Christmas

It is Christmas Eve 2010. A lot has changed in the past year, primarily on a personal level. But, what is, is. Often times in years past I would sit at home alone, drinking coffee and Kahula wrapping Christmas presents into the early morning. So much has changed this year.

Personally, I have grown stronger as a person, though I have been extremely weak at times. Only weak because I tried to control the uncontrollable. I realized that you can only control yourself. You can talk all you want, show people the error of their ways, but ultimately, you cannot force someone to act the way you feel they should act. You cannot force someone to think the way you think. You cannot show a person that has done people wrong when they think they have been wronged. You cannot make a person see the error of their own ways, they can only choose to do it themselves.

People who have wronged others, who think they themselves have been wronged, will never see their errors. They have justified what they have done in their minds, but there is never justification for wronging others. One wrong, real or perceived, is never a reason to harm others.

I do not mean to for this to be a depressing blog, just some thoughts about the year.

I was looking at Facebook and people posting about going to candlelight services tonight, and that is fantastic. I have mixed feelings about some of these people and the churches they choose to attend. It is wonderful that people have found God in their own way, and it is truly a blessing, but it also saddens me to see what some of these churches stand for.

Now, I am not judging, and I apologize ahead of time if I offend some people with this post, if anyone even reads it. But churches in Houston like Lakewood, Second Baptist, and what I call "feel good preachers" are missing something in their ministry and their lives.

These "preachers" talk about doing good deeds and you will be blessed by God. The more good that you do, the more blessings you will receive from God. For me,I don't think God is someone you should bargain with. These people who believe in "feel good" preaching, or "feel good" Grace, miss the glorious feeling knowing that there is absolutely nothing you can do to receive God's Grace and blessings.

WE ALREADY have it. We should do good simply because we want to do good to glorify God. We can choose to do good, or bad, but the level of God's grace in us does not change.

Think about it this way: When you do good, you glorify God. When you do bad, you glorify evil. And we all know who evil is. Who do you choose?

Many times this past year I asked how God could allow certain things to happen. Why did he allow people to do what they did. Even to the point of questioning my own faith. I realized it is not God's fault, we choose our own paths and actions. Everything that people do is by choice.


On this Eve of the day that we celebrate the Birth of Christ, a message: Without the "Word made flesh" we would never have understood God's revelation in full. We would never have understood God's Grace. We would never see, and attempt to understand, the Glory that is the Trinity, one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Remember to Thank God for all that He has done for us. Enjoy family and friends, but remember, it is about Jesus Christ, our Savior, Teacher, and God.

Twas the night before Christmas

This is my version. I have not written here in a while, and this is not what I originally set this up for, but I thought it would be a good place to post.

For those that don't know, in this version, Rocky, Kylie and Koda are my dogs. Enjoy.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a dog could be heard, only a little snoring was even apparent.
Their bowls were all placed in corners with care
In hopes that Santa would soon leave them treats there.

With Koda snoring on the floor, Rocky and Kylie were all snug in their beds,
with visions of cats and squeaky chew toys dancing in their heads.
And my books cluttering the recliner and I on the couch
had just settled in after a long day shopping out.

When out on the patio there arose such a crash
That I fell off the couch onto my research stash.
Away I flew to check the door
Only to notice the door was ajar.

The moon shining through the humidity,
allowed us to see a site full of pity,
when, to my startled eyes should appear,
but a bruised up sleigh and eight crumpled reindeer.

With the driver sweating and cursing, it gave me pause,
I was shocked to hear these words being spoken by Santa Claus
Rocky and Kylie were guarding the door
While Koda just continued to snore.

Santa threw down his bag looking horribly frazzled,
the reindeer, huffing and puffing, were just dazzeld
sweat poured off this poor figure as if his hair was crying
When out of his mouth a cry came, "Oh lord, with this humidity I think I am dying"

Santa went to his crumpled reindeer to check their condition
They were untangling themselves trying to get into position
Santa asks "You OK Dasher, Dancer, how about Prancer, Vixen?
come on Comet, Cupid, pick yourselves up Donder and Blitzen"

I looked on with eye filled with wonder,
I was really beginning to ponder
With this outburst was Santa mental,
was he going to go postal.

Kylie and Rocky were no longer growling
Koda was no longer snoring
They were just standing side by side staring,
at this red suited human being

Santa got his reindeer all aligned
When he felt a little nudge on his behind
Santa said, "Donder quit, I will be fine"
Then he froze as he heard a chorus of whines

Santa slowly turned around,
looking towards the ground
Where he sees three sets of eyes sparkling
Santa eyes teared up but the sight brought back his twinkling

Santa bends down on one knee and says, "Hello little darlings,
forgive me for my outburst this early Christmas morning."
The reindeer straighten as if to attention
completely shrugging off their former situation.

Rocky walks up to Santa and lifts one paw,
being ever so gentle as not to claw
he pulls himself up to be even with Santa's eyes
to lick off the tears as Santa cries

Kylie walks up to Santa and leans on his side
as if to help Santa carry the heavy burden he has tried to hide.
Santa reaches down and scratches Kylie behind the ear
and says, "Thanks for the help my little dear."

Koda, of the three being the youngest
only knows that Santa is the greatest
Koda's tail was wagging as she was not understanding
What is wrong, on this greatest and holiest of days, why was Santa crying?

Santa looks at the three tails wagging
and says "You are RIGHT! What is the point of this crying?
Today is Christmas, the greatest day of the year!
All this blubbering, how dare I, NO MORE TEARS!"

With that Santa looks at the three gleaming faces.
"Rocky, take care old man, I promise to leave no traces.
Kylie, be sweet, take care of the other two.
Koda, keep smiling and wagging that tail to."

Santa hops up and reaches for his bag.
Grabs for three large bones that would make a dinosaur brag!
He gives each their own special treat, first Rocky
Then Kylie and last is Koda, who when it comes to food is never picky!

The three run off to their corners to hide,
I am in the shadows just beaming with pride.
Santa continues unloading some gifts and puts them under the tree.
I have to hold myself back because I can't wait to see.

Santa notices that there are no cookies on the plate
He looks at Koda wagging her tail and realizes she couldn't wait.
With that he lets out a great "HO HO HO" so loud that I had not heard such before
Santa grabs his bag and heads out the door.

Santa hops onto his sleigh
for there is no more delays.
Santa has millions of more gifts to deliver
and he has never cared if you are not a believer!

He snaps the reigns to his reindeer
he takes off so fast that he could not be any quicker.
He could be heard as he is taking off saying
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"