Maybe Christmastime isn’t the right time to bring it up, but guess I will anyway.  I saw more of the snowflake bellyachers.  They were now complaining that they had to pay their debts.  It seems that somewhere in the poor, enriched (is that possible?) minds that they should not have to pay their college bills, but that society owed it to them.  Now, you or I don’t pay our bills, what happens?  Yep, their turn off the electricity, they turn off the water, they repossess.  What do they think, they are a special brand of cupcake or something?
Perhaps the worst of it is that many of them are, well, they call themselves Christians.  Seems to be the Word of the Lord is very plain about owing debts.  Paul mentions it in Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (NKJV)  Hmmm, let’s see if I’ve got this right.  “If my lender loves me he forgives my debt.”  But doesn’t it work both ways?  A good study in money management is found in the Book of Proverbs, so you poor, enriched little snowflakes go read up on it, and quit expecting a handout.  We’re not socialist–yet.
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     Wish I had space to write “There’s Nothing Like Nothing” by Waddie Mitchell here.  Sometimes we get to feeling poorly around Christmas.  I don’t mean that in the way that we are poor because we spent too much, but that we think we are poor because we can’t give.  We just get ourselves in and down-and-out way.  Anyway, here are a few stanzas from the poem.

          “‘Twas their fourteenth (46th for us) Christmas together
           ‘Cept for the kids, didn’t have much to show
           For the life he’d spent ridin’ for cattle
           And he was feeling especially low.

           For if ever a wife was obliging
           If ever a woman endured
           Then surely she was at the top of the list
           And a gift from her man was deserved.”

The story goes on and he bemoans his fate.  The wolf seemed to be at the door or there were always bills to pay, and as for retirement, that was a laugh for the work he did there wasn’t nothing put away from the past.  But here are a couple of more stanzas toward the end.

          “She smiled and put her arm ’round him
           Said, ‘You’ve worked yourself into a stew
           There’s nothin’ like nothin’ for Christmas
           When I get to share it with you.

           So don’t worry ’bout presents for Christmas
           And listen up, he-buckaroo
           There’s nothin’ like nothin’ for Christmas
           When I know it’s comin’ from you.'”

So be happy and recognize your blessings this Christmas.  Look up to the One who gave the greatest Gift to the world.  That will never be equaled.
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So from this ol’ fence post to all of you out there reading this.  Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

War during the holidays are hard.  It doesn’t make any difference which war, but the Civil War brought chaos, hurt, suffering, and despair to all of society.  I came across something about the minister of Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, Phillips Brooks, during the Civil War.  This is from Ace Collins.
“By 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, the national spirit was dying almost as quickly as the soldiers on the battlefields.  Everyone knew someone who had been killed or gravely injured in the conflict.  Scores of women in the church wore black as they mourned the loss of a husband or son.  While the preacher [Brooks] tried to fight it, darkness fell over every facet of the services.  Brooks was severely taxed each time he stood in front of his congregation.  They wanted him to be inspirational, to believe that the good things in life they had once known would someday be theirs again.  They wanted an end to the war.  Yet even though he made a valiant effort, the preacher couldn’t give his flock what they needed most:  peace.”
After the war, though it ended, he personally could not find peace.  He left his pulpit for a sabbatical to the Holy Land.  While he was there the dark days ended and he tried to tell his congregation what had happened.  He could not get his thoughts across to them, but then he penned this song.

          “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
           Above they deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
           Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
           The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

The streets may be dark where you walk, or maybe it is your soul that is darkened.  Yet if you want real peace you must turn to the One who brings light.  Then the hopes and fears will be met in Him.

          “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given
           So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven
           No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin
           Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”

There was a shout given to the shepherds, but other than that the heavens were seemingly silent when the heavenly Babe was born.  He still comes that way, silently to enter our hearts.  Sometime you need to listen for the faint knock on the door of your heart.  He is still calling and one day soon He will come back again the same way.

