As some might already know, the word “Christmas” originates as a compound meaning “Christ’s mass”. It is derived from Old English Crīstesmæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.

When we break down Crīstesmæsse further, we find Christes comes from the Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of the Hebrew word meaning “Messiah”; and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist.

“Xmas” is not an abbreviation of Christmas, but an alternate form based on the initial letter chi (Χ) in Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), or “Christ”. While some think it is taking Christ out of Christmas, the origins show it is merely another representation of Christ in the word.

This may be interesting to some, but does it answer the question as to the correct name for the holiday? No. The reason is simple: it is not the name of the holiday that gives the celebration the meaning; it is the intent of our hearts and our purpose in the celebration. Knowing the origins merely helps us formulate a response to those taking offense to the name we use for the holiday.

I’m not citing exact figures here, but let’s just say there are a gajillion people celebrating Christmas as believers (aka Christians). We have to recognize there are also a cazillion atheists celebrating a day off work, cashing in on Christmas deals, and many are exchanging gifts in their own traditions.

Does it really matter to me if they call the day a Winter Holiday and I call it Christmas? Am I offended? Absolutely not.

Does it bother me if they are offended? Absolutely not.

With the options available to us today, if someone is offended by the holiday name “Christmas”, they can buy a calendar that calls the day whatever they want to call it. I will not require them or expect them to call it Christmas, but they shouldn’t require or expect me to call it what they want to call it, either.

Yet, as a believer, what should be my response? Let’s check out Peter’s answer in 1 Peter 3:15-16:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

My response should begin with knowing in my heart Christ is my Lord. My relationship with Him lays this out very well. Then, I should be prepared to give an answer if questioned regarding my hope, faith, or relationship with Christ. But, and here is the huge point often overlooked, my response must always be given with gentleness and respect.

These last two words are the key to expressing the true meaning of the holiday: Love.

What will be your response?

Glenn Sasscer
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New crayons.

Some kids would open the lid and dump their crayons out, snagging a couple here and there and drawing crude pictures on paper with no respect or reverence. They would casually cast the box aside, where it would fall on the floor and get kicked around. When it came time to clean up, the crayons would go back in the crumbled box in any mix-n-match order, some breaking as others would get jammed in so the lid could be crushed closed.

Two extremes, huh?

I believe Scripture calls us to find the middle ground between the two extremes given above. We are called to be good stewards over what God provides for us, yet we are also called to serve God and the good of others.

When Jesus is asked the question about the most important law, His answer is recorded in Mark 12:29-31.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

This mindset answers many of our questions and should direct our priorities. Switching this mindset around often causes us confusion and frustration. Consider just the example of the crayons.

Keeping the crayons in the box serves no purpose except fueling my selfishness of having a new box of crayons and knowing they are pristine and perfect. How foolish, huh? (Hey, I was just a kid…) Dumping them out and abusing them means they will not last very long and will quickly be used up or worthless. The crayons in the box can serve no purpose, yet pulling them out will allow the opportunity to create something and… and maybe even share the crayons with someone who ruined all of their own.

Ok, this example is a stretch, but check out your own internal inventory. What has the Lord provided for you that you may not be putting to use? Is there a material item? Is there a talent or skill? Is there something He provided for a purpose that is not being fulfilled?

Are you hoarding your box of crayons?

Glenn Sasscer
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The door is always open. This door has two sides to it, though. Sometimes that open door looks like an escape route to me, while those on the other side are looking at the door as an opportunity for employment. We look at the same door, the same job… me, looking at it as an escape from a trap and others, looking at it as hope, a new start, the American dream, and freedom.

The funny thing about perspective is it doesn’t look the same from another’s viewpoint.

When we look at the Cross, we sometimes consider the Cross as an option, a choice we make, or an alternative to death. We see a door… a door leading to what some call a religion or churchy way of life. We see this door in a very casual way.

When we look at the Cross from God’s perspective, Scripture shows us a viewpoint of intense love, no other option to bridge the gap between God and what He considers His ultimate creation, an open door… waiting… anticipating… our participation. He sees a door… a door leading to a crucial relationship He desires with a passionate love. He sees this door in a very vital and essential way.

Same door.

Revelations 3:20-21
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

The knock is not inviting us into religion or a churchy way of life; the knock is inviting us into a relationship of intense love and value. Will you answer the knock?

Glenn Sasscer
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There’s that point when we are trying to start the car and the engine turns over and over. Then we back off on the key, thinking spastically through the simple steps of putting the key in the ignition and turning it to see if we missed something important. You know the point? When we try it again, the engine keeps turning over, but still doesn’t catch. Then we are past the point and we know we have a problem.

