well, Halloween is almost over

*Kerry* · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2005, 06:06 PM

then we can move on to Christmas season!!! wahoo!

*Kerry* · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 03:36 PM

no one else is excited about this?

I am tired of distracting Caleb's eyes from all of the scary images in stores, on signs, commercials, etc. they really get away with a lot this time of year. and since satan is the author of fear, I am really disgusted by all this. glad it is almost done!
happy to welcome Christ's birthday celebration

Alybear · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 03:46 PM

you and me BOTH ...ugh now we get into the big fat guy season

matthew · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2005, 09:09 AM

Calvary decided not to do anything for Halloween and from a Godly pov they were right. Why make such an effort to offer an alternative for one day when everyday should be different. Was hard to see it at the start and i know what i said earlier but i totally see and agree with the decision made.

Now onto christmas. Just cant get even remotely excited about this, even less than last year. The whole point is missed and now its all about what can i get from it and how many. If you try and tell anyone, they look at you if your mad and trying to force down your beliefs.

God bless,

Matthew

*Kerry* · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2005, 10:29 AM

you can still have joy at Christmas time, Matthew. even w/o getting into the whole shopping madness.

momof4boys · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2005, 08:50 PM

I am totally excited for Christmas. I've decided to cut back on what I buy the kids this year. They will get 1 gift from Santa and maybe 3 or 4 things from us. They just don't need a bunch of toys that they won't play with. I can't wait to decorate and get our tree!!

matthew · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 03:12 AM

For me it is just another day. Its completely used now for self and is hidden behind the whole day with family slant. The whole meaning has been lost.

On a more rediculous level councils have renamed christmas lights winter lights so not to offend other cultures. Other cultures who dont have a problem with it at all. Its all going looney. Also saw a newspaper article saying that some councils also wanted to do anyway with Christian donation boxes as it could be classified as rasict. Beyond logic. Very slowly anything Christian is being forced out, very quietly in newspapers letter pages the message is being made known and spread. That last bit makes me laugh. Its quite suprising how many letters in the newspapers are proclaiming that Jesus is son of God and the people in overall command wont know.

Isaiah 57:11b (the message)

Because I don't yell and make a scene

do you think I don't exist?

One of my favourite scriptures.

God bless,

Matthew

Alybear · #8 (**permalink**) 11-13-2005, 04:54 AM

wow MAtthew, i totally know what you mean!! It's nuts!!
Dh and I just discussed whether we'd do santa or not... just for the sheer fact our children are so cute and we want to bless them!! So i do understand those who want to do santa..
but I asked dh when he did santa as a child if he ever thought of Jesus.. (nope), and what he remembered only was counting how many presents he got. Same here.. and we feel we need to stand our ground as Jesus gets erased and santa is exhaulted. Even though St. Nick was responding to the gospel when he gave gifts to the children (I think) he was pointing to the savior, not himself.
We want our girls to know that it's Jesus' birthday... and we will still give them a present or 2...but we will center those gifts around what JEsus has done for us on the cross.

To avoid the santa mania and in order to make them feel like they're not missing out on anything we are also going to start a few traditions and add on to those traditions every year to make things more exciting

Because its still fun to bless our children!!

momof4boys · #9 (**permalink**) 11-13-2005, 10:12 AM

We do both. Jesus is first and foremost who we celebrate Christmas for, Santa is second only as something fun for the kids. I respect those who don't do Santa though. I know it's easy for some to erase Jesus when they do Santa, but we certainly don't do that. I want to start a tradition with my kids where we read the story of the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning BEFORE anything else is done. That is my favorite story in the Bible.

matthew · #10 (**permalink**) 11-13-2005, 03:17 PM

I know its rediculous and totally over the top but why is it okay to tell your kids that a big man is allowed to come into your kids bedroom in the middle of the night one night of the year is okay but another other time its completely beyond anything good. Thats something i dont get but i have a strange head lol.

Im not that convinced now that its about what the kids get but how many or how much it cost. Maybe im too old, have started calling everyone sir and maam in the streets which is strange.

Ignore me.

God bless,

Matthew

momof4boys · #11 (**permalink**) 11-13-2005, 03:56 PM

but why is it okay to tell your kids that a big man is allowed to come into your kids bedroom in the middle of the night one night of the year is okay but another other time its completely beyond anything good.

I'm not sure who tells their kids that it's okay for a "big man" to come into their bedrooms. Unless they have a chimney in their rooms.

