In December everyone seems to be looking for the perfect gifts. I start to buy things I would like to give as a gift right after Christmas During the year I buy things when I see something that is perfect. As I get these gifts I put them in a box. By September my box of gifts is full. I get them out, to see if there is a gap in the people represented by each gift. If I find a gap I think long and hard on it and go find it. I’m always done by Halloween at the latest. I do not like crowds.

     I often feel that the drive to buy more gifts each year is a poor expression of our love for one another. Because Quantity has taken over from Quality there is great pressure to have the most wrapped objects under your tree. The Commercial Engine cares nothing for the long term debt you will have come January. I have never gone into debt to get presents. Probably because I buy so few of them.

     I have been on the receiving end of this meaningless deluge. There have been years where I opened an endless pile of presents, only to find there was no gift I truly liked. I have made lists for people who requested one, of things I enjoyed, wanted, needed, etc. So far after many years of these lists, I’ve given up. They asked for ideas and then bought what they would have liked for themselves instead. I really do not expect anything now. Occasionally I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

     One solution for a couple of relatives and myself was to agree not to exchange gifts at all. We never had much money. My brother and I exchange cards but no gifts. As he put it, He loves me but has no idea what I would want. I respect that. I have called my relatives to talk. I have been told that the gift of my time was a big treat. As Mom put it you don’t have to move it, dust it or store it.

     Apparently I am not alone in this quandary of what to do with gifts that don’t fit. They call it regifting now. I never knew that I was on a cutting edge all along. I’ve been doing it for years. When I have gotten a gift that I do not care for, I find it a new home. I consider a gift to be on consignment with me, until the right person, occasion or need arises.

     I make sure that they enjoy the sort of thing it is. I make sure it is the right size, if I can. I have often felt like an adoption agency for lost toys. It works though. Because I wait for the right person to fit the right gift they are a big hit.

     There are Tribes in the Pacific Ocean including North Western Coastal USA and Canada, Maori, and Papua New Guinea that have taken gift giving to a fine art. The Tradition is called a Potlatch in some places.

     It is the literal throwing of gifts. The gift giver gets connections and status for themselves, their family and their tribes. The Status is determined by how much is given away, not what they keep. To get this Status it was not uncommon to totally bankrupt themselves.

     Though the Winter Potlatches were the largest, many occasions could call for one. The births, marriages, deaths and other momentous events were often marked by a celebratory Potlatch.

     The gifts were originally handmade durable goods and permission to use a neighbor’s resources. An example of these resources could be hunting or fishing rights to a prime area. The durable goods might be necklaces, belts, tools, and clothing. Blankets and preserved food was also given as gifts. Everyone present was loaded down with gifts. The Gifts were a form of Currency. When the Giving Tribe went to visit the other tribe often the gifts would be the same ones they gave, showered back on them.

     There were times when a tribe would have so much that it was impossible to give it all away. When this literal Embarrassment of Wealth would occur the extra gifts were destroyed. It was an embarrassment because anyone who did not give everything away was thought to be hoarding and greedy.

     In the Northwest Coastal areas of America the Tribes used it as part of trading trips. The Tribes ranged from California to Alaska. Currently there are only active Potlatches from Oregon up to Alaska. Because it was considered a competition for resources allocated for Christmas the Missionaries lobbied for a ban on the Tradition.

     Some Tribes are now using it as a training opportunity for the young people learning the Tribe’s signature crafts. Since it was banned until recently, many crafts people have dead with no pupils. They have embraced these as a way to hold on to the old ways, so they do not die.

     In our modern World there may be lessons to learn here. It is funny that the Missionaries hated the Potlatches. These same Missionaries would have gladly taken these gifts as Tithes. I suppose they were not getting what they thought the Church deserved. Besides according to some Christian sayings, “It is better to give than receive.” Compared to these Tribal Leaders, the Missionaries were greedy, and very low Status individuals. I suppose it also made any gift giving for Christmas look paltry by comparison.

     One downside of this is the idea of totally divesting your belongings. That sounds too much like the heavy credit card debt that most Americans carry year after year. The status part of this parallel is obvious. Today we call it keeping up with the Jones. The difference is we are acquirers not givers. The burning of extra goods is echoed too. If you want to do a parody of a filthy rich person you show them lighting cigars with Hundred Dollars bills in flames. The picture says loud and clear that they have money to burn.

     I do think they have the right track on one item. The idea that if you are given much Share it. In a Christian parallel we might quote the verse saying, “To those that much is given, much is expected”.

