According to the P-N-C Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, buying all the gifts mentioned in the popular Christmas Song 12 Days of Christmas would cost $72,608.02 in 2005 up from $66,334.46 the year before.

—http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051128/clm018.html?.v=29 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Aren't you glad that Christmas isn't about giving and receiving gifts? Aren't you glad that you know that Christmas has a much deeper meaning?

Luke 2:11 (HCSB) "today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David."

In their book, "The ACLU Vs. America: Exposing the Agenda to Redefine Moral Values", Alan Sears and Craig Osten write, "Despite the protests of Nadine Strossen, the ACLU, and its loud allies, it is their years of lawsuits and threats that have created the climate of fear and launched the politically correct 'holiday' season in our country. And this has censored and suppressed the rights of 96 percent of Americans to freely, publicly celebrate Christmas. For too many public officials, the letters 'ACLU' generate as much genuine fear today as the initials of police agencies in some totalitarian countries."

—"The ACLU Vs. America", p. 169-170. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Alan Sears and the Alliance Defense Fund are working to help Americans maintain their rights in the face of the assault led by the ACLU by providing free legal assistance. I'm grateful for their efforts. But the truth is, it is possible to say Merry Christmas a million times, give and exchange gifts and sing a thousand Christmas Carols and still not experience the joy of the season. That joy only comes when we put Christ into Christmas and remember the reason for the season.

Matthew 1:21 (NKJV) "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Police in the Salt Lake City, Utah area are investigating a common occurrence during this season, but they say this case has an unusual twist. Vandals stole the figure of the baby Jesus from a nativity scene in the front yard of an area pastor. When the Pastor and his wife returned home after helping organize a children's program at their church they found a picture of King Herod taped to the nativity scene, blindfolds on the figures of Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus missing.

Pastor Harry Berg said the noted claimed King Herod had stolen the baby Jesus and told where they could find the baby. Pastor Berg called police who followed the lead and found the figure of baby Jesus.

Authorities say they are concerned because the people who stole the figure seemed to know about Jesus, and wanted to twist the Christmas message. They are continuing their investigation fearing it may turn out to be a hate crime.

Though he admits the incident rattled his family, Pastor Berg is taking a different approach. He said, "We love them and we forgive them, God turns things to good and we hope he will do that with these people, too."

—http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_340215141.html, Pastor's Nativity Scene Vandalized in Draper, December 6, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

This Christmas, like the first one, we have a choice as to how we will respond to Jesus, to worship like the Wise Men or be in fear like Herod.

Matthew 2:1-3 (NLT) "Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, [2] 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him.' [3] Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem."

Rick and Bobbie Sandefur are working with local business owners and the Hope's Point Baptist Church to give presents to the 200 inmates in the Shelby County Jail. "Everyone I know has made a mistake. I don't know any perfect people, do you?" Bobbie Sandefur said.

According to news reports, not everyone in Shelbyville like the idea saying, "the inmates don't deserve anything for Christmas."

—http://www.theindychannel.com/news/5455400/detail.html Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Perhaps these people get their Christmas theology from the song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" that says, "He's making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice." In other words, only the righteous deserve a Christmas gift. How counter to the true message of Christmas. The good news of great joy isn't just for the good people; it is for all the people. Even people who've committed great sins.

Luke 2:10-11 (HCSB) "But the angel said to them, 'Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: [11] today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.'"

In his book, "Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity", David Limbaugh wrote, "It's one thing for Christophobes to be nervous about Easter and Christmas, given their obvious association with Jesus Christ, but surely holidays like Valentine's Day should escape their scrutiny. Well, not quite. A public school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, permitted its students to exchange valentines of all varieties, including those showcasing pop stars Britney Spears and *Nsync. All varieties, that is, except one honoring Jesus Christ. Eight-year-old Morgan Nyman was told she could not pass out her homemade cards saying 'Jesus loves you' or 'Freely rely on God.'"

—"Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity", p. 43. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Luke 2:13-14 (HCSB) "Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: [14] Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

For a while, it looked like Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia was going to light a "Holiday Tree" instead of a "Christmas Tree" until Dan McLagan, the communication director for the Governor made the following correction, ""Due to a politically correct staff brain-freeze, the press office erroneously used the word 'holiday tree' to describe the coniferous flora that the governor and first lady will light this Sunday. It is, in fact, a Christmas tree."

—http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1205/03metxmas.html Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

In this case, it was a mistake, in other cases; there is an orchestrated effort to take Christ out of Christmas. If you feel so led, do what you can to keep Christmas in the public arena. But whatever you do, be sure to keep Christ as the center of your private celebration. After all, it is a celebration of the incarnation—God becoming man.

Matthew 1:23 (NKJV) "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, 'God with us.'"

In his book, "Menace of Multiculturalism: Trojan Horse in America", Alvin J. Schmidt writes, "The multicultural message is obvious here—namely, Jesus Christ is not the only reconciler of humanity. The biblical message announced at Jesus' birth 'for to you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:11), is on a par with the Indian myth of a white buffalo calf. The Indians have their reconciler too. Whether people worship an animal (white buffalo calf) or the person of Jesus Christ is of no consequence."

—"Menace of Multiculturalism: Trojan Horse in America", p. 149. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

John 14:6 (RSV) "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.'"

In "Christmas in Colonial America", the World Book editors write, "A traveler going back in time to the Colonial era in America would assuredly find some familiar customs, but the visitor would discover many more missing. Today the Christmas tree enjoys a central role in the Yuletide pageantry. Although a few trees were festooned with baubles in early America, the idea of a decorated tree did not really become popular until the late 1800's. Except for the lucky Dutch children of New Amsterdam, there were few presents exchanged. And even though Christmas was celebrated by most of the inhabitants of the new land, it was not an official holiday. At Monticello, Thomas Jefferson would make a brief religious note of the day and then go to work in his study."

—"Christmas in Colonial America" p, 23. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

The details of the Christmas celebration are not as important as remembering that we are celebrating the marvelous fact that God became man to dwell among us.

John 1:14 (HCSB) "The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus went to the mall recently with the youth group from a church in Des Moines.

Iowa. He was welcome wherever he went and didn't even have to pay to go to the movie "The Nativity Story." The youth group took turns pushing a cardboard Jesus on a two-wheeled handcart as par of an exercise designed by their pastor to help them learn about living their faith and "taking Jesus Christ with them everywhere."

Pastor Steve McElroy talked to his students about the challenges of living as a Christian. The discussion became more real when McElroy brought in a cardboard cutout of Jesus and asked the youth group if they would take Jesus with them any time they were together. McElroy said, "Its one thing taking Jesus around local places it's more difficult to be a good Christian when you're hauling him through the mall crowded with shoppers. It's a good test." On the trip to the mall, some of the teens admitted they felt self-conscious fear about meeting someone they knew. 12 year-old Colton Toney said, "I'll just tell them our pastor made us do it." 16 year-old Agnes Armstrong saw things differently. She said, "It's a chance to show people we are Christians and we're not embarrassed about it. We want people to know what we believe in and that we take the Christmas season seriously."

—http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061210/LIFE05/612100344/. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 1:22-23 (GW) "All this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: [23] 'The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,' which means 'God is with us.'"

What do you think it would cost to purchase all the gifts mentioned in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas? According to PNC Financial Services Group Inc, purchasing each of the items in 2004 would cost a whopping $66,334.00.

—http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041129/ap_on_bi_ge/twelve_days_cost_4 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Aren't you glad that true love doesn't have price tag even if the gifts we exchange do?The love that we celebrate at Christmas is priceless.The love we have for one another certainly, but also the love the God has for us that motivated Him sending His only begotten Son into this sinful world to redeem us to Himself.

John 3:16 (MsgB) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life."

Clover Moore, Mayor of Sydney Australia, has been portrayed as the Grinch who stole Christmas after she only used one Christmas tree to decorate the town's city hall this year. Moore was accused of political correctness gone mad when residents in Australia's largest city woke to newspaper headlines demanding "Where's Our Christmas?" They complained the city had not done enough to celebrate the season.

Sydney is a multicultural city of 4 million representing over 200 ethnic groups. The lack of decorations set off a wave of protest in the media.The Daily Telegraph compared Sydney 's Scrooge-like approach with the opulent Christmas displays in major cities like London, New York, and Paris. In an editorial the paper said, "Christmas is a time of wonder, fun and festivities, for young and old. As the nation's premier city... surely we deserve better."

Moore decided against a lot of lavish decorations because she did not want to offend non-Christians. She defended her approach saying, "Today, Christmas is a celebration for everyone and I'd like to encourage everyone to get out in the city and celebrate and I especially urge building owners and retailers throughout the city to get into the Christmas spirit."

Australia's conservative Prime Minister has his own thoughts about the lack of decorations. He said, "This is political correctness from central casting. It is unbelievable." He added, "This is the ridiculous thing about blending out of any kind of distinctive identity we might have. Christmas is not only a religious festival... it is also part of the history and culture of this country."

—Reuters, Scrooge Slammed for Christmas Correctness, December 3, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

These days, being politically correct has become more important than being spiritually correct.Our friends and neighbors deserve to hear the true message of Jesus, not a politically correct adaptation.

Romans 1:16 (NIV) "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."

Chicago Police say an art student was arrested for stealing a figure of the baby Jesus from the Nativity Scene at the Daley Plaza. Authorities say 19-year-old Matthew Staib is a Texas resident who is a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He lives in a dormitory that overlooks the Plaza.

