I am writing in response to all of the talk about those who do not say "Merry Christmas" today.
Please realize I do not speak for all believers when I share my position on the term "Merry Christmas".
I simply wish to share my concerns as I see the meaning and importance of Jesus arrival erode into a very commercial and secular observance.
It is no surprise that those in professional politics can no longer say
Merry Christmas in their correspondence.  It is also no great loss . . .
You see Christmas is no longer the religious observance it ought to be.
In fact, the holiday is marred by images and false belief in Santa Clause, his flying reindeer, as well as hundreds of other things that have stripped bare the celebration of Christ's birth. 1
The term Christmas, when originated, was never used in remembrance of the birth of Christ but simply a term describing the worship service of the Catholic Church of around AD1038.
It holds no value or meaning today in a society where people have no relationship with the Christ who came, not just to be born and laid in a manger, but to grow up, share the message of eternal life, suffer and die on the cross of Calvary.  He shed His blood on that cross for the sake of all the world and those who trust in Him for salvation will be saved from eternal damnation.
I no longer care if a store does not use the word Christmas in its advertisement, nor do I even care if a politician says Merry Christmas in their letters because many have no idea of what a relationship with Jesus really is.
It is, however, my prayer, that all men accept the precious gift of God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ who suffered, died and was buried and rose from the grave to accomplish what no man ever could - the payment for the sin of all the world.

1 Timothy 2.3-6: 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time . . .

I pray we can share this message with as many as possible.


Blessings to you, your family, and friends;  And I pray you have a Joyful celebration of Christ's Birth: "Cara Christogeno"!*
IN His Service,
Pstr. Richard J. Rizzi
Farmington, NH

*Greek for Joyful Christ's Birth
(1. In fact, as I wrote this a home burned down, killing 5 people, because they mishandled hot fireplace embers so that "Santa" could come down the chimney.)

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Stephen Covey

So what exactly is the “main thing”?  We are rapidly approaching Christmas.  Many Christians and non-Christians will celebrate Christmas but the focus will be far different for these two groups. 
For the Christian the focus is on remembering the blessings of Christ’s birth.  While the Christian might put up a tree and share presents with others, the focus is not on the commercialism of the “Holiday” but more about the Holiness of that day, nearly 2000 years ago, when Jesus was born in that humble setting and placed in a manger.
All too many times people today celebrate Christmas with very little thought to the real meaning of the celebration.  Christmas has become big business and highly commercial.  I would even go to say (and this is my personal perspective) that when a large corporation "allows" their employees to say "Merry Christmas" it is not to offer Christ centered blessings but to bring up the "bottom line" or raise their revenue.  That is why we find banners with Merry Christmas alongside a display with the jolly guy in the red suit.

Do a bit of research and you will find the satire behind much of what we see today in the business of Christmas.
You will find that Saint Nicolas incrementally became the Santa Clause who was not earth bound but could travel by sleigh because he alone possessed special flying reindeer.  He could fly the entire world over in only one night and even before that he could know who was bad or good, who is sleeping, who is awake.  Those who brought this tall tale into existence, I imagine, never intended it to take away from Christmas but it can if we lose focus of the truth of God's Word.
You know, it all comes back to the authority of Scripture.  If we regard Scripture as a mere sidebar to life and not the guiding factor of how we live we will find that we are off track.  So keep the main thing, the main thing! 

If you wish to keep the main thing the main thing this year and celebrate Christmas, it’s great to decorate your home and share gifts with your loved ones.  I enjoy giving the gifts as well as being thought of to receive them. 
But remember that scene offered to us in Scripture:
Luke 2.6,7: 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Keeping the focus only on Christ and the gift of His grace that comes through faith in Him is the “Reason for the Season!”
Yes, Virginia, there really is a reason for celebrating Christmas, and that is because God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.

I wish to share with all who come to read this installment a very Merry Christ centered Holiday Season!