Christian culture of contempt

  

I had a rare phone conversation with my best friend, Steven,  who lives in Kentucky. I was pretty upset about something, so he texted some and suggested we chat on the phone later, so we did. 

 He, like me, is conservative politically, and also like me, is anti-Trump. (He remarked once that good thing we agree on DT or our friendship might not survive.)

 Steven's favorite, or close to favorite, author is Dallas Willard. I don't think I have ever read anything by him, but Steven has quoted him a lot over the years. Steven related something Willard talked about on a recent podcast. I looked it up and was going to listen, but it was over an hour long...an hour and 20 minutes, in fact. I barely manage to listen to my pastor's 30-35 minute sermons, so that wasn't happening. 😀

 Anyway, I'll relate what Willard said and go from there. He feels - and I agree - that there is this huge culture of contempt within the church/among Christians. And he stated where he believes it started, or had a big part of the start: Rush Limbaugh (and likely other "conservative" talk show hosts).

 Think about it, especially if you ever listened to Rush, Sean Hannity, or others. Rush Limbaugh (and others) made a career out of contempt for Democrats and anyone who disagreed with him. He and others constantly go after Democrats, hating on them - having total contempt for them - making money out of total contempt and pushing contempt for the other party and anyone else they disagree with. He and others have delighted in putting people in their place and making a fool of people who call in to disagree. 

 And evangelical Christians in the Republican Party have loved it and thrived on it, and it has soaked into us so we easily are guilty of the same thing: total contempt for Democrats and anyone who doesn't fit into our box: illegal immigrants, gay people, people with tattoos, anyone who disagrees with or criticizes Donald Trump, etc. 

It is so ingrained in us that it comes naturally, and we don't even see it or care to see it. 

How and why did Donald Trump get elected by the religious right?
Serial adulterer who bragged about it
Bragged about sexually assaulting women
Vulgar
Draft dodger
Long time supporter of Democrats, even helped fight the Tea Party
Made supportive statements about Planned baby murder (Planned "Parenthood")
Bully
And his current wife even did lesbian porn....can you imagine if that was Biden or Obama's wife?

  And yet he beat out the conservatives and Christians for the GOP nomination. Why?
Because suddenly after years of he and his family being in bed with and supporting the Democrats and his policies, he developed contempt for Democrats. And Christians loved it. The more he put down the Democrats, the more contempt and hateful rhetoric he pushed, the more the religious right loved him and ignored all the reasons he should never have got  their vote. 

But Mark, you have contempt for Donald Trump! Yeah, I do. I don't think there is anyone I dislike more.  It is amazing to me that for years I went along with it all. Hate, contempt, mockery, etc of Democrats, and no one had a problem with it. As long as you hate and have contempt for the same people as the evangelical Christians in  the Republican party, all is well. I said some pretty harsh things about Obama, and no one ever blinked. But even those closest to me don't believe in my freedom of speech to criticize Donald Trump. Suddenly it is "judge not!" "Instead of criticizing him, try praying for him." And more. Suddenly I am the target of contempt and a source of embarrassment because I dare oppose and speak up against the political savior of the Republican Party. A man just as hateful and divisive as Obama. 

Every conservative and Christian in the Republican Party should try opposing the guy everyone else loves once in a lifetime. It has not been easy, but it has been eye opening. It is amazing the double standard Christians even in my own church demand with Trump. It is ok to hate and have contempt for Democrats, illegal immigrants, conservatives who dare oppose their guy, etc....but not OK to criticize their guy and his words and actions. 

Biden was a horrible president. Though not the worst. That "honor" belongs to Obama. But after so many months of it, I became appalled at a couple of things:

#1. It was obvious that Biden has had dementia, Alzheimer's, or something like that for a long time. Yet Christians mocked him for it, made fun of him, joked about it, etc. Yes, he should have stepped aside, and his wife should be flogged publicly for letting him stay in office. But should Christians have acted that way? If someone was making fun of a loved one, or even a neighbor or fellow church member like that, they'd be horrified and angry. But since it was a Democrat, it was OK. 

#2. There has been no evidence or proof that Biden was a pedophile. Yet Christians and conservatives shared picture after picture of Biden with kids and declaring him a pedophile. (While overlooking Trump's bragging about sexual assault and the pictures of Trump with kids).
Accusing someone of pedophilia is a huge thing. It should not be done lightly. Trump supporters are all up in arms at any suggestion Trump could be on the Epstein list - and that IS a possibility given his connections with Epstein - but come on.... there is no evidence of Biden being a pedophile, but since he is a Democrat, the MAGA party didn't need proof. They just accused. 

I have stated before that my faith has been about destroyed. The way Christians are about Trump, how they act when defending him, things said to me....good grief, the statement that "True Christians will vote for Trump" made by a guy going to my church at that time - and by others - went unchallenged, yet it is such a huge lie. But not one Trump supporter in my church called him out. My church is ultra conservative, and I'll never get why so many love a man like Trump. He is the total opposite of Jesus. 

Jesus was not political, yet so many Christians are way too political. Should we not vote? Yes, we should vote our conscience, even if that means voting third party. Should we not address what politicians are doing wrong? Yes, we should....but we should be careful how we do it.

God is love. He IS love. He doesn't just love as a verb, but He IS love. And in 1 John 4:8, He says this:  "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (ESV)
Do we Evangelical Christians love Nancy Pelosi? The illegal immigrant? Joe Biden? The tattooed guy? Donald Trump? 

I am not going to un-Christianize anyone. God knows my Christianity and conservatism has been questioned and knocked because I don't support the most liberal candidate to ever run for, much less win, the GOP nomination. But how much contempt and hate can we have for anyone - even Democrat politicians - even Donald Trump - and truly know God? God loves everyone, even those we have contempt and hate for, and He is saying we must love them also or we don't know Him. 

It isn't popular to question the status quo. We have so Americanized, Republicanized, and yes....Trumpized Christianity, that to dare question how illegal immigration is being handled, to dare suggest we have compassion and love for them is met with accusations of being liberal, and other lovely statements. 

"Russell Moore told NPR that evangelical pastors he works with are facing pushback when preaching the words and ethics of Jesus. He said, “Multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount [and] to have someone come up after to say, ‘Where did you get those liberal talking points?’ … What was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say, I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ, the response would be, ‘Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak.’” Zach Lambert

Steven - the aforementioned best friend - and I were talking about the story of the Good Samaritan. He questioned what would happen if it was an illegal immigrant lying there by the side of the road, beaten up and robbed. I fear way too many Christians would pass to the other side. Some might check his status and help if he was legal. I fear some might finish him off if they had a gun. 

"Imagine cheering at the idea of human beings being eaten by alligators and somehow still expecting us to believe you are “pro life,” let alone a follower of Jesus." Rev Benjamin Cremer

I could be wrong - I am occasionally 😁  - but I wonder if one reason we aren't seeing revival is because of this culture of contempt that is so prevalent among Christians. If we are having so much contempt and hate for Democrats, illegal immigrants, people who oppose our favorite political, etc, God cannot be happy, and why would He send revival? Could that be one reason our country is so wicked and there is so much corruption because Christians are too political to love, to spread the Gospel, to be salt and light. To be peace makers, to have and exhibit the fruits of the spirit.

Jesus called his followers to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Not control your neighbor.

Not mock your neighbor.

Not shame your neighbor.

Not dehumanize your neighbor.

Not demonize your neighbor.

Not defeat your neighbor.

Jesus said, “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Rev Benjamin Cremer)

I'm barely holding on, to be honest. My faith has been shattered. My heart has been hurt. I have been bitter and angry. I need a version of Christianity that is not political. One that is Biblical, and does not insist I have to vote for and support whoever wins the GOP nomination. I need a version of Christianity that spreads love, not contempt and division and that does not put you down for voting your conscience. A version of Christianity that doesn't just believe in the freedom of speech for some, but for all. A version of Christianity that holds the Bible before the Constitution and the Republican platform. A version  of Christianity that is Biblical and loves. 

And I have come to a very elementary and kind of "duh" realization. As I have sat in the shattered remains of my faith these last 9 years or so, as I have struggled with hurt, disappointment, anger, and bitterness.....Jesus has not changed. He never was - and never will be - political. He loves us because He IS love, and I was wrong to let politics and people destroy my faith. I am making slow progress, but it is progress. Jesus never changes and never fails, and always, always loves. 

I have already left the Republican Party. I try to back off from politics, but see so much that frustrates me. And I give in and post. I have thought about deleting Facebook, and were it not for the authors I follow and how much book related stuff I use it for, I probably would do that. Maybe I just need to un-follow some people. 😏

I am far from perfect. God has a ton of work to do on me. I want to have a true relationship with him and love people. All people. And yeah, I will never stop opposing Trump or speaking out against him and his wrong policies, but I need to work on not having so much contempt for him. When I talk about contempt, I am preaching to myself also. (Made that bold so no one misses it).

We talk so much about how evil the Democrat Party is. Yet the Republican Party is far, far from being Biblical. Just last year, they removed opposition to abortion and gay marriage from their official platform - done by Trump offspring. The recent handling of illegal immigration is not Biblical. It is time for Christians to stop just going along with whatever the Republican Party does and call them out instead of ignoring and going along. Republican does not equal Christian, and I cannot imagine God is any happier with the GOP than with the Dems. 

We need a third party. A truly conservative one. 

God's Kingdom is based on love. Our political parties are not. It is my firm belief we all need to back away from being so political, so blindly supportive of political parties and politicians, and love and spread the Gospel.

So many questions

 Ever wonder what it would be like to not have any preconceived ideas about certain things in life? There are things that are so ingrained in us that it is difficult to know sometimes exactly what we believe about some things. Whether we truly believe it for ourselves, or we have been taught and absorbed the opinions and ideals of others.

