What a Decade Brings - Y2K and Beyond

Five, four, three, two, one!

I remember it pretty clearly, I had the flu and there was the ball dropping to touch off the year 2000. Most of the world was waiting for computer system failures, airlines couldn't sell a ticket, Disney released the newest Fantasia while churches were saving water in barrels, food stuffs and buying generators. One prophet said "nothing would happen," and another said that "little would happen." Y2K came and went like any other New Year.

In my personal life, 2000 was a though one. My divorce was finalized, I got laid-off and started back to computer school. I packed everything I had left in a VW Bug and moved in at a friends home.

That same year: February 13th was the day that Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz died - it was the second anniversary of my dad's death.

August 21st - Tiger Woods wins golf's PGA Championship to become the first golfer since 1953 to win 3 majors in a calendar year.

November 16th - Bill Clinton became the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War.

December 13th - The long and highly contested election of G. W. Bush ends with Vice President Al Gore delivering his concession speech.

2001 brought my first date with Mary Anne in June, the 9/11 disaster, and my mother's death from cancer.

April 1st - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Netherlands, which is the first country to allow it.

May 25th - 32-year-old Erik Weihenmayer, of Boulder, Colorado, becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

October 23rd - Apple releases the iPod.

2002 was the year of missions - I was in Londrina, BZ in January, Norway in May, and in Brasilia in September.

Jan 1st - Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union's member states.

April 14th - Tiger Woods becomes the third golfer to win The Masters in two consecutive years

2003 was the year I married Mary Anne and the one in which Charlotte was born. We spent our 1st Christmas together in Hyannis.

March 12th - Elizabeth Smart, was found after having been missing for 9 months.

August 10th - The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - 38.5°C (101.3°F) in Kent . It is the first time the UK has recorded a temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

October 19th - Mother Teresa is beatified by Pope John Paul II.

2004 was a year of ministry to the Brazilian community, new jobs and hope for lots of things.

June 24th - In New York, capital punishment is declared unconstitutional.

October 20th - Boston Red Sox come back from 0-3 to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 to win baseball's American League

2005 - Another new job for David and Mary Anne.

March 16th - Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control.

May 16th - Kuwait permits women's suffrage in a 35-23 National Assembly vote.

July 24th - Lance Armstrong retires after winning a record seventh consecutive Tour de France victory

2006 - We moved to Natick, MA. New jobs, new home, new church - new challenges.

February 22nd - At least six men stage Britain's biggest robbery ever, stealing £53m (about $92.5 million or 78€ million)

March 6th - South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signs a bill into legislation that would ban most abortions in the state.

March 22nd - 3 Christian Peacemaker Teams Hostages; held in Baghdad for 118 days after the death of American, Tom Fox.

July 5th - North Korea launched two short-range Nodong-2 missiles.

December 18th - Fire & Grace goes online.

December 30th - Saddam Hussein is executed by hanging.

2007 - We settled in for a quiet life - well, except for another move to a bigger place.

Jan 9th - Apple Inc CEO, Steve Jobs announces the iPhone.

May 11th - Pope Benedict XVI canonizes the first Brazilian-born saint, Frei Galvão.

Aug 7th - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants breaks baseball great Hank Aaron's record by hitting his 756th home run.

Oct 9th - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes at an all-time high.

2008 - More of the quiet life.

Feb 24th - Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years.

Sepember 7th - The US Government takes control of the two largest largest mortgage financing companies in the US, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.Sep 7th - The US Government takes control of the two largest largest mortgage financing companies in the US, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

October 3rd - The $700 billion bailout bill for the US financial system is signed by President Bush.

2009 - I was laid off at work and found a new job in record time! Charlotte graduated from Little Folk Farm and was accepted into a Spanish immersion Kindergarten. Mary Anne had a cancer scare, and we took Dave Ramsey's advice to get out of debt.

January 15th - US Airways Flight 1549 makes an emergency landing into the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. All passengers and crew members survive.

January 20th - Barack Obama, inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, becomes the United States' first African-American president.

A lot has happened in 10 years. I was thinking how has God spoken to me during this decade. Here are a few things that I finally learned.

- I learned trust Him in desert, even if the cloud far off wasn't coming for 3 1/2 years.

- I learned the joy of a committed wife. Mary Anne is the best thing that ever happened to me since I first met Jesus!

- I learned that I am more peaceful near the beach.

- I am often reminded that I am the church, and if is not perfect, it's just me.

