Tis the Season- might as well get used to it

I hope everyone had a good, safe, happy and Blessed Christmas. Ours was nice and quiet, some of the family able to show up, just the way I like it. While I do like the traditions of trees and tinsel, giving and receiving, cookies and Grandma's home cooking, I always try and meditate on the true meaning of the whole season which is called Christmas.

I am forever grateful and glad that God so loves the world, that He came to us that long ago night as a little baby, the Heavenly King of Kings, born in a smelly stable and laid to rest in an animal's feeding trough.

Christmas has changed a good deal over the centuries, and while not everyone has always celebrated Christmas, it seems as though people were not so vocal or demonstrative about their objections to the Christian celebration of Jesus' birth either. Not so today.

In our ever more politically correct, multicultural, globalist, ever tolerant society. Where one religion is as good as another, or none at all, where those who are so vocal about tolerance, peace and to each his own, I have noticed more and more outrageous and intolerant attitudes towards Christmas and Christians. While I am not surprised by more intolerance toward Bible believing Christians, it does make me sad and a little angry that such demonstrations have to happen on both of the most important and significant Holy observances of the Christian belief.

Seems that every year during Easter and Christmas, is the time where most of the true intolerance is practiced against those who are accused of being intolerant. Bible believing Christians. What is sad, that Christmas is a time when most people, Christian and non Christians alike think about peace and goodwill towards others.

So, how much tolerance, peace and goodwill was shown this year? If you or someone you know was denied a Merry CHRISTmas greeting, offended by our retailers because they are observing the bottom line dollars instead of the reason for the season, get used to it- because compared to the rest of the world, Americans have seen nothin' yet. If you think that children being denied the right to sing Christmas Carols in school or the theft of baby Jesus is persecution, you got another thing coming.

Let's go to Jolly old England. The land of my parent's heritage. Not only is Great Britain losing her own heritage, it seems as if she is willing to give it away lock stock and barrel to Islamists. Not only are the leftists in England as stupid as those in America, in believing that being tolerant to Islam while blaming Christians and Jews for the injustices to the world, but to allow someone so hate filled as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even a second of television time is not only absurd, but s dangerous and moronic move. To allow time for this man to spew his offensive drivel , statements such as “If Christ were on Earth today, undoubtedly He would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over. If Christ were on Earth today, undoubtedly He would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.”

Now, again, people who see this, would think that the man speaks loving and something true. Now, I have no intention of even attempting to rebuke his statements, because he actually does speak enough truth in that Jesus did preach justice and love- but the rest of the truth is lost on Ahmadinejad - that is the rest of the Holy Bible. I'll not respond about Jesus' righteous justice, Iranian/Islamic hatred for Jews, which Jesus Christ when He walked on this earth was a Jewish man from a Jewish family in the line of David, King of Israel. Nor will I add that the only terrorists these days are Islamic ones. Maybe not all Muslims are terrorists, but all the recent terrorist activities have been done by Muslims. And the Iranian PM is one of the lead instigators in much of it.

So, why did Channel 4 do it? For the Peace and love of Christ at Christmas time? Well, Dorothy Byrne, head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, said: “As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad’s views are enormously influential. As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view.”

OK, so forget Christmas, lets bring in the biggest threat since Hitler to the Jewish people, because he is influential?! So, what, would they have given Hitler his say too? A critical time in international relations?! Oh, well, of course, one of the best way to pacify the enemy is to give him equal air time during a celebration of the birth of Christ.

How else is Great Britain bowing toward mecca and giving unto Allah at Christmas time? Well, how about shoving Christian kids to the back of the line so muslim kids could celebrate Eid?

A letter sent to parents from “The staff at Greenwood Junior School', said: "It is with much regret that we have had to cancel this year's Christmas performances. This is due to the Eid celebrations that take place next week and its effect on our performers.”
Following outrage from parents, the school was forced to send out a second letter saying that the Christmas play would be done in January.
Sent by the head teacher, Amber Latif, and Yvonne Wright, chair of governors, it apologised for “any misunderstanding” but said it had to respect “the cultures and religions of all the children”. It added: "The Christmas performance has not been cancelled outright but has been postponed until the New Year.”
So, I would like to ask these brilliant scholars of everything Politically Correct, just how is postponing a celebration of the Savior's birth which happened over five hundred years before Mohammad was even a twinkle in his daddy's eyes, being respectful to Christians?! It's not. And in a world where people celebrate different meanings, different cultures and beliefs- someone is going to get left out in the cold. It just so happens that it is always the Christian who is.