And it doesn't help that so many of our beliefs and ideals have been Americanized. I love our country and am thankful I was born, raised, and live in America. I am patriotic. I love patriotic songs. The flag gives me a sense of pride and belonging. I decorate for patriotic holidays, and don't get why people can be so anti-patriotic.

But I have questions. I have seen a lot, read a lot, and have had some questions that conflict with how things have always been. I think it started with my convictions and belief that I could not and should not vote for and support Donald Trump. Man... I have been hurt badly for that stance, and it has caused me to doubt everything, even God and His existence. I still struggle daily as to why and how Christians - especially from my ultra conservative church - can be so over the top supportive of him, never speak out against him, and how they act when he is criticized. My faith has been about destroyed. 

I have slowly come to the realization that I shouldn't be angry at God or losing faith him. Jesus was not and is not political. He doesn't insist I vote Republican. He doesn't insist I vote for someone I feel I should not. He doesn't even insist I vote. He does not treat me any differently for voting third party. Elementary, yes.....but it took me a while to get there.

Author and pastor David Platt who said we desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the Gospel is American and how much is Biblical. I fear too many of us measure our ideals and beliefs about certain issues against the Constitution instead of the Bible. I am sure these questions will get me labeled liberal, unpatriotic, un-Christian, etc....because one does not dare question a sitting president that claims to be Republican, or question the conservative/Republican stance on anything.

Onto my questions:

1) How much can Christianity and patriotism be mixed? There are people who are proudly un-patriotic. I was in a group for a while that had a mix of people in. The guy running it was conservative and Christian, but there were some people in there with unique ideas. Some were very anti-patriotic. One guy related he and his family were late to a sports game, and entered while the national anthem was played, and he was happy they didn't have to stand there with their hands on their hearts as they found their seats. I found his attitude pathetic.

But I have seen some statements by people, and have had little nigglings in my mind about the mixing of patriotism, church, and Christianity.

Something happened Sunday that bothered me. Let me preface this by saying I love our song leader at church - yes, we have a song leader, not a worship leader and worship team. It is amazing how he picks just the right songs most of the time. As we stood yesterday morning to sing the first song in the morning worship service, he said he debated about what to sing, but there were people who would be disappointed if we didn't sing the National Anthem. So he led the congregation in the first and third verses of that song.

And it bothered me. We were starting our worship service by singing a song about our flag. We have done it before. We have sung other patriotic songs. We have pledged for the American and Christian flags.....but should we?

(And should we be so gung ho about pledging to the flag? Our country is not a Christian nation....a Christian nation would not kill millions of babies. A Christian nation would not elect and practically worship men like Obama, Biden, and felon 47.)

I am not saying it is wrong, but I am questioning if we should do it in the house of God. We have so intermingled Christianity and patriotism that I am sure it seems almost heresy or un-American to question it.

I have seen people say we shouldn't have an American flag on the church platform.....are they right?

We are there to worship God. Should we do anything patriotic when we are there to worship God?

We have always done these things, but does that make it right?

And does anyone care at this point?

2) What should a Christian do about immigration? What is Biblical, and what is American/Constitutional?

I'll admit, I have always taken the Republican/conservative approach to illegal immigration. Send them all home. They are here illegally, so they are criminals.

I got a message from someone recently that made me feel good. This person told me  that they had been pushed into voting for DT, but have come to see him a different light. And one big reason is how he is handling the immigration issue. I have been disgusted and even a bit horrified at what I am seeing and hearing.

I am for legal immigration, and have been disgusted at how Obama and other liberals try to use the Bible to make a case for open borders and illegal immigration....yet ignore that same Bible on other issues. I have long believed the main reason Democrats cheer on and support open borders and illegal immigration is because they view them all as potential Democrat voters. If it is out of compassion, where is that compassion when it comes to babies in the womb?

But just what should a Christian do with the issue? Again, I fear we are measuring our reactions and beliefs against the Constitution instead of the Bible. I see Christians cheering on ICE as they bust down doors and grab people with no warning. The jokes about the "Alligator Alcatraz" and jokes about illegals being eaten by them....is that truly the Biblical and Christian response? Jesus died for and loves the illegal immigrants just as much as legal Americans. I honestly don't know what the Christian response should be, but it isn't what too many American Christians are having. Should  there be an in between position between open borders/allowing illegal immigration, and bordering on KJB tactics?

Just this week, Homeland Security used Isaiah 6:8 — “Here am I. Send me.” — to glorify ICE raids in a recruitment video. Screen shot above, link to the video on X here: Video. 

I started following a young guy on Facebook that has his head on straight, and he shared it and said this: Isaiah wasn’t signing up for border patrol. He was trembling before a holy God, called to preach to a nation gone deaf to justice.

"This isn’t patriotism. It’s Scripture twisted into state propaganda.

Christian, if this doesn’t shake you, your faith already has rot in it.

Blasphemy.

Blasphemy.

Blasphemy."

And he is correct. But I am sure the MAGA crowd will have no issue with it because they view illegal immigrants as the enemy. But are they? Yes, there are some wicked gang members and outright criminals who need to be caught and dealt with....but I am afraid that the MAGA response to illegal immigration is just as wrong as the Democrats. 

