Christmas Blessings

Well, Tammy has been away for a week on vacation with her sister, Shelley. They went to New York city to see all the wintry Christmassy sites of the Big Apple. They visited Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and The Empire State Building. From the phone conversations it sounds like they've had a really nice time but, she's also ready to come home.

At first having the house to myself was really nice. Then it was very lonely and quiet. I worked a couple of double shifts and got nice and wiped out last week. That killed some time then Sara came home for Christmas break from school. We've had some fun watching our old favorite Christmas movies.

Tammy flies home from NYC this evening so we're headed to San Diego to spend the night then Christmas Eve morning with her Mom and Joe.

Here are a few of my favorite ornament photos:




Here's a thought about Christmas penned by Spurgeon:

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Isa_7:14

Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in him, and can sing, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance his miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, “The seed of the woman,” not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to his human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that he may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note his humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as “a virgin,” not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King!
Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.


Please have a most blessed and Merry Christmas. Until next time I am humbly yours...

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR me hearties!!!!!



OLD GUYS RULE!!!!

Factor It In!

The craziness of post election politics is nearly at a fever pitch. With the election of perhaps the most liberal president in US history, the values that most Americans hold dear are under attack an an alarming and relentless rate. One example: The so-called "gay" agenda was dealt a serious blow with California's passage of proposition 8, to define what marriage is in the state constitution. Did our fore-fathers ever imagine we'd have to do that? I doubt it... The reaction from the "rainbow" side has been shall we say loud? Boisterous? Violent? Virulent? The reaction from the "rainbow" camp just proves there is nothing gay about the gay lifestyle. I can understand the upset over losing. I can even understand civil disobedience when the issue justifies it. This isn't the case here. A choice in the way a person uses their body's natural function in unnatural ways should never become the basis of civil liberties of any kind. I don't believe a group's sexual perversions should create a protected class of people. But thanks to our political leaders, we have. The need to combat the political agenda of those who would destroy this great land has never been greater. In this particular case, the people of California have spoken twice now. One man, one woman is how marriage is defined in California.

The erosion of the USA's values has it's roots in the socialist agenda of the far left politicos. It's no secret that many of our country's leaders look to Europe for a social and moral compass. This is a BIG BIG mistake. Please click the link and watch the video below:

Fox News: Amsterdam's Red Light Revamp

I don't always agree with O'Reilly but he makes some very good points about culture war. Believe me, politics is not the answer. History has proved this out time and time again. It will be no different in the USA. The political arena will never do anything to fulfill our deepest needs. Let's face it, we all have baggage. But it goes even deeper than this. In my own life, I came to realize just how deep it went. I realized that we were all created for one purpose. To have a relationship with a Creator that is loving, righteous, holy and truly magnificent. I also realized that I was in no possible way able to do this in my own strength or in my own abilities. There was a dark chasm that separated me from my Creator. The darkness of sin overshadowed anything that I could possibly think, do or expect to accomplish in life. As a young man I knew there had to be something better. I discovered with the help of three different people that I needed a Savior. They did not know each other. I later came to understand that Spirit of God had somehow made our paths cross. They helped me to see that I needed someone to step into my situation and become the bridge across the chasm of sin to reach God, the Creator. Someone to pay the price for the sin I was born into. That person is Jesus Christ. Born of a virgin, crucified, raised from the dead on the third day. By faith I now understand how He who was perfect from birth, He who knew no sin, became sin in His Father's eyes for mankind's sake. I decided by faith to follow the Bible's teaching of salvation and redemption. I now have a relationship with my Creator through Jesus Christ.

I took this step when I was fifteen. Let's see... I'm over fifty and have been a Christian now for over thirty years. The road has not been an easy one and anyone who says it's easy is being somewhat less than truthful. Life has meaning and purpose. The relationships I have with my family has been and continues to be meaningful and full of wonder. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination so please be patient. God isn't finished yet.

Maybe you are wondering if there is something better out there. I don't know what your situation is but, I do know this. God loves you and has always had a plan to be with you. If this is the case, I'd love to hear from you. If not, thanks for reading this far. Please come back to read what I post in the future. The musings of an old guy tend to ramble a bit but they are what I'm all about I guess.

Until next time,

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Me Hearties!


OLD GUYS RULE!!!

Coolness

As often happens in Southern California it gets hot again. We had some nice rain last week then it got into the mid 80's again. Some of you may think this is nice... I guess it is but I like a little cooler weather. I miss living where there are 4 seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. I like that but, The southern half of this state is boringly warm. A cold night here is in the 40's unless you are in the mountains. Oh well, when I don't have to work for the city of riversnot anymore maybe we can move to cooler climes.

Sara went back to Westmont last Monday. Her schoolmate went home the Tuesday before if I remember correctly. Peter and Melissa successfully moved into their home. Now they're in the never-ending process of making it theirs. Painting, repairing etc... all the stuff a renter can't even fathom. Way to go you two... I am really proud of you. Alicia and Mike are plugging along in Texas, they adopted a new mutt named Fritz. I think I probably already told you. It's been nice lately, I put Skype on the puter. Now we can video chat with all the kids. We got to say hi to Sarah Rose, our grandbaby the other night. Now that was way cool.... B-D

Stellar observers will have taken note of the Lunar observations this week. Venus Jupiter and the Moon are the closest they will be in the night sky for the next 40 years. I took a few pix to mark the event. I share them with you for your pleasure:

How it looked from my front yard

How it looked upside down- a frown for the Northern Hemisphere...

Not to be outdone by the people "down under", I "fixed" it with the magic of Photoshop

A thought from "My Utmost For HIS Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CARRIED AWAY FOR HIM?
"She hath wrought a good work on Me." Mark 14:6 If human love does not carry a man beyond himself, it is not love. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it. Have I ever been carried away to do something for God not because it was my duty, nor because it was useful, nor because there was anything in it at all beyond the fact that I love Him? Have I ever realized that I can bring to God things which are of value to Him, or am I mooning round the magnitude of His Redemption whilst there are any number of things I might be doing? Not Divine, colossal things which could be recorded as marvellous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that I am abandoned to Him? Have I ever produced in the heart of the Lord Jesus what Mary of Bethany produced? There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him the abandoned tokens of how genuinely we do love Him. Abandon to God is of more value than personal holiness. Personal holiness focuses the eye on our own whiteness; we are greatly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, fearful lest we offend Him. Perfect love casts out all that when once we are abandoned to God. We have to get rid of this notion - "Am I of any use?" and make up our minds that we are not, and we may be near the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time.

Until Next Time I am Humbly Yours...


ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR me Hearties!!!!!!!!


OLD GUYS RULE!!!