Mark 1:35

Christmas is bigger than trees, wrapped presents and LED lights. It is bigger than even Santa Claus...yes, you heard it here first. Christmas is bigger than Santa Claus!

Or at least is should be... but somehow every year Christmas ends up being about the gifts and the consumerism. We buy, we give, we receive.

If you have any doubt whether Jesus is bigger than Santa, let's compare:

• Santa lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere.
• Santa rides in a sleigh... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
• Santa comes but once a year... JESUS is an ever present help.
• Santa fills your stockings with goodies... JESUS supplies all your needs.
• You have to wait in line to see Santa... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
• Santa lets you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
• Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"... JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.
• Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... JESUS has a heart full of love.
• All Santa can offer is HO HO HO... JESUS offers health, help and hope.
• Santa says "You better not cry"... JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."
• Santa's little helpers make toys... JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
• Santa may make you chuckle but...JESUS gives you a joy that is your strength.
• While Santa puts gifts under your tree... JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

Merry Christmas!

The comparison is not unique to me. I'm giving credit to an anonymous author since I couldn't locate the actual source.

Here's an incredibly cool story of how social networking can be used for good. It is also a story about passion and determination...qualities the Body needs to embrace.

Shaun King is a "friend" of mine on twitter. We joke and follow along with our daily lives. I know more about his wife's pregnancy and eating habits than I do about members of my family!

The Lord laid on Shaun's heart the desire to help kids at a school with uniforms and toys for Christmas. It was a lofty goal for a "yet to be launched" church to raise $20K+ for the items. So to help reach his goal of buying uniforms and toys for 500 needy children this holiday season, he took his crusade to cyberspace.

Shaun used twitter, facebook, myspace and a couple of websites to "share his story." He didn't pester, he didn't beg (well, maybe a little towards the end), but he used the tools to allow everyone to follow the progress. Someone volunteered to create the websites and he used paypal to collect the funds.
ing his start-up church this month and I'm excited that I'll be able to follow along with twitter. If you want to follow along too, click here.

Front Page of the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Shaun's Blog

Courageous Church's Website

Okay, so this is my first holiday season as a twitterer... And I'm curious. Is is acceptable to use xmas in text and twitter when you refer to Christmas?

Does the "Keep Christ in Christmas" bumper sticker apply to twitter and text messaging?

Send this link to everyone one you know. Let's get some feedback and figure it out.

Thanks!