- I learned even if you lose just about all your earthly possessions, that the weakness which comes from that, God can use in amazing ways.

- I learned that having parents was better than not having them, regardless of what they did.

- I took me another daughter to better appreciate the two I already had because she caused me to remember their young lives.

- That we haven't had a president that I liked as much as Ronald Regan.

- Revivals come and go, but God is faithful regardless.

- Relationship is better than church.

- That we are another year closer to the end times, and the last trumpet.

- The church prefers religious folks that fit their molds than folks who are passionate for the Kingdom.

- Prayer still works, and people still fail.

Happy 2010

I Can't Take it Anymore!

Well, I've lost it. I tried so hard to fit the religious mold, I really did. I went to a church for all of 2009; tried to follow all the little programs, got a newcomers gift; mints and all, reached out, gave out business cards, called everyone that gave me a number and emailed everyone else I met. I attended a few small groups, volunteered for some stuff and stood by the coffee pot trying to catch a little conversation.

Religion is not working for me. Instead of lifting my spirit, it makes me sad.

I finally had to tell myself I am not of this world I call church. I am sorry, this can't be the gathering that I was warned against forsaking!

I must be doing something wrong. I might not be needy enough, old enough, short enough, clean enough, interesting enough or of the right lineage. I dunno. Maybe I am in denial, but my daughter's youth pastor thinks I am awesome. Too bad I am not 16, I could go to those meetings!

What am I going to do?

I am going to pray this prayer I wrote for a New Year's blog over at Kingdom Bloggers.

I did manage to have breakfast with a friend today. We try to go once a month - but I missed November and just about all of December - I have just had a hard time - I was at fault. We talked about software programming, music, and Jesus. He always has wonderful, yet simple revelations. I love that about him. I always feel refreshed because he is so "real" about what God is doing. Today we talked about the "same God, different denominations" theme.

I'm in this strange holding pattern. If I had finances and a prayer covering, I'd be doing mission trips and ministry trips all over the world. That's why I am praying this PRAYER.

Until then, I am going to do a little visiting, and see if I can find the real Jesus somewhere near by.

Happy Boxing Day . . .

. . . Or Happy I Ate Too Much Yesterday Day; depending on where you are from.

The sizzle of Christmas is over for most of us. The heightened awareness of giving has subsided - there is still a bit of mess in the living room as daughter number 3 has tried to find her favorite Christmas toy - leaving some unfavorites in a pile. She slept with her new American Girl Doll, "Star" and has already put on her first concert for mom and dad.

Please hang on as I post a few random thoughts about Christmas and New Year's - eventually I'll make a point.

I had prime rib and pecan pie for breakfast - oh and Mary Anne shared her chocolates - a Christmas miracle.

The post office never delivered the Christmas gifts I bought online for the older girls. It wouldn't be a big deal, but I only got them one. The Post Office said they tried to deliver them on the 24th and left a notice - they lied. I filed a complaint. Can't wait for their health care to come online. How about you?

I was trying to remember what I did on this day last year. Turns out I wrote this Blog about the spiritual gifts. I was also working on a book that I had hoped to have published last Spring, but I lost my job and it is still unfinished.

Today is my brother's birthday - kinda stinks being so close to Christmas and all.

You'll also find a lot of predictions and sermons about 2010 this week. You probably can't remember what God was supposed to/going to do in '09. I can't either. So, I don't know if He did it. I haven't perished yet.

You may have a resolution for the New Year; something that you want to do bettering yourself or your family. I say go for it! Personally, I haven't had one that really went well. I tried to quit smoking a few times, but it took and act of God to make that one stick. HERE'S that story.

As I reflect on yesterday, here is what I am thinking. I got a cool present from Mary Anne - an iPod dock; some place for me to put my 91 days of music and videos. It was nice to wake up and spend some time with Mary Anne before the 6-year-old came bounding in shouting, "It's Christmas!" That is a joy that doesn't last long. How much fun it is to see my little one and her mom so enjoy a few gifts on Christmas morning. It brought a tear to my eye. They are a blessing.

Then there was the teenager; moody over a disappointing Christmas Eve with her mom. It isn't easy being a child of divorce. I did remind her how proud I was when she sang Silent Night in the school Christmas pageant all those years ago, the one in which she wore a gold sequined evening gown. It helped turn the corner on her sadness.