Oh, and speaking of celebrating differences, how about Amsterdam? You know, that bastion of all things free? Legal prostitution, legal drug use, legal just about everything? Check out the gay nativity, with the transvestite Mary. OK. Now, all I ever hear is about Christian bigots and homophobes when it comes to anything to do with out not accepting homosexual behavior. No mention of the fact that we have love for gays and lesbians, just that we are hateful because while we may have to give in and tolerate their agenda, but will not accept it. The other thing I hear the most is how the Homosexual agenda is only about being tolerated and not anything more. I find this quote most telling in the truth of the gay and lesbian agenda- Frank van Dalen, chairman of Pro Gay, which organized the event, said gays were not satisfied with being tolerated, but wanted to be "socially accepted as an indivisible part of society. I am not going to apologise for my deeply held Biblical beliefs, no matter what anyone says. I have known and been friends with gays and lesbians, and will continue to love them- but I will NOT ever accept the life choices as anything other than wrong and unnatural. There. I've said it and will no doubt have a lot of people hating me for it. So be it. I trust the Bible as the Word of God, and I also accept the Word as truth for when it was written as well as for every period in history, today and in the future. God's word is the same yesterday as it is today.

One last thought on this article. They claim they want to be accepted. They claim they only want to fit in as a normal part of society- to not be offensive, but be visible. I have to ask, in all honesty, How is it that one can believe it is normal and non offensive to hold celebrations and parades in cities all over the world, while prancing around naked, dressed outrageously, or having a man in drag holding a fake baby Jesus with the wise men dressed in leather and dog collars? Is that sounding normal?

OK, now that I have offended so many people, and most likely given a bad name to Christianity. For those who believe that Christians are the bane of society, that other religions are more peace loving and caring, well, lets look at the Buddhists for a minute and see what some peace loving monks in Bangladesh have been up to this Christmas season. Oh, well, seems like they are holding 13 newly converted Christians captive in a southeastern part of Bangladesh in an attempt to forcibly return them to Buddhism. Buddhist leaders and local council officials have warned Christians to return to Buddhism or be evicted, saying, "You cannot live here - you have to leave this place with family members because you became Christians. Those who became Christians cannot live in this predominantly Buddhist area."
Fearing for their lives, the source said, some area Christians have gone into hiding.

Yep. Sounds like peace and pacifism to me. Gotta love those Buddhist monks.

Now, if you've been watching or hearing the mainstream media within the past two days, you know that mean ol' Israel is at it again- murdering innocent Palestinian women and children again with unprovoked attacks on Gaza. ( If you've ever paid attention, however, to real news, you would realize that there never was a cease fire on the part of the Palestinians- they have been lobbing and firing rockets into Israel almost daily ever since the so called truce began.)

So, how are theses peace wanting Palestinians treating their fellow Gaza citizens this Christmas? Well, let's just say I am not the only one who had a quiet Christmas celebration. Looks like Christians in Gaza have no choice but to be quiet about their Christmas celebrations. Oh, publicly they blame Israel for their woes, but with past persecution from Muslims in Biblical lands, they know where the real threat comes from. I'll let you read the article yourselves for this one. I get tired of trying to spread the word all by myself.

In other parts of the Biblical Holy Land, we travel to the town where Christ was born. O' Little Town of Bethlehem... Not only has the Birth place of the savior of the world been taken over by Muslims, we have these peaceful purveyors of Islam hanging banners out denouncing the Son.

Nazareth Mayor Ramiz Jaraisy played down concerns that a banner effectively denying Jesus’ deity was provocative to Christians, although he did question its position, in front of Nazareth’s most prominent landmark.

Oh, not provocative. SO, would it be fair to say, hang a giant banner in the middle of the Dome of the Rock or Mecca saying that Mohammad was a pervert who married a 6 year old little girl, and also believed that he talked to demons? Would that be provocative?

Well, other than the usual about Churches being destroyed in Vietnam, Christians being jailed in China and the usual persecutions which happen around the season of peace and good will toward men, we do have some good news actually.

This may come as a surprise to all of those 60's flower children throwbacks- the code pinkos and Jane Fonda followers, but did you know that Iraq Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf, "All Iraqis are Christian today!" on Christmas?

Some of you may not realize, or maybe you do, but Iraq was a Christian nation from way back until recently. Remember the story of Jonah? He was a prophet in the Old Testament (yes, the one who was swallowed by a big fish) sent to Nineveh to preach to the people there. Nineveh was an ancient northern Assyrian (Iraq) city. Christianity was also brought to the Assyrians early in the new Church.

It is wonderful, and I pray that it will be lasting, that Iraqi authorities are celebrating the birth of Christ, and I pray that the Christians who fled during the early part of the insurgency will return to their homeland.

For those of you who may be reminded of evil and bad things, thinking that this is too negative of a post even for me, especially at Christmas time, I would like to say, A New Year is coming. It would be prudent for all Bible believing Christians to remember those around the world who are suffering for Christ, and to pray for strength and boldness for them and for us, as we will be facing more in the coming years. It is also a time to look forward to more of what the Lord is showing us, and getting us ready for when He returns again.

He come the first time as a helpless babe in the lowest of circumstances. He will COME again, next time as our deliverer from the evils, perils and heartaches of this world. He Will come again, only this time, it will be as our King and Lord, who will bring with Him, His true PEACE. I can't find much negative and disheartening about that. God Bless you, and if you do not Know of the Christ, please read the Gospel of John.

To all of you, I pray a Happy, healthy and safe and Blessed New Year.