     I have some suggestions for gifts. There are people you know that basically buy anything they could want when they want it. They do not need anything. Or in the case of my Mom, she does not want to have to keep up with more things. It is hard enough to clean all the gifts from the past. Mom’s motto lately is, “Simplify, Simplify, Simplify“. She loves movies and going out to eat so gift certificates.

     If you have someone on your list who “Has Everything”, do not give them an object. There is another way to celebrate. You can donate to a good cause in their memory. I personally love The Heifer Project. It is a great program. The gift is a farm animal that is pregnant. They must pass on some portion of the babies born. They get to keep the breeding animal. They have a broad range of animals picked for different regions and Countries. The Heifer name is in honor of the cows they give away. Sometimes it is a pig, a goat, a flock of geese, chickens, ducks, etc.

     The important part about each animal is they produce something nutritious for the family to eat like eggs or drink like milk. Because each gift comes with the rule to pass something on to their community, soon many people in a village could be out of the starvation category. Well nourished people learn better in school, they have energy to build businesses. Women may have had no way to support their families are now helping their part of the World get better.

God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions.

Angel Eliza 41 (For The One)

     In most people’s minds Christmas comes in the middle of the Winter. There are trees and wreaths. If you have a fireplace you might even have a Yule Log. We’ll sing funny songs, and religious songs too.

     We hang Mistletoe, so we can kiss anyone standing under it. It can make for some strange encounters at parties, let alone work. There are presents given to everyone we know. It is now considered a slight not to give a gift to the Mail Carrier, Paper Boy and anyone else you barely know. If a gift is not given to every person you interact with you are considered stingy.

     Folks with kids will make a trip to have a picture taken of the child sitting on Santa’s lap. Kids will write long letters to Santa about how good they were and what they really want for Christmas.

     We’ll read the great tales of Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It helps assures that the kids will at least try to go to sleep. This of course gives us lots of time to struggle with wrapping presents. We try to read Chinese instructions on Indian toys, to assemble special toys.

     Some of the stories we tell are fanciful like the ones with a big fat fellow dressed in red, reindeer, and flying sleds. I hear next year Britain will have trimmed down Santas to set a better diet example. I wonder if their bellies will still giggle. There will be elves that build all the toys. There will even be Magic Snowmen.

     Some tales will be about treating people in a Generous and Compassionate way during this season. Some stories have to do with how the gift of your life being priceless.

     In today’s atmosphere of commercialization you will be encouraged to spend until it hurts. Don’t worry about the massive debt you collect along the way. If every child does not have a dozen gifts they are considered “deprived”.

     Because this is a Special time of year to gather with friends and family the stress can be enormous. If you can not go to visit family you are labeled uncaring. If you have lost a loved one, the holiday reminds you of better times. This is the height of suicide season.

     There are people who do not have family that welcomes them home. They are made outcasts by this rejection at a time of year when hearts are supposed to be filled with Love for everyone.

     I have had the fun of seeing how a few other cultures celebrate Christmas. There is not as much Commercialization in Scandinavia. The Germans on the other hand seem to take Christmas as a challenge to be more American than the Americans. They even embrace the tooth and nail approach to shopping. It is very serious business. I saw no one smiling. Very Sad if you ask me.

     While I was in Norway one year I was introduced to the forerunners of Elves. I’ll probably mispronounce their name but here goes. They have little people that are Yule Man’s helpers. They are called Neisse. Cute little red and green outfits. They love a kind of mushy rice pudding, very tasty.

     The ideas most of us associate with Christmas are Pagan. I enjoy them, but do not use them in remembrance of Jesus. They are not customs that I build my Worship of God on.

     For me it is not the date of Jesus’ Birth. That was in March. The Romans had the great idea to designate late December as the time when Jesus was born. It was a political expedient. The “Awful Pagans” were celebrating the Winter Solstice. This was when bonfires would be lit to help the sun to be reborn. Seemed like a great segway. They said it was the Son who was being reborn, not the bright object in the sky.

     There were many traditions associated with Winter Solstice. A green growing tree was brought in along with greenery to hang around the house. Holly was brought in as well as Mistletoe. Most people do not know the Original reason to hang mistletoe. It was a Druid tradition for fertility. They cut it with a special knife, never letting it touch the ground. It represented semen. In those days you did not go around kissing everyone in sight. The right was for pledging for marriage. The couple would kiss under the mistletoe. If they meant to marry come Spring they would pick berries from the sprig and bury them in the Earth, thereby vicariously joining the Male to the Female. These couples were considered promised to each other until they were married formally in the Spring. It was considered a Blessing if the couple were expecting a little one at the time of the formal Ceremony.

