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Is Impeachment A Possibility?

12/30/2013

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Lately the "I" word, Impeachment, has been given some attention in a few media sources.  It's not in the mainstream, of course, since they have been and continue to be in the "tank" for President Obama, but in some non-traditional sources on the internet and on talk radio it is beginning to be heard.  Even the Democrats are starting to show an inkling of concern about it.

Is it possible that Barack Obama can be impeached or is this a "pipe dream"?  And if so, is there any chance he can be convicted?  Let's spend a little time and discuss this.

First off I think it's important that we all understand exactly what impeachment means.  Many think of the term as the process of removing the President from office which it is not.  No, impeachment is the process of bringing him up on charges for high crimes and misdemeanors.  This is serious stuff, and as we learned with the case of Bill Clinton who was impeached, that trial ended up in many instances turning into a three ring circus.  Case in point, Bill Clinton's answer to a question in his trial with the answer "It depends on what the meaning of the word is is."  And afterwards, for the first time that I can recall, little boys were running around on the schoolyard talking about the President having oral sex.  Not something anyone would have thought of a few years prior, was it?  You can't make this stuff up, folks.

When a bill of impeachment is taken up, it results in a determination by the House of Representatives as to whether or not the charges are sufficient to bring the President to trial.  That's it; it merely means that a trial will be held and the Senate is the body that serves as the jury.  The House, or at least a select team of Representatives, argues for the prosecution before the Senate.  And since we are talking about a hyper-partisan situation, unless the charges are sufficiently grave that the American public clamors strongly for removal, it is highly unlikely that the Senate would convict. Frankly, in today's climate with Harry Reid running roughshod over Senate tradition and age old rules, I doubt the Democratic majority would convict under any circumstances.

So if this is the case, would there be any value in the House proffering charges to the Senate?  Would it all just be grandstanding and a waste of time or could there be value in doing so?

Again, it's all in your point of view.
  Here's what I think but, remember, everyone has their own opinion, so take my comments with a grain of salt.

I think the evidence is clear that President Obama has committed impeachable offenses.  In saying this, I think we only need to look at the separation of powers as delineated by the Constitution of the United States.  The President does not have the power to unilaterally change laws that have been passed by Congress and which he has signed into law.  Amendments to law require action by Congress, but the President has changed law unilaterally on multiple occasions and the most grievous is obviously Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act.  While this law is horrible under any circumstances, the current law as being implemented by his administration is nearly unrecognizable from what was passed and he made his independent changes for political reasons. 

So why hasn't Congress acted on this clear violation of power?  Quite simply, the House of Representatives, under the flawed leadership of John Boehner, lacks the fortitude to do anything about it and, furthermore, since they like the changes better than the original law they just look the other way.  Unfortunately, when you act this way you are opening the door to new precedents which have the possibility of "gutting" the Constitution, which is exactly what the President wants.  I think there is a potential majority to opt for an impeachment bill, but I don't know if they are willing to stand the onslaught of Boehner's attempts to silence them.  Only time will tell.

As for the Senate, as long as Harry Reid tries to act like a dictator and none of the Democrats in office are willing to stand against his tyrannical behavior, an impeachment trial would not result in conviction.  Why Democrats who have been elected refuse to put the welfare of the nation first remains a mystery.  Perhaps they are all true believers in the "fundamental change of America" that Obama is so blindly pushing, much to the detriment of the land he is supposed to protect.

I've limited my argument to just Obamacare but there are many other possibilities with all of the scandals that have not been resolved and for which so many answers have not been forthcoming.  Benghazi, Fast and Furious, NSA, IRS overreach and many others are out there.

And still the question remains despite the likely outcome of a trial, should impeachment still be considered?  I answer this with a qualified yes.  The qualification involves whether or not the prosecution team is willing to go after the whole truth or would they just be putting on a show.  If the answer really is they want the truth, then they should go for it and here's why.  A trial allows for full disclosure.  The prosecution team will carry with it the force of law with subpoena power.  They would be able to call witnesses under oath and take the challenge where it needs to go, to the heart of the matter.  And the American public would be able to see for themselves just what has been going on in this administration for the last five years.  If no further action is the result, at least it would be publicly shown who did what to whom and the truth would finally come out.  Remember, folks, the truth could set the entire country free.  Since everyone is now clearly aware of the lies that have been told, at least we would finally know what the real purpose was for the lies and I don't think the answers are pretty.  I think most would be outraged.

