"Killing Christmas"

The Grinch who stole Christmas is alive and well in Victoria, Canada in an apparent body-snatch of Councillor Ben Isitt.

His goal? Less Christmas, more diversity in seasonal decorations.

In other words--forget about decking the (public) halls with boughs of holly, firing up the lights or dressing a tree for the Holiday. Isitt wants things "secularized".

"I don't want a poinsettia. It is a symbol of the Christian faith," he complained, adding that the city's main Sequoia tree should not be lit up and turned into a Christmas tree because that is not "inclusive" enough and may offend Muslims.

Then there's the Nebraska principal, Jennifer Sinclair, who sent a memo banning teachers from using Christmas or holiday-related symbols or activities in the classroom, including:decorating Christmas trees

• singing Christmas carols
• playing Christmas music
• Elf on the Shelf (seriously?)
• making ornaments as gifts
• reindeer
• no Christmas videos/movies and/or characters from Christmas movies
• (and last but not least...) no candy canes!!!

Why no candy canes, you ask?  Sinclair told the teachers in the memo that candy canes are shaped in a "J for Jesus", and that the red is for the "blood of Christ" and "white is a symbol of His resurrection".

Sinclair's memo went viral and the very next day the principal was placed on administrative leave by the school district,  reports CNN.

Score one for the good guys and check this out: Most Americans still believe Jesus is the reason for the season, this according to a new Rasmussen poll.

67% believe Christmas should be more about Jesus Christ than about Santa Claus.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Grinch.

A wise woman once said: "More that two thousand years ago, a little baby was born in a manger; an event that changed the world. This boy-child, Jesus, is the promised Messiah who stepped down from Heaven to be born as a babe, live a sinless life and willingly give His life as the Perfect Lamb of God to pay a sin debt that He did not owe. As foretold in the Scriptures, He did this for you and me and the whole world. When we believe this simple truth, Jesus' payment for sin is accounted to us and we are promised eternal life."  -- Pamela Rose Williams

How To Go To Heaven "Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!"  (Luke 2:10-11).

News:

• The Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu: "We will do whatever we need to do to protect ourselves against Iran."
• SF Gate: Bomb threat emailed to hundreds of businesses, schools and government agencies in apparent cyber terror hoax. 
• Miami Herald: Heart attack risk greatest on Christmas, new study says