The web site looks good.

FYI: On the Christmas Music page
(http://www.christmaspirit.com/songs.htm), the link labeled "MIDI's of Spiritual Christmas Carols" is no longer valid.

What is the song about called "Pat-a-Pan"? It was on your list of chosen Christmas songs, in a medley with "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" and sung by Bing Crosby.

I find it a bit hard to believe that Bing Crosby sang either of the two above songs with the intention of promoting spirituality during Christmas. Kenny G wrote in his Christmas music album that he chose the songs, not because he supported the religious basis behind them all, but solely for their musical quality; the music in the album is beautiful, but brings to my mind a Better Homes and Garden Christmas feeling rather than something that was intended to praise God and His Son. In general, I find it difficult to have a spiritual sense when listening to a song sung by someone who did so because it was the seasonal thing to do. I would prefer to hear a Christmas song about Jesus Christ by someone who understood and supported the meaning behind the song. In fairness, even my long-time favorite singer, Michael W. Smith, put out a second Christmas album whose music belongs in a mall and not in the home; it is not an album that I listen to often.

Hello,

      I'm looking for the Publishers of the CD that you mentioned on your website. The CD called, "Christmas Treasures" by Walnut Grove Press. If you can help me locate Walnut and where to purchase CD's from, I'd really appreciate it.

Joseph Petit
Jowail@yahoo.com

Responding to Jon Blanchard. Thank you for the compliment. Yes, it's likely that Bing Crosby and several of the singers that sang the versions of the songs that we listed were not committed believers. We could have excluded them on that basis.

And maybe we should. Many churches make the mistake of putting good singers up front without checking to make sure that they live lives which stack up with what they sing.

However, as a good start, we just tried to make a nice CD with versions of spiritual songs that we liked to hear. I'm still hoping that some popular Christian singers will make a nice album with totally spiritual songs.

The Pat-a-pan song itself is sort of like the well-known Little Drummer Boy, in that it seems to be about a boy who just pats a pan as a drum to bring praises to Jesus.

Replace Xmas with the complete word Christmas. By doing this you are not taking Christ out of the true meaning of Christmas.

I love the direction you are going in - one I have tried to move toward for several years now with my family. There is a church out west that has started something called the Advent Conspiracy where money families would have spent on a typical holiday gift budget is shifted toward clean water sources for third world countries. The only gifts given are relational or handmade. Go to www.adventconspiracy.org for more info.

Have a Blessed Savior's Birth - R

Instead of having the numbers of where to find the bible verses you should put the actual verse.

Kayte, We liked your idea so much that we made a whole page to delineate the Christmas story, with the Bible verses. It's called the Birth of Jesus page. And then we made a condensed version in simple English for children, and called it the Baby Jesus page. Also, in many places in the site we did actually put the Bible verses in the text. In some other places, we provided a link to a bible website so that the verses could be read easily. Your comment had a big impact. Thanx.

Dani, "Xmas" is not really taking Christ out of Christmas. X is the first letter of "Christ" in Greek. So X is an ancient abbreviation for the Lord Jesus Christ. That's where "Xmas" comes from. It is not a recent invention done by anti-Christian people, but an ancient and respectful way of abbreviating "Christmas". But because many people think like you do on it, we did change it. Thanks for the input.

MAT 2:9
    When they had heard the king, they departed;
    and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
    till it came and stood over where the young child was.
MAT 2:10
    When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
MAT 2:11
    And when they were come into the house,
    they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
    and fell down, and worshipped him:
    and when they had opened their treasures,
    they presented unto him gifts;
    gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

MAT 25:37
    Then shall the righteous answer him, saying,
    Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
MAT 25:38
    When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
MAT 25:39
    Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
MAT 25:40
    And the King shall answer and say unto them,
    Verily I say unto you,
    Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
    ye have done it unto me.

I really liked the Baby Jesus written for children. I will probably use this for my children's church during this marvelous upcoming Christmas season. I would love to see "Why we celebrate Christmas" written for children. This would help especially the prophecy aspect of it. What was written about the coming of the Messiah written at a child's level. They have to defend the faith often in school. Thanks again for the "The Baby Jesus" written at their level. Also for the final days before Christmas we will probably have a birthday for Baby Jesus,cake and all even sing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" Thank you again, love reading your info. But sometimes don't have time to bring it to a child's level. God bless and early Merry Christmas message to you and your staff.

On your decoration aspect;to bring the true Spirit of Christmas-"Jesus" I and my husband got these cardboard decorations long time ago. I can't remember where we ordered them from, but it makes for a truely remarkable Christmas Eve as we place these ornaments on a tree. As we place them on the tree we read the Bible verse referring to this ornament. They take Jesus' names and it makes decorating the tree so much more meaninful. Example Lion of Judea picture of a lion , Bread of Life-picture of a loaf of bread, Living water-Pitcher. You could even make them out of salt dough ornaments and color them or leave them plain colored. I color them with food coloring. I have made one or two of these ornaments with the children they take them home. These are great stories you have for Christmas they are so helpful in doing activities with children's church. God bless

Great site, lots of great ideas about making Christmas more meaningful and fmaily centered. I'm writing to rezust a link to my site. For years I've performed a comedy show called "I'm Dreaming of a Stress Free Christmas". This show is all about smplyfying Christmas and bringing Christ ans Family into focus throughout the Christmas season. I use comedy to show how rediculus Comercial Christmas has become and at the end I give solutions on how to "take Christmas back". For the clips (portion of my live comedy show "I'm Dreaming of a Stress Free Christmas" go to
http://www.defyconformity.com/content/view/18/56/