6 posts tagged “christmas”

I'm sorry that I'm a little late with this, but I still want to encourage each and every one of you to give to someone less fortunate.  Is there a family in your neighborhood, place of employment, or church who are struggling financially?  Are there people in your city who go to bed hungry?  Or who are homeless? 

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  I may not have much, but compared to someone in a third world country, or that homeless person you see on your drive to work, I am rich beyond measure.  I have a safe, secure, warm roof over my head, food in my refrigerator, clothes on my back.  Yeah, I may not have much furniture in the living room yet, but I HAVE a living room!  And people who care about me & make sure that I have what I need.

If you know of a women's & children's shelter who could benefit from your children's gently used toys which will be replaced by new ones tomorrow, would you consider teaching your children about giving by asking them to share their toys with another who doesn't have any?  When you're all stressed out cooking that holiday dinner, think of those who will go hungry tonight.  Can you donate a bag of groceries to a family in need, or to your local food bank?  Or can you go online and make a donation to a cause that's close to your heart?  Second Harvest is one of the nation's food bank network, & you can find one in your neighborhood or make a monetary donation here.  World Vision provides shelter, clothing & food for children & adults all over the world.  Won't you sponsor a child or make a donation today?  You can find out how easy it is by clicking here. Someone very close to me sponsors a child through Children International.  I'm so proud of their sacrifice!  I'm sure that each & every one of you know of a worthy organization that can use your help.  Before this year comes to an end, won't YOU reach out your hand to someone who desperately needs it? 

My checkbook is looking pretty lean until my next Disability check.  I'm sure yours are a lot emptier too after all the Christmas shopping!  But I can still share some food, or clothing that doesn't fit (some is brand new!) or sponsor a child.  I look into the eyes of the children & think, "Yes, I CAN make a difference".  Can you forego two lattes a week?  You'd save close to $40 a month & save a life with that money instead!

Think about it, my friends.  When you're opening all your gifts tomorrow, consider how you can "share the wealth".  May God bless you for listening to your heart and giving a little love away this Christmas.

BREAKING NEWS:  If I can figure out how to do it, I will try to post an audio file of me singing sometime between now and midnight Christmas Day.  If anyone can tell me how to do this easily, I'd appreciate it!  Check back later!

Visit my church (in Southern California) with me for Christmas!  Right from your living room or computer!  Here's how to experience a wonderful service tonight and tomorrow too.  Merry Christmas!!

Dear friends,

I've mentioned before that, when I was living in Southern California, I had the joy & privilege of attending & serving in the music ministry at Saddleback Church.  Saddlback's pastor is Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life".

I logged onto Saddleback's website to watch one of their 14 Christmas services last night, and saw that the services were being recorded for broadcast on Fox News Channel!  As far as I know, this is the first time Saddleback has had their services broadcast on national television. 

I just watched and ended up with tears in my eyes.  Hearing my Pastor speak, hearing the music & seeing the Music Pastor I used to sing with....it makes me sooo homesick for that church!  But I wanted to share the info here so you too could see the service, especially if you're unlikely to get out to a live service near your home.  I promise you that you will be blessed by watching it! 

Christmas with Rick Warren on Fox News Channel

Dec. 24 at 2 & 9 p.m.
and 12 a.m. ET
Dec. 25 at 2 p.m. ET
Hosted by Lauren Green 

Additional Christmas based specials on FoxNews listed under Fox News Channel link above.

You can also try to watch one of the live services online here.  If you have any trouble viewing online, let me know & I can send you log in information.  They keep archived services on their site for a while, so you'll probably be able to view it for a few weeks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!

I'm in TROOUBLE!!!
Hi...this is Pooh. The mailman brought a package today that smells like catnip!! I tried to dig into the box and climb in the box to get it out! Mom's mad!

...or at least that's what we've always believed that this country was founded on, right?  Check out this interesting bit of info.    

Here's another interesting article.

I'll admit...I'm not afraid to state my personal beliefs, but I usually try to steer clear of discussions about politics or controversy.  But when I read the article below yesterday in my email, I found myself agreeing with it.  [Edit: It is not certain who is the original author, but it is not Paul Harvey as I mistakenly reported. At best it can be attributed as a patchwork authored in part by Nick Gholson. The author of the rest of the text is uncertain.]  I do agree with the majority of the following content, taking into consideration that I believe it is written a bit "tongue in cheek" and with humor. And so, I respectfully submit this for your review and discussion. Please read the entire post.  Thanks 8-) D.

