As we all know, Christmas is once again upon us, with all the hustle and bustle that goes with it. As a young child I remember excitedly writing down all the things I wanted from Santa, and posting it up to him via the chimney, helped by a roaring log fire. I also remember the Christmas tree, decorations and, of course, the turkey. Like millions of others, we enjoyed a very traditional Christmas.
As I grew older, I became more aware of the meaning of Christmas through nativity plays etc. It was pure magic. The trouble was, like eating a large bag of marshmallows, after a while you tired of it. It may well have been magic for the first few years, but was it still magic after you'd heard it thirty or forty times? I doubt it! And there lies the problem - we've become stuck in a time warp. It's like an old 78rpm record where the needle sticks. The Christmas story has become boring because we all know exactly what comes next, but we're partly to blame. We keep picturing Jesus as a little baby lying in a manger. Well I've got news for you. Jesus is not a little baby - JESUS IS A MAN! A man who is as alive today as he was two thousand odd years ago.
The greatest single sacrifice anybody can make is to lay down their life for their fellow man. A man died for me, and until a couple of years ago I didn't even know it. He died that I might live. He died for you too. His name of course is Jesus.
Thank you, Lord Jesus from the bottom of my sinful heart for making that personal sacrifice. Amen
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
In HIM I place my trust.
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Valerie100
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2005 6:31 am
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
Christmas is a strange and motley festival. In the UK at least, what we now know as Cristmas used to be a pagan affair. However, when the missionaries from Rome embarked upon our shores, instead of trying to put a stop to a strong pagan ritual, they endeavoured, successfully, to invoke the idea of Christ's birth as having occurred on this day. Of course, we all now know that January and February did not exist until Gregory had his fanciful way with the calendar and that what is now December was a totally different time of the year. Who cares, Christmas grew out of a myriad of ideas to become what it is today.
What still strikes me, though, is how the shops seem to do so well out of it whereas the folk who actually celebrate Christmas seem to suffer. As for the children, all they seem to have learned is that Christmas is all about what they want, and boy are there tantrums if they don't get what they want.
What still strikes me, though, is how the shops seem to do so well out of it whereas the folk who actually celebrate Christmas seem to suffer. As for the children, all they seem to have learned is that Christmas is all about what they want, and boy are there tantrums if they don't get what they want.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
SnoozeControl wrote: I believe the holiday you're referring to would be Easter.
OK clever clogs, but I think you get the gist of my message.
OK clever clogs, but I think you get the gist of my message.
In HIM I place my trust.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
Frederick wrote: OK clever clogs, but I think you get the gist of my message.
I take it then that you are about 7 or 8 years old or an immigrant from another religion.
I take it then that you are about 7 or 8 years old or an immigrant from another religion.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
If we want to poo poo the holiday season as a merchandising festival, there is plenty to support that assumption.
If you want to celebrate the true reason for the seaon, Jesus, there is also plenty of ways to support that too.
We are told as Christians, we are aliens in a foreign land, and we need to thrive despite the culture we find ourselves in.
The Christmas season comes each year and each person can choose if and how they want to embrace the day.......... Most people, I think, for all their grinching and hum bugging, find Christmas to be a happy and loving time. True there can be a lot of stress and home violence is reported to go up, but it is NOT because it is Christmas, it is because of the choices people make in their lives regarding how they will celebrate this day and with whom.
Isn't it interesting that this "Christian" holiday is celebrated by so many who say they do not believe in God. Do you think that supports its "pagan" origins?
If you want to celebrate the true reason for the seaon, Jesus, there is also plenty of ways to support that too.
We are told as Christians, we are aliens in a foreign land, and we need to thrive despite the culture we find ourselves in.
The Christmas season comes each year and each person can choose if and how they want to embrace the day.......... Most people, I think, for all their grinching and hum bugging, find Christmas to be a happy and loving time. True there can be a lot of stress and home violence is reported to go up, but it is NOT because it is Christmas, it is because of the choices people make in their lives regarding how they will celebrate this day and with whom.
Isn't it interesting that this "Christian" holiday is celebrated by so many who say they do not believe in God. Do you think that supports its "pagan" origins?
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
SOJOURNER wrote: If we want to poo poo the holiday season as a merchandising festival, there is plenty to support that assumption.
If you want to celebrate the true reason for the seaon, Jesus, there is also plenty of ways to support that too.
We are told as Christians, we are aliens in a foreign land, and we need to thrive despite the culture we find ourselves in.
The Christmas season comes each year and each person can choose if and how they want to embrace the day.......... Most people, I think, for all their grinching and hum bugging, find Christmas to be a happy and loving time. True there can be a lot of stress and home violence is reported to go up, but it is NOT because it is Christmas, it is because of the choices people make in their lives regarding how they will celebrate this day and with whom.
Isn't it interesting that this "Christian" holiday is celebrated by so many who say they do not believe in God. Do you think that supports its "pagan" origins?