     A Yule Log was to keep the light going on the longest night of the Winter. It was quite long because it had to be lit before dark and be capable of burning the entire night. As it burned they kept vigil, pushing it in as it burned down. The person who dragged it in was the head of the household. It was considered horrible luck to have the log finish burning before the sun rose.

     According to stories there was a toy maker named Claus. The Santa part that was added later was because he was called a Saint. The toy maker had pity on the children of his community who’s parent could not afford a toy. He would give the children a toy in secret. The embellishments were added as the idea spread. The explanations had to be made for the volume of toys built. So the little people native to different Countries were enlisted as Santa’s helpers. A place to hide all the toys became the North Pole. Then there was a delivery problem. Along came the magic sled with creatures from the far North to pull it. How does a big fellow like him get in to a house unnoticed? Well at the time everyone had a chimney. So he came down that way around the bolted doors. Then the idea of getting something for nothing kicked in. So Good kids got a toy. Bad kids got a lump of coal. The coal was not very fun but it was still a gift of warmth in your stove on a cold Winter night.

     I have no problem with being Generous during this time of year. I just wish people would see that all the days of the year are days to be Generous. The Dickens story about Scrooge is one of my favorites. It illustrates the hole in your life that develops when you do not have a giving Heart. The story encourages Christmas to be a good starting point, but to turn your life around you must make it a way of life.

     The other Traditional Christmas Movie favorite of mine is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. There have been times in my life where hope was scarce. I sometimes wondered if anything I did made a difference. At my lowest points it seemed that my life was a complete waste of time. When I watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”, I renewed my understanding that I probably had impacted a few folk’s lives. Maybe it was still better to keep plugging along. I decided that maybe one more year would help someone somewhere.

     I urge everyone to make their lives count. Positively impact someone’s life. Be Generous not just with what you have but who you are. A great lesson of Santa Claus is to give in secret. The wonderment of the gift is much bigger when it was delivered by secret means. Last but definitely not least remember that Quality counts much more in the long run than Quantity. To give a gift that is exactly right is priceless in a way that a thousand not right gifts will never fill.

     March 15^th I will give a Sermon about the Birth of Jesus. For the Church of Thomas, March 15^th is the day of Jesus’ Birth.

God Bless the Whole World, No exceptions.

Angel Eliza 41 (For The One)

     I was watching a TV Show that aired a program called “Winners”. It had interviews with people who have succeeded in business and became entrepreneurs. There were several wonderful points made that tied in with this Sermon that I have been contemplating.

     The first point was that often people who succeed have failed, often more than once. They did not blame the environment for the failure. They looked at themselves to find out where they went astray.

     The second point was that seeing a need, a niche that you had an idea how to fill. But that was just the beginning. You had to be willing to invest your life in promoting it until others could see the potential through your eyes.

     The third was that the USA has a unique free wheeling style that inspires innovation in a way that other countries have so far not matched. The “Idea People” from all over the World come to the USA to build their dreams.

     When I was 18 I discovered a Congregation that had the dream of filling a need. That was about 30 years ago. I saw the potential for it to fill a niche that was not being explored until then. I asked God if I could “Sponsor” them. They were preaching many things that the Church of Thomas had taught me. One of these things was that God had no Gender. They also were building their Congregations on the idea of Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender people were also Children of God. The only things that were not in line with Church of Thomas were that they were making it a “Gay Church” and they were Trinitarian. I was not overly worried about these aspects. I thought that they would outgrow the “Gay Church” idea. I have many Trinitarian friends, so that was not serious either.

     My Mom did not support this because they were forming large Congregations. As she so often told me, “Get enough Christians together and they behave in a very Unchristian manner.” I liked the social aspects of the gatherings because I’m a very social person. When I saw the politics I glossed over the draw backs because I cared for these people.

     I was involved in many branches of this Congregation. When I saw one forming, I would pitch in and give them a little of my enthusiasm to inspire them. God seemed to have me show up at pivotal points in their formation. It was a “Viral” sort of concept. The founder was a Minister that had been disowned by his original denomination.

     In the beginning it was much like the way Church of Thomas Home Churches formed. They would study together, form relationships of fellowship, and start calling themselves a Church. There was no central clearinghouse to tell them to follow a certain game plan. Each formed and developed or failed as they needed to do.

     The first half of the 30 years I was very involved in a Church of Thomas sort of way. I did not like showing off. I did what needed to be done and left before they could “Praise me”. When I met Christians that felt alienated by their Birth Denominations, I suggested this new Group. I told them that they might find a Welcome there and Christian Home that could heal them.