3) Just how political can Christians be, and still live by the Bible? OK, similar to my first question, but going a different direction. 

I have changed a lot since 2016. Being a Christian and conservative against felon 47 has not been easy. I have had my Christianity and conservatism questioned because I voted third party and didn't just fall in line and vote like everyone wanted me to....it has been rough.

One of the things that hurt the most was when a popular post was shared by at least one guy from my church "True Christians will vote for Trump" during his second time running for president. No MAGA Christian spoke up against such an un-Biblical and untrue statement. 

Here is the thing: Donald Trump is not a nice man. He isn't kind, compassionate, loving...none of the things Christians should be. Yet Christians about worship the guy, never criticize him or hold him accountable, and want everyone else to do the same. The over the top adulation has been nauseating and concerning.

My faith has been shaken so much by the MAGA response and blind following by so many Christians. A young guy from my church messaged me a few years ago and said his faith has been shaken by how so pro-Trump the people in our ultra conservative church (and church circle), and how they act when he is criticized. Me too. And I have come to realize even Christians in my own church don't want me to vote my conscience and how I believe God wants me to vote. They want me to vote like them. They don't just want to be silent and not criticize their president, they want to silence everyone else also. 

This happened a while back:
A retired preacher from my church ran onto me in Walmart a few years ago, and he tried to convince me that DT is a Christian. Just "not in our way." 
Then about a week before the last election, he cornered me in the church vestibule and again tried to convince me that DT is a Christian, and that I should vote for him. I pointed out that just a week or so before Franklin Graham had asked DT to cut down on his cursing, and DT said he could not.
This ultra conservative retired holiness pastor defended DT and said habits like that are hard to break.
And then the big kicker: After chatting a bit more, I asked him "So if a person has prayed and believes they should not vote for DT, should they still vote for him?" The answer this guy whose faith has been shaken so much in my church, Christianity, and God needed was "You should vote how you believe God wants you to vote. "But no...he pulled a huge copout and said he always tries to vote the best way to protect his family. 

I didn't say it, but that is not what the Christians did down through the ages. They did what they believed to be right and often suffered for it. 

The Bible commands us to love, have compassion, be tender, merciful, love our enemies. Blessed are the peacemakers, etc. How political can we be...how anti-Dem, anti-Trump, how MAGA, etc can we be and be like Jesus? How political can we be and be salt and light?

If Jesus was not political, how political should we be?

4) Is God any happier with the Republican Party than He is with the Democratic Party?

Obviously God cannot be pleased with the Democrats with their push to make murdering babies in the womb completely undeterred. They push everything gay, everything trans, and seem to have no interest in protecting women and children as they push their Satanic agenda.

But is God any more pleased with the Republican Party as they push their agenda, not caring who is hurt in their desire to win and be in power?

Did you know that last year, the Republican Party officially removed opposition to abortion and gay marriage? 

 "Eric Trump summarized the shift in a revealing exchange on NBC. The host noted, “The Republican platform no longer calls for a federal abortion ban and no longer defines marriage between one man and one woman. Is this a sign your father is moving to the center?” His reply: “My father has always been there on those issues. That’s reflective of my father and what he believes in. … and my wife, Lara, who runs the RNC, and what she believes in. At the end of the day, this country has holes in the roof, and you’ve got to fix those holes and stop worrying about the spot on the wall in the basement.”

Gay marriage and abortion are spots on the basement wall to the Trumps. Link to the whole article is here. 

Just how long before the Republican Party starts pushing support for abortion?

And what is sad....no one in the MAGA seemed to care. They should have been incensed, and at least speaking out....but one does not criticize this administration, his family, or anything Republican. 

I was going to make it a separate question, but I'll ask it here: Just how pro-life are MAGA Christians? Let me preface this next statement by saying I don't believe you have to "like" everything on Facebook you agree with....but this alarms me: I post a lot of pro-life memes, and am lucky to get 2 or 3 likes. Just how pro-life is the Republican party? DT stated that Planned Parenthood does a lot of good, and they didn't care.

As I watch the tactics this president does that Christians keep supporting no matter what he does, no matter how he skirts the Constitution, I am concerned and bothered about the future of Christianity in the conservative movement. While we guard the front door from socialism, facism, communism, authoritarianism, etc..I fear felon 47 is sneaking it in the back door. What the MAGA crowd seems to forget is he and his family were long time Democrats who supported Democrats long before his conversion to being a Republican.

Christians should have some concerns about him and the way he is taking this country. Is God any happier with all this than with the Democrats and their Satanic agenda? Trump rules with division, hatred, and even bordering on cruelty. 

5) How pro-Israel should we be?
OK, if I haven't been condemned to hell by now, this may cause people to wish for it. I believe we should support Israel, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem as Jesus commanded...but....

