{"id":12780,"date":"2024-12-24T17:18:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T10:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=12780"},"modified":"2024-12-24T17:18:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T10:18:16","slug":"the-true-meaning-of-christmas-faith-hope-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=12780","title":{"rendered":"The True Meaning of Christmas: Faith, Hope, &#038; Love"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"bgl-post-date\">December 24, 2024<\/p>\n<p><b>Ah, the holidays!\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That magical time of year during which seemingly every fitness enthusiast and health nut (guilty as charged!) seems to get lost in a frosty wonderland of holiday calorie-burning biohacks, frantic trips to the gym, and competitive abstinence from alcohol to non-organic, GMO eggnog\u2014fairy-dusted with seed oils.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You know what I&#8217;m talking about: those 4 a.m. Christmas morning <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/kettlebellkings\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">kettlebell<\/a> swings to \u201coffset\u201d the second helping of prime rib, the high-protein, follistatin-inducing fruitcake (because according to TikTok, whey isolate belongs in everything, right?), the 999 Christmas morning sit-up challenge (resulting in a back more bent and twisted than a high-rewards, holiday-shopping credit card) and the ceremonial polar plunge\u2014with a post-plunge debate over whether it counts as a proper <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/article\/the-ultimate-guide-to-cold-thermogenesis-part-2-routine\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">cold thermogenesis session<\/a> if you skipped the breathwork and pre-plunge <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ZFb4HT\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener\">black pepper extract with berberine<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-273493 \" src=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/P1076994-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"334\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/P1076994-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/P1076994-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/P1076994-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/P1076994-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/P1076994.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 334px) 100vw, 334px\"\/><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And let\u2019s not forget the culinary conundrum of Santa\u2019s midnight arrival: should you ditch the traditional cookies n\u2019 milk for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Bse4Os\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener\">keto-friendly almond flour cookies<\/a> or leave out <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/mosh\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">gluten-free protein bars<\/a> to ensure he can squeeze down the chimney without messing up his macros?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oh, and who could overlook the DIY fitness equipment craze? Nothing screams \u201choliday spirit\u201d like fashioning a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4gqlvVj\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener\">resistance band<\/a> out of discarded gift wrap ribbons or turning an empty gingerbread house box into a balance-training device, because, well, the gyms are closed, those Scrooges.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But amid this whirlwind of wellness, are we perhaps missing the point, particularly those of us feeding through the firehose of \u201chow to stay healthy,\u201d \u201cnot get fat,\u201d or \u201cadd a few centimeters to our telomeres\u201d this holiday season?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sure, it\u2019s entertaining to experiment with the perfect blend of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/ben-recommends\/brain\/essential-oil-wizardry-wildcrafted-essential-oil-blends-co2-extracts\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">peppermint oil<\/a> and nasal breathing for enhanced Christmas caroling lung capacity, or pride oneself on finding immune-friendly <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/camel-milk\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">A2 camel\u2019s milk<\/a> for Santa\u2019s annual offering (the only way he\u2019s going to choke down the cardboard texture of an almond flour cookie), but maybe\u2014just maybe\u2014there\u2019s something deeper here\u2014something we ought to reflect on before rushing into a snowshoe hike with a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/aion\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">weighted jinglebell vest<\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Once you peel back the tinsel and protein powder dust, Christmas isn\u2019t about getting leaner or grumpily out-fasting the co-worker next to you at the office party. It\u2019s not about you getting the red light face mask you\u2019ve been dreaming about. It certainly isn\u2019t about furtive glances at your continuous glucose monitor to see your blood glucose response to biting off a gingerbread man\u2019s head.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christmas is about something infinitely more profound.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At its core, Christmas is a celebration of the ultimate gift: the birth of Jesus Christ, God&#8217;s Son, sent by our Creator to offer salvation to the world. That story isn\u2019t about retail discounts or perfectly sculpted abs; it\u2019s about humility, love, and grace. Born in an animal manger\u2014not exactly a plush, mold-free, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/hbot\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">HBOT<\/a>-cleansed luxury resort\u2014Jesus\u2019 arrival was a declaration of God\u2019s desire to save the created humanity He so dearly loves, to bring hope to the broken, and to provide light in a world overshadowed by sin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-273495 \" src=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ben-greenfield-interview-and-sons-magazine-2-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ben-greenfield-interview-and-sons-magazine-2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ben-greenfield-interview-and-sons-magazine-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ben-greenfield-interview-and-sons-magazine-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ben-greenfield-interview-and-sons-magazine-2-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ben-greenfield-interview-and-sons-magazine-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God didn\u2019t care if you were fit enough.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or informed enough.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or rich enough.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God certainly didn\u2019t care if you had the longest telomeres, since He already figured out how to make them last forever.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>God only cared\u2014and still cares\u2014that you are a unique human being that He created, and no matter your scars, your trauma, your uphill battles, your sin, your shame, or your guilt, He loved, and loves, you so unconditionally that He was willing to send His son, Jesus Christ, to planet Earth in the form of a tiny baby boy who could grow up to die for your sins, defeat evil forever, and give you the free gift of eternal life.