*Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*


*'Cause the PC Police had taken away*

*And the reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds, and Wise Men, and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say,*

* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*


*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes of selling books by Franken or Fonda.*


*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*


*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in every public matter.*


*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged or discarded*

*The reason for the season, was stopped before it started.*


*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, Listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday !*





Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet during the

holidays a

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Amen.

A very Merry CHRISTMAS to all!

Merry Christmas everyone. May the grace and peace of Christ be with you all. In Christian love, Nan

Thelma Lou, I miss the Little Red Cabin. I'm sure by now there would have been a beautifully decorated tree and some treat in the oven at all times. If you talk to any of the old gang, please wish them Happy Holidays for me.

Even that old raconteur, Hey Vern, wishes all to “Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas; it’s the Best Time of the Year!”

I liked it best when Charlie Brown asks if anyone can explain to him what Christmas is all about.

"Sure, I can," says his friend Linus, who proceeds to recite the story of the birth of Jesus from the book of Luke in the King James Version of the Bible. "And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and goodwill toward men,' " Linus says. "And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Many in this country, and especially in Rushville, see the Christmas season as a good reason to commercially exploit anyone and everyone. Let’s get back to the reason for the season. Will Rushville take heed?

I like the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon also, Vern.
Peace on earth and good will toward men has been evident to me especially this past week.
Two funerals, two widows, the outpouring of love and compassion for them and their families has been overwhelming and heart touching. In Main Street Christian Church this morning and at the grave site with the 21 gun salute and taps being played -- God was there. The Holy Spirit was hovering over and filling everyone with his tender compassion and love. Tears were shed for the departed and for the touching military service.
Where I work, I see an owner helping seniors, free of charge, to choose a new supplemental insurance for their medications because the insurance they once had through their retirement packages has been taken away due to a depressed economy. Some of these people use mail order or other stores to purchase their medications; but he still spends up to an hour or more explaining their options, and counseling as to which one would get them the most for their money.
I've been told the pastor of a different church in Rushville was called to help one widow because her interim pastor was unavailable at 2am. He was there for her and drove her to where she needed to be in the wee hours of the morning. That's the love of God, Vern!
Step back, open your eyes, and look for the good in people, Vern. You're focussing on the negative and missing the positive. Rushville is a loving Christian community. Yes, we have our "characters", but the majority of those characters are such loving people. All they want is someone to listen to them, look them in the eyes, smile at them, or hold their hand.
Vern, there's a side to you that I have picked up on that is loving and compassionate. Let that side grow. And that's what Christmas is all about, Vern.

I received this from a buddy today, and thought I should share it :

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

My husband and I had been happily
married (most of the time)
for five years
but hadn't been blessed with a baby.

I decided to do some serious
praying and promised God
that if he would give us a child,
I would be a perfect mother,
love it with all my heart
and raise it with His word
as my guide.

God answered my prayers
and blessed us with a son.

The next year God blessed us
with another son.

The following year,
He blessed us with
yet another son.

The year after that we
were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd
been blessed right into poverty.
We now had four children,
and the oldest was only
four years old.

I learned never to ask God
for anything unless I meant it.
As a minister once told me,
"If you pray for rain,
make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses
of the Bible to the children
each day as they lay in their cribs.
I was off to a good start.
God had entrusted me
with four children and
I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day
the children smashed
two dozen eggs on
the kitchen floor searching
for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...

when they started a hotel for
homeless frogs in the spare bedroom,
although it took me nearly two hours
to catch all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured
ketchup all over herself and
rolled up in a blanket to see
how it felt to be a hot dog;
I tried to see the humor
rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over
twenty-five thousand diapers,
never eating a hot meal
and never sleeping for more
than thirty minutes at a time,
I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise
to be a perfect mother -
I didn't even come close -
I did keep my promise
to raise them in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark
just a little when I told
my daughter we were going
to church to worship God,
and she wanted to bring
a bar of soap along to
"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lost
in the translation when
I explained that
God gave us everlasting life,
and my son thought it was
generous of God to give
us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came
during the children's
Christmas pageant.

My daughter was playing Mary,
two of my sons were shepherds
and my youngest son was a wise man.
This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd
had practiced his line,
"We found the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes."
But he was nervous and said,
"The baby was wrapped
in wrinkled clothes."

My four-year-old "Mary" said,
"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly.
That's dirty, rotten clothes."

A wrestling match broke out
between Mary and the shepherd
and was stopped by an angel,
who bent her halo and lost
her left wing.

I slouched a little lower
in my seat when Mary
dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced
down the aisle crying,
"Mama-mama."

Mary grabbed the doll,
wrapped it back up
and held it tightly as
the wise men arrived.

My other son stepped forward
wearing a bathrobe
and a paper crown,
knelt at the manger
and announced,
"We are the three wise men,
and we are bringing gifts
of gold,
common sense
and fur."

The congregation
dissolved into laughter,
and the pageant
got a standing ovation.

"I've never enjoyed a Christmas
program as much as this one,"
laughed the pastor,
wiping tears from his eyes.
"For the rest of my life,
I'll never hear the
Christmas story without
thinking of
gold,
common sense
and fur."

"My children are my pride
and my joy and my greatest
blessing," I said as I dug
through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,
yet they called Him Master;

Had no degree,
yet they called Him Teacher;

Had no medicines,
yet they called Him Healer;

Had no army,
yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,
yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime,
yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb,
yet He lives today.

Feel honored
to serve such a Leader
who loves us.

If you believe in
God and in Jesus Christ His Son,
send this to all on your buddy list.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF RUSHVILLE