X is For Keeping Christ in Christmas by Bob Jones

 

Some have labelled its use, blasphemy. For others it’s just Greek to them.

For people like you who use and care about words, what do you think of the word, Xmas? I think the term is about keeping Christ in Christmas. As a pastor, I’ve had interesting (some very emotional) reactions when I talk that way or certainly when I preach using that term.

But before I explain my thinking, a little context.

There is a prevalent Christian cultural myth that the use of the word Xmas stems from a secularizing tendency to de-emphasize the religious tradition of Christmas. The use of Xmas in advertising and conversation is the culprit. You’ve heard the lament, “Xmas?! Now they’re taking Christ out of Christmas.”

History

• In 1957 the use of X in Xmas was dismissed as “the unknown quantity” by the Church League of America.
• In 1966 a conspiracy theory around the use of Xmas was that “Jewry influenced the United Nations to outlaw the name of Christ.”
• In 2019, one of the most well-known Christian leaders in the world declared that using the term “Xmas” was the result of a war against using the name of Jesus.

Have you seen the 2024 cryptocurrency exchange that goes by the name, XT? Some see that as a mockery of Christ.

Nevertheless, the term's usage dates to the 16th century, and corresponds to Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of England and Episcopalian liturgical use of various forms of the chi-rho monogram. In fact, the word Christ and its compounds, including Christmas, have been abbreviated in English for at least the past 1,000 years. In many manuscripts of the New Testament, 'Χ' is an abbreviation for Χριστος.

It's Greek To Me

The 'X' comes from the Greek letter Chi.

The Chi Rho, one of the earliest forms of the Christogram, is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters—chi and rho (ΧΡ)—of the Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Christos) in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the centre of the chi.

Enough Greek, OK (which is from the Greek, Ola kala meaning “all good”)?

My preferred words are Christ and Christmas. I only use Xmas to make a point.

The term, Xmas, is not a hill to die on. It’s a hill to light a light on. Somebody ultimately important to us said, you are the light of the world. Even a misunderstanding around the use of a word can be used to draw people to the Word rather than get up in arms and defend “our rights.” A Christian’s lead step is always love, or service, never power.

If you got this far in my final post of 2024 and you feel some level of frustration, anger, disbelief, or disappointment with me, I’m not sorry. I am grateful for you. You are my brothers and sisters.

In this day and age, everything is polarized for some advantage. Let's focus on Jesus. Remember the words of Bonhoeffer, "When Xt calls a man he bids him come and die."

More power to ya. 

 

Merry Christmas! Christ is glorified!

May 2025 be the best year of your life. Amen.

Bob writes at REVwords.com

J is for Jesus by Susan Barclay

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~John 1:1-5

It’s uncertain who actually wrote the book of John, but I can tell one thing: he had an ear for poetry. Read the above passage again. Do you hear it? Do you feel the rhythm? Do you see the beauty of the author’s writing? Doesn’t it inspire you as if you are inhaling the fragrance of Christ himself?

If you’ve been a believer for any length of time, you know that the Word being described here is Jesus. Jesus is the Word. He is also the author of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and the hero of history (his story, God’s great story). In every Christian’s story, he is the central figure. Through his life, death, and resurrection, we are inspired to follow Him and to become like Him.

In our writing, we can inspire others to come to know Him too. In a fictional work, we might depict the spiritual life of a character, the movement toward God and God’s orchestration of events and positioning of people to draw the character toward him. In non-fiction, we might write about Christian living, important figures in Christian history, commentaries, memoir, health, even the beauty we find in creation. We might write devotional books. I suppose the list of topics is as broad as our imaginations.

There is a lot going on in my life that I can’t write about right now. But I know Jesus is with me and for me. I know he is drawing me closer into relationship with him and developing my character. I recently attended a presentation given by Philip Yancey in which he talked about life’s struggles and noted that life isn’t fair, that the world isn’t working as it should. God is on the side of the sufferer, he said, and feels our pain even more deeply than we do. He talked about how pain redeemed is more impressive than pain removed and that God is the great Recycler of everything we wish were not. Because we experience pain, we are able to come alongside others to comfort them in theirs, to bring light.

