We wish you a merry Christmas...
We wish you a merry Christmas...
We wish you a merry Christmas...
... and a Happy New Year!
Yup, tis the season to be jolly and all that! Today is Christmas Eve and we cannot believe that tomorrow we will be opening all our presents on a lovely Christmas Day. Seems like yesterday we were arriving at Aberdeen Airport and only a few days since we were celebrating Christmas 2005 in Santiago. Must be getting extremely old extremely fast!
Must say a couple of things here:
1. I have been totally gobsmacked that the whole of UK celebrates Christmas and yet hardly give a thought to what the implications really are. Here in UK, everyone is totally against the mad PC people who want to take Christ out of Christmas. But, in my humble opinion, it wouldn't matter to the majority of people in this country if it was only a "winter holiday". Because, to most of these people, Christmas is merely a time to drink, party, listen to corny music, kiss, decorate the Christmas tree, let the kids meet Santa, overspend and overeat. There are some positives - some go to church and most spend time with family. But often the church has no reality and offers no hope. They go, sing a few carols, eat a few mince pies and go home. Tragic.
Tragic because, if people truly believe in the Christmas story (and most do), then there are MASSIVE implications and consequences.
If this baby was the Messiah, then He must be the Saviour.
A Saviour must save us from something.
He can save us ... from sin, death and hell.
He lived, died and rose again, conquering all the above.
Through Jesus, we can go to heaven forever.
But ... there is a also definitely a hell. No in between. No second way.
I fail to believe why multitudes believe very definitely the baby of Christmas. They believe the claims of the Bible about who Jesus is. Yet, they reject Him as a Saviour. They all love to talk about heaven, but cannot possibly believe in the finality of hell. They believe Jesus is the Son of God, but they declare that all roads lead to heaven. They believe that God is love, yet cannot believe that He is also a righteous judge.
What a mixed up country we live in. What must God think? How the Lord's heart must be broken. We have lost the real meaning of Christmas - Jesus arrived to save us. Simple yet life changing.
My goodness, I started writing this blog in good heart and with great joy, but now I feel a bit flat! I think we, as Christians, must really re-evaluate what Christmas really should mean and be. What about you .. what do you think? Am I a grumpy so-and-so or am I making sense? Go on, surprise yourself ... write a comment below!
2. I must say how great it is to be a dad this Christmas. Like I said in my last blog, Lydia is at a wonderful age now where she is saying some really funny (and profound!) things. She is priceless. Josiah just goes with the flow and seems to be happy wherever he is.
It is great for us to be near our families this Christmas. We will be in Aberdeen tomorrow and boxing day. Mary's brother Bruce and his lovely wife Alison live there and Mary's mum & dad are down from Wick. Should be great. After all I have said above, I love the way that we can take a break from our hectic lives and spend quality time with our friends and family.
I leave you with a few photos I have taken over the last few weeks. They are of special places and special people. Enjoy Christmas and look after yourself. Many blessings ... I will blog soon!
We wish you a merry Christmas...
We wish you a merry Christmas...
... and a Happy New Year!
Yup, tis the season to be jolly and all that! Today is Christmas Eve and we cannot believe that tomorrow we will be opening all our presents on a lovely Christmas Day. Seems like yesterday we were arriving at Aberdeen Airport and only a few days since we were celebrating Christmas 2005 in Santiago. Must be getting extremely old extremely fast!
Must say a couple of things here:
1. I have been totally gobsmacked that the whole of UK celebrates Christmas and yet hardly give a thought to what the implications really are. Here in UK, everyone is totally against the mad PC people who want to take Christ out of Christmas. But, in my humble opinion, it wouldn't matter to the majority of people in this country if it was only a "winter holiday". Because, to most of these people, Christmas is merely a time to drink, party, listen to corny music, kiss, decorate the Christmas tree, let the kids meet Santa, overspend and overeat. There are some positives - some go to church and most spend time with family. But often the church has no reality and offers no hope. They go, sing a few carols, eat a few mince pies and go home. Tragic.
Tragic because, if people truly believe in the Christmas story (and most do), then there are MASSIVE implications and consequences.
If this baby was the Messiah, then He must be the Saviour.
A Saviour must save us from something.
He can save us ... from sin, death and hell.
He lived, died and rose again, conquering all the above.
Through Jesus, we can go to heaven forever.
But ... there is a also definitely a hell. No in between. No second way.
I fail to believe why multitudes believe very definitely the baby of Christmas. They believe the claims of the Bible about who Jesus is. Yet, they reject Him as a Saviour. They all love to talk about heaven, but cannot possibly believe in the finality of hell. They believe Jesus is the Son of God, but they declare that all roads lead to heaven. They believe that God is love, yet cannot believe that He is also a righteous judge.
What a mixed up country we live in. What must God think? How the Lord's heart must be broken. We have lost the real meaning of Christmas - Jesus arrived to save us. Simple yet life changing.
My goodness, I started writing this blog in good heart and with great joy, but now I feel a bit flat! I think we, as Christians, must really re-evaluate what Christmas really should mean and be. What about you .. what do you think? Am I a grumpy so-and-so or am I making sense? Go on, surprise yourself ... write a comment below!
2. I must say how great it is to be a dad this Christmas. Like I said in my last blog, Lydia is at a wonderful age now where she is saying some really funny (and profound!) things. She is priceless. Josiah just goes with the flow and seems to be happy wherever he is.
It is great for us to be near our families this Christmas. We will be in Aberdeen tomorrow and boxing day. Mary's brother Bruce and his lovely wife Alison live there and Mary's mum & dad are down from Wick. Should be great. After all I have said above, I love the way that we can take a break from our hectic lives and spend quality time with our friends and family.
I leave you with a few photos I have taken over the last few weeks. They are of special places and special people. Enjoy Christmas and look after yourself. Many blessings ... I will blog soon!
1 comment:
the spirit of christmas is well recognized & felt but not the true meaning of it. so sad!
how i wish, all of us celebrate christmas not because it is a time to re-unite with families, relatives and friends; nor a time to make the biggest and most glamorous christmas tree; nor a time to prepare the best foods in the table but a time to celebrate what it truly means. Then christmas is celebrated not just on the day itself but through out the year where "Christ unconditional Love" is shared to everyone.
together, let us share the true meaning of christmas...
Happy Christmas my friend & to everyone!
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