12.26.24 Football players proclaiming Christ, women’s prisons with male inmates, and a medieval Christmas tradition

Summary

Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It
Episode: 12.26.24 - Football Players Proclaiming Christ, Women’s Prisons with Male Inmates, and a Medieval Christmas Tradition
Release Date: December 26, 2024
Host: WORLD Radio

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1. Faith and the NFL: Players Sharing Their Christian Journeys

The episode kicks off with an exploration of the growing trend among NFL players who openly profess their Christian faith. Mary Reichert introduces the segment by highlighting Netflix's groundbreaking move to stream NFL games globally on Christmas Day, setting the stage for a discussion that transcends the game itself.

Notable Highlights:

• Jake Bates’ Testimony (07:37): Detroit Lions rookie Jake Bates emphasizes his purpose beyond football, stating, “I know for a fact that I'm not here without the unconditional love that Jesus gives us and the sacrifice he made on the cross” (07:50). He articulates his mission to “spread the love of Jesus,” positioning his athletic platform as a means to his faith.

• Tua Tagovailoa’s Candid Faith (08:18): Renowned player Tua Tagovailoa shares, “The best thing about being a believer of Jesus Christ like to me is that good Lord up above doesn't care whether you win a game, whether you lose a game” (08:30). He reflects on his personal struggles, particularly the challenge of playing on Sundays, which affects his ability to attend church regularly.

• C.J. Stroud’s Spiritual Focus (08:56): Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud discusses his unwavering faith, beginning his press conferences with gratitude to Jesus. During a post-game interview, he remarks, “I gotta give all glory and praise to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ” (09:03), underscoring the centrality of his spirituality in both his personal and professional life.

• Brotherhood in Christ (09:31): Despite being on opposing teams, players like Stroud and Bates acknowledge their shared faith, fostering a sense of brotherhood beyond the competitive nature of the sport.

This segment not only highlights individual testimonies but also underscores a broader cultural shift within professional sports, where faith becomes an integral part of athletes' identities and public personas.

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2. Women’s Prisons with Male Inmates: A Controversial Shift

Transitioning from the field to the penal system, the podcast delves into the contentious issue of male inmates being housed in women’s prisons. This segment is spearheaded by Myrna Brown and Travis Kircher, who present a lawsuit filed by a liberal activist group against Washington State's Department of Corrections.

Key Points:

• Case of Brian Kim (10:49): Brian Kim, a transgender woman serving a life sentence for murdering her parents, successfully transferred from a male facility to the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW). However, after being caught in a consensual relationship with a female inmate, Kim was moved back to the male facility, sparking legal action. The ACLU argues that rehousing Kim threatens her safety and sets a troubling precedent for transgender inmates’ rights (12:26).

• Lawsuit Implications (10:28 - 13:26): The ACLU's lawsuit seeks to reinstate Kim's placement in the women's facility, highlighting the unprecedented nature of this legal battle. Simultaneously, FAIR, a women’s advocacy group, has filed a complaint alleging that the inclusion of male inmates in WCCW compromises the safety and privacy of female prisoners (15:52).

• Impact on Female Inmates (16:27): Leanne O'Neill of FAIR emphasizes the heightened risk of physical and psychological trauma for female inmates due to the presence of males. Many women in prison have histories of sexual abuse, making the current housing policies particularly detrimental (17:29).

• Broader Implications (17:41 - 18:17): The issue extends beyond Washington State, reflecting a national debate on gender identity and prison reform. Myrna Brown points out that women in prisons are among the most vulnerable in this discourse, facing significant risks when housed alongside male inmates (17:41).

Notable Quotes:

• Myrna Brown: “The presence of males, no matter how the male acts, is deeply traumatizing to the female inmates” (00:22).

• Leanne O'Neill: “The females who are incarcerated… the presence of males… is deeply traumatizing” (16:35).

This segment underscores the complex interplay between gender identity policies and prison safety, highlighting the urgent need for policies that protect the rights and well-being of all inmates.

