JESUS AND SANTA CLAUS

We don't tell our kids about Santa Claus bringing them presents. I think that our culture has a hard enough time telling the difference between truth and fiction.
I do have kneeling Santa decorations that help us to talk about the origins of gift giving and Santa Claus. We talk about how Santa loved Jesus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_claus#Early_Christian_origins

This has become more and more important to me as I notice the Christmas specials that are coming out about "all you have to do is believe in Santa and he becomes real."

How can children distinguish between this and Jesus?

WHAT IS THE MODERN DAY VERSION OF "I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH HIM"?

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me."

Is Jesus just talking about eating together or did this symbolize something different then?

What phrase would we use to express this today?

WHAT IF I DON'T DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO?

I have been considering these two seemingly contradicting beliefs in the Christian Church.
One is that God is going to accomplish His will whether we do our part in it or not. If we ignore His call he will raise up someone else.

The other is that we are created uniquely for a purpose that no one else can accomplish. When we were made God threw away the mold. There is no one else that can do the exact things we were made individually to do.

I have found that if God wants to comfort or serve my neighbor at a given time He nudges me to do that. Sometimes I do not follow that leading. It seems to me that His will is then not accomplished.

IN LOVE WITH JESUS?

I have noticed that more and more of the worship songs coming out are using the phrase "in love with you" refering to our relationship with God.

Honestly I have a problem with this. Who else do we say this to? Would you say this to your Father or Mother? Best friend?

The only context I can think of for this statement is a sexual relationship.

IS ALL SIN THE SAME?

Does it really not matter what you do if you are going to do something that is out of God's will? Is killing someone the same thing as murdering them in your heart? Does God look at them the same way?

Also, I know that the "church" traditionally has a heirarchy of sins that are worse than others. I understand that this list is not biblically based. But does that mean that there really are no sins worse than others?

HOPE FOR PHARISEES?

What is the gospel message for pharisees?
How did Jesus and his followers respond to people that were more worried about appearances than reality?

COMMUNAL LIVING

It seems that Jesus lived communally during his ministry. There are some references to the early church using similar practices.

What have been your experiences and what have you found in scripture?