AssemblyBoard

Hello everyone.  I realize that it's been over 2 1/2 years since I left the Assembly, but I have yet to put Christmas decorations up at my house.  I almost did last year, but I had visions of electrical cords shorting out in the rain...  Anyway, could some of you post practical pointers on installing Christmas lights and preventing people from hijacking your Nativity scene?  I want to be ready in plenty of time.  Seriously!

Clarence Thompson

Would Mithrandir be deterred by the thought of a few sparking wires?!! ;D

Anyway, if you have a reason to decorate, just do it!  Read the safety precautions on the packaging of the electrical stuff (most light sets are "indoor/outdoor" safety approved these days) & follow your artistic inclinations.  As far as protecting your stuff from thieves & pranksters, most communities frown on the use of landmines and firearms :o, and moats are expensive, take a long time to construct, and are an insurance nightmare :-\, so just buy cheap stuff ;D.  If it gets ripped off, figure whoever took it needed it more than you did!

Have a great and blessed season,
al

Yes, be sure to read the safety instructions:

You are to be the lucky for the receiving of blinking lights system you have purchased with thankfulness.  Insert the lights in water for cleanliness and fullest sparkle.  Afterwards, remember to first do the unplug to prevent the dangerous.  Thank you to collect all paper from the flamable nearness.  Do not use with the gasoline.  Rather, put the lights to the height for optimum seeing.  Be sure to unplugness before retiring your clothing each evening.

ENGRISH!!!

Clarence, ignore Dave-- Boycott Walmart-- Buy American!!!

al

In order to avoid problems that could (though they never have) arise from forgetting to unplugness before retiring my clothing each evening, I purchased a timer that does my remembering for me.

I keep my overhead truck camper in my driveway.  Last year I outlined the camper with lights.  ;D  I did so because I thought it was funny.  Still do.

BTW, no one has ever bothered my lights, and I have never heard of anyone stealing Christmas lights anyway.  Why steal something you can't use most of the year?

Blessings,

Thomas Maddux

Clarence,

We've been hard pressed to find a Nativity scene that does that sacred scene justice. Everything is just so cheap and cheesy. While the glowing plastic may look vaugely festive at night, during the day there's nothing more depressing than a plastic jumble of pretend holiness littering your lawn. Blech!

Our favorite decorations are the white icicle lights lining the eaves and a couple of gently blinking colored lights woven carefully through the shrubbery. Classy, festive with a touch of whimsy.

Don't worry about electrical stuff, everything is pretty safe. An automatic timer is nice, a couple of extension cords and about 3 sets of lights should do the job. Unless you're planning on entering the neighborhood Light Display Competition, I doubt you'll short any fuse boxes or what have you.

Indoors it's always nice to have 2 cinnamon scented candles burning at night. At Michael's you can find beautiful Christmas garlands (and some are pre-decorated with little pinecones and ornaments) to hang over doorways or wrap around stair bannisters. I like to place a garland on a prominent mantle and put my candles around it.

My rule of thumb is: avoid cheesy, plastic, commercialized crap. Even if it means spending a few more dollars, I would rather buy LESS stuff and keep the focus on a couple of beautiful, memorable pieces I can use year after year.

I know, I know. I'm starting to sound like a Martha Stewart groupie! I can't help it! I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE Christmas and am vigorously making up for lost time!

Hope this helps.
E.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
fa la la lala, la  la la la
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la,  la la la la

Don we now our gay apparel,
fa la la......what? uhh...

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh,
o'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
ho ho ho

don't forget the figgy pudding Joe, because we won't go until we get some!

E.,

Why not do what Cathy & I do every year:  Take vacation the last two weeks of Dec. & put on a living nativity scene on your lawn.  We spread straw all over the lawn & dress up as Mary & Joseph.  We rent a live ox & lamb, & the last several years we've borrowed a drummer boy from the local high school marching band.  We decided this year to even have a baby born in time to place in the manger, but that hasn't worked out, so we're hoping Joe Sperling will fill in for us there (he's very young looking for his age).

