EASTER CELEBRATION

What comes to mind when you hear the word “EASTER”?
For some people it’s about Celebrating Jesus’ death & Resurrection, Salvation, God’s Love, Sacrifice, Victory, Life, Restoration, Reconciliation, etc while for others it’s all about the Public holidays, Partying, Easter Bonnets, Exchanging gifts like Easter bunnies, Chocolates, Easter Eggs, etc. Generally, when people speak of Easter, they are most likely referring to the events surrounding Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. So why is it though, that the thought of Easter eggs, chocolate, Easter bunnies, partying hard and pastel colours also run through our minds when we hear the term Easter? Where does the misconception come from?



Origin of Easter
The term "Easter" is not truly found in the Bible except for KJV’s mistranslation of the Greek word "pascha" found in Acts 12:4 which actually referred to "Passover".

As with almost all "Christian" holidays, Easter has a secular side such that the dichotomous nature of Easter and its symbols, however, is not necessarily a modern fabrication. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the ancient Saxons (who celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess, Ēostre) they attempted to convert them to Christianity; however, in a clandestine manner by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner.

As it happened, the pagan festival of Eostre or Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ. It made sense, therefore, to alter the festival itself, to make it a Christian observance as pagans were slowly indoctrinated. The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter.

“According to the eighth-century theologian the Venerable Bede(who came up with the dating system of AD and BC), the Anglo-Saxon goddess , Eostre is associated with the egg and with the hare, both symbols of procreation that have been enduring-ly incorporated by the church in the form of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny who brings them.”



Easter Traditions & Celebrations
As time passed, Easter practices evolved into the celebrations we recognize today, even though its still celebrated differently by different cultures. Here are a few examples of how its celebrated around the world:


• Australia celebrates Easter with great fanfare and traditional fervour. Festivals held over the Easter holiday in Australia such as National Folk Festival, the East Coast International Blues & Roots Festival and the Australian Gospel Music Festival. The streets of Sidney, are filled with colourful gift galleries with the latest stock of presents. On Easter Sunday, churches are bedecked with flowers, to commemorate the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.


• Easter celebration in Brazil begins with the Holy Week rituals, which involve the blessing of the palm branches, woven in intricate patterns representing crosses, banners, letters and other related objects. Brazilian Christians take out procession walks, carrying statues of Mary and the body of Lord Jesus Christ. 'Pacoca', a special Easter delicacy prepared and given to visitors. Worshiping the popular symbols of Easter is a popular custom in Brazil.


• In the Philippines, with one of the biggest Catholic populations in the world, Easter is certainly one of the main events. Religious ceremonies are associated to the dramatisation of events; as the crucifixion and flagellations are literally re-enacted. Good Friday is when Penitents are actually nailed to a Cross and these people would also put barbed wires as their crowns, walks down the streets carrying that cross that weights a ton while fasting to somehow suffer for what He did for us. And on Easter Sunday, Filipinos go to church together, and celebrate as Christ has risen from death. To celebrate the birth of NEW LIFE, Fillipinos adopted westernized culture, of Easter EGG hunting in that Day.


• Easter in Israel is celebrated with great pomp and show. Pilgrims congregate for an Easter sunrise service at the Garden tomb in Jerusalem. Easter mass is celebrated at the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's walled Old City. Priests and monks in white robes chant the liturgy, as fragrant incense rise above the tomb Christians believe to be the place where Jesus rose from the dead. Many processions are held in Israel which travel the route of Jesus Christ's journey to Golgotha. The route is referred to as the ‘Twelve Stations’ of the Cross. At one o'clock in the afternoon on Easter day, the church leader goes into Jesus’ tomb and the doors are closed after him. The lights of the entire city are lit off and later the church bells rings and the church leader comes out with a burning torch. The torch is said to have been lit inside the tomb on its own without any external source. So everyone present in the procession at that time, lights their candles from the holy fire, enlightening the entire church premises. Easter celebrations assume more religious significance in Israel than feasting and celebrations.



