Does it really matter that much, whether or not someone says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?  Does it really affect the end result of what they truly mean?

I find that some controversial sayings have become very petty in the last couple of years.  Personally, whether or not someone does not respond to me over the holidays, by saying Merry Christmas does not mean that they are any less in the spirit. 

I know that is has been a huge topic around here on whether employees can say Merry Christmas anymore because of the religious background behind it.  It has been debated that the government and retail industry are trying to do away with people saying it to consumers, because of one’s personal background and religious beliefs.  I think that this is ridiculous.  We need to remember the true meaning of Christmas.  We also have to remember that everyone has a different opinion, so we should be able to say what is fitting to our culture and not be judged.  It’s a personal belief.  It shouldn’t be about how someone else takes it or how it makes you feel.  Why should someone convert their views to cater to someone else?

Shouldn’t I be able to say Happy Kwanzaa, if that was the traditional holiday that I celebrate and you respond back to me Happy Holiday.  Shouldn’t we be able to respect one another?

Now I understand that the government are trying to use Happy Holidays as a standard, a generic saying if you must, so that there is no religion involved with it, but if you are that 85 years old man that has been saying Merry Christmas his whole life, then I do believe that he should have every right to feel disrespected when someone says to him that he shouldn’t say it anymore.  Is this new standard of us not responding Merry Christmas back to him, appropriate or fair?

I feel that as the holidays approach, we should all take a little more time to respect one another.  We need to remember that this season isn’t and shouldn’t be all about the merchandise, it’s about family and for a lot of people in the world Christmas is still about, Jesus’ birthday.  So even though you may not agree with my thoughts or someone else’s thoughts on the time of the year doesn’t mean that we should disrespect one another.

Do you believe that we need to do away with saying Merry Christmas?  Do you prefer Happy Holidays?  Perhaps you are a different religion, would it bother you not if someone wished you something that was not your religion?  Do you feel like you should have the right to say what you have grown up with, or do you feel like a generic saying for the world will makes things easier?  Share your thoughts!

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Amazing Grace – Just the black notes.

Did you know of the pentatonic scale (5 notes) and the history of Amazing Grace?

I knew of the scale and the lyricist but not of the piano black keys as the basic notes of Negro spirituals.  Enjoy, this is so BEAUTIFUL, and gives me chills!!

AMAZING GRACE – JUST THE BLACK NOTES!

My husband and I have very different views and practices on Christmas.  Before we even got married I knew that eventually this would become an issue once we had children old enough to understand what was going on.   My Father is a Non-Denominational Minister.  He was Ordained Baptist, but has lived his life following the practices and beliefs set by the rules and teachings of the Bible.   

My Mom was raised Catholic and was in a very set binding home.  They practiced all of the pagan fundemantals.  When my parents got together they fellowshipped with one another and then my mother decided to convert and became Non-denominational as well, seeing faults in her personal religious upbringing.   

Being brought up we were taught that Christmas was a day created by the pagans and now has turned into this huge consumer thing.  So tell me, if it is Jesus’ birthday that everyone is celebrating, then why is everyone out there buying gifts for each other?  If we were to follow Jesus’ role then wouldn’t we be breaking bread, or sharing the Good Word, or helping the poor?  Instead, most are taking their time and their money to compete for the best gift, or go to church and call themselves Christians for the year. Just because you were baptized as a baby doesn’t make you a Christian, just because you have a waffer and a mouthful of wine DOESN”T make you a christian.  

It’s funny to me how my inlaws make Christmas day all about gifts and family for the day.  But the minute it is over they are complaining about the money they spent, how they can’t get ahead on their bills and the biggest thing, they don’t want to see their grand-daughter until another special occasion comes around.  So for me, I hate this time of year even more, because one, my husband is trying to teach my daughter to idolize this false idol names Santa, and his family have something to do with one another.  Two fakes, don’t make a right. 

Regardless of which date you choose for the birthday of Jesus it was not on December 25th, and God never intended that it would be observed and celebrated. God wants us to remember the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, which is the Good News and the purpose of His coming. 

For several centuries the Christian assembly itself paid little attention to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. The major Christian festival was Passover, the day of His Resurrection. Only gradually, as the church developed a calendar to commemorate the major events of the life of Jesus, did it celebrate His birth. 

Because the date of Jesus’ birth had been forgotten, a day had to be selected. The Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Rite churches chose January 6 while the Western church, based in Rome, chose December 25. It is known from a notice in an ancient Roman almanac that Christmas was celebrated on December 25 in Rome in AD 336. For 300 years His birthday was not celebrated so why should we celebrate it today?  

It is said the “Jesus is the reason for the season” but it never was so from the beginning. Today Christmas is a celebration for the god of possessions and merchandise. Santa Clause is this god’s name and you had better watch out for he is keeping a list of who is naughty and who is nice. At least that is the teaching of the followers of this god.     

Our HOPE, SALVATION, and REDEMPTION is in Jesus not Santa. Yet it seems that more people believe in Santa than in Jesus. Whom will you choose to follow?   When we get to judgement we aren’t going to be seeing Santa Clause.    

   “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
    The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
    “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24 
         

Does this mean Christians cannot give gifts during Christmas and observe the holiday? In this area, as in many others, a balance must be sought. Churches should not have Christmas trees ( Jeremiah 10 1-5) or anything to do with Santa Clause in their programs. Christian families should teach their children, at an early age, that Santa Clause is not real and does not bring gifts. They should not be taken to set on Santa’s lap to recite a list of wants or be allowed to write him letters. They should be taught when questioned “What did Santa bring you?” to reply that my parents, grandparents, and others gave me my gifts.   Why do we as parents work, so that in turn we can buy gifts to give to our children, from this falsifide idol?  Why do we want our children worshiping Santa?
       

It is of the greatest importance that Christians are taught that all comes from God and all belongs to Him. We are the stewards of His gifts. To say Santa brings gifts will make God angry for it damages His name, for He is the One who gives gifts not Santa. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11    

WHY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS GREATER THAN SANTA CLAUSE?

Santa lives at the North Pole.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is everywhere.

 Santa rides in a sleigh.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST knew your name before you did. Not only does He know your name,
He knows your address too.
He knows your history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST offers Health, Help and Hope.

Santa says “You better not cry.”
THEH LORD JESUS CHRIST says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST gives you joy that is your strength.  

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST  became our gift and died on a tree.
Yes, from sin He sets us free!

So to all my blog followers this is my own personal beliefs and opinions.   If you practice in the tradition of Christmas then I wish you a Happy Holidays!!  And if you would like to share your practice’s then I would love to hear them.   For my family and I it is an excuse to get together in one place and enjoy our mother’s cooking, with games and good fellowship.