Oklahoma Howdy to All,
First, you are most welcome Brother Love. I feel convicted to say more on this subject, certainly not for argument or debate.
I read about the great debates recognizing Christmas as an official holiday in each state of America. Pilgrim, my Brother, much of what you mentioned was a part of the debate. I may get the dates wrong, but I think that I'm correct. The first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday was in 1870. The last state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday was Oklahoma, and they approved it in 1892 after 22 years of debate.
So, what did we do with Christmas? We do Birth of Christ Plays, sing Carols and Hymns, pray, have worship services, and all kinds of things the devil can't stand. Much of what Christians do at Christmas has been recently banned. The first things to go were the manger scenes on public property, the Carols and Hymns in public schools, etc., etc. There have been many legal battles fought, I assume, over what the devil doesn't like. It has been announced recently that the ACLU is now fighting to remove the name Christmas and replace it with winter holidays. As a general rule, the ACLU represents the devil in my mind. Just why is it that the ACLU wants the name Christmas removed as the name of a recognized or official holiday? Do you suppose it would be some concern that would be good for Almighty God, or would you consider what they do for the devil?
The ACLU battled the people in my back yard for 20 years over the Christ of the Wichita's and the annual Passion Play on a wildlife refuge owned by the Federal Government. The ACLU lost the battle. The irony is that the Passion Play is done at Easter, a pagan holiday. However, the question is whether or not Almighty God is honored, glorified, and worshiped with the play. If the ACLU thought it needed to go, it was time to consider again if the play was being done to honor Almighty God. We determined it was and decided to fight. They also wanted to remove our Holy City and Christ of the Wichita's. We know the city isn't Holy, but it is used for the play. There is also a very old and beautiful church that had to go. Worship services had actually been held and are being held for decades on Federal property. The ACLU lost and they need to lose some more.
Pilgrim, my Brother, I don't make light of anything you had to say about Christmas. I would simply ask if Almighty God is pleased with what we do or don't do at Christmas or on any other day. As an individual, I would say that the devil hates the way we do Christmas. It's just another day of worship for us.
Love In Christ,
Tom
Some more truth, keep preaching Brother
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEN