The Christmas season has already begun.

I know that some of you who are reading this, are thinking to themselves, "where have you been!" "Christmas stuff is out in the stores at Halloween already." I guess I just don't get out very much. I was at Target a couple of days ago, and the store was filled with Christmas "stuff". I love Christmas. I love celebrating the birth of our Savior and I must confess I love all the sentimental feelings that the holiday invokes. But what I hate is the crass commercialism, mania and frenzy that has become the holiday. Just go to a Walmart the morning after Thanksgiving and you'll know what I mean. As followers of Christ, we should guard ourselves against getting caught up in the frenzy and whirlwind of Christmas. We are busy enough as it is as North Georgians, but during Christmas it seems as if the temperature rises on the busyness thermometer. Christmas should be a time to reflect and celebrate Emmanuel, God being with us. That is why there is Advent in the church calendar. Advent causes us to have to pause, remember, reflect and celebrate. I guess it is not too early to talk about Christmas because it is right around the corner, and if you have any doubts, just go to your local mall.

Here is an added bonus. This is an example of Christmas mania and frenzy gone bad, really bad!



A clip from the Malcolm in the Middle episode Hal's Christmas gift.