Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Response to Comments
Thank you all for commenting. While I'd enjoy discussing this (and even more picking up the thread of conversation in mid-summer, as I said!) we received a phone call last night informing us that my husband's grandma, my dear Mother-in-Law's mom, has went to be with her Lord and Savior and to see her husband again.
So, this means that family that was going to get into town next week is arriving this week, and things are going to get a bit more busy as we both miss having Grandma R. with us, and rejoice that she is in a place where she will never know earthly pain or sorrow ever again.
I would like to take a moment to respond to everyone's comments, though!
Trixi, thank you for your kind words. I read your post yesterday about the hymns of the season and I've been mulling it in my mind ever since. That is one of the reasons I love hymns - for their theology - but we do have to be careful to make sure it is correct! What a reminder!
Annon, thank you for taking the words as they were meant. Sometimes it is so difficult to word thing so that they are percieved the way they are intended. 
Annon #2, Thank you for not being offended by more in the post than you were. I do think you misunderstand, - I was not saying that you celebrate wrongly. I was simply making a case for the way I do not celebrate. That is the whole point of Romans 5:5-6; you celebrate the day to the Lord, I don't.
Annon #3, I did try to share my thoughts in a kind manner. I had my husband read it before anyone commented and he found it a "mild" post. (I guess because he knows how much more I could say!) I do want to always remember Christ's birth, and to celebrate His death and resurection; what I have a difficult time doing is relating Santa & trees and chocolate eggs and bunny rabbits to this.
Laura, my husband was impressed with the boldness of your comment. 
Annon #4, I don't think God is upset that you are recognizing one day over another, either! I commend you for not doing the "Santa thing". I think many Christians do not realize how wrapped up in Santa the World really is. And, we do not recognize Halloween at all. My husband is very forward in denouncing it as a satanic, pagan holiday. I don't mind that you recognize Christmas, (really!) and I'm not judging you for doing so. Only you know if your spirit is in the right place!
Actually, ya'll, if I were to come up with my son and say "I do things different, I don't use baby oil - I use baby lotion." everyone around could feel like I was 'judging' for simply stating what I do differently! I just wanted to share a bit of Christmas history, and not seem like such a heathen when I announced we don't "do" the biggest event of the year. Not everyone who deeply and passionatly loves their Lord and Savior has celebrated Christmas through the centuries.
Now, perhaps so we are a bit clearer on things, I'm not saying that Christ's birth should not be recognized. We have been pondering how to do this, and have several ideas. One is to celebrate in late September or October, when it is more likely Christ was born. The birthday cake for Christ is a really exciting idea! My husband suggested this morning that we could have a special, extra tithe. I'd like to have a nativity sceen, and perhaps put the wise men on the other side of the house "en route"! We could have an evening where we sat out under the stars and looked at the sky while dad reads about how the shepards were told of His birth. In fact, I'm wondering if it would be best to have almost a "Rememberance Week"!
Whatever we decide to do, I have a feeling it will be fairly unique to our family.
Lastly, Alex, thank you for the encouragement and for letting me know the link on my side bar isn't working. I do adore your profile pic! Here is the link, I'll fix the link on my template ASAP.
May we always keep Christ first!
~Ashley~
Comments
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by blessedmomof10
Dear Ashley ~
So sorry to hear of your husband's grandmother's passing...... I know the Lord will comfort you & your family at this time....... how Great is our God! How could we every possibly go thru these losses without a firm hope in the resurrection and in the life eternal to come!
Blessings~
gloria
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by homesteadinthemaking
Ashley,
I too want to say that I am so sorry about the passing of your husbands grandmother.
As for the Christmas post, I went back and read your comments. Wow, first to address people who comment anonymously, that drives me insane. If they are too cowardly to put their name out there then I would not even respond to them. I don't feel like you were judging what others do at all. Maybe it is because I am having my own thoughts regarding this subject, after trully studying what the roots are and what the Bible says about such things. I really think you were just saying here this is what my family does on your own blog. I can't see anything wrong with that and hope you continue to do the same. I think we as Christians have gone "along" for so long, that when someone says here is what the Word of God says on this topic and not some preacher or some "godly" figure, we tend to get offended. DH and I are really trying to search the Word and not rely on some man's thoughts.
