Christmas commentary

The paper is on the floor. Most of us are 5 pounds heavier. Great effort went into the food, the gifts, and the wrappings. The lights at night are very pretty, but will they be up in two weeks? By the way, where is Jesus in all this? Three weeks of commercial hype and covetous expections give way and come crashing down after the 25th. Relief and mundane glum soon take over again. What's wrong with this picture? Didn't it start out as a means to commemorate Christ birth? But it has evolved into a very stressful time for many people. Many people forget Christ; many more never took time to understand exactly who He was. Oh how I would love to reform Christmas and give it real meaning! I would take about how the God of the Universe loved us so much that He came to the earth in the form of a Man named Jesus. How He humbled Himself to be born in a manger rather than a Palace. I would talk about how He loved us so much that He endured pain on the cross so we wouldn't have to deal with the pain of eternal seperation. Would you like real Christmas joy that last long after December 25th? Invite Christ into your and soul as Lord and Savior.

Signatures only mean you can write

Franklin Graham has on a web site called Christianity.com a chance for you to sign a statement confirming your faith. I haven't read it, but I have always thought a Christian proved his faith by what he did rather than what he signed. I also think alot about Christians in oppressive countries whose is constantly on the line for the faith. They declare their faith every time they attend church or hand out a tract. In such harsh circumstances where practicing your faith could mean losing your fortune or your life makes Franklin Grahams offer seem trivial. So I guess you could say that I shrugged it off treating it as 'neither here nor there ' issue. However there was recently another document that involved alot of signatures called "The Manhattan Declaration". It had many well known names in evangelical circles signing the Manhattan Declaration, or the M.D.. If you want to read up on it go here:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.org/
Go to that site above and put "Manhattan Declaration in the search blog box on the right and take you time to read all the links that are related to that subject. Here are some more links:
Five Opposing Responses to the Manhattan Declaration (John MacArthur (Grace to You), Jacob Prasch, (Moriel Ministries), Mike Gendron (Proclaiming the Gospel), Alistair Begg, Pastor Claude Stauffe (Calvary Chapel, North Amityville, NY)
“Evangelicals and New Agers Together” by Warren B. Smith
Should Christians Sign The Manhattan Declaration? by Pastor Adam Gislason
The Manhattan Declaration: Why faithful Christians SHOULD NOT sign it.–Cecil Andrews, Take Heed Ministries, Northern Ireland
Audio Clip: A Rebuke to the Manhattan Declaration Signatories by Pastor Ralph Ovadal
New Documentary Release: A Lamp in the Dark: The Untold History of the Bible
**Note: In the event that you cannot access the Resource Directory from the Manhattan Declaration website (if for some reason it is removed or becomes disabled), you may view the exact same Resource Directory on Chuck Colson’s website. Click here.
Rather than be redundant, I will say that it is about Christians, Catholics, New Agers, Emergent thinkers putting to death crucial difference that define their faith and coming together to sign a document of ecumenical unity. I haven't seen anything concerning the significant things that Christ did on the Cross or His resurrection. The document is sociological rather than theological in it's thrust. Some of the most prominent signers have a very poor grasp of the Bible; like Chuck Colson. I have heard Focus on the Family and James Dobson make the cop-out claim that they are not theologians. To bad James; being a theologian is part of the job description of being a Christian! Put away the contemplative material, pick up your Bible more, and seek the whole counsel of God, (rather than selective parts).

general update

Let's see- Obama was elect with the idea that if he was President then he would work bringing our boys and girls home. What happened? Just like Bush he is engaging in a surge of troops. It begs the question, 'What are the real differences between Democrats and Republicans? It reminds me of the time when the Democrats got behind the idea that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and then later on ridiculed the idea because it was politically expedient. I didn't think they would ever find weapons of mass destruction for the simple reason that America's war plans were announced so well ahead that it the Iraqi's plenty of time to act and make America leaders look foolish.
If I can give some unsolicited advise folks: Politicans are counting on you to have short memories and to be as uninvolved as possible. Stay on top of things! You have to treat a Politician like a rowdy 10 year old that needs constant supervision! Democracy only works when you work at it folks, otherwise if you stay complacent you will be sold down the river.