God Creates Children; Not Man. The Birth of Jesus Christ

Children are born at the direction and whim of God. Man, while given the right to determine the membership and government of their particular communities, does not own the children or have any part in when or how they are born. In truth, they are God's children, not man's.

The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 1-20 (NIV)

Kids Dress Up for Thanksgiving Pageants - Good for All

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Claremont kindergartners, who for years have celebrated Thanksgiving by dressing up as pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a feast, are no longer allowed. Michelle Raheja, the mother of a kindergartner , has said it's demeaning.

Jennifer Tilton, assistant professor of race and ethnic studies at the University of Redlands and a Claremont parent, said, “Its always a good thing to think about, critically, how we teach kids, even from very young ages, the message we want them to learn, and the respect for the diversity of the American experiences.” Tilton opposes the costumes.

Right. We should think critically about how we teach the kids. Therefore, as the mother of nine enrolled members of the Minnesota Chippewa, I have no problem with Thanksgiving pageants. In fact, PLEASE. PLEASE let us have more of that type of thing! Are you kidding me? After the hate-filled campagin season we just had - listening to people drag Sarah Palin through the mud just because they didn't agree with her, as well as all the other increasingly nasty aspects of our society ...Here we have an annual lesson in cooperation, thankfulness and love using fun, creative methods to teach the kids with. It gives the kids a history lesson while showing them how different groups can get along and enjoy each other, even if they don’t agree on all aspects of life. And the left wants to take that away? Seems to me we should be increasing this type of teaching. Maybe have some parents dress up and play like they are walking in someone else's moccassins as well.

This lesson teaches that it’s possible to set aside differences and enjoy each other. And Kids have fun doing it! And yet, the intolerant, self-righteous thought police, bent on causing division and anger in their ever nasty pursuit of what they perceive as tolerance and love, have found another community event to shut down.

What’s wrong with kids learning that their father’s ancestor’s might have sat down with their mother’s ancestors and had a great meal? I think it’s an awesome thing to think about! (MOST tribally enrollable children are less than 100% Native American today. Most are in fact less than 50% Native American.)

Even if the story isn’t completely historical, the fact is that it did happen - they did sit down together and celebrate. I say all those anal people that want this type of pageant to stop should pull their kids out of public school and homeschool them. Leave everyone else alone.
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