There’s the point when we just remembered the meat in the oven, the food on the stove, or the burgers out on the grill. We were distracted, but maybe we’re not too late. You know the point? Yet, by the time we get there the burning smell is already proving we are too late. Then we are past the point and we know we have a problem.

There’s a point in our faith when we have coasted for a time, taking in life and following a routine. You know the point? We look back on the past days or weeks wondering if it is true, could we be deceived? Then we are past the point and we know we have a problem.

We reach these points in life, hoping what is actually happening is not happening, then the truth sets in like a sinking weight in our chests, stealing our breath and causing our hearts to pick up a beat or two. I think what really catches us is deep inside, we know these incidents could have been avoided.

There are various reasons we may reach the points listed above, yet many times these problems may be avoided though proactive measures, through being diligent in our efforts, and through being alert. Sometimes, it is just one little step… did we check the oil? Did we check the gas? Did we turn down the heat on the food? Did we seek God and His presence, seeking out Him in our relationship?

He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.
Acts 17:26-28

It is not what we know; it is Who we know. It is not about religion; it is about relationship.

What is this really asking? Did we pray? Did we say “Hi God”? Did we speak to Him? Did we acknowledge our relationship with Him recently? 

If not, then we are past the point and we know we have a problem.

Glenn Sasscer
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I wonder if that is why worry or concern is sometimes called excess baggage in our lives? We can cart the worries and concern off to the therapist, to the church, or give them away, but somehow they wind up back on us.

In my last article, Clackity-Clack Anxiety, one of the points made is how life’s worries and the weight of our concern gets in the way of us enjoying life. Try to imagine going through your day carrying several bags of luggage everywhere you went and never being able to set them down to rest; holding a suitcase in your lap whenever you sat down and constantly moving the weight so it didn’t dig into your leg; and struggling with a backpack – you know, adjusting the straps on your shoulders to somehow make the load lighter. Now remember, throughout your day, you cannot set the baggage on the floor or give yourself any rest time… how well will you enjoy your day? Think you will be tired out by the end?

Excess baggage.

Luke records what Jesus has to say about worry in Luke 12:25, with, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” As in Matthew, there is a whole passage laying out the matter of worry and concern, comparing it to a lack of trust in the Lord. Just a few verses later in Luke 12:32, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid… for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

For a believer, worry and concern should be a thing of the past. The question I need to be asking myself is, “Do I really trust the Lord?” This is a decision I need to make before I can get rid of my excess baggage.

Take a moment and consider the gift Jesus gives us in His promise recorded in John 14:27.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus has this thing called peace He gives to each of us. This is a gift; this is a promise. If we do not receive the gift, the gift is not ours. As with any gift, we must make the decision to receive it. Funny thing is, when we are carrying around all that excess baggage, we don’t have any room for this gift.

I realized a couple of weeks ago I was carrying around way too much excess baggage. Bit-by-bit, I started making the decision to trust the Lord with each one of those worries or concerns, bit-by-bit getting rid of the excess baggage. As I did, I was more able to receive the peace Jesus promises me; again, a purposeful decision.

How about you? Are you getting tired of the excess baggage? Time to make a couple of decisions?

Glenn Sasscer
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And then came adult life. For some reason, local festivals and carnivals filled the place of amusement parks until about two years ago when we were blessed with the ability to purchase season passes for Cedar Point. Now I am riding those same roller coasters, but I have my three teens riding with me and the experience is completely different. As a father, my concern for my three teens… my thoughts of being responsible for them, of taking care of them… clouded my roller coaster experience.

I start looking at the beams shaking and vibrating around the loose bolts on the clackity-clack hill. I start wondering how long the roller coaster has been there and about the standard wear and tear of the critical components. All of a sudden, the concerns and worries of life started to hinder the excitement and adrenaline rush… I couldn’t fully enjoy the roller coasters like I could when I was younger.

This may not be typical for every adult, yet it certainly reflects life in many cases. How often do we allow the concerns and worries of life to hinder our appreciation of what we have now? How often do we fail to enjoy the life we have now due to heavy hearts, depression, or anxiety? Should it be this way for believers? Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:25 to not worry.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Of course, this is not saying we should stop eating and run around naked, as Jesus also calls us to be good stewards of what He has provided – our bodies. In this case, He is specifically addressing the aspect of trusting God to provide for our needs and not letting our focus be consumed by the pursuit of wealth. He continues in Matthew 6:27, with

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

On the roller coaster, I let my focus on things beyond my control hinder my enjoyment of the moment. I certainly wasn’t going to throw off the restraints and stand up in my seat, but taking a deep breath and enjoying the moment with my kids would have been far better the freaking out inside. Jesus gives us another instruction in Matthew 18:3-4.

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Is He calling us to be immature? Is He telling us to behave like children? No, He calls us to humble ourselves like children, who simply trust and do not worry as if they can do anything about the circumstances around them anyway.