What will happen?  Since no one has a crystal ball, no one knows.  But I do know this: America is at a crisis today, a crisis that was self-inflicted by our own officials and we need to face reality once and for all.  With the help of God, hopefully we will.


If


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Oh No, Another Pony Problem....

12/29/2013

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....but this time it's a different pony.  Little Angus is fine and continues to be a "dickens", romping around happy as a lark in his new digs.  No, this time it's Charm, a pony we've had since she was born eleven years ago.  She's a beautiful stocky Welsh pony who has never been sick a day in her life until this week. 

Christmas morning when I went out to feed her I noticed she was a bit lethargic but she didn't show any signs of discomfort and she had good "gut" sounds.  She ate her grain, albeit slowly, and nibbled at some hay but she was just very slow moving and almost pensive.  We'd have to keep a close eye on her.

The next morning things had progressed and not for the good.  She wouldn't eat. She just stood in the field and looked at me with her head lowered.  She then stretched out on her side on the ground, not writhing or trying to turn, just lying quietly, quite out of character for this spirited pony who usually acts like she belongs on the set of "Ben Hur".

My wife came out, stethoscope in hand, and checked her closely.  As before, "gut" sounds were good but her pulse and respiration were high.  That meant it's "veterinarian time" and my better half went to request a house call on the phone.  We have a wonderful vet but I knew this could be a real problem.  Being the family accountant I couldn't help but think of the "cha-ching" aspect of the problem, particularly after our Christmas outlay for Angus.  But I also knew that Charm was one of our originals and she was very special to my wife.  I have to confess I'm quite fond of her as well.

We dropped our plans to travel to a late family Christmas gathering in St. Augustine and settled down at home for the day to await the vet.  She was able to fit us in during the afternoon hours and quickly diagnosed the problem as an intestinal bacterial infection that needed  some serious medicine to combat it.   I'll leave the medical terminology for it to the wife but Charm was put on a series of medicines both orally and by injection and the bill was quite high, not something we had planned for at Christmas time.  But the good news is that she is responding well, is getting her voracious appetite and her spunky spirit back, and should be as good as new in a few more days.

The Lord knew what he was doing when he set up our earthly life in a manner where we can't take it with us when we die.  When you have a bride who has equine fever you won't have any riches to take anyway. But, on the other hand, you get a life full of interesting experiences and fun.  Money can't buy what we have.

And there is one other thing that makes the rapidly improving health of Charm so important.  What would little Angus do if he didn't have Charm to admire across the fenced and dream about?  He would be one unhappy camper.

So Lord, thank you for answering our prayers and blessing Charm with your care.  She is just another example of all the marvels you have created and we are glad she came into our lives.  Hopefully she'll be here for a long time to come.  With the perfect name, she is really quite the charm.



Charm is one of my characters in Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark.  In it you will also meet Charm's mother, Chantilly, who I often called one of the "Children of the Corn".  You'll have to read the book for the answer to that one.  To check it out go to the web: amazon.com/author/jamesdick.


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I Direct My Writing Where the Lord Leads Me

12/28/2013

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Someone recently asked me why when I write about various subjects I generally put my work in the context of what God expects from us.  I answered simply that my writing is directed where the Lord leads me.  It took me a long time in life to realize what I was supposed to do with the remainder of my life.  It just came to me gradually as my faith deepened.

Relocating from urban to rural America as I began to close out my business career, I found that the more open and natural environment clearly began opening my mind to a fresh  perspective on life.  I had always wanted to write, but just shrugged it off all those years with the excuse that I was too busy. 

That's the one beautiful thing about retirement; it gives you the time to devote to those things you never did and I found that opening myself to what really inspired me was critical to satisfying my inner needs.  Just because you retire doesn't mean that your need to be busy and fulfilled dies.

I spent several years pondering my subject matter and then it hit me: nature and animals.  I think I had difficulty zeroing in on a subject because it was so obvious.  I mean my wife and I have rescued and provided home for a lot of animals, including horses, dogs, cats, birds and more, and finally I couldn't escape the obvious.  And I had noted for a long time how watching animals and the things they do opened my eyes to the beauty of this world and the obvious conclusion that only a supernatural being could have put this all together.  Oh, I had grown up in church and always considered myself to be a Christian, but it was as if a fog had been lifted from my eyes and the connection was so much clearer.

