"IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE CITY"

I used to moan about hearing Christmas songs played in the malls of America. Some even before Halloween. No more, though. I never thought I'd see the day when saying "Merry Christmas" to someone could cause a problem. At least a hard look. Scrooges? Nope, well some. It's the topsy turvey America where we reject values and the American way. We embrace tolerance in the face of what is Godly. We accept the immoral; no, that's not right. We gravitate to it, adapt, and make it the new moral.

So when I hear Christmas music being played in stores these days, I appreciate it. Especially when it's "O, Holy Night," which I heard twice in Wal-Mart yesterday before I left the store. I especially like to hear Christian Christmas songs as you can imagine.

But some of the songs of the Advent weren't always so uplifting. "O, Come Emanuel," for example is a desolate song because the people of Israel before Jesus were in desolation. Similar to Pastor Don Piper's 90 minute experience in Heaven where he noted there were no sad songs longing for Messiah or addressing the cross, our songs at Christmas time should be praise songs in adoration of the birth of the Savior.

We need to adapt this attitude. Be thankful that religious songs can still be played in our secular world. Sing songs of adoration, for He has come and He lives today. And, as for now, we're able to celebrate His birth. Even if it's uncomfortable for some. Isaiah 40:1 tells us God comforts His people, so what may be uncomfortable for some, will feel just right for others.