Blessings,
Trixi
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by gabbie427
I am sos sorry to hear about your loss!!! My prayers and thoughts will be with you! It is hard to loose a loved one, but that much harder when it is closer to the holidays as this one is.
Thanks for your blog on Christmas and your comments. You certainly answered alot of questions and comments and I do not think your blog was mean to be judgmental or harsh to anyone but especially in print, some can misinterpret one's meaning.
We do not do Santa or the Easter bunny for that matter either, and we don't celbrate Halloween, but it doesn't offend me that other's do. It is my own beliefs and spiritual convictions that lead me to celebrate such holidays the way I do. It is as simple as that. But one person's convictions are not always everyone elses. I was convicted to not drink caffeine but others drink it and I don't care. LOL I know what it does to my system and it may not do the same to another.
God Bless you!!!
PS We do the Birthday party for Jesus on Christmas as well. I don't think it matters whether the celbration is in October or December. I love the idea of the Nativity scene and the Wisemen in route! LOL
Thu-20-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
II just wanted to say that I really appriciated this and your last post. I had no idea you and Jay didn't observe Christmass... we don't either and sometimes I feel like we're the only ones.
Thu-20-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Susanna K.
That ^ was me!
Also, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. We'll be praying for you and your family.
Fri-21-Dec-2007 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>
Posted by Matt B.
I heard this morning about your Grandma R. I remember when Grandpa S. died and how hard that was on the family. I don't know how people who aren't believers deal with death because for them they don't have the same hope we have. I'm so glad that your Grandma R. was a believer.
I wanted to comment on your Christmas post, for it seems to be a hot one to post on. Honestly, I'm not sure why people were offended by any part of it. All you basically did was post historical facts about it and comment on why you and your husband have decided to not take part on it. YOU specifically told others that you're not judgeing them and that it's between them and the Lord about where their hearts are. On that note (about where the heart is), i believe that buying gifts for people can be very honoring unto the Lord even if it is at a high consumer period. I don't believe that its the time of the year that makes it right or wrong, it is the heart in the matter that makes it right or wrong. As believers, since we are a new creation and Christ dwells in us and we in Him, we are then enabled, through Christ, to show true love without selfishness. If someone wants to show love by buying gifts, then that gift that was bought should bring glory to God as an act of love for he was the enabler in the gift. If the glory is being given to "how good we are" or whatever, and that puffs us up, then one should abstain from buying gifts.
The passage in Jeremiah I believe is talking about idols that other nations were creating as their god. Jeremiah is saying that those idols that they worship as having powers of god were cut down by your hands (emphasizing the humanity in them) from trees, and then dressed up to look good by your hands with gold and silver. BUT the true God, the LORD God, Jehovah, is not from trees, nor made by hands, nor needs to be set up or moved or anything because He is a living God and He is the TRUE GOD, unlike the other nations gods.
I think its awsome the traditions that you and Jay will start. The birthday cake is a really cool idea. If God (Jesus) never became a human, as we are humans, and did not remain human for the rest of eternity, then we would have no hope. We should find great joy and comfort in that fact because otherwise our only destination would have been punishmen in hell.
I hope I didn't offend you or anyone with this post. I read your Christmas post and realized I was way behind but wanted (like everyone else) to through my two cents in. I know how when we say things, people can interpret them wrongly or we can write it in a way that sends off the wrong signals. I still can't believe people were offended by you posting what the Jonathan S family does or why they don't do certain things when nothing you said was unbiblical or coming out toward others and saying their sinning. Oh well, that too is between them and the Lord and I have no idea who they are anyways. Love you guys and we can't wait to see y' all when we come down.
Matthew Buller aka B-dog or bulldog by J
Edited by Jonash2004 on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 02:40
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