Today is Boxing Day or Tape Day or Ribbon Day - I was never sure where the name came from. It just sounds like something that you would do to clean up after Christmas. However; traditionally, it is a day to give to the poor. Did you?

Have you thought about the poor? Not just the poor in 3rd world nations like Brazil or Cambodia.

Today I am thinking about the poor in spirit. The ones that have not been able to get traction in their Christian walk because of a bunch of factors: some in the church, and some in the spiritual realms.

I am thinking about millions of believers that have been hurt, wounded and in some cases left for dead in our churches. I am thinking about the ones that have messed up and been judged by those around them - no second chance, no restoration. I am thinking of the ones that are hoping that someone will call, someone will care, someone will open their home for a visit or some other from of unselfish love.

Hmmm... I just received a real postal Christmas Card from someone in my online prayer group as I was writing this. I got one from a buddy who blogs with me over at Kingdom Bloggers the other day - family photo - man those guys are a handsome family. Neither of them have I met. Interestingly - no cards from anyone at church. I guess I'm more palatable online.

I just need one question answered, isn't there anyone that you know that needs you? Why don't you make that a resolution? Why not start today and get a head start? And then do it again to tomorrow and by New Year's you'll have something to celebrate.

Christmas Eve 2009 - Reflections

Bah Humbug! This is the first Christmas Eve that I have had to work since I can remember. I am getting out at 1 pm, and looking forward to the day's activities - family, wrapping, eating and church - yes, in that order.

Today I am thinking about my family: My 6-year-old; her excitement this morning, my wife and her joy about visiting her family for another Christmas Eve, my 20-something at work showing off her new engagement ring while styling doll hair, and my 18-year-old who is in the midst of the difficult transition from teenager to adulthood.

Holidays can be tough sometimes. For me, for the most part, I can look back and find times of joy. The first Christmas I spent with Mary Anne. My little ones coming down the stairs to survey their gifts, quiet moments in a church service - ones like now where I remember when I was in the presence of Jesus, times with family and even those when I wasn't with them. There is a sadness as I miss my parents for another year.

I am thinking about a few friends that I have met online this year - Christians that I enjoy. I have thought about all those that I have reconnected with on Facebook; some from Kindergarten and before!

I am thinking about our service men and woman - in particular my nephew stationed on Iraq and an old classmate en route to Afghanistan.

Whatever feelings Christmas brings to you, I hope that you will find some that you can cherish; moments with our Savior, and those that He has given us to love.

To you, and yours, a very Merry Christmas. Go and adore Him.

I wrote a couple of other blogs about Christmas on Kingdom Bloggers and there is a archive of the Fire & Grace ones too - here are a couple of links.

Midnight Mass

Boar's Head - Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him

The Writings of Christmas, Present and Past

Don't Return! Learn the Practice of Regifting

Well, it's going to happen and you know it - and it's just around the corner. You will receive something that you don't need, don't want, don't like or don't fit. It will happen. Like creamed corn at a food pantry, you'll be wanting to get rid of some gift this year.

I remember my sister getting an angora sweater from my dad for Christmas some years ago. It was so fluffy I think it "meowed." Her eyes shifted around the room looking for a place to land other then the anxious gift-givers. At the car in the driveway she held it up and said, "what the hell am I supposed to do with this?" It wasn't exactly the type of gift you give a hippie living in a tee-pee.

This is why gift cards are so popular - well until you get one marked $50 with $7.86 remaining on it. That'll kill your self esteem in a heartbeat. Actually if you are related to, or friends with, someone that would do that - it's likely that you already have self esteem issues. Maybe counseling, I don't know.

Regifting has an up side. There are only a few dozen iridized purple glass vases with molded raisins on them. They continue to circulate for years because they are easy to clean, no one has ever received one with a hang tag so it can't be returned, you haven't been able to buy them since 1976, and nobody wants them. If you think about it in terms of green, it's the way to go. If there were more of them we might be able to avoid Cap & Trade!

Regifting is certainly a way to save money - but I am suggesting a few rules. After all, you don't want to get caught!

-1 When you receive an ugly or useless gift, pretend to like it. It's good PR for unloading it later on. Because someone will agree with you that it's beautiful if you are in a room full of family and friends. They now become a prime candidate for the regifted item. "Well, you were so excited when I got mine!"

-2 If you can't be happy about it, be sure to pencil the givers initials on it, so that you don't mistakenly, and embarrassingly regift it to them next Christmas.

