WE CRUCIFIED THE CHRISTMAS-MAN

We Crucified the Christmas-Man

I found this story. It is very thought provoking, and I hope you will to. The world has lost focus on the Christ that's supposed to be centre of Christmas. Whether you believe in Christmas or not, I strongly feel Christmas is an opportunity to let others know of the God that made the wonder of incarnation that's supposed to be the central theme of it all! But it is not the case! Sadly! There are those who are even advocating changing the name of the season so that it does not reflect its religious roots! READ ON!


'This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the elevator. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."

From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.'

TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS...

Try A Little Kindness...

An amazing story from http://ostinkmin.blogspot.com. I loved the moral of the story, and wouldn't mind even if it were an urban legend.

"The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled.. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone. Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked.. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this. Is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile.
"Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business, that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you? " he said. "Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee."

SPIRITUAL REALITIES: LESSONS FROM THE MOVIES... (with Vitumbiko Madhlopa)

Spiritual Realities: Lessons from the Movies...

(with Vitumbiko Madhlopa)

I know this may sound a bit selfish, but I try to get the best seat at the cinema. It always has to be somewhere at the back where I can see what everybody is doing during the movie, just in case someone decides to throw popcorn at me. Not that it happens often but I guess sitting at the back gives me a chance to have a chat while the movie is on.

However, there are some life lessons I gleaned from my experiences. Come with me on one trip that comes to mind… So here we go….

The first part of going to the cinema is really unnerving: the long queues and constant glares from the guards who just stand there (probably with no clue as to what the movie is about…) But it all pays off when I get past the guards and finally take my seat. As I take long glances at my fellow viewers sitting in the cinema room waiting for the movie to start, my mind begins to wander off…. Sitting comfortably in front of me is a young couple, probably on their first date.  On my right hand my friends are busy munching at their popcorn and helping themselves to the 2-litre drink bottle that we bought before going into the cinema. On the left I notice a little girl surrounded by at least ten other kids celebrating her birthday. The room is full of people all in different age categories and with totally different interests, yet purportedly ready to watch the movie. I ask myself what does a 60 year old man want to gain from watching high School musical? Well……….I guess this question appeals to everybody in the room. What do I gain from spending 2 hours of my valuable time glued to a big TV screen?

Suddenly the credits begin to pop up on the screen. The loud screech coming out of the gigantic speakers manages to get my thoughts back to the movie. The movie has started but they are still some people talking while others have their eyes focused on the movie. One of the children has started crying drawing the attention of all the kids sitting in the room. All this and more takes place while the movie continues to play, until the 2-hour long movie finally comes to end, leaving us yearning for more.

The emotions after the movie ends are very crucial. Sometimes I leave the movie theatre feeling like one of the main actors, fantasizing being the heroine and the impossible… I am taken up!

This all reminds me of Church. (I love sitting at the back as well, where I can throw in some conversations as the preacher presents his sermon. I guess everybody does that sometimes.)

Here are a few pointers:

• First is the young couple on their first date makes me think of new converts or those visiting Church for the very first time. They aren’t sure of what to expect but in their hearts, they hope for a great outcome.
• Some in the congregation are just like some of the cinema audience including my friends who were ready to settle down with the popcorn and the drink . These believers have their bibles ready in their hands, richly prepared to take in whatever God has prepared for them that Sabbath.
• Yet on the negative, the group of kids celebrating a birthday reminds me of those who go to church to catch up on what others have been up to during the week. They show up at church for their presence to be appreciated or maybe to socialize a little. As they talk about the wonderful and not so wonderful things that they have experienced during the week, they draw the attention of the other people away from the sermon all together! Misplaced priorities!
• In contrast, the old man reminds me of members who have endured with life: they have grown up in the Church listening to seemingly the same message, but they still attend Church every Sabbath, never tired and ever ready to listen to what God has to say to them. It is new for them all the time!
• Tragically, some “believers” are just like the security guards (and the janitors/cleaners, the ticket sellers) who never mind much about the movie until an emergency or a special thing occurs (a fire, cleaning up, enforcing order [as though they themselves are perfect] etc.). This class of people only need God when emergencies and special occasions crop up (sickness, weddings, christenings, and funerals [most likely not their own]). Other than this, they are always outside the community of believers for the rest of the time, doing their own bidding!

The silver screen has been decoratively made attractive to take the viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Just like sermons are prepared to urge us on in our spiritual journey where we face the highs and lows a roller coaster ride, it is all up to us as to which group of churchgoing folk we choose to identify with. The next time you are in a cinema or watching a movie at home, think back to every Sabbath you attended Church. Are you able to watch a movie and remember what it was all about because you were paying attention? Or do you, like me, hardly remember any of the characters because you spent time talking? When in Church, will you be able to gain a lot from the sermon because you were paying attention or will you leave church in the same spiritual state that you arrived in (if not worse)? Aren’t sermons supposed to draw our minds to higher things? To seek eternal interests and hope for the better life of heaven?

It really is our power to choose whether we will be serious with the moment at hand or not. Such choices have eternally significant consequences, too, because ultimately, the question to be inevitably answered by each of us is: Are we living right?

Interestingly, Ellen G White in her book the ‘Great Controversy’ expounds on the drama that our lives on earth play as the actors*, participating in the conflict between darkness and light. The whole issue is indisputably a fight between good and evil that has played out non-stop, and everyone is involved, like it or not (thus dubbed “The Great Controversy”, visit http://thegreathope.org for a free download of the abridged version). It’s more than going to the movies, because whatever we choose to do while here on earth, we are in the thick of things throughout our lifetime!

Deep within everyone is a realisation that the human race needs hope outside of itself. Hope for an escape from the fantasy of life, cheating ourselves with elusive reality that does not seem to solve the problems and chaos around us. We need not disregard the efforts of the Divine Director (God) to catch our attention. HE wants us to choose our roles carefully in this drama, because HE knows best. Actually, HE knows the plot and has given us the ending that HE is the Hero after all (in the Bible, see Daniel 7:22 and 27; Revelation 20:12)! 

* Compare with this quote: "This world is a theatre. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama.” Ellen G White, Letter 141, 1902.

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