     The last 15 years I was “Wandering in the Dessert.” My personal problems kept me from looking in on these people to see how they were doing. It was a big mistake on my part. I definitely could have warned people earlier. What they did with the knowledge was up to them.

     What I found when I came back to Texas was a very mutated group of Congregations. They had started Churches in many countries of the World. They were number driven. The bigger a Congregation was directly reflected the esteem given them from the member churches. Spirit and Welcome were way down the list. Money now was coming in first place. I was very sad but it was the tip of the ice berg.

     The very free wheeling style that built them was thrown out in the name of efficiency. They had to jump through no less than a year of hoops to qualify as a member Church. They assigned the Minister. You could not keep your leaders if they did not toe the new Party line. That Party Line included open practice of Sorcery. The last straw for me was a time that the Alter was used to “Demonstrate” a different Ritual than Christian. Then without even re-blessing the Communion plate and cup, continued on to the “Christian” Ritual. This “Demonstration” was from Voodoo. I did not take Communion, said goodbye to my friends and never went back. When they asked why I had left I told them that “God does not “SHARE” an Alter with anyone.” They did not get it.

     I did a quick assessment and found that two very serious problems had developed. Every single Church associated with this group was infested with Demons. I soon found out that it had become a farce. The Services continued to be in Christian Ritual, but there were other services held at these places.

     I found that they were drawing Christians in with the Rituals, then talking them into being open to other rituals. Those that were firm in their faith left, warning others that this was a Cult. Those that were desperate and not always knowledgeable about Christianity, assumed these were Christians. I realized they ruled by fear of rejection.

     A phrase that I remember painfully from my youth was the Mafia who ran the Gay Bars saying, “You have no other place to go”. I heard exactly these same words from the pulpit during a Sermon by these people. A Bolt of recognition shot down my spine, shocking me to the core.

     The “Gay Church” Brand name had become permanent. There are Straight people attending, but they are there for the Sorcery not the Christianity. To practice and blend Voodoo, Witchcraft and Sorcery with Christianity is self defeating. To also promote this blending as Christianity is Blasphemy. I have no problem with groups that openly say, “We practice everything.” They are not claiming to be Christians.

     Once they put Greed over Spirit they had hit the Slippery Slope. They started including non Christian Ritual to appeal to the many Wiccan, Sorcery, and Voodoo practioners. They lost the ability to fight the slide by regimenting the Church formation to weed out naysayers. They used their long drawn-out process to discourage new Churches that did not have an “Open Attitude” towards other Rituals. Gays and Lesbians are not Judgmental as a rule because they know what it feels like to be persecuted. The Leaders used this to indoctrinate new members by insinuating it would be “Divisive”, “Judgmental“, and “Unwelcoming”. They Equated all religions with Christianity.

     I have purposely not named this Group. Those that see what I’m talking about in their Church, should consider leaving even if it is not the group I’ve been talking about. There are other Denominations that share the fate of the group of which I speak. Those that do not see it are either in a true Christian Congregation or they are in denial. In either case, I can not help unless they ask for help.

     So returning to that TV Program on Winners I’ll tell you what I have learned. I failed in the Quality Control part of my Sponsorship. I have the tenacity and will to promote this Church that I now head until it is represented in all the Countries of the World. God always Wins so I’m on the Winning Team.

     There is still a niche to be filled. There are Millions of Straight, Gays, Lesbians, Bi’s, and Transgender people longing for a Christian Home. I finally learned the lesson my Mom tried to teach me about size and politics. I came Home to the Church of Thomas. The answer to all of these issues is of course the Church of Thomas. Without the need to finance a Hierarchy it will not take 30 years. After just nine months we are represented in four Countries. I suppose I will need to learn a new language or two. God says I’ll have to travel at some point. I leave those details in God’s hands.

     Embracing all people does not mean lowering our standards. We lead by example not by imitating others failed policies. We are Christians and those who may be the Christians of the Future. I have a live and let live policy on non Christians. God is the only one who can judge, we leave their disposition in God’s hands.

     It must be emphasized that Church of Thomas is a Church for all the Children of God, not just the outcasts of the World. Jesus Embraced all, so do we. We Love, we do not Judge. To keep our Rituals purely Christian is our calling, in memory of Jesus and his Sacrifice.

     I encourage everyone to let God wipe your slate clean, so you can start again, renewed. God Bless You.

God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions.

Angel Eliza 41 (For The One)