-3 Always put regifted items in a new box - mildewed tissue paper is a dead give way. The new box and shiny bow lessens the impact of the "ugliness quotient" on the recipient. They'll think it looks familiar for a few moments, but will chalk it up to too much eggnog the year before. New boxes are key!

-4 Regifting is not for used stuff, tag sales and Yankee Swaps are. See my blog on Yankee Swaps.

-5 To prepare your family for regifting - dulling the senses - removing the anticipation of getting a really thoughtful gift, you need to find something that can be given each year that is so ugly, it will become a family heirloom and tradition. It is a great way to bring new spouses and grandchildren into your clan. I suggest a vase with molded raisins or something similar. Each year it goes to someone new in the family. It is best distributed with the fanciest of boxes, ornate wrapping paper and lots of ribbon. Like selling furniture, you mark it up to mark it down.

-6 Don't bother regifting junk from the dollar store. Have you noticed, it all smells the same? Even if it looks like it's worth more than a dollar, don't do it. Just don't go there. And that goes for stuff on the clearance table at the supermarket, just leave it alone. One more quick tip, the stuff you can get a second one free on TV by calling now - don't bother. There is a reason the As Seen on TV stores all went out of business.

-7 Gifts from children under 12 MUST never be regifted. In fact they should be worn or displayed immediately. You get to throw them away while they are off at college.

-8 If the gift really stinks, and regifting is just not possible, I suppose, as a last resort you can return it. It is possible that everyone you know has a Clapper or Clapper Deluxe with a remote - or the gift; like gold jewelry, is worth much more in cash than as a gift, then it's OK to return it. But please do it quietly. I have a big mouth friend that can't wait to ask for the sales receipt before we've finished eating. Then get yourself something nice for Christmas. After all, it IS all about you.

-9 Never regift cash. ;o)

-10 And finally, there is hopefully one thing that although you can't regift it, you can package in such a way that someone else might even ask you for it. That's Jesus.

Merry Christmas

Fire and Grace Top 100

For over three years I have been writing Fire and Grace, and my readers have their favorites. Here are the top 100 most read blogs from the most popular to the least popular.

Role Of Holy Spirit - Power To Be a Son Or Daughter of God

The Cost Of Following Jesus - For What It's Worth

5 Fold Ministry - Prerequisites Part 1

Poor Or Poor- The Poor of the Bible

Demonic Curses, Oppression and Possession

Rhema! Hearing God Right Now!

5 Fold Ministry - Ephesians 4:11

When Prophetic People Do Stupid Things

My How You've Changed

Glory, Glory Hallelujah He Reigns

Facebook 10 - Commandments Dos And Don'ts

The Perfect Church - No Kidding You're It

Intimacy - A Really Personal Relationship

Nobel Peace Prize - What Is It Really?

Case Against Fundamentalism

The Prophet Part 6 Of 7

Closer Than a Brother - What Is a Friend?

Real Faith - Following Voice Of God

Sound Of Rain - Revelation And You

Parable Of the Water Buffalo - Kids And Cars

God Grant Me the Serenity - Some Things Change

Reaping What We Sow

Water Buffalo - Epilogue

Supernatural Happenings - Know It All

WTF 10 Questions For Social Networkers

Do You Really Need a Miracle?

Seeds Of Division - Unifying the Church

Most Annoying Phrases - Verbal Fatigue

Cancer Prayer Update

Who Is Jesus?

How Can You Tell God Exists? What Atheists Haven't Thought About

Reasons Why Being PC Is Anti-Christian

New Political Vehicle - WWJD

Prayer For Cancer

Power Of Resurrection In Your Life

Embracing the Desert - Understanding Dry Times

More Intellectual BS

Can You Believe It? You May Have Been Railroaded!

The Work Of Ministry - My Boss Is Jewish Carpenter

Some Pages Are Missing From My Bible

OK I'm Mad As Hell - Quagmire Of Stupidity

If God's In Charge, then What?

Grinches Who Came To Christmas - Skinny Santa

Not Sin Not God - Is It OK To Golf?

Top 10 Stupidest Things Christians Do Part 1

The Apostle Part 7 Of 7

Preach the Gospel At All Times and If Necessary Use Words

Til Death Do Us Part - Living Without Regret

Secret Santa and the Yankee Swap

Global Freezing - Record Lows

Top 10 Stupidest Things Christians Do Part 5

6 Foundations Of Spirit Filled Life

Do Not Be Squeezed - 9 Commandments

Handshakes, Baby Kisses, And Hemorrhoids

Operation Bass Pro Shops - Make a Splash

Jay Leno Hoax - Actual Message Worth Reading

30 Minutes Until

Everyone Gets To Play

Spiritual Gifts - Call Me Thomas

Why Jesus Anyway? Come On Does It Really Matter?

