“Fifteen percent of Americans felt that the most annoying or overplayed Christmas song was either ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ (12%) … or any other song by Carey (3%). ‘Jingle Bells’ (6%), ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ (5%)” - RNS
“What started as a lighthearted recounting of experience may turn into a critical review of someone’s motives and actions…. There can be a fine line between storytelling and gossip.” - TGC
“None of the songs I have included today on my least-favorite list are actually Christian Christmas songs at all; but they all commonly get included on Christmas playlists.” - Kindle Afresh
“Traditionally, Christmas is the second highest attendance time of the year for churches behind only Easter.” - Lifeway
Read Part 1.
In our quest to make Thanksgiving real, we left off by thinking about ways to ground our Thanksgiving in Scripture, following the example of the very Pilgrims who left this treasure as a heritage to our entire nation. The next challenge I would offer is to ground our Thanksgiving in history—primarily the history of these same Pilgrims.
Our American Thanksgiving dates back to the fall of 1621. Indeed, it represents a Christian ideal—a very Biblical ideal. Yet, it is also a remembrance of God’s providential working at the dawn of our country.
“A 2020 Lifeway Research study found 67% of U.S. adults say they typically give thanks to God at Thanksgiving.” - Lifeway
“Christmas season is the season of joy, but it is also a time when the cumulative weight of all that has happened in the course of the year catches up with you. Moving into the last month of the year often causes a sense of being worn out, discouraged, or stretched thin.” - Colin Smith
“Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace – dead or alive – though it’s mostly intended to thank living veterans for their service.” - C&C
“It’s easy to see who puts more effort into their Halloween candy, and Christians can be intentional in creating memorable tables and gift bags with Scripture, gospel tracts, or invites to church interspersed among Twix bars and Starbursts.” - World
Related:
“3. Believers who participate in Halloween should do so with caution. My primary concern is not with the night itself, but that we sometimes numb ourselves to evil…” - Chuck Lawless
