No Room at the Inn, but plenty of room at the Table

My earliest memory of Christmas is the Christmas pageant at church.  When I was about five or six, I was selected to play Joseph.  I didn't have a speaking part.  My job was to escort Mary down the aisle and then sit on a paint can.  Boy, that took some acting.  Even though I was skinny and small, sitting on that paint bucket was painful.  Today, I look back at that experience and chuckle for the event we celebrate is about a young woman who was engaged but also pregnant.  Religious rules automatically declared that she was a fornicator and should be stoned to death.  Yet, her fiance chose to embrace the child and went with her to register in Bethlehem as required by law.  When they arrived, she went into labor.  Since so many visitors had come to register as decreed by Caesar, there was no rooms available at the inn.  The Son of God was born to a poor couple in a cave used to house animals.  Jesus was one of the 47% that Romney described.  He was one of the 99% who are not rich.  He was one of the 40% of births who are born to unwed parents.

For a nobody with so much against him, his birth made rumbles in the King's palace.  Herod ordered the death of all male babies below the age of two in Bethlehem.  When he was 12, he challenged the doctor's of canonical law at the temple in Jerusalem.  In his ministry, he lived like a homeless person with no job who lived off the welfare of people.  He dare to challenge the rites, the rituals, and the interpretations, and applications of religious practices.  He called the religious leaders hypocrites because they sought to appear righteous and holy in public but used their positions for personal wealth and gain.  He told them that their requirement were so harsh that no one could make it into God's kingdom.  To all,  he declared "whosoever will come."  He hung out with the undesirables of the day:  the woman in adultery, the tax collectors, the man born blind, the poor, the children, and the masses.

The little baby born in a stable brought the good news to all men as declared by the angles.  His message was simple for God so loved the world.  God is love and love is God.  He preached transformation by promoting justice, mercy, and walking humbly before God.  He declared that judgement will be based on how we treat the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the widows, the orphans.  He told us to love God and to love others as we love ourselves.  In his parables, he told us to do good for evil like the Good Samaritan did to the Jewish who was robbed and beaten. Today, that would be a gay man or a black man or a homeless man stopping to help a white man or a wealthy man or a homophobic man.  In the prodigal son, we see God's love and forgiveness is given to us even when disown God.  We also see the jealousy of those who claim to love God in the other son.

Jesus showed us a better way.  In the parable about the Last Supper, the invited guests make excuses for not coming to the feast so the Host told his servants to go invite the woman walking the streets, the homeless man sleeping under the bridge, the child who has been beaten and abused.  The Host made room for all of them at the table.

This month we celebrate the birth of the one who would teach us about the table.  God's table is open to all will come.  The table is for everyone.  No one should be excluded.  No preparation is necessary for we encounter God when we drink the cup and eat the bread as way of remembering what God showed us when God became Jesus at a time when there was no room for him to be born.  In a few months, we will remember why God came by remember God's death, burial, and resurrection.

If there is anything to celebrate next week, it is the celebration of being included not excluded.  It is the celebration of being loved and not rejected due to the color of our skin, how we dress, who we worship, who we love, where we were born, or our economic status.  God loves us...everyone.

Galatians 3:28 (NLT)

 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 (NLT)

 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

How are Gay marriage, Keeping Christ in Christmas, and the Duck Dynasty issue the same?

Americans love controversy for we sure seem to thrive on them.  If there isn't one, we seem to create them.  A college professor once asked us why is there chaos in our world?  why are there are differing opinions? Why are there so many different versions of the Bible?  He answered there is order in chaos.  Differing opinions keep order for it implies there is freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and the freedom to choose.  There are so many versions of the Bible to keep the word of God pure.

This year, we have been confronted with gay marriage and the NSA scandal.  We have had political stalemates over the budget and the debt ceiling.  We have a contrived war on Christmas.  Then there is the Duck Dynasty issue over what Phil Robertson said about Gays and African Americans.  Sometimes, I don't like to read the paper or watch tv news for it is all about these controversies.  Then we have the entertainment world that occupies so much of our time.  We are bombarded with who is not wearing makeup or what Kim Kardashian wears.  It would be wonderful if the news reported only the news I want to hear or everyone has the same opinion as me, but alas they don't.

