A Couple Random Thoughts...

    Ahh Christmas again, it is a great time of year.  Christmas decorations are up and a chill is in the air, even here in sunny Florida, of course I could live without the chill, but oh well.  For the past, oh I don't know how long, people have been attacking Christmas as a holiday.  The craziest was just the other day on Fox and Friends, I couldn't find the interview on the FOX news site, but I found a link to it on a blog here on blogger.  The gist of it is an atheist leader, was on concerning the sign up in Washington State talking about how there is no God, angels, devils and such and promoting having a winter solstice holiday instead of Christmas. Anyway, he goes on to say that Christians stole the season from human beings and that we are doomed, cept he used the other d word unless we bow down in front of that little baby. So much irony here.  First, as the blog I linked to points out, isn't winter solstice a pagan holiday? If you really stuck to atheism as I have heard it defined wouldn't you just ignore everything about Christmas and even go to work on the days that everybody else gets off? Also, Jesus came to set humanity free, not rob it of anything.  Lastly, if you do bow down and worship said plastic figurine that in of itself is idolatry!
    I am all for having nativity out and about.  I have been in a couple 'live' scenes myself and I am all for anything symbolic that might make someone, maybe a child ask about the Savior.  We have two nativity scenes in our house, we were given the willow tree set last year for Christmas.  However, as with anything else I think you do have to be careful about worshiping the Savior as opposed the symbol, of course this should be applied to all Christian symbolism.     
    Now if you don't agree with the nativity or with Christmas for that matter that is entirely between you and your Creator, because whether you want to or not, Scripture states that all will bend the knee and proclaim that Jesus is Lord!
    The second thing on my mind today, is the auto bailout.  I wholeheartedly agree that the American auto industry going belly up would be a terrible thing for the country.  The shutting down of any major industry would never be a good thing in a country that is built on industry.  However, as I was listening to Rick and Bubba this morning they pointed out that yes we could give the auto makers all this money, and they could retool and do whatever, but that still leave everybody with no more money to go out and buy a car. Which that is the crux of the problem as I understand it, people aren't buying their cars. Of course that begs the question are they making cars that anyone wants to buy? I don't know. We are partial to Toyota and Honda in my house, because that is what we have and they have been good vehicles, and hopefully will continue to be for quite some time!
    Also, they mentioned a church, I believe in Michigan. That was committing to pray for the auto industry until the government comes to terms on a bailout.  That in of itself if fine, I don't think there is anything wrong with praying for the auto industry.  You can never, ever go wrong by spending more time in prayer.  However, the problem is the church brought in a car from each of the big three, albeit I think all hybrids or at least supposedly gas saving vehicles.  And then proceeded to talk about the cars the whole service as opposed to the Savior, so said the article they were referencing.  So Rick took the opportunity to preach alittle.  He went on to say that alot of preachers are shying away from John 16:33 and trying to put bandage on everything and trying to make everybody not feel so bad about the economy or whatever else. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

    He went on and spoke about Paul's example.  About someone who did everything he could to do what the Lord wanted him to do and still at the end of his ministry he found himself in a jail cell by himself urging Timothy to come see him before his time on earth was through.  The simple fact is we will have trouble, but we have the hope in Christ that He is coming back for His church, or if we are done before that, we will be with Him in Heaven, can't get any better than that! I do genuinely hope that the auto makers do get something worked out and don't go out of business.  

    Let us take time this Christmas season, to remember why and who we are celebrating and be thankful for what we do have.  Or on the other hand be thankful for that we don't have, because no matter how bad my health or other circumstances are it could always be worse, alot worse! Merry Christmas and GO GATORS!!