How should we celebrate Easter?
With so much fanfare surrounding Easter, the tendency to not celebrate it are pretty high. If Easter is truly one of the holiest festivals in the Christian calendar, then it is meant to be celebrated nonetheless. Rather than get carried away with festivities and consumed with needless symbolisms, Christians should take out time to reflect on all Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross and rejoice because in Him we have new and everlasting Life. This is the one holiday that is truly about Christ and his Victory over Sin & Death.

JESUS IS ALIVE
that’s why we can say
HAPPY EASTER.

2013 Movie Talk

Hey guys, missed me? Even though I’ve been a wee bit busy with my cutie pie who turned one month old on the 12th of March, 2013, I can’t help but share a little something with you guys.

If you remembered my 2012 December post, I did mention a few films I would love to watch. As life would have it, I’ve been fortunate to watch them between January and now. I won’t be doing my usually analysis of them because time is of the essence and I do need to rest a lot to regain my body and my strength. I hope you still find it interesting.

1. Flight - Denzel Washington’s performance was stellar. His character brought to light the fact that no matter the good deed done by anyone in public service, there is a moral obligation to the people being served that must be upheld while on the job.

2. Brave - a cool Disney-Pixar collaboration with a moral story. Not many of these kinds of stories around these days. And no, it has nothing to do with women empowerment.

3. Les Miserables – this Broadway story brought to the big screen was set in ol’ France around the time of the French revolution. If you loved Sound of Music, you would love this film. The story is enchanting; Huge Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crow and the entire cast gave excellent renditions and performances.

4. Perks of being a WallFlower – adapted from a book by Stephen Chbosky who was also the director, this movie held one statement that would be ingrained in my mind for years to come because of the deep truth in it; “...we accept the love we think we deserve.” An emotional drama hidden behind a coming of age story.

5. The Possession – so I’m writing on this movie because of its genre (horror) and the fact that I didn’t expect Jeffrey Dean Morgan to be soo perfect for it. Even though it’s said to be based on a true story, I did hate the ending which like I tweeted gives the impression that evil cannot be contained. Such movies like this, the Grudge, The Woman in Black, etc not only talk of evil spirits possessing people but also seemingly winning/having their own way in the earth as though there is no greater power. As a Christian, I know from experience that all spirits are subject to power in the name of Jesus and are under our authority since we are seated in Christ in heavenly places.

6. Hobbits: the unexpected Journey – unexpected indeed. Everyone I k now who watched this movie was pissed that it was just a part of a trilogy. Since when did Hollywood become like Nollywood where almost all the movies are in parts to be continued? I enjoyed the movie nonetheless and would watch any Peter Jackson remake of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work.

7. Lincoln - after watching this movie which was partially adapted from the book, “Team of Rivals: A Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Goodwin, I had a profound admiration for Abraham Lincoln. His resolve to free the black slaves during the American Civil War by passing the 13th Amendment into the United States Constitution was amazing. Daniel Day-Lewis pulled off a flawless impression of the real dude. Worthy of all the buzz, nominations and awards.

8. Oz: the Great and Powerful – once again this film by Disney is another movie adapted from a book. The CGI effects were so cool, even the actors were thrilled to watch their own performance in the movie when it premiered. Nothing like the origin of a classic tale to bring light to lingering questions in the minds of those who never read the book.

9. Django Unchained - can my review be complete without this remarkable movie. I’ve always loved Quentin Tarantino’s work but this western movie was off the chain with humorous lines, unforgettable characters and excellent portrayal of roles. Christopher Waltz was indeed worthy of the Oscar, Golden globe & BAFTA awards he won. P.S. this was the first movie in which I absolutely hated Samuel L. Jackson’s Character which reminded me of Uncle Ruckus from Boondocks.

I could go on and on but I have to stop. Baby duty calls and my body demands rest. Till I can blog again, have a fab time in the month of March. Shout out to my Mom and Brother who are born in March same with my Dad-inlaw, Sister and Brother-inlaw. Love you guys.

Life lessons reinforced by pregnancy

Sorry for the long silence. I became a mother this month and readjusting isn't easy. One thing that gets me through though is my little prince. The way he smiles in his sleep, the facial expressions, how he lets me know he's hungry... all worth it. Permit me to share some of his pictures with you, his name is Nathan Vwede Esievoadje.