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christmas is a time to remember that incredible gift that God gave you and me. That is the meaning behind the merriment. That is the reason we\u2019ve been celebrating that gift for over 2,000 years. That is why the true meaning of Christmas is love. As <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/books\/niv2011\/Jn3.16\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener\">John 3:16\u201317<\/a> says, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jesus\u2019s birth was the ultimate gift: an invitation for you and I to experience peace, joy, and restoration\u2014a peace that isn\u2019t dependent on your <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/podcast\/fitness-podcasts\/how-to-increase-your-vo2-max\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">VO2 max<\/a> or <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/article\/self-quantification-articles\/heart-rate-variability\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">heart rate variability<\/a>, and a salvation with a promise of eternal, perfect life that goes far beyond any life-enhancement or transhumanistic technologies so often lauded, glorified, and even worshiped in the universe of health and biohacking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/greatlakes\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-273497\" src=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GLW_render_US_Bovine16oz_Front-1024x1024.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"129\" height=\"129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GLW_render_US_Bovine16oz_Front-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GLW_render_US_Bovine16oz_Front-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GLW_render_US_Bovine16oz_Front-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GLW_render_US_Bovine16oz_Front.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 129px) 100vw, 129px\"\/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christmas is a calendared, highly-anticipated magical time to reflect upon God&#8217;s love for us and the supernatural arrival of His perfect son, Jesus Christ. It\u2019s a time to put aside our grievances, embrace forgiveness, and recognize that the greatest gift we can offer others is even the slightest glimmer of imitation of God\u2019s grand love\u2014not necessarily in the form of a beautifully bubble-wrapped jar of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/greatlakes\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"noopener\">collagen peptides<\/a> (though those are still pretty great, especially when blended with hot <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3OLEyO0\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener\">chocolate<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ZKRl9C\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener\">stevia-flavored<\/a> mini-marshmallows), but instead in the form of deep, intentional, joyful human connection and a time of giving and receiving gratefully with our friends, family, and loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So this year, instead of focusing on the perfect holiday health hack, turn your attention to sacrificial love, time, and presence for others. Set aside your carnal needs and your fitness or health goals, and instead take some time to focus upon and understand others who crave love, connection, and deeper meaning this holiday season. Sure, give your nephew the ugly elf sweater, but also give him a big hug, look deep into his eyes, and tell him, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGod loves you, no matter what, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re celebrating today.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After all, it\u2019s easy to get caught up in the noise\u2014the shopping, the planning, the endless meal prep, and frantic Google searches to prepare Aunt Edna a meat-free tofu roast drizzled with beyond turkey drippings. But the essence of Christmas is found not in what we <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">do<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but in who we <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">children of God called to live lives of generosity, compassion, and gratitude\u2014and to celebrate and reflect the greatest gift humankind ever received.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So take a moment this season to pause, reconsider your priorities, and live a few minutes of your life for someone else who needs you more than you need yourself,<\/span><\/i> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">even if it means skipping a workout or leaving a kale smoothie to get warm and soggy on the counter. Spend time with loved ones, connect with a friend or relative you haven\u2019t had a deep conversation with in a while, offer a helping hand to those in need, and make plenty of room for joy and laughter.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you and I embrace the true meaning of Christmas\u2014faith, hope, and love\u2014let\u2019s remember to spread this message to our friends and family. Give generously and share warmth and kindness, skip the 999 sit-ups to give 9 hugs, and forego any judgmental stares upon those sitting quietly with a grandchild while munching on a third slice of blueberry cheesecake and staring wistfully at the gentle snowfall outside!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>After all, love, acceptance, and connection weigh more than any high-protein, follistatin-activating fruitcake ever could.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And my final gift to you in this brief, light-hearted thought stream on Christmas Eve? May I present, no unwrapping necessary, one of my favorite Christmas songs from one of my favorite Christmas albums ever. Enjoy with a smile and a piping hot cup of cocoa (adaptogenic mushrooms optional), because that\u2019s part of what Christmas is to me.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pentatonix - That&#039;s Christmas to Me (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pFjdfjrtf1Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script>\n!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\nn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\nif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\nn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\nt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\ns.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script',\n'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n fbq('init', '331499753980975'); \nfbq('track', 'PageView');\nfbq('track', 'Lead');\n<\/script><script async defer crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&#038;version=v8.0&#038;appId=700954607523106&#038;autoLogAppEvents=1\" nonce=\"rGHVguCc\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/bengreenfieldlife.com\/article\/true-meaning-of-christmas\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>December 24, 2024 Ah, the holidays!\u00a0 That magical time of year during which seemingly every fitness enthusiast and health nut (guilty as charged!) seems to get lost in a frosty wonderland of holiday calorie-burning biohacks, frantic trips to the gym, and competitive abstinence from alcohol to non-organic, GMO eggnog\u2014fairy-dusted with seed oils.\u00a0 You know what &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12780\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}