I have seen a few posts where people question this, and point out that the Israel of today is far from what the Israel of the Bible was. We should be their ally. But should we support EVERYTHING they do? Should we have bombed Iran's nuclear facilities? What if someone decides we shouldn't have them and go after ours?

Again, I am not saying we should step back and let them on their own....but just how pro-Israel should we be?

And that is it for now. I may ask more questions in the future. 

**Disclaimer: I used some quotes from preacher Benjamin Cremer. I do not agree with him on everything. He has some great things to say, but goes too far the other way on some issues. 

***Disclaimer #2: I am conservative, and though I lost my faith and my way for several years following the 2016 election, I am getting my relationship with God back on track. He has never let me down, and it is wrong I lost my faith in him because of political Christians. I would rather be Biblically correct than right politically. 

Make their day

I work as an ER greeter in a 36 bed emergency department, plus 2 trauma rooms and 4 behavior health holding rooms. It is an interesting job, and I never know what it is going to be like. We might be overflowing in the 60's or 70's, with wait times 7-8 hours...or even 12. Then there are days like last Saturday when we stayed around 13-15 til around 2 pm, and got up in the 20's.

The busier we are, the more attitude I get. But there are also a lot of nice people. 

Something happened recently. Someone very close to me that I love deeply did something that hurt. It still hurts. And they may not even know that I know. 

  There have been a few times lately that someone said something that work that made my day and lifted me out of the funk I have been in:

Two different guys on different days complimented me with some very nice words about what a good job I do. Both had been in the waiting room for a while, and had been observing me. They made my day.

Then last night, a lady came out from the back and went to the vending machines. She then asked me if there was a store in the hospital. I asked her what she was looking for. She wanted a bottle of ginger ale for her husband (the patient). I told her I could get one from the kitchenette in the back. When I handed her the can of ginger ale and a straw, she thanked me and told me I was an angel. And thanked me again later. 

Back up til yesterday morning when something happened that prompted this blog post. I had gotten some really nice pens to review from Amazon that were different colors (the pen, not the ink), and had sayings on them like Make a Difference, You can do it, You are awesome (I kept that one). 

I had given a few out to coworkers. Then two ladies came in, dressed nicely, very nice in actions and words. Their coworker had come by ambulance, and they were going to hang out and see her when allowed until her husband got there. 

This urge came over me at one point to give them one of those pens. Nah, might be weird. The urge stayed, so I went over to chat. I asked them if they could use a new pen, and explained. I told them I thought it was really nice of them to come to  the hospital with  their coworker. They both seemed very happy, and each picked a pen. Then one of them told me I made their day. They said they were having a really bad morning, and that helped a lot. They thanked me again when they left.

And you know what? It cost me nothing, and made me feel good.

 There is a way too popular post that makes its rounds on Facebook. It condemns people for paying for the drink for the person behind them at Starbucks, and says these people should do something like pay for kids' lunches at schools who can't afford it. 

Now I don't go to Starbucks, unless when shopping with family and they go there. And I don't think I have ever done or received in a drive thru.

But here is the thing: First off, I doubt the poster is giving money for lunches. Secondly, it makes people happy. It makes the person paying happy and feel good, and it makes the person benefiting from it happy and feel good. In fact, it probably makes their day.

There is so much sadness, depression, anger, hurting people in this world. What if we all tried doing something to make someone's day as often as we can? It doesn't take much. A candy bar, a can of soda, a pen,  a compliment, a cauliflower pizza from Pizza Joes. (Wow, that was oddly specific!)

I have depression, and it can be pretty bad at times. But no matter how depressed I am, little things people have done and said have made my day.

More: My favorite nurse and I both like Diet Coke. I have bought her one when we are busy and I know her day is going rough. And she has bought me one on occasion. Just a couple weeks ago, she came out to the vending machines and asked if I wanted a Diet Coke. I told her she didn't need to buy one for me, but she persisted. Then she went to buy another, and they were out. I tried to give it back, but she insisted on getting herself a different kind. That made me feel really good.

Rewind to Valentine's Day. I got a call on my desk phone at work, and answered "ER front desk, this is Mark". A lady said "Oh, you are there. I was hoping. We are going to swing by." I wondered who on earth?! A few minutes later, the lady who runs the gift shop and another lady who also volunteers - both around or over 80 - came over. They had a sandwich bag full of sugar free candy - Russel Stovers and Werthers. They both hugged me and said they miss me out front. (Until August, I worked out front and saw them all the time.) That truly made my day, or more like it....my week.

There are a lot of posts on social media about Jesus flipping the tables. But the truth of the matter is that was not His usual behavior. And He only did that because people were ripping off worshipers in the synagogue. His usual behavior was making people's day: healing the lame, causing the blind to see again, forgiving sins. He had no time for politics. He was too busy doing good, being kind, and loving people. 

