I was sent this from a friend via email.  It is a powerful Christmas message worth sharing.

 

 Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
 
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset because some folks are taking My name out of the season.  Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. However, I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
 
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.

I don't care what you call the day.  If you want to celebrate My birth,

just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 
Now, having said that, let Me go on.  If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn.  If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
 
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree.  It was my father, God, who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish; I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.
 
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list.  Choose something from it:
 
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home.  They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year.  I know, they tell Me all the time.
 
2. Visit someone in a nursing home.  You don't have to know them personally.  They just need to know that someone cares about them.
 
3. Instead of writing to the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year.  Then follow up.

It will be nice hearing from you again.

 

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them.  Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here.

 

Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
 
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
 
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile;

it could make the difference.
 
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word.  Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.  Then stop shopping there on Sunday.  If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
 
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
 
9. Here's a good one.  There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive.  If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you..
 
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian.  Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence.

Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am the son of God and can take care of Myself.  Just love Me and do what I have told you to do.  I'll take care of all the rest.  Check out the list above and get to work; time is short.  I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court.

And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you loveand remember ...

I LOVE YOU,

 JESUS

 

Systems Thinking In Action Conference

This week I had a great time at the Systems Thinking in Action conference hosted by Pegasus Communication. I have attended this conference for many years and hope to continue attending for many to come.
I’m really struck by the tools and methods of Peter Senge’s 5th Disciple (tools that help an organization become a learning organization) and the Buddhist 8 fold way. Have others looked at these two conceptual frameworks together?
Otto Scharmer’s Theory U is also some very exciting work that represents the culmination of 10 years of study. I agree with him that this area of study will have great consequence on how we work with organizations, teams and individuals in the future.
Also in the World Café realm, there was a great exchange around what is the real underlying power of conversation. It has to do with highly networked concepts and information that is created in the café conversations. This networking of information creates the conditions for innovative thinking to take place, not just in individuals but in the group as a whole. This is a very powerful technology.
I am starting to design a series of 20 cafe conversations that will take place across a population of 3000 employees. Of the 3000 employees the design calls for the personal involvement of about 1000. It will be interesting to see just how powerful this idea can be at creating grassroots change activity throughout our organization.

DOnation Accounting

Here is an amazing account of how your donated money was used in India. It is really awesome how money, that is little more than pocket change in our privileged environment, can do so much good and have such a large impact else where.

Ramesh told me that the bribery and corruption (avoided by our donation) is unbelievable--affecting virtually every transaction.

Thank you again for the donation. For me this was the best Christmas Gift I have ever given myself.

Chris

From: Ramesh K
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 1:54 PM
To: Christopher
Subject: Trip to India

$1450 = INR62,350. Roughly @43.02 to US$1

I arrived in New Delhi on December 25 at 6:25 PM local time. My in-laws who received me at the airport took me to an Orphanage on our way to Gurgaon ( Haryana) where I stayed overnight. The orphanage was having a Christmas party. I donated INR10,000.[i]

In Jammu I went to camp in the suburbs where earthquake victims were in the process of being rehabilitated. I helped three families living in a tent who had lost the main bread winner. Three children[ii] one from each family needed an eye surgery[iii] in order for their vision to be restored.

These families didn't have any influence or connections, in fact they were construction laborer working for some state projects. I helped them get treated through a private clinic. Each surgery cost roughly INR12,000 X3 = 36,000[iv]

About INR16,500 were donated to Kitchen that feeds hungry and homeless in the city of Jammu.[v]

Pictures of the devastation were from URI[vi] in Indian part of Kashmir.
Pic # 513,515, 459 earthquake victims who have made their way to Jammu and are living in tents. Picture of children, kids who have lost their parents. Rest of the pictures are of homeless people in Jammu who have been allotted park or public land to set up their homes.

Ramesh


[i] Ramesh told me that the kids at the orphanage had not eaten for a couple of days.
[ii] The girls were age 5, 4½, and 4, and were consider the lowest of lowest in terms of place in society.
[iii] I’m not sure what the surgery is, but the girls had been blind from birth, their sight is return quickly after the surgery.
[iv] Ramesh has a friend that is a nurse who is checking in on the girls. They are making great progress and their sight is returning.
[v] Ramesh also told me about providing food directly to people when he visited the area.
[vi] URI (pronounced oldie) is the farthest North on the India side of Kashmir. This is a dangerous territory, Ramesh had armed escorts to go in a get these pictures,

Devastation Pictures From India

Ramesh didn't give any explanantion about the pictures, but these obviously show a large amount of desstruction. Ramesh did say it was very cold over there.