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3. Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival: Reviving a Medieval Christmas Tradition

In a heartwarming departure from contemporary issues, the podcast takes listeners to Louisville, Kentucky, where a church celebrates the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival—a tradition dating back to the 14th century. Travis Kircher narrates this segment, providing an in-depth look at how the festival melds ancient customs with Christian theology.

Festival Highlights:

• Historical Origins (21:26): The Boar's Head tradition originated from medieval England, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Jim McFarland, the music director, explains, “It's about honoring the Christ child… this baby who came to save us all” (22:59), tying the pagan origins of the festival to Christian beliefs.

• Modern Celebrations (22:30 - 26:57): St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville has been hosting the festival annually since 1981. The event features a procession with a taxidermied boar's head, choir performances, and community members dressed in period costumes. The ceremony culminates with the presentation of gifts at the altar, symbolizing the offerings received from God (25:26).

• Community and Continuity (26:13): The festival engages approximately 300 participants and costs around $20,000 to execute, funded through community support. Despite its complexity, attendance is free, fostering inclusivity and communal participation (26:13).

• Theological Significance (25:09): Choir member Nan Tate elucidates that the laying of gifts honors Christ’s incarnation and the eternal life offered through His birth, reinforcing the festival’s religious significance beyond its festive display (25:09).

Notable Quotes:

• Jim McFarland: “It's about honoring the Christ child, the baby who was born to save us all” (22:59).

• Myrna Brown: “It’s not bringing gifts to the Christ child. It’s bringing gifts in honor of the Christ child… what we've received from God” (25:26).

This segment beautifully illustrates how historical traditions can be reinterpreted to reinforce and celebrate core Christian values, fostering a sense of heritage and faith within the community.

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4. Additional News Highlights

While the episode primarily focuses on faith in sports, prison reforms, and Christmas traditions, it also touches upon several other significant news stories:

• Azerbaijan Airlines Crash in Kazakhstan (01:09): A tragic plane crash resulted in 38 fatalities out of 67 onboard. The cause remains under investigation, with preliminary reports citing a bird strike (01:09).

• Russian Assault on Ukraine (Mark Mellinger Report, 01:09): On Christmas Day, Russia intensified its assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages and severe humanitarian impacts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as inhumane (02:41).

• Pope Francis’ Christmas Address (Mark Mellinger Report, 05:52): Pope Francis advocated for peace in war-torn regions, specifically Ukraine and the Middle East, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages (05:52).

• Heartwarming Reunion (Travis Kircher Report, 19:35): A Christian radio station in Atlanta facilitated a reunion between a mother and her Air Force son, who had been separated over Christmas, highlighting the station's role in fostering community and support (19:35).

Notable Quotes:

• Count Thomas on Russian Assault: “I do think it’s inhuman to choose this particular day, but that’s not unusual for Vladimir Putin” (02:41).

• Jim McFarland on the Medieval Festival: “It's not about all the presents and the marketing. It's about this baby who came to save the world” (26:57).

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5. Commentary on Political Spending (Cal Thomas Segment)

Cal Thomas provides a critical analysis of Washington, D.C.’s political spending, likening excessive governmental expenditures to a "Christmas tree" adorned not with decorations but with monetary waste. He highlights the passage of a 118-page bipartisan bill laden with questionable allocations, ranging from funding for ice skating to Paraguayan border security, emphasizing the disconnect between politician priorities and public needs.

Key Points:

• Critique of Wasteful Spending (28:09): Thomas condemns the bill for its opulent spending, citing examples like $12 million for a Las Vegas pickleball complex and $4.8 million for Ukrainian influencers, arguing that such expenditures are emblematic of broader fiscal irresponsibility (28:09).

• Call for Fiscal Responsibility: He urges political figures, including Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, to address the burgeoning national debt, which currently stands at an unsustainable $36 trillion with an interest of $1 trillion annually (28:09).

