Skip to main content

Keep Celebrating


I had a terrible thought this morning. Would anyone ever ban Christmas? Would any government ever say, ‘In the name of political correctness, Christmas will no longer be celebrated.’? I get a feeling sometimes that some outspoken, prominent people in our society understand their vocation to be that of destroying all that’s precious and dear to some others. The strange thing about the sea of political correctness is that, very often, intolerance is the outcome. God forbid that the celebration of Christmas, whatever it means to you, should ever officially disappear.

As I was considering this, an Oscar Wilde quote came into my mind: "Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you." I am a lover of the truth and that is why that particular quote stuck in my mind. It is true. You can take Christmas out of our calendars, but no one can ever remove it from my soul. It is a time of peace, joy, giving, celebration, love, fun and festivity. In fact, the spirit of Christmas is essentially the spirit of CHRIST. Those who know Him have reason to display the spirit of Christmas everyday. I am aware that I can be a little über exuberant at times, but I can’t help it. It’s the joy of celebrating life and eternal life that makes me want to get out of bed in the morning. This is only a foretaste of what’s to come and I’m excited. I will see the Christ of Christmas regardless of what people say. Call me a fool and a liar if you wish. I don’t mind. The Bible also calls me a fool in a roundabout way – a fool for Christ.

That was quite a rant, but what are blogs for? I wish you a very happy Christmas wherever you may be and if you do not celebrate Christmas, may you know peace and joy in your heart every day.

O xxxx

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"When you get to the top, there's nothing there."

The title of this blog is a quotation from author Jack Higgins, who wrote 'The Eagle has Landed'.  He wished he had known as a small boy that 'when you get to the top, there's nothing there'. The former President of the Republic of Macedonia, Sir Boris Trajkovski, reiterates similar sentiments in this video. The quality is poor, but I think his words can be heard clearly. Even to reach the top position in one's country, " ...as President, in my life I feel that nothing is more important than to know the Lord Jesus Christ. "    What about this feeling of emptiness inside? I agree with Sir Boris Trajkovski. His conclusion is: to have Christ is everything. Forget the religious nonsense which chokes the very soul of the living God. Religion is man-made and is therefore as stifling and narrow-minded as its makers. A real relationship with the God of Heaven fulfills and gives peace. I think that's what we are all looking for, if we a

Of Infinite Importance

The vivid red poinsettias, which stand out against the azure skies of Cyprus, are not without symbolism for the Christmas celebration. The star shape in the centre resembles the star of Bethlehem and the leafy red bracts represent the blood of Christ, a visible reminder of the reason for His coming. While we enjoy the festive ambience and quality family time of the Christmas season, there is infinitely more to the mere outward festivities. A deeper look at the Christmas story reveals a heart-changing message. The Impact of Christ's Birth Christ's birth impacted the course of history like no other because of who He was and why He came. The Bible records the words proclaimed to Joseph by the Angel of the Lord concerning Mary and the Lord's birth: She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (Amplified Bible) As the angels announced His arrival to the humble shepherds that holy n

The Mystery that is Macedonia

When I first came to Macedonia on a visit in 2001, I found this little country so intriguing and breathtakingly beautiful that I happily accepted the invitation to return for a longer period. That ‘longer period’ has now extended itself to several years during which I have had many enriching, memorable experiences. I thought it might be interesting to jot down a few observations about the difference in culture. I appeal to my Macedonian readers not to misunderstand my intentions. What I have observed are customs and habits which are as normal to you as breathing and sleeping, but to someone from an entirely different culture, they are both interesting and noteworthy. It is always thrilling for me to explore how various nations function and it is nothing short of a privilege to experience a foreign culture first-hand. Hospitality Macedonians are a friendly, hospitable people. I do not know how many times they have almost literally killed me with kindness. Indeed, I have often