Merry Christmas
In 1965 Charles Schultz introduced ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’, and it has since become a classic. In this simple story the Peanuts gang is getting ready for a Christmas play and nobody is paying attention. Charlie Brown finally yells out in frustration, “Isn’t there ANYONE who knows what Christmas is about?” Finally Linus steps up to quote the Christmas story, straight from the Bible.
According to a recent Gallup poll survey, a large majority of the US population believes in the Virgin birth of Jesus Christ according to the biblical account. But does anyone really know what Christmas is about? The commercialism of the west makes us ask the question anew. How many people will bury themselves even deeper in debt in a vain attempt to purchase their children’s love? And the precedent (no pun intended) we set under the tree each year locks the next generation into the same pattern of holiday indebtedness.
Let me encourage everyone to take a few moments this Christmas to read the Christmas story with your family. And reflect on what Christmas is supposed to be from God’s perspective. Someone has got to be reminded of what Christmas is about.
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Pingback by place of nathan. » Merry Christmas to All… — December 20, 2007 @ 8:38 am
We try to make sure the Biblical Christmas story is read in our house, usually in different forms (using Children’s books and devotionals–Max Lucado has some great books for kids!) With small children in the house it can be hectic but they are receptive to almost anything you do to include the “true” meaning of Christmas. A few suggestions for other parents of things we have done: being sure to do at least one service activity where we do something for someone else, having an advent wreath, with a book that we can read about the meaning behind each candle lighting, and a new thing we did this year, we had a decorated cake that I put “Happy Birthday Jesus” on, and we actually put a candle on it and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus! My kids loved doing this and talking about how it is Jesus’ birthday, but we get the presents, because Jesus wants to bless us so much! My three year old asked what presents Jesus gets, and my seven year old told him that when we give Jesus our heart that is the best present for Him. I have to admit that one made me cry! Thanks Pastor Diehl for being so good about sharing the love and message of Jesus at this time of the year!
Comment by Tara Lilly — December 27, 2007 @ 2:16 am