So my first book, Honey We Shoulda' Bought the Ark, was published in paperback form and I just recently added it to the Kindle Store.  Sales are picking up and we'll see how it goes over the long run. Will it ultimately be a big success?  I can't answer this but I do know that writing fulfills me and I am certain that something bigger than me is directing my efforts.  So while I continue marketing and passing the word, my mind has been working on other story lines.  My ultimate goal is to present  many stories showing God's grace in many different ways and under widely varying circumstances.

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Next, and this has been quite recently, I wanted to look at the human element and how God can help people overcome sin.  After all, whether we like to admit it or not, we are also part of nature.  We are also  animals but with a difference;  we have a soul and the Lord provided it so that we could reach decisions through the free will that he granted.  Hopefully we will use it to reach the right conclusions but it is ultimately up to us individually.

We can do what He wants with our lives, or we can live an ungodly life.  The choice is entirely up to us, but I find that if we take the time to truly look at life from the perspective of what its purpose is meant to be, it dramatically changes the equation.  What would be the purpose of life on earth if it just ended in a black void?  And if we believe there is something more upon death, what is it and how do we find it?  Pondering that led me to the clear conclusion that the free will we were given is a wondrous gift for those who successfully navigate those questions.  If you believe as I do, that successful navigation leads to Jesus Christ.

This has led me to write a second Christian book, albeit a short one.  It is currently only available from Amazon on Kindle following the link listed below. Two Lost Souls is just as the title says.  It is a very short, chapterless book discussing how a young man and wife, having been guilty of grievous sins against each other, themselves and God and His commandments finally seek Him out and begin seeking the answers to life's puzzle.  You can read it in an hour, maybe less, but it hopefully uses this couple to open your heart to what is expected of us.  I intend it to be the first in a series of short stories depicting the ongoing struggles and joys that this man and woman face as their faith leads them to the right answers for good living.

Both of my books can be found on my author page at Amazon.com:  www.amazon.com/author/jamesdick. 

Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark can also be found at the following link: www.outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark, where links to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and also a link to a different E-Book link can be found.  I hope you will check them out when you have a chance.

What will I write about after this project is complete?  Well, I'll just ponder that for awhile, maybe a novel, possibly a book of inspirational pieces.  I can't answer that yet but I will just have to see where He leads me.

And for you, my online friends?  God bless you all and enjoy this wonderful world that only a gracious God could have made.  And don't forget to talk with Him and ask Him for guidance in your life.  He is always there for us.

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Obama's Christmas Message

12/27/2013

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So Mr. Obama went out to Hawaii for the Christmas Season, a place which brings visions of pretty dancing hula girls, warm sunshine and beaches, beautiful scenery and, in some ways, a hint at the unreality of his own life.  Here's a guy who's been spoon fed all his life, never having to work for anything on his own, never really accomplishing anything of value in the working world, and then, out of nowhere, he becomes President.

I say these things because his Christmas message fit right in with his background.  How, you ask?  Well, Mr. Obama made his message a brief moment when he talked about the birth of Christ and its importance to the world. 

Sounds good, right? Sure, but one look at what he either condones or actively supports by those working within the Administration shows the hollowness of his words.

Look at what is happening.  Overseas, Christians are suffering horribly under governments that condone their torture, enslavement and even murder.  Central Africa is a prime case in point, as is Syria and Iran and now even Iraq as American influences wanes.  In particular in Iran, an American minister languishes in prison while Obama begins to normalize relations with a government that is sworn to kill us.  His plight wasn't even mentioned by American negotiators.  And nary a word does he mention about the rest of the carnage underway. Does that sound very supportive of Christianity?  Yet at the same time he actively supports many of those same groups that condone these activities.

And the situation is even becoming dire for American Christians as well.  Nowhere is it more noticeable than in the military.  Career military personnel are being drummed out of the service for living within their belief structure.  Chaplains have been required to take down crosses in chapels and have even been told not to use the name "Jesus" in their prayers in services.  At Camp Shelby in Mississippi, soldiers were even told not to say "Merry Christmas" because it might hurt someone's feelings.  And just recently a VA Hospital in Augusta, Georgia refused to allow a student group to sing Christmas carols to veteran patients who were looking forward to the event.  The reason given?  Someone might be offended, yet no evidence of who that might have been was provided.  It was just another government smokescreen.

Meanwhile, sensitivity is being applied to all kinds of behavior that would have been deemed unacceptable only a few years ago and Christians are harrassed and mocked by the mainstream media with nary a mention from Obama.  Can you imagine if Phil Robertson had been on the opposite side of the argument?  Obama would have probably been calling him a social hero with public comments to that effect gaining the same attention as Trayvon Martin.

Don't you think that the backlash over the handling of Phil Robertson's comments was caused by what we see happening?  After all, isn't it time that Christians respond to what we find so offensive? 
We have every right to do so.

Mr. Obama, you can't have it both ways.  Either you believe what you say and say what you believe, supported by the actions you direct or support, or you just utter meaningless words.  If you want us to believe you again, and many of us don't because of your past record (most recently exemplifed by the ongoing healthcare fiasco),  then stand by what you say and make it consistent.  And be man enough to realize that you are neither a god or a king and that your position requires the voluntary acceptance of American citizens, not dictatorial decrees.  After all, being clear and consistent is one of the most important communications requirements of a good leader in a free society.

And America, we must "take the bull by the horns" and demand a government that stands for our principles and beliefs, for as we are beginning to see clearly, politicians only respond to what we demand.  And if we demand nothing, the Beltway crowd does only what it thinks is in its selfish interest, no more and no less.

Think about it, decide where you stand, and get in the game.  We have a lot at stake.  God bless you all.


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My Wishes for the Day After Christmas: Preparing for Resolutions

12/26/2013

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The day after Christmas always seems like a big letdown.  I mean really, after all of the hustle and bustle, the excitement of the preparations and the fun as the day unfolds and, of course, the anticipation of the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, it ends quickly and we all tend to fall back into our same old ways. 

It need not be that way.  We can and should use the excitement, the good will and the joy of the birth of our Savior as a starting point for going forward with energy and drive to keep the Christmas Spirit alive. The Christmas Spirit represents the Spirit of our Lord and Savior, and it should be the driving force behind all that we do.

So in
this regard I propose to make a wish list for those things that I would like to see either begin or return to our fair nation, always centering them on our Savior's wishes for us.  I will just provide a listing here, but I want to take that list and elaborate on them in the form of New Year's Resolutions that I will publish on New Year's Day.  By so doing, I will be able to set my personal goals to carry forth in 2014.  I hope each of you might consider doing something similar.  They may be different in particulars but hopefully they will all incorporate the love of Christ.  Here's my  "starting point wish list" for the coming year:

    1.    I WISH FOR those among us who claim to be Christians to truly activate their belief in their lives and live for Jesus.   
    2.    I WISH FOR each of us Christians to truly live as Disciples of Christ and actively work to increase our numbers in America through our thoughts, words and action.
    3.    I WISH FOR an end to the reliance on government as a father influence, allowing us to make most decisions about our life independently and with guidance from the Real Father above.
    4.    I WISH FOR all of us to show love and compassion for our fellow man as the Lord demands.
    5.    I WISH FOR each of us to truly stay connected with God through regular and repetitive prayer, Bible reading and attendance at church.
    6.    I WISH FOR Americans to study the issues concerning politics and candidates and educate themselves to make wise choices for public office.
    7.    I WISH FOR each of us to support policies that invoke God and seek His guidance in all that our government does, but with added emphasis to appropriately deal with those nations who want to destroy us.
    8.    I WISH FOR America to fully support the existence and strength of the State of Israel, the Land of Abraham, as God's Chosen People and to insist on that State being allowed to remain as a fully independent entity with the ability to defend herself.
    9.    I WISH FOR America to be returned to a government of laws and not men.
    10.  I WISH FOR our country to use our military resources wisely and not send our finest into harm's way without a fully discussed and established plan of action to meet our national objectives with minimal loss of life.

As you can see, this wish list is a mix of individual and group things with much overlap.  There are many more things that can be included since there is no limit.  The point is, however, to focus on some things to work for next year that can be a point for review at the end of the upcoming year.  None of this is easy and it requires each of us to think, but in so doing hopefully we can look back later and see that our thoughts, words and actions do have meaning and can play a part in saving this great nation of ours.

I look forward to considering my wishes over the next few days and preparing my resolutions.  I hope each of you will do the same.  Thoughtful deliberations about the direction we want for our nation are critical right now and we each will only have influence if we take the time to decide what it is we hope to see.

God bless you each and every one and enjoy time with family and friends as this festive holiday period continues.  Love our God and enjoy your day.


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Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus

12/25/2013

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And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.  Luke 2:7 (ESV)

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a manger or small animal barn in the Town of Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph had traveled to meet the census requirements of the day.  They had arrived late and there was no other place to stay since all the inns were filled with travelers in town for the same reason.