The Best Wife

Black BMW - God Cares About Cars

The Road Ahead - Have, You Thought About It?

Thomas' Resume - The Misconception Of Doubt

What If Dog Catches Car?

God Is Great Beer, Is Good and People are Crazy

Time Doesn't Heal Everything

I Should Be Committed and Maybe You Should Too!

Graduation - We May Never Pass This Way Again

Til Death Do Us Part - Learning From Your Wife

How Many Calls Do You Receive From. . .

Lesson In Christian-ese

How Christian Are You?

Living Water vs Dead Religion

Miracle Of Facebook - Relationship

Restoration - The Art Grace

Great Divide - Relationship and Anointing

You're Kidding, Right?

Silencing the Debate - Intellectual Elitism

The Grind - Back To Work

Overhaulin' When You Need Everything Fixed

Christianity, the Bottom Line

Chuch-i-anity Are You Kidding Me?

American Girl - Heritage And Blessing

Moving On - Follow Your Heart

Things That Make Me Chuckle

Why I'm Not For Federal Health Care

Church How Do We Fit Into God's Plan?

Report Cards Already? Performance Review

Misunderstanding the Gospel

Unemployment - The Bright Side

I'm Looking For Answers, Are You?

Freedom Of Choice - The Role Of Decision

Nickels And Noses

Gifts - A Great Time To Receive

Health Care Ethics And Community

Hearing God Part 1 Of 2

America About To Be Railroaded Again

Supernatural Happenings

The Grinches Who Came to Christmas - Skinny Santa

My friend Tony C blogged about Christmas this week. The comment thread turned into quite a discussion. Like teetotalers at a cocktail party, and dieters at a Thanksgiving feast, the church is again split on whether on not to celebrate Christmas - breaking rule #2! BTW - Can we have a skinny Santa? And where would we be without gifts and a tree?

Here are the top 5 reasons Christians hate Christmas:

- Pagan Roots

- Commercialism

- It's not the day that Christ was actually born.

- It's not a biblically sanctioned feast or celebration.

- Fertility symbols such as the Christmas tree and Santa Clause.

- And this one is for free - people who don't have faith in Jesus celebrate it making it worldly.

There you have it, 6 good reasons NOT to participate in any type of Christmas festivities. If you are a Christmas-ee and not a Christmas-or, you might feel a little empty perusing the above list.

Christians have been doing this seasonal madness for almost 2000 years. The celebration has taken on new traditions depending on the culture and the century. There were not many public church traditions until the 3rd century because Christians were heavily persecuted: burned at the stake or on metal chairs, fed to the lions, or jailed. If that is pure Christianity - the kind without tradition and celebration that you hope to go back to, then there are a lot of other things that you'll need to consider. The absence of a church building, hymnals, PA systems, printed Bibles, salaried pastors - you get the idea.

Every culture in the time of Jesus had celebrations including the Druids, the Romans, the Greeks and of course the Jews. They were timed based on the seasons and the cycles of the moon - well until astronomers got involved inventing the "year" based on the sun.

Just as the Jews asked for a King, Christians clamored for "Christian" celebrations. Like our modern worship services with electric guitars and special effects, these holy days were modeled after familiar secular and pagan celebrations of the period.

In the same way our evangelicals rail against Halloween by having a "Harvest Night," our spiritual forefathers had their own form of the local rituals with a scriptural twist.

The holy day of Christmas first appeared on December 25, in the city of Antioch, during the 2nd century. (http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/) Antioch, at the time, was the most advanced Christian center in the world. They had a teaching school, and the church was founded by apostles and prophets. They were well known for their evangelism which was growing the church at a very fast pace. It is a church model we would do well to examine.

The church began to revere mighty men and woman of God calling them saints. They still do it today - Billy Graham, John Wimber, and whoever the latest Christian author with a moving message is. We even do books now - The Shack, The Screwtape Letters and Nooma videos. Oh, Billy Graham is probably the only one that will get a statue. Listen to any Evangelical sermon these days and you'll hear a name or two dropped as great Christians are still held in high esteem - even ones that have graduated to glory.

