musings

I read about a New Year's custom that the Italians observe that really spoke to me. As midnight on New Year's Eve approaches, the streets are clear. There is no traffic; there are no pedestrians; even the policemen take cover. Then, at the stroke of twelve, the windows of the houses fly open. To the sound of music, laughter, and fireworks, each member of the family pitches out old crockery, detested ornaments, hated furniture, and a whole catalogue of personal possessions which remind them of something in the past year they are determined to wipe out of their memories.

Not a bad way to enter the New Year is it? Tossing out negative attitudes, hurtful feelings, and debilitating habits, just to name a few. Start with a clean slate. Kind of remiends me of Paul's words to us in Ephesians 4:22-24: "...put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Talk about a great New Year's resolution! I think that mentally we should follow the Italians custom. In fact, we might have to do this several times throughout the year.

Getting back to this custom for a moment, I wonder who cleans up the mess?

musings

ONCE UPON A TIME there was a Persian king who loved his people greatly. To know and understand them better, he would mingle with his subjects in various disguises. One day he went as a poor man to the public baths and in a tiny cellar sat beside the fireman who tended the furnace. When it was mealtime the monarch shared his coarse food and talked to his lonely subject as a friend. Again and again he visited and the man grew to love him.

One day the king told him who he was, expecting the man to ask him for a favor or gift. But the fireman sat gazing at his ruler with love and wonder and at last spoke: "You left your palace and your glory to sit with me in this dark place, to eat of my course food, to care whether my heart is glad or sorry. On others you may bestow rich presents, but to me you have given yourself, and it only remains for me to pray that you never withdraw the gift of your friendship."

Does this story remind you of anything? Of course it does! Our Lord Christ, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas, left the glories of heaven in order to share himself with us. That gift of h
His love and friendship will never be withdrawn from us. He chose to be our friend forever. No wonder we celebrate. No wonder we sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King."

musings

Some years ago, The Cincinnati Post, a large metropolitan daily, in keeping with the spirit of Christmas, presented a front page free of crime and violence, "a crimeless front page."

By way of explanation the editors told that all news, bad as well as good, is grist for a newspaper's mill. But on that particular day they decided to put all the muders and robberies and the like on the back pages. Crime, they insisted, has a lawful place in the daily record of human affairs, but it should not be out of proportion. On Christmas day, they felt, one should not be greeted with the wicked and the lack of good will on the first page. Instead, they greeted readers with a large banner-line: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I say, "Three Cheers for the Cincinnati Post!" I wonder if that would happen today, what with all of our emphasis on being "politically correct?" Probably not. In fact, that paper would, no doubt, be taken to court for favoring one religion over another.

Apparently, the preferred greeting now is, "Happy Holiday." That's interesting because the original meaning of holiday was "holy day" or "a religious feast." Personally, I am going to stick with "Merry Christmas." Who wouldn't prefer this? After all, this season is all about joy---joy that a Savior was born to bring us deliverance and peace, and hope.

musings

CHRIST EVACUATED FROM CHRISTMAS? Apparently so, because the Barna Research Group conducted a poll for the Lutheran Hour Ministries that found the following:

Only 37% of adults in the national survey (88% of whom identified themselves as Christian) said the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas. More than 75% of evangelical Christians placed Jesus' birth as of first importance on Christmas.

Only 32% of those who identified themselves as fundamentalists gave that answer.

Only 29% of Catholics placed Jesus' birth first and 24% of theological liberals said the birth of Christ made Christmas important for them.

Wait a minute! What's going on here? Well here's a clue: 44% of the total respondents said that FAMILY TIME is the most important part of Christmas. Only 3% said presents or parties were the most important part of Christmas. The same percentage said the best thing about Christmas was getting a paid holiday.

"I guess it demonstrates what preachers have been wringing their hands over for some time: Christ has been evacuated from Christmas," said the Rev. William Willimon, a theologian and Duke University chaplain. "It's good to know where we are. Christmas has become a co-opted holiday."

George Barna concluded, "Americans are more likely to correctly recall the significance of April 15 than they are to connect Christmas with the birth of Jesus. As America becomes increasingly anesthetized to Christian principles and practices, it seems only fitting that we have contracted acute amnesia regarding the spiritual signifcance of December 25."

Barna goes on to say, "Even with all that I know about how secularized our culture has become, I would have thought that more people would say Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus."

Don't they get it? CHRISTmas! A Christless Christmas is a gloomy alternative. Without Him there is no lasting peace, joy, and fulfillment. What say you?