It is these situations and differences that often prompt wars fought with weapons and loss of life and then there are wars fought with thoughts, ideals, and words that lead to laws being passed or actions taken.  Sola Scriptura is a doctrine that states they only authority for truth is Scripture.  This is a Protestant view created to combat the Roman Catholic view that Scripture and Tradition are sources of truth.  The infallibility of the Pope was asserted and finally adopted in 1870 as a defense against sola scriptura and fundamentalism.  Protestants and even non church persons in the US often use the doctrine of Sola Scriptura as the argument for a theocracy.   Views on same sex marriage and same sex orientation are argued based on the authority of their interpretation of the Bible.  Keeping Christ in Christmas battles are fought over whether one says Happy Holidays, Merry Xmas or Merry Christmas.  Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty made statements based on his views and his interpretations of the Bible and Christianity.  All of these controversies are more about religious beliefs than unalienable rights.

This week, a federal judge ruled that the voters of Utah denied the rights of same sex couples to marry by their vote to ban same sex marriage.  Do voters have that right?  What is the basis for the ban?  Again, it boils down to religious views vs unalienable rights.  This is similar to the slavery issue before the Civil War.  Before the Civil War, denominations split over the religious views and understanding of slavery.  The Methodist Church was split into the Southern Methodist Church and the Methodist Church.  The Baptist split into Northern Baptist and Southern Baptist.  We think that is awful today but religion was used as defense and as an offense to slavery.

Texas wants to secede from the US.  Some counties in Northern Colorado held a vote to secede from Colorado and form a new state because they did not agree with the strict gun laws passed by the state legislature and signed by the governor.  We have a divided Congress where the House is controlled by Republicans and the Senate by Democrats.  Many of the people in the US blame the President for this divide.  But what it boils down to is the age old problem in the US.  Conservatism vs. Liberalism.  Social Justice vs. Laissez faire capitalism, states rights vs strong central government.  In reality, all of this boils down to control and power, right and wrong, and religious belief.

The argument over the ACA is greater than "being forced" to buy insurance.  That is the cover for something deeper.  We have a clash of wills in this country.  Many of views are influenced by the views of parents as they were passed on to us.  We do not like to see change.  The older generation always sees the younger generation has being flawed and worries about the future  Yet, all of this points back to the chaos of a country who espouses "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."  this points back to the view that all are created equal with unalienable rights.

Whose rights are more important?  As a Christian, do I have the right to expect everyone has the same views as me?  Do I have the right to prevent others from "sinning"?  As a Muslim, do I have the right to put someone to death because my religious beliefs gives me the right to destroy infidels?  We live in a pluralistic society so freedom of religion means I have the right to worship God as I believe but it does not give me the right to impose what I believe as the law for all to obey.

The battle will continue long after I am gone and it should for the chaos and the sharp disagreements we have show that our unalienable rights are maintained.  The NSA controversy is scary for it is an extreme abuse of power than can deny our unalienable rights.  Thank God for activist judges who see that unalienable rights are not determined by votes of the people.  Unalienable rights are defined as rights given to us by God or as the founding document says by our Creator.  I do not want anyone to vote on what churches are sanctioned by the state and that I can attend only those churches.  In the same manner, I do not want anyone to have the right to vote who I can marry or what I can say or how I do or do not celebrate Christmas.

Phil Robertson has every right to state his views openly and freely.  A & E has the right to ban him from the show because of what he said.  When we express our thoughts, we assume responsibility for what we say.  There is no need to clarify, apologize, or correct.  Many in our country believe Mr. Robertson and his family represent family values.  I am sure they have many good qualities.  I watched one episode of the show.  This is not the type of show I find entertaining or wholesome.  I do not like reality shows.  That is my choice.  I have decided that on my own.  That is my inalienable right.   I defend Mr. Robertson's right to say what he said and I defend A & E's right to take action as they did.

What I dislike the most is Christians acting like they are the victim.  They are experiencing challenges to their actions and beliefs.  They are not the only religion in our country.  They are not the sole authority.  They are a voice that should be heard but they do not have the right to dictate how others live, act, or believe.  This is the American way.

