Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 December 2007 16:19:33
I am currently confined to the backroom while Mrs Santa wraps my Christmas and Birthday presents. Isn't it great how Santa and his Elves always come around to your house to pack the presents for you! In my case some of the Elves at Amazon pack presents that I've bought.
So in about 8 hours time it will be Christmas. The time of year when people give thanks for their credit card balances and interest free interest. When shopping trollies are piled to heaven with so much food and drink that a country in Africa could be fed for a month or two.
When presents are exchanged and then returned for credit, or something you actually wanted. A time when some people may actually think of others less well off; then spend the rest of the year ignoring them. When goodwill to all men ends at your garden gate.
Last night we had carol singers at the door; I use the term loosely as they only seemed to know Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I almost told them to either sing a carol or "go away" but decided that I couldn't really be bothered. So I gave them some cash and shut the door.
I actually think that Ebenezer Scrooge may have been right in his attitude. This commercialised monstrosity that we call Christmas should be knocked on the head once and for all. Either we reclaim it or just let them call it Winterval and have done with it.
This country is as Christian as a pagan sacrifice in Ancient Rome.
The Times reported that a survey carried out recently wanted churches to be like Christmas every week. If that spirit was there then they'd come back and worship. This led me to think: "How would they know?" If they never come for anything other than Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals then they'd never know. Many churches are like Christmas every week but still can't people through the door.
So my message for next year is:
Forget the presents.
Don't bother with the big meals.
Just sit down and talk about what Christmas is really about and praise God that, in spite of everything, He loves us that much that He'd come to Earth and die for our sins and then rise again to prove that He WAS who He said and IS that powerful.