[PB1789]

Originally Posted by PB1789

Hello Rolando! I understand your predicament/situation with the family and you being "different" from them this year. My dad was/is a twice a year Church attender and a Free Mason (boo-hiss), Mom was a "Jack-Mormon", and many of the cousins and sister are Mormons, so I was viewed as a bit wierd... No problem---Our Lord Jesus never promised us a "walk-in-the-park".

Okay... I've got an idea for you, since you want to follow Christ,,, at the same time maybe gently nudge your family members into following Him (instead of Mary and the Pope)... Keep focused on Christ by remembering the scripture found in Luke Chapter 1 and 2. Rich, Deep, Truths.

The Christmas hymns are full of great Christology/Theology. I'd suggest you go over to a website www.cyberhymnal.com and look/listen at the words to "Hark the Herald Angels Sing-Glory to the new born King" and many others in the Christmas section. "Oh little town of Bethlehem" , "Angels we have heard on high".

Now, another way of not doing the commercial/Santa thing is to find a Church that has Christmas Eve service and even Christmas Day service. You were R.C. so you might be comfortable in a formal Church setting--- no better thing to be doing on Christmas Eve than to be in a Church at the 11:00pm/Midnite service remembering the birth of our Saviour!

I googled for you and I found a couple nearby your home that will probably be open on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. They are conservative and Traditional in what they believe. Phone/google them and get their service times/directions.

First Reformed Episcopal Church of New York. 317 East 50th Street

Redeemer Reformed Episcopal Church 734 Ocean Ave. Jersey City

There are also a couple of conservative Lutheran groups (synods) that might have a congregation within driving distance of where you live. Look for Wisconsin Synod and also Missouri Synod. Those two groups still believe in the Virgin birth of Christ. Beware---not all Lutheran Churches are conservative anymore, and sadly the synods have gone to using the NIV.

For this Christmas time... it would be a good witness if rather than being a grumpy "scrooge" guy, and making the family think that those "Born-Again" people have ruined their son... They saw you go to Church service and come back singing "Silent Night", and then you can say something like: "Hey family of mine--- Let me read out loud from St. Luke's Gospel about Mary and Joseph, and the shephards and baby Jesus..." Scatter some seeds Rolando. Never know what might grow--- .

BTW--- Many will tell you that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25th... So what! Remember the Saviour's Birth and tell folks "Merry Christmas"! Irritate a liberal and the nearby atheist, and the J.W.'s. Revelation 5:12

Bump. Rolando... You still out there ?

[Rolando]

Bump. Rolando... You still out there ?

Yes I am brother and sorry I didn't answer sooner (I didn't know you were expecting a reply). It's Christmas Eve right and I'm about to get ready to meet my family.

The Christmas hymns are full of great Christology/Theology. I'd suggest you go over to a website www.cyberhymnal.com and look/listen at the words to sing “Hark the Herald Angels-Glory to the new born King" and many others in the Christmas section. "Oh little town of Bethlehem" , "Angels we have heard on high".

I went over Hark the Herald and I got to say I now love this carol and have been singing over and over. Anyway as for the Christmas Church service, I kind of already went a few days ago and the Church I attend has the day off tommorrow and I really don't feel very comfortable going to different churches (having gone out of a counterfeit church myself). Anyway, this year will be best Christmas so far in my life because I'm now a born again believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. I got an undeserving gift (eternal life) from GOD and, what more could I ask?

PS:

BTW--- Many will tell you that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25th... So what! Remember the Saviour's Birth and tell folks "Merry Christmas"! Irritate a liberal and the nearby atheist, and the J.W.'s. Revelation 5:12

I kind of been doing and have seen some confused expressions from some. Anyway, Merry Christmas to you and all my other brothers and sisters in Christ.

Merry Christmas to everyone, God bless...

[Bill]

To Aussiemama. That familyministries article is a very good one - it says several things I have thought on the subject. I think it should be remembered that most of the early Christians were working class people who only had days off work when their pagan bosses took pagan holidays so any Christian celebrations would have to be on those days. That timing would not make the Christian holidays evil. Regarding Halloween; Since I was a little kid in the late 50's and early 60's I was able to dress up as a demon or goblin and get candy from the neighbors without any sense of a connection with real evil satan-worship as is obvious today. I think what I did to celebrate halloween would probably be offensive to any serious occultist today just as native Americans find some sports mascots involving caricatures of Indians to be offensive. The articles' consideration of giving offense to a weaker brother was very good. I have had several experiences with people trying to control behaviour by presenting themselves as both a grieved brother and a strong Christian (capable of disciplining other Christians)simutaneously, which violates the Biblical statement.