Notable Quotes:

• Cal Thomas: “Hey, it’s not their money, it’s our money… Maybe Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk can do something about the misspending” (28:09).

This segment serves as a pointed reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding governmental spending and fiscal policy, urging listeners to remain vigilant and informed about how their taxes are utilized.

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Conclusion

This episode of The World and Everything In It adeptly weaves together diverse narratives, from heartfelt personal testimonies of faith among NFL players to the pressing issues within the penitentiary system, and a revival of ancient Christmas traditions. Through in-depth reporting and insightful commentary, WORLD Radio provides listeners with a comprehensive view of both societal challenges and cultural celebrations, all grounded in a foundation of Christian values.

Notable Overall Quotes:

• Jim McFarland: “It's not about all the presents and the marketing. It’s about this baby who came to save the world” (26:57).

• Myrna Brown: “The presence of males, no matter how the male acts, is deeply traumatizing to the female inmates” (00:22).

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For more detailed accounts and ongoing discussions, listeners are encouraged to tune into future episodes of The World and Everything In It on Apple Podcasts or visit World Radio’s official website.

Transcript

[Mary Reichert]

Good morning. Netflix was the first company to stream NFL games on Christmas day, but the story off the field is the one to really watch. Also today, some state prisons go out of the way to accommodate men who want to be in women's prisons. Never mind how the women feel about it.

[Myrna Brown]

The presence of males, no matter how the male acts, is deeply traumatizing to the female inmates.

[Travis Kircher]

Plus, a medieval tradition that one church adopted as part of its Christmas festivities.

[Jim McFarland]

It's not about all the presents and the marketing. It's about this baby who came to save the world.

[Travis Kircher]

And world commentator Count Thomas says politicians are giving out way too many presents with our Money.

[Mary Reichert]

It's Thursday, December 26th. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichert and I hi, I'm Myrna Brown.

[Travis Kircher]

Good morning.

[Mary Reichert]

Up next, Mark Mellinger has today's news.

[Mark Mellinger]

Tragedy in Kazakhstan. That is sound from an amateur video taken Wednesday morning as an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed in the former Soviet Republic. Video shows the aircraft climbing and diving repeatedly, then making an emergency landing at an airport in the city of Oktau, where it burst into flames. Rescue crews rushed to the scene. The airline says at least 38 of the 67 people aboard the plane died, but miraculously, more than two dozen survived. This man was pulled from the wreckage. He says his wife was sitting next to him when the plane crashed, but he hasn't seen her since and doesn't know where she is. Russia's civil aviation authority immediately blamed the crash on a bird strike. But speaking here, Azerbaijan's president says it's too early to determine a cause and that the government has launched a criminal investigation. Russia launched a blistering Christmas Day assault on Ukraine, targeting the country's energy and power infrastructure. It left at least one person dead and half a million people in the country's Kharkiv region were without heat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack inhumane, and California Congressman Ami Bera agrees.

[Count Thomas]

I do think it's inhuman to choose this particular day, but that's not unusual for Vladimir Putin.

[Mark Mellinger]

The attack involved a barrage of more than 70 missiles and more than 100 drones, according to Ukraine, which also says it intercepted over 50 of both types of weapons and jammed dozens more drones. Ukraine's government applied preemptive power outages across the country to keep distribution of electricity going to as many people as possible. Worshipers lifted their voices in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity Wednesday for Christmas morning Mass. The church is built on the traditional site where many believe Jesus was born. Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Francis gave a special Christmas address that is the Pope calling for the sound of weapons to be silenced in war torn Ukraine. He went on to call for the same in the Middle east, characterizing the situation for Israeli and Palestinian Christians as extremely grave and advocating for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In Gaza, a former Hamas hostage was among the thousands of people coming together in Washington D.C. for the lighting of the National Menorah. World's Travis Kircher has details on how they marked the first night of Hanukkah.