Like I could do something about the loose bolts or worn out parts on the roller coaster while I was restrained in the seat? Like I can do anything about 80% of my fears and anxiety everyday?

Time for me to recognize everything is not under my control, I cannot fix everything, and there are quite a few things I just need to trust God about. Consider me humbled… or at least working on it.

How about you?

Glenn Sasscer
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I have eternal life. I do not need to be a vampire, so I do not need to side with Edward or see any advantage to being on his team.

I do not need to find a fountain of youth to live forever. I have no use for pharmaceuticals to extend my life indefinitely. This body will die, but not the part of me that makes me who I am… the essence of Glenn. This part of me will continue to live eternally and will be given a new body (thankfully, this one is getting old and wore out).

My promise is from God. One of the most popular verses quoted in Scripture gives me this promise, found in John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I think I see this word “believes” as the key to this promise. This word is translated from the Greek word, “pisteuo”, which has a primary emphasis to put all of your trust, livelihood, and wellbeing into an understanding. This makes sense, as even the demons of hell believe in Jesus, yet none put their trust, livelihood, and wellbeing in His hands.

Can we honestly put all of our trust, livelihood, and wellbeing into anyone’s hands? Can we, in today’s world and way of life (wherever you live), fully trust anyone?

I think we can work on it. I am. I am working on putting all of my trust, livelihood, and wellbeing in God’s hands. There are still parts I pull back from time to time. There are still times I take control. There are still times I get in the way, but I’m working on it. Yet my eternal life is not based on how well I am doing at trusting God, it is based on my decision and desire to trust Him.

I made the decision to trust Jesus. My desire is to trust Jesus with pisteuo.

This is why I will never die.

Glenn Sasscer
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I do not walk alone. I am not home alone. I do not drive alone. I am not on my own. I am not left alone and I do not need to phone home.

I cannot be by myself, unaccompanied, without aid, or lonely.

I can never be lost. I can never be put in solitary confinement. I can never be stranded. I can never be abandoned. I can never be cutoff. I can never be isolated. I can never be secluded.

I will never be forgotten.

We can read Scripture and understand these simple truths, but do they travel the long road from our academic minds to the passion of our hearts? Do we truly believe?

Jesus gives us His promise of being with us in Matthew 28:20.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

There are no time limits, expiration date, or terms and conditions on this promise; the promise just “IS” without exception. This promise guarantees every statement above.

If all I had was this promise that would be more than enough… but there is more. Beyond the promise Jesus gives us to never leave us, there is more.

There is love, as John writes in I John 3:1:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

We have the promise of being loved and received as the children of God. This is not just a passing love… a fleeting love… a distant love… a standoffish love… this is the intense, enveloping love of God, lavished upon us.

I encourage you to consider these two promises today; carry them with you and think about them, letting them travel the long road from your academic mind to the passion of your heart.

We are never alone.

Glenn Sasscer
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What do you think?

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I am not shouting, “I am clean livin.”
I am whispering, “I was lost, now I’m found & forgiven.”

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I do not speak of it with pride.
I’m confessing I stumble & need Christ to be my guide.

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I am not trying to be strong.
I am professing I am weak & need His strength to carry on.

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I am not bragging of success.
I am admitting failure. I need God to clean my mess.

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I am not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name.

When I say, “I am a Christian”…
I am not holier than thou.
I am just a sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow!

A poem sent by a friend, Sean Hart.
http://www.seanhartworks.com

Glenn Sasscer
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From the outside of the pieces of wood, they looked the same in just about every measurement; what makes the difference is what is on the inside.

I think we see a similar example in a warning Jesus gives us when He explains why He speaks in parables. In Matthew 13:14-15, He refers to a prophecy given by Isaiah.

You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.

Jesus gives a stark warning about the religious folks attending services, hearing yet not listening, watching but not seeing, and lacking the understanding in their hardened hearts. What makes a difference here is what is on the inside: are their hearts heavy with calloused judgment, indifference, and unforgiveness? Are they motivated in selfishness, attending the services to be seen and acknowledge, allowing them to cross one obligation off their To-Do list, yet never really entering into the purpose of the service?

As always, Jesus focuses on the inside, what motivates us, what is in our hearts. In Matthew 6:21, He states:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Here is where we get our measurement for our self-evaluation. Simply put: Where is our treasure? That is, where is our focus, our obsession, our interest, or our motivation? If and when we attend a service, of what are we thinking?

I confess I have carried a heavy heart into service many times. I have carried judgment, indifference, and unforgiveness into worship, teachings, and times of prayer. For this, I confess to Him my mistakes, repenting.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples in the above verses; Jesus is speaking to us in the above verses. Do you hear it?

Glenn Sasscer
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