“And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give…”                                                                                                                                                  (Luke 10)

 

I can never understand how persons can watch shows like the Kardashians, or competitive cooking shows. I can undertsand the cooking aspects because there are things to learn and watching kids cook can be fun. The aspect that causes me to roll my eyes and shake my head is the judging of the food. I have never been one to be concerned what other countries think about America and the blessing we enjoy. It has crossed my mind, however what starving nations must think when they see, if they see, the judges nit pick ever aspect of food. What must a mother or a father think who has just watched a child die from starvation. This pondering extends to shows that nit pick clothing when a child is wanting of a coat or a pair of shoes. This attitude of the judges demonstrates and manifests the extreme nature of a spoiled nation.

Another program that must make an innumerable number of persons cringe and roll their eyes is “Keeping Up With The Kardashions.” We have seen only parts of these programs but we have seen enough to walk out of the roon with feelings of anger, frustrations, and utter disgust. We always say, “I don’t see how you can watch this stuff.”

These programs and many more depict how spoiled our nation has become. Instead of being thankful for the extreme blessing the God bestows or rather pours upon this nation, we exploit them and judge them. When my family and I and other Christ-ians sit down to eat we bow our heads and give thanks and acknowledge God and His goodness and provisions. Instead of being thankful for all that God gives, these programs take a few bites of several dishes, judge them, and discard the meals and all of this is done without a single thought or a single mention of God and His blessings!!!

What I have seen in the Kardashians is basically a family extolling a life of the (7) seven deadly sins and all things that God hates, as well as the blatant disregards of God’s Law.  What does America do about these types of shows? America, by watching these programs, make them high rated T.V. and others emulate them.

In our text above, our Lord is sending out His (70) seventy disciples, (2) two by (2) two and giving them instruction on how to behave when they enter a city and a home. Among these instructions do we find these, “Whatever is placed before you, sit down and eat and drink [paraphrased].” This is the way one is to respond to food that is set before you, Sit down, shut up, show thanks both to the cook and to God and eat.

I get very frustrated and greatly annoyed when I see a person, especially an adult who does not receive food with an attitude of thanks. You can multiply that frustration and annoyance by what ever number you would like when it is an adult Christ-ian that shows unthankfulness when food is set before them. I know an adult believer that not only shows dis-taste but blatant disrespect and sinful unthanks!!! I have, on many occasions, rebuked this person in person and through letter but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. God cannot be happy with this.

During this season of gift-giving many a child will demonstrate unthankfulness and disregard to others’ feeling by expressing their distain at gifts received. Children will say, “This is not the one I wanted!!!” and tossing a toy from themselves and looking for the next toy. We would like to give some sound counsel to parents and adults that might experience this outrage from children.

Some who know me not may wonder to themselves, “Why should I listen to this guy?” Here are my qualifications: I am a proud, so proud father of (3) three daughters ranging in age from (15-19) fifteen- nineteen years of age. They have all kept strait A grades (with the exception of (1) one B). They have multiple awards, the most significant is the Christian Conduct award. They all have been important members on sports teams. One has been the Validvictorian in her senior year. Other qualification, I have been married to a great woman for (21) twenty-one years. I have been a Bible preacher/teacher for over (2) two decades. I ham the prud owner of common sense as well.

Methinks those qualify me to give sound advise on speaking to childhood issues. Feel free to keep these ideas or disregard them, in any event here we go.

