Neighborhoods and Activities in Baton Rouge

CHRISTMAS FACT OR MYTH?  A FUN QUIZ FOR THE SEASON

ANSWERS

TRUE OR FALSE:

1.  Jesus was born in December. False.  Based on the time of first census decreed by Caesar Augustus, Roman history records this occurred about September or October. It was during this census and family registration trip to Bethlehem that Mary gave birth to Jesus.  We celebrate the birth in December and it is a national holiday in the U.S.

(Unless you're thinking out of the box like Sandy & Evelyn, and instead of the Christian Jesus of Roman empire times  you are thinking Jesus is just the name of any boy born with that name.  Then the answer could be True)

2.  Jesus was born in 0 A.D. False.  There is no 0 A.D., only 1BC or 1AD.  Josephus and other historians place the birth at about 4 or 5 BC.

3.  Early Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus .False.  The first recorded celebration occurred in 336AD, over 300 years after his birth.

4.  Mica, a prophet, foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. True.  Book of Mica in the Bible

5.  Angels told the shepherds they should go worship Jesus. True.  Book of Luke 2: 8-14 in the Bible

6.  The Wise Men with presents were present at Jesus birth. False.  Magi (Webster's defines Magi as the priestly caste in ancient Media and Persia, supposedly having occult powers) traveled there later.

7.  Three (3) Kings on camels visited bearing gifts. False.   There is no record of three Kings in the Bible or in the history records of the Middle East such as Josephus' works or Roman historical documents.  The Bible says Magi bore 3 gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but doesn't give the number of magi.  The plural use of the word implies at least two but there may have been many more. There is no mention of how they traveled.  Since camels were common transportation, many history re-enactments use camels but there is no actual record that it was camels in any of the written documents of Rome, or the Middle East, or the Bible.

8.  A star led Wise Men directly to Jesus. False.  They saw the star that foretold of Jesus birth, but they went to Herod seeking location of the child.  Herod sent them to search in Jerusalem and report back to him. After the visit to Herod, a star stood over the location of the child to guide them.  They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod to tell him of the child's whereabouts as Herod planned to kill the child. They did not return to Herod.  Herod in a rage had all male children under age of 2 killed in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.  Jesus' parents had fled in the night before to Egypt and were unharmed.  Herod's plot is recorded in Josephus's records and Roman history documents, and in the Bible.

Most have read the horrible ratings many Louisiana schools, and East Baton Rouge Parish schools receive.  It's so bad that it occasionally garners national attention.  Ugh!  but rather than be complacent and apathetic and just go along, a group of young professionals has organized to make a difference.  Called the Public Education Project....PEP....these energetic difference makers are organizing school tours and town hall meetings.

Next Meeting:

January 6, 2009

9-10am

South Boulevard Elementary

You can sign up to receive a monthly newsletter, host a PEP talk, join the mentoring program at EBR Lab Academy.

Be active in your community.  Get involved to make East Baton Rouge Parish Schools better

Learn more at the PEP WEBSITE:

www.pepbr.org

This morning at 6:30am central time the city of Baton Rouge awoke to glistening beauty.  Having lived 12 years in Ohio I was so excited that I call my team and had them capture pictures for our blog.  This is a rare event that occurs only every 5 years or so here in the far South.  The beauty is captivating.

A SNOW DAY!  The kids stay home because schools are cancelled.  Even the dogs are fascinated.  There is no traffic as only a rare few venture out on business.  Greetings to all this beautiful winter morning.

One of the neighborhoods you will love if you are a fisherman is Clearlake Subdivision in Denham Springs Louisiana.  This quiet area is just off the new Juban Road Exit of I-12.  A community of homes built on Powell Lane which borders the banks finger lakes give each homeowner access to the private lake area.

Here Mattie, a resident of the neighborhood reels in a big one as her dad watches and snaps a photo. 

You can buy your tackle just one exit down at the new Bass Pro Shop in Denham Springs.  Clearlake's location is the first turn off I-12 at Juban making it easily accessible for a commute to downtown Baton Rouge or east to Hammond, Louisiana.

There are plans for future development of this area with proposals such as the new Juban Crossing.

So, pick up your rod and reel and relax in your own back yard.

Ashton at Alligator Bayou

Wordless Wednesday.  Cypress Swamp, Alligator Bayou, Prairieville, Louisiana