 :) :D ;D al ;)

PS-- Be sure to blow out the candles before you go to bed (& put fresh batteries in the smoke alarms)!!!

Hey Joe,

Who's Don and why is he wearing my clothes?  Hmmm?  ;D

Gay

Don never could have got your clothes if you had stayed in the closet, now could he??? ;D ;D ;D

al ;)

OK All,
As you can guess, having a name such as mine leaves one open to all sorts of interesting experiences.  Just think how common it is for you to introduce yourself.  You just walk up to the person you want to meet and say "Hi, I'm (insert your name here)."  Now, use the same phrase and insert my name, "Hi, I'm..."  Just doesn't work well in conversation  ;).
Can you imagine what it was like to be the mother of a teenage boy who has a quirky sense of humor?  When the other kids would be having a conversation about their parents, he would interject "Well, my mom's Gay."  Always a conversation stopper. (BTW, he got his sense of humor from his mother)  He still will introduce me by saying, "I would like you to meet my mom.  She's Gay."   :)

I've told you all that to tell you this.  I have a funny assembly story about my name.  In the summer of '78 I decided to go to a seminar in Fullerton.  I was booked on a red eye that arrived in LA.  When I arrived in the wee hours whoever was supposed to be there to pick me up didn't show.  After waiting around for awhile I called the only number I had... George's.  I woke him up.  He in turn, not so graciously, woke up the brother who was supposed to get me and sent him out bleary eyed to fetch me.  This poor fellow had never met me before, but was given a description of what I looked like and what I was wearing.  Evidently I wasn't the only person who matched that description because after arriving at the airport, he walked up to a woman and asked, "Are you Gay?"  It wasn't me.

Blessings,
Gay

Deck the halls with boughs of holly falalalalalala.......

Well we are really getting into the spirit of Christmas around here.  The tree went up the day after Thanksgiving and the stockings are hung on the mantle.  It's beautiful.

We are three years out of our assembly experience and this is the first year that I can truly enjoy Christmas.  I can't believe it took so long.  The first year we did outside lights, no tree, a couple presents (bah humbug).  Last year we broke down and paid too much for a very scraggly tree (especially when you have 16 foot ceilings).  I remember being depressed during the two weeks around Christmas because I had nothing (or no one) to attach meaning to it all.  I was still looking for the outside justification for it all.  (read approval).

This year I have been chomping at the bit since Halloween (hehehe) to start Christmas.  I have been carefully plotting and planning gifts for everyone, planning family get togethers, thinking about decorating...I even have been lying to my little kids about Santa Claus.  Hey the tooth fairy came for the first time this year too.  It feels so good to love my kids and extended family; to plan big events for them; to make things festive and fun.  And yes we even did the Christmas Child boxes for Samaritan's purse.  It feels sooooo good to be normal finally. And I don't feel guilty at all.

Happy Holidays.  Merry Christmas everyone!
me

Thanks.  Each box is greatly appreciated.  If you put your picture and address in the box, you sometimes get a letter back.  Also, be sure to put chocolate in the box.  We have to take it out  as a perishable item and the employees get to eat it.  (Just kidding about the chocolate, of course).

Cheers for Just Me!! We just got back from being out of town for Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to start getting the Christmas decorations up! Actually, I put up a couple of things several weeks ago--with just white lights so as not to be too obviously crazy about Christmas. If you're like us, you'll probably totally blow the budget on Christmas once you finally give yourself permission to celebrate--us ex-ers can't seem to do anything in middle-of-the-road moderation at first, especially celebrations. But hey, it's fun!!

