I can remember when I was young how our family gathers at our home or our aunt’s. My grandmother, mom and her 2 sisters would gather the family together for Thanks giving, Christmas and Easter. It was always a big production. The women of the family cooked before each holiday. Then they would bring the food and family together. Sometimes it was a lot of fun. We were nine 1st cousins, all boys. We were about the same age. We were within 5 years altogether. We live near each other. We played on the same football, baseball and basketball teams in elementary school. But in high school, we were on different teams. It was a wonderful time for us. This past year we buried our last aunt. Then we buried my younger brother. We always talked about the older generation. Now we are the older generation. We all gather together at my youngest brother’s house this year for Christmas. My older brother lives in another state. We called him to wish him a Merry Christmas. We all talked to him. But it is not the same. Most of our family was missing. Either they are dead and no longer here or they live elsewhere. I know I can’t go back to that time again. But I miss my parents and my younger brother. Sometimes it is very hard to go on when so much is missing in my life. My family was sometimes the most irritating people on earth. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything. What I wouldn’t do to have them back again. That is why this is a lonely season for me. Cherish your family because God has given you so little time with them. Don’t waste it on nonsense. Let you family know that you care about them. God gave us a family to make us whole. Then it won’t be a lonely season.
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I can remember when I was young how our family gathers at our home or our aunt’s. My grandmother, mom and her 2 sisters would gather the family together for Thanks giving, Christmas and Easter. It was always a big production. The women of the family cooked before each holiday. Then they would bring the food and family together. Sometimes it was a lot of fun. We were nine 1st cousins, all boys. We were about the same age. We were within 5 years altogether. We live near each other. We played on the same football, baseball and basketball teams in elementary school. But in high school, we were on different teams. It was a wonderful time for us. This past year we buried our last aunt. Then we buried my younger brother. We always talked about the older generation. Now we are the older generation. We all gather together at my youngest brother’s house this year for Christmas. My older brother lives in another state. We called him to wish him a Merry Christmas. We all talked to him. But it is not the same. Most of our family was missing. Either they are dead and no longer here or they live elsewhere. I know I can’t go back to that time again. But I miss my parents and my younger brother. Sometimes it is very hard to go on when so much is missing in my life. My family was sometimes the most irritating people on earth. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything. What I wouldn’t do to have them back again. That is why this is a lonely season for me. Cherish your family because God has given you so little time with them. Don’t waste it on nonsense. Let you family know that you care about them. God gave us a family to make us whole. Then it won’t be a lonely season.
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What do you call a person that gives their lives to a cause? What do you think about this person? As you look around this world you find all kinds of people who have done this very thing. Some call them fanatics, zealots or just plain crazy. But there is something about them that is fascinating. Some are amazing at the amount of work that they have accomplished. Some have never been recognized as actually doing the work. Yet there are many people today that are willing to give their lives in causes. I have known many people just like this all through my life. They have inspired me into action. One person was Corrie Ten Boom. She was from the Netherlands. She was sent to the concentration camp because she hid Jewish people from the Germans. She survived a German concentration camp in WWII. Another person was T.L. Osborn. He went to the Far East and Africa after WWII. David Wilkerson, who started Teen Challenge in New York City in the 1950’s. Hubert Linsey, who was the very 1st Alfalfa in the Our Gang series. His exploits are legendary. Bernard Johnson who went to Brazil when no one else would. At the time he went there were estimated 16 million abandon children on the streets in Brazil. He began to work with children. I didn’t know this man but Horatio Spafford , business man in the 19th century, helped rebuild Chicago after it burned down. Then went to Jerusalem and opened a medical clinic in the Arab section. And it is still open today. There are many people that you just hear about who have given their lives for the betterment of man. God has these people to do the work on this earth. If you ever meet them, stop and talk to them. Let their lives inspire you to work for the Lord.
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What starts out the same and is made to be different and ends up the same? And Why?

The Heart of Man. When we are born, we know nothing and can do nothing. We are dependent on our Parents. As we grow we mold ourselves into our image of our self. In death, we are the same. Nothing we have done can be taking with us. We are the image and likeness of God.

