I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with Chuck Missler and his latest KHouse newsletter. While I appreciate some of his suggestions and think them proper, I do not agree with his overall outlook on Christmas. A post in the near future will summarize my thoughts on this holiday.

Christ warned us that he would cause controversy and division. But, while retailers may or may not choose to celebrate the "reason for the season", you and I are still free to express our joy to the world. There are a variety of things that Christians can do to make sure Christ is not forgotten in the flurry of gift buying and cookie baking:

Wish people a "Merry Christmas". Whether you are in the shoe aisle or the checkout line, you can put Christmas back in stores where it has been censored. It's simple, but it's friendly and cheerful, and is far less politically correct than "happy holidays".

Be Christ to people. Is there a single mother on your street? She could use help getting her children presents. What about your neighbor who just got divorced? Bring her cookies or, better yet, ask her to come bake cookies with you. Does your neighbor leave his sidewalk unshoveled? Cheerfully offer to do it for him. Open your doors to people in unconditional love. Let them know they have value. (Christmas is not the only time for demonstrating Christ's love, of course, but people are often more open to it during Christmas than they are during other times of year.)

Invite people to church. There are still scores of people in America who have no clue why Jesus came to earth. They don't understand why we sing "Oh come let us adore him", and Christmas might be the only time they are willing to enter the doors of a church. Many churches put on pageants or have Christmas Eve services that minister to believers and unbelievers alike.
Be of good cheer. Go out of your way to be kind and patient - even in hectic department stores or the mall parking lot. Depression sets in for many people during the Christmas season, and the world has a great need to know the reality of Christ's love. Simple things can bring cheer and hope to a discouraged person's otherwise unhappy day.

Go caroling. Sing praises to God all throughout your neighborhood. Not only is caroling a fun activity for your whole family, but it's a ministry. Christmas is a time of year when singing songs about Christ can bring smiles to the faces of even nonbelievers. In fact, you can invite non-Christians to go caroling with you and have hot cider at your house afterwards. Bring song sheets if you need to.

Decorate your house to glorify Christ. A Dutch woman I visited in Coeur D'Alene several years ago had built a manger scene that took up one side of her living room. It was fantastic. The stable itself stood only about six inches high - she had built the entire thing up on a table. But, she had crafted the land of Judea around it, with shepherds and sheep on the hills. She'd created a trail of sand, lined with miniature trees and bushes, for the wise men to travel down. The scene was creative and impressive in its attention to detail, and it told the Christmas story. Something like that would be great for children to create, whether on a small scale inside or a large scale outside. Families could start small, and every year add more to it.

Write a letter to a missionary. About.com's Mary Fairchild writes: "This idea is dear to my heart because I spent four years on the mission field. Receiving a letter always felt like opening a priceless gift on Christmas morning. Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the holidays, so it can be a very lonely time for them. Write a special Christmas letter to a missionary of your choice, thanking them for giving their life in service to the Lord. Trust me -- it will mean more than you can imagine!"

Jesus may not have been born on December 25, but the Christmas season is the time of year when most Americans celebrate his birth. Every December, therefore, offers a great opportunity to minister to our neighbors and to introduce them to Christ himself. He gave us the greatest Christmas gift of all. Himself.

These are things we need to be doing every day (obviously not wishing people a Merry Christmas, you get the drift), not just because the world decides to celebrate a all-too pagan holiday. Sorry Chuck, I love your work, but I just don't see eye to eye on you with this one. It's a good thing we can agree to disagree.