Norfords' Ramblings

CHRISTMAS 2008

As we celebrate this Christmas season, I want to share with you something my good friend and fellow writer Laura-Lee Rahn has penned. She has a knack of hitting the nail on the head. Here is her offering for you this season.
Thanks Laura-Lee.
Bryan

As time goes by the debate over the "true" meaning of Christmas intensifies. Some wish to make Santa the center of the holiday while others wish to re-instate Jesus as the center of the celebrations, as he has been since his birth all those centuries ago.
As usual, I have decided to step right into the center of the ruckus and compare these two iconic figures side by side. I will state the case for Santa but will allow Jesus to answer for himself.
So in the hopes that this will encourage you and perhaps give you something to think about this Christmas, I present:

SANTA vs JESUS

# 1) Santa comes to you only as long as you believe in him.

As God has said: ' I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.' (2 Corinthians 6:16)

# 2) Santa sneaks into your home, even if the doors and windows are locked.

"I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in . . ."(Revelation 3:20)

# 3) Santa gives gifts on the basis of being "Naughty or Nice".

But God demonstates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

# 4) Santa gives special treatment to the rich. The richer you are, the better the gifts you get.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3: 28-29)

# 5) When Christmas is over, he splits.

". . . the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

# 6) Santa stays at the North Pole 364 days a year.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." (Psalm 139:7-10)

# 7) Santa isn't acquainted with pain and hard times.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3)

# 8) Three little words: LUMP - OF - COAL!

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?" (Matthew 7:9-11)

# 9) Santa travels through the sky by sleigh and reindeer.

They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:30, 27)

# 10) Santa has only existed for a few hundred years. (In some countries, he doesn't exist at all).

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1)
He said to me: 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.’ (Revelation 21:6)