[Count Thomas]

One of those who addressed the Crowd Wednesday was 63 year old Aviva Siegel. Siegel is one of the 250 hostages kidnapped by the terror group Hamas during the October 7 attacks last year. She spent 51 days as a hostage until Hamas released her and more than 100 others during a six day ceasefire. Her husband Keith remains in captivity. Siegel told the crowd, I felt it.

[Myrna Brown]

I saw it and it should not.

[Travis Kircher]

Happen to anybody in the world.

[Myrna Brown]

And no Jew.

[Travis Kircher]

I'm standing here for my kid that.

[Myrna Brown]

Is still a hostage and for all.

[Travis Kircher]

The hostages that are still there. We need to bring them home now.

[Count Thomas]

She went on to say that those hostages deserve to be reunited with their families so that they can light their own menorah candles. For world I'm Travis Kercher.

[Mark Mellinger]

Christmas is generally a quiet day in American politics, but President elect Trump made sure to make some news, announcing Kevin Marino Cabrera as his pick for U.S. ambassador to Panama. Cabrera is a Miami Dade county commissioner who worked on Trump's presidential campaign. His appointment comes at a time when Trump is suggesting the US should take back control of the Panama Canal, claiming Panama is charging excessive fees to American ships passing through the waterway. Panama's president has pushed back against that claim, saying experts set the fees. He also insists the canal will continue to belong to Panama. In London, King Charles used his Christmas address to express gratitude for the healthcare workers who've helped him and his daughter in law, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, in their battles with cancer.

[Myrna Brown]

I offer special heartfelt thanks to the.

[Mary Reichert]

Selfless doctors and nurses who this year.

[Travis Kircher]

Have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties.

[Mark Mellinger]

Of illness, the king added. Those health care workers have provided the strength, comfort and care he and his family have needed. He also encouraged people to do a better job of listening to one another, saying good listening is essential for learning to respect differences and defeating prejudice and opening up new possibilities. As an example, he alluded to Mary, the mother of Jesus, listening to the Angel Gabriel who revealed a future of hope for all people. I'm Mark Mellinger. Straight ahead, the Washington state prison system is under scrutiny for its policies regarding male inmates who claim to be women. Plus, a Kentucky church that is keeping a medieval tradition alive as it celebrates Christmas. This is the World and Everything in it.

[Mary Reichert]

It's Thursday, the 26th of December. So glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Travis Kircher]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Up first, faith and the NFL. You were probably just taking your turkey or ham out of the oven when the Pittsburgh Steelers began hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in a Christmas Day match up on Netflix. It was the first time a streaming outlet had distributed an NFL game globally.

[Mary Reichert]

But it may not be the last time. The NFL is already slated to air two more Christmas Day games on Netflix, both next year and the year after. That's big news. But it's not the only football trend turning heads.

[Mark Mellinger]

I know for a fact that I'm not here without the unconditional love that Jesus gives us and the sacrifice he made on the cross.

[Travis Kircher]

Jake Bates is a Detroit Lions rookie who's passionate about football and even clearer about his purpose.

[Mark Mellinger]

I'm not here to make kicks or miss kicks. I think I'm here to spread the love of Jesus. So however long he gives me this stage, that's what I plan to do.

[Mary Reichert]

And he's not alone. Across the league, players like Tua Tagovailoa are not shy about their faith.

[Myrna Brown]

The best thing about being a believer of Jesus Christ like to me is that good Lord up above doesn't care whether you win a game, whether you lose a game.

[Mary Reichert]

But Tonga Violoa, a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, doesn't sugarcoat his struggles either.

[Myrna Brown]

For me, it's been a little tough having to play on Sundays, you know.

[Count Thomas]

Not able to go to church, having.

[Myrna Brown]

To watch church online.

[Travis Kircher]

After a narrow win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. stroke went one on one with the CBS Sports reporter. Well, C.J.

[Mark Mellinger]

There'S a lot to sort through after that game, but let's start with the game winning touchdown to Tank Dell.

[Count Thomas]

What you see, first and foremost, man.