Two witnesses saw the man pull the tree-foot figure from the manger and walk away with it.They contacted police who arrested Staib a few blocks away.When questioned about the theft, Staib said he took the figure because he saw it and wanted it.

The same baby Jesus has been stolen before. In 1999, the Jesus figure disappeared and was recovered from a Union Station luggage locker after an anonymous tip several days later.

—http://www.14wfie.com, Baby Jesus Stolen—Again, December 6, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Every year, there are cases of the baby Jesus being stolen from Nativity scenes. Jesus is God's gift to mankind. He is available to everyone.

John 3:16 (NIV), "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

“One Christmas, my father had left us. My mother went out to call her sister, who is considered to be wealthy. My mother put a coin in the phone box and her sister was not at home. My mother had walked 9 long blocks to get to this phone, when there were some others closer. But I believe that being frustrated, she just walked to the one that was familiar to her. Anyway, she had called her sister to tell her that we were hungry. She must have been desperate, because our mother had a lot of pride, not even getting on welfare. She had worked all her life since the age of ten or eleven. When she hung up, lots of coins came out of the coin box of the phone!

Our mother gathered her apron together and garnished the coins. She was so happy! God was already looking down at us. Yet we had not asked. She walked down the street towards our apartment. The Baker saw our mother, and knowing her as a hard working woman, waved his hand at her to come. My mother came to him and he motioned her to come into his bakery. There, he lent her a pull cart and proceeded to fill it with fresh and day old doughnuts and bread, a pie and anything that he could think of putting in and topping it with a jug of milk! Happy our mother went towards us. She then came across the Ben Franklin Store and saw a red fire truck in the window. She looked at the coins and went in and bought the truck for my young brother. She was sad that she could not buy anything for the rest of us. We were happy just to have something to eat! We were happy that our brother had gotten a gift from Santa. Now, remembering this, makes me appreciate our mother more, for what she went through for us. She could have left us too like our father did, but she was faithful. And God is faithful. He always provides.”

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Yolanda Lopez

“Peace on Earth, good will toward men?” Not in the shopping malls in America. Christmas, it seems, is bringing out the worst in some people. “No matter how fast you go, it’s not fast enough for some people,” said Dee Stripp, a part-time clerk at the Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Michigan. “People don’t seem to have common courtesy anymore.”

The holiday anger has a name—“retail rage.” Shoppers feel mistreated, employees feel abused. “People are at the limit of their tolerance,” said Christopher McGoey, a professional security consultant.

The hostility isn’t just between employees and customers. Sometimes customers come to blows with one another. Two women got into a fight over the last $39.95 scooter at the Jackson, Mississippi Wal-Mart store the day after Thanksgiving. Both of the women and the security guard were injured in the incident.

—http://detnews.com/2000/features/0012/04/a01-157302.htm

Luke 1:78-79 “Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, [79] To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."

A couple of years ago, due to medical bills, our finances were kinda tight at Christmas time. The church was participating in Franklin Graham's Operation Christmas Child so my wife and the children went shopping for some Christmas presents for the needy children in war-torn countries. When they got back, I asked the inevitable question, "Honey, how much did you spend?" She didn't answer the question, instead, she gave me a look that says, "You don't want to know."

"Honnnnnnney" I said, with a tone of voice that was a cross between a whine and a scold. Before I could say the next word, my nine-year-old son replied "But Daddy, it's for the poor people."

Suddenly, I felt pretty small. There I was, a grown man, looking up to my son that stands a mere 50 inches tall. He had the proper perspective. Though he had no idea how strapped we were for money, he wanted to respond to the challenge to give a little boy a smile for Christmas.

We made the adjustments we needed to make in our finances and we survived. That day I felt like the richest man in the world, because I saw giving through the giving eyes of a child.

Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

A guy bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas. A friend of his said, "I thought she wanted one of those sporty 4-Wheel drive vehicles." "She did," he replied. "But where am I gonna find a fake Jeep?"

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jeff Strite with the Church of Christ at Logansport, Indiana

A ten-year old, who was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible because of her grandmother's teaching, floored her grandmother by asking this question: "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jeff Strite with the Church of Christ at Logansport, Indiana

Dave Barry in his "Notes on Western Civilization" (Chicago Tribune Magazine, July 28, 1991) wrote, “To avoid offending anybody, the school dropped religion altogether and started singing about the weather. At my son's school, they now hold the winter program in February and sing increasingly non memorable songs such as ‘Winter Wonderland,’ ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and—this is a real song—‘Suzy Snowflake,’ all of which is pretty funny because we live in Miami. A visitor from another planet would assume that the children belonged to the Church of Meteorology.

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jeff Strite

During the holidays, the five-year-old was showing his little brother around the Christmas display at the church. "Here are the shepherds," he explained knowledgeably, "and there are the sheep and the cows and the wise men. And here is Mary, she's Jesus' mother. And that's Mary's husband, Virg." A teacher, who was nearby, overheard and offered a correction. "Mary's husband was named Joseph, dear," she said, "not Virg." The five-year-old wrinkled his brow. "Then how come," he wanted to know, "the preacher always talks about Virg and Mary?"

—James Dent in Charleston, W.Va. Gazette) Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

The Bible consists of sixty-six books which are divided into one thousand, one hundred, eighty-nine chapters. These chapters are further broken down into thirty-one thousand, one hundred seventy-three verses. And out of these thirty-one thousand, one hundred seventy-three verses exactly one hundred are devoted to telling the story of Jesus’ birth. In fact, all of the details of the first Christmas, the stable, the manger, the star, the shepherds and wise men, all of it can be found in two chapters, one in the book of Matthew and one in the book of Luke. Two of the four gospels completely ignore the events surrounding His birth. The simplicity of the Christmas story stands in sharp contrast to extravagant Christmas celebrated by many Christians.

The Newton County, Georgia, School Board voted to remove references to Christmas from its Web site and school calendars beginning next year. The move—approved by a vote of 4-1—came under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, which said such wording constituted "an endorsement of a particular religion," reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. From now on, the Christmas holidays will be referred to simply as the "semester break" by the school system.

—Foxnews.com, November 27, 2000.http://www.foxnews.com/national/tonguetied/112700.sml Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Thousands of homing pigeons competing in two races along the U.S. East Coast never made it home, leaving their handlers wondering if the birds' legendary instinct had gone south.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Earl Hottle, who has been racing pigeons for 37 years. "Nobody can explain it." About 2,200 of the 2,500 birds vanished in the races.

—The Province, January 1999. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

The human heart's home is in the presence of God. As a result of the fall, our instincts went south, and we have been looking for a lost home ever since. Christmas morning is about God becoming man so that we could find our way back.

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Dave Bootsma

Angie Flaute of Celina, Ohio made sure that her children knew the real meaning of Christmas by telling them the Biblical narrative of Jesus’ birth. She explained that after he was born, three wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the infant Jesus.

Her six-year daughter thought about what she heard and responded, “a Wise-Woman would have brought diapers.”

—Reader’s Digest, December 2002, p. 203 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Matthew 2:11 NASB “And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Celebrating Christmas this year will have an effect on us. Many people will find themselves deeper in debt, or poorer because of overspending on presents. Others see a few extra pounds on the scale because of overindulging at the holiday table. Some people will wear out from the shopping, parties, and family gathering.

A survey commissioned by Norwich Union Healthcare in Britain says celebrating Christmas will cost British businesses $157 million dollars this year. The primary reason will be workers who drank too much at Christmas parties calling in sick the next day.

The survey revealed that businesses lose substantial sums because workers take time off to recover from the Christmas party season. Approximately a fifth of all party goers in Britain will take more than three days off work due to overindulgence during the season. The clinical development manager at Norwich Union says the statistics indicate Christmas is "one of Britain's most unhealthy times of the year."

Reading survey results like this make me wonder, "Is this what the joy of Christmas is all about?" Christmas is not about partying too much, shopping too much, or working too hard. Christmas is a time to remember the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV). Jesus affects lives by changing the hearts of men and women. He has restored the broken relationship between God and man. That is a reason for joy and real celebration.

—http://dailynews.yahoo.com, December 10, 2001. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Every year during the holiday season, we hear the old arguments surrounding the celebration of Christmas. We hear there is no record the early church ever celebrated the holiday, and there is no proof that Jesus was really born on December 25, and how the date was chosen as an alternative to the pagan celebration of Saturnalia.

In early America, it was once against the law to celebrate Christmas. Anyone who took the day off of work was subject to a $25 fine. The Puritan leadership did not ban Christmas because they were not sure of the correct day, or connections with a pagan holiday. They outlawed Christmas to rid the celebration of customs that had become attached to the holiday over the centuries.

In Europe, the celebration of Christ's birth was often lost in a carnival type atmosphere. On Christmas, crowds took to the streets dancing, singing, and playacting. Merrymakers would dress in animal costumes, and go from house to house expecting a tip or some refreshments. Sometimes the revelers would cause trouble if they didn't like the handouts they received. Christmas had become a 12-day period of overeating, drinking, and gambling.

The warm, family-oriented holiday we celebrate today dates back only about 150 years. We might argue with the Puritans about banning Christmas. We would point out that Christmas could be kept in ways that honor the Lord. The Puritans might remind us that we have replaced the old customs with new ones just as extreme, over shopping, overworking, and overspending.

There are two ways to keep Christmas this year. One is just a celebration, nothing more. The other is closer to the Puritan way, a celebration that honors God as we remember the mystery of God becoming man, and ponder the love of God who gave us the best gift of all, salvation through Jesus Christ. Christmas gives all believers an opportunity to heed the words of the Apostle Paul. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 NIV

—When Christmas Was Banned, Moody Magazine, November/December 2001, pg 54.

Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Have you noticed that a part of our Christmas tradition is lamenting the secular consumerism of Christmas? We talk about the need to find the true meaning of Christmas as we rush from store to store to find just the right gift.

For years, I've lamented this hypocrisy, but recently, I've gotten comfortable with it. I don't view it as hypocrisy any more, but as an honest attempt to find balance between keeping our traditions and celebrating our Savior.

This year, with the events of 9-11 in mind, Christmas seems different. Usually I lament how soon the stores start decorating for Christmas, but this year, to be honest with you, the decorations have provided a sense of comfort to me. They've engendered a feeling of hope.

Anna Quindlen, in an editorial for NEWSWEEK wrote, "Christmas this year could be rich, not only with lessons learned over two millennia, but those driven home in the past months. Not in many years has the country had more reason to believe that 'I'll be home for Christmas' is infinitely more important than 'Santa Claus is coming to town.'"

—NEWSWEEK, December 3, 2001, p. 76 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

When I read her words, I only wanted to add one thing, and it would be this phrase, but "Joy to the World, the Lord has come" is the most important message of all.

During a time of grief and despair, the comfort of the Christmas season is welcome, but the joy of the Christmas message is essential. It gives depth to our hope and a reason to celebrate.

Luke 2:10 NASB "And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;'"

In an editorial for NEWSWEEK, Anna Quindlen wrote, "Like many Americans I have everything I could want, and then some, and at this particular holiday season, in this particular year, the thought of shopping makes me feel like the little girl who eats the whole Whitman's Sampler (except for the chocolate-covered nuts) and washes it down with root beer. Ugh. Uncontrollable consumerism has become a watchword of our culture despite regular and compelling calls for its end." She continues. "The United States has more malls than high schools; Americans spend more time shopping than reading."

—NEWSWEEK, December 3, 2001, p. 76 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Quindlen makes a powerful point. Christmas isn't a giving competition; it is a celebration of faith, and family and hope. In light of recent events, overindulgence seems more inappropriate than normal.

Instead of giving a child every toy on her wish list, a parent could give less, but then spend the afternoon playing with the child and her toys. In the years to come, I'm confident that our children will remember the time we've spent with them more than the gifts we've given them.

In an editorial for sunstar.com, an online newspaper originating from the Philippines, Rene Lizada writes, “Look at how we celebrate Christmas. We equate Christmas with bonuses, food, celebrations, shopping malls, sales and all sorts of merrymaking. We are so focused in buying Christmas lights, wreaths and garlands. We dream of sleigh rides (as if we had snow), clothes, the right noche buena, vacations, Christmas bazaars and all the other externals that come with Christmas.”

—http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2003/12/17/feat/christmas.(first.of.two.parts).html Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

I know that Ms Lizada’s opinion is a common one, but it doesn’t come close to capture what my Christmas dreams are, and if I know you as well as I think I do, what your Christmas dreams are too. The things she mentions aren’t my dreams—they are a given. Celebrations, gifts, food, festivities have been a part of every Christmas I’ve ever had. What I’m dreaming of can’t be purchased, organized, or made. I’m not dreaming of a White Christmas or a perfect holiday. My dream is that somehow the good news can get past my familiarity with the story and startle me. With Mary, I want to “ponder these things” in my heart. With Zachariah I want to be speechless as the miracle unfolds. With Simeon, I want to “see God’s Salvation.”

Parties, presents and vacations are easy. I want the miracle. I’m dreaming of the spirit of the first Christmas.

Luke 2:8-19 NASB “And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. [10] And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; [11] for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.’ [13] And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’ [15] And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ [16] And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. [17] And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. [18] And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

In his book, God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogeymen, Michael Walker tells the story of a Christmas gift that he and his wife Laura gave their friends and family one Christmas, which came out of their personal, struggles that year. Michael says the day after their first anniversary Laura was diagnosed with cancer. She received part of her treatment at home. Laura's reaction to the chemotherapy was so severe she was put on intravenous liquids for weeks at a time. Her anti-nausea medication came in a strangely shaped plastic container.

Michael says the plastic container containing the medication was slightly smaller than a baseball, and slightly elongated. It conveniently hung from its own plastic tubing. Seeing these containers day after day gave Michael an idea. He wanted to use them to make Christmas ornaments for their close friends that year. Michael says, “When I mentioned making Christmas ornaments out of the chemo-balls, Laura was incredulous.” Though Laura did not like the idea, Michael had a vision of what the ornament would look like completed, and what it could signify.

He writes, “But in my mind's eye. I saw it completed, as an object of beauty. Kind of the way God sees us. I saw it not as it was, but as it could and would be.”

That Christmas, each of the Walker's closest friends and family received a beautifully decorated chemo-ball ornament. Each was decorated, and included the recipient's name and year. For several years Laura found the memory too difficult, and placed the ornament on the backside of the Christmas tree. Over the past few years, the ornament has taken a more prominent place on the tree, as a reminder of how the Lord saw her through her trial.

Michael says "Knowing that cancer was a turning point in our lives, one of those things that irrevocably changes, I determined to make tribute to remind us of it. In a very small way, like the Passover celebration. To remind us of something from which the Lord had delivered us.”

—Laura Jensen Walker and Michael K. Walker, God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogeymen, pgs: 22-24. Fleming H. Revell 2003. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Psalm 34:17-18 NIV "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

—For more information on God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogeymen, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0800718348/fm082-20

In the book, God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogeymen, Michael Walker addresses a well-known Christmas fallacy. He says in Sunday School he learned he was not supposed to use the term "X-mas" because it was an attempt to remove Christ from Christmas. Michael maintains this may not be the case!

He writes, "This was not the original intention. In Greek, the word Christ is Xristos, which starts with the Greek letter chi. Michael says look closely at the fish symbol often seen on cars. The five letters that spell the Greek word "fish" are an acronym for the phrase "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." This ancient word picture reveals X has been an abbreviation for "Christ" for centuries. There is no disrespect intended. Michael adds, "It is our culture that changed the meaning of X to be negative. "

—God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogeymen, p 53, Fleming H. Revell, 2003. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NIV "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

—For more information on God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogeymen, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0800718348/fm082-20

Scholars say the date of Jesus' birth was not likely December 25, A.D. 0, because the calendar jumps from 1 BC to 1 AD. There is no year 0. They also say that Jesus was not likely born in December because winter weather made travel difficult. In the first century, the roads became unusable at this time, and people generally stayed indoors.

Other scholars remind us that Luke's gospel records the shepherds were still in the fields with their flocks. The argument is that the month of October had not begun, because shepherds generally kept their flocks in the fields from April until October, pointing to a possible date in September. This agrees with other scholars who argue that the best time to take a census would have been after the harvest to lessen the economic impact. A late September date also would have allowed the people to travel easily to their ancestral homes to register.

Some scholars believe an appropriate date for the birth could be September 29, 5 BC. This corresponds with the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast celebrates the ingathering of the harvest, and pictured the future day when Jesus gathers His people to Himself. During this feast, the people live in tents, or tabernacles, remembering the wanderings in the wilderness. The birth of the Messiah at this festival would also communicate how He came to tabernacle, or dwell among His people.

One of the most interesting things about a late September date for the birth of Jesus is counting backwards 9 months. We discover the conception of the God-man Jesus Christ took place around December 25th. When we celebrate Christmas in December, could we truly be celebrating the date when God became man?

No matter which date Jesus was born, we can celebrate God's perfect timing this Christmas.

—www.new-life.net/chrtmas10.htm, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Galatians 4:4-5. NIV "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."

There is something new going around this holiday season that you need to be aware of. This new concern is called the Advent Virus. This virus will not destroy your computer. Nor, will it ruin your holiday by keeping you in bed, sniffling and shivering. Please be alert for very noticeable symptoms over the several few weeks.

The Advent Virus is characterized by symptoms of hope, peace, joy, and love. One of the signs of this virus is a tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears rooted in past experience. This is followed by an unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment, a loss of interest in judging other people, a loss of interest in interpreting the actions of other people, and a loss of interest in conflict. Perhaps the most serious symptom of the Advent Virus is a loss of the ability to worry, interspersed with frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation, and frequent attacks of smiling. The Virus produces an increased susceptibility to the love extended by others, and an uncontrollable urge to extend it.

The hearts of a great many people have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has been, up to now, a stable condition of conflict in the world. Let's hope this virus shows up everywhere before 2002 arrives!

The Christmas Season is a time filled with joy, peace, hope, and love. These feelings are not the result of a virus. Instead they grow out of a relationship of faith in Jesus Christ. He is the reason to celebrate Christmas season. Proverbs 17:22 reminds us, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

—www.debsfunpages.com/adventvirus.htm, 11-26-01, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

What do you want for Christmas?

Jennifer Aniston wants to learn to play the guitar, so she’d like a guitar. Jennie Garth says she wants “diamonds—what else?” Tony Danza isn’t asking for much, just a “big, luxurious jet plane.” For Kirstie Alley, a vacation to Italy is plenty. Eric Stoltz is a bit more philosophical in his request, he said, “Is there such a thing as a box loaded with a lot more time? I’d love to get a big box of that.”

—Biography, December 2002, p. 32 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

When God gave the first Christmas present it was more substantial than time—He gave eternity. All we have to do, to enjoy His great gift, is open it.

