Can you hear me now?

It is the end of another year on this planet. Any day now the news programs will be filled with "the year in review" specials to remind us of what happened in case we forgot.

One of the parts I hate the most is the dramatic ending. Most of these broadcasts will end with a tribute to those that died during 2005. There will be a slow sad song playing along with the video montage. We will see pictures of Johnny Carson, the pope (purposely lower case), and of course the Dunkin Donuts Guy.

You can tell when television shows are about a serious (in the producer's mind) topic. A serious/emotional topic is indicated by the lack of the theme music being played at the end of the broadcast. This goes for sitcoms as well as news casts.

The most dramatic death covered by the media by far will probably be Peter Jennings. What could be more news worthy to a reporter than a story about one of their own.

So, we will end 2005 as the music dies down and a picture of Peter remains on the screen. The man at the desk will remain, with a small tear crawling from th corner of his eye as he sits in silence. Then we will be brought back to reality with the Alpo commercial...."serve and get out of the way".

Good bye 2005, hello 2006. God, come get us now, this world is tiring!

Good Morning!

This morning I was walking into the office and noticed as I came in the doors that a different security guard was there than usual.

"Oh no, does he know the routine?" I thought as I came in slowly, watching him as he looked at his computer screen. What an uncomfortable feeling if the routine is to be broken...what would I do?

He paused the appropriate amount of time while looking at his screen, looked up just as I was walking past. I turned his way and we both did the synchronous "Good Morning!" with a nod.

"Yes!!" The world is in order. Thank goodness, I'm of to a good start. He immediately went back to looking at his computer screen waiting for the next passer-by. "Nice job, new-guy, you have been taught well."

Christmas Picture

One of the oddest of American Christmas traditions is the Christmas family picture.

Probably the most important decision to be made is what should the background be. You can be traditional and do your own 'sitting in front of the christmas tree' picture.

Or if you actually cut the coupon out of the paper, you will get dressed up and take the crew to the mall to visit the 'portrait studio' (previously known as the fitting room). Here you have dozens of choices. Do we want to look like we are vacationing in the Alps, or do we want to go for the rustic farmhouse? How about the midnight sky, or a green pasture of rolling hills? Wow, look they even have a picture of a live Christmas tree that looks neatly decorated. Oooooh they have props...lets use those, it won't look trashy or anything, they are almost clean.

There would be an interesting study in the backgrounds prople pick and why. Do we choose something that reflects who we really are, or who we want to appear to be?

This year we went for the true classic...white bedsheet hanging in the dining room. I don't think I want to know what that tells about me.

Christmas Question

When my first son was born, in the delivery room, the only thing I seemed to be able to say was "He's here! He's here!".

Thinking back on this moment makes me wonder what Joseph must have thought. His promised wife had come to him telling of a conversation with an angel to explain how she could be pregnant. Then he himself was visited by an angel that told him the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and he should not be troubled.

The question I have is, why did Joseph, Mary and the earthly siblings of Jesus, not believe He was who He claimed to be until after His death?

Joseph was out of the picture entirely from a scriptural standpoint, but he didn't teach his other children about the miracilous birth of Jesus, or who He was to become? Was he trying to prevent a no-win case of sibling rivalry?

In a little over 30 years the world went from "HE's here!" to "Kill Him!" to "He's Risen!".

My Christmas wish, is that I will be able to say "He's Come Back!" this year.

Favorite Quotes

Here are a few of my favorite quotes (non-scriptural ones). I am attributing to the people I heard say them, not sure if they really are the originators or not, but they didn't attribute them to anyone when they said it.

Pain is temporary, Victory is forever - Lou Holtz

Hope is not a Strategy - (I'll withhold this name because its a personal aquaintance)

Pain is the pre-cursor to change - Mel Gibson (odd isn't it)

Christianity is a person, not a program - Charles Hodge

Christianity isn't a democracy, its a theocracy - Ralph Gilmore

I have lots more, but I store them as ammunition for political or religious discussions, so I don't want to waste that ammo here.

Bah Humbug

Santa vs. Truth

I don't think I truly every really believed in Santa Claus. That may be the reason I don't really support the Christmas lie we tell to our children.

I do remember spying on my father carefully placing Christmas presents out by the fireplace, or listening to him try to figure out how to put a bicycle together in the middle of the night (he wound up putting the front forks on backwards). All this in an attempt to keep the myth alive. I can appreciate the attempt, but don't think I was ever a believer. Fantasy is fun even if you know its a fantasy.

Now that I have children of my own the debate arises every year. Should we or shouldn't we? My 7 year old actually came out and asked point blank this year "Is Santa Claus real?". This creates another level onto this controversy. If he asks directly what do we say?

We have an agreement in my house. All Santa questions are directed to my lovely bride. My tongue as bite marks throughout the Christmas season as more and more questions come up. I will neither confirm nor deny.

This will probably be the last year my oldest will believe in the old guy, but in just a few more years his younger brother will have the opportunity to 'believe'. The conspiracy will need to grow to include one more. My advice to all older siblings....GO AHEAD AND TELL. You'll let good ole dad off the hook.

It is what it is

Every year it seems the debate over "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" gets bigger and bigger.

Boycotts are planned (seldom adhered to), PC henchmen are taking their places in the courts and on television, a spirit of division and name calling has taken its place as part of our nations annual Christmas celebration. Oops I said it.

It's called CHRISTMAS. It is a federal holiday called CHRISTMAS in the congressional record. You can believe what you want to believe, but it doesn't mean you aren't wrong. You can call it "The Holidays" if you want, but what exactly does the word HOLIDAY come from?

Thank goodness the Bible tells us that putting too much emphasis on such celebrations is futile (Galations 4:9-11).

HappyHolyDays! Merry Christmas - call it what it is. The day itself is not important.

What is important? The incarnation, the crucifiction, the resurrection, the ascension, and the return. Throw the calander away it doesnt matter if the return is today (I hope).

If you don't, Santa will have you on the naugty list.