What I dislike the most is the battle between liberalism and conservatism that has erupted into name calling and finger pointing.  I would love for all us to perfect and ideal but then that would prevent us from practicing our unalienable rights.  As long as there is freedom, there will be differences.  There will be battles fought in words, television news analysis, and actions taken.

All of this makes me proud to be an American as we continue the struggle to learn what it means to be the home of the brave and the land of the free.  Professor, you were right.  Chaos brings order.

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words never will

May I be importune for a moment without being descant or hebetate or do I have to be blandish for you to see my point? 

Words are tools of communication yet they can barriers especially if the person receiving them has no idea what is being communicated.  Here is another way of stating the message:  May I ask you annoyingly without going into great detail or giving boring illustrations or flowering you with flattery for you to see my point?  Does it make sense now?  Communication occurs when the hearer understands what the speaker is saying. 

You'll never amount to anything!  You are going to hell!

Words can and do hurt even though they don't break bones.  Words can break the spirit or damage the emotions of the receiver.  Words like You will never amount to anything to a child destroys hope that a child has or the feeling of acceptance.  Words used by bosses to demean employees can have a negative effect on employee morale and employee production.  Words spoken in anger or words spoken in disgust cannot be recalled for once they are said, the harm is done.

Politically Correct Words

Words can become taboo or not accepted in by a majority of society.  We call this being "politically correct"  God has now become a genderless word.  There was a time when God was referred to as Father God or He.  Now, God is often called Father/Mother God or he or she.  Some have eliminated he or she and just the word God each time a reference is made to God.  Pregnant is now spoken freely in our society.  Sixty Years ago it would not be used in public.  She is in a family way would be proper to say back then.  

Books have been banned because of words or concepts conveyed in the book. Schools had The Adventures of Tom Sawyer  on recommended reading lists 60 years ago.  Today, it is under fire for the use of the "n" word.  

This week a controversy has arisen over the words used by Phil Robertson of the tv Show Duck Dynasty over the words he spoke against homosexuality in an interview he gave to a magazine.  Now, he is banned from the tv show.  There are those who say this is the right thing to do and there are those who say this is a violation of free speech.  Who is right?  Free Speech gives one the right to say or speak what he believes.  It is not a guarantee that everyone will accept it.

Here is something to think about

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."   Paul  in Philippians 4:8

Rather than being combative and insisting that you are always right, how about taking the time to listen what others are saying.  Although you may not agree with what they say, they have the right to say them.  Yes, we should not accept words that can break the spirit of a person.  We are called to think about what is noble, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely and admirable.  We should use words that build up not tear down society or others.

PRICELESS GIFTS

There are some things in life that are so valuable that no one buy or trade or sell.  I experienced such a gift last night when I attended the Christmas Concert for the 1st grade at my 6 year granddaughter's school.  She was dressed in the most beautiful dress and as she told me when she was going in, "Grandpa, I am wearing panty hose."  She was nervous because she had a speaking park in the program entitle, "The Little Bell that Couldn't Ring."  When she stepped to the microphone to say here part, I knew she was going to well.  She spoke slowly and distinctly.  Honestly, she was the only one in her grade that I understood.  The rest were so nervous that they rattled off the part.  What a priceless gift!

This reminded of the days when her mom was her age and our three children were in different programs.  Sat through concerts as a parent.  Last night, my daughter was the parent.  I admire my children for the way they are so involved in their children's lives.  My daughter and son-in-law worked with my granddaughter to make sure she would do well and it showed.

There was a cloud hanging over all of us though.  My granddaughter reported the surgery center this morning to have cataracts removed from her left eye.  They installed a lens implement.  This was discovered in a recent eye test at school and verified by the eye doctors.  She had 20/100 vision in the eye.  I could tell my daughter and son-in-law were carry a heavy load last night.  I wanted so much to take it for them, but my wife and I went through the same thing 30 years when my daughter had surgery because she had 20/100 vision.  This morning as they came for my granddaughter to go into surgery, my granddaughter started crying.  My aches for both her parents and her.

My granddaughter came through the surgery.  They were able to get both the primary and secondary cataract removed.  Thank you Lord.  Now, here comes the recovery.  Eye drops, eye patch, and being still will be hard but she must for a few days.  I remember what a difference this surgery made in my daughter's life.  I know it will do the same for my granddaughter.  There is no price one can place on the great advances in medicine that made this possible.