Our church helped me see the Christmas season as a two-level thing--there is the non-religious mid-winter celebration that is common in many cultures and involves presents and lots of lights. And there is the church observance of Advent--celebrating the coming of Christ into the world. It is great to celebrate them both--I don't have any problem celebrating with our culture (which does not involve actual pagan worship  ???) and also focusing on the Incarnation for the 4 weeks of Advent. The season is a blessing in both aspects  :)

mi

Regarding the celebration of Christmas, let every man be fully persuaded in his or her own mind (Rom. 14:5).  Let us especially buy up the opportunities to share Christ at this time of the year.

Now I am a friendly person, and usually when someone says, “Merry Christmas,” I simply reply, “Thank you, same to you.” But one time I had this co-worker named Kal who was being sarcastic and cynical regarding those who were saying, “Merry Christmas,” so as he was leaving the office on the last working day before the holidays, he said with a snidely affected tone of voice, “Merry Christmas, Rick.”

I replied, “Oh, yes, thank you for the reminder, Kal.  I do have a very Merry Christ!  He is anointed with more joy than any other man, because He loves righteousness and hates iniquity.   And I praise Him that the Lord of glory whom angels praise came into the world to save sinners, even me, one of the chief sinners!  Yes, Kal, thank you, I indeed have a very Merry Christ, and may you have the same.”

Now, may I pass on a word of caution regarding belief in Santa Claus?  My mom told me from my earliest days that Santa made a list and he checked it twice, he knew if I was naughty or nice, and he supernaturally flew from one home to another – visiting millions of homes in one evening.  I wanted to see Santa, so I pretended to be asleep on Christmas eve (this was when I was about 6 years old).  When I heard some noises in the living room (that was supposed to be deserted by all family members), I came rushing out to see – MY MOM.  HUH?  WHERE IS SANTA?  He left already?  But Mom, then what are you doing out here?  You got to see Santa and I didn’t?  And why are you holding all those gifts to the kids that are signed, “From Santa?”

I FELT BETRAYED, and for a few months I viewed EVERYTHING Mom said with great skepticism.  And now, Mom, you say there is another deity who knows if I am naughty or nice, and He was born of a virgin… Sure mom, just another story of make-believe, right?   Thankfully, by the grace of God I was not permanently scandalized away from the faith by my mother’s betrayal of the truth.

My kids know better.  Nick probably was a real person who lived, gave gifts to the neighborhood kids, and then died hundreds of years ago.  He may even have been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, hence, a real “saint;” so now Saint Nick is with the Lord.  But to keep the peace with the parents of my neighborhood kids, I tell my kids that it is our little secret that we know that Saint Nick died.

Saint Rick (aka “Santa Rickus”)

I do agree with Rick.  Even after I left the Assembly I never saw a need to include Santa Clause in our traditions.  Even when my kids were young or when we had a foster daughter, I would occasionally let them sit on Santa's knee but I would tell them that it is just a make-believe story that we do for fun this time of year - the focus of the holiday is on Christ.

One of the first Christmas "decorations" we did was take a baby Joey doll, wrap him in a blanket and have him appear in an apple crate in the living room on Christmas morning.  Thus, the day led up to Christ appearing in the "manger".

While I have certainly moved to the position that we have the freedom to lighten up about Christmas and enjoy family, friends, and the spirit of the holidays, I was reminded the other night that it is possible to move too far the other way.

I was working in the kitchen listening to a Manheim Steamroller CD.  They were doing a rendition of O Tannenbaum and the words were starting to register while I was half-listening:

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
I love thee very dearly.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
I love thee very dearly.
On many a happy Christmas night,
Thou brought'st me gifts and joy and light.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
I love thee very dearly.

Still, only half paying attention I said to my wife blankly, "Is Tannenbaum another word for Jesus or something?"  Right when I asked that I realized how silly my question was.  Of course, Tannembaum is a German word for Christmas tree.

So, enjoy a nice cup of egg nog with friends.  But, don't embrace everything.

Well said, Dave.