John 3:16 KJV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

When Broward County told Calvary Chapel that they could not include the words “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” in their Christmas display, the church filed a suit in the U.S. District Court claiming they had the right to display the words. Judge William Zloch agreed with their “free speech” argument and allowed them to keep the words in their display as long as they included the words, “Calvary Chapel says,” before the words “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”

—http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20031121/lo_wplg/1888280 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Because I grew up in a time when the Christian point of view was tolerated, stories like this still catch me a bit by surprise. I’m happy that the U.S. District Court is allowing Calvary Chapel to include their message in their Christmas display, but saddened that they had to fight to do so. But really, bright lights at a Christmas display will never be as effective in spreading the “good news of great joy” to the world than if Christians would live Christlike lives and would share the gospel at every opportunity.

1 Peter 3:15 NASB “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

CHRISTMAS MEMORY

Shelley Batty of Molatta, Oregon was the oldest of two brothers and a sister and often bore the weight of being the "big sister." When Shelley was eight, her Dad had been out of work for a while. As Christmas approached, money was tight. Shelley and her siblings didn't know exactly what was happening but they knew things weren't normal.

Their meals were a little different but the biggest difference was their Christmas tree. It was a sad "Charlie Brown" tree. Under the tree, there weren't any multicolored boxes or any exquisite bows. Instead they had one present. But it was a huge box. The kids tried for days but they could not guess what it was.

Christmas day finally arrived and anticipation consumed all the children As always, their Dad read the Christmas story from Luke before they could open their presents. After the reading, he put the big box in the middle of the floor and directed each child to stand by one side of the present. He told them that the gift was for everyone and they had to share it nicely. Then he gave them the motion to open their present.

They ripped the wrapping paper faster than a chainsaw. Inside was a refrigerator box. When they look inside the large box, they discovered that there was something else inside that refrigerator box. Large appliance boxes with medium sized moving boxes inside of them. Inside the medium boxes were other boxes and then shoe boxes and even more boxes until they finally arrived at the tiny jewelry boxes!

Believe it or not but at the bottom of all those boxes was a book called "Things to Make with Boxes." The children made forts and castles, cars and airplanes, boats and trains, sets and scenery for make believe plays, and all sorts of cool things.

Today their parents still have a box full snapshots of all the things they made with their boxes. "The four of us are now straddling 40." Shelley said, "If asked individually for our best Christmas memory, you will get 4 variations of the story of a box full of boxes."

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Len Evans of www.eyouthministry.com

Philip. 4:11 NASB "Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

Billy Joel, a popular musician is credited with saying: "I wasn't raised Catholic, but I used to go to mass with my friends, and I viewed the whole business as a lot of very enthralling hocus-pocus. There's a guy… nailed to a cross and dripping blood, and everyone's blaming themselves for that man's torment, but I said to myself, 'Forget it. I had no hand in that evil. I have no original sin. There's no blood of any sacred martyr on my hands. I pass on all of this."

—Servant Magazine/Spring/2000

The news of Christ's birth is only "good news" of "great joy" if you recognize him as "a Savior born to you". By "passing" on original sin and the cross, you pass on Christmas and pass on all the joy that can be yours.

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Dave Bootsma

The Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Indianapolis sits directly across the street from the main gate of the RCA Dome, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts in downtown Indianapolis. The church petitioned the National Football League to change the starting time of the Colts Christmas eve game against the Minnesota Vikings. The 4:15 game will interfere with the church's 5:30 Christmas eve mass. The church becomes virtually inaccessible during games due to traffic and parking problems. The team refused to cooperate and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the league will not change the time of kickoff. As a result the church will be forced to cancel its traditional Christmas eve service. The controversy has sparked little if any heat in Indianapolis.

—Sports Illustrated, November 27, 2000, page 32. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

As I’m getting older, I find that I like of some of the icons of the Christmas season that I once rejected. In the past, decorations and traditions seemed a bit sacrilegious to me. I thought that if I had a picture of Santa Claus in my home or if we went overboard decorating, we’d be missing the real meaning of Christmas. And I suppose that if those things were the final destination I’d have been right.

Today, when I see a Santa Claus, I don’t think about the commercialism of Christmas, I think of St. Nicholas, the fourth Century Bishop who was legendary for his kindness and generosity. And when I see a Christmas tree, I am reminded that the first Adam took the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil from his wife and sinned against a holy God (Gen 3:6), but that the second Adam, took the fruit of that sin and bleed and died on another tree to pay the price of that sin. When I smell the scent of the evergreen, I’m reminded that the new life I enjoy because of what Jesus did on the cross gives me everlasting life (John 3:16).

The ornaments hanging on the tree also remind me of what Jesus has done for me. When I see the red ones, I think about the blood of Jesus that He shed for my salvation. The silver and gold remind me of God’s blessings in my life and the candy cane reminds me that Jesus is the Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). The white stripes remind me that Jesus was sinless (2 Cor. 5:21). The red stripes that he shed His blood for me (Eph 1:7). Both colors of stripes remind me that my spiritual healing comes only through His stripes (Isa 53:5). The angel on the top reminds me of my responsibility to tell the world that Jesus has come, just as the angel of old did (Luke 2:10).

Luke 2:10 NASB “And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;’”

All of these symbols are just that—symbols. They are not intended to be our final destination, they are just signs. This Christmas, I pray that all the icons of Christmas will point you in the right direction and not be your final destination.

In an article adapted from her book, The Woman With Two Heads, Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse writes, “The Christmas a year after my dad got sick and then passed away was a tough one. I worked hard to ensure that my little daughter, at least, would not get shortchanged. I shopped, baked a bit, mechanically decorated the house, and even managed a few cards. I assumed that by Christmas Eve, that holiest of nights, I would be magically filled with peace and contentment, regardless of what was going on in our lives.”

Instead of warm magical evening, Elizabeth’s husband fell asleep early. She bundled her daughter off to bed, and began to finish wrapping presents. She felt alone, and sorry for herself wondering when “it” would happen.

That Christmas, “it” never did happen. Elizabeth got through the festivities by forgetting about herself and concentrating on her daughter’s joy. She was glad when Christmas was over and the family moved on to January, with no expectations, and no disappointments.

A few days into January, when Elizabeth began to put the toys away, take down the tree and take the cards off the door; she realized something profound about Christmas. She says, “ There is a profound difference between the man-made media-fostered feel-good creation we call, ‘the Christmas spirit’ and the presence of Christ. Christ’s presence, His comfort, His wisdom, His example are not bound to some timetable but is available to us all year, for all time.”

She says, while the Christmas Spirit can warm our hearts when family and friends visit, or when we see an infant gazing as tree lights for the first time, the warm fuzzies of the holiday season alone are not enough to fill the aching absence of someone special to us. “Feel-good sentiments are not enough to ease the weariness of a tired heart. Behind the Christmas Spirit, whether or not the world acknowledges it, stands the Baby, inviting those of us who are weary and burdened to His rest.”

“Was George Bailey Wrong?, So what if we don’t feel ‘the Christmas Spirit.’ Moody Magazine, November/December 2002, pg 57. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

As long as we keep Christ central in our celebration of Christmas, is there anything wrong with celebrating Christmas using the traditions of our culture?

In his book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman describes ways people communicate their love toward one another. He lists, "Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch" as the five love languages.

As I reflect upon Christmas' past, those are the elements of our tradition. We speak words of affirmation to one another and in doing so, we express our love. We take time off from our normal labors and spend quality time with one another and in doing so, we express our love. We give and receive gifts, often times, gifts that took a great deal of time to choose, because we wanted to give, "just the right gift." And in doing so, we express our love to one another. We do acts of service for one another that range from running errands, helping assemble a toy or cooking and serving a traditional Christmas meal. And in doing so, we express our love to one another. And we touch one another-we hold our children, we hug our family and friends and when we do, we express our love to one another.

Yes, I'll join in with the critics of Christmas and say that it is possible to over shop and over spend, but I have to part with them when I look at the intent, it is impossible to over love.

Some people will miss the mark and spend all their time and energy following traditions and miss the wonder of Christmas. That's a tragedy. Because if we leave Christ out of Christmas, we've done a disservice to our family.

But other people will remember the mystery of God becoming man, and ponder the love of God who gave us the best gift of all, salvation through Jesus Christ. And as a part of their celebration, they will decorate a tree and exchange gifts.

Enjoy your family, enjoy your traditions, and enjoy the sheer wonder that God became man, born of a virgin, in fulfillment of prophecies. And that He was born to die, to take away the sins of the world.

Luke 2:8-11 "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [9] An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. [10] But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'"

According to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat “There won't be any Christmas [in Bethlehem this year].” Of course, he was referring to Christmas festivities in the holy city because Israel's military has closed it down for security reasons.

The vice-governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Mounir Salameh, confirmed Arafat’s assertion. According to Salameh, most of the Christmas celebrations have been officially canceled, with the exception of the traditional midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity.

I can see how leaders of the Arabs and the Jews involved in the dispute in the Middle East would view canceling Christmas activities as the same as canceling “Christmas,” but to the Christian the notion is ludicrous. Perhaps the authorities can stop Christians in Bethlehem from following their traditions in public, but they cannot stop them from looking up into the night sky and remembering that a couple thousand years ago, a bright light pierced the darkness announcing the birth of the Savior.

Matthew 2:1-6 NASB “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, [2] ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.’ [3] And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been Illustration by the prophet, [6] 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler, Who will SHEPHERD My people Israel.’”

