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Who Started This Christmas Stuff?
A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After
many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else
imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for
everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the
elevator with her two kids.
She was feeling what so many of us feel
during the holiday season time of the year - overwhelming pressure to go
to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and
treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our
shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and
the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened, and it was already crowded.
She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and all the bags of stuff in
with her. When the doors closed, she couldn't
take it anymore. "Whoever started this whole Christmas
thing should be found, strung up and shot," she said.
From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice
respond, "Don't worry, we already crucified Him."
For the rest of the trip down in the elevator, it was so quiet
you could have heard a pin drop. This year, don't forget to keep "the
One who started this whole Christmas thing" in your every thought, deed,
purchase and words. If we all did it, just think of how different this
whole world would be.
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ref/ back ...because I'm listen to sutem better..its along way to the botom. Jason Marcum
now who did the bike?
now who did the bike?
Brake 'em do for the close, no?
thinking different, but thanks.
thinking different, but thanks.
Grass snake hit the bumper. Canning the heat.
I've always liked the stories of the type of snake that could roll down hills to chase you. Usually when a person is hunting for Bass wood?
Caddy on the I. Pasted to the mouse!
for now, ref/later. Listening like a rabbit.
Excellent, allrown. Allow me to add a story much in line with yours. It is written by Barb Cash, a pro baseball players wife. His name is Tim and he was in Beaufort this year with the Week of Champions Sports Clinic. It is as follows...
"An empty manger!
"Okay, I am sure the title of this entry may not make any sense to you, but bear with me!
"Have you ever wondered why so many people can accept the reality of Jesus being born, but never see their need for Him as their Saviour? I have been pondering this lately and the Lord, I believe, showed me one possible reason why...
"Some people have never taken Jesus out of the manger!!!
"Think with me for a minute...Even with the attempts of some to remove Jesus from Christmas all together, there is still ample opportunity to see a manger scene in stores, in front of churches and in many of our homes. We, ourselves, have one out front of the house and at least 5 or 6 displayed inside ~ some all year round. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, it gives the illusion to some that Jesus was merely a baby who was born amidst much hoopla. End of the story!
"The reality of his birth is not hard for them to grasp, but they stop short of acknowledging that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favour with God and man. They can't accept the crucifixion and they certainly don't want to mentally entertain the thought of the resurrection. Why you may ask?
"Well, as long as Jesus is tucked safely away in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger He is no threat to them and the "safe" little world they have created for themselves. To allow Him to grow up, suffer unimaginably and then raise Himself from the dead requires something from us! It requires us to search our hearts and come to some tough conclusions...either Jesus is Who He says He is or He made the whole thing up!
"When our children have a birthday we have a lot of fun remembering their birth stories and laughing about how each one made their grand entrance into our world. We don't stop there, though. We also celebrate who each child has become and what they mean to each of us now! We don't just look at pictures of them as a newborn, sing them a song and then go on with our lives until the next year when we pull out the birth pictures again! To do that would be to deny the reality of who they have become to us and how our lives have been forever changed because of the privilege of sharing this journey with them.
"So let me challenge you as you celebrate the birthday of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Enjoy those mangers and, by all means, remember how God came to earth wrapped in flesh, but once the 26th of December rolls around ~ put Baby Jesus away. Let others see an empty animal trough and ask you what happened to Jesus! It may just be the opportunity you've been looking for to share the hope we have in Christ! Share the rest of the story! Not only is that manger empty , but that tomb they placed His tortured body in is, too!
"My life has forever been changed because of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! If yours has, too, then join with me in letting others know that our mangers are empty and we serve a resurrected Lord!"
Actually, I believe the emotion expressed by the urban legend is one of being fed up with the commercialsm of Christmas. The Romans started the celebration of Christmas. History pretty much is settled that Jesus of Nazareth was born in spring, 4BC. Early Christians wanted to celebrate his birth while being actively persecuted by the Romans. Conveniently, the Romans had a festival called Saturnalia, which began when it was apparent that the Sun was once again moving northward in its' annual path in the sky. This was wild party with the sharing of gifts, drinking, partying and generalized bacchanalia. The early Christians 'hid' their celebration in this general time of Romans being too snookered to pay attention to anything or anyone around them.
THIS was how Christmas started, and how its; traditions evolved. The imagery of Santa Claus and the marketing began in the Depression.
Without debating the time of year of His birth, I would respond by saying you have shown exactly why compromise of truth is unwise.
Despite differences of opinion about the time Jesus was born, does the actual day really matter? Christmas is a celebration of the miracle of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, not his birthday. Let's be thankful year round for the gift.
I agree, egret. Personally, I think it was mid-September to late October but it really matters not...not even to God. He never made this clear. But we do know the exact place, date, and hour of His death. That is, after all, why He came...to die. God wants us to fully understand this, His greatest sacrifice and most glorious deed.