Where Is The Spirit Of Christmas?

Few days to go and it will be December and some few weeks more will be Christmas. 

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             Every night when I have my trip home, I cannot ignore having a look to those Christmas decors nearby the streets. All those decors are glimmering with colorful lights that seems to have a perfect rhythm. Some of the decors were shaped with an angel. Others were patterned with Santa Claus and reindeers but mostly they are formed to look like stars that brights up our nights. I have seen not only one but two or more night stores that exhibits their Christmas art piece to all the people passing by the road. I was really amazed on how do these things can ignite our spirit for Christmas. What amazed me more is that, those decors where made by skillful hands. Every time I see those kinds of Christmas decors, I ask myself if how long does it take one decor to finish and ready to be sold.

People Be MOVED

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I just want to share this story to you... 

           

          There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak...'I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, 'What you got there, son?' 'Just some old birds,' came the reply.

'What are you gonna do with them?' I asked.

'Take 'em home and have fun with 'em,' he answered 'I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time' 'But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?'

'Oh, I got some cats,' said the little boy. 'They like birds. I'll take 'em to them.'

The pastor was silent for a moment. 'How much do you want for those birds, son?'

'Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!'

'How much?' the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, '$10?'

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. 'Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!'

'What are you going to do with them?' Jesus asked.

Satan replied, 'Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!'

'And what will you do when you get done with them?' Jesus asked. 'Oh, I'll kill 'em,' Satan glared proudly. 'How much do you want for them?' Jesus asked

'Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!'

'How much?' He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, 'All your blood, tears and your life.'

Jesus said, 'DONE!'

Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

Notes:

 Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Isn't it funny how someone can say 'I believe in God' but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also 'believes' in God).

Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing?

Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.

Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

I pray, for everyone who sends this to their entire address book, they will be blessed by God in a way special for them.

And send it back to the person who sent it, to let them know that indeed it was sent out to many more.

Why Do Christian Countries Celebrate Christmas?

Aren't you wondering why countries like America, Spain and even Philippines celebrate Christmas? It is because this countries are known to be Christian countries. As a Christian country, it tend to remember how our savior Jesus Christ was born. In this, people are expected to have a festive celebration to show kindness and love to everyone. In other countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Thailand, they don't celebrate Christmas.

In all the dates in our calendar, why is it celebrated in December 25? Actually, the real date and time of our savior's birth was not made known. Many ancient people even argued about the real date and time of Christ's birth. To have a unified celebration, the ancient church leaders had decided to have December 25 as a Christmas Day since December 25 was already celebrating to festivals: natalis solis invicti (the Roman "birth of the unconquered sun"), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian "Sun of Righteousness" whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers.

Today's Christmas celebration is never been forgotten. As early as September, people are already preparing for the Christmas season. Gift-giving is always the part of the celebration. Let's always remember that Christmas Season is a recollection of the birth of our Savior. Give love on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas!