The Practical Parson

 In this festive season of the year, it is more than desirable that those of with means should make some provision for the poor and destitute; or whatever it was the Charles Dickens wrote in "A Christmas Carol".  As a pastor, I am always more than happy to assist with charitable endeavors when they are undertaken in goodwill; however there are trends in "charity" which are increasing in popularity and insanity each year.   The first trend is people making demands of charity.  Not in the sense of people asking for assistance who are truly in need of it, mind you; but those who, when faced with a gift from the heart, turn it aside and demand something else instead.  For example, when you see a person on the street corner with a sign "homeless and hungry, anything will help" and you bring them food; yet they yell at you and demand cash instead.  This is enough to put many people off the idea of giving to those in need; because if your sign you hold claims...

  Those who claim to have no enemies, have even fewer morals.         -the Practical Parson To quote an age-old saying: you've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything.  The nature of holding morals and standards for one's self will inevitably cause those who seek to use or lord over you to despise you; because it means there is something they cannot control about you.  This is why when wicked and manipulative people enter our lives, the first thing they assault are our morals and foundations of our standards.  Each and every human being on the face of the earth is unique, and uniquely blessed and gifted by our God with talents and abilities that others do not share.  Never sacrifice what makes you YOU in order to please someone who will be gone the moment you are no longer convenient for them. 

  Welcome, Dear Reader; and a Merry Christmas to you! Each year we commemorate the birth of Christ by church services and age-old rituals at church and home; to welcome the Lord of all creation into our hearts and homes.  However, increasingly I find, that our so-called "modern society" seems hell-bent on trying to undermine and destroy the very foundations of this Sacred Holiday; as though it were nothing more than a mere bootleg copy of pagan celebrations.   The argument over what in our Christmas celebrations is a holdover from pre-Christian traditions has been going on ever since the Puritans ruled England; and is unlikely (sadly) to end anytime soon.   The entire argument about Christmas's supposedly "pagan roots" stems entirely from the Puritanical notion that since the Romans were celebrating Christmas, it must therefore be a pagan holiday; since good, reformed Christians would NEVER celebrate a holiday.  Keeping in mind of course, that the Puri...