Dr. Mateen Elass grew up in Saudi Arabia. The Islamic ruled country did not celebrate the holiday, but allowed Westerners in oil company towns to celebrate the holiday as long as the message and the decor were not specifically Christian. In his youth, Dr. Elass associated Christmas with reindeer, stars, colorful lights, sleigh bells, parties, and decorated trees. He remembers being told that the deeper meaning of Christmas was love and good will shown by giving and receiving of special gifts on December 25^th.

Dr. Elass says his experiences have convinced him that Christmas is a dangerous time. One danger is the possibility of missing the real meaning in the midst of the tinsel and presents. He says Christmas proclaims God’s love, and reminds us that God was not satisfied to speak His word from a distance, but became a man and lived among us. Jesus was “God with skin on, the perfect means of revealing all we can comprehend about the mind and heart of God.” The other danger lies in rediscovering Jesus as the focus for the holiday season. He says, “For then, life can never be the same. To celebrate the Incarnation is to say ‘yes’ to God’s plan to raise us to life in Christ—it is to say ‘goodbye’ to our old comfortable lives enjoyable sins, and private agendas, and lay ourselves on God’s operating table.”

—Moody Monthly, November/December 2002, “Why Christmas is Dangerous,” Dr. Mateen Elass, pg. 54-55. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Unless we accept the baby in the manger as God’s gift of grace, Christmas will remain a dangerous time of year.

Matthew 16:15-16 NIV “But what about you?, he asked “ Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

In his book, The Sacred Santa: Religious Dimensions of Consumer Culture, Dell deChant, a professor of religious studies at the University of South Florida contends that “the Christmas season culture has become a religion all its own.” He suggests “It's a religion complete with mysterious and powerful deities (the economy, Santa Claus), houses of worship (malls), narratives (carols) and rituals (shopping and decorating).”

“Santa, not Jesus, is the savior of the season,” says deChant, “He certainly saves the bottom line for retailers across the country.” Even though many of us complain about the commercialism, deChant says the “’Festival of Consumption’ between Thanksgiving and the week after Christmas has taken on all the characteristics of traditional religions, embraced with equal fervor by the holy and not-so-holy among us. He calls it "a religious culture in disguise."

We must work to separate Christmas from the Christmas culture so we can worship the Christ of Christmas. Today, focus with me on this great historical fact—God became man and dwelt among us.

John 1:14 NASB “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

University of Texas Historian, Penne Restad, author of a book entitled, “Christmas in America: A history” says, “Historically it has been a struggle for America to find meaningful holidays that include a sufficiently broad number of people. But Christmas seems to have many modes of interpretations upon which we can set our own personal needs.” She added, “Christmas has become as much a celebration of community as it has a celebration of religion.”

—http://gosanangelo.com, Don’t believe in God? Have some eggnog anyway, December 9, 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Community is important. It is important to the fabric of our nation, our church and our families. But real community can only take place in the context of strongly held beliefs—beliefs like Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins.

If we disembowel Christmas of its religious beliefs, we will start the New Year with hollow community, low bank balances, high credit card debt, and an empty feeling in the pits of our souls. But if we truly celebrate, we can experience transformational community.

For years the Bugg house in northeast Albuquerque has been a Christmas landmark. The family traditionally sets up thousands of lights and holiday scenes. The only thing they asked in return was a donation for a local homeless ministry, known as Noonday.

When the lights went on Friday, December 7th, things were different this year at the Bugg's home. A neighbor complained that the display was a public nuisance, and convinced the city of Albuquerque to sue to prevent the Buggs from turning on the lights this year. The city tried to shut down the display, saying collecting money for the homeless made the home a business. A District Court Judge ruled December 6th that the display could go on, but the barrels to collect money had to go, because collecting for the homeless made the home a business.

Dennis Lihte, director of Noonday Ministry says, "The spirit of Christmas is giving and that's one of the hearts of the gospel, to allow folks to be charitable during the Christmas season." He said the display was a great opportunity for residents who did not attend a local church to give to the needy. Last year, the display netted the ministry almost $12,000.

During the Christmas season, we celebrate God's gift of His son. Giving to those in need allows us to understand more of what Jesus has done for us. God gave His gift freely, let's remember that gift in our giving this year.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

—KFLQ News Department, December 7, 2001. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Nearly half of Americans reported in a recent survey that they know someone who doesn’t believe in God, but will still celebrate the Christmas holiday this year. The Scripps Howard News Service questioned 1,001 people over the past few weeks and found that significantly more people will set up a Christmas tree than will attend a worship service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. They also found Americans overwhelmingly believe the holiday is becoming less focused on the birth of Jesus than it used to be.

The poll found that 80 percent of Americans plan to decorate a tree this year, including 68 percent of people who said they had no religious preferences. 62 percent of those responding said they expected to attend a Christmas religious service, either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 57 percent of the respondents said Christmas was their favorite time of year.

Ron Barrier, a leader of American Atheists says, “There is that old tradition that says if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” He says Christmas is seductive and adds, “And it does seem that people behave a little better around the holidays, and that’s always a good thing.”

—http://gosanangelo.com, Don’t believe in God? Have some eggnog anyway, December 9, 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Celebrating Christmas may meet the various needs of people in a variety of ways. We should strive to remember the holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. God sent His Son to transform the hearts of people by offering forgiveness and peace to all who would believe in Him.

Isaiah 58:11 NIV “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

The popular Christmas carol describes the little town of Bethlehem as dreamlessly sleeping the night the Savior was born. The scene for this year’s holiday in Bethlehem is far different from the ideal picture painted by the songwriter. For the third year, violence overshadows preparations for Christmas in the town where Jesus was born. Bethlehem has been a place of despair since the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian fighting began in September 2000.

As the Christmas holiday approached, there is no Christmas tree in Manger square, no decorations, few pilgrims, and very little holiday cheer. The Church of the Nativity, built over the sight where many believe Jesus was born, became a place of violence this past summer. For 39 days, gunmen hid out in the church while Israeli troops surrounded the building with tanks and snipers. The Israeli troops re-occupied Bethlehem several weeks ago. Today, they only allow people on the streets for a few hours every third day.

There is little time to think about Christmas shopping. Instead, residents are concerned with the basics of life, shopping for food, sending children to school, buying gas, and getting to the banks. Jack Giacaman, a local craftsman says, “We don’t feel as we did in years past. In these days we ask one question; will we be able to go outside on Christmas and reach the church?”

Some residents of the city hope soldiers will leave in time to open a Christmas craft and food market and to distribute toys and clothing to poor children.

—Associated Press, Violence in Bethlehem Stops Tradition, December 10, 2002, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Even in the midst of wars and rumors of wars, there can be peace to those who know the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”

How do you celebrate Christmas?

The Christmas season is filled with familiar activities for most Americans. Our schedules change this time of year, our spending habits are different, and routines of religious attendance are impacted. A new study by the Barna organization focuses on five seasonal behaviors, shedding new light on Christmas in America.

Six out of ten adults said they planned to listen to Christmas carols or songs. Two of ten respondents said they would attend religious services more often during the Christmas season, and twenty percent of those who answered the survey said they would definitely give more money to religious centers than they normally did.

A small, but growing percentage said they would drink more alcohol during the season, and 5 percent of the people who responded said they expected to struggle with loneliness and depression during the holiday time. The study found 18 to 25 year-old adults were less likely to listen to Christmas music during the holidays. Results indicated people living in the Western portion of the United States were less likely to listen to Christmas music, attend religious services, or increase their giving. These same groups were more likely to expect to struggle with depression or loneliness during the holidays.

George Barna provided more insight into the research saying, “The holidays are an especially difficult time for people who are not connected to the world through a community of faith or through other civic attachments. This is a large swath of the population, roughly one out of every eight adults feels as if he or she is on the outside looking in.”

--http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=323; December 15, 2008, Submitted by Jim Sandell.

The best way to celebrate Christmas is connecting with Jesus, the Savior whose birth is the focus of the Christmas season.

Luke 2:10-11 (CEV) “ But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”

The growing wave of politically correct speech and thought has many people concerned about the way America is celebrating Christmas. Organizations are listing retailers that don’t use the word Christmas in their advertising , court cases are filed over the inclusion or exclusion of nativity scenes, and one company is selling a CHRIST-mas tree which is a bushy artificial tree with a giant cross where the trunk should be. Now a new group is focusing on what they say is the biggest challenge to Christmas, commercialism. The Advent Conspiracy is a growing movement among churches supported by leaders like Portland Oregon pastor Rick McKinley. McKinley says the frenzied activity and extravagant gift giving detracts from the holiest days on the calendar.

In the past few years, Advent Conspiracy churches in 17 countries have donated millions of dollars to dig wells in developing countries. McKinley says a fraction of the money Americans spend at retailers during the month of December could supply the entire world with clean water. He argues that if believers changed how they thought about giving at Christmas, the holiday could be transformative in both a religious and practical sense. One youth pastor summed up his views of the Advent Conspiracy saying it is difficult because it counters a multibillion-dollar machine of materialism and consumerism, but adds, “It takes a lot of patience to say there’s a different way – Christmas doesn’t have to be like this.”

--Christian Group Launches New Attack on Christmas Commercialism, http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091215/us_time/08599194759000;December 3, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

John 3:16 (CEV) “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.”

A new poll suggests Americans have some definite preferences when it comes to celebrating Christmas, especially as far as music is concerned. Zogby International conducted an online poll to gauge the feelings of a representative group of Americans. Pollsters found Americans prefer the celebration of Christmas start right after Thanksgiving Day. Fifty-nine percent of adults said they liked to see lights on homes, store displays, and hear Christmas music on the radio the day after Thanksgiving. Most did not want to see or hear Christmas themes before that date, or too much afterward.

Researchers found most Americans preferred traditional or religious songs at Christmas as opposed to newer novelty type Christmas songs. The poll asked respondents to vote for their three favorite Christmas songs from a preselected group of nine. 58 percent of adults selected “O Holy Night” as their favorite Christmas song, followed by 41 percent who said their favorite was “White Christmas,” and 38 percent, who choose “The Christmas Song.”

--O Holy Night Tops Charts, http://www.zogby.com/NEWS/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1778; December 2, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Luke 2:10-11 (CEV) “But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. (11) This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”

A Christmas present caused quite a stir at a European Union embassy in Berne, Switzerland. After two separate explosions injured people at the Swiss and Chilean missions, Berne police were not taking any chances. In this case, it was harmless, just a Christmas present—nothing to be alarmed about.

--http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BM2RI20101223 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Jesus’ birth was nothing to be alarmed about either, but Herod became frightened and tried to exterminate the first Christmas present—God’s son. What he didn’t know, is that Jesus was not going to reign by force and try to overthrow the government—His reign began by dying, not by killing, and by raising from the dead and ascending to the Father on High.

Matthew 2:16 (CEV) When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was based on what he had learned from the wise men.

Florida State Senator Gary Siplin wants “Merry Christmas” to be Florida’s official greetings for Dec. 25. He says, Christmas is a holiday of "great significance to most Americans" and that "many Christians and non-Christians" recognize the holiday as a time "to cherish and serve others."

-- http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/24/1987608/lawmaker-wants-to-make-merry-christmas.html#ixzz193ElettO Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

While I prefer Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays doesn’t offend me. The word holiday means “holy day.” When a clerk greets me with “Happy Holidays,” I simply respond, you have a happy holy day too. Whatever you call the season, there are significant reasons to celebrate.

Luke 2:20 (CEV) As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.

Research from the London based theology think tank, Theos indicates Brittan is divided over the meaning of Christmas, but reveals some positive developments. The study which polled 1,000 British adults found just under half agreed with the statement that the birth of Jesus is “irrelevant” to their Christmas. Fifty-one percent of those adults questioned believed the birth of Jesus was relevant to their celebration of the holiday. Surprisingly, the results found that young adults aged 18 to 24 were more likely than any other age group to disagree with the statement.

That challenges common perceptions that the birth of Christ only meaningful to older generations.

The study found women were more likely to disagree than men, and also found that only 36 per cent of respondents planned to attend a church service this year. Theos director Paul Woolley said the news this Christmas is not all bad. Reviewing the findings, Woolley noted, “It’s clear that society is split right down the middle regarding the religious significance of Christmas. It will surprise people that young people are most likely to believe that Jesus is relevant to their Christmas.” He said it was hard to understand why fewer people planned to attend a church service at Christmas, but said he thought 36 per cent was still a good number.

--Poll: Half of Britons Say Jesus’ Birth Is Relevant to Their Christmas, http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase/europe/371/section/1.htm, December 8, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Luke 2:10-12 (CEV) (10) But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. (11) This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. (12) You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay."

A new national study taken by the Rasmussen Group found that most Americans prefer that stores use the term “Merry Christmas” as opposed to the more generic “Happy Holidays.” The survey found 69 percent of the people who responded said they seeing holiday signs with the greeting “Merry Christmas” over “Happy Holidays.” The poll findings agree with organizations like the Liberty Counsel have been saying for years.

The Liberty Counsel has published a campaign called Friend or Foe Christmas to educate, inform, and sometimes litigating entities over their stance regarding Christmas. Liberty Counsel President Matt Stover says some retailers limit the use of the word Christmas to avoid offending a few shoppers. He said one company changed the name of Christmas trees to “holiday” trees and advises employees not to respond with Merry Christmas even if a customer uses the word. Stover says, “The absurdity of this has --made people become very vocal and I think retailers are now listening.” Stover added that even people who don’t celebrate the holiday enjoy Christmas. He added, “People enjoy Christmas.”

--Americans Prefer ‘Merry Christmas’ to ‘Happy Holidays’, http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101202/americans-prefermerry-christmastohappy-holidays ; December 2, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

This survey suggests most people prefer to be accurate rather than politically correct.

Matthew 5:37 (CEV) When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil.

In a popular Christmas story, the Grinch tries to stop people from celebrating Christmas by stealing the holiday because he didn’t understand what the season was really all about. The Christmas season can be expensive and stressful, but that does not explain why the first edition of the People app in Google’s Android 4.2 operating system removed not only December 25th, but the entire month from the calendar. Users who attempted to add a friend’s birthday or other occasion said they were surprised when the “date picker” feature went directly from November to January. The problem apparently only affected the People app, and did not impact the Calendar app. The problem cropped up shortly after the release of the new operating system before many people had begun using it and most users expected it to be fixed by an updated version quickly.— Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell,

Google app bug cancels Christmas, December, by Steven Musil, http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57551551-93/google-app-bug-cancels-christmas-december , Accessed November 18, 2012.

Luke 2:10–11 (HCSB) “But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.”

A book, written by the Pope in 2012, attempts to set the record straight regarding Christmas traditions. In the book entitled, “Jesus of Nazareth – The Infancy Narratives,” the pope says there are several myths surrounding the celebration of Christmas that need to be addressed. Contrary to many popular carols, the Gospel accounts do not indicate that the angels sang when they announced the broth to the shepherds. Gospel accounts do not provide evidence that there were any cattle present when Jesus was born either. While those things are not supported by the Gospel accounts, the pope is not saying that they should be removed from the celebration either. He says the book was written to show that the Jesus depicted in the Bible is as real historical figure who walked on earth and talked to with real people. Monsignor Philip Whitmore, who translated the book into English says the purpose is to show how the infancy narratives pick up on Old testament theme and develop them in new ways. Whitmore added, “The pope helps us understand the world where Jesus was born, Caesar brought peace to the Roman Empire, but this tiny child brought something much more wonderful: God’s peace, eternal life, an end to sin and death.” — Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Pope’s book on Jesus challenges Christmas traditions, by Laura Smith-Spark, http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/22/world/europe/vatican-pope-jesus-book/index.html, Accessed November 23, 2012.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The lights we put up each year during Christmas can be a way to point others to the true light of the world. A family from Australia is doing their part by reclaiming a world record by stringing up over 500,000 twinkling Christmas bulbs. Guinness World Records officials confirmed that the Richards family from Canberra had set the record by putting half a million lights on their residential property. The family first entered the world record book when they put over 330,000 lights on their home in 2011, but where beaten the following year by a family from New York. David Richards said the local power company was donating the estimated $2,300 in electricity to light the display which includes more than 31 miles of wire. The family says they will open the display to the public to raise money for charity during the Christmas season. Richards says he would be willing to add more lights, but that would require a generator because the house supply of electricity could barely keep up with the current display. He added, “I have always loved Christmas. Having the Christmas lights with the community coming in and sharing it is a time when you get to know people you probably should know better, I guess.”— Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Australian family sets new world record with over half a million Christmas lights, http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/11/24/australian-family-sets-new-world-record-with-over-half-million-christmas-lights, Accessed November 24, 2013.

Philippians 2:15 (NKJV) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Operation Christmas child is a program that delivers holiday gifts to impoverished children around the world. As of 2013, they have given shoebox-wrapped gifts to more than 100 million children in over 130 countries. A ministry of Samaritan’s Purse led by Franklin Graham, the boxes are given with a gospel presentation and an evangelistic booklet.

It doesn’t matter that children who would go without are blessed by receiving; some American atheists don’t want schools to allow their students to participate. The American Humanist Association has warned two schools that to avoid the necessity of litigation the schools must stop participating in the program.

You have to wonder how many poor children the American Humanist Association has helped over the last 20 years.--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Matthew 7:12 (NASB) "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The lights we put up each year during Christmas can be a way to point others to the true light of the world. In 2013, A family from Australia did their part by reclaiming a world record by stringing up over 500,000 twinkling Christmas bulbs. Guinness World Records officials confirmed that the Richards family from Canberra had set the record by putting half a million lights on their residential property. The family first entered the world record book when they put over 330,000 lights on their home in 2011, but where beaten the following year by a family from New York. David Richards said the local power company was donating the estimated $2,300 in electricity to light the display which includes more than 31 miles of wire. The family says they will open the display to the public to raise money for charity during the Christmas season. Richards says he would be willing to add more lights, but that would require a generator because the house supply of electricity could barely keep up with the current display. He added, “I have always loved Christmas. Having the Christmas lights with the community coming in and sharing it is a time when you get to know people you probably should know better, I guess.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Philippians 2:15 (NASB) so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

When the family history website MyHeritage decided to compare the most requested Christmas gifts from 1913 and this year, they discovered that a big shift in desires has taken place. The website looked at historical newspaper collections for the old items, and used items reported by leading retailers as being the most popular this year. They found that in 1913 children often asked for basic items such as food and clothing, while today’s children are more interested in gadgets and trendy toys. Ori Soen, chief marketing director at MyHeritage said the most popular items in 1913 were candy, and nuts, while the interactive Furby Boom, which sells for $65, tops the list in 2013, followed by a robotic puppy toy. Soen said they actually looked through papers dating back as far as 1609 and found even more interesting things. He said, “The further back we looked, the more interesting- and frequently more simple- the requests became. It added color to the lives and times of our ancestors, particularly when we looked at what children are asking for this year.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Most Popular Gifts in 1913 and 2013, http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/popular-gifts-1913-2013/story?id=21148651, Accessed December 9, 2013.

