Hi Pastor Peter,
Be of good cheer Walmart must of heard you because they are putting the word Christmas back into their departments for Christmas maybe the States first but lets hope its catching. It has to be Christ in you but at least its a start> Amen!

Posted by Kim, whose homepage is here on 11/12/2006 at 13:05
Nice to have you back Pastor Peter!
Our focus should always be Jesus, since He is our life. Here’s quote to ponder by Brennan Manning:
The Christ within who is our hope of glory is not a matter of theological debate or philosophical speculation. He is not a hobby, a part-time project, a good theme for a book, or a last resort when all human effort fails. HE IS OUR LIFE (Col 3:4), (scripture qoute mine)the most real fact about us. He is the power and wisdon of God dwelling within us.
No need to argue or fight. Be of good cheer He has overcome the world.
Cheers,
Pamela Alphonso

I couldn’t agree more with you! Far too often we (not just Christians but all people) get caught up in little issues of distraction. We seem to forget the large evidence that Christ wasn’t even born in December and don’t make it into an issue. I am certainly not saying it should be an issue, but am merely trying to demonstrate how irrational we can sometimes appear to the world when Christians begin protests over ‘Happy Holidays’ versus ‘Merry Christmas’. Instead lets remember this Christmas season what the real mission is: sharing the love of the Father and the life of Christ with ALL people! Praise God!

JE-SUS’ THE CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR EVERY SEASON

Hi all I can say is amen . jesus first in your life. yesterday and sunday I spoke in the capel in red deer ab. hospital on the same subject. GOD BLESS YOUR MINSTERY PETER. KEEP IT UP. IN CHRISTS LOVE BRO.DON. HEINEMANN.

I agree completely Pastor Peter. It is definitely about Christ in us and NOT about traditions etc.
It has come to a point that Christians have actually gotten so wound up about Christ not being represented in the world’s celebrations of Christmas, Easter,etc, that in many cases it has led to legalism. I myself was caught up in it in my earlier days as a believer! Praise God who sets us free from religion and traditions!! We were taught to not participate in these feasts that supposedly hide under the guise of Christianity, but were established from pagan rituals and festivals. It became so silly that many were passionately opposing, getting upset, and even offended over Santa Claus, Christmas trees, angels, bunnies and eggs, thinking they were doing God a favour.
I am not saying we as believers should center on any of these things, but this type of behaviour and teaching obviously does not focus on JESUS, nor the fact that He lives within us. Instead, it breeds hatred, anger, and a critical and judgemental attitude towards others.
I see these events as a great opportunity to share the love of God with others, and an even greater opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We can’t get upset with the world because we don’t see Jesus in the way they celebrate these events. How can we? Jesus lives in us, and not in them. They don’t have Him.That is exactly why they need to hear the Gospel in the first place! When they are a new Creation in Christ, how they celebrate Christmas will no longer be an issue, Christ in them will take care of it!

Hello everyone, Of course Christmas is a glorious time always reminding ourselves that it is the birth of our LORD JESUS CHRIST here we are dealing with and this happy celebration should be with family and friends with an emphasis on JESUS and not on La Senza sexy lingerie, or scantily clad women in Santa suits - This intense commercial leaning disturbs me and makes me very sad, even depressed as I go through malls -and of course- the unavoidable t.v. and holiday movies. Only sometimes, when I see religious Christmas cards in stores does it really sink in what the real story of Christmas is. It’s a happy time because we celebrate the coming of our Savior in the flesh on Earth of course as a little baby.

es, this past spring I heard several Christian radio talk shows, really encouraging and pushing Americans to boycott Walmart. The reason was because of Head office changing their marketing programs to print the words ‘Holiday Trees’ etc. Well, praise God, I just heard it yesterday, that it’s back to ‘CHRIST-MAS’. !!! Eventually, big boxed stores have also followed suit!
AMEN!�
Josie

thank you so much for blogging. i totally agree the #1 priority is how am i living for christ. second if the believers in christ would all rise to preach the gospel rather than talking about raindeer or the nativity seen, probely a lot more people would hear the gospel of the living christ. lets face it move on with jesus today for he is not concerned about oure man made traditions but our relationship with him. Peace out!