Personally, I find every day cause enough for celebration. On each day, I rise with love in my heart for my fellow man and woman. And I hope that on each day, I can do some good. I extol the idea of love and positive thinking.
On the other hand, Christmas is a confused celebration. I cannot think of another celebration that reduces so many people to misery and depression as this one. Pretty and colourful it may be, yet suicides rise at this time of the year. Oh, and I don't think that Jesus would be too impressed gy it all.
I am not a bah humbug because I simply ignore Christmas and treat Christmas Day as any other day. A day worth celebrating like any other and loving my fellow human beings. Why the hell should I only be happy at Christmas time. I want to be happy all year round.
If you want to celebrate the true reason for the seaon, Jesus, there is also plenty of ways to support that too.
We are told as Christians, we are aliens in a foreign land, and we need to thrive despite the culture we find ourselves in.
The Christmas season comes each year and each person can choose if and how they want to embrace the day.......... Most people, I think, for all their grinching and hum bugging, find Christmas to be a happy and loving time. True there can be a lot of stress and home violence is reported to go up, but it is NOT because it is Christmas, it is because of the choices people make in their lives regarding how they will celebrate this day and with whom.
Isn't it interesting that this "Christian" holiday is celebrated by so many who say they do not believe in God. Do you think that supports its "pagan" origins?
Personally, I find every day cause enough for celebration. On each day, I rise with love in my heart for my fellow man and woman. And I hope that on each day, I can do some good. I extol the idea of love and positive thinking.
On the other hand, Christmas is a confused celebration. I cannot think of another celebration that reduces so many people to misery and depression as this one. Pretty and colourful it may be, yet suicides rise at this time of the year. Oh, and I don't think that Jesus would be too impressed gy it all.
I am not a bah humbug because I simply ignore Christmas and treat Christmas Day as any other day. A day worth celebrating like any other and loving my fellow human beings. Why the hell should I only be happy at Christmas time. I want to be happy all year round.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
I am happy all year round. I just get more pressies at christmas.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
OpenMind wrote: Personally, I find Christmas is a confused celebration. I cannot think of another celebration that reduces so many people to misery and depression as this one. Pretty and colourful it may be, yet suicides rise at this time of the year.
This is indeed true, but what can we possibly do to change this for these people?
Oh, and I don't think that Jesus would be too impressed by it all.
I agree here also. But there is a lot that must cause him saddness. Mainly that we just don't seem to get it -- no matter how simple he tried to make it -- Love ME, Love others............
Why the hell should I only be happy at Christmas time. I want to be happy all year round.
If I indicated in any way that one should be happy only at Christmas, I must have mistyped my response. All of us want to be "happy". Why would we not?! For me, Christmas and Jesus's birth is a reminder of how much we are loved by God and gives us hope that there is more to all of this that just our life here, and that makes me happy.
This is indeed true, but what can we possibly do to change this for these people?
Oh, and I don't think that Jesus would be too impressed by it all.
I agree here also. But there is a lot that must cause him saddness. Mainly that we just don't seem to get it -- no matter how simple he tried to make it -- Love ME, Love others............
Why the hell should I only be happy at Christmas time. I want to be happy all year round.
If I indicated in any way that one should be happy only at Christmas, I must have mistyped my response. All of us want to be "happy". Why would we not?! For me, Christmas and Jesus's birth is a reminder of how much we are loved by God and gives us hope that there is more to all of this that just our life here, and that makes me happy.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
SOJOURNER:-6
My sentiments exactly. I am generally happy all the time but I do love Christmas and the Christmas story even though it is midrashic. It still presents some powerful truths.
Shalom
Ted:-6
My sentiments exactly. I am generally happy all the time but I do love Christmas and the Christmas story even though it is midrashic. It still presents some powerful truths.
Shalom
Ted:-6
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
SOJOURNER wrote: If I indicated in any way that one should be happy only at Christmas, I must have mistyped my response. All of us want to be "happy". Why would we not?! For me, Christmas and Jesus's birth is a reminder of how much we are loved by God and gives us hope that there is more to all of this that just our life here, and that makes me happy.
Sojourner, you explained yourself well enough. It is me who is at fault.
When I was a young boy, the first thing I learned about Christmas was the Nativity. In itself, this is a wonderful thing to celebrate.
But as I come to observe the behaviour of society over Christmas, there seems to be very little in their actions to espouse such a glorious event. There are those that do as Jesus would want and I don't want to mar them in what I am saying here. For them, Christmas is of great value not for what they get, but for what help they can bring the unfortunate in the way of food and solace and so forth.
But, society, as a whole, has turned the Christmas period into a mockery of what it is supposed to represent.
Notwithstanding, as I do not subscribe to Christianity, I do not celebrate Christmas, per se.
Sojourner, you explained yourself well enough. It is me who is at fault.
When I was a young boy, the first thing I learned about Christmas was the Nativity. In itself, this is a wonderful thing to celebrate.
