Archive for December, 2007
Merry Christmas WORLD and BROADMAN FAMILY.
To BBC – I just wanted you to know you guys are awesome and I appreciate each of you. I thought Christmas Eve was a great worship experience…it truly brought me home for Christmas. I hope your day is filled with Christ moments of peace, joy, love, and faith. Merry Christmas to all!!!
Pastor Chris
Okay…I just got out of the car with my kids. We went driving around looking at lights. Pretty neat and yes, it has become a part of Christmas tradition. That and an article I read today making Christmas out to be appauling to Christ got me thinking…what is CHRISTMAS TRUTH?
I am not going to be able to do a historical review of every Christmas tradition…nor am I going to try and say every Christmas tradition is Christ-centered. However, is it evil? Is Christ appauled by Christmas? My answer may shock some of you…yes and no!
Yes, Christ is appauled when Christians turn Christmas into something that bears His name but is not wholesome to Him. When we let the world and secularism defeat the true meaning of Christmas…that is the birth of Chrsit…then we have failed our Lord.
However, does this mean Christ does not want us to celebrate Christmas…I think not! As much as I disagree with Christmas being so materialistic and secular…or having the values of Christmas stripped and replaced with “Happy Holidays.” I am equally in disagreement with some denominations who try to say God is not in Christmas…they miss the whole idea of using the events of culture to reach others for Chrsit. Christmas provides a perfect opportunity to do jsut that.
So what is the truth? First the true story of Christmas is found in the Bible. Both the Gospel of Matthew and Luke record these events we are to celebrate. Our focus needs to be there. All that we do should remind us of this…when we see a tree, lights, presents and even a nativity…this is where our minds should go…this is all about Him. Secondly, whatever we embrace that is pagan, secular or part of our culture we should try to use to bring people to a saving knowledge of and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Lastly, the truth is found in the motivation of our heart. God knows are hearts. Are we doing this for His glory.
In the end I don’t think Jesus wants us to be a Grinch…nor does He want us to be so worldly that we forget about Him. I think the truth is that it is a good thing to have a date in which we RECOGNIZE the birth of the Savior. I also don’t see any harm in having wholesome family traditions and values that are associated with Christmas. The songs we sing, family gatherings, church services, peace and good will toward all men are good things…in fact God things.
This Christmas keep Christ in the heart of it all. That is where the truth lies. Tell others about the reason for the season…let them know that Christ has come. Celebrate this as a family. May you be blessed with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Pastor Chris
I know I shouldn’t let stuff bother me…but when our culture takes an anti-God or anti-Christian stand it does. I realize that our nation has become so diverse and so secular that the idea of us being a Christian nation will soon be in the past…but when the elite in power and other organizations try to erase history and deny that our foundation is built on the God of the Bible they have gone to far. The fact is that until the 1960’s this nation was “One Nation Under God” to a large degree. And now there are people trying to rob the American Culture of “CHRISTMAS.”
That is why I really like this video by Mike Huckabee wishing every one God’s blessings and a Merry Christmas. It has offended many people the news reporters where reporting the other night. They were offended because he said “Merry Christmas.” Well I am not offended…finally a politican who is not allowing the values that make America what it is be stripped away. Aren’t are values what set us apart from other nations…not us being divisive. If CHristmas offends someone I am sorry…but it is a value I don’t want to loose in our culture. I think it is refreshing to see someone stand up for what is right andI find it encouraging to see someone defend the American tradition of Christmas and not worry if it offends people.
This “Happy Holidays” movement is a cop out…it is Christmas time…we should not stop saying it. It is what we do this time of year. In case you disagree with me or don’t think it is that bad…just read the comments attacking Huckabee’s commerical about Christmas. Also consider the Masschusetts town that band Christmas lights this year because of global warming…they said they were not ruining Christmas because they are (I qoute) “Holiday Lights.” NO they are Christmas lights. Also, How about all the Happy Holiday magazines from companies trying to sell us CHRISTMAS STUFF…they are advertising Christmas stuff and calling it Happy Holidays…come on now! Are you feeling like I do? Are you offended, disturbed, disappointed, frustrated?
On that note I am proud to go tell it on the mountain – “MERRY CHRISTMAS” – Christ has come and that is what Christmas is all about!!!
Greetings everyone…I just wanted to say Merry Christmas early. I am not promoting or telling anyone what to do with politics…who you vote for is up to you and it is between you and God. However, I do want you to be informed and to encourage everyone to embrace a Biblical Worldview of everything in life. ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS CHRISTMAS!!!!
I found this Christmas message to hit the spot this Christmas Season…I cannot believe it is coming from a presidential candidate…but this guy speaks our language and tells it like it really is…I think it is time we say MERRY CHRISTMAS and stop worrying about offending people. After all…it is me and you who should be offended!!! Many have been offended by this Christmas message by Huckabee…but it is so fitting with what I have been preaching on this Christmas Season…all of you know by now “I don’t celebrate the Holidays, I celebrate Christmas!” WOW – MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE> This is refreshing to see…a politician who actually isn’t afraid to say Merry Christmas boldly!!!!!!! This is so rare I had to share and write about it! If you want to see the video go to the link below.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Simply cut the link below into your search engine and you will go to the video message. If you don’t want to watch this…just deleted the message.
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=920
Happy Birthday to the lady of my life. Shawnetta I love you with all of my heart and I wanted the whole world to know it!!!! I know you are not a technology person…so you probably won’t ever know I made this blog…but I did!
I just wanted you to know how wonderful you and how loved you are on your BIRTHDAY>>>HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Chris
I have been jamming to the song by Go Fish…”Its Called Christmas” man is this song great.
Christmas is not about religion…it is about a man…that man is Jesus Christ. God in the Flesh, Immanuel…it is about the day God stepped out of eternity and into humanity. What a reality check for all of us…is this what Christmas really means to us?
Christmas has some pagan origins…it also has some strong commerical and secular influences. However, this does not mean that Christmas does not represent the day Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Becasue I hate to break to everybody it does represent the birth of Christ.
It is time for all of us to reclaim this truth and share this truth. When you are out in our culture this “HOLIDAY” season as they would have us call it…say “MERRY CHRISTMAS” and let them be amazed. Let them ask questions or let them say back to you as most have…”Yeah, you’r right, Merry Christmas!”
Blessing to all…enjoy this time of year. Enjoy all the beauty and atmosphere…some CHrist focused, some pagan, and some even secular. Guess what the lights, trees, gifts and even Santa are okay…so long as the MAIN THING is the MAIN THING…Christmas is about CHRIST!!!!
Blessings and Merrry Christmas everyone.
PC