"I hate Christmas, I hate Christmas, I hate Christmas"

I thought that these words were safe. They were uttered (actually screamed) In the presence of on my wife and our Corps sergant major (senior deacon) who is also our outreach director who was also my Best Man who has also been a friend since we were Kids.

But noooooo... Joshua Douglas Jones (whose mom wanted to name him Dixxie Lee if he was a girl) went and used my private rant as a sermon illistration for his thanksgiving sermon. (See if I ever share the pulpit with you again.

Let me set the record straight!!! I do not hate Christmas!!!

My parents taught me to be very careful with the words "Love and Hate" I would get scolded equally for using either carelessly. "that is too strong of a word for that my dad would say"

None the less there are some things about Christmas (particularly Christmas in the Salvation Army) that I do "Hate" and some things that I "Love" (no one show this to my dad or my friend Tom Oord)

10. I hate fast food.
9. I hate living on 4 hours sleep.
8. I hate waking up with headaches.
7. I hate having to leave the house before my family is awake.
6. I hate figuring out kettle schedules, payroll,and human resourse issues.
5. I hate have to worry about the the bottom line and our entire year's fiscal security during a time set aside for celbration.
4. I hate have to cancel programs that have been successful all fall, knowing it will be dificult to restart in January.
3. I hate being so tired on Sunday that becomes dificult to fully give myself in worship.
2. I hate being so tired that I slip and become short and irritable with the people I love the most.
1. I hate putting my son in his bed fully dressed only able to remove his sneakers and jacket!!!



What I "Love about Christmas"

10. I love listening to peoples stories about how they were helped by the Salvation Army.
9. I love watching kettle workers and volunteers show up to church for the first time.
8. I love standing kettles and showing that "I am still the best collector of all time"
7. I love the ministry oppertunities the standing kettles affords.
6. I love the look on a kettle worker's face when they find out they got a $100 dollar bill.
5. I love whatching Soldiers preach their first sermon during advent.
4. I love wearing thermal underwear under my shortsleaved uniform shirt. (It's a South Boston look that never goes out of style)
3. I love stealing a minutes to tell my wife I Love her.
2. I love how Logan has his kettle Jobs. (I sorted pennies at his age. He pushes the button on the sorter.)
1. I love that God loved us so much to send his son.


There are many more that I could at to either list but just listing these few was good for my soul.