When I got pregnant, I was told of all the pregnancy symptoms I would be experiencing and all rules I was expected to follow if I wanted a healthy baby. Somewhere along that journey, I found that this phase helped reinforce certain principles I’ve known to be ideal for having the best out of life. I call them Life Lessons. Below are a few:

1. Take a Break from Pills – Being pregnant has a way of reminding one of how effective the body’s immune system is especially if we take good care of our bodies and stay alert to its warning signs. Don’t get this wrong, no one said taking pills are bad but depending on them too much may not allow you understand what your body is saying because certain symptoms are signals to another illness/distress. Once your body adapts to having drugs for relief and you’ll need stronger medications which may have harmful side effects to your body. For instance, having a headache may be a pointer to the fact that you need to rest, eat or reduce the amount of stress you expose yourself to.

2. Eat Healthy – Maintaining a healthy diet may seem expensive and too much effort but that’s not exactly true. If you truly believe health is wealth, then you’ll take time out to figure out what nutritional value most of the foods we eat have and what portions are appropriate. If you compare the amount of money you’ll spend on drugs and hospital bills when you fall sick to the amount you’ll spend on eating right, you’ll see that the latter is less expensive. Incorporating fruits, veggies and fibre rich ingredients to your meals is a whole lot cheaper than even buying supplements and it will save you a lot of time spent waiting to see the doctor in any hospital.

3. Plan Ahead – Pregnancy gives only 9months to mentally, physically and financially prepare for a baby but planning in advance saves you a lot of headaches when the baby arrives. So it is with life. Whatever projects you embark on, it will do you a world of good to have a list containing all the things you require and strategies on how to acquire them in other to accomplish your life’s goals. That way you don’t make decisions under duress or forget anything that is vital to you. You may not be able to cover everything in your contingency plan but your worries of not being up to the challenge will be significantly reduced.

4. Get Knowledge – acquiring knowledge is not only for academia just as knowledge about fabrics is not restricted to people in the fashion industry. It would serve you well to know what fabrics work best in different seasons. For instance, most baby clothes are not only machine washable but also 100% cotton, why? Because cotton breathes. So when power outage becomes unpredictable and the heat feels unbearable, wearing clothes made out of cotton is your best bet and when the weather is cold, clothes made from wool are preferable. In every sphere of life you find yourself in, make a habit of doing research and studying to gain knowledge on it.

5. Dress Well – the principle of wearing clothes that flatter your figure is not for trendy singles only. No matter the circumstance you go through or the changes your body undergoes, there is no reason to dress shabby or sloppy. Learn to look good even when you don’t feel it. Looking bright and cheerful has a way of attracting pleasant things your way and it can help boost the pride of your significant other. When we make the effort to look good, it’s not only for ourselves but also a point of encouragement to the people around us who look up to us.

6. Get Expert Opinions – whenever you feel sick, don’t self medicate, seek professional counsel. What you think may be the problem may just be a pointer to something else, the root cause that needs to be dealt with ASAP. This principle also holds true for other areas of life like starting a business, raising a children; in general, dealing with situations that are unfamiliar to you. Experience is not always the best teacher, there are hard core truths you can learn if you decide to seek the opinions of those who have excelled in the area of your challenge.

There are lessons to be learned from every phase of life, you just have to be open to see them. These are just a few of the many great truths I’ve gleaned from being pregnant.

THE NIGERIA OF MY DREAMS

I wake up in the morning and turn off the air conditioning because the room is chilling from consistent electricity. I turn on my television after devotion to see my leaders – presidents governors and Local Government chairpersons- share in details all the credible efforts they are making for my future children to have a better tomorrow. I eat healthy food and take a few supplements approved by NAFDAC certified as safe for consumption. Then I read the newspapers and see how investors are trooping into the country and causing our economy to bloom. I smile to myself and say a quick prayer of thanks to God for answers to prayers. I call my friends whose businesses are legitimately prospering and we chat of how we can improve the lives of the less privileged still in our society. As I drive to work, I say hello to the effective police force who are handling traffic, stopping defaulters breaking the speed limit and responding to a distress robbery-in-operation call. Yes, this is not a dream, it’s a reality. It is the fulfillment of a prophecy and multiple countless prayers offered by the saints on behalf of our land. It’s nothing but the Nigeria of my dreams, a world full of possibilities because we turned it over to God and chose to live by values that reflect selflessness and genuine interest in National growth.

You’ve heard of the 3mins video talk on cable called Africa Dreaming where artists come out and talk of their vision for Africa? Well, this is mine. Rather than restrict my thoughts to Africa which is already doing well by the way (especially countries like South Africa whose tourism industry is booming, Benin whose Pineapple juice exportation is doing well, etc). I decided to write on Nigeria, once known as the giant of Africa because of its vast human and natural resources which seems to still be poorly utilized. Why do I say so? If a country like Singapore with no natural resource and whose landmass is not equivalent to a single state like Lagos in Nigeria can be turned into a paradise of sorts then why haven’t we merited the title ‘The Giant of Africa’ in over 50years?

I am a firm believer in a better Nigeria; it is not an impossible goal. There are a lot of people who have not known any better than our current struggles as a nation but if only they can open their eyes and realize that their dreams or wishful thinking can become a reality; if only they act, their dreams will come true. A few individuals have taken up the responsibility to tell the youths, our future leaders, of the possibility of a better tomorrow. One of which is a friend of mine who has organized a regional campaign called Step Up Nigeria. To read more about it, go to www.stepup.imaginitmr.com or http://connectnigeria.com/articles/2013/01/28/beacon-of-hope-teenagers-as-step-up-comes-to-lagos/. The road I speak of is not one without obstacles neither is it one that can be reached in a decade but just as little drops of water make a mighty ocean, so also the little deeds we commit to now has the power to change our tomorrow.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ME – FREE VERSE

It’s a new year, 2013. I’ve been racking my brain since my last post to come up with something that will be worth your time. I noticed everyone was putting up posts about how to approach the New Year, what resolutions to make and how to make them, yada, yada, yada. So I decided not to. Since I had done a movie fest for you, I decided to give that a break till maybe end of the month or next month, depending on if I can hold back from assessing most of the movies I’ve been watching. Even now as I’m typing this I don’t know where I’m going with it.

Many times my articles are well constructed with a lot of research and thought going into it and hardly do I get the time to just slack off and talk. Maybe it’s because I’m a tad too cautious of talking about things going on in my personal life. So, this year, forgive me if I come online and vent about things and people that piss me off or if I decide to share a piece of my life that you may consider dull depending on your preferences. I think I’ve earned the right to be unprofessional here every once in a while. I’ll still give you the variety of topics and personal views of mine that you so enjoy so fear not.

To jump start the year, here is a free verse I wrote years ago after being inspired by reading Martin Luther King Jnr’s actual speech. There’s a bit of heavy lifting at the end but hey, I just gave him props for the piece. I’ve never shown this to the public, hope you like it enough to give feedback/comments and share with your online community of friends.

I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH

I say to you today my brethren in the Lord, even though we are faced with difficulties in this life, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in Christ.

I have a dream that one day the Church will be full at 8am with lost souls and found coins sitting together in brotherhood serving the one true redeemer Jesus Christ our Lord.

I have a dream that one day while in a world conditioned to swelting with self or serving God from their comfort zones; one day right here, the hearts of every man will be transformed and committed to serving God just because they love Him. I have a dream that one day our desires and ethnic backgrounds will be reconciled to one dream and one dream only, to make heaven.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day despite the fast growing membership of church, that we will all be united as one family under the heavens.

I have a dream that one day in the midst of gross darkness, the restlessness and the world’s apprehension, everyone in Christ will find peace. I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every youth in Nigeria and the world at large, whose loyalties were once pledged to the world, will find the church more interesting and solution driven that they’ll forsake their former lifestyles and pleasures in search of God’s truth, Jesus.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be made low; the rough places shall be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope.

This is the faith on which the body of Christ, the Church is built. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair, a strong hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling disorder in our world into a beautiful place for Christ to reign. With this faith, we’ll be able to work together, pray together, struggle together, be imprisoned for the gospel together and stand for freedom together knowing that we will be free of this earthly tabernacle one day.

