Real Meaning of Xmas?

As Christmas approaches, I was thinking about the "real" meaning of Christmas. Many people will say that the real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It has always seemed like a contradiction to me that these very same people hardly mention the name of Jesus on December 25. They hardly give Him any thought at all.

I think it is important to examine WHY we do what we do. Do we cut down a pine tree and bring it into our house for a few weeks in December, only to throw it away later just because that's what everyone else does? Hmmmm.

The main point of all this: Do we SAY that Christmas is all about Jesus and yet our time and mental energies are devoted to trees, decorations, food, gifts, materialism, etc. According to Jesus, there are many people who give Him lip service, but their lives don't match up. He is not stupid. He is not blind. He knows. :-)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt 7:21-2321).

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matt 15:88).

I don't want to SAY one thing, but LIVE another. I suppose it's better to go against the flow, eh?

PS--I read a very good article researching the history of Christmas. The tree. The decorations. Santa Claus. The MATERIALISM. Any decent encyclopedia should have a good overview of where all these things came from, but the following article was well-written in my opinion. Please check out the link below from US News and World Report, December 1996:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/961223/archive_009449.htm

Why is This Called "Blogging Against the Flow"?

Well, there undoubtedly is a "flow" like a raging river. The current in this "river" is very strong. There are few that are aware of it. Even fewer still that are courageous enough to attempt to break out of its grasp and swim against the flow. Many who are in its grasp are unaware that they are being pulled downstream. To them, it almost seems fun.

The thing is that EVERYONE is in its grasp. Yep, everyone. The only exception is if you have seen the rage of the river that you are in, made a conscious effort to resist, turn and struggle against the flow. No matter how hard you struggle you just can't make it. There is One, however, who tosses you a lifeline. He pulls you out.

If that isn't your experience then you are IN the river, still captive, still heading downstream. Maybe it seems fun. The huge waterfall at the end of the "ride" won't be. And neither will the many rocks that you'll get slammed into along the way. But you don't see any of those... yet...

Strangely enough, some people THINK they've escaped the raging river and yet they are still in it. That's a bizarre thing, isn't it?

There are many things in life that are like a raging river that sweeps people away unawares. And yet, the majority of people are partaking in the very things that are destructive.

Broken homes. Ruined marriages. Economies in ruin because of greed. Lust. Hurting relationships... Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go against the flow a bit, eh?

I'm not 100% sure how long this blog will last. If it seems to be useful then, Lord willing, I'll keep it up. In future posts I hope to present some things that will get people thinking and perhaps help them to think outside the box and go against the flow :-)