Should Christians have Christmas Trees?
Posted by wagardner - 10/12/07 at 04:12:00 pmChristians and Christmas Trees
As the Christmas Season approaches, questions like this sometimes arise. Like everything in life, it is important to approach these issues with biblical discernment.
In this case, we see nothing wrong with the traditional Christmas tree. However, some have taught that it’s wrong for anyone to have a Christmas tree in their home. But are their reasons valid? We don’t think so. Let’s look at the two most common objections people make against having a Christmas tree.
First, some object on the basis that Christmas trees have pagan origins. It is believed that Boniface, English missionary to Germany in the eighth century, instituted the first Christmas tree. He supposedly replaced sacrifices to the god Odin’s sacred oak with a fir tree adorned in tribute to Christ. But certain other accounts claim that Martin Luther introduced the Christmas tree lighted with candles. Based on that information you could say the Christmas tree has a distinguished Christian pedigree.
However, even if a pagan background were clearly established, that wouldn’t necessarily mean we could not enjoy the use of a Christmas tree. Perhaps the following analogy will help.
During World War II the American military used some remote South Pacific islands for temporary landing strips and supply depots. Prior to that time the indigenous tribal people had never seen modern technology up close. Large cargo planes swooped in filled with an array of material goods, and for the first time the islanders saw cigarette lighters (which they deemed to be miraculous), jeeps, refrigerators, radios, power tools, and many varieties of food.
When the war was over, the islanders concluded that the men who brought cargo were gods, so they began building shrines to the cargo gods. They hoped the cargo gods would return with more goods.
Most people do not even know about this religious superstition. Similarly, few know anything about the worship of trees. When a child pulls a large present out from under the Christmas tree and unwraps a large model cargo plane, no one views that object as an idol. Nor do we view the Christmas tree to be some kind of gift god. We understand the difference between a toy and an idol just as clearly as we understand the difference between an idol and a Christmas tree. We see no valid reason to make any connection between Christmas trees and wooden idols or the worship of trees. Those who insist on making such associations should take note of the warnings in Scripture against judging one another in doubtful things (see Romans 14 & 1 Corinthians 10:23-33).
Christians and Christmas Trees
Another common objection is the claim that Christmas trees are prohibited in Scripture. Jeremiah 10 is commonly used to support this viewpoint. But a closer look at the passage will show that it has nothing to do with Christmas trees and everything to do with idol worship. Verse eight says, “A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.”
Idol worship was a clear violation of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:3-6 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
There is no connection between the worship of idols and the use of Christmas trees. We should not be anxious about baseless arguments against Christmas decorations. Rather, we should be focused on the Christ of Christmas and giving all diligence to remembering the real reason for the season.
Vision Baptist Church invites you to come celebrate Christmas with us this year. We have many things planned for this year and something very special will be taking place during Christmas on the Northside. Stay tuned to Vision News for the latest up to date news on our Christmas plans.
Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus for the Hearing Impaired
Posted by wagardner - 10/12/07 at 04:12:00 pmI found this on a blog and thought it was beautiful! What do you think?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D09DCZryG2U&rel=1&border=0]
We are excited about Christmas at Vision Baptist Church that services all of the Northside of Atlanta. Fulton and Forsyth Counties, Alpharetta, Cumming, Roswell, Milton, John’s Creek, Dunwoody, Duluth and so much more. Come and be part of what God is doing for His honor and glory. You can keep up with all of this via Vision News which is our church blog.
Make plans now to attend Christmas on the northside. If you are looking for something special to do with the family to being back that old fashion Christmas you will not want to miss this day.
Religious but lost
Posted by wagardner - 08/12/07 at 02:12:00 pm[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNmy8FPjK-E&rel=1]
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Believe
Posted by wagardner - 08/12/07 at 02:12:00 pm[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6jNkX6J_BQ&rel=1]
Come to Vision Baptist Church to learn more from the word of God about faith and trusting God. Vision News is the way to keep up with what God is doing in our church.
Keys to Spotting a Flawed CEO — Before It’s Too Late
Posted by wagardner - 02/12/07 at 11:12:00 amI got the following article from Phil Cooke’s blog. I thought that it was really good and though as Phil says it might not deal with the spiritual side of things it does deal with many traps that I could fall into.
By TERRY LEAP - December 1, 2007
It’s easy to spot a bad chief executive once the damage is done — a plunge in company earnings, a failed product line, a corruption scandal. But how do you spot the flaws before it’s too late, before that person is given the job of leading the company?
Here are some warning signs that board members and search committees can look for in a prospective CEO’s character, and measures they can take to reduce the likelihood of hiring a dysfunctional CEO.
The Warning Signs
• An overt zeal for prestige, power and wealth. A manager’s tendency to put his or her own success ahead of the company’s often is evident long before that person is ready to assume the CEO post.
• A reputation for shameless self-promotion. Executives who constantly seek publicity, are always looking for a better job or trumpet their successes while quickly distancing themselves from setbacks are sending strong signals that their egotistical ways may eventually cause major problems.
• A proclivity for developing grandiose strategies with little thought toward their implementation. These executives may assume that others at lower levels will magically turn strategy into reality.