The life of Jesus on earth, begun in such a simple way, was one about which much of his lifespan is unreported.  Certainly we know of His birth and the need for Him to be taken to Egypt to avoid being found by Herod the King, who saw Him as a threat and wanted Him killed.  We know about His visit to the Temple at age twelve where He astonished the religious with His grasp of knowledge never seen in a boy of that age, let alone in a grown man.  After this, there is not much information until He is nearing the beginning of His three year ministry at age thirty.  That three year period, however, is where our Lord's amazing work took place and in that short time He changed the outlook of the world with His great teachings and sermons which spelled out clearly what God expected of us.  He told parables, performed miracles and gave guidance on how to live the Christian life.  His message took the Law of the Old Testament which formed a basis for orderly life and added to it the gift of hope and salvation.  Not only that, but his message was to be offered not just to the Chosen People of God, the Jews, but the Gentiles as well with his followers called upon to spread the Word throughout the world after his Ascension into Heaven.

Jesus,  in human form but also the Son of God came to us in the form of a carpenter's son.  He had none of the trappings of a King and didn't match the expectations of the rabbis and Temple leaders who expected one with wealth and regalia.  For this reason, most refused initially to believe He was the Son of God.  But his small band of original followers, also Jews, believed on faith and with Him were responsible for the beginnings of the Christian Church and the number of followers grew quickly.  Despite persecution, pain and great suffering, his flock continued to expand and grow and its impact has been world changing. 
Those of us who are believers today are expected to do the same.  And though we may face persecution, pain and maybe even death in a world that is rapidly becoming less godly, we can take comfort in knowing that by loving and believing in Him we will find the joy of life everlasting with Him in His Kingdom when this life is over.

So take joy in what today represents, the birth of our Savior, who as part of the Holy Trinity, offers us the gift of salvation through His grace and mercy.  By worshipping Him, the Son of our Father in Heaven, we allow the Holy Spirit to enter us and serve as our guide and advisor to living the life that is expected of us.  What a wonderful gift this day represents.

Merry Christmas to all.  Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus. We ask you to stay in our hearts always.


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Remembering a Special Christmas Eve

12/24/2013

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Christmas Eve brings back many memories to me of those wonderful years as a young boy when Christmas was magical and less materialistic.  And of all my memories of Christmas Eve and the time leading up to it, none has the same level of impact as the year 1955.  As a happy eight year old, I had no way of knowing at the time how it would stand out, but it turned out to be our family's final Christmas Season with our father, who died the following Fall.

It all started on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The family would scurry into my Dad's big 98 Oldsmobile and we would make our annual trip to the charity Christmas tree sale held each year not far from home.  Dad would make the attendant really work to find the perfect tree, but despite his quiet grumbling about quality he always gave a big tip.  After tying it to the roof of the car and taking it home, it was placed in the back yard standing in a bucket of sugar water to soak for twenty-four hours.  We then sat down to an early dinner before the next big annual Christmas season event.

Finally dark after dinner, we once again bundled into the car to
take a tour of the town to see all of the displays of Christmas decorations which had miraculously appeared after Thanksgiving.  Washington Avenue was suddenly aglow in red and green lights with Santa everywhere.  The retail merchants changed their displays for the occasion and it wasn't uncommon to see the manger scene in the front of all the downtown churches.  All of the lights and decorations would stay on display until New Year's, keeping the season alive for a full month.   

The following day after church was when Dad blazed into action.  We  assisted him as he decorated our ten foot tall and growing evergreen in the front yard.  Boxes of lights and decorations were brought outside and we children took turns holding the ladder.  When completed, we thought it was a masterpiece and I never really knew  why Mom looked at it and shook her head, then returned to putting a beautiful natural evergreen wreath on the front door.  With just a huge red bow attached it was complete.  Simple but beautiful.

Next Dad moved us to the living room where we went to work on the indoor tree.  He brought in the fresh one just bought and placed it in our heavy duty stand, adding a little more sugar water to maintain its freshness.  Mom followed him closely, cleaning up any mess that followed him from the dripping tree. Again, she just smiled and shook her head ever so slightly.

Next came the lights, tested by combining the strands and plugging the now single strand in to see if all the lights were working.  Then was the part that made us laugh.  Dad would unwind the strand from top to bottom on the tree slowly, stopping frequently to look and make changes.  It was a slow process as he frequently would change his mind and make adjustments, muttering as he went.  We offered suggestions but he was set in his ways so we just patiently stood by.  Upon completion, Dad tested them and, as was always the case, for some reason a few lights were suddenly not working.  He made quick work of the replacement, however, and made sure that everything was perfect before the next step.

Once done, the fun began.  That's when we got to put on the ornaments.  Mom and Dad both let us put them up any way we wanted.  Only after we were done would they make suggestions, but even then they told us it was our tree to decorate as we wished.  Adding popcorn strands and tinsel, the final step was when Dad adorned the top of the tree with the Christmas Star, shaking and bending the base to find the perfect upright position.  The small manger scene was placed beneath the tree on the skirt and we were finished.

Now looking about the house we were surprised to see that while we were busy Mom had placed all of our Christmas items including candles, Christmas figurines and window lights in place.  The mantle was decorated in greens with red bows and the stockings were hung, even one for our dog Radar. Turning off the house lights and turning on all of the Christmas lights 
transformed our home into a wonderland of color and shadows.  It was beautiful.

More and more presents mysteriously found their way under the tree in the ensuing days up until Christmas. We tried to pick them up and guess what they contained but Mom gave us a very stern look if we tried to shake them.  But she did have pity on our excitement and always provided some special Christmas cookies with milk when we returned from school.  Somehow we survived and finally the most exciting day of the year, Christmas Eve, arrived.


Christmas Eve seemed like the longest day of the year even though it's one of the shortest.  I can remember walking by the Christmas tree and wondering constantly what was in all of the boxes.  And I also wondered where the special things were that always came out after the visible presents were opened.  I never did figure out how my folks pulled it off.  It was only after I was grown that I realized all the work they went through to keep things a surprise.

Dad would start a small fire in the fireplace over the protest of we children.  He just laughed and said,  "Don't worry, it's only a small one and will be out plenty early for Santa."

We never really believed that but we knew better than to argue.  He was a kind and gentle father but expected we children to know our place.
   And sometimes I think he started the fire just to tease us a little.

We had a wonderful dinner that night.  Mom used her good silver and china and we had a surprise special guest.  My mom's brother, Uncle Henry, a career Coast Guardsman, came into port that morning and was invited to spend Christmas with us.  He had been on North Atlantic icebreaker duty and was still wobbly after the extended rough weather at sea.  We just sat around the table listening to his stories about standing on deck on a pitching cutter in twenty-five foot seas.  Dad was particularly fond of him and they would have talked all night until Mom said it was time to get ready for church.

Even then I knew there was something super special about Christmas Eve at the Presbyterian Church.  The place was packed, and the sanctuary with its five aisles all sloping downward toward the pulpit had red bows on the end of each pew.  Poinsettias, red and white, adorned the pulpit area and the large choir was already in place, dressed in their regal Christmas robes.   A large manger scene to the right on a raised deck remained in place following the Sunday school pageant the Sunday prior.  And the Christmas Star shone brightly on the wall above the Cross. 

Our minister delivered the age old sermon of the birth of the Christ Child, the choir sang solos and accompanied us in numerous wonderful Christmas carols and, in the end, each parishioner lit a small candle and the lights were dimmed for the finale, the singing of Silent Night.  Looking over at my father, I noticed a tear in his eye, and knew that he loved our Lord.

As we said our goodbyes, bundled up and headed outside, it began to snow, not something often found in this part of the country.  Looking down the street toward the river and the large shipyard, a large aircraft carrier in for repairs was decked out in Christmas lights.  What a beautiful sight.

Arriving home, Mom gave us a cup of hot chocolate and let us spend a few minutes enjoying our lighted trees both inside and out and the lightly falling snow through the front window.  It was cozy and warm and I was eager for the morn.

Suddenly, dad entered the kitchen and told us to put out the milk and cookies for Santa and head for bed.  We quickly did as we were told.  This was not a night to take any chances.   He hugged and kissed each of us as we headed toward the stairs and told us if we caught Santa on his rounds he might just decide not to stop.  That's all it took and we scurried.

As I lay there in bed waiting for sleep to kick in, I thought I heard something in the front yard that displayed a red glow into my window.  Was it Santa? No, it couldn't be, I finally decided as I dozed off dreaming about Santa, the reindeer and yes, the Baby Jesus.  I found out much later that the glow was from the Rudolph electric tie that my dad was wearing as he brought the Santa gifts out of the trunk of the car.  He truly loved the color and fun of Christmas.