WWJD.....Want to do what Jesus would do? Want to be like Jesus? Don't be political, don't try to win arguments. Love people, and do things to make their day. As often as you can. Don't limit it to a weekly thing. Or even daily. Try to make as many people's day as you can. And yeah, me too,

Celebrating Christmas too early

 Every year there is something a lot of people like to voice their opinion about: people starting the celebration of Christmas too early.  I am one who usually starts early. I mostly start listening to Christmas music at least in October, sometimes September. It depends on when I start buying new Christmas CDs. And I have a lot, so I need to start early. I have well over 200. 

Early November is when the decorating starts most years. And the tree is often up before Thanksgiving.

But is it shortchanging Thanksgiving to start Christmas early? I don't believe so.

My family gets together every Thanksgiving, and we observe Thanksgiving. Although sometimes the nieces and nephews.....prepare yourself for this -  put up my parents' tree. The horror! 😊

Here's a couple of points:

1) We are to be thankful every day. Not just one day in November, but 365 days a year, 366 in leap year. And...brace yourself...you can be thankful and still celebrate Christmas. Wow. That is deep. 😉

2) We should somewhat observe Christmas everyday also. Huh? No, I am serious. The greatest event in history was God coming to earth as a baby. Do you really think we have to wait til the day after Thanksgiving to observe that. Nope. Sing Joy to the world in July if you want. (By the way, that wasn't intended to be a Christmas song).

3) Someone celebrating Christmas does not affect your Thanksgiving. If it does, you need help.

4) There is a lot of sadness in  the world. I have depression and battle sadness, feelings of worthlessness, etc daily. If putting up Christmas decorations early or playing Christmas music in the middle of summer gives me joy, what right does anyone have to criticize that? 

My youngest niece, who has dealt with depression at times posted something back on October 25th that showed she was listening to Christmas music by Michael Buble. Great album, by the way....though it was kind of weird for him to record Santa Baby. (Really weird! Dumb song anyway.) There were several comments, I think all positive. One lady commented that Christmas music should be played all year round.  Caitie replied "Any time I need cheered up, that's my go-to." And why not? If Christmas music gives you joy and cheers you up, then by all means listen to it any day of the year.

Do you really want to say my niece shouldn't do something that causes her joy because you don't think anything Christmas should happen before Thanksgiving? If so, shame on you!

5) We don't know when Jesus was born. What if....gasp! - what if He was born in early November, and we are encroaching on Christmas with Thanksgiving?!

6) Christmas celebrates the birth of our Savior, something observed all over the world. We have been celebrating it since 386 when Constantine instituted the celebration, though it may have been even earlier. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln instituted the day Thanksgiving, an American holiday and observance. Jesus' birth takes precedence over that.

I did a sarcastic post on Facebook today:

Ok...you people who think starting anything Christmas in November ruins Thanksgiving.... 

Once December starts, you'd better stop this thankfulness stuff. Jesus deserves the whole month of Christmas. No November thankfulness sneaking into his birthday celebration...

I WAS kidding, as I believe we should be thankful all the time. But I was trying to make a point. 

If you want to start decorating for Christmas and/or listening to Christmas music, do it. We all need more happiness and joy in our lives, and if that makes you feel happy and gives you joy, then do it. Don't let the naysayers put a crimp in your joy and celebration.

And you naysayers...don't be stealing people's joy and happiness by telling them they shouldn't be doing anything Christmasy before Thanksgiving. To put it bluntly (and not in good English), it ain't none of your business. 

Shall I tell you naysayers this....can you handle this....I listened to Christmas music while I was working on this blog post. Now don't hyperventilate. Your Thanksgiving is safe from my early Christmas stuff. 😀

There are two songs that came to mind as I was working on this post. The first is for you Scrooges: The Day After Thanksgiving by Brandon Heath. Lyrics below.

The second song is for we who start celebrating Christmas early: I Can Still Celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Day After Thanksgiving by Brandon Heath. (Video at the end of the blog post).

There's still plenty of leaves

Golden on the trees

Hoodies, blue jeans and football

Bonfires and school nights

Scarecrows and hay rides

It's fall everywhere except the mall

I don't want to hear about Santa Claus coming

No silver bells or a dozen drummers drumming

I don't want to see an inflatable nothing

Till the day after Thanksgiving

(And not a day early)

Don't plug in those electric candles

Or dangle those stockings from the living room mantle

Those tangled up lights are more than I can handle

Till the day after Thanksgiving

Then, oh, let it snow

Go and tell everyone you know

That Christmas is here

Every day between now and new year

Don't deck the halls with the tinsel or the holly

You can make me grumpy, but you can't make me jolly

Elves don't even make curly-head dollies

Till the day after Thanksgiving

Then, oh, let it snow

Christmas card, everyone you know

Then pour on the cheer

Every day between now and new year

I want the cookies and the mistletoe kissing

Angel on top of a tall tree glisten

Wrap it all up in a pretty red ribbon

The day after Thanksgiving

As long as it's the day after Thanksgiving

I Can Still Celebrate Christmas by Legacy Five (Video at the end of the post)

