{source}<iframe style=”float: left; border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #C0C0C0; padding: 2px; margin: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -khtml-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px;” width=”400″ height=”225″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z6FZ1RpEuA0?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}I am always intrigued by the gifts that some retailers wish us to purchase for Christmas. I recently wrote about the Neiman Marcus catalog and the exclusive gifts they suggest. But I ran across a few others that, while affordable, might still not be the gifts I would recommend!
I am a new grandparent and I want to buy things that are helpful and fun for Axia and her parents. However, I won’t be buying the recent suggestion from the Toys”R”Us email.
Did you know Barbie has a dog named Taffy? Toys”R”Us sells the Potty Trainin’ Taffy Barbie Doll and Pet Playset for $19.49. The description: “Help Barbie care for her delightful dog. The set includes all the items needed to handle the basics: feeding, walking and cleaning up.” Yes, you read it correctly. Your child can feed Taffy treats and then your child can push Taffy’s tail down and the treats “return.” Then Barbie can use her pink pooper-scooper and place the “items” in a small blue trashcan. I promise I am not making this up! This particular Barbie is dressed in “casually cool capris paired with a blue t-shirt printed with hearts and bows. Her blue, strappy wedges are the perfect shoes for her walk with Taffy.” I’m trying to think why Mattel thought this was a good idea. Although, if you have one of those parties that include gag gifts, this would be a decent choice!
The “2-in-1 iPotty with Activity Seat for iPad” sells for $39.99. That is about $38.99 too pricey for me! Personally, I don’t think a toddler ought to spend that particular time with an iPad, especially if the iPad is mine!
Mr. Bacon’s Big Adventure Board Game has a sale price. For $14.95 your child can move the bacon character around the game board, navigating his way through Meatland. The hazards include Mustard Marsh, the Weiner Wasteland and the Sausage Sea. The game comes with an alternate set of rules that turn the game into a “gluttonous feast.” The first one to make it to the frying pan wins. I don’t think the creator of this game has ever fried a piece of bacon. Making it to the pan is not really a “win” in my opinion.
This is a crazy time of year and a lot of it should be accepted with patience and a smile. These are interesting days to watch the world celebrate the Christmas holiday. I’m glad I celebrate Jesus for Christmas. I can’t imagine a Christmas without Christ. I hope you have found gifts you are excited to give and I hope you will receive gifts that give you joy.
There are some silly gifts to give – but there are some serious gifts as well. Each year our ministry asks our readers to pray about giving to our ministry, the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture. Jim writes a ministry update for people to consider. I would just include my “ask” with his. Please pray for us. We don’t ask for that lightly. We write so that people can enjoy hearing God’s word and can be equipped to speak God’s word to others. People give to our ministry in many ways and prayers are crucial to Kingdom work.
There are a lot of gifts that we should rethink. I want you to know that a gift to our ministry is a gift to God’s Kingdom work. We are committed to our calling. Jim often uses Ephesians 4:11-12 to explain that calling. God has led us to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry.” All of us who work at the Denison Forum pray each morning to accomplish that call. We ask God to lead and we ask for the strength and wisdom to follow. His purpose needs to be ours.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for praying and thank you for gifting us in so many ways. We are blessed and privileged to do what we do – and to share that work with each of you.
If the Lord leads you to give, you can do that here. We are grateful for you.
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