Wednesday, December 12, 2012
My Favorite Christmas Song
"The Night Before Christmas" by Brandon Heath is by far my favorite Christmas song. I know it doesn't qualify as a "classic" Christmas song, but I feel it represents the hope and joy that came into the world the night before Christmas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCitZPr2oD0
Friday, December 7, 2012
Figuring Out Who Brought Christmas Presents
There are two people in history that are associated with Christmas. The first is obviously Jesus, but the second is almost just as well known. His name is Santa Claus. However, it took me a little while to get the whole Santa thing. Spoiler Warning: If you believe in Santa, stop reading now!
My parents never told me about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. They figured, I'd find out eventually they didn't exist, and it would save heart break down the road if I didn't think they were real in the first place. Since I had no idea about Santa, I came to my own conclusions about the giver of gifts. My first guess happened when I was about three years old. My parents owned a picture Bible, and would read it to me every night. On this particular evening, the Bible story was about Moses leading the people out of Egypt. In the picture, Moses had a long, white beard that showed his wisdom and flowing silvery hair; a typical Moses picture. However, to a three year old, this was a quaint looking figure. The next day my parents took me Christmas shopping. While we were in the store, we passed an inflatable Santa. Dad, wondering if I knew about Santa, asked who I thought it was. I thought for a moment, but then it all made sense. This inflatable man had a long, white beard and flowing white hair, so it had to be..."Moses!" My dad started laughing and preceded to the checkout isle. My parents never told me my answer wasn't correct so for about three years I thought Moses brought us gifts on Christmas.
My next guess happened when I was about six years old. I finally figured out that Moses was dead, so he couldn't bring Christmas gifts. One day I was busy doing whatever it is a six year old does, when I had a thought. I know someone that brings packages. He comes everyday, and leaves envelopes in our mailboxes. The mailman had to bring our presents! He must have a key to every house on his route, and on Christmas Eve, he sneaks in and leaves gifts under the tree! I think I told my mom this time, and she gave the same response my dad had given three years ago. But again, they never told me I was wrong so the mailman had to bring us presents.
After about three more years I figured out it had to be Santa. However, I wasn't totally convinced. A man in a big red suit with a reindeer sleigh, travels around the whole world in one night and fits through a chimney? The mailman made more sense. But everyone else I knew believed this man existed, so I went with it. I was still skeptical until Christmas Eve of that year. That's when I knew Santa had to be real. My dad had logged on to NORADsanta.org (North American Aerospace Defensive Command for those who don't know) because he had heard they do a mock Santa tracker. This website tracked Santa on his journey around the world on Christmas Eve. It even had 3D computer videos of him flying through cities such as London, Paris, New York, etc. My dad called my brothers and I up to track Santa. I was amazed. Here before me was a radar map, showing where Santa was! It was incredible! I looked at my dad and blurted out, "Santa has to be real, because that's the government, and the government wouldn't lie to us!" Go ahead, laugh, but I was only nine.
I believed in Santa about four more years after that. Eventually I concluded that a man in a suit flying in a reindeer sleigh didn't quite fit into the possible. This conclusion was confirmed when it occurred to me my parents always had a "special night" around Christmas time. I finally asked my parents if he was real. They smiled a kind smile, and said that he wasn't. I wasn't sad, but I was a little disappointed. I knew that he didn't exist, but to have my suspicions confirmed proved it. I remember feeling disappointed because Santa was a sign of universal good. It seemed to me everyone got along because of him. That he brought the gifts so people would know about Jesus. My disappointed faded away Christmas of that year. Whether or not he was real, I still got my gifts!
I am much older now and the biggest lesson I learned from these experiences? The government is anything but honest!
My parents never told me about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. They figured, I'd find out eventually they didn't exist, and it would save heart break down the road if I didn't think they were real in the first place. Since I had no idea about Santa, I came to my own conclusions about the giver of gifts. My first guess happened when I was about three years old. My parents owned a picture Bible, and would read it to me every night. On this particular evening, the Bible story was about Moses leading the people out of Egypt. In the picture, Moses had a long, white beard that showed his wisdom and flowing silvery hair; a typical Moses picture. However, to a three year old, this was a quaint looking figure. The next day my parents took me Christmas shopping. While we were in the store, we passed an inflatable Santa. Dad, wondering if I knew about Santa, asked who I thought it was. I thought for a moment, but then it all made sense. This inflatable man had a long, white beard and flowing white hair, so it had to be..."Moses!" My dad started laughing and preceded to the checkout isle. My parents never told me my answer wasn't correct so for about three years I thought Moses brought us gifts on Christmas.
My next guess happened when I was about six years old. I finally figured out that Moses was dead, so he couldn't bring Christmas gifts. One day I was busy doing whatever it is a six year old does, when I had a thought. I know someone that brings packages. He comes everyday, and leaves envelopes in our mailboxes. The mailman had to bring our presents! He must have a key to every house on his route, and on Christmas Eve, he sneaks in and leaves gifts under the tree! I think I told my mom this time, and she gave the same response my dad had given three years ago. But again, they never told me I was wrong so the mailman had to bring us presents.
