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Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 23, No. 52
December 25, 2014
Who Were the Wise Men? By Veronican Mackey
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he meaning of Christmas is often defined by a myriad of symbols from gifts and Christmas trees to angels and lights. While many criticize the commercialization of the Christian holiday, even worse is the distortion of facts surrounding the birth of Jesus. The facts of his birth, like the manmade traditions associated with Christmas, has deviated from the truth. Yet, if we look to the Scriptures, we find that the historical account of his first coming is the same as it has always been. The Word never changed, only man’s interpretation. Inherent in the biblical story are the wise men, usually referred to as “the three wise men.” Being told by the angel Gabriel that Jesus, the anticipated Messiah, had been born, the men began their journey, bringing with them gifts for the newborn king. Christians honor this tradition each year by giving gifts to follow the example of the wise men, and more importantly, to honor
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Inglewood ‘Must-See’ for Holiday Lights
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God’s gift to the world, his Son, Jesus. According to Scripture, King Herod, hearing that Jesus had been born became “disturbed and troubled.” It continues, “He summoned the wise men and told them to let him know when they found Jesus so he may come and worship him.” (Matthew 2:8). Historically the men were from an ancient kingdom that we now call Northern Iran. They were called
Magi. Their visit was one of the first signs revealing that Jesus came for all the world, not just for a few. Why were they called the “wise men?” The Amplified Bible equates the phrase “wise men” with “astrologers.” They were known for studying the stars, practicing magic and interpreting dreams. “This pulls at the traditional understanding that Christians have that they shouldn’t subscribe to as-
trology, but there has got to be some relationship,” Rev. Andrew Robinson-Gaither, former pastor of Faith United Methodist Church said in a 2003 interview. “The resurrection experience that we call Easter is based on when the full moon comes. That’s why it falls sometimes in late March and sometimes in early April.” The wise men have often been portrayed as kneeling beside the manger, dressed (Continued on page 2)
Leading By Example This Holiday Season
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By Thomas Bunn
os Angeles music collective and indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment, is in the holiday spirit, and has decided to not only host a local toy giveaway, but a holiday concert in Watts as well. The label is partnering up with Nickerson Gardens projects to give away toys and shoes, and put on a free concert for the (Continued on page 7)
Inglewood Today Proudly Serving Inglewood for 20 Years
hristmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the lights, nativity scenes, and Santa and his crew. And Christmas in L.A. wouldn’t be the same without seeing a stunning display of homes all decked out for the holidays. The annual tradition of “light seeing” is back, and there is no shortage of places to go. And even with fake snow (i.e. sheets of cotton) on the ground, there is still a feeling of a winter wonderland in the air. Folks in Inglewood can find plenty to see right in their own backyard. The area referred to as “The Avenues” is bordered by Century Blvd. on the
South, Crenshaw Blvd. on the West, Manchester Ave. on the North, and Van Ness Ave. on the East, and is famous for its holidaythemed decorations. In fact, in Southern California, it is a must-see experience. Inglewood Councilman George Dotson, whose district houses the area, has lived on a highly decorated block for 30 years. “The decorations started many years ago. It’s been a tradition in The Avenues since (Continued on page 2)
Happy Holidays from Inglewood Today