Last Sunday, at our Lutheran Church, our pastor did a Sermon on Christmas being taken away from the Christians. Every year they seem to limit Christians from being able to express their faith during this season. Last year Target came out with a new policy of not allowing the Salvation Army from ringing it's bell outside of their stores. Many Christian organizations and churches were in an uproar over this action and many claimed that they would not shop at Target during the holiday shopping time. This year Target has again made many Christians angry with them over the fact that they will not use the word Christmas in their stores, but will instead use the words "Happy Holidays" to show their holiday spirit.

On the news last night it was reported by Bob Schieffer on CBS that President and Mrs. Bush did not include the word Christmas on their greeting cards this year. Being a Christian and knowing that the President is also a Christian this news surprised me a little, but I found it more interesting to note that Christians are having a difficult time with this. My wife said, if he had used the words "Merry Christmas" there would have been a protest by those who are not Christian over the words he used. I don't know if there would have been or not, but his decision not to say anything but "Happy Holidays" is his to make and to me most Christians I talk to on a regular basis use the words Happy Holidays when greeting one another at this time of year anyways. So what's the problem?

Jesus Christ said that we would be persecuted because of him. Mind you this is very mild if it is persecution. This is more of an annoyance than anything else. We have to face the fact that we do not live in a society that only embraces our religion but stands for freedom of religion. Christianity does not have a monopoly on religion in this country. Yes, it is by far the most populous faith in the country, but there are minorities who hold to Islam and Judaism and some in Eastern mysticism. Perhaps the President is just being sensitive to those minorities when he bought his Holiday cards this year.

When the real persecution begins you can expect no mercy to those who follow Christ. Christmas will be a dim memory for us. Besides if you consider all things Christmas has become a merchants goldmine. Americans spend millions annually on things to give their family and friends at Christmas. Is that what Christmas is all about? I would rather see us return to a mild observance of Christ's birth by attending Church services and reflecting on what Christ's birth means to our faith. In the Gospels, only Matthew and Luke even relate any part of the Christmas story. Mark and John are focused on other aspects of Christ's life. How important is the season in the realm of the Christian calendar. The Death and resurrection are recorded in all of the Gospel accounts and I consider that story to be the more imminent story to behold.

Yes! Christmas is important, but it is only the beginning. The end is where we get the true rewards.

Take the time this Advent season to reflect on what we still have as Christians. Read the Christmas story in the Gospels and enjoy the Holidays as you see your loved ones. Remember that it is still more blessed to give than to receive. Say a prayer for those who are poor and are unable to realize their Christmas dreams for their families. Invite your neighbors to go to church with you. Make this Christmas special by sharing Christ with someone else. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to do the works you were created in advance to do.

In the words of Tiny Tim from Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" "God bless us everyone."