[Myrna Brown]

I gotta give all glory and praise.

[Mary Reichert]

To my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, man.

[Travis Kircher]

Throughout the two and a half minute interview, Stroud kept coming back to his relationship with Jesus.

[Mary Reichert]

These last couple weeks, man, been up and down. I've been going through a lot on and off the field, man. But when you give your life to the Lord, man. He gives you opportunities and it's what.

[Travis Kircher]

You do with it.

[Mary Reichert]

So he gave me this opportunity to come back in that two minute drill. It's that confidence that inspires fellow football player Jake Bates. While the two are on opposing teams, Bates says they're also brothers in Christ.

[Mark Mellinger]

He starts every press conference with, you.

[Myrna Brown]

Know, he wouldn't be here without his.

[Mark Mellinger]

Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. And so he's been absolutely awesome to watch. And I mean, I don't know him personally, so I don't want to speak on him. But just what he's been able to.

[Count Thomas]

Do in the media and, you know.

[Mark Mellinger]

Spreading Jesus love has been awesome to see.

[Travis Kircher]

Coming up next on THE WORLD and everything in it, more men moving into women only spaces. A liberal activist group is suing Washington state, demanding it allow an inmate born a man to be sent back to the women's only facility he was kicked out of in the first place.

[Mary Reichert]

If the ACLU gets its way, this would be a first in Washington state and perhaps the nation where an inmate has been housed with men, then with women, then in solitary confinement in a men's facility before returning to a women's prison.

[Travis Kircher]

If this makes your head spin, we have World's Relations beat reporter Juliana Chan Erickson joining us to help explain it all. Good morning, Juliana.

[Myrna Brown]

Good morning.

[Travis Kircher]

Well, at the center of this lawsuit is Brian Kim. Tell us about this man and how his actions led us to where we are today.

[Myrna Brown]

Brian Kim is a man serving life in a Washington state prison for murdering his parents. When he was 18 years old and nine years into his sentence, which he started at Monroe Correctional Complex in the male side of the facility, he started the process of legally changing his name and sex. So he successfully got his name changed to Amber Fay Fox Kim and he changed his legal sex to female. And so now you can tell where this is going. He applied to transfer to a women's prison, and three years later, he got his wish. He was transferred to the Washington Corrections center for Women, which the locals call wccw. The WCCW is the largest women's only facility for corrections in the state. He spent three years there until this past March when he was caught having sex with a female inmate. So as a result, he was sent back to Monroe, which is where he was before the American Civil Liberties Union announced it was suing the Washington Department of Corrections on behalf of Kim. And they refer to Kim as a woman and say that placing Kim in a men's prison threatens Kim's safety and other Transgender prisoners like Kim.

[Travis Kircher]

Kim is not the first male inmate in Washington State to convince corrections staff that he should be housed in a women's prison. But what makes this case groundbreaking, Juliana?

[Myrna Brown]

Yeah, he's not the first, and he probably won't be the last. But the ACLU says this is the first case where a transgender woman inmate has been moved back to a man's prison. And maybe I should just step back and unpack that for you, since this is always so confusing. So Kim is a man, and he started a male facility. He then moved to a women's facility, and there he broke the rules, and then he was sent back to a man's facility. So if the ECLU wins this case, Kim would get to go back to the female facility. And all of this back and forth is unheard of from what I can tell. Keep in mind that Kim is a convicted murderer with a history of mental illness. And, of course, he's still a man.

[Travis Kircher]

Absolutely. As more male inmates make this type of request, it just makes me wonder, Juliana, about the process. And you had the same question, and you got some answers, so tell us about that.

[Myrna Brown]

Yeah, I had a lot of questions about this. So this story came on my radar first when I read the account of a woman named Olivia. We'll just call her that. She's using a pseudonym to protect her career and her safety. And she used to work in the King County Jail Health Services. And so we're still talking about Washington State here, but I'm switching to jails briefly. So this nurse, she noticed that male inmates were able to easily initiate the process to get transferred to the female side. So she decided to just check the general policy manual for her county's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention. And there it says, a person's self identification as transgender, intersex or gender variant is sufficient to trigger the protections and procedures of this policy. It means, in other words, a male inmate in jail just has to say, I'm female. And that starts the process for applying for housing to a female facility.