1 John 5:14-15 (NASB) This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15) And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Researchers at Time Magazine searched American copyright records in the U. S. Copyright office for the number of times favorite Christmas songs have been recorded since 1978. The overwhelming choice as America’s favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. It has been recorded 733 times, almost twice as much as the second favorite song, Joy to the World.

The highest rated secular song on the list is White Christmas coming in behind five other religious songs. We may fear and think otherwise, but according to our music Christmas is still about the birth of Jesus. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Luke 2:1-14 (ESV) (1) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (2) This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3) And all went to be registered, each to his own town. (4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, (5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. (6) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. (7) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (8) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

It took six decades, but Christmas cards mailed in 1953 finally reached their intended recipients. In 1953, a stack of 50 Christmas cards addressed to Vincent and Marina Maggiore mysteriously went missing. Sixty years later Rick Buser, a flea market vendor, spotted the cards at an auction. He thought it was strange that someone was selling mail, and was intrigued when he noticed that the cards were addressed to someone who lived in the same town and on the same street where he had grown up. Buser bought the stacks for $15 dollars and sent them to the local newspaper so they could be delivered to the family. The Maggiore’s two sons, Albert and Robert, were surprised when a reporter brought the letters to them. The brothers said they never expected to see letters from 60 years before, including one from one of Robert’s former girlfriends. The brothers were a little nostalgic at the discovery, but Buser, who found the cards said, “Hopefully, it will bring some sense of Christmas joy.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Christmas cards finally delivered — after 60 years, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/25/christmas-cards-finally-delivered-8212-after-60-years, Accessed December 25, 2013.

Luke 2:10 (ESV) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

In a Pennsylvania Wal-Mart, on the day all the layaway orders were set to be cancelled, a man walked into the customer service center and said he wanted to pay off customer layaway accounts. He gave $50,000 to help pay accounts. He asked to remain anonymous giving his name as Santa B.

Giving is never out of season. May we celebrate Christmas giving throughout the year. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Luke 6:38 (CEV) If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.

A study of the nighttime illumination during the holidays shows that in many cities are up to 50 percent brighter than other times of the year. NASA scientists decided to investigate after discovering a major increase of the lights of Cairo Egypt during certain times of year. They found that throughout the month of December, the same thing happens in the United States, especially in suburban areas where single-family households fill their lawns with decorations. Miguel Roman who co-led the study said understanding these patterns and how they relate to culture, weather, and other factors can help conservation efforts. He added, “These lighting patterns are tracking a national shared traditional.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Satellite Images Show How Holiday Lights Brighten the Night, http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/satellite-images-show-how-holiday-lights-brighten-night-n270571 , Accessed December 12, 2014.

Philippians 2:15 (15) that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

Baby Hazel Grace was born at just the right minute on the right day to create a very special combination for her birthday. Hazel was born at 11 minutes past ten AM on December 13, 2014. The result is a unique numerical progression for her birth, 10:11 12/13/14. Her parents Leisha and Shawn said they knew she would be born on the special date, but never imagined she would arrive at just the right minute too. December 13, 2014 represented the last sequential date for at least 20 years, because the next one won’t occur until 1/2/34.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Cleveland baby born at 10:11, 12/13/14, http://news.yahoo.com/cleveland-baby-born-10-11-12-13-14-172143804.html, Accessed December 14, 2014.

Galatians 4:4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

A Georgia student gave the Christmas spirit a whole new meaning when he recently won a $160 tablet from a school fundraiser. When 9-year-old Jarrett Wilson won a brand new Galaxy tablet, he immediately cashed it in and used the money to buy gifts for children on his school’s angel tree. Jarrett bought a blanket to keep a little girl warm, some books to make an 11 year-old-boy smile, and some toy trucks for another child. He used coupons and sales to turn his prize valued at $160 into more than $300 worth of merchandise. When asked why he chose to give to others rather than keep his prize, Jarrett said, “Giving is the right thing to do…because you know that another kid might really, really need it.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Local student turns winning prize into gifts for others,
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/kennesaw/2014/12/11/jarrett-wilson-christmas-spirit/20274149, Accessed December 11, 2014.

Psalm 37:21 (NLT) The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

Getting into the Christmas spirit, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow teamed up with Pay Away the Layaway to bring some joy to people in Orlando on network television. Tebow visited a Walmart, and paid off their layaways, bringing tears to the eyes of many of them. One of those he helped was Damara Jarrett. She had purchased items for her family’s Christmas, but the tab was starting to become overwhelming for the full-time student. Jarrett said she had been working very hard and told Tebow, “And then I said I was going to take stuff off (the account) because I can’t afford everything, and then this. Just thanks you. I just want to cry.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Tim Tebow shocks Walmart shoppers by paying off their layaway tab, By Jasmine Watkins,http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-12-08/tim-tebow-walmart-shoppers-paying-layaway-tab-good-morning-america, Accessed December 8, 2014.

2 Corinthians 9:11 (NLT) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

An unusual gift from a Boston-area widow warmed the hearts of Salvation Army staff in that city. The woman, who remained anonymous, placed a diamond ring and her wedding band in a red kettle in the Boston area, along with a note. The note said she hoped the rings would be sold and the money used to buy toys for needy children. She gave the rings in honor of her husband who always had a giving spirit, especially at Christmas. In the note, the woman wrote, “To honor his memory, I donate this ring. I’m hoping there’s someone out there who made lots of money this year and will buy the ring for 10 times its worth.” She added, “After all, there’s no price on love or the sentimental value of this ring. But money will help the kids.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Widow places diamond ring valued at $1,850 in Salvation Army kettle to honor late husband, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/08/widow-places-diamond-ring-valued-at-1850-in-salvation-army-kettle-to-honor-late/?intcmp=HPBucket, Accessed December 8, 2014.

Matthew 6:4 (NLT) Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Pennsylvania Town Demands That 'Ugly' Christmas Tree Be Replaced, http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/pennsylvania-town-demands-that--ugly--christmas-tree-be-replaced-192316265.html, Accessed November 24, 2014.

Psalm 142:2 (HCSB) I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.

Christmas

The Great Courses offers audio and video courses on a great variety of subjects. One that is offered, taught by Professor Bart D. Ehrman from the University of North Carolina, is all about Jesus, but named How Jesus Became God. The first lesson is “Jesus—The Man Who Became God.”

The professor has it all backwards. John tells us that Jesus is the God who became man. “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Christmas is the story of Emanuel, “God with us.” The message of Christianity loses its voice if a man became God. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

John 1:14 (HCSB)“The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Christmas

For the last 55 years, University of Illinois students have given of their time during the holidays to sing a holiday song for anyone who calls. The students in the Snyder Hall dorm host their “Dial-a-carol” program every year as a way to help students relive stress and blow off steam between finals and Christmas break by singing any Christmas song the caller wants to hear. In 2015, the program started on December 10^tand in less than 24 hours, calls had come in from all 50 states. Within a week, they had broken the record for the most calls ever.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Colossians 3:16 (HCSB)“Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Christmas

Sheriff’s deputies in one Georgia community are targeting driver in need of some holiday cheer and giving them $100 bills instead of traffic tickets. Monroe County Sheriff J.C. Bittick says an anonymous donor gave $5,400 to launch the goodwill drive, so his deputies are passing out the money instead of tickets to motorists who they stop for minor traffic violations. Bittick said he told officers to give the money to “People who looked like they could use it.” The idea generated such a positive response that another donor offered an additional $5,000 to extend the program a little longer. Bittick said, “We felt like this program was a good way to give back to the community and say, ‘Merry Christmas.’”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (HCSB)“And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

christmas

According to "Santa's Relativistic Journey" for Santa Claus to be able “to deliver all his presents in one 12-hour night, he would have to travel at 76 percent the speed of light the entire time.”

No doubt, that would be impossible, perhaps as impossible as flying reindeer or one human knowing the details of everyone’s “naughty or nice” behavior.

What is possible though is for each of us to take a moment this Christmas season to set aside traditions, customs, and the Christmas culture long enough to remember what we are celebrating—God becoming man to save us from our sin. —Jim L. Wilson

Luke 2:19 (HCSB)“But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.”

Christmas

A Pennsylvania woman who stole baby Jesus from a Nativity scene and dropped the figurine off at a local hospital said she thought her prank was a harmless joke. Local authorities said they were not amused when Jacqueline Ross dropped the porcelain baby off at a local hospital along with a note explaining that the baby had been “neglected” by his parents. Police arrested Ross on charges of theft and institutional vandalism. They said the woman went to the hospital within minutes of stealing the $2,700 figurine and left a note that read, “Child has broken right foot which is been (sic) neglected.” —Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Luke 2:7 (HCSB)“Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.”

The United States Post Office decided to honor Christmas 2016 by releasing a brand new Forever stamp depicting Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. The stamp features an image of the family silhouetted against a dawn sky. The baby Jesus is laying in a manger filled with straw while Mary kneels on the right and Joseph stand on the left. Over the scene, a star shines down on the trio. At the dedication service, Postal Service Corporate Communications Vice President Janice Walker said, “Today we honor one of the most symbolic images on the world. An image that for Christians from all walks of life celebrates the story of the nativity – the birth of Jesus.”—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Luke 2:11 (CSB) “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

It was recently revealed that King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has been secretly working as a part-time co-pilot for KLM airlines. Unsuspecting passengers were not aware that the King was among them, flying them to their destination.