Just give me Jesus, Lord. And help me to make him known.

 

For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com.
 

It is Finished by Carol Harrison

      

 

It is Finished

 

Mocking crowds
Shaking earth
Crumbling rocks
      As the mid-day darkens like midnight
                               Fear strikes men's hearts. 

                                 Bruised bloodied
                              Father God
                              Forgive them
                             Jesus' final cry - it is finished
                                 Hope disappears

                               Body wrapped
                               Buried in
                             Borrowed tomb
                                    As Roman soldiers seal the entrance
                                  Followers mourn.

                                   Third day dawns
                                Women find
                                  Empty tomb
                                 As the Risen Messiah's revealed
                             Death defeated

                              God's great love
                              Mercy and grace
                            Paid in full
                                  Through Jesus the Sacrificial Lamb
                           Our penalty.

Carol Harrison writes, speaks, tells stories and loves to help others find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She loves to share stories of God's amazing love and how that looks in everyday experiences.
                                   

The Way (A Song in Three Parts) by Susan Barclay

 I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Way is baptized

Preaches good tidings 

Binds up the broken

Proclaims liberty 

 

The Truth weeps for His friend

Cries over Jerusalem

Speaks to the heart

Quenches the thirst

The Life is found on an ancient road

Stands silent before a crowd

Hangs on a cross

Lies in a tomb

 

 II

 

 

 

A hush, a cloud

Hangs over the earth

Disciples hold their breath

How can this be?

 

III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then God, who turned His gaze away

Who crucified Himself in Christ

Who bore our sins upon the tree

Breaks death in two

The shroud falls off

Christ rises up as if from sleep

Light of the world

Mourning has broken

We laugh, we dance

We praise the Name

Whom the Son sets free

Is free indeed!

___________________________

You can find out more about Susan Barclay's writing at www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com 

What Child is This? by Susan Barclay

There are a lot of songs I love at Christmas, but What Child is This? is one that I've always loved. Written in 1865 by William Chatterson Dix, its haunting melody, pacing, and lyrics draw me in every time.

"What child is this?" the writer asks. He then goes on to answer that this babe is the "King of kings," "Christ the King," and the "son of Mary."

Much has been made of this child from the time of His birth. Joseph, his earthly father, considered breaking his betrothal to Mary, thinking she'd been unfaithful. Angels spurred shepherds to visit Him at the manger site. The magi were inspired to follow a star and seek Him out. Herod ordered the execution of all the boys two years old and younger in vicinity of Bethlehem because he feared who He would become. Jesus astounded the teachers in the synagogue with His wisdom when He was only twelve, then there were the years of His ministry after His baptism around the age of thirty. And what discussion of Christ can avoid mentioning his trial, crucifixion and resurrection?

In the centuries since the New Testament account of His life, Jesus has been loved, hated, revered, feared, misunderstood. His name has been misused and applied to ungodly causes as well as been the reason for many good ones. But the most important question of all is this: Who is Jesus to you?

You see, the answer to this question has eternal consequences. Jesus said, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14: 6), and

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me (Matthew 12:30)

These are bold words. Jesus doesn't allow for any wriggle room. What you decide about Him matters. Oh, I know there are those who say that Jesus was just a man who has gone the way of all men, or He was a good teacher, nothing more; I have prodigals of my own and my heart cries out for them (and for you). We have a fierce enemy who knows how to mislead and deceive and to blind eyes to the Truth. If you are reading this as a doubter, I encourage you to investigate the claims of the Bible wholeheartedly and without prejudgment. Don't just seek out sources that confirm the belief you already hold; really do your homework. Jesus can stand the scrutiny. Follow the examples of Lee Strobel, journalist and former atheist, the late Nabeel Quereshi, a former devout Muslim, and others like them, and commit to the research. God knows if you really want to know and follow Truth and He is faithful to do His part if you will do yours.

The book of Isaiah and the New Testament identify at least 31 reasons why Jesus left His throne in glory and came to earth to dwell among men. He is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace. Know Him and live.