What wonderful memories of a time long ago.  I will cherish them forever and it's such a shame to see the way we have transformed Christmas through the ensuing years.  What a shame.  Let's bring the old Spirit back
and let's keep Christ in Christmas always. After all, it's His birthfay.

Have a wonderful day as we prepare for our Savior.  Merry Christmas.


James Dick
Author, Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark
www.amazon.com/author/jamesdick
www.outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark



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Phil Robertson: A Christian Dares to Fight Back

12/23/2013

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Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your name with great boldness.   Acts 4:29 (NIV

I was going to stay away from this topic since it has been so saturated in the media the last few days but thought I had better chime in once and for all.  As a Bible-believing Christian I am opposed to the gay life style.  I think the Word of God is clear on this.   But, having said that, I also think it is important for we Christians to love the sinner and hate the sin.  After all we are all sinners.  So here's my take on the Phil Robertson issue.

I support him.  Phil in his statement said exactly the same thing as I just wrote only in slightly different terms.  And while I probably wouldn't have been quite so graphic, if you watch Phil on Duck Dynasty you know that he is very direct, which is just what he was in this case.  But Phil has the right and, actually, as an evangelical he has the responsibility to witness for Christ in all that he does.  And remember, Phil was asked the question, he didn't initiate it and I'm sure that the GQ interviewer knew exactly what he would say.  A&E likely knew what he would say as well when the interview was scheduled, but then they come out with all of the phony outrage which was so expected and so obvious.  Perhaps this was nothing more than a set up.

Now compare Phil to Martin Bashir, Ed Schultz, Alec Baldwin and so many on the Left who continually bash conservatives in vile and often filthy terms while everyone looks the other way.  By comparison Phil's comments were respectful and calm; he merely stated his point of view as a Bible-loving Christian.  He didn't judge, he didn't condem
n, in fact he did just the opposite.  He stated that he loves all mankind while at the same time knowing that all of mankind, including himself, is subject to sin for which forgiveness must be sought.  So there really is nothing to be outraged about here except the phony efforts to exploit it and make something out of nothing.  Or is it because when a Christian quotes the Bible it makes others fearful because they don't want to hear the truth?

When you look at the beautiful picture above of Mary with the Baby Jesus and the little lamb, you have to see it from the light of reality.  Man was born into sin, constantly fights the battle of that sin within himself against the Fallen Angel, and ultimately must turn to that little baby who grew into a man and died on the Cross in order to receive forgiveness for that sin.  And man must also make every effort to avoid future sin, knowing at the same time that he will falter.  This applies to all of us, gays, straights, blacks, whites, Americans and other nationalities and any other category you can think of.  We can run and hide from it if we want and try and ignore it, but it is a universal truth in a unverse created by God.

So Phil, you stand strong with your beliefs while always trying to live a life of love as God wishes.  I know what you said and it didn't bother me at all. You were preaching love, not hate, as it should be.  And for all of you out there who either  took offense or tried to use this episode for your own other purpose, review the exact words of what Phil said and take a look at what the Bible says about sin of all types.  If you are honest with yourselves you will reach the same conclusion.

Now let's go and have a Merry Christmas, devoting the center stage to the birth of the One who offers us Salvation, Jesus Christ.  Happy Birthday, Jesus. God bless you all.



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Think Royalty: The Fourth Sunday of Advent

12/23/2013

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Today is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent.  We light the final of the four candles surrounding the Advent wreath, a purple candle signifying royalty, for in just a few days the celebration of the King of Kings will be here.  Only the larger but shorter white candle in the center of the wreath, signifying the perfection and the purity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ remains unlit.

The days of preparation and anticipation are almost over and in most churches across our land we will light the Christ candle at a beautiful and joyous Christmas Eve service.  It is a very special service for it signifies that night in Old Bethlehem when Mary and Joseph, unable to find a room at any inn in the crowded town, bedded down in a dirty and drafty manger with the animals. 

Yet the significance of the Christ Child being born in such humble beginnings marks the entire life of our Lord.  God planned it to be that way, showing that money, prestige and power were not the things that would get you into Heaven.  No, only believing that Jesus Christ is your Savior and by giving your life to Him in love and service can you earn a seat at His table of Everlasting Life in Heaven above.

So Advent was designed to make sure that each Sunday during this wonderful season we remember the real reason for our celebration.  Oh, the gifts, the parties, the food and the fellowship are wonderful, but it is the birth of the Baby Jesus that we Christians are expected to hold at center stage in our hearts.