A llittle POT-pourri the week before Christmas:

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple:  loving others.  Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
–Bob Hope
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Enough is enough!  I am so tired of all of this pc nonsense!  “White Christmas” is not racist!  Those boys fighting in the jungles of New Guinea and the Philippines, plus the unheard islands of the Pacific such as Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan and others were not sitting in their foxholes dreaming of a “black Christmas.”  They were thinking of less violent days looking over the fields layered with snow, or the snow-capped mountains, or the snow-covered hills of Pennsylvania.  The only place that “White Christmas” is racial is in the warped minds of a few rebel rousers who wouldn’t be happy no matter the situation.  Their minds are warped, and I daresay it moves even deeper, down into their soul.
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know…”
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“Christmas times a-comin'” did you know?  Yikes!  Only a week left.  Say, if you still are missing something for someone, or don’t know what to buy for someone go to Amazon.  There’s a book there, “The True and Unbiased Life of Elias Butler,” that would be a good gift, or just buy one for yourself.
Have to do some advertising while I’ve your attention.
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“This is Christmas:  not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.”
–Frank McKibben
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          “The wind is blowin’ cold down the mountain tips of snow
              And ‘cross the ranges layin’ brown and dead;
           It’s cryin’ through the valley trees that wear the mistletoe
              And mournin’ with the gray clouds overhead.
           Yes it’s sweet with the beat of my little hawse’s feet
              And I whistle like the air was warm and blue
           For I’m ridin’ up the Christmas trail to you,
                     Old folks,
              I’m a-ridin’ up the Christmas trail to you.”
                    –Badger Clark
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“Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
–Luke 2:4-8 (NASB)

How many times has that happened to Him since?  There was “no room” for Him.  How many folk have you brushed this Christmas season that simply have no room for Him–in their homes, in their family, in their business, in their lives, in their heart?  They either ignore, “Go away Son, you bother me,” or they openly mock and scorn, or they try and bring disrepute to Christmas itself.  Joy was sent to the world, but too many have ignored Him.  However, to those who have accepted Him and given Him room there is definitely joy in the heart and a reason for the season.

Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek, bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes complete.”
–Charles Dickens

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
–Calvin Coolidge 

Christmas time can be tough.  I have read diaries and journals of Christmas times under harsh conditions.  Just think of those soldiers in the freezing weather during the Battle of the Bulge, Christmas 1944.  Two great American songs of Christmas come out of World War II; think of the words and the soldiers far from home the next time you hear, “White Christmas,” or “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” Today we have centers for counseling of those who are disappointed at the election.  I guess different times, different character of the people, different value system, and different outlook on life.
There is a poem by Red Steagall that speaks of a family dirt poor.  However, the father would not let the children go without a Christmas tree.  He went out and found a tumbleweed and they decorated it as a family with all sorts of things they made from stuff laying around the house.
Here is a note from the historian of the 116th Pennsylvania regiment.  “Christmas Day [1862] was celebrated in the camp; many boxes of good things from home were received, and shared by the recipients with comrades less fortunate.  Some of the boys were a little homesick, to be sure, but enough were sufficiently light of heart to drive dull care away.  A large Christmas tree was erected in the centre of the camp, and peals of laughter and much merriment greeted the unique decorations, tin cups, hardtack, pieces of pork, and other, odd articles being hung on the branches.  At night the camp fire roared and blazed, the stars shone above the tall pines, and the canteen passed around, and care banished for the hour.”
The key to the matter is not only attitude, but the realization that Christmas comes from the heart.  It is a recognition that the Father, who sent His Son over two thousand years ago is still watching down upon His children.  I look at those who seemingly cannot handle life and shake my head.  It is easy to see how the Antichrist will be able to dupe them.  They will be hungry and in despair and he will offer them relief at the expense of taking his “mark.” 
The Christian, with his hope and faith, should have the ability to make something good out of bad situations.  Life goes on, responsibilities continue despite circumstances.  To smile, serve, and enjoy even the few blessings of the moment no matter the circumstances, is a mark of Christian maturity.
“So we ask:  if all the decorations, gifts, and yuletide celebrations were stripped away from us at Christmas, could we still celebrate the birth of Christ with joy?” (Tuley)

“If indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.”
–Colossians 1:23 (HCSB)