It is the last weekend before Christmas. The newspapers are full of circulars advertising anything and everything. It is the big push for Christmas. I haven’t listen closely to financial figures. Right after Christmas every news outlet will have how the big companies did for Christmas. Then they will give the general trend for the rest of us. Most businessmen believe the economic health of this nation depends on Christmas. It also depends on the buyer habits of the average consumer. This year I wanted to do more than normal. I had a good surplus of funds to take care of the Christmas needs. But I wanted to make a difference and make an impact on this world. I saw on TV a commercial, of all things, talking about giving a goat. It caught my attention. As I listen I saw this charitable organization working overseas helping people with basic needs. There were many options as I looked at their catalog. I decided to give a goat, a part of a cow and part of a water well. People all over the world are struggling with basic needs. When Jesus wanted to show compassion for people, He would meet their basic needs, like food, clothing or shelter. Then they could and would listen to what He had to say. People have said it for years, no man is an island. We live in a community of people. It is important not only in their lives that we act upon our compassion, but it is important for us as well. We fulfill our lives when we reach out and help the less fortunate. I thought a goat would be just the present for someone this Christmas. Speaking of Christmas presents, my 3rd son was due on Christmas day. His birthday is today. This is one of my real Christmas presents I received from God. It is as they say a gift that keeps on giving. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and to have a Blessed New Year.
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Everybody has seen or read the book “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Dickens was writing about the social morays of the 19th century. As bad as it had become in England, he knew that it could change for the better. So Dickens wrote his book. How would you like to see this on reality TV? Where the Spirit of Christmas visits people to see what they would do. I know a few people that need it right now. Bah-Humbug. Fear will make people do all kinds of things. But it is never a good way to change people’s hearts. To start with people have to want to change. I was watching a national news broadcast. Between wanting to throw-up and saying bah-humbug, I found that it was more a big joke being played on the American people. The insincerity of the commentators was sickening. They didn’t have anything good to say. Even the feel good segment was sickening. You know what is funny is that it really hasn’t change since the 19th century. What Dickens saw is still here. That is why we need that reality show today. There has been for several years people who hunt spirts. It is almost as ignorant as the commentators. There are a handful of show I would even watch. It is so bad that other cable channels are trying to imitate the worst cable channels. Bah-Humbug. They all need a reality check. What did Scrooge say? Let them all die and reduce the surplus population of cable channels. Charles Dickens was trying to show that Christmas is a wonderful time of year. Whether you have money or not. When you share of yourself, people will be blessed. So everybody needs to hold down on the Bah-Humbugs and bless the people around you. And the Spirit of Christmas won’t come a calling on you. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

What do you see as your future? Do you have a future? With the way the world is going, what chance does anyone have? I hate to even to look at the evening news. It is all death and destruction. In the middle of the most joyous season of the year, people are miserable. If it isn’t the weather, which has been rotten. It is the unemployment. Who has money to spend on Christmas? There are more homeless people than ever before. It seems that everyone is fighting each other. And the message of peace on earth is loss in translation. People seem to think that weapons are the cause of all their troubles. And if we get rid of all the weapons the world would be a better place. All you have to do is look at Mexico and figure out it don’t work. Everybody wants to blame everybody else and anything that can cause pain. It is a delusion and people are sleepwalking. Your future has always been in your hands. What you do determines what happens to you. It isn’t because of your mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or your dad. It is you period. If you don’t wake up, you will lose your life. And that is a tragedy. When Jesus was born, He came into a world ruled by an occupying army. That army didn’t go anywhere. It didn’t make any difference in His life or how He conducted Himself. Jesus went about doing the work of the Father. He built the church, died for the sins of man and rose on the 3rd day. You can change the world around you and the world around you can change for the better. All it will take is that you believe and trust in God. Then you can watch as everything changes. The future is in your hands for good or bad. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