Just think about it.  This tiny baby, born into this world as a mortal human, yet also a God, would grow into a man who would change the course of history.  His influence would be felt the world over and have a huge impact on the growth of our own United States of America as a nation of God.  And as an adult at the age of thirty-three, after a ministry of only three years, He would take upon himself all the sins of the world and be put to death in the most horrific of ways: crucifixion.  Why?  So that each of us lowly sinners could be forgiven of our sins and given the opportunity to live forever.  All we have to do is make the right choice with our God-given free will.

What could be more wondrous than that?  Nothing.  And the fact that Jesus suffered as He did knowing in advance what His fate would be shows His love for us and the sacrifice that His Father above made for us as well.  So never forget during this wonderful Christmas season the reason for the Advent candles and their supporting wreath and use them to reinforce your commitment to God in Father, Son and Holy Ghost on this upcoming Christmas Day.  And carry this Spirit of Christmas with you all year long.

God bless you all and have a wonderful Sabbath Day on this final Sunday of Advent. 

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He Got The House, I Got The Shaft

12/21/2013

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A couple of days ago I wrote about our mischievous little pony and how he surprised me by getting out of his "quarters" on his own.  Well, I think I need to tell the rest of the story about this cute little guy named Angus.  And I think the story is that I am just a wee bit jealous of him.  Let me explain.

When my wife
said that we were getting a "free" pony I had no idea what her definition of  "free" meant.  I should have known better.  After all, I am married to a long time equestrian and when you marry a woman who loves horses, well,  the cash register stays open. In the literal sense, however, she was truthful about the cost of acquiring him.  The problem came with the cost of keeping him in the manner she envisioned.  And the "cha-ching" sound hasn't stopped since.

Upon arrival she noted that winter's coming and Angus needed a nice warm blanket and sheet to keep him warm.  It was ordered and delivered and the first "cha-ching" was heard.
  Almost concurrently  she decided that he needed a cart, so while waiting for me to reach the same conclusion (not that I had a vote anyway) she ordered the harness and supporting items, "cha-ching" number two.

Next we noticed his undivided attention was directed to our mares.  Since all of our horses are mares but one, Angus was acting like a teenage boy in the springtime.  Oh, we kept him apart from them and a cursory inspection showed no evidence of him being a fully equipped model, but we decided we'd better get the vet to come out to be sure.  When she came she found that his testicles had not dropped but she could only find one, which was surgically removed, "cha-ching" number three  She suggested we wait a couple of weeks, then she could test him and we'd know if in fact more surgery was required.

We got a call a few days ago telling us that, yes, he was still fully capable and that meant that another medical procedure would be required soon, "cha-ching" number four, and this was only the beginning.  Finally giving her my blessing on the cart, she ordered an Amish two person cart to be built, paying for it at the time of the order bringing "cha-ching" number five.

Whew, I thought we were done but, oh no, there was something else.  Since he would be housed in the side yard and since he didn't have a shelter she designed an enclosed and covered paddock stall, complete with an attached garage for the car(t).  Lumber, roofing materials, screws and more, a big "cha-ching number six.  I must confess, however, that since my wife is quite handy with a hammer and saw, she put it together practically by herself.  The only thing I had to do was stand by in "step and fetch it" mode for assistance.  Now complete, it looks quite professional and our little "free" pony may very well end up living better than we do.  He's got his private yard with a view and a house and attached garage.

And I guess  I have to admit that I really didn't get the shaft, because I love my wife dearly and I've grown quite fond of our little Angus.  But Honey, can't we slow things down just a little, please.  She tells me yes but I know as clearly as the sun will shine again that sometime down the road her horse sense will come up with another project for the herd.  So if you love an equestrian, you just learn to roll with the punches, because you won't change them and it's you that must change.  And I guess it's change I've done.

Now all I need to do is learn how to "whinny" when I need her attention.  But, really, my life is rich in many ways other than money and money, well, it's gone to the bottomless pit known as horses.
Oh, well, we can't take it with us anyway.

Have a wonderful day and be careful in the Christmas rush.  God bless you all. I'll provide pics of the final product once the cart arrives.


By James Dick
Author of Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark. Now available on line through www.outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark  and amazon.com/author/jamesdick.  ANIMALS: A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD


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    ABOUT ME

    Hi, I'm James, a writer who studies nature,  animals and all things created by God. I also write from time to time about what I think God expects of us.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these subjects. I hope you enjoy my comments.

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