The war over Christmas

I don't mean to dilute the meaning of "War". I understand in its purity this is no where near what this situation holds, but it still doesn't take away the intensity that the "Politically Correct" masses are becoming increasingly louder about in terms of Christmas.

For years now I have heard more people saying "Happy Holidays" and things changing at schools from Christmas Programs to Winter programs and what not, as people continue to try to not offend anyone who may be of different religions than Christianity. I do understand that everyone has their own thoughts and philosophies as well as what they believe in, and I understand that some people may feel the pressure of Christianity over what they believe in is sometimes "too much". Even the meaning of the word Christmas comes from "Christ's Mass".

Let's face it. The celebration of Christmas is flawed, anyways--this date has never been proven to be the actual date that Jesus was born, and many arguments have ensued over whether the date was chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, a historical Roman festival, or the winter solstice. And what had originated as a celebration of Christianity has in fact been commercialized and perverted with images of Father Christmas, Santa Claus, and the gift giving frenzy--no one is denying that at all.

The question then continues to come back to the basis of the celebration--Christians are seeming to be pushing the envelope about the "Reason for the Season", while those who are either non-believers or of other religions are continuing to yell louder that the "reason" in fact shouldn't matter and to "not push an agenda".

However...I tend to agree with both sides. I look at Christmas as an overall experience--and the bottom line is that it is a time of year where families get together and celebrate the time together--yes, there are gifts, yes there are secular things that are involved, but for Christians, it is a great experience where all of this happens plus we get yet another reminder of the greatness of God and the life he has given to us. What's important is that everyone gets to celebrate in this--and as Christians, we should be happy that the "good" thing about it is that this a time of love and reflection as to what we have in our life--and just because a person isn't a Christian does not mean that they can't do that either.

The war over Christmas will more than likely continue to be intensified as individuals fight gallantly for their beliefs, but as a budding Christian and someone who is trying to find a pure faith, I am just happy that we have this time of year to celebrate everything. Period.

We as humans need this and I would think that even God would agree that even if individuals celebrate Christmas and aren't Christians...that doesn't mean they are any less of individuals, and maybe some day they can understand the true meaning in many more senses, because the idea is that we shouldn't be concerned over those that are Christians, but those that aren't. Christmas gives the world a stage to see some things of Jesus Christ that they normally wouldn't pay attention to...and even if that means that one person accepts Jesus as their savior because of Christmas alone, that enough alone is worth everything to God.  Continue Reading »

Slow down. You're missing everything.

So, yesterday I discussed the fact that we should be thankful that we are busy, giving thanks to God for giving us the abilities to do so is enough alone to warrant that stress is sometimes a good thing.

And now, I am changing a bit of direction here. Take time to stop and smell the roses. Why? Because if you don't, you're truly missing everything that God has given to you and the wonderful world around you. I understand that many people have the mentality of go-go-go!, and while this is again something to be thankful for, don't forget about slowing down and taking in all that life has for you and to appreciate the love of Jesus.

Some Christians, I think, can justify their breakneck lifestyle by saying that the take the time to go to church every week. And while that is wonderful to do--if you are doing it because you are wanting to be fed and continue on your spiritual journey and NOT because it is an obligation--God doesn't exist just on Sunday.

This goes back to making time for God, talking to him, and being thankful for the things in your life. Make time every day to reflect on all of God's wonderful gifts to you and the people around you. Not because it's Christmastime, not because you feel like you have to, but because you are TRULY happy with the life that he has so graciously bestowed upon you. We get SO caught up in our lives that we forget who really we should be focusing on--God. His ways. His love. His decrees.

So make time to stop and think about this, whether it's 5 minutes or 5 hours. Even if you are having to schedule time on your day planner for God, I think you'll be amazed after a while that it will become second nature. I know it's done wonders for me.

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It's good to be busy!

There are days when I am at work and I fret. I can feel my heart starting to pound harder, my blood pressure getting a bit intense, and a swimming feeling in my head called "stress". Normally this is due to basically things being busy and sometimes being overwhelmed by a lot of things going on at once. It used to be something I avoided as much as possible, but it's clear that cannot be the case as a common human response.

But, unlike many people, I am starting to become extremely thankful to God for this. Why?

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Putting yourself "out there"

I will admit it. Throughout the years, I have built up walls around myself. A fortress, if you will. And no, it's not for playing with my lego collection or to hide from everything, but it's more of a protection than anything else. That "invisible" fence that basically keeps myself at bay from everyone and everything.