God bless,   

Chuck

My first thought was to say, "lighten up" everyone.  But don't worry, we reserve Santa Claus for those 3 and under.  Everybody over 5 at my house knows we are just making for cute, fun memories.  The under 3 crowd doesn't understand make believe to well.  It's a joke.  OK!!  Like "sonny if you don't clean your room Santa might not come".  No harm there.

I also keep the Christmas holiday stuff seperate from Christianity.  Since I can't yet see that they are linked at all.  Some of my friends are doing the Birthday cake for Jesus thing on Christmas morning!!  That cracks me up.  We do church, we do Christmas - seperate deals.  But remember, we are only 3 years out of holiday hell so there is still adjustment to come.

You're right Margaret, middle-of-the-road is very difficult for us.  Every year we talk about Christmas gift budgets, every year we can't stop buying nice things for our kids.  We deprived them of things for so many years.  We never even bought new clothes for our kids -- hand-me-downs were readily available.  Yuck.  I can't even stand looking at the old photos.  What dorks we were.  NO MORE LONG FLORAL DRESSES!.

Ooooohhh  Santa Baby.......
Me

I don't want you to feel that you have to be on the defensive.  You know your kids more than anyone else on the planet so I know you will be discerning about what they can handle, what is best for them and when to do what.  Like many things, Christmas traditions evolve over many years and each year we keep what works and learn from the mistakes or over-excesses of the past.  As long as you are throughtful and you are seeking to honor the Lord, the holidays and your kids will turn out fine.

Just drove by Brother George's new house.  Boy, was I surprised! ;D (picture below)

Santa Claus visited the Nativity?  Just how old is Santa anyhow?    :)

I'd say he's really got the Christmas spirit doncha think?
Verne

Was there a hummer parked in front ? ;D

...just an old man sitting on the curb, playing "Deck the Halls" on a kazoo-- does that count for a "hummer?" ;D

al ;)

Well! Well! Well! Xmas is here!
I awoke this morning to find the Champaign-Urbana landscape blanketed with a glistening layer of freshly laid down snow!
How beautiful is the first snowfall!
Today I am Mr Mom as Anna is not feeling well.
I guess we will spend a lot of time by the fire with a few good volumes...like Calvin and Hobbes... :)
Verne

Verne,

You should order the comics published by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. 

It's called "John Calvin and Hobbs."

 ::)

Blessings,

Thomas Maddux

Santa Claus. What a crock.  Imagine someone who could visit everyone in one night, rewards for being naughty or nice, and loves the little children. I hope my kids don't grow up to REALLY believe there could be someone like that. I mean, who could have an infinite mind like that? Who could know where everyone is at one time, and keep lists of the good and bad? It's like believing someone would store all of our tears in a bottle or something.

I prefer my kids not to use their imagination, or get excited on Christmas morning. I have told them from an early age there are no such things as fairies, or dwarfs, or Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. But I do want them to believe in angels and demons and a supernatural world. You see, that's different. It may not be as fun for a 4 year old, but at least I'm not lying to them.

--Just kidding. I have to say that I am thankful that I believed in Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, fairies and elves, and leprechauns when I was little. My imagination would soar as I thought on these beings, and I could picture them in my mind. I'd see Santa in his toy shop with the elves, and get so excited Christmas morning I would almost burst!!

"THE NARNIA CHRONICLES, The Lion, The Witch and the wardrobe" is coming out on 12-9-05. Can you imagine what a shame it would be for some dry-hearted mother or father to deny a child from seeing that movie because it has "imaginary" beings in it?? Or because it has a "witch" in it? In an effort to protect them from the shock of one day realizing these things aren't real, they withold the very things that cause an imagination to grow, and the joy that comes from using one's imagination.

Believing in Santa Claus never hurt me one bit. I was saddened when I learned he really didn't exist (this happened early last year ;D), but the joy that came from those few years of childhood is a memory I will always cherish. And I will always cherish all the work my Mom and Dad and Big Sister did to make Christmases so very exciting to me. There was something extraordinary about Christmas to me when I was little, and of course, after I was saved it still remained extraordinary, but in another way. That was one of the hardest things for me in the Assembly--I loved Christmas so much, and to call it "pagan" or to not celebrate it(as I did for a few years) literally deadened December's for me.

