One key issue that spurred Luther’s protest was the sale of indulgences. Indulgences were certificates sold by the Church that claimed to reduce the time a soul would spend in purgatory.
By striking the rock instead of speaking to it, Moses failed to uphold God’s holiness before the people. Scholars and theologians have debated the deeper meaning of this act. Some suggest that Moses’ actions reflected anger, impatience, or pride.
To answer the question, “Which disciple of Jesus died in Africa?”—the strongest tradition points to Simon the Zealot, who is believed to have been martyred in North Africa, possibly in Libya.
It was President Abraham Lincoln, in 1863 during the Civil War, who proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be observed on the final Thursday of November.
Ultimately, the Bible does not specify whether Jesus was born on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or any particular date or time. December 25th was chosen for symbolic and practical reasons, and traditions surrounding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have evolved over centuries.