In all seriousness, I have no problems with my kids believing in Santa, so long as the REAL focus of Christmas isn't lost and we make sure that doesn't happen.

matthew · #12 (**permalink**) 11-14-2005, 03:16 PM

Certainly over here stockings are hung over the kids bed and Santa is meant to fill them so he has to enter the bedroom. I think elsewhere they're placed over fireplace.

God bless,

Matthew

momof4boys · #13 (**permalink**) 11-14-2005, 08:18 PM

Certainly over here stockings are hung over the kids bed and Santa is meant to fill them so he has to enter the bedroom.

I apologize, I didn't realize you were not in the US. In fact, I wasn't even aware that other countries did things like stockings differently. Sorry about that.

Crystal23 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-14-2005, 09:19 PM

Matthew, over here the stockings are hung above the fireplace, or on the wall if you dont have a fireplace. We usually hang ours around the tree somewhere.

We dont do Santa. Not only does Santa take away the true meaning of Christmas, but alos because I dont want my daughters to find out that he doesnt exist. Because when they do find, they will probably most likely doubt whether other things exist as well...like GOD. lol. Santa is just a distraction.

momof4boys · #15 (**permalink**) 11-14-2005, 09:36 PM

Not only does Santa take away the true meaning of Christmas, but alos because I dont want my daughters to find out that he doesnt exist. Because when they do find, they will probably most likely doubt whether other things exist as well...like GOD.

No offence, but Santa doesn't always take away from the true meaning of Christmas. That could only happen if parents let it happen...IMO. As for children doubting the existence of God when they find out Santa doesn't exist, that's not nesassarily true either. I was about 8 or 9 when I found out Santa wasn't real, but it didn't take away my belief in God because Santa was only talked about at Christmas, God and Jesus were talked about ALL year. We talk about God all the time in our house, so if my kids ever grew up thinking God didn't exist because Santa didn't exist, it wouldn't be because of the way they were raised.

As I said, I'm not judging anyone who chooses not to do Santa, just defending my position(as well as other Christians)on why we choose to do Santa.

Crystal23 · #16 (**permalink**) 11-14-2005, 09:43 PM

As I said, I'm not judging anyone who chooses not to do Santa, just defending my position(as well as other Christians)on why we choose to do Santa.

You do not have to defend your position here in this forum.

This isnt the debate forum

I really just dont want to take chance that they would have any doubt in their heart. I understand that the way a child is raised takes part in it, but not all children listen to their parents.

momof4boys · #17 (**permalink**) 11-14-2005, 09:55 PM

You do not have to defend your position here in this forum. This isnt the debate forum

I know, force of habit.

but not all children listen to their parents.

Oh believe me, I know this too. I can only pray I am doing a good job and they listen to me.

matthew · #18 (**permalink**) 11-15-2005, 08:11 AM

In the end its down to the kids whether or not they choose to give their lives to Christ, all the parents can do is give them the best upbringing in Christ and pray for them that they do.

As for the link for santa being a myth so God must be when discovered, im not sure. One problem i have is that Santa Clause was alive in the 18th century but now he's dead. It just doesnt sit right with me in any way.

On another note its fantastic to see that different views can be expressed here and not lead to arguements and fighting. Thats one thing i love about having God in us. Its wonderful to see how we are all growing in Christ.

God bless,

Matthew

*Kerry* · #19 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 08:23 PM

our big reason for not playing santa here is that we want our kids to always know that everything we tell them is truth, so that when we tell them the gospel, they can know that it isn't just a made up story. for the same reason we don't do the easter bunny and we won't be doing the tooth fairy. however, we still give presents at Christmas, do special traditions, and on Easter we have Easter baskets.
we carry this into our everyday life, too. For example, I slipped the other night and my husband caught me. My son asked where the sun was, and I said "the sun went to bed."

so, my husband then told him that the sun was on the other side of the world, not that my son could really understand that

but, it was the truth.

mumto9blessings · #20 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 04:32 AM

I also dont bring the kids up in beliving in santa, Mainly because I feel its a lie to tell them santa bought them or is bringing them chistmas presents. I usually like to make sure that I dont lie about anything, Iam very sensitive in that area. It doesnt spoil christmas for them at all and a perfur it that way. We teach out kids to always tell the truth and not lie, Then as they grow up and see that he doesnt exsists, Then they would wonder why we did lie to them and they wont take it so seroiuse not to lie cos we are their example KWIM. Over all christmas is about the Lord it doesnt matter weather santa exsists or not.

Just my opinon each to their own not knocking anyone if they do santa.