Thank God for my family.  I am blessed with three wonderful children and three great in laws and seven of the best grandkids in the world.  I am thankful for my ex-wife and her husband for the parents of my in laws who get along so well and are there to root and support the grandchildren as they grow and learn.  This is priceless.  Thank you God fr allowing me have such a wonderful extended family.

This past weekend, I went out to eat with friends.  Three of us were celebrating birthdays.  We all had such a great time as we consumed steak at Outback and then some great ice cream at Braum's.  Having friends to share a laugh, enjoy a meal, and do things with is priceless.  To all my friends, thank you for allowing me to call your friend.

I would rather have these two gifts than a new tie or a socks or anything would buy and wrap and place under the tree, for I have the most priceless gifts in all the world.  Thank you God!



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DOES BINDI IRWIN HAVE A BOYFRIEND?

Several headlines caught my attention as I was digesting the daily news.

1. Does Bindi Irwin Have a Boyfriend?
2. Miley Cyrus Finally Opens Up About Liam Hemsworth Split: "I Was So Scared of Ever Being Alone"
3. Jessica Simpson Goes Makeup-Free For Date Night
4. Amber Rose Stuns In Before And After Pregnancy Photos
5. Kim Kardashian Reveals Her Favorite Thing About Baby North
6. Katie Holmes Rocks Short Skirt, New Haircut At Z100's Jingle Ball In NYC
7. Jamie Lynn Spears Shares Holiday Photo of Shirtless Fiance, Grown Up Daughter Maddie: See the Cute Pic
8. Peyton Manning's Wife Gave Him A Pep Talk When His Injury Wasn't Healing And He Thought He Was Toast
9. Blake Lively's Dream Christmas Present Would 'Bankrupt' Ryan Reynolds
10. Milan Lucic gets into altercation outside bar

What qualifies these stories as worthy news?  I am not interested in Bindi's boyfriend or Miley's split or Jessica going without makeup.  I have no idea who Amber Rose or Blake Lively or Milan Lucic are.  Kim Kardashian has too much publicity.  Katie Holmes can wear what she wants to wear.  I don't care to read about it.  Peyton and his wife should keep their discussions private.  I find such coverage to be a waste of time to read, to print, or to make national news.

Technological innovations are great.  It is nice to see events around the world as they occur or in minutes after they happen.  It isn't necessary to continually cover the story 24/7 though.  When an event like the school shooting in Denver happens, we see it on every news broadcast and for days, we hear reports and more reports when there is nothing new to report.  This happens until the next big event occurs.  

News Agencies should also report the facts.  One of the most frustrating events after Hurricane Katrina was the coverage of New Orleans as though the storm only hit New Orleans.  New Orleans was flooded but Katrina hit Mississippi.  I was there.  I know.  I recently took a cab for an appointment.  The cab driver thought it happened in New Orleans.  We have news sources now that report news from a slanted view point.  It is clear that slant news channels are greatly influencing American opinion. Repetition is the motherhood of learning some say.  Certainly, some news channels have different shows with different hosts but they all seem to have the same theme.  The other name for this is propaganda.   I don't know about you, but when I have eaten the same meal three times in a row, I am sick of it and don't care to have it for awhile.

Christians seem to think there is a war on Christmas (nothing new) and they feel they are being prosecuted, persecuted, and personified as the big bad wolf.  Wake up and smell the coffee.  You say that America is a city set on a hill.  You say this is a Christian nation.  Yet, you see this country as your right to dictate how people live, what people think, and what people do.  Our ancestors took this land away from the natives who lived here way before us.  Christianity called them savages and heathens and forced them to convert with a gun in their face.  We made promises we did not keep and we gave them diseases that killed them.  

Christianity took Winter Solstice and turned it into Christmas.  Yule, Christmas trees, gift giving, Christmas Carols, and big meals originated in pagan festivals but today are considered Christian symbols of Christmas.  Read a story recently circulated about a man waiting in line behind a woman at a cash register.  She was speaking in a foreign language.  When she finished talking on the phone, the man told her that this is the United States and we speak English here.  If she wanted to speak Spanish, she should go back to Mexico where she came from.  The woman replied I was speaking Navajo.  If you want to speak English, you should go back to England where you came from.  