Well, I better be going now, I have to mail a couple of letters. I have to check with the Post Office because I always forget how much postage I need to put on a letter going to the Arctic Circle. Not that I believe in Santa any more of course, I have an uncle who lives up there is all ;)

--Joe

I still believe all that stuff, but I'm trying to quit!  I find it very confusing.  The other night, I left a quarter under my pillow, and in the morning it was gone & one of my teeth had fallen out. 

My dad used to tell me that Santa had assigned a personal elf to every child, to watch us & report back whether we were being bad or good.  I was so convinced that I would sometimes "see" the little guy watching me through a window.  Dad said his name was Harry Clause... ::)

al

Hey, does anyone know what the pagans did with their cats after they set up their xmass trees?

I'll bite.  What did they do?

Thomas Maddux

Did they skin them, and decorate the tree with their pelts.turning the fir trees into fur trees?

I don't know what they did, but I'm going to bring my tree back to Walmart while I can still get some money for it.  ;D It hasn't even been a week, yet.

One night my cat knocked the tree over and was sleeping in the branches.  ;D

Each morning there are fewer ornaments on the tree. She even likes the nutcracker soldiers, but especially the round ornaments. Glad I didn't spend over 1.00 for any of them. Dollar store had 12 round reds for 1.00, candycanes 6/1.00. Walmart had soldiers and trumpets 1/1.00.

Any pagans wanting to post their address (or pm it) can have them in the mail this week. 3-foot trees are only  10.00 at Walmart. I've seen wooden chairs there, too.
 
 

Yeah...they catapulted 'em... ;D
Verne

I bought a 3-ft mini Christmas Tree at a dollar store, as well as the tiny ornaments to go on it, including white mini lights.  It is just beautiful!  I have a little red tree skirt around the base, and tiny "presents" with colorful bows on them.  It's my first tree.  Although I do not worship trees, I do enjoy the loveliness of it.   :)

At night, I keep Glade candles burning (the ones with Thomas Kincaid scenes).  My favorite scents are "apple-cinnamon" and "pumkpin pie".

Two weeks ago my daughter Grace and her husband David wanted to borrow the truck and camper so I loaded it on my truck. Because of this I can't do what I did last year when I outlined the camper with lights.

So, I have it backed into the driveway with the overhead window facing the street.  I put some dark towels and curtains inside around the window area, and then I put one of those sparkly plastic balls that have dozens of little lights on them up against the window. 

That way, I can keep my membership in the COC current.  (California Okies Club).

Blessings,

Thomas Maddux

Tom,

Something tells me I would love this story if I understood it...

If you loaned out the truck and the camper, what is the "it" that sits decorated in your driveway ???

al

Tom, I had no idea you were such a redneck!  ;)  ;D

Years ago, we gracefully dealt with the issue of Santa Clause in our home.  See attached picture.

Huh?

In the past I have viewed the pictures posted on the BB.  Now I cannot. 

I get a screen that informs me that I am not allowed to open attachments. 

If I recall correctly, this has happened to others in the past. 

So, how can this be corrected?

Thomas Maddux

Tom, I have fwd'd your message to the tech support board, and IM'd it to Brian as well.

Who's going to take care of you when I'm gone?  ??? ??? ???

 :D al  ;D

sorry about that. attachment permissions had gotten messed up. it should work for everyone now. let me know if you have any more troubles with it.

brian

I have a couple of years before I have to deal with this issue with my grand daughter.  So I will take the lazy way out and not buy any presents or put up a Christmas tree until then :-*

A beautiful child, who looks quite alert-- I give you one more year, tops, before the tree must go up & the presents begin...

 ;) al

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!!!!
Verne, Montse, Anna (left),Christina