We all need a daily check up from the neck up to avoid stinkin’ thinkin’ which ultimately leads to hardening of the attitudes.

People often think that when they get what they want, that's gonna make them happy. I didn't have lotsa wants; at least, I can't recall any strong desire to acquire or possess something. Have always been content with what comes along. Whatever is handed to me, am already good with that. No demands. No more complaining. Have always been thankful.

But, I guess it'll always come in anyone's life when they start really wanting something. They'd try to do whatever it takes to get it. In my case, however, in stead of really grabbing what I want, I kept bugging GOD. In my thoughts, I didn't want to exclude HIM. I wanted HIM to bless my desire and I wanted HIM to give it to me. As if, bargaining, if you may call it that. I'd tell HIM indignant reasoning like, "I have not been asking so many things from YOU and just wait for what YOU want to give me. Maybe, this time around, YOU would be kind enough to consider my request." It didn't sound wrong, at least at the moment when I said it. But, well, GOD will always be merciful. Even at my dumbest moment, HE looked at me smiling, told me gently, "you don't know what you're asking for." HE's right. Always right.

All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. The Book of Proverbs tells so much about wisdom. Sometimes, though, people allow the enemy to deceive them by believing his lies -- his accusation, temptation and deception. And it's important to note that Proverbs is not talking about plain human or life wisdom. It talks about Spiritual wisdom. We all must be aware that we wage war against spiritual enemies. And these enemies know enough that the best way to attack a believer is through his thoughts. It's a battlefield of the mind. When a Christian choose to believe the enemy's lie, his daily victory will be far from becoming real. And this is the same reason why many Christians wonder how come the "freedom" they are hoping for has not yet taken place in their lives.

No Christian is expected to do what is right all the time. And that is why Christ, once and for all, offered Himself as atonement for our sins. Because it is NOT possible to live a sinless life. I'd quote a book I recently read by Neil Anderson. He said, "Christians are saints who sin." It's true. Because for as long as we're here in this world, there'll always be failures. Well, the Bible clearly states that, "there is none righteous; no not one." Nevertheless, a Christian's position and identity in Christ shouldn't be used as a ticket to sin. For the Bible also states that, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. - Hebrews 10-26-27

Christians always face spiritual warfare and it gets more intense and forceful as faith increase. Nobody is exempt from facing this truth because the enemy's aim is for us to not receive victory and disprove the faithful work of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ promised us victory and freedom. But, the enemy wants to deceive us to believe his lie that it's never gonna happen. How? By injecting certain thoughts in our minds. That is why it is very important to keep praying for Spiritual wisdom and Spiritual discernment so as not to be deceived. The Bible advise us, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

So, whenever a thought starts to bug you, don't just entertain it. Our thoughts and opinion and belief...they can lure us and reason out for us so we can do the things that are considered not pleasing to God. I don't mean to say our thoughts are naturally filthy. It might not be the case. It could be that the enemy injects an idea in our mind that seem logical. Or, because we so desire something, we tell ourselves, "it couldn't be that bad". Our minds can deceive us. Our desires can, as well. But, we need to remain dependent on GOD's will. We must never live as if we can go ahead of God and see what happens. This is the very reason why many Christians don't fully enjoy their victory as Christ's co-heir--Independence from God's will and purpose.

If there is emptiness in you and you can't feel real joy even you are successful and have all the wonderful things in the world, you might want to give it a thought to consider surrendering to GOD's loving care. Give HIM the wheel and let HIM lead you and start living a life that does not anymore conform to the standards of this world and then strive to renew your mind. Use Spiritual wisdom and discernment so you'll have a clear understanding whether your wants or desires or ways are pleasing to GOD. This will significantly help you experience real freedom.

Should we or should we not say, "Merry Xmas"?

Some time in the past, I heard a pastor mentioned in a Bible study that it is wrong to spell it Xmas. His reason being was it's removing Christ from the word, which is, well, not right. True enough. Why would you remove "Christ" from Christmas and replace it with X when He is the main reason why there is such an occasion in the first place? Over the years since, I hold this argument to be true. Because, plain and simple, it makes so much sense.

