What One Jew Thinks of Christmas

(The following remarks were written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning commentary some time ago.)

I Only Hope We Find God Again Before It Is Too Late.

My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.

It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham 's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina ).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem ( Dr. Spock 's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards,

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

This is powerful and so very true. Please God, help us, forgive us, have mercy on us.

Amen.

Cynthia K.

Won't You Encourage This Soldier? Only Takes 10 Seconds

There is finally something we can do to encourage our troops!

We can thank them personally. Xerox will send a card to a

member of our armed services - we simply go to their web-

site, pick out a card , sign it and Xerox will forward it

to a member of our armed forces overseas. We cannot select a

particular person, but one of our brave military will definitely

be the recipient.

This is so easy and quick - we talk about thanking our troops

on Veterans Day - let's take a moment of our time to really

do it. Let's not just talk the talk, we must walk the

walk. Click here http://www.letssaythanks.com/ to make a difference in our troop's Thanksgiving as they serve us in a

foreign land without their family and friends.

I heard about this from my new friend, Maggie. You

must visit her at http://grandmayellowhair.blogspot.com/.

She is great fun and you will enjoy her. She said that you

can do this several times or send a card everyday.

We can really be a blessing to our wonderful fellow

Americans. Thanks to Xerox for this great opportunity.

Their generosity makes it all possible. The

corporations and big business surely get a really

bad rap all the time. I certainly want to acknowledge

them as they have provided a wonderful way to

serve our country.

Let's make sure our military receive a huge amount

of these cards of thanks, love, appreciation and

encouragement. Wouldn't it be a great idea to send

e-mails about this to lots of people. You could pass

it on by mentioning it on your blog too.

So glad we can be a blessing,

Cynthia K.

(I do not know why it is doing this crazy

spacing, but I'm much too tired to redo.)

God Bless Our Nation and Our Brave Veterans

Red. White and Blue -

These Colors Don't Run!

Veterans are the backbone of our nation. No words can ever really express our gratefulness for all they have done for us. Freedom simply is not free. It costs our veterans a huge amount of sacrifice. Sometimes it requires the ultimate sacrifice. The Bible says that no greater love has any man than to lay down his life for another.

In the beautiful song , The Battle Hymn of the Republic, I am remembering these words:

In the beauty of the lilies

Christ was born across the sea

with a glory in his bosom

that transfigures you and me.

As He died to make men holy,

Let us live to make men free.

His truth is marching on.

Our veterans have lived to make men free. They have given up comforts, family fellowhip and years of their lives. Of course, some valiant servicemen have died to make men free. There was a song a few years ago that had this phrase, referring to our veterans:

All gave some;

Some gave All.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Thinking of the tragic incident that took place in Fort Hood Army Base this week , I want to pray to our Heavenly Father.

First of all, Lord, help us be aware when there is "a snake in the grass"; when there is an enemy in our midst, who is lying low, undetected, until he is ready to strike.

And Dear God, please bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand beside her and guide her.

God please forgive America.

God save America;

God have mercy upon America;

God bless America.

Thank you, Lord.

A grateful citizen,

Cynthia K.

Kindness Leads the Way

Be kinder than seems necessary because every person

you meet is fighting some kind of battle. You never

know what may be happening in their life. Extra

kindness might help them make it through that

very day. To keep on trying; to keep putting

one foot in front of the other; and to have

just a little hope that things will get

better. That someone might care

and that maybe God has not

forgotten about them.

All because you

were kind.

And then let's be kind to ourselves also.

Sometimes we need the very things

that we gladly give to others.

Things like love, hope,

acceptance and

kindness.

With hope,

Cynthia K.