After about three more years I figured out it had to be Santa. However, I wasn't totally convinced. A man in a big red suit with a reindeer sleigh, travels around the whole world in one night and fits through a chimney? The mailman made more sense. But everyone else I knew believed this man existed, so I went with it. I was still skeptical until Christmas Eve of that year. That's when I knew Santa had to be real. My dad had logged on to NORADsanta.org (North American Aerospace Defensive Command for those who don't know) because he had heard they do a mock Santa tracker. This website tracked Santa on his journey around the world on Christmas Eve. It even had 3D computer videos of him flying through cities such as London, Paris, New York, etc. My dad called my brothers and I up to track Santa. I was amazed. Here before me was a radar map, showing where Santa was! It was incredible! I looked at my dad and blurted out, "Santa has to be real, because that's the government, and the government wouldn't lie to us!" Go ahead, laugh, but I was only nine.
I believed in Santa about four more years after that. Eventually I concluded that a man in a suit flying in a reindeer sleigh didn't quite fit into the possible. This conclusion was confirmed when it occurred to me my parents always had a "special night" around Christmas time. I finally asked my parents if he was real. They smiled a kind smile, and said that he wasn't. I wasn't sad, but I was a little disappointed. I knew that he didn't exist, but to have my suspicions confirmed proved it. I remember feeling disappointed because Santa was a sign of universal good. It seemed to me everyone got along because of him. That he brought the gifts so people would know about Jesus. My disappointed faded away Christmas of that year. Whether or not he was real, I still got my gifts!
I am much older now and the biggest lesson I learned from these experiences? The government is anything but honest!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A First Time for Everything
Hey everyone! This is Zach's friend Abby here to post on a blog for the first time! I am so excited to have this opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings with you over a wide variety of topics with my friend Zach. These topics may range from serious spiritual discussions to questions like wether or not the human population as a whole should really be continuing to consume the translucent, jiggly, and vibrantly colored substance known as jello (bleh). However, for the rest of this month I will be helping Zach write some "Christmas themed blog posts" considering that it is December now (finally!)
So, Christmas. What do you normally think of when you read that 9 letter word? For me, I think of putting up a tree, hanging up stockings, giving and receiving gifts, etc. In short, I guess that traditions come to mind for me as I would say they do more most Americans. There is something special about a family tradition or maybe just traditional items in general that seems to appeal to us as humans. Maybe it's the warm felling of remembering your childhood or simply because its what your brain has grown accustom to, but I think that sometimes traditions can do as much harm as it can good. We loose sight of what were doing as we go through the general motions expected of us without even realizing it.
Even Jesus talked about the danger of tradition in the church and how we must be careful to not so wrapped up in the laws or tradition regarding Christianity that we forget what it is really all about: a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
So make sure to set aside some time to really explore what it is God has for you this holiday season. It may even be time to break an old tradition to make way for a new one that brings you back in focus with Christ.
- Abby
So, Christmas. What do you normally think of when you read that 9 letter word? For me, I think of putting up a tree, hanging up stockings, giving and receiving gifts, etc. In short, I guess that traditions come to mind for me as I would say they do more most Americans. There is something special about a family tradition or maybe just traditional items in general that seems to appeal to us as humans. Maybe it's the warm felling of remembering your childhood or simply because its what your brain has grown accustom to, but I think that sometimes traditions can do as much harm as it can good. We loose sight of what were doing as we go through the general motions expected of us without even realizing it.
Even Jesus talked about the danger of tradition in the church and how we must be careful to not so wrapped up in the laws or tradition regarding Christianity that we forget what it is really all about: a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
So make sure to set aside some time to really explore what it is God has for you this holiday season. It may even be time to break an old tradition to make way for a new one that brings you back in focus with Christ.
- Abby
It's Your Move
"A piano sits in a room, gathering dust. It is full of the music of the masters, but in order for such strains to flow from it, fingers must strike the keys. . .trained fingers, representing endless hours of disciplined dedication. You do not have to practice. The piano neither requires it nor demands it. If, however, you want to draw beautiful music from the piano, that discipline is required. . .
"You do not have to pay the price to grow and expand intellectually. The mind neither requires it nor demands it. If, however, you want to experience the joy of discovery and the pleasure of plowing new and fertile soil, effort is required.
"Light won't automatically shine upon you nor will truth silently seep into your head by means of rocking-chair osmosis. It's up to you. It's your move." -Charles Swindoll; The Finishing Touch
"You do not have to pay the price to grow and expand intellectually. The mind neither requires it nor demands it. If, however, you want to experience the joy of discovery and the pleasure of plowing new and fertile soil, effort is required.
"Light won't automatically shine upon you nor will truth silently seep into your head by means of rocking-chair osmosis. It's up to you. It's your move." -Charles Swindoll; The Finishing Touch
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