I went to college and studied Communications. I picked that particular subject because I was a shy lad. I couldn’t really hold a conversation with anyone. I found that I could make speeches. It became easy for me to stand up and speechify. It drew attention to myself that I hadn’t had before. It helped me in business. Customer service became my specialty. I married and we had 4 sons. My wife had a younger brother but she really didn’t have to deal with 4 boys at 1 time. I have 3 brothers and it was a piece of cake. My dad had a thick black belt. This belt would come off his pants any time 1 of us or all of us would start something. When we were children, mom and dad took us all over the country. We traveled to all most every state. So I tried to do the same for my sons. Traveling gives you an education that you can’t get in a school. 2 of my sons graduated from college. 3 of my 4 sons served in the Military. The other 2 sons have some college. They grew up in front of me, with their own ideas and opinions. When they were little and visit other people’s homes, the people would come back and say how nice my sons were. I asked them who they were talking about. My wife and I raised them to have manners and to be compassionate. My sons are what God says, if you raise a child in the way he should, when he is old, he shall not depart from it. I was 18 years old yesterday. And today time has gone so fast. My wife and I have been shopping. We bought toys for our 1st grandchild. My dad bought a red stuffed bulldog, 3 times bigger than his 1st grandchild. Do you know what gifts God gave me? My 4 sons. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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When I was a small boy, we lived in a 2 bedroom starter home. Dad bought this home brand new. It was the first house he ever bought. He had returned for WWII and married my mom. My dad owned a 1951 pink 2 door Studebaker Champion. When we were little, all 6 of us fit into the car. Back then you didn’t have to put car seats for children. As we got older, dad bought a 1954 4 door Dodge sedan. We traveled all over the country in that car. My older brother always got carsick. So we would stop for him to empty his stomach. There was a 55 gallon drum on the side of the garage. I would take it out each evening and walk on it. I became so good that I could run that barrel all over the yard. We lived so far south in America, that I can only remember 1 winter that it snowed and stayed. In the winter of 1957, it snowed and stayed for 3 days. That year Hurricane Audrey came through and wiped out several cities near the Gulf of Mexico. Mom would make us go to all the family reunions. We would go kicking and screaming. But I tell a truth, I am glad my mother did that. I got to know my family on all sides. My great grand aunt carried me piggyback when she was 75 years old. She lived until she was 94 years old. I can trace my family for 500 years all the way back to France. They never thought they were doing anything extraordinary when they came to America. Their whole world changed and the whole world changed with them. Each person is unique and special to God. And as you go about your life, your world changes. And guess what the world changes because of you. You are important in God’s plan. This is why He came to this earth. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

Do you know why there is a Christmas? Everyone knows that Jesus came into this world and it is celebrated on Christmas day. The world has made it a special day. There are Christmas specials at the local churches, on television and even at local community centers. There are Christmas lights on all most every house. People are busy buying gifts for almost everyone. Christmas has become a big production. Businesses have to make their yearly income at Christmas time to be successful the rest of the year. The Salvation Army has a Santa Clause at most large retail outlets to collect donations. But what is Christmas about? Why did God send Jesus to this earth? Almost every culture in the world holds that Jesus is a prophet of God. In the past few years there has a real been an attempt to dethrone Jesus. The other side says that there is no God and we are really God. I don’t want to laugh at people’s heresy, but it is sad what man can think of. Jesus came to earth for a very special reason. Don’t only to fulfill the prophesy in the bible, but to do the work for the Father assigned to Him. The work that God had for Him, led to His death. He took abuse, rejection and betrayal by his disciples. But He didn’t give up at any time, Thank God. God knew what was in the heart of man and was willing to sacrifice His son to redeem the world. The Bible says the Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. Jesus came into this world in a stable with animals. It was a lowly place indeed. He came in as low a station that anyone could. And the world came to Him. Honor Him in the same way. Help those who cannot help themselves. Give of yourself to others and Jesus did for us. This is the Christmas story. I want to wish you a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

Are we there yet, is look at being in a hurry to do something? I go to work most days for 7am. I leave work at 6pm. I drive 30 miles both ways to and from work. I am on the road by 6:30am or I am going to be late. I really need to leave my house about 6:15am but I like to sleep. Thank God my job doesn’t depend on me being there for 7am. I worked all over for a long time and had to be there on time. One job I had I was driving 45 miles each way. I worked 14 to 16 hours each day. I had no family life at all. I finally gave that job up. It did pay well, but my family was more important than money. I have really enjoyed my job since I slowed down. When I got on the highway it was the pedal to the medal. How I didn’t get more speeding tickets or wreaks, I don’t know. Finally God got me to slow down and enjoy what I doing. I never really enjoyed my life, because I was always trying to hurry up and get it done. I have always been able to take pain and push through. So I could get tasks accomplished. My bosses liked the way I worked so much, I was always working at night. I am not a night person. My time is early in the morning. But I accomplished a lot. I guess you say that my mantra was, Are We There Yet? And I push my employees just as hard. I have slowed down and I am enjoying my life. I own all this to my God, who loves and wants the best in my life. I want to wish you Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