Why? Is it because I feel like I am better than everyone else? Far from it. It is mostly due to a lifetime of feeling that the trust I have in people just never works out, and therefore hurts me in the end. So, to keep myself from getting hurt again, I am less likely to put myself out there to be vulnerable and more likely to basically either not involve myself with a person or stop at a certain time to avoid the "point of no return". I know I am not alone with this feeling, but the thing that continues to eat at me is that in a journey of spirituality, this is something that proves to be a 10 foot tall obstacle in moving forward.

This goes back to emotion and anger as well. It's far easier to become angry with someone than it is to trust them and move forward. But if I am to become closer to Jesus, I MUST be more willing to put myself out there and not be comfortable behind my little fortress. Will it mean I could get hurt more? Yes. Will it mean that I could really fall farther from grace with the potential for backlash? Yes. But will it mean that I am doing the right thing though as well? Yes.

With this type of mentality I have held, I find it very hard to forgive individuals, much in due part to the fact that there are very little percentages of individuals that make it past the moat and the front gate into my heart and mind, so the moment that things really get out of hand and is something I become disappointed with or upset with, I tend to build up my walls even higher at the same time.

I can't continue living like this, but I don't know how to make it different. I want to protect myself, but I know that God doesn't care what MY wants are, but wants to show me that his way will allow me happiness regardless of getting hurt--with the power of Christ, I should be able to withstand anything.

I can say it, but can I do it?

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My claim to fame :)
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Make a Wish...

I have a confession to make. When ever I hear Sally Struthers' voice come on begging me for money for starving children in Africa, I can't get to the remote quick enough to find anything else on television. If there is an ad for the ASPCA, I will simply walk out of the room. I don't want to "see" the suffering in the world--I know it exists, but out of sight--out of mind. I avoid the television pretty much altogether whenever the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon is on. I am not proud of it--but I also have a hard time correcting this behavior.

So, it probably comes as no surprise that when a local radio station had their "Make A Wish" telethon today that I kind of groaned internally when I heard them discussing it first thing this morning. Of course, I was already in the shower so I didn't have a chance to change the station. But then--I heard some amazing stories of strength, love, and courage--from the littlest champions in the world--kids with aggressive leukemia, rare cancer conditions, pretty much everything. And to hear the glee in their voices and the hope--I just almost was reduced to tears listening to their stories.

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Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

Call me old-fashioned. Just go ahead and do it. You know you want to.

I have a REALLY hard time with people that don't have common courtesy. I am talking like things where if you say "Excuse Me" to some one that they acknowledge you, if someone has to merge that they give you "the wave", if you say thank you to them that they say "You're welcome" and NOT "Yep," or "Mmm hmm" or anything at all. I was raised fiercely to be overly courteous to people, and is more than likely a main cog as to why I ended up in the customer service industry.

I witnessed this on several occasions over the weekend. For one, I went grocery shopping. It was a busy time, and there were several people obviously encompassing many of the aisles, so it was a little slow going. Not to my dismay, I don't mind it at all. There were THREE times throughout the store that I came around a corner and almost ran into someone--not because I was flying around there on two wheels or not paying attention, simply because of the traffic. I said "Excuse me" to all of them, and one person gave me a half smile, the other a kind of annoyed look, and yet another just marched past me as if I wasn't even there. I must admit that by the last time, I was about ready to say a bit louder as the person marched past me "OH..YOU'RE WELCOME"--but I bit my tongue--hard.

To follow that up, I went through a drive thru. The person taking my money for the meal didn't say a single word to me--I had my debit card out waiting upon him coming to the window, he took it from me, came back with it and a receipt moments later, to which I said "Thanks" and he just closed the window. AAAAHHH! What is the deal with people today?

This is an area that I know my faith will help me and continue to reinforce the habits that I was taught from a young age on--no matter what, even if you are having a bad day, even if you have something that just made you very angry, it gives ZERO reason to not be courteous to someone. Jesus had many people spit on him, beat him severely, mock him, and yet he loved them all--and showed them the courtesy that they deserved simply for being human beings--despite how nasty they were.

And this is not even close to happening to me--they didn't treat me out and out like garbage, but it still hurts to think that people just don't have the simplest "responses" that we should have ingrained in us from day one--do unto others. It again gives me perspective about how great Jesus Christ is and the benevolence that God has for us--he not only gives us common courtesy, but he allows us to spit all over his word, ignore his requests, and even go in the opposite direction for our own selfish wants. And not only does he give us courtesy, he loves us more. I continue to be humbled by this example and yet ashamed at mankind on many occasions as to their indiscretions at just simply being "nice"--not sugary, just NICE.

Are there certain pet peeves that you have like this that drive you crazy? How do you deal with these peeves and at the same time try to honor your faith in God? Continue Reading »