Comments on: Seen So Far This Christmas Shopping Season… http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:04:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: David Riggins http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-17500 David Riggins Sun, 10 Dec 2006 15:49:18 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-17500 I stopped giving Christmas gifts several years ago. The concept behind it is so worldly, the competition and expectations so full of sin and corruption as to be choking. So is that being a grinch? I personally think the greatest gift I can give is to be in the service of God every day of the year. To go more deeply into debt each year just to appear approved to others, even if that is one's family, is just stupid. So dump the false pretence of "giving" and jump on the bandwagon of "serving". It is cheaper, more fulfilling, and doesn't get thrown in the trash because it doesn't break. In the meantime, reserve Christmas for what it is, a day to give praise and honor to the child of God who came to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. I stopped giving Christmas gifts several years ago. The concept behind it is so worldly, the competition and expectations so full of sin and corruption as to be choking. So is that being a grinch? I personally think the greatest gift I can give is to be in the service of God every day of the year. To go more deeply into debt each year just to appear approved to others, even if that is one’s family, is just stupid. So dump the false pretence of “giving” and jump on the bandwagon of “serving”. It is cheaper, more fulfilling, and doesn’t get thrown in the trash because it doesn’t break. In the meantime, reserve Christmas for what it is, a day to give praise and honor to the child of God who came to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

]]> By: AlieraKieron http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-17199 AlieraKieron Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:41:06 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-17199 On point 2: To be precise, Walmart's figures are down. Most other stores are up. It's not just that the "poor are poorer and the rich are richer", although I'm sure there's a bit of that there: it's that Walmart has now managed to offend and upset everyone. Most people I know are uncomfortable with their overall business practices, and some are downright hostile. (And it's not who you'd think, either: the biggest hater of Walmart I know is a girl from the UpNorth in Wisconsin who saw her entire town whither away when the big box moved into town and shut down all the local businesses while paying minimum wage.) People just don't see it the low, low prices as such a good deal anymomre. On point 2: To be precise, Walmart’s figures are down. Most other stores are up. It’s not just that the “poor are poorer and the rich are richer”, although I’m sure there’s a bit of that there: it’s that Walmart has now managed to offend and upset everyone. Most people I know are uncomfortable with their overall business practices, and some are downright hostile. (And it’s not who you’d think, either: the biggest hater of Walmart I know is a girl from the UpNorth in Wisconsin who saw her entire town whither away when the big box moved into town and shut down all the local businesses while paying minimum wage.) People just don’t see it the low, low prices as such a good deal anymomre.

]]> By: Patricia http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-16257 Patricia Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:38:11 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-16257 What an great idea, CS reader - the $100 tip and paying for your meal with cash! BTW...I am a waitress at.....just kidding! What an great idea, CS reader - the $100 tip and paying for your meal with cash! BTW…I am a waitress at…..just kidding!

]]> By: Karen in Wichita http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-16147 Karen in Wichita Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:21:06 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-16147 He's the only grandchild on both sides. The grandmas were VERY ENTHUSIASTIC the first few years. I solved the problem by inviting grandmas to come clean his room a few months before Christmas, and try to figure out where everything goes. Nowadays, he gets lots of school clothes and books, and a lot fewer toys. And the upside is that he's entirely comfortable with giving away anything that isn't one of the very few things he treasures (and selection of treasured items is generally not at all linked to cost). He’s the only grandchild on both sides. The grandmas were VERY ENTHUSIASTIC the first few years. I solved the problem by inviting grandmas to come clean his room a few months before Christmas, and try to figure out where everything goes.

Nowadays, he gets lots of school clothes and books, and a lot fewer toys. And the upside is that he’s entirely comfortable with giving away anything that isn’t one of the very few things he treasures (and selection of treasured items is generally not at all linked to cost).

]]> By: Max Ambrose http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-16074 Max Ambrose Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:56:41 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/12/seen-so-far-this-christmas-shopping-season.html#comment-16074 Yea, me too. But, Dan, my Mom works for Best Buy and they had people out there for a FULL WEEK! Max Yea, me too.

But, Dan, my Mom works for Best Buy and they had people out there for a FULL WEEK!

Max

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