Who is Jesus to you? What child is this? These questions are too important to go unanswered. No answer is an answer, after all. God is reaching out. If you are stirred, I plead with you not to harden your heart. Every single one of us is going to die; no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Do not wait. God is the initiator and perfecter of faith. Seek Him and follow His life-giving ways. Those who are wise still search for Him. Today is the day of salvation. 

 

Instrumental version

_________________

You can find out more about Susan Barclay's writing at www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com

Peace, Be Still - Gloria Guest

 

Every year around Christmas I choose either a word or a scripture verse that I sense God is wanting to speak over myself and my family in the coming year. Last year as 2019 was waning down, I felt no such inclination. I was a little burnt out from another trying year and just didn’t sense that God had a word or message for me. Or maybe, truthfully, I just didn’t care.

As many know, a huge bright spot in my life are my five grandchildren; four grand-daughters and one grandson. Since the twins, Sydney and Sarah, first entered my life at the age of five, when they moved out west with their momma who was marrying our son, they stole my heart, captured my love and brightened my days. In the next few years, three more little bright spots have come along and all are the lights of my life.

So I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that it would be through one of those little lights that God would provide me with my ‘word’ for 2020. We had been decorating the Christmas tree that day and I had been handing them the ornaments. When it was done, I noticed that one of the girls had found an old sign that I’d forgotten I had and placed it prominently in the middle of the tree. PEACE, it read.

And there was my word.

I knew it came from God straight through my grandchild’s innocent gesture and so I accepted it as my word for the year. Deep inside though I wished it had been something more exciting, more in line with my need to figure out where I fit in this life of mine that had seemed to stall. So I mulled over ‘why that word?' a little bit, feeling it was somewhat out of step.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. We all know what happened in early 2020. And suddenly, peace, which had never been my strong point, was in even shorter supply in my life. My husband and I both struggled to adjust and figure out what the new restrictions and eventual shut downs meant for us and our family. In a nut shell it meant: extra precautions and restrictions for my husband on the road as he was a semi driver and therefore an essential employee. He would come home mentally exhausted from a week’s worth of dealing with it.

I am one who has some medical vulnerabilities so it took some time to figure out just what risks I should take and which I shouldn’t and also put extra pressure on my husband since he was concerned about not bringing the virus home.

Of course, there were the restrictions of not being able to see those lovely little bright spots in our lives I mentioned earlier including a much anticipated visit from our son and his wife and our little grand-daughter from Ontario.

Summer lifted restrictions somewhat and at times it seemed as things were ‘sort of’ normal. Of course they weren’t though and suddenly we found ourselves in the dreaded state of my husband having to get tested for Covid. Way back in January I had dared to pray that God would give us some extra time together this year, but him staying in his semi and me in the house with only our back yard for visiting and shared meals, all six feet apart, was not exactly what I had ordered!! My birthday, in which I had hoped we would go somewhere interesting, ended up being held on our back deck. But I admit that with the addition of the Creators stars and some fun pictures we took and birthday cake in the dark it turned out kind of charming. Of course the great blessing was that he tested negative and was able to go back to work and that he still had work of any kind to do at all!

We are both a little wearier at the end of this year then when it all began last spring. The most crushing blow has come in the form of realizing we cannot travel to see our son in the military and his family, for Christmas and he deploys overseas for six months in January.  It’ll be a long wait to see him now and our daughter-in-law and that precious little two year old, as it’s already been over a year. It crushed my usual Christmas spirit some. I wasn’t even planning on putting up a tree.

But God, in all of His concern for every detail in my life has arranged an unexpected visit from my three grandchildren tomorrow (we are currently allowed five in a household in Sk) and guess who will be helping me decorate that tree?

Peace. It’s such a small little word. But so mighty. When I took the sign off my tree last Christmas I kept it up in my living room all year as a reminder of what God wanted to provide for me. Many times this year I’ve called on Jesus to step out and calm the storm.

“Peace be still,” He said.  (Mark 4:39 NIV)

And it is.