From Gary... A real prize????

If you watch television during the Christmas season, you will have seen "A Christmas story". The above picture says it all; this "big prize" was placed in view of all the neighborhood and was scandalous!!! 

Overview    Pictures

(click on the links above to view)

By the standards of morality accepted by the general public, however, this lamp was "no big deal".  For Christians however, some of the attitudes expressed are offensive.  The most prominent would be lust, which is what this lamp is a symbol of.  Sound too puritanical for you?  Well, consider what The Apostle Paul has to say on the subject...

Galatians, Chapter 5

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.  18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,  20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,  21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

  22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.  25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.  26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

The standards for those who follow Christ have never changed; purity is purity. Simple thought- Don't do the things of the first paragraph, but follow the second one instead.  And don't go out and just buy this lamp; you won't be doing yourself any good!!!