The lights are up and on casting a soft glow over
the gardens, the house is aglow outside with soft white lights,
for the first time this year.
Its really quietly enchanting.

The beautiful Douglas fir tree is standing in the living room.
It was the only tree we looked at this year.
Apparently the Queen of the Tree Fairies had told John this was the tree.
It was the first tree that John saw, the only tree he saw.
He grabbed it and said what do you think,
and he says, this is it, don’t you think??
Walk around it, tell me!
I have no comment other
than yes its a nice fresh tree, pretty tall tree.
hmm..I should have known that the Queen of the Tree Fairies had been
busy by the ,I have to have this tree desperate look in
his eyes. Well lets take it say’s John.
That’s it?

You cant even pretend that’s shopping for a Christmas tree.
So the shortest shopping record for a Christmas tree is.. maybe 4 seconds.
Which is how long it took John to walk to THE tree and grab it.

Then I was told trees have to be bagged, its a rule
In This Small Town, Florida people bag their trees.
I giggled, and said well we used to know poachers who bagged the elk..
no, he was serious.
Trees will be bagged.

Huh??
Bag a tree.. Why?
That’s unnatural, weird even.

Christmas trees have to be bagged.
Now John never said it was the LAW in This Small Town,Florida,
but I had the feeling that’s what he meant.
In This Small Town, Florida trees are bagged. That’s the way it is.
Something about damage on the drive home.
So Maybe in This Small Town,Florida they are afraid the trees will jump out of your truck..
and hurt someone..
I really don’t know.
But I do know in Cowboy Heaven, Montana
trees were just trees. They didn’t get bagged.

We were in different universes . Again, you know the alternate universe.
That would be the other one where
Christmas trees were cut with a ax, tried to a saddle horn and
dragged ,not pulled on a sled, DRAGGED, down a mountain
without being damaged.
This apparently was only a dream from a former universe .

So the tree was bagged and put in the truck,
thank goodness it didn’t have to ride inside on the seat.
John was happy. I was happy. The tree, bagged and quiet was happy
for the moment.

Its Sunday, today we go to church, we gather with other Christian families and
we are fed by the Spirit of God thru the Word of God.
Simple. We do this today, like we do most Sundays.
It’s important that we have fellowship as part of the body of Christ.
Its important to me. Its a big part of my life.
I am a Christian.

It is also the custom of the church to celebrate Christ’s Birth on the 25th of December.
and since it is a Sunday, the day that is customary for Christians to assemble..
Why would they not? Convenience? A day off?
What’s wrong with this?

Brad at The brokenmessenger has some very good points on this.

How many families go to church twice a year?
Do we really want to miss the opportunity to share the good news with them,
what if it’s the final opportunity that a unbeliever has ?

What was the great commission??
[19] “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20 NASB)

Or to miss a chance to do the job given to us?

How many times, before and after church, is the opportunity given to talk to newcomers, to welcome them
to introduce them to the family of God?

Romans 10:14
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

The good NEWS!

IF what we have been teaching our children and grandchildren is true,
that the Best and greatest GIFT is Christ Jesus,
Then what are we teaching them by staying home on Christmas day?
That sitting in our jammies around a tree, ripping open gifts is more important
than…The Fellowship….
Being part of the Church on Christmas ,being fed Spiritually,recognizing that the candles,
the carols,are a part of the CELEBRATION of
the birth of the Messiah. Christ born in the flesh.
Son of the God most high, born of a virgin.
Our Savior.

We will be in church December 25th, just like we are most Sundays,
giving thanks and fellowshipping together.

If you are interested in other opinions, or a different perspective
take a look here. Lyn at Bloggin’ Outloud has pulled together some interesting and diverse view points.