[Travis Kircher]

Just make a statement. Just say it. So I want to ask you this. Are there males in female prisons, then?

[Myrna Brown]

Yeah. And that's an interesting question, and it depends on who you ask. So I asked a spokesperson at the Washington Department of Corrections, Christopher Wright, and he said, and I'll quote, no, there are transgender individuals housed at wccw. But I also spoke with Olivia and others who work on behalf of female inmates, and they say there are 11 inmates at WCCW. And just as we discussed earlier, Brian Kim had been at wccw. So he was one of those male inmates at the women's facility. And to make the matters more complicated, Brian Kim is actually listed as female. So no one can really know for certain that there are males in the female facility.

[Travis Kircher]

Right. The ACLU isn't the only organization that has filed suit. The organization FAIR has filed a formal complaint with the U.S. department of justice accusing the Washington. Washington State Department of Corrections of sex based discrimination. So, Juliana, can you tell us anything more about what's happening there?

[Myrna Brown]

Yes. Last week, ASLU sued the Washington Department of Corrections. But before that, FAIR also filed a complaint against the Washington Department of Corrections. So it seems like this department is getting hit from both sides with complaints. The ACLU is representing the male prisoners who. Who want to be housed in the female prisons, and FAIR is representing the females who already live there. And FAIR says the prisons are neglecting the rights of women, and they say they're neglecting their needs for privacy and safety and separation from men.

[Travis Kircher]

So obviously, what's at stake is the potential harm to women. What else is at issue here, Juliana?

[Myrna Brown]

I spoke with Leanne O'Neill. She's the managing director of legal advocacy for FAIR, and she's spoken to some of the female inmates that are incarcerated in Washington prisons outside of the very serious risks of physical abuse, which are greater when there is a larger, stronger male present. The females who are incarcerated, the vast majority of them have been victims of sexual assault, rape, sexual abuse at the hands of a male before becoming incarcerated. And so the presence of males, no matter how the male acts, is deeply traumatizing to the female inmates. And they're really being subjected to retraumatization and psychological harm on an ongoing basis.

[Travis Kircher]

Wrapping up here, Juliana. This is happening in Washington state. Why should someone in Alabama or Illinois or wherever pay attention?

[Myrna Brown]

Listeners should know, of course, that this gender debate has been going on across our country. We hear about female athletes, we hear about students in bathrooms. But what whistleblowers like Olivia are saying is that women in prison are the most vulnerable when it comes to this debate. They're incarcerated, so often they have to share rooms, bathrooms, showers, and other spaces with potentially male inmates who have not had surgery or had cross sex hormone treatment. So, as Olivia and others are saying, these women are at the most risk and they are imprisoned across the country.

[Travis Kircher]

And they are fellow image bearers.

[Myrna Brown]

Yeah, that's right.

[Travis Kircher]

Well, Juliana Chan Erickson is World's Relations beat reporter. We will post a link to her digital story in today's transcript. So Juliana, thank you for your work on this and Happy New Year.

[Myrna Brown]

Happy New Year to you, Myrna.

[Count Thomas]

Additional support comes from season two of Eyewitness Silent Night, the student led podcast drama following time travelers, to the first Christmas on podcast apps or at the letter I witnesspod.com.

[Mark Mellinger]

And from Asbury University.

[Count Thomas]

Enrollment is now open for January online grad and undergrad classes. Asbury, where Christ is Central.

[Travis Kircher]

A Christian radio station in Atlanta managed to pull together a heartwarming reunion last week. 104.7 the Fish sponsors a program for listeners to send in their Christmas wishes. Sold. Just Jessica Rivera thought she'd ask listeners to send her 21 year old son Logan Christmas cards to Travis air Force base, 2,000 miles away. It would be their first Christmas apart. She got her wish and thinking she'd be a guest on the station's live broadcast, showed up to express her gratitude. Little did she know the station worked out in advance with the base to get Logan home in time for Christmas. Mom turned around and there was her son in uniform. And then, you guessed it. Yes, hugs and tears. We wish you a merry Christmas. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Thursday, December 26th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Coming next on the World and everything in It, a Christmas celebration of a different kind. The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival is a Christmas tradition that dates back to the 14th century. Its roots are connected to the winter solstice, but some Christians have adopted it as their own.

[Travis Kircher]

World's Travis Kercher visited a church in Louisville that celebrates the festival. Here's the story.

[Count Thomas]

It's past 9:00 at night, but the sound of singing echoes through the halls of St. Paul United Methodist Church. On the second floor of the nearly 100-year-old stone cathedral, about a dozen choir members are singing of good tidings and figgy pudding. The music director is leading the choir in another late night rehearsal for the church's annual Christmas event, the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival. What do a boar's head and a yule log have to do with the true meaning of Christmas? Well, when the festival first originated, nothing. According to choir member Kathy Miller, the.

[Mary Reichert]

Actual serving of the boar goes back to Roman times, where it was the first dish served at a feast.

[Count Thomas]

That tradition continued into the Middle Ages, when the killing of the boar became a cause for great celebration. That's because the people saw boar as a Representation of evil. Here's director of music Jim McFarland.

[Jim McFarland]

And in medieval England, they were quite the menace to the average person because they could come out of the woods and knock you down and, you know, root through your trash and all kinds of stuff. So.

[Count Thomas]

But then came the Norman conquest, And by the 14th century, some Christians had adopted the festival as their own. To them, the boar's head was no longer merely a symbol of victory by an honored lord providing a great meal for his guests. They claimed it pointed to another triumph.

[Jim McFarland]

It's about honoring the Christ child, the baby who was born to save us all, this child who grows up and conquers evil for all of us and gives us life eternal.

[Count Thomas]

Over the years, Christmas carols were added. And in the 19th century, a family of French Huguenots brought the festival from England to New York. It came to Louisville in 1981 when St. Paul's music director at the time, Michael Beatty, led the first performance. The church has made it an annual celebration ever since, and they've only canceled it twice, both times due to Covid.

[Jim McFarland]

It's pretty much remained the same since the beginning as far as the music is concerned in the pantomimes. So it's really a really wonderful continuing kind of tradition.

[Count Thomas]

The festival begins after a 20 minute choral prelude. It starts with bagpipes played by the members of the Louisville Pipe Band. Audio here from the performance performance nearly 20 years ago.

[Myrna Brown]

It's wonderful to sit in the choir loft and watch the. Watch the audience. When the organ comes in with the pipes on Amazing Grace, it's really wonderful.

[Count Thomas]

After that, the Boar's Head fanfare and carol is performed as a mounted boar's head is brought to an altar at the front of the sanctuary, ostensibly as a gift to honor the Christ child. McFarlane says the head is real.

[Jim McFarland]

In fact, last year I had to take it to a taxidermist and had it touched up because of a little spot on the nose and. And the ear was kind of getting a little thin, so the taxidermist made it look like it had just died.

[Count Thomas]

From there, the choir sings more carols as church members dressed in costumes bring their gifts to the altar. There are sprites, peasants and bakers, along with King Wenceslaus and members of his royal house. Choir member Nan Tate says even St. Nicholas makes an appearance.

[Myrna Brown]

And he's got a bunch of kids that come in with him and they're yelling and screaming and bouncing all around, and then he comes and sits down and he reads the Bible to them.

[Count Thomas]

Miller says there's a theology behind the laying of gifts at the altar. She says it's meant to honor what Christ did through the incarnation.

