Inspired from a discussion earlier today. 🙂
Peace,
-Steve
Going to submit this to Episcopal Church Memes. 🙂
UPDATE: And they published it! At last count nearly 700 likes and 250 shares. 🙂
Peace,
-Steve
UPDATED: The February 2014 Great Panic Toast Cookoff begins on February 13th. Details below!
“Into each life, some snow must fall, but the denizens of the little state of New Jersey know there is but one response… keep calm and toast on.
When the snow comes down, each home becomes an island with its own insular cuisine.  Until now, we’ve just assumed that one family’s ‘panic French toast’ is the same as another’s.  Today we find out for sure.  Use the marvel of modern technology to share your secret French toast recipes and photos for a chance to win one bottle of (Vermont) maple sugar, one trophy creamer, and bragging rights over all of Jerseydom in the coming year!  You know you want to – what else are you going to do when all cooped up?”
Also, feel free to spread the word by changing your Facebook profile image to one of these:
Peace,
-Steve
Required Disclaimer: This contest isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Facebook.
Haven’t you noticed that right before a snowstorm people act like this:
And then wondered, “What happens to all of that bread and milk, anyways?”
Well, allow me to share with you one of New Jersey’s favorite snowstorm pastimes:
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Enjoy!
Peace,
-Steve
I’ve always been one who has scratched his beard over the whole “War on Christmas.” Aside from the occasional, rare, and laughable “Really, now?” moments that crop up in the press (like the whole “How the Grinch Stole the Holiday” debacle), Christmas is vibrantly alive and well in the United States. One only needs to walk down a main street to see the festive decorations and lights adorning nearly every storefront and front yard.
Regardless, sometimes when I discuss how I wish people “Happy Holidays” some people get indignant. “What other holidays are there other than Christmas? Especially this year when Chanukah is over and done with!”
As a Christian, when I say Happy Holidays, I am acknowledging my own Christian tradition.
Christmas is but one holiday on the Christian calendar that falls around this time of year, so allow me to show you precisely what I mean. When I say Happy Holidays I am personally referring to:
So when I say “Happy Holidays” this time of year, as a Christian I am referring to three seasons and over 10 holidays, at least 3 of which are fairly major on the Christian calendar. Christmas is but one of them, and the shortest season of the three. 🙂
Also not in that list are civil holidays like New Year’s Day (which lands on the same day of the Feast of the Holy Name) and Boxing Day (mainly for my friends in the Commonwealth, piggybacking on The Feast of St. Stephen). So there are a few more.
If you want to talk about a more true-to-form “War on Christmas” I personally find it irksome that Christmas music — rather than Advent carols — are played all throughout Advent, and after Christmas Day they simply vanish, as if the other 11 days don’t exist. Episcopalians tend to celebrate all 12 days with fervor, sometimes to the point of odd stares. However, I’ve found that odd stares are best dealt with by means of education. Simply start singing a few lines of “The 12 Days of Christmas” and they’ll say, “Well, I’ve just had an epiphany! That’s what that song is about!”
But then then I tell them that they’re jumping the gun: Epiphany’s the next season. 😉
Peace,
-Steve
(PS. It also doesn’t hurt that at around this time of year there are other holidays celebrated by other religions. Just sayin’. 😉 )
You have to admit: The Archbishop of Canterbury (Rowan Williams) does look a heck of a lot like the Headmaster of Hogwarts (Albus Dumbledore). 🙂
Peace,
-Steve