Tag Santa Claus

What if instead of Santa Claus you got a visit from Jesus Christ?

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

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Here is is a thought to ponder as you end 2014 and make plans and preparations for 2015. Now that Christmas is behind us now maybe a good time to ask this very important question.

We say December 25th is the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth, okay what day do we set aside to celebrate his SOON RETURN?

What instead of spending so much time and energy making preparations for the jolly fat man, who is never going to come because newsflash he is not real, we put the same amount of energy and preparation into a imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Nary a thought is given to a returning King but we sure do spend a great deal of time preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus.

Isn’t something out of kilter here? Shouldn’t the Christian church be focusing people’s attention on the upcoming arrival of King Jesus? Isn’t that what Advent is supposed to be preparing hearts and minds for? Isn’t the coming of a Messiah the reason for Christmas?

He has already been born, he has been crucified, he was buried, he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, his next big move will be to return to gather together all his believers. Since no one knows the date or time of his upcoming arrival it really would behoove us to be ready and waiting by the door when he comes to call don’t you think?

Many call this generation the Millennials and perhaps they are for this may be the generation that ushers in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. What are we doing to prepare the Millennial generation for the millennial reign of Christ? Was there any talk around the Christmas tree of Jesus’ second coming? Or were we too busy opening presents and talking about all the stuff we got? You do know that you will not be able to take any of it with you.

The greatest gift ever given to man was when God gave us his own son to die in our place. There is not a gift under heaven that can compare to that great gift of God. Nor is there anything under heave that is able to keep you from the wrath of God that is going to come to this earth. Therefore the gift God gave us is the only thing that we can take with us and will protect us from the coming wrath, everything else is worthless by comparison.

Since we do not know when Christ will return we only know that his return is guaranteed shouldn’t we be working hard to make preparations for his return? Just saying.

That is the way I see it, what say you?

See on Scoop.it – Eagle Views

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All I Want for Christmas

Allen Frederick 3 Comments

There is a report from Nielson revealing what kids desire for Christmasin 2011.

24 percent want an iPad
18 percent want a computer
18 percent want an E-Reader
17 percent want a television
17 percent want a tablet computer
16 percent want a Blu-Ray player
15 percent want an iPhone
14 percent want a Smartphone
12 percent want a Xbox Kinect
9 percent want the Nintendo Wii
9 percent want a Playstation 3
8 percent want an iPod Touch
8 percent want a Microsoft XBox 360
5 percent want a Playstation Move
5 percent want a Nintendo DS
4 percent want a Mobile Phone
3 percent want a Playstation Portable
A Christmas Story

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In the Christmas classic movie A Christmas Story, Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the ’40’s, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. But along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good ‘ol Santa Claus himself. “You’ll put your eye out” was the constant rebuff, but undeterred little Ralphie pressed on with his desire for a Red Rider BB Gun with a compass in the stock.

When I was growing up the presents we desired were a bit more useful but there was always that one big item we all wished for. Whether it was a bike or the latest hot toy advertised on the radio or TV.

Baseball gloves and bats where big items for boys, and dolls and a doll house were the items most requested by the girls. I grew up in the era of Tonka trucks and Lego building blocks.

Looking over this years wish list I do not see any bikes, roller skates, hula hoops, jump ropes, Tonka trucks or Red Rider BB guns. Every item on this list is one electronic gadget after another. All of which none of us growing up in the old days ever knew of or thought of. Notice also how none of these gadgets require any real outdoor activity to take place. And we wonder why our children are so hyper active today and overweight. Could it be there are not enough roller skates, baseball gloves and Red Rider BB guns under our Christmas trees?

Over the years, the legendary Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog has featured some pretty extravagant gifts. The 1963 catalog offered his-and-her submarines for $18,000. In the 1964 catalog, you could buy a hot air balloon for $6,000. In 1967, the catalog’s offerings included a pair of camels for $4,000. And in 1971, an actual mummy case was selling for $16,000. But in 2006, Neiman Marcus upped the ante with a trip to outer space for $1.7 million.

In comparison to a trip to outer space, an Ipad is a far less extravagant gift but with its use a child could take a trip into virtual space for a lot less money. Perhaps you have certain expectations of what you hope to find waiting for you under the Christmas tree. If you put your hope in what Christmas offers, however, you will be very disappointed.

But if you can get past that to what Christmas is really all about, it truly can be “the most wonderful time of the year.”

The wise men brought the rather unusual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. But the first Christmas gifts were not gifts to the Child. The first Christmas gift was the gift of the Child.

And that is this week’s tail feather

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

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There is More to Christmas than Santa Claus

Allen Frederick 7 Comments

Christmas in the post-War United States

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In the United Kingdom, which tends to be a barometer of coming religious trends in America, only 4% of adults in the emerging generation of adult leaders (ages 25 to 34) believe the most important part of Christmas is its religious meaning.

Let us not forget why we are celebrating. “Born unto you this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

Without Christ there is no “Christ”mas. Without the light of the world, we would all be living in darkness. Without the Prince of Peace there will be no peace on earth. Without the Hope of the Nations, there remains hopelessness. Without tidings of great joy, all we would have is sorrow.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 (KJV)

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Boxing up Christmas

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

 

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

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The celebrations have ended, the decorations have all come down, the gifts have all been exchanged, and the memories have all been made. Now it is time to box up Christmas for another year as business returns to normal. Check-out lanes at the local merchants are getting thinner, the return lanes are closing down, and Christmas music has been replaced with pre-Christmas Muzak programming.


The debate over Christmas displays have ended, and all things return to normal. Yet the fact that a child had been born of a virgin in Bethlehem should never be lost even though the nativity sets have been packaged away for yet another year.


What really is the meaning of Christmas? Why is there such a celebration? Would it matter a whit if Christmas was boxed away forever?


It would seem arguments against Christmas, which usually sprang from the secular left, have sprung up from the religious right as well. Prominent pastors warned of Santa replacing Jesus as the focus of the holiday and a fringe Baptist church in Kansas wanted a sign placed in the Washington State Capital warning “Santa Claus will take you to Hell.” How far we have come from the days of “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” to today where even prominent church leaders are calling for the demise of Christmas.


In, what many call the best loved Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, George Bailey, played by James Stewart, becomes disillusioned with despair, from a downturn in his business and wishes he were dead. Guardian Angel Clarence, played by Henry Travers, intervenes and shows George what his little town would have been like had he never been born.


Can you imagine a world in which light never shines, darkness is never vanquished and Jesus was never born? Can you picture a place where evil reigns unchecked and mankind is left to his own devises in dealing with a depraved soul? Can you imagine a world where God never intervened in human affairs but rather just sat back and let us kill and destroy each other?

Continue reading “Boxing up Christmas” →

Santa Faces New Challenges this year

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

You got to love this cartoon because it speaks volumes to what children learn from watching us adults each day. What are we teaching our children anyway?

It is no longer naughty or nice but who has the biggest sob story to tell to receive their Christmas gift. Corporate America has become like little children sitting on the knee of Congress giving Santa Barney their wish list.

I do not know about you but many things I asked Santa for in my young life I never received. Perhaps Santa Barney could learn to say no?