The lights are unplugged

The candles snuffed out

The tree's lying out in the street

The mistletoe's gone

But the memories live on

Like the rush of tiny little feet

The hustle and bustle

The long checkout lines

Won't be seen til Christmas next year

But the man who understands

The real reason we celebrate

He can have 12 months full of cheer

I can still celebrate Christmas

For the light of the world is the light of my life

I can still celebrate Christmas

It's much more to me than lights on a tree

It's the gift that gives life to me

So turn on the lights

Put a wreath on your door

Show the world that you can sing too

Try Joy to the World in June or July

Ask a friend to sing along too

Ring the bells loud

Stand up and be proud

Tell the world the truth that you know

That the tiny little boy

Brought happiness and joy

More than gifts tied with ribbons and bows

I can still celebrate Christmas

For the light of the world is the light of my life

I can still celebrate Christmas

It's much more to me than lights on a tree

It's the gift that gives life to me

My freezers are full

    

I made beef vegetable soup earlier this week, and made a lot so I could freeze some. I ended up with 6 quarts I froze. I went to put it away, and found there wasn't room for all of it. 

   I have two freezers. There is one that is part of my refrigerator, and I have a small freezer that sits on the floor and has 3 shelves. There was not enough room between the two freezers for 6 quarts of soup.

  So, I went through, rearranged both, and threw out some things that were old. Such as a container of beef vegetable soup from last October. 

  Tonight I made taco casserole, and decided I needed to freeze what was left over. I managed to fit it in the two freezers, but it was a tight fit.

 The thought hit me how awesome it is that my freezers are so full I have a hard time fitting food into them.

  All over the world, there are people who would be happy to have that problem. All over the world - even here in the USA, there are people hungry. Many don't even have a freezer, or a house to keep a freezer in. They hang out in soup kitchens, depending on the charity of churches and other organizations to feed the hunger in their stomach.

 When one has depression as bad as I do, it is difficult to see positives and good in life. And that will get worse in the coming months. Seasonal affective depression (SAD) IS a thing. 

 Tomorrow is November 1, the month we set aside for Thanksgiving. My cousin Rhonda shared something I had posted today, a meme I will post below. Another cousin commented "poor Thanksgiving". I commented sarcastically that we should be thankful every day, not just in November.

 And that is true. The majority of us have so much to be thankful for, even on the darkest of days. There is always something to be thankful for. 

 Corrie ten Boom writes of her sister always encouraging her to be thankful for everything, even going so far as to thank God for the fleas in their barracks at Ravensbruck concentration camp. Corrie could not understand why they should thank God for the horrible fleas. But she followed her sister’s lead and the Bible’s instruction to thank God in all things.

Not long after, they realized the guards never came into their barracks anymore. So, the women were never assaulted, and they were free to have Bible studies where many of the women came to know Christ. It was only later that they found out why the guards left them alone: the fleas.

  That is extreme, but it is a reminder that there is always something to be thankful for. Ever day. But as we flip the calendar to November, it is a great time to look at our lives, at what we have.

 In closing, I want to mention Noah Galloway. I read and reviewed his book a few years back. And wow. While in the military, he was hurt badly in an IED explosion in the Middle East. He lost most of his left leg and his left arm below the elbow. He was bitter. He was angry, and turned to alcohol and went way off the rails. One morning he was looking at himself in the mirror, and had the thought that he should focus on what he had left instead of what he had lost. He started working out, training, and became the first double amputee to appear on the cover of Men's Health.

 If a guy like that can be thankful for what he had left, and not focus on what he lost...can't we? The chances of a double amputee reading this post is very slim, so no matter what is wrong in our lives, there is something left to be thankful for. 

An extra day

  

Do you ever wish there were more hours in your day? More days in your week - well, maybe in your weekend?

  I need to be honest and admit I don't have a whole lot going on. I work four ten-hour days, and don't have a lot of responsibilities outside of work other than housework. I do find myself wishing time would slow down and the days didn't go by so fast...especially days off. Seriously.

 If you had some extra hours, what would you do with them? What about 24 hours, as in a whole extra day?

  Good news, people: since this is leap year, you get that. A whole extra day. Thanks to this every four years having an extra day in it, we all get an extra day in this new year approaching like a freight train. (It does seem time goes faster the older we get.)

Speaking of which.....do you know how long this leap year thing has been going on? Since 46 B.C. And the credit goes to good old Julius Caesar. I wonder of my good friend Shirley Dye was around to help with that decision? 😀 Many years later in the late1500's, it was changed to only years divisible by 400. (I was being silly before. It makes much more sense that Shirley Dye was around for that decision).😎

 Ever wonder what people do for birthdays that are born on February 29? By the way, they are called a leapling or leaper. Most of them observe their birthdays on February 28, and some on March 1.

So, now that you have an extra day allotted to you in 2024, what are you going to do with it?

  I asked myself that question a couple of leap years ago....I think 8 years ago. I didn't do it on February 29 - you don't have to take it as your extra day, any day will work. I reserved a night's stay at the Dutch Host Inn in Sugarcreek, Ohio, the Amish part of Ohio. I am around an hour from there. This inn has package deals during the slower times of the year, and February happens to be a slower time. (Because what sane person wants to go anywhere in the winter unless it is to a warmer climate?!)