Counsel on Children and Christman/XMas:
1. Do not any longer keep up the Santa Claus myth/deception.  Parent(s), These gifts are due to your hard work and not an overgrown elf that breaks into your, obviously, very unsafe home and is able to do anything he wants because you are not keeping your home safe. Ask yourself, “What would I do on any other night of the years if a strange, fat man entered my home and leaves my child(ren) gifts?”  Methinks the answer is, kill him. Another reason to put away this deception, If you are a Christ-ian family that connects Christmas with the birth of Christ, then by continuing the (s)atan’s Claws myth you are confusing the child by giving them a choice between a fat man that breaks into your unsake home and God Incarnate Who is God’s gift to mankind.
Some more comparisons between Christ and Claws: Both come from the North, Both knows if you have been good or bad, Both are gift givers, Both are represented by the colors of red and white, Both are mainly thought of by many on December (25th) twenty-fifth, Both have animals as major parts of their story in (s)atan Claws’ story and in the events of Christ’s birth.
Reader, Are you seeing my point? The Fat man was never a part in our children’s Christmas and to honest neither was Christ but more on that in a minute (DV). Our children never suffered from a Santa Claus free Christmas. Of course, most of our family and friends thought we were Grinches, but their unhappiness was a small price to pay. Here is something else to “think about” and not to “feel like.”
Most children are told that God exists, Santa exists, the Easter Bunny exists, the tooth fairy exists. Notice all but (1) one are myths that share a day that is suppose to be about Christ. But watch this: There comes a day when you tell your children or you children are told that Santa doesn’t exist, the Bunny doesn’t exist, the Tooth Fairy doesn’t exist….BUT God still does (or does He? your child(ren) must wonder). It is my personal belief that all these seasonal house breakers were invented by the enemy of your child’s soul in order to lead them away from God’s greatest of gift, His Only Begotten Son.

2. Should Jesus Christ be a part of Christmas? This is very, very touchy, i know. Let me start by confessing I am hypocritical in this area, let me explain. As a parent of (3) three daughters that have been raised knowing Christ is the Lord and Saviour and is a very real Presence in this home. I know this next statement will put me in dersion with not a few but that’s fine. My children grew into their salvation. There was never a walk down the aisle, or a life crisis that dropped them to their knees. One of my daughters did actually ask me to pray with her and i did, but if that had never happened she would still be saved. My children all went to and (2) two are still attending a Christ-ian School (for this i’m most thankful). My girls live in a church as we are a home preacher.
I said all that to say this, Even they, at Christmas time, got caught up in gifts and all the consumerism. Because of that (and this will irk some as well) we took the Christ out of Christmas. December (25th) twenty-fifth is x-mas. X-mas for our family is all about gifts and food. We could not allow Christ to become mixed up in greed, consumerism, being spoil, etc. Outwardly, we still wish others a Merry Christmas and receive other’s warm wishes.

3.What does one do with Santa Claus at Christmas/Xmas time? It is obvious to all, Santa will not be ignored. What we in our family have done with Santa is use him to teach our children about the original Saint Nicholaus and he is someone to know and to be proud of. (DV), we will write on him soon. Another idea of dealing with Santa, Explain to your child(ren) that he is fictional like super heroes and television characters and movie chracters are fictional and then enjoy him.

4. What to do with Christ at Christmas/XMas time? Love Him, Praise Him, and Worship Him as you do every other day of the year, but do not get Him mixed up with greed, consumerism, and being spoiled. There is a Scriptural principle that teaches us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers and this is thought by many to be about marriage and business only. However, this has much to do with Christmas time. Unbelievers, militant athiests and even pagans will take part in this CHRIST-mas celebration. For this reason alone should we not at least consider our thoughts and actions during this season.

5. You might ask, “If this is how you deal with this season but do not make it known or express it to others, what is the point?  The point is God knows. God knows I am not exploiting His beloved Son for the sake of consumerism. God knows I am not worshipping His Son with the lost and Christ hating multitudes. Yes, Christ-hating multitudes celebrating Christ’s birth…does this make sense, reader?

 

I am known to be one who analyses everything to the nth degree and I own that for that is how God made me. At times, I miss things, forget things, and am most absent minded because of this penchant for analyzing. Having said that, you may mark all of the above to that if you wish or you might considerate even the moreso because of my penchant to analyze….or to “prove all things”  or to “test the spirits”