Christmas--100 Words

Christmas.

Mention that word and countless thoughts come to mind.

Some would immediately talk about Santa. Others would talk about reindeer or eggnog or family get-togethers.

Maybe the word memories come to mind. Or a favorite tradition.

The word Christmas stirs all kinds of thoughts.

Unfortunately, the first thought for too many of us about the word Christmas is the wrong thought—it is secular and worldly. We’ve distanced the sacred and made it secular. We’ve moved from holy to hollow. We’ve moved from THE birth to Santa.

This year, let’s refocus our thoughts on what Christmas is all about.

Fulfillment--100 Words

Fulfillment.

Fulfillment is what JC Penney’s does when you order online.

Fulfillment is when you keep the promise to be at your child’s baseball game or recital.

But, what about fulfillment in life? What does it take to know fulfillment?

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.”

Aren’t those heart symbols most important? They sure beat material things. They beat temporal things.

This Christmas, what will bring you fulfillment?

Inner Peace--100 Words

Inner peace.

What does that mean?

Where do we “find” it?

Right now, many are looking for inner peace by putting up Christmas decorations, going shopping, attending parties, and maybe even going to church. After Christmas, they’ll be looking elsewhere for it.

I’m not critical. I have no room to talk. I’ve searched for inner peace my entire life.

I’ve looked in the right places. And, in the wrong places.

So, I keep looking.

Not sure if true inner peace will be found. Or, can be found.

Maybe not this side of heaven.

What about you? Have you found it?

Who Didn't Know This?

File this one away in the “Didn’t Everyone Already Know This File.”

Morris and Annelies Sheehan promised North Haven firefighters they wouldn’t use real candles on their Christmas trees anymore.

The Sheehan’s lit the candles for a guest from Germany and the tree went up in flames, along with a couch, bookcase, rug, and drapes. The family was able to keep the flames from spreading to the rest of their home by using buckets of water.

The family says it has been using real candles for 44 years with no previous problem, but normally does not have the tree up this long after Christmas.

The Sheehans say they will use electric candles next Christmas.

Smart. Even after 44 years of no problems, I just assumed everyone knew this! Candles and dead trees. Not a good combination!

Wii-rry Christmas!

Well, just as everyone is settling into their Christmas presents, there are some people who aren’t enjoying their gift-giving!

It seems that up to ten people a week are being hospitalized with injuries caused by playing Nintendo Wii games, prompting doctors in Britain to issue warnings of the dangers associated with the video game system.

“There has been a 100 percent increase in patients complaining of Wii-it is,” Dr. Dev Mukerjee of Broomfield Hospital, Essex, told The Sun newspaper.

Most patients are admitted after playing tennis or running games which involve sudden movements, resulting in tendon stretching or tearing. “It’s possible Wii-itis may lead to rheumatism or arthritis later in life. Patients often have inflamation of the shoulder or wrist,” said Dr. Mukerjee.

Another common injury is dubbed Wii-knee, blamed on the bending of the knee from the Wii-Fit game. This involves a special platform and a series of movements ranging from yoga to strength-training moves. In extreme cases, the kneecap can be dislocated or pop out of joint.

Doctors treat Wii-knee with cortisone injections, icing, and anti-inflammatory painkillers. Treatment can last for three months.

Wow! Well, at least a Wii wasn’t under our tree on Christmas morning! That’s good news and bad news. I think, from watching the TV commercials, a Wii would be fun to play. I love video games and think I would enjoy this particular unit. However, I certainly don’t want to be rushing off to the hospital (again!). So, we’ll wait until Evan is a little older to consider purchasing a Wii or any other game console.

Any experience with a Wii? Playstation?

To One and All

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours!

Steve, Tonya, Evan, and Peanut Heartsill

The Greatest Message of All

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”


When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told (Luke 2:1–20 NIV).

What's That in the Sky? Santa?

Here’s a story to warm even the coldest heart toward being generous at Christmas time.

It seems that Russia has decided to give 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to Lebanon as a gift.

Mikhail Dmitriyev, the head of Russia’s Federal Military and Technical Cooperation Service, is also quoted as saying Moscow and Beirut are in talks on selling Lebanon armor for its ground forces.

“Russia’s Defense Ministry has decided to supply 10 of its MiG-29 fighters to Lebanon as a form of military and technical assistance,” Dmitriyev was quoted as saying.

And, here I was hoping for some candy in my stocking this year! I’ve definitely set my sites too low on the generosity of others!

