First Three Gifts on Christmas

What are you getting for Christmas?

The Christmas season involves lists of gifts we will be getting or receiving from others.  The stores are packed with shoppers on their mission to finish their list and checking it more than twice.  

In the story of the birth of Jesus, we are told of when the three magi brought gifts to the newborn. This moment has been depicted in Christmas plays in churches for hundreds of years. The gifts were not something we would give someone, nor do they seem very practical for a baby such as clothes, diapers or toys. The wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

What were the meaning of these gifts? 

GOLD
The meaning gold was to symbolize what Jesus was going to become king. Gold is a precious metal and as such was a very valuable commodity. Its value could very well have financed Joseph and Mary’s trip to Egypt. 

FRANKINCENSE
I’m sure you are puzzled about the gift of frankincense. I can’t help to think of Frankenstein, but this gift has nothing to do with the fictional monster. Frankincense is A fragrant resin or gum which was used in temple worship, symbolizing Jesus' divinity and priestly role. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God.

MYRRH
Myrrh was an expensive spice used for anointing the dead, symbolizing Jesus' humanity, suffering, and sacrificial death. It’s kinda strange giving a gift for his future death. Myrrh, which is product of Arabia, was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article

Frankincense and myrrh were precious commodities from the Arabian Peninsula, traded by the Nabateans, suggesting the Magi's origins and the gifts' significance as tribute or diplomatic offerings. Both resins had medicinal properties and were used for healing and in perfumes, offering practical benefits for the family.

These were some strange gifts for a baby on that first Christmas morning, but the birth of Christ wasn’t about the gifts the wise men brought to Him but the gift that God had given the world and all of mankind from that day forward. 

What gift does Christ want from us?  He just wants a relationship with us.  He doesn’t want our money or any gifts from us.  His most precious gift is our love for Him.  Sounds too easy?  It does but why make it complicated?  Religions want to make it about keeping rules, being perfect or your church attendance.  Are there standards Christ wants us to live by?  Yes, but we often make the mistake in leading with that instead of the relationship we have with Christ.  When we have a relationship with Him, those things will follow.

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Thank you for reading my blog throughout the year.      

Merry Christmas Crunch

Every Christmas season I seek out a box of Christmas Crunch. It is my go-to snack during the season. I don’t normally eat it as a cereal but will pour some in a snack bowl at some point during the day. 

Christmas Crunch (also known as Holiday Crunch in Canada) was first released for the 1997 Christmas season it contains the signature Cap'n Crunch yellow corn squares with red and green Crunch Berries.

Currently, the Crunch Berries are shaped as Christmas-themed items (shapes vary yearly) and the cereal is packaged in a holiday-themed box with the Cap'n wearing a Christmas scarf (box color and hat type vary yearly).

When the cereal was first introduced, the Crunch Berries were spherical-shaped and the cereal contained a toy or Christmas tree ornament inside the box. On a few occasions, the cereal has been packaged with a packed-in food gimmick to add to the cereal, like Jingle Bell Rock pieces that changed the milk's color to red (used in the 1998 version) or sprinkled icing (used in the 1995 version).

Quaker data show that Cap'n Crunch Christmas Crunch accounts for 13 to 18 percent of the brand's total annual sales.

The seasonal, limited-edition available in stores starting from late October through the holiday season, appearing as early as Halloween and disappearing after Christmas, so you'll generally find it around late fall and early winter. I usually find it at Walmart or Target.

Merry Christmas and have a cup of Christmas Crunch.

Putting Christ Back in Christian

During the holiday season I always hear the line that we need to put Christ back into Christmas. Certainly we need to remember and acknowledge Christ during the holiday season; however, we live in a world today where the influence of the Christian label has been weakened.

Why is that?

I viewed a clip from the son of a televangelist who said bluntly, "You can't be a Democrat and be a Christian, let me tell you why..."

This is the problem today. Christians have been hijacked by politics. It has gotten quite ugly and skewed. Being a Christian has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican.

Sadly, I see it now when the word "Christian" is mentioned, people roll their eyes and are immediately skeptical.

So, let's get back to the basics here. What is the definition of Christian?

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, believing He is the Son of God and the Messiah, centered on His life, teachings, crucifixion and resurrection, with main teachings centered on love for God and neighbor, repentance from sin and a commitment to spiritual transformation through faith in Christ.

The term "Christian" was first used in the city of Antioch in the first century around 40 A.D. as recorded in the Book of Acts (Acts 11:26) where disciples of Jesus were first called by this name by non-Jewish inhabitants to identify them as followers of Christ.

So why has Christian become a public relations problem?

The main thing Christians are doing wrong is they are trying to use Christian to create earthly kingdoms in the forms of churches and political agendas. We are still trying to legislate Christianity into our country and the world. Let me tell you that Christianity is never going to be in charge of this world until the return of Christ.  We have lost sight of the main thing by promoting our own agendas.

It is sad to see how the reputation of Christian has been tarnished.  Christianity has been weaponized for hate, division and judgment.  Unfortunately, I don't see it ever changing back.  I think we are too far gone down the road where Satan has rendered Christians powerless and makes the work of people who are true examples of Christians much more difficult.

I get it.  I grew up in the church and Christianity.  I have seen the good, bad and ugly about it, yet I still remain.  Am I perfect?  No.  Do I try to force my beliefs on others?  Never.  I never quote scriptures at people, and I refrain from judging on issues that I don't agree with.  I have had every reason to walk away.  Yes, I am a Christian because I believe in Jesus Christ.  

My Christian experience has evolved over the years of my life.  It went from a Church-centered relationship where the church told me what to do to a personal relationship with Christ.  Some of my earlier writings and posts were judgmental and extreme but now I have come to know to focus on my own relationship with God.  

We need to be more authentic and transparent to others.  We need to focus on genuine connections with others and service to people as individuals not just as potential converts.  We should emphasize on love, service and community rather than trying to appear better than others.  

When I say "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin"

I'm whispering "I was lost - now I'm found and forgiven

When I say "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong; I am professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.