Patriotic Hodgepodge

Woohoo, it's Wednesday and that means it's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge from Joyce over at "From This Side of the Pond". Check out my answers and then head over to her blog for a lot more fun.

1. In two or three sentences tell us what Veteran's Day means to you?
It means remembering my grandfather and grandmother who both served in WWII (and met while in the service). It means taking a moment, or two, and thanking God for those who were willing to give up the comforts of home to protect our borders or help another nation protect theirs. 

2. What's your favorite film with a patriotic theme woven into the storyline?

EASY. White Christmas. Sigh. Now I need to pull this movie out tonight and watch it.

3. Flu shot-yes or no? If you answered no, do you plan to get a flu shot? If not, why not? Have you ever had the flu?

No. I do not plan on getting the shot. We don't get it. We use natural methods for protecting ourselves from the flu virus. Yes, I had the flu once. I still don't get the shot anymore. 

4. I've seen lots of people posting pictures of their Christmas trees up and decorated. Many stores have had Christmas on display since well before Halloween. Red cups are back at Starbucks, sans the holiday decor, and that has some people up in arms. What are your thoughts on all the holiday ruckus this second week of November?

I don't get it. I just don't get it. Hello, um, Thanksgiving!! Now that's a beautiful holiday. 

And, I guess I will take this opportunity to share something we have changed in our home this year. We are not doing Christmas in our family.

It's OK, I will wait until the gasps and fainting spells are over.

Feel better. OK. Let me quickly explain.

We needed to research the origins of Halloween for our boys. They asked us why we celebrated it. We didn't know other than candy. So, we researched it. They both looked at me afterwards and said, "I don't think that's a very good idea for us as Christians, do you". How could I argue?

That lead us on a search for better alternatives and so on. We learned a lot in that journey and we have decided to celebrate Hanukkah instead. Yes, we are very much still Christians. Yes, we still love Jesus and know salvation comes from Him and only Him. But, when you have a moment, study about Hanukkah and see the beautiful pointing to Christ that it has strung throughout. Look in the NT to see Christ, Himself, celebrating it.

So, we will not have a tree this year, but a Menorah. And we can't wait to share the love of Christ with family and friends as they gather around the light to hear about the one true Light that came to this earth so long ago.

As for the cup issue (rolling eyes here), I posted about that yesterday on this post, "The Cup Doesn't Matter"

5. What 'critter' are you most afraid of encountering unexpectedly? Why that one?

In my home? A mouse. I hate mice. I mean, really, because they are mice. 
In our pasture? A snake. Some snakes will chase you. We have means snakes around here. We have been chased a few times. Most just slither on by and don't care about you. Some are snotty.

6. Do you like building things? What's the last thing you 'built'?

Not really. I like working with my hands but not building. The last thing built for us was our wheelchair ramp. My husband and kids are about to build a club house. I build sandwiches. LOL. 

7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude...what are you most grateful for that brings beauty to your daily life?

I am most grateful for my God who provided such a beautiful and sacrificial way for us to live with Him for eternity. Without that I would literally be lost. My life wouldn't have a whole lot of purpose since the second it ended it would all be dust. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I am excited about Hanukkah coming up. We picked out a simple but pretty menorah. We chose simple candles. I invited family and friends over for the last night's big celebration. I am planning the 8 days of meals. We have some fun traditional games to play (yes, we will have a dreidel) . Our whole family is excited. 

The Cup Doesn't Matter

It's all over the internet, even on the news. Starbucks has a new cup for the Christmas holiday. And there is such an uproar over it. People are up in arms that the cups that they are going to throw in the trash and never think about, the cups that have a paper holder on them so you can't really see much of them anyway, are red and green and don't have something like a snowflake on them.

From here

Deep breath ...

The cup doesn't matter. If your faith can be turned because of a cup, you have bigger issues than the Starbucks corporation. You need to stop reading what I have to say and get into God's word and some serious prayer.

What does matter, however, IS at Starbucks. The barista matters. His/her life matters. Have you asked him what his plans for eternity are or just freaked out that your red and green cup doesn't have a snowman on it?

My Mom shared this with me on Facebook today and I agree. Jesus wouldn't care about the cup. It doesn't matter.

“If Jesus was to walk the earth today and enter the nearest Starbucks, what would his agenda be? Would he zero in on the ...closest employee and tell them to write, “Merry Christmas” on his peppermint mocha? Would he then smile smugly at the pained barista who had nothing to do with the corporation’s decision to implement a new design? Would he later boast about it to all his friends as they marvel at his moral victory?
Or perhaps Jesus would choose to order his coffee and ask the barista how her day has been. Perhaps he would invite her to sit with him during her break so he could get to know her. Christian, would he not choose to love her? Invite her to church, tell her what he did for her on the cross, explain grace and mercy, ask how he could serve her with the same humility he demonstrated 2000 years ago?"

So, let's quit sweating the things that don't matter and get back to what does, people. Jesus didn't need others to set up their decorations to suit His beliefs. He got out there, got his feet dirty, and went to those people sharing the truth with them. THAT is what matters. If we worry more about people than our right to have a cup with a snowflake on it hold our coffee, this world would be a far, far better place. I believe Christ cares about the person holding the cup, not that you tricked the Barista into writing Merry Christmas as your name.

It's not about the cup.