"What is Christmas to you?”

[Tibby]

It's when Christ truly *isn't* the focus that I think we need to worry.


But what does THAT mean?  

For me it means minimizing outward activity--that is, all the festivities.

It isn’t about “festivities” it is about worship. It is all about worship. We here in America have forgotten that, and then try to blame it on the “festivities.” Fast food may contribute to the problem, but it isn’t the leading and only factor in making your fat. In our church, in the Liturgical year, we celebrate Christ year-round. Not just at Easter or Christmas. Every season, Every week, every day, is a new thing to celebrate him about. It isn’t just the Easter and Christmas, it is all over that then some. It isn’t one day of Easter or Christmas, it is Lent and Advent and Nativity, the seasons revolve around Christ. It isn’t one day of opening presents and being with family, it is a whole section of the year set apart for celebrating for Christ for the simple fact his was born. Born to die for our sins (and that is a whole other part of the year ).

Still, I do *some* of it.  And I enjoy seeing others participating in it.  I enjoy Christmas music, Handel's Messiah.

This is what I mean, it is an attitude most of us take in America. We only get the Christmas and Easter thing.  We never get to see the fullness of the worship, only the peace. It is like coming in during the last 5 minutes of a Suspense Thriller. SO, we never fully understand the plot and we never get a piece of the action, we only get the tail end of thing where they are explaining all the stuff we regrettably missed.  

By the way, I'm not picking on you, Sym, but you said it first.  

[Psalm 119]

Berea,

You have answered rightly!

Psalm 119

[Tibby]

Commercialism of a few keep the rest of us from Celebrating Christmas, that is what I’m hearing. That being the case, I say shame on us. We let a few fat cats take over the celebration of the Birth of Christ and make it is silly that even Christians don’t want to celebrate it. Shame on us for letting the world effect how we worship Christ.

 

Come rain or shine or Plastic light up Santa statues, I will worship the lord every day of the year, and come the 25th of this month, I will worship his God and praise his son's birth and all that that is represents to us as Christians.  

[Willowbirch]

Come rain or shine or Plastic light up Santa statues, I will worship the lord every day of the year, and come the 25th of this month, I will worship his God and praise his son's birth and all that that is represents to us as Christians.  

Amen, Tibby!
Another point to ponder:
While commercialism takes over, so does the message of Christ. "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!" "Remember Christ our Saviour was born for you this day!" They may be listening to it just for the tune, but we have the satisfaction of cramming the words in free!   Radio stations broadcast it, and we don't even have to pay air time!

[Forrest]

 Christmas Cake Recipe
> > > >
> > > > Ingredients:
> > > > 1 cup of water
> > > > 1 tsp baking soda
> > > > 1 cup of sugar
> > > > 1 tsp salt
> > > > 1 cup of brown sugar
> > > > Lemon juice
> > > > 4 large eggs
> > > > 1 cup nuts
> > > > 1 bottle Jose Quervo Tequilla
> > > > 2 cups of dried fruit
> > > >
> > > > Sample theQuervo to check quality.
> > > >
> > > > Take a large bowl, check the Quervo again, to be sure it is of the
> > > > highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.
> > > >
> > > > Turn on the electric mixer...Beat one cup of butter in a large
fluffy
> > > > bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar...Beat again. At this point it's
best
> > > to
> > > > make sure the Quervo is still OK, try another cup ... just in case
> > > >
> > > > Turn off the mixerer thingy.
> > > >
> > > > Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried
fruit,
> > >
> > > > Pick the frigging fruit off floor...Mix on the turner. If the fried
> > > > druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a
> > > drewscriver.
> > > > Sample the Quervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of
> > > > salt, or something. Who giveshz a hit. Check the Jose Quervo
> > > >
> > > > Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table.
> > > > Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the
> > > > oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't
> > > > forget to gotcha76 the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the
> > > > window, Finish the Jose Quervo and kick the cat.
> > > >
> > > > CHERRY MISTMAS! OR IS IT CHEERY DISTMAS OH WELL HERE'S TO YOU!
> > >

[HopeAndFaith]

Again, i must say that intentions, what is in your heart is what counts. If a person feels guilty for  joining in with the commercialism of Christmas, maybe the Lord is speaking to you to do more. My point is that the Holy Spirit hasn't told me not to put up my Christmas tree, or send out Chrsitams cards, or buy my only child Christmas gifts. I did obey and make most of my gifts this year for other family members, and i did obey by having my daughter pick out toys to give for Toys for Tots. Maybe the Lord directs some to feed the homeless. This year the Holy Spirit has directed me to make Christmas dinner fo my father-in-law,who has terminal cancer so that he can have a blessed Christmas for the last time(with whom my husband and i have had many, many "disagreements" with, to the point of not talking for 4 months at a time because he put his girlfriend before his own granddaughter. we only live a mile away!). The body of Christ is not mass of mindless beings... the Holy Spirit deals with each of us in our own way, because though we are one body, each part is unique and has it's purpose. i think it is unfair to say that just because a person doesn't have a problem with understanding the true meaning of what Christmas is supposed to be- the celebration of the birth of our Redeemer- that that person is somehow less in God's eyes for putting up a Christmas tree. If we are obedient to what the Lord wants for us, then "its all good".

[Ambassador4Christ]

Weeweechu

One beautiful December evening Huan Cho and his girlfriend
Jung Lee were sitting by the side of the ocean. It was a
romantic full moon, when Huan Cho said "Hey baby, let's
play Weeweechu."

"Oh no, not now, lets look at the moon" said Jung Lee.

"Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I play Weeweechu. I love
you and it's the perfect time," Huan Cho Begged.

"But I rather just hold your hand and watch the moon."

"Please Jung Lee, just once play Weeweechu with me."

Jung Lee looked at Huan Chi and said, "OK, we'll play
Weeweechu."

Huan Cho grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

AND SO DO I!

[nChrist]

Oklahoma Howdy to Ambassador4Christ,

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

AND SO DO I!

   LOL

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Love In Christ,
Tom

[Brother Love]

Oklahoma Howdy to Ambassador4Christ,

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

AND SO DO I!

   LOL

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Love In Christ,
Tom

DITTO

Brother Love

[HopeAndFaith]

Ditto ditto! Merry Christ Being Born to everyone! I hope you all are blessed right out of your socks!

[Willowbirch]

Ditto ditto! Merry Christ Being Born to everyone! I hope you all are blessed right out of your socks!

Ditto to the third power!  

[Brother Love]

 No Offense, Santa

We all know that Santa is a lot of fun, but consider the following:
 
Santa lives at the North Pole... Jesus is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh... Jesus walks on water.

Santa comes but once a year... Jesus is an ever-present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies... Jesus supplies all of your needs.


You have to wait in line to see Santa... Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap... Jesus lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi, little boy or little girl..." Jesus knew your name before you did. He knows your history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on your head.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... Jesus has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is "HO, HO, HO..." Jesus offers help, hope and eternal life.

Santa says, "You better not cry..." Jesus says, "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys...Jesus makes lives new, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle... but Jesus gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree... Jesus became a gift and died on a tree, and through His resurrection, wants to set you free!

[Ambassador4Christ]

Good Post Brother

While Santa puts gifts under your tree... Jesus became a gift and died on a tree, and through His resurrection, wants to set you free!

[nChrist]

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Love & Ambassador4Christ,

Amen Brothers!

Thanks be unto God for HIS unspeakable GIFT!

In Christ,
Tom

[Tibby]

lol, Good stuff, but we need to add some GIF’s to it Talk to sym