Although we each grow physically and psychologically beyond where we could effectively portray Jesus as a baby, perhaps we should look for opportunities to portray Jesus as the adult child of God that He was. He was no sissy, sending the money-marketers in the Temple fleeing, walking on water on a stormy night, defending the embarrassed adulteress, and ordering demons from possessed people. That is a role model we should each strive to be like.

Who wants to be next to play Jesus?

On the back of that sign was the warning: THOU SHALT NOT STEAL. Where do you suppose such a statement as that came from? If there is no God, why are they quoting Him? Either there is a God who establishes order out of chaos, or we should let nature take its natural course, which is always chaos. I choose to believe in God but wouldn’t trust the atheists with my sign!

I remember being surprised that they shut the downtown streets off to traffic. Couples and families got dressed up in their holiday finest and walked the streets enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. It was very similar to our country, but a lot more casual.

The biggest difference I recall was their depiction of Santa. St. Nicholas wore a long red overcoat with red pants and white fur trim. But Santa didn’t wear the typical “Santa hat”, he instead wore a big high Cardinal’s hat, bright red with white trim.

I suppose many of our western ideas of Christmas came through our ancestors who immigrated from Europe, so its not surprising to see such similarities. What is your experience with Christmas celebrations in another culture?

I always thought my parents put up that fence to keep my little sisters out of the tree, but Mom informed me they actually bought it to keep me out of the tree! I can’t imagine that being the case, though.

Although our culture is moving away from anything traditional and ritualistic, the one time when that is not true is Christmas. People still want to embrace the old Christmas carols and dig out old ornaments. We still love to remember Christmases past.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Of course, Santa was not going to harm her in any way, but she must have thought that in her mind. By the time Christmas actually gets here she will have seen Santa in many other situations and might change her mind by then. Its what we don’t understand that puts fear in our hearts.

So it is with God. When we don’t understand His ways or purposes, we tend to fear trusting Him. We try to hide from Him our real lives. That’s why its important that we understand that Jesus is the Light of the World and came to enlighten us in the ways of God. Let Him turn the light on for you this Christmas.

The four adjusted their respective watches. Then the mother turned to the father, and with hand outstretched said, “OK. Now let’s all synchronize our wallets!”

It helps to get on the same page whenever we’re working on a common goal. All the various church denominations would end all their fussing if we all synchronized our spiritual lives to God’s word.

These days we have those sanitized garbage bags, and, unfortunately, sanitation labor strikes. During one of those strikes in a major US city, bags of garbage mounted up in alleys and along curbsides during the Christmas season, sending a stench into the air which quickly became unbearable. Tempers flared and news conferences were quickly called by city officials in an attempt to squelch the tempers and reach a solution.

One fellow was an entrepreneur, however.

He boxed his garbage, wrapped it in Christmas paper, sat it on the front porch, and then chuckled as thieves quietly mounted his porch in the darkness and stole all his garbage. He got rid of the stench.

Sin is like rotting garbage: get rid of it!

Lauren said, “Now, Reuben, I know you don’t like buying me Christmas presents, and you really don’t like wrapping them, so why don’t you just not bother. Make it easy on yourself and just make it in tens and twenties.” Fortunately, I had the newspaper up over my face, because I just about lost it. I think those two kids have marriage down pretty well already.

What have you heard a kid saying recently?

Anita and I have determined we will allow our adult children to make whatever arrangements they choose for Christmas and other holidays. We refuse to add to the stress of parenting by demanding they accommodate our schedule. The Bible says, “It is not for the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents to lay up for the children” (2 Corinthians 12:4).

How do you deal with family gatherings for Christmas?

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I love to see the lights go on in his head when he opens the gifts. I make sure to tithe my Christmas bonus to him and pick up the tab! We have a delightful time talking about our mutual friends in ministry and, of course, our mutual aches and pains. I know this luncheon will happen each year just before Christmas, so I plan all year long what to get him, which gives me time to be creative.

That is one of the highlights of my Christmas celebration. Do you have a special friend you get a special gift for each year? Tell us about it.