Brazil Times: Blog: Commercialism and Faith during the Christmas Season

Commercialism and Faith during the Christmas Season

Posted Monday, December 1, 2008, at 7:11 AM
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Christmas has its roots in pagan festivals that precede the birth of Jesus, yet Christians link the holiday with the birth of Christ. The birth of Christ occurred during a Roman census that, most likely and based on the historical record, did not occur in December. However, as a Christian, I feel that a celebration of God sending His Son to mankind is something worth celebrating. Apparently, many other people feel the same, to the point that the actual date of the birth of Jesus actually has little meaning.

Then, on the commercial side of Christmas, it is a season of gift-giving and large profits in the retail sales industry. The giving of gifts at Christmas is linked back to Saint Nicholas, whose story evolved into the legendary Santa Claus with the embellishment of his historical activities of generosity. This also fit neatly with the gifts presented to Jesus and His parents by the Magi at His birth.

So we have a celebration of the birth of Christ, probably a few months earlier than the actual date, combined with a season of gift-giving; with a feast for good measure and enough of a sense of peace during the season that it, for a short time, could still the dogs of war during the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II. That appears to be a good reason to celebrate the season to me.

So, here's a wish and a prayer that your Holiday Season be bright and cheerful. May we all remember that no matter how it came to be, to Christians, Jesus is the Reason for the season and keep Christ in Christmas for them. May the gifts you give please the recipient without breaking your bank account and may you enjoy the gifts you receive even if they are not exactly what you wanted. May you enjoy your friends and family in peace and comfort. May you have enough to spare to give something to those less fortunate as giving without being asked has its own rewards.

A Merry Christmas to all!

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I have not lost my mind and rambling on wildly, although it may seem that way, I am referring to your letter on the opinion page it brings up a point about should 6th grade be included in the middle school or should it remain in elementary, I will have to make that decision soon for my child and the two alternatives look to be , go to North Clay or put your child on a bus everyday to Clay City, if you have a thought on that I would be appreciative, and I apologize for taking up space about an entirely different subject.Thanks...

-- Posted by Centered on Mon, Dec 1, 2008, at 4:25 PM

Our pastor last Sunday reminded us that Christmas is a holiday where we celebrate someone's birthday by giving someone other than Him gifts. Maybe this year we can find one child or family or even charitable organization to donate to on top of what we normally do. Even if it is a small donation. Maybe the value of one gift even. How about MORE than the change in your pocket into the Kettle when Salvation Army volunteers are ringing that bell. So many are hurting this year. Wouldn't that be a great gift for Him?

-- Posted by Jenny Moore on Tue, Dec 2, 2008, at 5:57 AM

Centered………I don't mind the question. Research that I quoted indicates that a percentage of sixth graders have trouble adapting to middle school and therefore have discipline problems that affect them throughout middle school. This affects them academically, also. Success through the fifth grade is not indicative as to what will occur when the student transitions into middle school as students that had no problem suddenly have problems. Demographics of the family or prior academic success do not seem to be an indicator or factor as all demographics and academic levels are affected. This is one of the reasons that I am opposed to the current building project, I see a good reason to put the sixth grade back into our elementary schools but we don't have the classrooms to do it.

As to your options, unless you live in the Jackson Township area, I think there is a financial and time burden to consider in sending your child to Clay City as transportation is only provided from that area by the school corporation. Depending on where you normally travel, with the changes to the law concerning school funding, there is also the option of crossing corporation lines without tuition costs to consider. Also, for all that has been said negatively about North Clay, it is a good school with a lot of caring people in it. The majority of students and parents that deal with North Clay do not have a problem, but some do. The same could be said, and has, about Clay City.

I know that it's not a whole lot of help, but life is a game of chance. You must weigh what you know of your child, your family and what you think of each school, and take a chance. You can change your mind later and do something different if it doesn't appear to be working.