SCHOOL - 1967 vs. 2007

Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1967 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1967 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1967 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1967 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school .
1967 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English. 1967 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1967 - Ants die.
2007 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1967 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

 

Paul Harvey says:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.  I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America , a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect - somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. 

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

 
And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome ...

“But what about the atheists?” is another argument.

What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand.  Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.  I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.


God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority don't care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right ... But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back ...and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all ... especially those who denounce Him, God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.
 
2007 will be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions... and our Military come home from all the wars.

Keep looking up."

AMEN, Paul Harvey!  Amen!

Here in Seattle last year, there was this BIG furor about the Christmas trees that were being put up at the airport, as they had been every year.  A local Rabbi requested “equal representation” and insisted that a menorah be displayed as well.  You can see the craziness here.  It even made the National News!  Oh, the letters to the editor!  The trees being taken down!  The trees being put back up again!  It occupied the Seattle consciousness for WEEKS!   And in October '07 THIS article about "Sea-Tac airport determined to avoid another "war" over Christmas"!  GEESH!!

I also noticed last year that news announcers, tv talk show hosts, et al, all were VERY careful to use the politically correct term “Holiday” ….  Holiday gifts, holiday cards, holiday trees, holiday concerts…  God forbid we utter the name of the holiday we celebrate this time of year!  It’s too “exclusive”.  It invokes the name of Christ, for heaven’s sake!  We can’t have that!  What will all those other people say?  You know, the ones celebrating Kwanzaa or Hannukah or whatever other “holidays” that have been integrated into the season.  Let me be clear:  I am NOT disparaging the celebrations enjoyed by other belief systems.  Not at all.  But to practically make it a crime to speak the word “Christmas”???  Pardon my “passion”, but what the HELL is going on?!?  And of course you know that the Spring HOLIDAY is just a celebration of Spring, right?  Bunnies, eggs, candy, family dinners, Spring break!  All so much more “appropriate” now than mentioning anything about Easter, or the Resurrection.  I guess those words are meant only for us zealot Christian types.

I for one will never be ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ, or identifying myself as a believer.  Hey… I’ll even be brave enough to post scripture on my blog!

Romans 1:16-17 (New International Version)   16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,^[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."^[b]

OK… I’ll climb down off my soapbox now.  I really fear that the persecution written about in the fictional “Left Behind” series (based on scripture - read the editorial review at link for a description of the books) has already begun…in our lifetime! 

I want to find a church here in my new town, and get back involved in music or whatever they need.  It’s way past time for me to get off my lazy butt and stop feeling sorry for myself.  Hey… I can still sing, I’ll just have to have a stool to perch on, right? 

I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed Christmas season.  If you celebrate another holiday at this time, I hope it is joyful and precious for you and yours. 

So, what about you?  What do YOU think of all this Political Correctness?  Are you offended if someone wishes you a Merry Christmas if you’re a member of another faith, or no faith at all?  The spirit of the season is Love, Peace, Hope, Joy!  Aren’t these universal hopes and wishes that we can all embrace?

D.

My sister sent this to me via email today, and I thought the story so lovely that I wanted to share it with all of you.

Just click here to see my Christmas card.

Disclaimer: some dumb ads may pop up, just ignore them and click on the card link at the top of your screen.  I promise it's worth it.

Merry Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!
Happy Holidays, and a blessed joy-filled New Year to all!

Denise

Ok, I know.... The marketing agencies have just gone too far this time.  But when I saw this on Yahoo News this morning I just HAD to share it with you. I mean otherwise, who'd believe me??!!

"A model wears a new line of underwear known as the 'Wonderjock,' made by the company AussieBum, in this undated handout photograph made available on November 2, 2006. Since the launch seven days ago, AussieBum says it has sold 50,000 pairs of 'Wonderjock', mostly on its web site and a handful of stores around the world." (Aussiebum/Handout/Reuters)

The website is hysterical too. There's even a VIDEO, people!! Their claim?