I Believe in Christmas.

I believe Christmas is the day when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Messiah. I believe it is not a mere holiday but a Holy day. I believe every person reading this has the right to respectfully disagree with me and to see this day as merely a part of the "Holiday" season devoid of any religious significance.

I believe most of us men need to step back, take a deep breath and figure out how to wrap a present without cutting the paper too short and string a bow without slicing off our fingers.

I believe that we need to unearth the Christmas tree light mole that seems to always figure out a way to destroy the very same string of lights that were working just fine last year when we neatly wrapped and stored them.

I believe Jesus is saddened when those who disbelieve throw Christ out of Christmas. However, He is more deeply offended when those who call Him Lord forget what this day is all about.

I believe that my 14 grandkids, with sparkling eyes, will have their socks blessed off at the Christmas Eve service when the lights in the church are dimmed, the candles are lit and the hymn medley slowly builds toward the official launch of Christmas when the congregation belts out with one voice "O Holy Night."

I believe Christmas will usher in a season of great pain for those who are lonely, discouraged and forsaken. I believe we need to not only hear the jingle of the Salvation Army bells but catch a vision for the plight of the homeless, the hungry and the helpless souls who are all around us. I believe we need to hear the silent screams of the prisoner, the orphan, the abused and the widow who will sit in jail cells, shelters and nursing homes watching the doors and anxiously waiting for someone to remember to bring them good tidings of great joy. May they find the peace God promised to give to those who seek His face.

I believe "Mary Did You Know?" written by Mark Lowry with music by Buddy Green will become one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time and that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is already the worst (It is a myth that this song was a secret hymn with veiled symbolism).

I believe on Christmas morning my wife and I will hear the faint echoes of the laughter in the walls of our home as we remember how our now grown kids waited impatiently at the top of the stairs for the signal to pounce upon their presents.

I believe that the true Christmas message is this - God sent His Son into the world to reconcile and redeem fallen man by His death on a cross. I also believe that same spirit of reconciliation is to be extended into the countless fractured relationships, estranged marriages and broken friendships that have grieved many and brought great sorrow throughout the year.

I believe that the soldiers who protect our freedoms are to be especially remembered and that we must pray that all wars will one day cease. I believe there is real evil in the world and that these brave warriors must stare down its ugly throat every day even as they long to come home.

I believe in Christmas, I really do. I believe in the mystique of the virgin birth, the shepherds in the fields, the angelic chorus, the great love story of Joseph and Mary, a divinely unhooked star and the visit of the wise men.

But I also believe that many will miss the message of the prophet who declared 750 years before the birth of Jesus... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

In His grip,

Dr. Chuck Betters

MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC