What is the Real Reason?

Today while I was driving around getting a few last minute gifts I was thinking about what Christmas really means and why we celebrate it. 
Possible Reasons: 

• Giving our gifts to make other people feel good and appreciated?
• Waiting for a big fat Santa to come down the Chimney?
• The Christmas movies?
• Baking delicious pastries?

While all the ones on the list are pretty sentimental and make a person feel all "warm and fuzzy" inside, they don't come close to the real reason or purpose of why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus really is the best reason of why we should celebrate Christmas. When Jesus is the purpose and reason why we celebrate Christmas, then it becomes about celebrating the best gift of all, our forgiveness and pardon from sin. Without that forgiveness, we'd be on a straight track right to Hell, but God sent his son as the "Perfect Gift" for us who would accept him and call him the Boss of our life, or in classic terms, Lord of our life. It's not the gifts we give or the stuff we make, but the Gift that was given to us. 

Power of Words

Have you ever thought about how powerful ones words can be? Words carry immense meaning behind them and can impact a LOT of people who listen to the message a person is trying to portray. Jesus spoke his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 to the end of Chapter 7. At the end of Matthew 7 in verse 28 it says that the CROWDS were amazed at his teaching. Note that it says crowds. Jesus spoke to the crowds and in turn the people were impacted. Also just sitting in Convo or Campus Church makes me realized that the speakers aren't just talking to me or the guy next to me, but thousands of us who are sitting and listening in. 

Gaining Favor=Impossible.

Today, Tullian Tchividjian came to speak at the school I attend, Liberty University. His message today was one I think that all churches should hear and understand. He emphasized the importance of the Gospel even to those who are saved. He said that a lot of church people accept the gospel, but then reserve the Gospel only to unbeliever, and that it shouldn't be that way. Next, he pointed out that in Colossians that Paul does not begin by telling the people what they should do but emphasized what Christ did for us. I believe that a lot of times we get caught up in self help and betterment programs, but almost forget what Christ did for us and disregard the betterment of the relationship. Thoughts?