A letter to the editor in our local paper printed a letter from a Christian who suggested if we didn't like Christmas, we shouldn't celebrate it.  We should get a day of our own.  The writer suggested April 1.  The Celtic and the ancient Huns and the Vikings may say the same to us, get another day.  We had this time as our Winter Solstice celebration long before you turned it into Christmas.

I am a Christian and I don't feel like I am being persecuted or that there is war or Christmas nor do I feel I must be an "fundamentalist" or an "evangelical" to be a Christian.  I don't have to be a liberal.  I am a follower of Christ.  There are far greater problems in our country other than Bindi's boyfriend or what Katie wore or why Miley broke up with her boyfriend.  There are far greater issues than a war on Christmas.  We need to face the tasks of being the home of the brave and the land of freedom and equality.  

I would like to think we are all smarter than Rush Limbaugh or Bill ORiley or Rachel Maddow.  I would hope that we can see through the propaganda and see that we have a responsibility to clean up our lives as individuals and as a nation before we can ever expect to be the leader of the free world.  Spying like what has been revealed this year does not promote us as a nation who is worthy to be called the greatest nation on earth.  Calling each other liberals, right-wingers, marxists, or any other name does not qualify us as leaders.  It seems to me, that is more  childish than being responsible and accountable for our actions.

If there is anything we should do this time of year is change our ways of thinking, our ways of doing, and our ways of faith.  Remember the greatest of all is love. 

Think about it.

Roy

Say what?......I don't understand.

I taught a remedial math class at a community college for students who could not understand basic math concepts that most of us don't understand.  There was a lady in class who did not know how to divide.  She could not grasp the concept.  I tried everything I could think about.  She became so frustrated that she started to walk out of class and not come back.  Her comment to me was always "Say What?" when she did not understand so when she arose and started putting her books together to leave, I asked her the same question, "Say what?".  She looked me with fire in her eyes.  I stated, "You heard me.  I asked you say what?  You have said that to me so many times in this class when you did not understand.  Now, I don't understand.  You want to give up on conquering something that has controlled your life and keeps you from fulfilling your potential. I don't understand why you want to give up now for we have come so far."  I took an orange and cut it in eight pieces and asked her what I just did.  From there, we moved on to division and we spend time very basic and simple division.  Suddenly, the light flickered and it was clear to her.  She became so excited that she worked division problems for the rest of the night.

There are so many times we come against something that seems to be so high we cannot climb it, so wide that we cannot hug it, and so deep that we cannot comprehend it.  I once told my accounting class if they wanted a good sleeping pill to crawl in bed and take your accounting textbook and hold it above your head and attempt to read.  Soon, it will drop and knock you out and you can sleep.  That is how life comes at times.  We come up against the impossible. Yet, we read about those people who faced impossible situations yet they pushed on and found ways to make it happen.

This is where faith comes into play.  Hope is a wish or a desire or an expectation.  Faith takes the desire, the wish, and the expectation and puts legs on hope for there are times when action is required even though we don't know where the next step will lead.  Yet, we know that this is the right thing to do so we step forward even though it might be painful.  Sad to say, we don't seem to have many people today who live by a faith that is so strong  they stand for what is good even if it means pain or loss of life.

Often, we are willing to settle for the immediate, the gratification, the acceptance, the award, the opinion poll than live by faith knowing although it is unpopular it is the right thing to do.  I cannot imagine what I would do if I had been imprisoned for 27 years like Mandela.  When released, he forgave those who imprisoned him falsely and sought to work with them.  He was not bitter nor did he seek revenge.  I cannot imagine what I would do if I were Gandhi.  I don't know if I could go on a hunger strike or lead a nonviolent movement to win freedom.  There are men like Harvey Milk and Mel White.  We cannot forget Mother Teresa.  None of these people were perfect.  They had flaws, yet they dared to do what was good and what was right.

Jesus calls us to treat others as we want to be treated.  That is not always easy, yet it is the right and the good thing to do.  Jesus commands us to love God and love others as we love ourselves.  Jesus challenges us to to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those in prison.  Jesus showed us that a true friend is willing to lay down his life for his friend.  Jesus showed us that humility, showing mercy, and standing for justice makes one happy and blessed.  Jesus told us that what comes out of our mouths reveals what we are really like.