Talk Movies (Movie Review)

As 2012 comes to an end, I find myself hustling to watch some great movies being released like Cloud Atlas, Disney’s Oz the great and wonderful, the musical Les Miserables, Jackie Chan’s latest action adventure movie Zodaic and many more. Thanks to a cool friend of mine that visited 2days ago, I’ll be able to do just that, maybe not for all the movies I listed but for others like The Hobbits: The unexpected Journey, Lincoln, Pitch Perfect, etc. I’ll tell you about them next year. Here are a few of the movies I’ve watched since our last movie review:

1. Think Like A Man – I have to applaud the writers of this screenplay (Keith Merryman & David A. Nweman) for their ingenuity in creating a dramatic story revolving around an actual book by Steve Harvey titled “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” especially for the witty dialogue. I also have to acknowledge the Director (Tim Story) for casting such great choice of actors, their act were believable and their characters, loveable. This 2012 movie may not be uniquely different from the movie written & directed by Mark Brown in 2001 Two can Play that Game, particularly for those whose genre preference isn’t Romantic Comedy, but what stood out for me in this movie was the way the principles of the book were portrayed by the characters. With a production budget of $12.5millon, it went on to become a worldwide hit grossing about $99.1 million; I guess it’s safe to say this film is a massive success. Thanks to the film, I sincerely believe that every single woman should get Steve Harvey’s book because the truth in it is so subtle and realistic (infomercial objective achieved). As for this movie, I learned that in the end Love is not a game to be played but a choice that we make to share our lives with someone who truly matters to us.

2. Total Recall – Someone asked me if they should go to the cinema to watch this movie when it just came out. Based on the previews and Behind the Scene shots I had seen, I encouraged him to and it was worth the cash spent. This 2012 dystopian Sci-fi action flick reminded me of Minority Report & Aeon Flux especially with the futuristic approach to societal living and technological advancements. Funny, I hear this movie is also a remake of the 1990 version of Total Recall starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as lead character. Also that the film is based on a short story by Philip K Dick titled We Can Remember It for You Wholesale which is also responsible for inspiring the movie scripts for Christopher Nolan’s Inception and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. What I liked about this 2012 futuristic thriller was the great fights between Kate Beckinsale and Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel (now Mrs Timberlake) and the interesting car chases. The twists in the plot that was not easily predictable especially since we were left guessing if the entire movie is real or just in his subconscious. Even though I got to watch a pirated version compiled in a DVD I bought where the heads and eyes of the characters were completely out of the screen in some shots, while other screens were blurry, it was still an enjoyable movie to watch but the storyline is highly unmemorable.

3. I am Number Four – Although it was released in 2011, this movie by Dreamworks Pictures to me was all about the chase amongst aliens on earth (kinda reminds me of a cartoon I love watching on Cartoon Network, Symbiotic Titans) and the fight to live a normal teenage life by the lead character John Smith aka ‘Number 4’ played by Alex Pettyfer. The movie is actually an adaptation form a novel within a series called the Lorien Legacies written by Pittacus Lore (James Frey & Jobie Hughes) and published by HarperCollins in 2010. The story from the book is engaging but the movie had its low almost clichéd moments that nearly turned me off from watching it to the end. You want an example? How about Number 4 running off with the other characters and forgetting his wounded shape-shifting dog in the school bathroom after the dog fought to protect him; leaving the dog hopping on 3 legs to find its way to him at the end of the film as both he and (Teresa Palmer who played) ‘Number 6’ drove on to find the other numbered aliens on earth which had not been found or killed by the Mogadorians. My worst almost clichéd moments were Alex is seen playing love in the river at night with a girl and when Teresa set a house on fire and walked away in slow motion with Adele’s Rolling in the Deep score as the house exploded behind her. After a movie like Jaws or Piranhas, why would people playing in the water at night not let you know something bad is about to happen? Besides the fact that Number 6 was fire resistant, thanks to Jasmine Sullivan’s Burst Your Windows' musical video, messing up a property in anger is now overrated. At the end of this Young Adult Sci-fi movie, I kept asking myself “where on earth was Number Five?”