[Myrna Brown]

It's not bringing gifts to the Christ child. It's bringing gifts in honor of the Christ child and represents the gifts that we've received from God that each one of us has to offer.

[Count Thomas]

It ends with an appearance of wise men and shepherds. What's meant to be the festival's retelling of the Christmas story?

[Myrna Brown]

It is pageantry, glorious music. It's nothing like anything else.

[Count Thomas]

The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival represents an example of the church through the centuries trying to Christianize what was once a pagan event, much like C.S. lewis's efforts to Christianize mythological figures in his Narnia series. So between our McFarland says there are only about three or four churches in the United States that hold a Boar's Head and Yule Log festival. This is St. Paul's 41st year, and.

[Jim McFarland]

We'Ve got adults who are still singing with us who were children and sang some of those roles. One of the ladies who did one of the solos tonight was a child and sang the role, the Wenceslas Page role, way back when she was little.

[Count Thomas]

It takes about 300 people and costs about $20,000 to hold the festival. That includes hiring musicians and bagpipers. But tickets are free, and after the performance, attendees are treated to wassail and cookies. They hold the festival the weekend after Christmas. That's because McFarland says people need to know that the true meaning of Christmas doesn't end on December 25th.

[Jim McFarland]

It's not about all the presence and the, you know, the marketing. It's about this baby who came to save the world.

[Count Thomas]

Reporting for world, I'm Travis Kercher in Louisville, Kentucky.

[Mary Reichert]

What can I.

[Cal Thomas]

Upon, upon, upon a rooftop.

[Travis Kircher]

Upon, upon, upon a rooftop.

[Mary Reichert]

Today is Thursday, December 26th. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supportive World Radio, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Travis Kircher]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Up next, world commentator Count Thomas on a bad Christmas tradition in Washington, D.C.

[Cal Thomas]

When Washington politicians speak of a Christmas tree this time of year, they're not referring to an actual tree. It means they've loaded up a bill with another kind of green, the kind that's decorated with money. The bipartisan bill passed just before midnight last Friday, minutes before a government shutdown would be an embarrassment to anyone but the politicians who voted for it. Like Christmas, this scenario gets played out almost every year with no regard for the growing debt. The first bill was more than 1500 pages. Elon Musk denounced it and suddenly it shrunk to over 100 pages. But that was too little for the big spenders. What passed last week at 118 pages may take days to digest, but you can be sure of one Pork is part of it always is. For the last 10 years, Republican Senator Rand Paul has published what he calls a Festivus Report on just some of the wasteful spending in which our Congress is engaged. His latest, and you should Google it to see it, all, includes the Some of the highlights, or lowlights as I like to call them, include funding for the National Endowment for the Arts to subsidize ice skating, drag queens, and promoting city park circuses. Additionally, the Department of Interior invested in the construction of a new $12 million Las Vegas pickleball complex. Interior also allocated $720,479 to wetland conservation projects for ducks in Mexico. This year the Department of State is featured 11 times with expenditures including 4.8 million dol Ukrainian influencers, $32,596 on breakdancing, $2.1 million for Paraguayan border security. Hey, what about security at our border? $3 million for girl centered Climate Action in Brazil, and much more. Hey, it's not their money, it's our money. At least this time a pay raise for members didn't make it to the final bill. Members should be having their pay cut, not raised for underperforming. Perhaps Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk can do something about the misspending that has led to the unsustainable $36 trillion debt with interest of $1 trillion just this year. Others have tried and failed to break the spending habit. Maybe they will succeed this time, but the odds are not good. It's not called the Swamp for nothing. I hope you had a happy Christmas. Your politicians did. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Travis Kircher]

Tomorrow, Johnstonestreet is stopping by for the final Culture Friday of 2024. We'll consider some of the biggest cultural stories of the year. And Colin Gabbarino has a review of a new biopic of Bob Dylan, plus your listener feedback. That and more tomorrow. Immersion.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichert. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in him. Verse 7 of Nahum chapter 1 Go now in grace and peace SA.