• A fondness for rules and numbers that overshadows or ignores a broader vision. This is the flip side of the preceding problem.
• A reputation for implementing major strategic changes unilaterally or for forcing programs down the throats of reluctant managers. CEOs have to be consensus builders.
• An impulsive, flippant decision-making style. CEOs who approach decision-making with clever one-liners rather than with balanced, thoughtful and informed analyses can expect to encounter difficulty.
• A penchant for inconsiderate acts. Individuals who exhibit rude behavior are apt to alienate the wrong person at the wrong time.
• A love of monologues coupled with poor listening skills. Bad listeners rarely profit from the wisdom of their associates.
• A tendency to display contempt for the ideas of others. Hypercritical executives often have few stellar accomplishments of their own.
• A history of emphasizing activity, like hours worked or meetings attended, over accomplishment. Energy without objective rarely leads to improved organizational performance.
• A career marked by numerous misunderstandings. There are two sides to every story, but frequent interpersonal problems shouldn’t be overlooked.
• A superb ability to compartmentalize and/or rationalize. Some executives have learned to separate, in their own minds, their bad behavior from their better qualities, so that their misdeeds don’t diminish their opinions of themselves. An important internal check is missing. Others are always ready to cite a higher purpose to justify their bad decisions.
Hiring Tips
• Don’t assume that past success is a predictor of future success. As CEO, an executive will face a whole new set of personalities and conditions, especially when switching companies.
• Investigate a candidate’s integrity and interpersonal skills as part of a thorough background check. Conduct extensive and confidential discussions with former associates.
• In interviews, ask candidates how they have handled setbacks and challenges in the past, as well as personal interactions. Let them know that the search committee will check the veracity of their answers.
• In examining the course of a candidate’s promotions, pay close attention to how the candidate reacted when given new responsibilities that significantly increased his or her power.
• Determine how much of an executive’s career success has been based on favorable economic and industry conditions and the support of colleagues, and how much has been based on the executive’s individual efforts. Pay close attention to how candidates performed when industry conditions were bad, when controversies arose or when difficult decisions had to be made.
• Each finalist for the CEO position should be provided with a detailed job preview. The preview should highlight the differences between the candidate’s current position and the CEO position.
• Be clear about ethics. Provide as much information as possible to finalists about how the board expects shareholders, prospective investors, customers, employees, financial institutions, auditors, regulators, political figures and other stakeholders to be treated.
• Offer the new CEO a reasonable, but not extravagant, compensation package. Once the CEO has demonstrated a high level of competency and integrity, the compensation package can be improved.
–Dr. Leap is a professor of management at Clemson University. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com7.
URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119620217240705721.html
Vision News is the online blogging voice of Vision Baptist Church. Vision is a church with a heart to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Vision is located just north of Atlanta off of 400 North at exit 12. Vision is easily and quickly accessible from Roswell, Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, John’s Creek, Duluth, and many other cities on the Northside. We are a Bible preaching church with a heart for you and your family.
All the way to the big screen
Posted by wagardner - 01/12/07 at 08:12:00 pm[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xoKIelVViM&rel=1&border=0]
What do you think?
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Truth that sets men’s hearts on fire
Posted by wagardner - 01/12/07 at 03:12:00 pm[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Vr-MijSnc&rel=1&border=0]
Wow this will sure wake us up!
Vision Baptist Church–your church on the Northside of Atlanta–Alpharetta, Cumming, Milton, John’s Creek, Roswell.
I like Mike
Posted by wagardner - 01/12/07 at 02:12:00 pm[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyxWCNh-_FE&rel=0&border=1]
Get these messages
Posted by wagardner - 01/12/07 at 02:12:00 pmI really enjoy expository preaching and the more I visit the mission field and see people who have no idea about truth the more that I am reminded of the need to just teach people the Bible. God’s Word has all the answers.
I have listened to the messages from the Expositors Conference in Alabama. I really wanted to go and just couldn’t justify the time and money on the budget that I currently live on then I saw that they had posted the messages free for down load./
I really believe that you will enjoy them
Click here to go to the messages. Let me know what you think.
I want those that live in the Alpharetta, Cumming, Roswell, John’s Creek, Milton, Duluth, Suwanee area to know that there is a church that preaches the Bible verse by verse and believes its every word.
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Something to think about
Posted by wagardner - 01/12/07 at 01:12:00 pmWell I have been on the road to South Africa and things have been so hectic that I have gotten rather behind in my usual tasks but here comes somethings to really think about.
How about to begin those that would have us soften our language and methods to reach people with the gospel message. Don’t just watch the first video. Be sure to see the next one too.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ouz24ibMiI&rel=1″>
This next video is a play on the first that really helps to see the error of the first. It might just wake us up. They are trying to take us down the wrong path. There are things to learn but be sure not to swallow everything that they have to say hook line and sinker.
The following video explains how we are to tell the truth and the mistakes we are often making when we try other methods that are less Biblical even if they seem to make us more accepted by the world
This is the second part and I think something that we need to look at and thing about.
Why don’t you send a comment and let me know what you think.
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