'Tis the season to be jolly! But it is also the season for those who lack family or friends or a church family of friends to be sad; even deeply depressed. And the loss of a loved one is sad in any season.

If you have suffered financial loss during this season, it can be especially bitter time, as the loss of revenue covers many different aspects of life. Also, non-Christians are left without anything to celebrate, especially as Christmas Day gets closer, unless they are of the Jewish faith and then there is Hanukkah or Kwanzaa honoring the African-American heritage - or unless they make the new film releases on December 25 a day of celebration (however, plenty of Christians do this also).

If you know of someone who is suffering from the "lack" in their lives, now is wonderful time to reach out and help them in word or deed or in any way that you are able to do so. What a blessing for them, but what a wonderful blessing for you it will be too!

The word Christmas has been much maligned in the press of late and I am tired of it.

For those who are offended by the word, I suggest you ignore it like you have ignored the "other" religious holidays. By ignored, I mean you haven't had the audacity to go and try and change the names of their religious icons.

For instance, Halloween's jack' o lanterns, black cats, goblins and ghouls, or witches on broomsticks, you haven't attacked them and forced them to not be spoken of or seen. Or the Hanukkah menorah, you haven't tried to force the Jews to change it to the Unity Candelabra. But, being the bully that you are, anything with Christ's name attached must be kicked into the mud, desecrated and forbidden to be mention.

It is happening in the schools, in the front yards of those who put up a crèche, even in the courthouses that once housed the Ten Commandments. Christianity is the scapegoat of a secular society that is evidently feeling more and more threatened by the very name of Christ.

Well, Christ is used to it. People have been attacking his name for centuries and centuries, but he is still here! We Christians believe that Jesus is the light of the world and that he loves us all, even those who hate him.

He wants us to love you, who hate us, and to the best of our abilities we will. We may fail in this occasionally, but if we are true Christians we will repent and try again. We will also pray for those who despitefully use us (and abuse our holidays). So you better watch out! There is much power in prayer! But, don't worry; our prayers are of love, peace and healing.

By the way, the name "Christmas" comes from the Mass of Christ. A Communion service (which is sometimes called Mass service or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us (all of us) and then came back to life. The Christ-Mass Service was - down through the ages - shortened to Christmas.

No other has had such an effect on human lives as Jesus Christ has. It began over 2,000 years go at his birth and we who go by his name and call him friend, Savior, Redeemer are much effected by the help and meaning he has brought into our lives.

If you don't have him as your friend, then you might ask yourself why a man born over two millenniums ago can have such an impact today. And why do people still love him (because he loved us first). What have you to lose? Christmas is good time to explore this man, called Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas to All!