Merry Xmas

For some that is an offense way to say or write Christmas. I have heard people through the years say rhetorically - "why take Christ out of Christmas?" And even though it seems that Santa is doing better than Jesus, at least on the surface, the Xmas is not about that.

My research discovered that Xmas was an early practice in Christianity. The word "Christ" and its compounds, including "Christmas", have been abbreviated for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern "Xmas" was commonly used. Christians have abbreviated the name of Christ for centuries. "Christ" was often written as "XP" or "Xt"; there are references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as far back as 1021 AD. The X is the first letter in Christ in the Greek language. In ancient Christian art, χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ's name.[The fish symbol seen on many vehicles and office ornaments is an acrostic of Jesus Christ, Son of God. It uses the Greek name for fish and then makes this acrostic.

The Xmas was not taking Jesus out of Christmas, but just following a tradition of abbreviating the name. You may find it offensive, but at least you will know that it was not intended to remove the Savior from the time the world celebrates His birth. So maybe the next time you see Xmas you won't get too upset.

Merry Christmas or Merry Xmas

May the Lord of Heaven bless your family with a Merry Christmas.

Peekaboo and God

Why is peekaboo such a fun game with small children? Because it mimics what he is just coming to understand about the world: that objects and people still exist even when he can't see them. That's why he finds quick appearances and disappearances amusing. Understanding this concept, also known as object permanence, is an important milestone, and signals that your baby is making leaps in cognitive development — both his memory and his ability to think abstractly are growing. Psychologist Jean Piaget conducted experiments with infants which led him to conclude that this awareness was typically achieved at eight to nine months of age.

God gave us this abstract understanding, I believe, so that we could believe in Him even though we may not feel Him this very moment. We know he exists because of our experience with Him. But sometimes we don't feel his presence. Sometimes He seems to have left. But we know (object permanence) that he will return to us (even thought he didn't leave, we just don't realize he is there) and we will feel safe again.

Just like the game - He may seem to have hidden himself behind his hands, but He remains constant. He will be there when we need Him. Trust your faith - God is there!

Sid

Time

Time is a funny thing. When you are young, it seems to drag. When you are older, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it. Kathy and I just returned from her uncle’s funeral. Funerals have a way of making us deal with our frailty and mortality. A reminder that, if we are honest, we aren’t guaranteed anything, but the moment. Time – God has encouraged us to see it as precious. Time – God has told us that we will give an account of how we used it. Time – more than just ticks on a clock, but an attitude of how we view life.

Here are some suggestions:
1. Tell God every day that you need him and that you want him to direct your steps.
2. Tell your family every day that you love them.
3. Try to help someone where you don’t get anything in return from them.
4. Smile – it just may catch on.
5. Kiss a baby, even if you are not running for president. It just may help you smile.
6. Pray for your enemies – it is really hard to hate someone you are praying for.
7. Spend some time by yourself – no TV, books, iPods, or cell phones and think about God.
8. Go to worship – it is one of the best ways to see God and remember that there is one greater than you.
9. Be faithful – to God, your family and yourself.
10. Live – not in fear, but in celebration of life and those that God has given you each day to love and share.

Funerals remind us that life is precious. Take the time to enjoy time.