Authentic Believer-Faithful Follower....After Christmas...What's Next?

The advent of the celebration of Christmas is done; now what's next?
If we focus on a materialistic based mindset-and you by chance venture
out to a shopping mall tomorrow; the many days immediately after Christmas.
You'll probably have good reason to think that Christmas is just another seasonal;
commercial-money making time for the retail merchants. And that it is a shopping spree time for all of us.

However, I hasten to add, we should dig deeper with the intent to discover more of what it really means.
I know I personally seek and expect to get more meaning for a better life application.
I have a hunger and a thirst for more than just a 'once a year celebration'
>I want it to be more than a giant spending spree
>I want it to be more than gifts to be given-food to be prepared, cooked and eaten
>I yearn that it be more than just gathering, talking and drinking, to be merry

If the aforementioned; is all that one seeks; then rest assured, it shall be an experience
and an ordeal of "felt emptiness", "exhaustion and being drained", followed by lonliness, disappointment, and
dis-contentment.
So you may ask yourself; "how should I get beyond Christmas and the months to follow?. How shall I
manage to be positive, focused, and keep the 'light of my lamp' burning brightly-on the path of the journey
for others to see and steadfastly follow?
 An answer might be: "for those who are 'authentic believers', faithful followers, and possess a flair for "Kingdom Attitude" and is focused on a "Power of Higher Authority"-we shall fall down-but we will get back-up again.
Always remember, that everything, and anything, if it is going to be positive; has a great deal to do with one's attitude and one's perspective for their life's purpose and passion.

You see, when we view Christmas authentically: as the divine and sacred celebration of the birth of the Baby Jesus; therein  lay the real meaning: it becomes the "Kingdom Perspective". In that regard; one shall have a chance and the opportunity to discover-how to keep the 'gleaning of a positive glow' as part of the expression on their countenance.
In effect, this shall be part and parcel; of the fuel to keep the luminous light a-glow-and it will shine brightly
on the path of the journey for others to see and follow. And it shall remain  a part of one's life for the rest of the year until the celebration of Christmas comes again year in, and year out.

NOTE: For more insight read The Book of Romans 14th  chapter of the New Testament Bible. Here the Apostle Paul was inspired to write a discourse concerning specific struggles and challenges that the Roman people was experiencing in ancient times just coping with life application situations.

-Steve Braxton
 Author: "The Road That Is Difficult To Travel"
And
2011 Community Ambassador-OneChicago-One Nation,Building America Together

2011 Community Ambassador-To Build America Together

Reverend Steve Braxton selected as 2011 Community Ambassador by the Chicago Interfaith Leadership Institute. Aim and objectives: Establish and implement a series of  diverse and social action projects, Put forth meaningful interactive dialogue on the importance of "Interfaith Cooperation" amongst congregations, and mobilize individuals and specific groups to speak-out about the sustainability of; and the reasons to propel forward to sustain an Interfaith Community.
The programmatic events is a collaborative effort between the Chicago Community Trust, One Chicago-One Nation and the Chicago Interfaith Leadership Institute. You can follow on twitter: http://twitter.com/brasr6.
For community and congregation participation you may make contact at sbrax57@gmail.com. Thanks
Note: The project is intended as a city wide initiative

The Essence of; and real meaning of XMAS

What is the meaning and advent of celebrating Christmas all about? In a word, what is the real meaning of why we celebrate Christmas? Well to begin with, let's say a few words of what it's not about:
>Its not about going into debt-Its not about spending beyound your financial means.
>Its not about buying extravant gifts to impress someone-money you don't have in the first place
>its not about giving sacrifically.
Having said that, I'm not putting down the traditional gesture of gift giving and sharing with one another: ,family, friends and relatives, etc. That is not a bad thing-but do it sensibly and in moderation.

Two situations come to mind that recently happened: Beyounce gave her husband Jay-Z-a gift of an very expensive Italian car (Beguatta) the cost approx $2 million dollars. Now that's extravant. The other one is, Ron Attest who play in the NBA with the Lakers, announced that he plan to give away his salary for this year and also auction off his Championship Ring and give the proceeds to charity. Now that's a very noble cause.

But let's get back to the real meaning of celebrating Xmas. To begin with, it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born in a cow shed with the animals. He is herald as the "Messiah. The one who saves-but yet he  came shrouded in modest, meekness, gentleness and humility. He was prepared and sent to earth by God wrapped in all of humanity. His birth was the epitome of human-ness, so that we could connect, see, understand and relate to his nature and his character. The ultimate reason for his coming was to redeem and reconcile the world and all of humanity back to God. So  the celebration of Christmas is both redeeming and it is  restoration. In that; it created the approach and process for all of us to be re-connected for a right relationship with God. Its all about having another chance to write our name in the Lamb Book of Life. After The first man God created, who was Adam-who disobeyed God and fell from Grace. This was God's way of righting the wrong that Adam was found guilty. Above all is to have a Real Relationship with God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Thus the real meaning is: Jesus is the reason-and the ultimate "gift of life" to be in position to be reconciled with God, now and into Eternity. Meanwhile, let's have some fun celebrating Christmas-The Birth of Jesus-and in doing so...come along side of another and cause some joy to happen in their life-that's even a better gift...