Hoped you figured it out. I wish you a Blessed New Year.
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I am presenting a new riddle for Christmas. See if you can figure it out? I will give the answer tomorrow. Merry Christmas.
What starts out the same and is made to be different and ends up the same? And Why?
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Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. The reason there is a Christmas season is Jesus. And all that He did to come and help man. I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Now this is a Christmas story that you can read to your children. And they can take this to heart for the rest of their lives. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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Big news coming out of Rome, Caesar Augustus is going to tax everyone in the Roman Empire. They are saying that everyone will have to go have to go to the city of their birth to register. It is the rainy season in Israel. The roads are impossible, but everybody has to go. King Herod has for now finished building on the Temple. His chief architect has said that the Temple is as complete as they can do. In business news the shekel is up against the denarius. Trading has been stiff in the markets. New caravans are coming from Egypt. They say there are exotic goods on them. The traders are talking about new spices for the Far East. The market seems right for a new influx of goods. On the home front, the zealots are making trouble for us and the romans. The roman governor has promised swift justice for these lawbreakers. There is a new stir in Jerusalem. They say that 3 Persian kings have come to the city. King Herod invited them to his palace. They say Herod was surprised. He didn’t know about their visit until they showed up. They say these kings are richer than Herod. It has been another year in Israel but the people are hopeful that the messiah will come. I have to be careful what I say about the romans and the chief priests. Everybody wants their country back. We have been occupied for some 60 years. Everyone is praying for deliverance. Ever since those Persians arrived in Jerusalem, the mood of the people has been somber. There is something happening. I don’t know what, but I will find out and report the news of the day here in Jerusalem. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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First there was Black Friday. Referring to businesses making money and going into the black financially. Then there was Cyber Monday. To continue the sales from the weekend of Black Friday, businesses offered more sales online for customers to purchase. Then came Green Monday for more sales hopefully. Have you noticed that there are more commercials on television and less programming. I keep my remote handy and press the mute button all the time. Silence is golden. I want to suggest a new Monday after Christmas. I think we should call it Purple Monday. Because everyone is black and blue from getting beat up over the sales. I laugh at all these efforts to get people to buy their goods and services. In our state in the last election had only 40% of the people turn out to vote. Day before Yesterday the roads were filled with cars, bumper to bumper, to pick up kids and go shopping. And people wonder why the state in such bad condition. If people turn out a 100% in the next election, things would get done. It is the same in anything. When people show up it makes a difference. Take your family and go to church for Christmas. You make a difference in your children’s lives. And maybe their lives will turn out decent like you want them to. So we don’t have a Purple Monday. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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There is an old country/western song called the race is on. It is appropriate for the last week on Christmas. Friday all the public schools let out for Christmas holiday. At 12 noon the streets were filled with cars headed to pick up their children. Our city streets weren’t designed to hold excessive amount of traffic. People joke and make fun of the city government saying that our streets were laded out on the cow paths. There are no rhythm or reason to the layout of our city streets. Now that they are laid out, it is hard to go back and correct them. Back to the race we run every year. Have you ever stopped and thought about where this race is taking you? For most people it is a race to poverty. How fast can I spend my hard earned cash? Or buy some worthless gift to give to a person who really doesn’t care about you or your gift. This time of year is about compassion for our fellow man. I tell you a truth, man needs all the compassion he can get. It is a statement about our people when the statistics say that there are over 75,000 homeless people. And a large majority of them are veterans of our military. Haven’t you stopped and looked at something and said isn’t that a shame. Then didn’t do anything about it. I’m afraid that our society is headed for the dumpster. Because it seems that no one wants to do anything about the precious life we have. We need to consider what we are doing and where we are going. Our lives aren’t guaranteed to go on. And all of a sudden you are gone and people will say isn’t it a shame that this person’s life was cut short. And then they forget about you. Tis the season to be compassionate to one another. Jesus came to bring peace on earth and good will toward man. I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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