Featured Christmas

Praying for you....

...when i first joined the BB, I wrote in about the lack of decorations in restaurants [something i saw everywhere as a child], and I was ficiously attacked by members on this board.

I can only pray for you, because if the same folks are around, i'm sure you will be hearing from them about this post, and you may not like what everyone says! :tonofbricks:

:type:

 

Don't know if you have a BJ's store by you ...Cosco like because they got them.

 

Here you go:

http://www.catholicsupply.com/churchs/57010.html

 

Wow...they still got those! My mom used to put them out. Now my brother( a Baptist pastor) keeps up the tradition. I might just order some...thanks f:smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrinr the tip.:thumbs:

 

A few years ago I started setting a strict Christmas gift budget. My bride loves to shop for people and give gifts. In her desire to be a good steward with the budget I set she started going out for the Black Friday shopping. She actually enjoys it, and we have not had the violence issues that other places have.

My bride has gone Thursday night, but after the family time is over the kids are in bed. I can't deal with the crowds, but I stay up until she gets home safe. This year I was disgusted to hear that stores are starting sales Thanksgiving morning. I asked my bride to pass on the deals and not go to the early sales and I explained to her my disgust. In fact, we had that discussion yesterday.

Also, I have been slowly getting us to a minimalist, refocused, Christmas. We have a family supper with my folks and others on Christmas Eve. We have exchange gifts. I got the group to draw names and set spending limits. Supper is a time of reminding everyone of Christ's incarnation and why He came. It is a time of worship that includes Communion.

A few years ago my bride and I went through our decorations and threw away all the Santa's (except for a small statue with him kneeling at a manger with Jesus in it) and all the angels. We cannot find any angel decorations that resemble what the Bible describes they look like.

 

Agreed, but the sales don't produce the violence. That and other vices are in the hearts of the shoppers.

Compare them with those shopping for kids for the Salvation Army and other charities. Now there's the spirit of Christmas!

 

Sage advice.

 

After thankgiving we will all await Aaron's Christina's cap! It's become tradition at BB. :laugh::laugh:

 

I personally don't "do Christmas," OTOH if any of my BB friends want to go "all out" for Christmas, then that's their option.

In fact, the ONLY Christmas party I really enjoy going to is the one that's sponsored by Lighthouse Christian Camp ( www.lighthousechristiancamp.com ) near Center Hill Lake near Smithville in rural eastern middle TN.

How it works is this: The underprivileged and/or dirt poor children from all over middle TN (and sometimes other places as well) are given a free week-long summer camping experience that they probably NEVER be able to afford.

All during that all-expenses-paid-for week they get BONUS POINTS for doing various positive things. At the end of each summer camping period, each boy or girl's points are tallied up & converted into "play money" ['Monopoly Currency']. Then early each Dec LCC holds a Sat "Christmas Shopping Spree" where each camper is bussed back to the LCC campgrounds where he/she is given his/her earned money to buy anything he/she wants (depending on the amt on the price tag) from all sorts of donated gifts---BUT these gifts are not supposed 2 B for themselves, they are supposed to be used 4 gifts for their parents and/or siblings.

Maybe this 66.5 YO is just 2 sentimental in his OLD age, but it thrills my heart 2 see those underprivileged children (most from "the projects") being able to BUY those gifts 4 their family in return for doing positive things at camp this past summer. :thumbs:

 

So sorry that you were attacked. As wished that there were decorations all over the place. Not just Christmas trees but more of Nativity scenes. Praying in agreement!:1_grouphug:

 

To me, Christmas is a perfect picture of the Catholic corruption of Christianity.

Nativity scenes ? Can you show me a bible verse that says "build them", cuz I can show you plenty that say "don't".

Where are we told to celebrate Christmas ? If we are to strive to be Christ-like ? Christ only celebrated the passover, a true miracle. I see no miracles in Christmas. The date of our savior's birth was never recorded. I don't believe the date of his death was either, but I'll save that rant for Easter.

I don't see anything wrong with a family holiday, or even exchanging gifts. But forcing "Christian" displays that go against God's word, no thanks.

It is also my opinion that a lot of support for these displays comes from a selfish desire to force our faith on others, or even rub it in their faces. I want no part of it.

 

I grow less and less interested in Christmas each year. The shopping stuff is definitely part of it, but it just the whole deal feels like a waste. We spend so much time on gifts and parties and stuff like that and we spend very little time really reflecting on the stated reason for Christmas.

 

Then make a change.


I love the get togethers, shared meals, special services. We just keep Christ in the forefront. There's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

 

I was using the term "we" as a collective term for our country. My family has made a change, we have pulled back in a lot of ways from Christmas. We do some family things and that is about. Not a lot of gifts, not a lot of parties. And we seem to pull back a little more each year.

 

Catholic corruption? And you see no beauty in incarnation!?! Really.

 

I'm with you on that...Christ is at the forefront. Well said:thumbsup:

 

What incarnation ?

 

This one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnation_(Christianity)

 

I don't understand why you put up that link. Are you saying my refusal to celebrate Christmas means I deny Christ is the son of God ?