May the God who is love, who is just, and who is merciful show us the right thing and the good thing so we may be people who walk by faith.

THINKING OUT LOUD....OPEN MOUTH INSERT FOOT....OOPS!

Thinking out loud can sure get one in trouble.  I know from first hand experience.  I have done that on this blog and many who read it stopped because they thought I had lost it or I didn't fit into their scheme of life.  Sad to say, we are all guilty of prejudice, discrimination, and withdrawing from those who may differ with us or from us.  It would be wonderful if we could learn to accept each other for who we are, our actions motivated by our unconditional love, and our attitudes bathed in being color blind to race, respect for all religions, our desire for equality for persons of different genders and sexual orientation, and demand for justice and mercy.  It would be ideal to live in a world where everyone had a job with a livable wage, no one was homeless, and everyone had food to eat.

We don't live in a perfect world.  We are all imperfect.  For Christians, this life is about going on to perfection or as John Wesley understood it being perfect in our love for God is love.  This life is about learning to live in the kingdom of God here on earth now not later.  This calls for transformation.  The writer of Hebrews calls for us to let go of the weights that tie us down and keep us from continuing to be transformed.  We all grow up with these weights.  Some of them include our images of the past and our understanding of the ways should be.   Here are some examples of weights that public figures and ordinary people deal with but do not realize it.

This is not about "politically correct" (a term used to defend the weights we carry" or being liberal or right wing (Other terms used to defend the weights we carry).  This is about recognizing what we thought is true isn't really true.  We need to change or be transformed.

1.  Megyn Kelly, a Fox News On Air Anchor, recently stated that Santa Claus and Jesus are white.  Megyn makes a common assumption that is verified by the United States Government classification of persons from the Middle East as white so Jesus is white. Does this make it correct?  Not really but is it really important.  NO!  However, there is a point here.  To declare Jesus as White could indicate an attitude that being white is superior.  I would shudder to think that is what Megyn meant.  Megyn's assumption is only that:  an assumption.  This is how she sees Jesus.  Does this mean Megyn is racist? Let's hope not. Is this something I should get upset about?  NO!  The real point is learning to accept others views also.  
2. The War on Christmas  gets uglier each year as we chided for saying anything other than Merry Christmas by some.  Merry Xmas is not wrong.  X is the symbol used for Christ in the early days of Christianity.  Happy Holidays refers to the root meaning Happy Holy Days.  Is there a war on Christmas?  Some choose not to celebrate the holy day.  Some say that is a pagan holiday.  True, the early Church adopted the pagan holiday to draw believers away from the practice of the pagan holiday.  Some berate the celebration as being too commercialized.  Yes, it is one of the biggest money makers for retailers.  If there is, it has been going on longer than I have been alive.  Is it something I should get upset about.  NO!   Again, the real point is learning to accept others who are not like us in our views and actions.
3. People on welfare are lazy drug addicts who stay on welfare forever and get rich.  They have babies to get more welfare.  Most of them are illegal aliens.  Only 4.1% of Americans are on welfare according to the U S Government survey completed in September 2013.  Welfare recipients are required to get a job within two years or lose their benefits.  Some states have declared that having more children will not increase benefits.  States testing for drug use among welfare recipients is about the same as the general public.  39.8% of welfare users are black and 38.8% are white.  Illegal aliens are not eligible for welfare assistance only emergency medicaid assistance.  Fraud exists no doubt.  Yet, our government only spends $131.9 billion each year on public welfare assistance.  That is about 13% of the national budget.  39 states pay more per hour in welfare assistance than the minimum wage.  Most people on welfare do not want to be on welfare.  Many work minimum wage jobs like McDonalds and Walmart.  There are no easy solutions here, yet this is something we should care about.  How can we help as a nation, as a state, as a community, as a person?  If every person who complains about this would assist their local charity groups with both money and volunteer efforts, we could help lower the government assistance needed.
4. The Message of the Christ of Christmas (those who are concerned about the war on Christmas listen) is as follows:  (Matthew 25:31-43)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."    JESUS