THE CHRISTMAS TREE and all that!

AM I A PAGAN OR AM I JUST AN IGNORANT OLD DUFFER? I happened to be reading an article this week, in which it is said that for the first time ever, the White House in the USA has erected NOT a Christmas Tree but a 'HOLIDAY TREE'. Also, during this week during a Home's staff fellowship to discuss Christmas one of our Houseparents pointed out that the Christmas tree was'pagan' in origin. So I have been looking into various websites and been quite surprised that a considerable chunk of the Christian fraternity is firmly AGAINST Christmas Trees - and also Christmas. I found my personal Christianity put in question just by how I chose to remember the Birth of Christ my Saviour. I had no idea just how many 'spiritual' lawyers there are amongst us all, and how that so many are in fact looked down upon - if not almost 'disowned' as brethren by others of another view. Wow, it suddenly hit me how careful we need to be that we are IN with the right Denomination in case we might be found OUT of the Kingdom of Heaven. Not that I am in any way annoyed by views that are at odds with my own, but merely dismayed that in my innocence I thought ALL those that went by His Name, actually did accept and love each other as HE has loved US! It IS so unsettling when brethren allow themselves to be disunited and put at variance with one another - over a tree, of all things! A Christmas Tree is something I grew up with, and in growing up with it understood it, not as an idol or fetish, but as something that focused us all on the Birthday of Jesus (and it really does not matter whether or not He was born on the 25th December or any other day) and a sense of thanksgiving for Him. After I came to know Him as my Saviour, I have not found it something that I felt I needed to ignore. For my family it also became a way to 'honour and be thankful' to and for Him. All our children, in the Children's Homes, have been taught to see the adornment of the Tree at Christmas as the Beginning of amazing JOY and Happiness in tune with the Excitement of the Angels as they first proclaimed His Birth to the Shepherds in their fields. Every little hand that helps to place a decoration upon this Tree belongs to little children with starry eyes and a wondrous 'Happy Birthday Jesus' on their lips as year by year the Wonder and JOY of God's Gift to us, in and through this Babe, unfolds and becomes clearer and clearer to each little advancing life. NO ONE has ever got the idea that Christmas and Christmas Trees were spiritually risky~ Indeed so many of our children expect Christmas to centre around family and fellowship, and a sense of Well Being. The trees are all up today in our four Homes, AND mine. The decorations have gone up, and a Spirit of Joyfulness is pervading everywhere. Do I feel guilty? Am I anxious that my Father in Heaven is frowning upon my lack of self condemnation? No, I really do not think so. I think He is glad for me, and indeed for all of us that discover His Love for us, and responds to it the best way we can.





Today a friend and brother forwarded an article to me. You may perhaps already have seen and read it, but I think it is worth reprinting here. I found it quite challenging - 'bearing in mind' as my friend prefaces the Article, 'that for the first time ever - the Christmas tree in the White House will be called a "Holiday Tree". (Another way of getting rid of Christmas altogether no doubt?)

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. (Ben Stein was born in 1944 and is an actor, writer, lawyer, political commentator, and speech writer for two Presidents.

'MY CONFESSION: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from, and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show, and Jan Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina)... Anne graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get our of our government, and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events.....terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, and her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, AND love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it....no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My best Regards, Honestly, and respectfully - Ben. Stein

oooooooooo

THIS has been a busy day. The Children all busy with Christmas Decorations and more than half practicing for the Concert that will start 7.p.m. our time tonight. There will be Carols, Choirs and a Nativity Play all done in front of the Family AND a lot of local friends from round and about. Also one of our local Banks arrived at 3p.m. and spent two hours playing games with the kids, and then donated Sugar, flour and other basic and much needed food stuffs. Thank You Lord Jesus.

The Web was down from early morning to 12.30p.m. to-day so that caused me to be late getting to this edition of the Blog. Now I have a Sermon to prepare for tomorrow AND attend the Concert.......wow.

We love you all, and feel your loving prayers carrying us along day by day.

Sincerely in Jesus always

John and Esther