I’m confused.

Like really.  I am SO confused and I need some clarification

I see an epidemic that is spreading across the nation.

I feel like world has taken the “Christ” out of Christmas

On a more controversial scale I feel like time has convoluted our mission

Because sometimes I feel like the world has taken the “Christ” out of Christian

Now I’m going to say something because Christ gave me the talent of poetry

And I see an issue that is really irking me

We were taught that this was a time of giving

A time to bond together and remembering that this was the day that our savior was born

Embarked on a journey that was outside of the norm

Hated and scorned

Lied on and murdered

Resurrected and returned

All to give us the greatest gift that we sure don’t deserve

And how dare we as a people take this gift for granted

Treating it with abuse no sooner than its handed

Preaching things clearly that do not correlate with God, further causing spiritual damage

And some of these “Christians” out here seriously need to be reprimanded

I see gifts of unforgiveness left and right

Evil intentions underneath smiles that are bright

Gifts of spitefulness and revenge

Persecution of God forgiven sins

Self-righteousness in pulpits

The biggest criminals accusing the innocents of being culprits

The people that Christ reached out to were the starving and the poor

But now they are the group that is widely ignored

We live in a country where we have an “every man for himself” boast fest

As long as I’m doing better than my brother, I can careless

Those that are enemies of Christ are committing coup d’etats

Magnifying every flaw

We live in a world where we are separate by wars of freedom and choice

The enemy is fighting to snatch away our voice

And the worst part is that we are our own worst enemy

Because the spiritual deaths are not caused by insurgents but bullets that are friendly

It has gotten so bad that our faith has gotten political

Conservatives apparently wrote the book on Christianity

And if you are a liberal than you need pray to cure your insanity

And if you want to know where I got it from just ask Sean Hannity

How in the world did God’s word get lost in translation?

His word stays the same

There was no rough draft

You cannot reset the game

God’s word is God’s word whether it is the NIV or King James

Now that I’ve gotten everyone’s attention

I will tell you where I’m going with this

This season is all about Christmas

We give gifts and eat wonderful food

Carols we sing

You know, just a few of your favorite things

Christmas is a happy time and all is bliss

So I’m going propose a challenge to those of you who are making a list

Instead of cards to target, best buy, Gucci, and Payless

I want everyone to try a new kind of gift

You can’t buy it

It comes from the heart

I want everyone to give a gift of Christ

And in order to do this, you have to be ready to shine your light

The person that you’ve had a grudge with for so long that they’ve made it to your hit list

It’s time to give them the gift of forgiveness

Where bitterness was, replace it with something sweet

Where anger was, replace it with peace

Where you have hostility, give a gift of humility

Where you speak death, speak a gift of life

Where you wish for wrong, wish for a gift of right

What happened to doing unto others as we would want other do unto us?

As Christian’s we are not giving for reciprocation

We are giving because Christ gave to us

We don’t do the right thing to get something back

And if you disagree then I suggest you open the word up and check your facts

Because Matthew 5:16 says “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

The key word is “Father” not what “Look what Suzy did for Kevin”.

I am a Christian

I’m not perfect, but I know the sacrifice made for me

Christ went through all the beatings and sufferings just so that I would be freed

And believe me I have a very long spiritual Christmas list

Lots of gifts that I need to give

Just so I can do what I was called to do so that I may eternally live

And so other can see Christ through me

And make take a little more interest in this Holy Trinity

Let’s get back to our original mission

Let’s get back to bearing the fruits of the spirit and to be sure to inform all that wish to hear it

I want to see gifts of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance

I’ll put it into a Christmas carol for you:

Love in our hearts and joy in our souls

Peace among conflicts and faith that God knows

Meekness in storms and goodness among wrong

Gentle like spirits and joy in our songs

Temperance through patience

Buildings bonds through longsuffering

These are just a few Christ-like things

Christ is coming back and keep in remembrance that we need to get ready and have everything in line

Because as we say at the University of Redlands “it’s grind time”

Tis the season everyone

It’s time to go shopping in our hearts and pick up those gifts

Time to start some soul searching and writing out our lists

Time to do away with spiritual ignorance and most of all religiousness

It is time to ask ourselves “What are we going to give for Christmas?”