There is a continuity to life itself. It continues on for good or bad. There is for us a sameness in this continuity. I find it comforting and reassuring. Life is precious. It was given by God for us to do many things. Our life is to reflect God’s image on this earth. We are to know the joy and sorrow of a family. We make our way through this world sometimes by blind luck. But hopefully we follow the plan for our lives. There is so much that is in this world. A young friend of mine is on a world cruise. He is going to college for a semester on a cruise ship. This is something he always will remember. But life can be cut short. A young friend went with my son to war and died there. It was his time to go home. Even in death there is a continuity. We are born, live our lives and die. This is the full circle. But it is all about what we do in that life. I have seen people destroy their lives over nothing. I have seen people rise to great heights through persistence. The apostle Paul said the greatest thing we can do in this world is love one another. For in that love we will see and care about each other. Everything we have been given isn’t for us to keep and store away. Everything we have is about caring for one another. This is continuity in life where our lives are balanced and in sync with God Himself. God wants us to live as though we have a future in Him. Because our lives will only continue in God if we prepare ourselves for the future. I am hopeful that you will discover your plan in God and live a fruitful life. Where your life will be mostly free of pot holes. I hate the pot holes. God bless the road workers. As they try to smooth out the trouble spots in this world. If you don’t know what I am talking about, ask. Ask God for help with your life and watch what will happen. Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

We are 2 weeks out from Christmas. The days are busy and you think about people you haven’t thought about for a year. You dread to go to the store because it will cost you money. Unfortunately it cost some people more than a month’s income. Yes, but there is always the installment plan. So you can start again next year about this time to do the same thing over again. My wife and I don’t buy gifts for everyone. We aren’t the scrooges, but we are selective about what gift goes to what person. Since the boys are grown and out of the house, we have more money for whatever. We have divided into Christmas cards, baked goods, and actual store bought gifts. This time of year is for the family. Christmas is for your immediate family and somewhat the extended one. My family, grandparents, aunts and uncles, 1st cousins and my parents and brothers would gather at home or my aunt’s house. As we grew it got so large a gathering, we would set up several tables for the Christmas dinner. As we got older, our girlfriends came. Then it was our wives. Then it was wives and children. We were 9 boys, all 1st cousins. We played on the same football teams and basketball teams. I was the only one to run track and play tennis. Christmas has always been a very special time of year for us. Our grandparent and parents are gone now. I lost my younger brother to cancer this year. So I decided that this year I was going to do something special for my family. I have collected pictures from 4 different families groups I belong to. There are pictures from 150 years ago until now. Each family group which is about 20 will receive from me a digital picture frame. They will have pictures of our great grandparents to our children and grandchildren. So everyone will see our family history and know the continuity of life. God made the family unit to show His mercy and grace. I want them to know what God has done. As God says our children are His inheritance that He gives to us. Merry Christmas and have a blessed New Year.
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joseph1637@juno.com

I would watch that cartoon faithfully. I would watch all the Saturday morning cartoon’s until mom made me go do my chores. I also liked the cowboy shows in the afternoon after school. It is funny that all those shows are about good versus evil. If you look at any show on TV today it is the same. But as I look at all the shows on regular TV and cable, there is only a handful that I will watch. Television is a learning tool. It can teach you anything. And it does exactly that. Do you know why the entertainment industry is struggling? It is very simple. It is not about entertaining people. It is about teaching the masses their agenda. I subscribed to a news magazine for years. It is very good and informative. Then it was sold to an outrageous marketing group. They lost most of their subscribers including me. After the magazine was purchased by another group. They made a real effort to try to get their old subscribers back. They talked to me but I wasn’t wanting to get the magazine again. The damage was done. There is a movie coming out next week. It is a sequel back from a series that I have followed since I was a kid. The film was made 2 years ago. They have been promoting this movie for a year. There is toys, souvenirs, t-shirts, and every possible thing that you can buy. Do you know why they are doing this? That movie studio is trying to make money. They want to make up for all the losses they have suffered with the other movies they made. You know what the saddest part is, they won’t give up making the stupid movies. Why does it take disaster for people to stop and turn around? It doesn’t have to be that way. Ask God and you will receive all that you need to live this life. Just ask.
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joseph1637@juno.com