Despite the large crowds of ever-increasingly frustrated shoppers - with their eagerness to over-spend in an effort to covey the “proper” holiday message - Christmas is not a celebration of mankind’s gluttony. In fact Christmas has become so far removed from its original intent that it is difficult to imagine why the ACLU even bothers to attack it

Many of those exchanging gifts this December 25th won’t even bother with the minor detail of recognizing the fact that Christmas is a celebration of life. Even those making their annual pilgrimage to church will be too busy, and too excited, thinking about the potential presents they’ll be receiving in the coming hours to appreciate the importance of the Sermon they’re ignoring.

The true “meaning” of Christmas isn’t the gifts given or received: Instead the true “meaning” of Christmas is life, love…..and death.

God so loved us that he gave his only begotten son to die for our sins.

Read that again – God so loved us that he gave his only begotten son to die for our sins.

Let it sink in for a moment while you reconsider what Christmas means to you.

Imagine loving others so much that you send your son (or daughter) to die for them.

Millions of American Mothers and Fathers have done that very thing - though their offspring weren’t necessarily sent to die - no son (or daughter) was ever sent off to war without the realization of death being a distinct possibility. Yet they went by the millions.

These brave men and women go off to war because they love freedom and America – her dreams and ideals. In doing so, our soldiers have insured that we enjoy freedoms that are unparalleled in the world.

In return our servicemen (and women) ask only that we accept responsibility for the freedoms they’ve insured (for us) and that we support them in their endeavors – wherever they’re sent.

Instead we eagerly lap up the drivel spewed forth by an agenda-driven media and the political games pushed by a party with an egregious lust for power that has only recently been achieved. We’re told that our troops are stupid – via a “botched joke” – and that “we’re losing in Iraq.” Our soldiers have been lambasted in the media for infringing upon the “rights” of terrorists – the very people who wish to kill each and every one of us. In our politically correct world, we’ve even court-martialed one soldier for the “crime” of throwing a terrorist leader up against a wall. Need I remind you yet again that the terrorist leader’s fondest desire is your death?

We’ve effectively handicapped our military, by placing the equivalent of handcuffs on them, while demanding that they complete a difficult task; against an enemy that simply refuses to recognize any set of rules.

Our populace has succumbed to the lure of distortion: we’ve once again decided that personal responsibility is too much of a task for us to undertake. Polls now show that a majority of Americans want the US to leave Iraq – and undermine (at least) two nations, our brave servicemen, and (literally) millions of people.

The costs associated with such an undertaking could be weighed in dollars – though blood spilled (and lives lost) will be the real measurement of such irresponsibility.

Jesus Christ died for our sins and our military members died for our freedoms. It is not certain that we’re deserving of either: our actions thus far certainly indicate the negative.

This season make time to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas and act accordingly: don’t allow Christ’s death to be turned into something that isn’t even a reasonable resemblance to the original intent.

Give thanks to the soldiers who have fought, and died, for freedoms that we often take for granted: your support will help to insure that those who have died, didn’t die in vain. Insist that our elected officials allow our soldiers to throw down the shackles placed upon them, so they may complete the task of assuring the safety of our nation and its people.

We are a blessed people with freedoms that other nations can only dream of, and men (and women) who willingly fight (and die) to assure the continuation of our freedom. While we can never repay them, we must do our part.