upon him with a face, in which in some strange way there were fragments of all the faces it had shown him, wrestled with it." Scrooge wrestling with the spirit recalls Jacob wrestling in Genesis 32. In both cases a spiritual being chastises a man for past sins, the man wrestles with the spirit as he tries to secure favor, and the spirit is overcome.

12/12 Now starting Stave Three. Dickens used white as the color of the first spirit. The second comes in green. This wasn’t just because it’s a color associated with Christmas. Dickens chose green because it was the symbolic color of growth. Further reflecting Scrooge’s transformation.

Join me each morning at 6:30 AM Central for Morning Prayer. The shows will air every Monday-Friday, with occasional weekend episodes as well. Morning Prayer is exactly what it sounds like – 15-30 minutes of morning devotionals, Bible readings and prayers to start the day.

For a long time I’ve wanted to do something more faith based with the program. I felt that the timing was now right. Due to job changes I won’t be commenting on Nebraska politics as much. Plus I thought this would be a good way to keep myself accountable in my personal life in doing a morning Bible reading. I also wanted to start it at this time of the year, right before the holidays to enhance the meaning for my family. The inspiration for the program came from Glenn Beck. Not many know it, but Glenn hosted a Morning Prayer program on BlogTalkRadio.com during the 10 days leading up to the 8/28/10 Restoring Honor Rally. I loved what he did on that. I was disappointed that he didn’t keep it going. So I thought, why not do it myself?

The source material I’ll be using is the Portals of Prayer booklet by Concordia Publishing that is used by Missouri Synod Lutherans, but is quite applicable to Christianity in general. My intent is to approach it that way. I’m simply using that devotional book because it’s what I use daily anyway. Also the Bible readings will be from the American Patriot’s Bible which is a New King James Version with tid-bits about American history influenced by faith. I hope you’ll join me each morning for devotions and prayer!.

Amazing!

Here I sit in the Badger Den sulking in an Iowa State Cyclones loss to the rival Iowa Hawkeyes…yet, a difference in comparison to other years of sulking. It’s not the story of the day! In fact I could care less. And that’s not an insult at my “fandom” or Cyclone roots. (Great win Hawks…now go run the table! Represent Iowa well!)

Something much bigger took place today. In Washington, D.C., and many other spots across the nation people turned out to voice their objections to not just one politician…but to an entire system that has been corrupted by special intrest, political correctness and non-sense.

What a day for those who have felt they have no voice! What a day for those who have felt alone, isolated, or belittled by a bias media and elitist politicians who seek to diminish their rights and voice for the sake of their own agenda, power and glory.

It is the American experiment, individuals united for a collective good established on natural law, what is moral, is what makes us good. We are still good…no matter your background, political stance. Americans as individuals still have the foundation to stand upon and fight back the forces that seek to give us only one choice. One choice is not choice…but a predetermined outcome. One that can not be good. I fight for the freedom to fail, the responsibility to succede. I want no guarantees, especially from a government that can’t even practice the laws that it imposes on it’s citizenry; the only guarantees I want are the ones established in the Bill of Rights. It’s our duty to protect those rights. Our duty to practice those rights. That is what was seen today. No, no, this was not some “astroturf” movement. This is grass roots. This is America that showed up today.

Are you listening Washington?

That is what is at stake. It is something bigger than all of us…on so many levels.

God save the Republic.