There are some good thoughts here, I think. JulieMelton visit me at www.heart-and-music.com Keep smiling! ----- Original Message ----- From: "bea furman" <[log in to unmask]> To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 10:44 PM Subject: Fw: [thought-for-the-day] Season's Greetings? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alan Smith" <[log in to unmask]> > To: "TFTD Subscribers" <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 12:25 PM > Subject: [thought-for-the-day] Season's Greetings? > > > > Going into all the world includes your own community. House to House / > > Heart to Heart is helping more than 800 churches of Christ do just that. > > For more information, contact Todd Clippard at 205-921-9417 or > > [log in to unmask], or visit our website at www.housetohouse.com. > > > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > Tuesday's THOUGHT FOR THE DAY (Dec. 13, 2005) > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > > > SEASON'S GREETINGS? > > > > If you've watched television or listened to the radio lately, I'm > > sure you've heard a lot of talk about the fact that some retailers seem > > to be getting away from saying "Merry Christmas!" and instead are > > substituting phrases like "Season's Greetings!" or "Happy Holidays!" in > > their decorations and their advertisements. President Bush is even > > under criticism for the Christmas cards he sends out. > > > > Many Christians are outraged at this shift and view this as one > > more politically correct attempt to remove all references to Christ from > > our culture. In response, a group has been organized called the > > "Committee to Save Merry Christmas". Here are some of their thoughts: > > > > "This deliberate and intentional substitution of 'Merry Christmas" > > with un-celebratory phrases are thoughtless, condescending and hurtful. > > > > "Should you -- the purchasing public -- who honors the American > > tradition and culture of Christmas, continue to purchase Christmas gifts > > from these stores when they deliberately and intentionally refuse to > > acknowledge Christmas? Our committee believes you should not! We, > > instead, encourage you to shop where the values and meaning of Christmas > > are cherished." > > > > I have some concerns. On the one hand, I am concerned about > > attempts (sometimes blatant attempts) to remove all references to God or > > Christianity from our society. But, on the other hand, I have to > > remember that God did not give Sears (or any other store) the > > responsibility of telling people about Christ. He did not give our > > American government that responsibility. He gave it to those of us who > > are Christians. > > > > I think it's ironic that a lot of Christians are upset that Target > > doesn't greet them with "Merry Christmas!" when they walk through the > > door, but they will make no attempt to talk about Christ in their own > > lives. We prefer to say "It's a beautiful day!" instead of "What a > > beautiful day God has given us!" We prefer to say, "I've been lucky or > > fortunate" instead of saying "God has blessed me." We would never dream > > of saying "Christ is the only way of salvation." for fear of being > > labeled a fanatic. But then we'll get upset at a store which has a > > banner proclaiming "Happy Holidays" and refuse to do business with them. > > > > Folks, let put the responsibility where it belongs. God has given > > those of us who are Christians the task of sharing Christ with a world > > that doesn't know him. If we're going to get upset, let's start getting > > upset about the fact that WE'VE not been doing that like we should! > > > > Have a great day (and a merry Christmas)! > > > > Alan Smith > > White House Church of Christ > > White House, Tennessee > > www.TFTD-online.com > > > > ====================================================== > > > > You are currently subscribed to thought-for-the-day as: [log in to unmask] > > > > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to > > [log in to unmask] > > > > To subscribe to "Thought For the Day," send a blank email to > > [log in to unmask] > > > > Archives of past TFTD messages can be found at > > http://www.tftd-online.com > > > > Send any comments or questions to [log in to unmask] > > > >