Celebrate Christmas? Yes.

 Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Luke 1 and 2  relates Christ's conception and birth. Vs 35 says: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Is it okay to celebrate Christmas? 

What about the origin of Christmas?  

Christmas was originally a very pagan holiday.  SATURNALIA: The ancient Roman seven-day festival of Saturn, which began on December 17.    2)  (used with a sing. verb) A celebration marked by unrestrained revelry and often licentiousness; an orgy. - The Saturnalia celebrated Saturn as a harvest god.  Wreaths, feasts, and the lighting of candles all continue the Saturnalia of the ancient Romans, although the modern reasons are far removed from the Pagans of the Classical World.

Excerpts from Skip Moen's daily email (Today's Word) explains how the once pagan holiday turned into what we now know as Christmas:

"The Romans celebrated it as Saturnalia, a week of lawless disorder in efforts to appease the gods, culminating in the death of an innocent victim.  The Greeks observed the same sort of holiday complete with sexual immorality and torture.  The Church adopted this holiday by converting it into a Christian celebration during the 4th Century, a time when large numbers of pagans entered the fold of the official Church.  Unfortunately, the pagan masses continued to celebrate in the old way, with drunkenness, sexual license and other abuses.  There is historical evidence that some of these practices continued into the Middle Ages, aimed at humiliating Jews as the enemies of the Church.  As late at 1881, anti-Semitic brutality was still associated with “Christmas” in some areas in Europe. 

Historically, the reason for the season was an excuse to do whatever human lust demanded without repercussions.  Today we have been Christianized.  If Christmas was still observed in the manner of Saturnalia, no true Christian would participate.  In fact, Christians would protest.  Furthermore, for the vast majority of our culture, Christmas isn’t really about the Christ either.  It’s about presents, parties and good cheer.

Should Christians stop celebrating Christmas?  If we know the history, and we disavow any connection to the pagan origins, can we still observe such a date as a “sacred” celebration?  Or are we required to remove Christmas from our lives because it has such a terrible history behind it?  Can’t we simply take the opportunity to be with our families, enjoy giving, celebrate God’s goodness, fellowship and grace without endorsing the pagan origins?

Frankly, I’m not quite sure.  But I do recognize some interesting precedents.  Genesis is replete with pagan cultural symbols that have been “converted” by God into acceptable patterns of righteousness.  Circumcision was practiced in ancient cultures long before it became a sign of the covenant.  It was originally a rite of passage associated with sexuality.  God made it His sign by changing its context.  The pagan mythology of the creation of the world was altered by God in the Genesis account.  God adapts culture to His purposes when necessary.

 I don’t want to endorse paganism but I am not yet convinced that contemporary Christmas is now anything more than a worldwide sales campaign.  "

Much of our society has moved the celebration of Christmas far from the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.  Could this be the reason we are miserable while celebrating?  Perhaps this is why some pounce upon paganism as a reason not to celebrate Christmas.  Our materialistic view may have provided the opposition a platform for defaming Christmas.  There's nothing wrong with gathering for the purpose of exchanging gifts or enjoying a family feast - but it would be good to recognize fully why we are participating in these activities. 

By the way: If you lack the resources to distribute a hefty bag of gifts to your loved ones... It doesn't mean you are a failure.  It only means you aren't measuring up to the expectations of retailers as they reach for their most profitable sales period of the year.  You have much love to give your family.  Give that.  That's what they need and want most.  After all, it resembles the love expressed on that first Christmas. 

I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas! 

It Only Takes a Minute

"It only takes a minute."  I made this statement in conversation with my daughter this morning.  The phrase hung around in my thoughts a bit longer and I realized how true the statement is.  It actually does take only a minute.  Just a minute of your time, your attention, or your focus. 

People are hungry for attention.  They need the touch of a hand on their shoulder.  A kind word.  It doesn't take much for us to be encouraged.  It doesn't take a million dollars to make us feel loved (although that would help a lot...just sayin'....).

God placed us on this earth as social beings and we need each other. 

There's someone in your life waiting for you to give them a minute.  They aren't asking for the moon, they are only asking for 'a minute'...  

...a smile can be expressed in a minute
...it only takes a minute to open a door for someone
...it requires a minute of your time to listen to a comment
...it takes just a minute to give a big bear hug
...it takes less than a minute to wink at your spouse
...it uses less than a minute of your time to say, "I love you"
...it only takes a minute for you to pause and pat someone on the back
...it only takes a minute to wish someone a "Merry Christmas"

It only takes a minute. 

People are usually happy with 'a minute' of your attention.  They don't ask for a lot of your time, but they do need a minute...given here and there throughout the day or week.  You can encourage a child - express love to your spouse - show kindness to a clerk...all in only a minute.

Hey, have you got a minute?  Sure you do.  Now go do something good with that minute.

.....I'll be back....in a minute !    Just joking.

Old Man in the Doll house

RETARDED GRANDPARENTS:  This was just handed to me for reading.  It's one of those email stories that circles the globe every year, probably.  I'll have to admit, this one is incredibly funny.  A "must read" as they say.  It's a shame the author's name isn't listed for he/she deserves credit for this one.  Read on:

"After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their holiday away from school.  One child wrote the following: 

We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa.  They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Arizona.  Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass.  They ride around on their bicycles and wear name tags because they don't know who they are anymore.

They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now, they do exercises there, but they don't do them very well.  There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with hats on.  At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it.  He watches all day so nobody can escape.  Sometimes they sneak out and go cruising in their golf carts.

Nobody there cooks, they just eat out.  And, they eat the same thing every night -- early birds.  Some of the people can't get out...past the man in the doll house.  The ones who do get out, bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.

My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded someday, too.  When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house.  Then, I will let people out so they can visit their grandchildren.