I believe that the most important thing is Christ in us BUT I think tradition helps us talk or mention Christ in christmas.
Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When Christ is continually focused on during ‘Traditional’ christmas celebration it not only helps us know what it is all about, it creats a tradition that can only impact us and the next generation positively.
Many of us (the older generation) while we were unsaved can remember what those traditions did for us. Our parents made sure we were involved and it was all the traditional involvement in all these celebration that helped made us available in so many way to RECEIVE CHRIST.
So pls let us not take away tradition completely. It does help in its own way.
I do nt believe in fighting over ‘shadows’ but they are there to let us know there is substance being reflected.
U.U.E

Does wal-mart putting up a Nativity persuade any rational person to believe that the baby in the manger will save their soul any more than Zellers putting up a Santa display persuades any rational person that he’ll be coming down their chimney with presents for them on the 24th of December?
Tradition is something we do cause we’ve always done it that way. I agree it is a sentimental thing. I would be sad if my Christmas traditions were changed. But as far as holiday decor goes?... Unless Jesus has changed your heart - what we believe as the ‘real meaning of Christmas’ is no different to the outside world then the stories or rudolph, cupid, or the easter bunny.
If they don’t know the real Jesus, can you really blame them for changing their decorations or marketing slogans? The only people they are offending is us - the people who haven’t shown them what the real Gospel is.

i feel that all is fine with the fact that we all worship in one accord and that CHRISTMAS is a time to be glad that we will glorify YAH…

hi people�
i know the lord will save me from my past. he is coming very soon. we are children of god

CELEBRATING THE JOY OF THE LORD IS AN EXCELLENT REASON TO RESPECT CHRISTMAS

aaaaaaaaaaaaamen! Let’s go and tell the World about Jesus, use every opportunity this Christmas, be creative and GO~! I think I may get dressed up as Santa with a Happy Holiday sign and go and tell all who will listen~~!

Dear Pastor Peter, If I did not know that Christmas is about the birth and life of our Savior Jesus and not about getting, buying, wanting and drinking - I would quite naturally get very, very, depressed. Let us thank our Lord that our JOY IS IN HIM AT CHRISTMAS - ALTHOUGH LOOKING AT BEAUTIFUL COLOURED LIGHTS AT NITE REMINDS ME OF THE BLESSED LIGHT OF THE WORLD- JESUS AND HIS LOVE FOR US. THAT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY IN MY HEART.

The Joy of the lord in our life is complete by his death and resurrection. I believe and we should not force(protest) but share and point the lost sheep back to the shepherd Jesus. So what it’s Happy Holiday, santa claus? I feel it’s just an signal from many people that they are seeking rest/peace/joy (happy Hoidays) and a fatherly figure(santa claus)that give gifts. Think about it, we have both and more in Jesus! Show the world and tell them we have what they seek…Glory to Jesus.

Pastor Youngren,I must agree with the fore going letters.Where does it say in the Bible that we must be politically correct? We, as Christians should not have to bend our faith to suit others wishes.We were raised on the belief of the Bible and our Lord and should be free to practice our faith without interferance and criticism of those who do not share our point of view.

I am blogging right along with you pastor, I agree, if we are to celebrate Christmas, Jesus is the reason for the season even though he was not born on December 25th. God knew the hearts of man that they would corrupt it, so he kept it hidden from us. I see people carry on in their sins, cheating, committing adultery, drunkeness and revelry. All for the sake of saying that they are having a Merry old time.
It was on a Boxing Day in the year 1983, I was one year old in my committment to Christ, I was doing all the preparation for Christmas, and keeping up with family traditions, I got a lot of headache, and I actually did not enjoy shopping. The Lord spoke clearly to me on that day and said, ‘This is not the way I want to be worshipped’. I was struck with awe, after that I viewed Christmas very differently, I take it in a more simple way now. I don’t go running around acting like a chicken with its head chopped off. I still believe in giving of gifts, and being with family and friends. It is a day that reminds me of his birth and how he came into the world, and it is to be celebrated. The ungodly, unbelievers, those who don’t believe in the existence of God or Jesus is also celebrating Christmas. Jesus himself told the Pharasees not to follow after the traditions of men. I can follow Jesus but without cultural style and traditions.