 The package prices vary on the part of the week you go. Weekends are more. And they knock off a bit for one person. So for somewhere between $90 +, you get the night's stay at a nice inn, your choice of three different restaurants for supper and breakfast, and several other free things such as bread, candles, cheese, bologna, serving spoons, BBQ sauce, and more. Usually around 20 or so businesses participate. You are given an envelope of coupons and a map, and go all over Holmes County, Ohio getting free stuff. When I was a security guard at the hospital, the other guards called it my Amish scavenger hunt. It is fun.
Oh. I just looked at the current packages. Prices have gone up a bit since I have gone. Yikes. Definitely cheaper to spend my extra day off at my bachelor pad. Unless I take the nephews out to eat. 😀

Of course, these days I prefer to stay home and enjoy the solitude. I will probably use my extra day to read, though my perfect day is spending time with my family.

But seriously: This new year does have a whole extra day. What are you going to do with it? A lot of people have tons more responsibilities than single old avoiding people me...but at least attempt to do something special that day. Get a babysitter and do something special. If you are female, get a babysitter for your kids AND husband, and get some "you" time. If you are a married guy, tell the little wife you are going hunting or whatever married guys do if they can escape for a few hours. 😎 

Seize that extra day and do something special with it. 

I for one do plan on asking for an extra day off at some point. I have a 9 day vacation starting Saturday, but that doesn't count.

Blue Christmas

  

A few years ago, I saw a church sign advertising a Blue Christmas service. I was curious, and looked it up:

"Blue Christmas Service is a Western Christian tradition that happens on or around the longest night of the year, usually December 21 the Winter Solstice. It is about comforting fellow Christians who are grieving and struggling to find joy and hope during the season."

  I love Christmas, but have been struggling this year to get in the mood. I was late listening to Christmas music - and I usually start in late September or early October. I didn't feel like decorating, and wasn't going to....but that didn't set well with my nieces. The youngest and oldest with her baby (my great niece!) came over last week and put my tree and other decorations up while I babysat. That kind of kick-started me, so I have decorated more and have gotten into the mood more. And finally did my Christmas shopping.

 My depression has been really bad, and seasonal depression seems to be jumping on also. I work Christmas day. Again. The Buzard family Christmas is going to be crammed into a few hours Christmas Eve between Sunday dinner and the Christmas Candlelight service. I am still not extremely in the mood.

 But I have my whole family. And I am thankful for that. So I really don't have it that bad. There will be a lot of people facing Christmas for the first time this year without a loved one. And others still grieving from other years.

  I have a friend at work - she actually works in my doctor's office, which is in the hospital. She is a great person, and one of my favorite people at the hospital. Five years ago, her husband passed away suddenly. She isn't one of those people who remarried before the grass grew over the burial plot. She is still sad a lot of days. I give her a hug once in a while when I know she is having a bad day with it. She told me recently that it is really hard on the yearly occasions. Holidays, his birthday, their anniversary. Thankfully she has two little great grandkids that help, but she and many others struggle with grief at this time of year, missing someone who will not be at the family gatherings. There will be no gift under the tree to or from them.

 I stopped at the local grocery store after work last night, and asked the lady ringing me up "Are you ready for Christmas?" She made a face, and said "well, I haven't really celebrated the last few years since my dad passed away around Christmas." I made some sympathetic comments, and then told her about these Blue Christmas services some churches have. She seemed interested and said she might check it out.

  As so many of us celebrate, make merry, and get into the season, it doesn't really occur to a lot of us that not everyone feels merry this time of year. Many are sad and grieving because of losses of loved ones this year, or other years. There is no time limit on grief. Some people seem to move on more easily, and others never seem to. And there is nothing wrong with that.

 These last few years have been tough on a lot of people. Covid has affected so many so differently. My entire family has had it twice. I had it bad enough the first time that I was admitted to the hospital I work at for 5 days, but no one else in the family had it very bad other than me the fist time. But others lost family members to it. And many of them are still grieving over their loss.

 There is something we all need to remember at this time of year. The celebrating, gift giving, decking the halls - that is all well and good, as long as you keep Christ in your Christmas. But, to use a much overused phrase - remember the Reason for the Season. All of these people grieving and sad....they are part of the reason Jesus came. He came for us. God sent His only Son to this earth as an innocent baby that would grow up and die for the sins of the world. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."(ESV)

 That is Christmas. Not the lights, parties, gift exchanges. It is about the Savior who can save, heal, comfort. One doesn't need all the celebrating to observe Christmas. We can all kneel at the manger, worship the Savior, and seek his comfort and help.

 There was sadness and grief the first Christmas. When the wise men came seeking Jesus all those years ago, King Herod had all the babies in the area of Bethlehem killed.

 So let's be considerate of those grieving during the holidays. Do something nice for them. They may not feel like attending a Christmas party or service, but a small gift, supper dropped off, a gift card, etc. might help them a little.