Arguments about this topic come out every year as the season is felt. Recently, there have been factual explanations as to the validity of the use of "X" to allow the use of "xmas" without conservative Christians reacting negatively -- "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christos), translated as "Christ"." -- It's some sort of a symbol or something based on the Christian origin of the word. X has become a symbol for Christ, and studies show that it's not just a modern day usage. It dates way back in the ancient times.

I am not gonna go further into details of the historical facts of when, who, or what started it. Although, the main explanation for abbreviating Christ's name is for the purpose of transcripts. But, here's one question I have in mind, "because we found a factual (and not to mention, Christian origin) explanation to use X to say xmas means it's ok to?"

Here's the thing...Not everyone knows Greek. Not everyone is educated. And we don't need to inform everyone about the facts related to its ancient usage if we can simply just write Christ as is. Why do we need to make use of symbols in the first place? Are we some sort of fraternity or cult? Don't we want people to know who we are serving that we have to use symbols, which are known only by scholars?

What many people know about X is it's a symbol of any of the following: unknown, cross, wrong. At least, these are what people know. In fact, children, when they see X, they automatically see it as WRONG (mistake). As in in test papers. "In cartoons, Xs are drawn instead of eyes to indicate the death of a character. X is commonly used as a generic mark. There's even a term GenX." These are what many people know about the letter and not the X Greek origin fact we are now being presented with to validate xmas. And because of this, majority, especially the underprivileged will read Xmas as EX-mas and have no opinion about it whatsoever. Then, they just accept it as that.

I mean, it's not that we can all educate people to know certain things. And informing everyone of the fact may or may not help, at all. We say, "it's just how it's spelt. The real essence comes when we have it in heart." But, if spelling "Christ" in full to make sure that we are not talking of "unknown" someone (as the reality tells us that too many people are aware not of the Greek fact but of what we know what x is and how it's actually used in everyday situations)...we are talking of our Savior. We wanna make sure that Christmas is pronounced as Christ-mas than ex-mas. At least for the sakes of the majority who do not know history.

Am not being a fanatic of some sort by saying this. Am only thinking of those who are simple-minded. We, Christians, want to promote Christ. And if we are to do it, then, why use a term that is not well understood by many if we can simply spell it out, anyway? Besides, we don't use Greek in our everyday language. Why to say Merry Christmas we have to use X (as if we're Greeks) and replace "Christ" with X (and ends up pronounced as such) only because we have the knowledge of what we're talking about without considering, well...the kids, the homeless, the uneducated ones who can't even read or write, or even those who can but the best they know is that x is nothing but EX. "Who cares?" So they say, "yun na yun"!

X being Chi is Greek. We are English speaking nation. Is't really hard to spell the name of our Lord and Savior the way EVERYONE can read and understand it as it is? ...and not like a fill in the missing word because whatever we say, X remains to mean unknown (our everyday language)...used as substitute ... just-fill-in-with-any-word-you-wish something. That's why we declare the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To let people know who HE is and what HE has done for mankind. If we are to replace His name with X, which has several equals, what's the use that Christ is named that?

Personally, I'd rather use "Christ". I won't mind typing/writing long just to make sure I am referring to only HIM and not just anyone. I mean, come on! This is Who we call our Lord and Savior and we can't even spell HIS name in full! Or rather, we don't want the hassle of typing 6 letters so we type 1. Convenient! Worse, we cause other people to just follow whatever practice started long time ago. We're not even certain when it started and if it's even truly acknowledged or accepted. Yes, there may be accounts to its usage by early Christians but how far do we know?

I don't know with you, but if people are to give me a birthday bash and they're gonna print a banner that says, "Happy Birthday JCN", am not sure if I am going to really appreciate it. Like how many JCNs do we have in the family? How many JCNs do we have in my clan? I want people to say my full name. How wonderful it is if I see my full name there on the banner! That assures me that it's me they're really greeting and not some unknown whoever. I don't like JCN. How much more if someone refers to me as X?!

Personally, I see this issue the same as emphasizing Santa Claus rather than baby Jesus and substituting "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas".

Now going back to the main topic, "should we or should we not" is NOT the question. The question is "why?"