One of these saints named Nicholas, was born in 280 AD, in Patara, a city of Lycia, in Asia Minor. He became the gift giver of Myra. His gifts were given late at night, so that his identity would remain a secret (another lesson for Christians that need their names in the bulletin, on sanctuary walls and narthex plaques). The ruler of his time actually asked his subjects to worship Nick! His service to God was great, and he was canonized as a saint. You can see what's happened to make that tradition grow. Nicholas, with a humble gift for giving - that was his ministry - turned 21st century Christmas icon.

By the way, the same "sainting" has run a muck for St. Patrick who raised not one, but two of the king's children from the dead! The king's whole family was converted along with much of the pre-Irish kingdom. But who gives a rat's behind? Some fool will pray to him instead of the One who anointed him; missing their own opportunity raise someone from the dead. St. Valentine - same deal - he was a martyr who was imprisoned for his faith. He had been a friend to the orphan children and had a ministry feeding the poor. Those that loved him apparently wrote him love letters and tossed them through the bars on his prison cell. Valentine was a lover of God who gave his life for the work of the Kingdom. Only the foolish look to man, instead of the One who empowered him with the gospel message and heart for the poor.

That is how we got many of our "Christian" celebrations including All Hallows (saints) eve - Halloween. It's amazing how this tradition went from a holy celebration to the most demonic one of the bunch.

The sainting goes on. Pentecostals revering Smith Wigglesworth and Charismatics applauding the anointing and ministry of Kathryn Kuhlman and Benny Hinn. And the Baptist have theirs, Henry Blackabee and John McArtuhur - the 4 Square theirs; Jack Hayford. Over the centuries there have been many great men and woman of God. I am fan of Watchman Nee who stood against the wiles of the devil in communist China.

I am lover of Jesus, and the point is that you should be too.

My pet peeve in the Catholic church - Mary prayers. And my pet peeve in the evangelical church - Paul worship. Paul this, and Paul that... blah blah blah. Let me tell you Jesus was the one that said, "for God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten Son!"

You may dislike some of the Christmas traditions - I do too. What I find interesting, however; is that every denomination now has their own traditions. I could walk into any church meeting, and find something that has been made into a tradition or a religious act that has little or nothing to do with connecting to God. Just closing a prayer ins Jesus' name every time is religious!

Trees, lights, gifts - if they keep you from God, don't buy them. Just remember, they are not illegal in the Bible. Me, I kinda like them.

Tradition that preserves an avenue for God to advance the Kingdom is good! Anything else grieves the Holy Spirit. Beauty and generosity are often signs that God is afoot.

There are no specified Christian celebrations - everyday is a day for celebrating. You're right! And because we are no longer Jew nor Gentile in Christ, we should not celebrate Jewish holidays or be all legalistic about church Saturdays either. But from a mostly 9 commandment country, one that rarely takes a real sabbath, we should try to establish some dedicated time with the Lord. If you are working 7 days a week you are breaking a commandment - one of the 10 big ones.

Not celebrating Christmas - it's not one of the 10.

Church, a time is coming when the Antichrist will be here on earth ruling for a season. He will ask you; or your children; or your grandchildren to worship him. Christmas will no longer be a holiday - no longer will it be a point in which Christians have a season they can call their own. The mainstream church will have to go underground to survive. Like it was in time of Daniel, Christians will be persecuted and put to death for any act that defies the worship of the ruler.

And when it's gone - when the remembrance of your beloved Savior's birth is treated as a lie. Will that make you happy? Will you be blessed that you can no longer be public about your faith, or invite a friend to a Christmas service?

If you really hate Christmas - then look for a good Chinese restaurant on your Federal holiday. Chances are it won't last another decade here in America. Some of restaurants are attractively decorated, donning their perversions of Jolly Ol' St. Nick. I hope you won't find their Buddahs dressed in Santa coats offensive - that would probably not be a good time to share your faith in the Savior born to save a wretch like me.

Happy Day to those the think Christmas is a commercial sham. Merry Christ-Mass for those of you that find something deeply touching about a Savior born in Bethlehem; one the prophets of Israel predicted; Emmanuel - God with us; born of a virgin in a dirty little stable under a miraculous star - His Father messaging the shepherds with angels - a man - a God - one day every knee shall bow to Him. He is the one named Jesus. My God, my Savior, my eternal companion.

But you probably haven't really thought about that since last Christmas.

And one more thing - did you know that Christ hung on a tree?