PLEASE READ THIS FIRST if this is your first visit (or if it's been a while since you've been here).

MY POSTINGS begin following these introductory remarks. Many of these postings first appeared in our local newspaper, the "England Democrat."

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"A PERSPECTIVE ON PERSPECTIVES - THOUGHTS ON THOUGHTS"

I know the title of the post sounds redundant if not just silly ... but bear with me.

Long ago, Mark Twain said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that really counts!" Well, in a sense, I tried to "learn it all." I'm in my fifties and have earned five academic degrees. And, you know what? I don't know much. I know a little about almost everything, but not a whole lot about anything.

What I do know I will share on this blog.
I'll try to post once a week.

Thanks for reading.

This is just one pastor's perspective.

Rick Hyde
Pastor
First Baptist Church
England, Arkansas
rickhyde1@hotmail.com

More at http://www.englandfbc.org/.
Click on the "Pastor's Pages" tab.

Monday, December 17, 2007

"A PERSPECTIVE ON THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS (PART 1) - THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING"


Needless to say, Christmas is a busy time of year. I’ve been so busy that I haven't blogged during the past few days.

The Thanksgiving season used to be the beginning of the Christmas shopping season ... however, these days stores put up their Christmas displays the day after Halloween! (I can just imagine some child opening a Christmas gift with Halloween candy in it.)

Some get their Christmas shopping done early, others wait until the last minute. If you are reading these words on Wednesday, December 19, you only have five shopping days left (unless you have to settle for a convenience store on Christmas day ... then you have six.)

How much will Americans spend on Christmas gifts this year? AOL forecasts $450 billion dollars. That’s a lot of Christmas presents.

PNC Bank of Pittsburgh takes the shopping prediction a step further. According to the bank, the total cost of the Christmas gifts listed in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song (“On the first day of Christmas, my true gave to me ...”) would be $19,507.19 at today’s prices, an increase of 3.1% from last year.

PNC Bank has tracked the Christmas Price Index (CPI) since 1984. The lowest cost was in 1995 at $12,481.65. If you want the convenience of on-line ordering, the 2007 cost escalates to $78,100.00. The bank consults merchants, unions, professional organizations, and other experts in determining the costs. The only gifts to see no increase In 2007 are the three French hens, the seven swans a-swimming, and the nine ladies dancing. The gifts seeing the greatest increase in 2007 are the five golden rings and the eight maids a-milking ... a costly year to propose to a milkmaid but a money saving year to date a dancer!!! There’s a great video of this financial report at the PNC website: www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com.

Whether it’s $450 billion or $19 thousand, Christmas shopping can be expensive. However, the greatest Christmas gift of all cannot be bought or sold. According to the Bible, it cost God the Father immeasurably: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Have you received God’s gift of life? If you haven’t, receive it now by praying to Him. If you have, share His gift with others this season.

As you shop for “that perfect Christmas gift,” remember that God picked it out for you before you were even born.

Well, I must close. Must go Christmas shopping!

This is just one pastor’s (and shopper’s) perspective.

Posted by Rick Hyde at 8:55 AM

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