4. Footloose – Until I heard the footloose soundtrack at the end of this 2011 movie, I found it hard to believe it was a remake of the 1984 version starring Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, John Lithgow etc which frankly, i don't remember. The storyline is basically the same with the 1984 version which was around overprotective parents stifling the freedom of expression their teenagers so desperately desire. This modern version adds technical modern dance moves like housing, windmills, head spins, flips, lindy hop, texas-line dance and acrobatics to the mix (in the old version, the dance move was mainly tap dancing). I like that teenagers were encouraged to put forth their strong reasons for their intentions logically to their parents while acknowledging their parents efforts as necessary for their own good. There was an adequate balance between the story being told and street racing (not as much dancing as I would like especially after watching tight dance movies like Step Up Revolution) making it quite an enjoyable movie overall but not one I would like to watch more than twice.

5. Battle for Terra – hah! Life won’t be complete without a little Animation. This Sci-fi Anime is the tale of heroism and how desperation and grief drives one to hostility, be it humans or aliens. It was popular in 2008/2009 when it was released winning a Grand Prize for Best Animated Feature at the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival held in Ontario, Canada. For some reason we in Nigeria never really heard about this film. I thought maybe because there wasn’t any shockers in the storyline despite the voicing been done by Chris Evans, Danny Glover , Evan Rachael Woods, Luke Wilson, Amanda Peet, Dennis Quaid, among a long list of others. It reminded me of the beauty of an Alien World as created by the 2009 movie Avatar starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, written and directed by James Cameron. this anime may not have been 100% visually stunning or have tight gripping plot but it is still a nice film to watch when you are looking for a delightful light hearted entertainment that has 3D graphics and cool CGI effects.

6. New Year’s Eve – this star-studded romantic comedy is fun to watch on the 31st night of any year. It shows how much value people place on what they hold dear to, love or believe in and how special being alive to celebrate a new year is. My favourite character was Sophia Vergara, her accent and lines were just as hilarious as her act. There were a few moments I loved in the movie; one was Katherine Heigl slapping Jon Bon Jovi, another was Zac Efron interpreting Michelle Pfeiffer’s fantasy wish list into a meaningful reality and last but not least was Lea Michele getting her moment in the spotlight as she sang the first song in the New Year celebration at Manhattan after the countdown to the New Year. I wasn’t fond of the kiss someone as the clock strike 12midnight/12am culture portrayed at the end of the movie though. There is a sharp contrast though between how the New Year is celebrated all over the world and here in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, we tend to go to our places of worship, pray into the New Year and celebrate with brethren of similar faith before the fan fare of fireworks, knockouts, walking in a single file with lighted candles till 1am, begins. If not that then people choose to stay home watching a televised service of any denomination into the New Year or go out partying in a club or joint and what not depending on which part of the country you find yourself.

There you have it. With this I say good bye to 2012 and hello to 2013 where a ton of great movies are waiting to be released.

A thought at Christmas

I shared this write up last year on Facebook and felt my dear readers who didn’t know me back then would like to see it. I have an elaborate article on Christmas but this year, I decided to go with this very short piece:

A crazy friend walked into my office last year and lamented on the Christmas frenzy in Nigeria. To my surprise I found his line of reasoning fascinating. Most appalling to him was the carrying of live animals about, the hike in transport fares and other food items, the rush in the marketplace, and might I add, the hustle for Christmas songs via CDs/online media. According to him, some questions had become fashionable such as “What are you killing for Christmas?”, “Are you traveling?”, “You dey town?” even if the person is obviously in front of you. It’s funny how we Africans and Nigerians in particular celebrate Christmas.

We put ourselves through unnecessary stress and forget the reason for the season. It is actually to celebrate the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ, and his unique entrance into the world. Over the years, feasting has replaced reminiscing; activity has replaced reflection and even the act of love has overshadowed the person of love himself. Now songs of his birth are being replaced with lovers’ songs to each other, songs of the weather and gift giving culture of the season.

Let’s not lose sight of what’s really important this season - the celebration of our Messiah who left his riches, glory and throne in heaven to partake of our humanity. This Christmas, I hope we’ll have a better understanding the significance of what we are really celebrating which is our life in Christ. I’ve bought my Christmas hat, ready to dress up in red and white, symbolic of His blood and holiness to me and I’m ready to give God all the praise he deserves because He is truly worthy.