Anyone else like to ask for a jet for Christmas?

Tonya and I love Christmas ornaments!

We really do.

Every year, when we go on vacation, one of the "must have" purchases in the city we are visiting is a new Christmas ornament. Then, at Christmastime, that new ornament is placed front and center so we can see it and enjoy it.

We also have purchased a number of other ornaments that have special significance to us.

Our dog, Peanut, really is a part of our family. We've had her 5 years now and she is the best dog you could ever have. A couple of years ago, we added an ornament for Peanut.



As I've written about previously in other blog posts, I used to serve as a volunteer fireman. So, this next ornament means a great deal to me. And, oh, how I would love to drive this truck!



And, just for fun, here's a cute snowman fireman.

Christmas Is Good, But the Best Is Yet to Come

While Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and I doubt that anyone is more excited than I am to decorate for the celebration, I always approach Christmas with a little different view about what the season means. You see, Christmas is not an end in itself. Christmas is the beginning of the story.

If you put Christmas into the perspective of a book, Christmas would be Chapter 1, or maybe even the Introduction or foreword.

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Deity becoming flesh. Christmas is about about a baby breaking through history, at a certain place and time.

But, we can't lose sight of the fact that Christmas would mean little if we didn't have another chapter/holiday--Easter!

The empty cross and the empty tomb demonstrated God's love for all of us!

While I will celebrate Christmas and enjoy the focus on Jesus' birth, I will not forget the true extent of God's love for me, as He allowed His Son to die for my sins.

We place a cross (see below) on our tree to remind us of another tree, placed on a hillside, stained with the blood of our Savior. A cross that I deserved to die on, but instead, God allowed His only Son to shed His blood for me, for my sins, for my unworthiness, on that cross.

The manger is special. The little baby Jesus is sweet, cute, and demonstrates to us God's desire to be a part of our world. But, the cross, the empty cross and the empty grave demonstrate the full extent that God would go to rescue us.

May your Christmas season be filled with not only the birth of Jesus Christ, but also with an understanding of His life, death, and resurrection.

Christmas is Just Around the Corner

How can you refuse a face like that?

The Angels Sang

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ Whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

See Him in a manger laid,

Whom the choirs of angels praise;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Practical Christmas Gifts

Since few people read my blog on Sunday and I'm on a roll with showing Jeff Foxworthy video clips, why not take a moment to watch this short 1:17 clip. It may just have a good point.

The 12 Days of Christmas, Redneck Style

After the video yesterday, this next one seems like a logical choice for today.

Enjoy!

Christmas Time is Coming!

Christmas is just around the corner! We are in full decorating mode around our house!

Tonya loves to decorate and I love watching her do it. And, of course, helping!

Here's a picture of our live tree. The camera doesn't really do it justice!



Our mantle is coming along nicely. Four stockings. Mine is the red one (obviously, since it has my name on it). Tonya's is the green stocking with red stars. Evan's is the green one with the curly toe. And, Peanut's is the blue one with bones. As I said, Tonya loves decorating, and even making our stockings!



Evan is loving Christmas so far! And, believe it or not, he's not even bothered the tree (yet).

More pictures to come! Soon!

The Real Christmas Spirit

Now, I’m really in the Christmas spirit!

The following story just does it for me. See if the story doesn’t do the same thing to you.

The story is from Parrish, Florida. Authorities say a west Florida man who lives with his parents has been arrested on a felony assault charge after he used a Christmas tree as a weapon to attack his father.

[Why don’t you re-read that paragraph. It’ll just warm you inside out. I just know it.]

According to the Manatee County sheriff’s report, 37-year-old Thomas Edward Lackie was arrested last week after he threw a 3-foot Christmas tree at his father. The tree missed, but Lackie then tried to use the steel base from the tree to strike his father.

[Again, re-read that paragraph. You’ll remember from the first paragraph in the story that this man lives with his mother and father. You learn from the second paragraph that the man is 37-years-old! 37! That’s just wrong.]

[You also learn that he tried to hit his father with a 3-foot Christmas tree. I’m sorry, how much Christmas spirit can you really have if you are putting up a 3-foot tree?]

His father and mother were able to grab Lackie’s arms to prevent the attack. Deputies say the tree could have caused serious injuries because the metal base weighs about five pounds.

Lackie was charged with felony assault. He denied trying to strike his father.

Are you surprised he denied trying to hit his father? I’m not.