In Jesus day, the people were unaware that the King of the Universe was among them, securing their destiny. Today we know that the King is in the pilot’s seat. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

John 1:14 (CSB) “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

70% of respondents to an ING survey “agree that Christmas is too focused on spending.” What would happen if people would focus on receiving instead of spending? No, I’m not talking about receiving Christmas gifts. I’m talking about receiving the greatest news ever announced—good news of great joy.—Jim L. Wilson

Luke 2:10–11 (CSB) “But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’”

22% of consumers in the US will pay for their Christmas presents with credit, compared to 10% of Europeans. As you shop, remember that the joy of opening presents in December can quickly be replaced by the misery of opening bills in January.—Jim L. Wilson

According to finder.com, Americans give $9.5 billion in unwanted Christmas gifts. All by accident right? Not exactly. “More than 1 in 10 Americans (12%) admitted they have deliberately bought someone a present they knew that person wouldn’t like.”—Jim L. Wilson

Deuteronomy 15:10 (CSB) “Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do.”

Mila Kunis is a Jewish actor that has two children with Ashton Kutcher. She is determined that they will not grow up to be Hollywood brats. The two children, Wyatt 3, and baby Dimitri will not receive any Christmas presents this year. Last year Wyatt, only 2 at the time, received so much stuff that there was no appreciation “of the one gift.”

Kunis grew up in the Soviet Union. They never enjoyed the holiday season. “I come from communist Russia, where you’re not allowed to be happy,” she said. When her family moved to the U.S. in 1991, they discovered that Christmas in America was a more inclusive affair. “Whether it’s Easter, which we’ve now all accepted into our Jewish household, or Christmas, it doesn’t matter. It’s all family time. We’re building up our own little versions of tradition.”

It is important for all of us, to understand and appreciate, “the one gift.” It is the one called Jesus, who takes away our sin. Don’t let the celebration of Christmas, cause you to miss the Christ. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Matthew 1:21 (CSB) “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Christmas is full of traditions. One of the best I have read is from Iceland, where the traditional Christmas present is books. After receiving a book on Christmas Eve, Icelanders spend the rest of the night reading them. The book buying and selling season, spurred by the Christmas Eve tradition even has its own name, Jolabokaflod. The translation of Jolabokaflod is “Christmas Book Flood.”

The original Christmas was about words as well. At least it was about one Word. God read the condition of our hearts and sent His Word to provide for our salvation. Our Christmas, no matter how many words we read, is about The Word of God. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

John 1:1–3 (CSB) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”

A British senior citizen, 87-year-old Ron Goldspink, is suffering from an ear condition that causes him to hear “God Save the Queen” playing continuously in his head. Ron says he has heard a male choir sing the British national anthem hundreds of times a day for the past four months. “Sometimes it’s really loud and deafening, but other times it is quiet,” he said. “Goldspink has been diagnosed with musical ear syndrome, a treatable form of tinnitus.”

I love the music of Christmas. I love the carols we sing in church, the songs they play on the radio and especially the majestic sounds from Handel’s Messiah. While I don’t suffer from tinnitus and certainly don’t want to downplay its misery, I do enjoy living the month of December to the background music of Christmas carols.—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Luke 2:13–14 (CSB) “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

The preschool nativity play at a Tennessee church took a hilarious turn when a 2-year-old “sheep” kidnapped the baby Jesus from the manger. Tana Benson posted a video on social media showing her daughter take the baby Jesus out of the manger and dance across the stage with him. At the same time, the young girl playing Mary tried to get the infant away back and put him in the manger.

Benson said her daughter, “Loves being the center of attention, so the more people laughed, the more excited she was to show her stuff.” She added that when she went up to walk her daughter off the stage, the other girl, who tends to be very strict about following rules said, “She touched the baby Jesus! We weren’t supposed to touch the baby Jesus!” –Jim Wilson and Jim Sandell

Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

In the book Voices of the Faithful Beth Moore includes an interesting story about missionaries to rural China who every Christmas would make a manger and place a baby doll in it in lieu of having a Christmas tree. One day as the husband was explaining the manger to a visiting Chinese friend he meant to say in Chinese, “When Jesus was born he was placed in a feed trough,” but he got his words mixed up and instead said, “When Jesus was born he was placed in a toilet.” His wife quickly corrected him and the three of them all laughed at the innocent mistake.

Reflecting upon it later, the missionary realized that saying that Jesus was born and placed in a toilet wasn’t too far from the truth. The feed trough he was laid in probably didn’t smell much better than a toilet and in comparison to the glory Jesus enjoyed in heaven, the stinky feed trough likely would have seemed a lot like a toilet. The missionary was deeply humbled to realize anew the sacrifices Jesus made in coming to earth and they inspired him to be willing to get dirty working with the farmers around them and to more fully enter into their simple lives.—Jim L. Wilson & Wade Harlan

Moore, Beth, Editor, Voices Of The Faithful: Devotions For Every Day Of The Year, Franklin, Tennessee: Integrity Publishers, 2005, p. 132.

Residents of a Pennsylvania neighborhood decided to decorate a pothole in the road with a Christmas tree because they were tired of waiting for it to be repaired. Marietta Spak was getting Christmas decorations out of the attic and thought some of left over holiday items might look good in the pothole. She set up an artificial tree with some ornaments in the hole. Then, other residents added their own touches. The holiday flare got the attention of city officials who sent a crew to cover the pothole with a metal plate and scheduled a repair. Spar said all she wanted to do was draw attention to a safety issue. City officials said weather was not a factor in the delay and added the company doing roadwork was backed up with other jobs.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 13:12 (CSB)“Hope delayed makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Jennifer Sinclair is the principal of a Nebraska public elementary school. This Christmas she decided all the references to Christmas must go. She banned all Christmas decorations, songs, and references. She even tossed out the candy canes, because she said their J shape honors Jesus. The principal told parents she banned candy canes because the red stripe represents the blood of Christ, while the white stands for the Resurrection.

The school district placed Ms. Sinclair on administrative leave and the children had Christmas. This is indicative of the thinking of many in our culture that we need to wipe out every trace of Jesus Christ. They don’t want the good news to spread. There are more and more of these incidents every year. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Luke 2:10 (CSB)“But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:’”

A website offered a holiday-loving person’s dream job when they announced that they were offering the right person, $1,000 to watch 24 Hallmark Christmas movies and document their experience on social media. The person would have to watch all 24 movies in 12 days. The website suggested the person be ready to share all their opinions, and asked those interested to submit a video explaining why they would be the ideal candidate. The winner also received everything they needed to enjoy the holiday features. They got $1,000 cash, a streaming service subscription, a mini Christmas tree, along with cookies, cocoa, and other merchandise. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

We live in an instant world where we expect to have real-time communication with others. However, technology does not always meet our expectations. On Feb. 14, 2019 users sent well over 150,000 text messages that did not arrive until early November of 2019 due to a problem with one of Syniverse’s servers.

Before thinking that a message is better late than never, consider Marissa Figueroa’s response to getting the delayed text from an ex. She said, “It just was not good for me and my mental health.”

Sometimes a delay doesn’t matter—other times, timing is everything. —Jim L. Wilson

When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Instead of emphasizing the merry and bright upbeat Christmas celebrations, some churches are having Blue Christmas Services on the Winter Solstice (the darkest day of the year) for those in their community who find Christmas time difficult.

"At its deepest level, I think the Christmas gospels tell the story of God's entrance into this world from the underside," says Ben Stewart, a worship teacher at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, IL. "And when all of us gather there together, and the marginalized are in the center — that's the promise of Christmas."

The hope of Christmas is brighter still when we remember the dark, hopeless circumstances that surrounded Jesus’ coming into the world. —Jim L. Wilson

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/21/790163502/blue-christmas-services-offer-refuge-from-holiday-cheer

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Officials at Guinness Book of World Records confirmed that San Jose Del Monte in Bulcan set a new record for the largest number of living figures participating in a Nativity scene when 2,101 people dressed for roles in the scene in 2019. The previous record had been 1,254 people who participating in a nativity scene in England in 2016. The Philippine city set another record in 2017, when 12,173 people participated in the world’s largest lantern parade. Local official Florida Robes said setting the record is their way of reaching out to people of other faiths. She said, “Through this, we can show them that we just want to reach out and connect with our fellow Filipinos as we highlight the spirit of giving and selflessness this season.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.

In the book, The God Who Knows Your Name Max Lucado writes, “God’s nature would not hold him in heaven. It led him to earth. In God’s great gospel he not only sends, but he also becomes; he not only looks down, but he also lives among; he not only talks to us, but he also lives with us as one of us.”

John 1:14 (CSB) “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

As 2020 continued to bring fear and anxiety to people around the world, many in the United States began decorating for the Christmas holiday early. Though most decoration don’t start to appear until late November or early December, some people began putting up Christmas trees and hanging lights as early as mid-September. Many said that having the look of a joyful season was a way of beating back “an otherwise insane world.” Brandon Stephens, president of a professional holiday decorating company said business is up 15 to 20% compared to the same time last year, with some orders coming in as early as April. Stephens said, “We knew it was kind of an emotional response. People were looking for hope. People were looking for something to feel good about while cooped up in their houses.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

Christmas

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Moore, Beth, Editor, Voices Of The Faithful: Devotions For Every Day Of The Year, Franklin, Tennessee: Integrity Publishers, 2005, p. 132.