But as I come to observe the behaviour of society over Christmas, there seems to be very little in their actions to espouse such a glorious event. There are those that do as Jesus would want and I don't want to mar them in what I am saying here. For them, Christmas is of great value not for what they get, but for what help they can bring the unfortunate in the way of food and solace and so forth.
But, society, as a whole, has turned the Christmas period into a mockery of what it is supposed to represent.
Notwithstanding, as I do not subscribe to Christianity, I do not celebrate Christmas, per se.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
OpenMind wrote:
But, society, as a whole, has turned the Christmas period into a mockery of what it is supposed to represent.
I am disinclined to agree with this statement.
I believe Christmas is celebrated in the hearts of people -- in church or at home among family.
The "mockery" you refer to is but another type of celebration held entirely for another reason. It just happens all on the same day.................
But, society, as a whole, has turned the Christmas period into a mockery of what it is supposed to represent.
I am disinclined to agree with this statement.
I believe Christmas is celebrated in the hearts of people -- in church or at home among family.
The "mockery" you refer to is but another type of celebration held entirely for another reason. It just happens all on the same day.................
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
The "mockery" you refer to is but another type of celebration held entirely for another reason. It just happens all on the same day.................
Please excuse my ignorance, Sojourner, but I don't know of any other celebration over the Christmas period.
Please excuse my ignorance, Sojourner, but I don't know of any other celebration over the Christmas period.
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
OpenMind wrote: The "mockery" you refer to is but another type of celebration held entirely for another reason. It just happens all on the same day.................
Please excuse my ignorance, Sojourner, but I don't know of any other celebration over the Christmas period.
You know on our local radio station yesterday they spoke of some "sect" wanting to change the name of "Christmas" as its religious conotation is found to be offensive to the non Christians or non-beleivers. Forgive my spelling and cursing under my breath but..... these (&&*%^*)( Politically Correct toxic spills need to STOP! This has become so utterly unbelieveably stupid. I swear they do it for attention.
Sorry back to the belief of Christmas....It comes from the heart. Just the other day I was having a chat with a friend, and like herself, "I like to give gifts" they come from my heart, and the receiver knows it. It is about giving plain and simple. How grand and glorified or how simple you make it should remain within your realm of happiness and comfort.
Give small, give from the heart, give because you care, and give with thought.
Please excuse my ignorance, Sojourner, but I don't know of any other celebration over the Christmas period.
You know on our local radio station yesterday they spoke of some "sect" wanting to change the name of "Christmas" as its religious conotation is found to be offensive to the non Christians or non-beleivers. Forgive my spelling and cursing under my breath but..... these (&&*%^*)( Politically Correct toxic spills need to STOP! This has become so utterly unbelieveably stupid. I swear they do it for attention.
Sorry back to the belief of Christmas....It comes from the heart. Just the other day I was having a chat with a friend, and like herself, "I like to give gifts" they come from my heart, and the receiver knows it. It is about giving plain and simple. How grand and glorified or how simple you make it should remain within your realm of happiness and comfort.
Give small, give from the heart, give because you care, and give with thought.
�You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.�
• Mae West
• Mae West
Christmas - bah, humbug is it?
Minks " "I like to give gifts" they come from my heart".
Thanks for the box of chocolates, by the way. They look absolutely fantastic.
Now, back to Christmas. I believe Christmas is a time for thanking God for sending the Messiah to us to show us the way. It doesn't matter to me that the date might be wrong, it's just important to celebrate the birth of Jesus as the Messiah.
Everything else, eg, goodwill to all men, and so on, is incorporated in Jesus's second commandment to love they neighbour as thyself. This is meant to be upheld all year round.
I often want to give something to someone. And this is invariably from my heart. But I can't wait until Christmas to do this thing. Christmas is not particularly about helping others because we are supposed to be doing this all year round. Christmas is about Jesus. Of course, this does not mean that we stop helping others over Christmas, God forbid!
All the tinsel, and the glitter and lovely colours and lights and displays are fine, as long as they are for Jesus and not for ourselves. If they are for ourselves, then let's declare it so and hold a celebration for the birth of Jesus on another day.:-6
Thanks for the box of chocolates, by the way. They look absolutely fantastic.
Now, back to Christmas. I believe Christmas is a time for thanking God for sending the Messiah to us to show us the way. It doesn't matter to me that the date might be wrong, it's just important to celebrate the birth of Jesus as the Messiah.
Everything else, eg, goodwill to all men, and so on, is incorporated in Jesus's second commandment to love they neighbour as thyself. This is meant to be upheld all year round.
I often want to give something to someone. And this is invariably from my heart. But I can't wait until Christmas to do this thing. Christmas is not particularly about helping others because we are supposed to be doing this all year round. Christmas is about Jesus. Of course, this does not mean that we stop helping others over Christmas, God forbid!
All the tinsel, and the glitter and lovely colours and lights and displays are fine, as long as they are for Jesus and not for ourselves. If they are for ourselves, then let's declare it so and hold a celebration for the birth of Jesus on another day.:-6