Well, my holiday season is now almost complete. This story just did it for me. I really think I need to go out and find another tree to add to our decorations. I think I’ll make it a red one—after all, I’m quite sure Mr. Lackie was seeing red as he tried to hit his father!

The Cost of Christmas Just Went Up!

With all the talk about an economic downturn around the world, even the most romantic person might hesitate before spending the $86,609 price tag for the items in the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” (If you’d like to see a humorous version of the song, visit Heidi’s site.)

That’s this year’s cost, according to the annual “Christmas Price Index” compiled by PNC Wealth Management, which tallies the single partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming, purchased repeatedly as the song suggests. The price is up $8,508 or 10.9 %, from $78,100 last year.

In this tight economy, what’s a romantic to do?

Well, I won’t be buying the 12 days of Christmas. Can’t afford it. And after all, who really needs maids milking or turtledoves?

Those things wouldn’t fit under our tree anyway!

A Victory for "Christmas"

Several weeks ago, I featured a blog about a New York State city who had changed the name of their annual Christmas parade, to make it more “inclusive.” Well, their desire for being inclusive really, really, really didn’t work—if you go by numbers of people who attended!

The annual Patchogue, New York, annual parade of boats on a Long Island river that dropped “Christmas” from its name has apparently lost lots of supporters. About 1,000 people showed up Sunday for the Patchogue Boat Parade of Lights. That’s 500 fewer than usually showed up when it was called the Patchogue Christmas Boat Parade.

Brookhaven-based fireworks company Fireworks by Grucci dropped its sponsorship after the Greater Patchogue Foundation removed “Christmas” from the parade’s name. The change was made after some residents complained the name wasn’t inclusive enough.

Grucci vice president Philip Butler opposes the secularization of Christmas. His supporters encouraged area residents to stay away from the parade on Patchogue River.

Well, the way I see it, in two years, the inclusiveness of their decision will kill the annual parade and it will be no more. Maybe as it should be! Or, do you think the parade officials will listen to the majority of people and change the name back to what had worked for years?

I’m going to keep watching this and see what happens in the future.

Dropping the name “Christmas” to be inclusive? Give me a break!

Can It Be True?

Christmas is only 36 days away! Can that be true?

Let the decorating begin!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The Christmas season, I mean holiday season, I mean the season of giving unnecessary gifts going into debt for no apparent reason, is about to begin.

You can tell. The news media is beginning to tell us about the idiotic trend of removing the word “Christmas” from everything. It happens every year and just seems to get worse and worse every year. First, we couldn’t celebrate Christmas in school. Then, we couldn’t celebrate Christmas at the mall. Then, it was the courthouse square, no Christmas decorations were appropriate unless every other know religion or denomination or protest group had the same opportunity to decorate.

Well, the first report I’ve seen of this happening this year comes from Patchogue, New York (should we be surprised that it comes from New York. Probably not.)

It has been reported that a famed fireworks company is pulling out of a “holiday” boat parade because “Christmas” was dropped from the event’s name.

Fireworks by Grucci won’t lend its sparkle to Patchogue’s November 23 parade—decorated yachts on the Patchogue River—because the organizers have renamed it the Patchogue Holiday Boat Parade. It was the Patchogue Christmas Boat Parade last year, when the Grucci company donated $5,000 worth of fireworks.

The company’s vice president, Philip Butler, who has criticized the secularization of Christmas in the past, said parade organizers were “using all the themes of Christmas and plagiarizing all those themes.” Good for Mr. Butler!

Organizers in the town on Long Island, near New York City, said the parade has had several names over its roughly 15-year existence. The name was changed again this year after complaints that the use of “Christmas” seemed to make the parade less inclusive.

Now, I will admit that when I think of Christmas I don’t always think about fireworks. I’ll also have to say to the New York town that when I think of Christmas that I also don’t think about decorating boats!

Christmas is not about trees, presents, going into debt, Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, church attendance, families getting together, or even special musical services at church. No. Not a one of those things is Christmas. They may be focused on around the month of December, but they aren’t Christmas.

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. That simple. That complex. Christmas is all about His birth.

So, thank you Patchogue, New York, for helping me to remember, even on October 27, what Christmas is really about. I hope you have a good parade. You are free, in America, to celebrate anything and everything. That is your right. Have fun. Decorate. Enjoy. I’m all in favor of it. At the same time, I have a right not to attend a holiday event, parade, or sale.

I’ll live out my convictions, both with the choices of where I go and where I spend my money. That’s my right.

Merry Christmas Patchogue, New York!