Leo L. Southworth

leosouthworth@gmail.com

-- Posted by FlyinLion on Thu, Dec 4, 2008, at 10:27 AM

Hello and thank you for taking time to answer my question. It was not that easy since you don't know me or anything about us so I appreciate the thoughts and time spent on the reply. I do know that the 6th grade is still in the elementary school in Clay City and some parents drive their kids to Jackson to get on the Clay City bus but its not that cut and dried, I just like the idea of 6th grade as elementary school, but its worth a lot to go to school where you live, and since I can't have it both ways, therein lies the dilemma. Again Thank You, did not want you to feel I put you on the spot Just want to gather as much info as I can before making a decision .

-- Posted by Centered on Thu, Dec 4, 2008, at 6:38 PM

Lol........Centered! Gather and listen to all of the advice you can get, then decide your course of action.

My son had no problem going to North Clay, two of his 2nd cousins and two of my step-granddaughters also had no problem. Two step-grandsons and maybe a third did have problems starting in the sixth grade at North Clay. None had disciplinary problems in elementary.

It's a guess. It's never "cut and dried".......lol. You might try Clay City and find that your child didn't handle the transition to that school well. Like I said, I don't know your child or his/her background.

As for my son, I kept him in the same elementary school even when I moved out of its district. I attended 7 elementary schools before I left the sixth grade and while it didn't, I think, hurt me academically, I left so many friends that I got to the point that I didn't try to make as many friends. Instead of playing with friends, I read books.Of course, most of the time I also lived on farms or out in the country so neighbors were generally not close by either even if they were close to my age.

Hope this helps. I hope God guides you to the best for you and yours! I'll pray on that.

Leo

-- Posted by FlyinLion on Thu, Dec 4, 2008, at 7:30 PM

Centered ~

I, too, have a fifth grader moving to NCMS~ I have already had three kids go thru NCMS & not completely easy rides ~ but, I can tell you this ~ advocate for your child when you know that your child needs you ~ I basically knew when my kids were embellishing just a wee bit & when they were absolutely telling me the truth ~ the second instance is when I went to NCMS & fought for my kids ~ normally with honey (you know you can gather more bees) BUT ~ I always made it clear that I would not settle ~ From experience I can tell you that keeping an open line of communication with my kids (even dragging it out of them) really helped me to support & help my kids on their journey at NCMS ~ and it also made the communication with the schools better ~ the staff knew when I showed up something or someone was going to hit the fan ~ better said, they knew I had a legitamite reason for my appearance ~ & with that the staff took me seriously ~ I hope that my next experience will be just as good as the last three ~

-- Posted by karebabe on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 8:52 AM

Thank You for the input, I'm really quaking in my boots about this North Clay thing now after reading all the comments after the school board article its hard to hear all that stuff, but at least now I have a better handle on why we were bombarded with the f word when we took our daughter to see High School Musical a couple of weeks ago, a young man about that age couldn't put together a complete sentence without peppering us all with his foul mouth we were not allowed to use words like that and he certainly didn't show that any adult in his life had ever expressed shock at that language. Doesn't sound to me like High School musical bears any resemblance to the music that plays at North Clay!!

-- Posted by Centered on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 9:42 AM

Why does everything I type show up twice????

-- Posted by Centered on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 9:44 AM

Centered ~

Isn't is amazing how some children talk? I spoke to a high school kid at a football game several years ago that dropped the f-bomb in front of my Mother far too many times ~ he looked at me like I was the moron ~ my elementary girls know FAR more than what I ever knew at their age & I'm not too sure I really like that idea ~

Hope the input here helped ~ I have no idea what happened at NCMS but it must've been really something ~ or on the other hand ~ maybe really nothing at all ~ never know who/what to believe ~ I would've liked to have been a fly on the wall at the Executive Meeting ~

I don't know why your comments are in twice but I have noticed that that happens numerous times & often I've noticed that the posted name is there without a comment ~ I really have no idea how that happens ~

Glad we are on good terms again ~

-- Posted by karebabe on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 12:48 PM

LOL.........Karebabe....some of those Excutive Sessions would be in rooms covered with "flies" if we could get away with it.......LOL

-- Posted by FlyinLion on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 10:28 AM

Especially this last Executive Meeting ~ we will probably never know the total truth ~ just what we read here or hear on the streets ~

-- Posted by karebabe on Sun, Dec 7, 2008, at 10:14 AM