Merry Christmas and all that Jazz...

I wish to start out by wishing all that read this a Merry Christmas...

I choose to say Merry Christmas during this time of year, because it has always been Merry Christmas to me. All my life it's been Merry Christmas. I knew nothing but Merry Christmas until I got older and then I noticed that others were saying other things such as Happy Holidays. During my pre-Christian days I was fine with either. Now, as a Christian, I still am.

I believe this season is about me celebrating my Lord and Saviour.

However, I also believe that I should be celebrating Him and what he did for me everyday of the year. Christmas and Easter should not be the only days Christians acknowledge the One that gave His life for them. That being said, who am I to be telling others what they should be doing or what they should believe during this time?

No need to answer. It's not my job, my mission or my destiny to tell others what to believe.

I believe the Bible is my handbook and it tells me how I should live. It does not tell me that I should tell others how to live their lives. I should be a witness for my Lord. My life should be an example of what Jesus has done for me. There should be no need to preach to others about what I believe, they should be able to see it in how I live my life.

So Merry Christmas to all...

and if you prefer...

Happy Holidays...

Off The Menu

I present a word of warning for those of you that plan on inviting the Mrs. and me out to dinner and have a tendency to get embarrassed by the action of others.

The Mrs. orders off the menu...

Having been with my lovely bride for over fifteen years I have yet to see a menu that she doesn't deem worth of tweaking. The type of restaurant does not matter. Italian, Chinese, Indian, fast food, slow food, vegetarian and even vegan. No cuisine is safe from her adjustments. Some major (cream sauce for red), some minor (pine nuts for mushrooms), but these changes are necessary. Chefs have taken years to perfect these dishes. However, my wife has the uncanny ability to make them even better.

I believe this is genetic, yet I lack the funds to have any scientific study take place.

Anyone know where I can get a grant?

That being said... I am her equal opposite...

I do the same thing at home.

No "all in one" meal is safe. I will add anything and everything to Hamburger Helper, Chunky Soup or any other heat and eat dinner. The reason of this post (other than getting an invitation to dinner) is to let you in on one of my favorite adjustments.
It is my favorite food of all time...

Macaroni and Cheese...

Start with 2 boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese... Yes, it has to be Kraft and it must be the original... Not spirals, Sponge Bob, white cheddar or any other kind of Kraft... Has to be the "Cheesiest." I have tried using generic and the final product is just not the same.

Cook macaroni to desired taste and drain.
Add 1 stick of butter and delicious cheese packets and milk.
I do not measure the milk. I just add until it seems right. However, I am cautious about adding too much. After all, it is easier to add than remove...
Mix together over low heat...
Now for the kicker...
Add 1 bag of 8oz shredded cheese. Not just any cheese... It must be of the Mexican variety... The one with 4 different cheeses... There is no restriction on this cheese, it can be any brand (although, the Kraft brand makes the mac & cheese extra smooth).

No need to thank me as I have already received your thanks in advance...

While typing this post I remembered an unusual thing about the Mrs.'s off the menu affliction and must amend the above. It seems the more expensive the restaurant, the less likely she is to make adjustments. So any invitations should be to really expensive places...

To save you the embarrassment, that is...

Maps Are Good

A few years ago the Mrs. and I were in Atlanta with her brother and his wife. My brother-in-law was driving, I was riding shotgun and the ladies taking the chauffeured positions in the back. We left an event and being unfamiliar with the area we got lost. The area we were in did not seem to be the friendliest and there was a consensus not to stop and get directions. No need to worry though, we had a map in the glove compartment.

Now I do not wish to boast on myself, but I have mad skills where map reading is concerned. I also do well with blueprints and schematics, but that's another story. Anyway, I locate some street signs and determine from the map the direction we need to go in order to get to our desired location. I relayed this information to the driver. Problem solved...

Not so fast. My sister-in-law determined that the directions I gave were not in our best interest. She believed that going in a different direction was better. How did she know? Did she have personal knowledge of the area? Did she have a map? Did she have some information of which we were not aware? So many questions and frankly answers to none.

My brother-in-law is now in the hot seat. He has to make a decision that is going to affect/effect (I type you decide) our immediate future. Should he take the information that is on the map as reliable and choose to follow its direction or does he listen to what his wife believes. Sadly, he's screwed either way. To make a long story short, I put the map away and we drove around for about another hour before making it back to our hotel.

Before you start laughing at my brother-in-law you must know that I was in that driver's seat for most of my life. Not literally, but figuratively...

I was taking direction from the world on how I should live my life and not from the one who created me and life itself. This decision had me driving around in circles and getting nowhere. My God provided a map for me and I chose to ignore it for many a year. His map for me and direction for my life is in His Word, the Bible. Thankfully, his patience for me knows no ends and he was there when I finally asked for help.

I've been following his directions for over 1o years now and have arrived at a number of destinations that He prepared for me. Those destinations include...

Peace... Love... Joy...

I'm grateful He has more for me and with His help I won't miss a single turn.

Is It Really A Day Of Thanksgiving?

(Note: This was posted at 12:29 am on 11/27. I just figured out how to fix the time for my location.)

Another year has gone by and today is Thanksgiving Day... This is a day I have been celebrating with my family and friends since I can remember.

But, Why?

It's a National Holiday, of course...

In 1941 the U.S Congress passed a bill that Thanksgiving be observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November.

Why did they do this? It seems that a Day of Thanksgiving had become routine by then. The first recorded "DoT" was in 1565 by Spaniards in St. Augustine, Florida. This continued with the colony of Virginia in 1619 and the Plymouth pilgrims in 1621. I understand why these guys would be thankful, but when did our government get involved?

The First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving was given by the Continental Congress in 1777.

Here is a small portion of that proclamation: "FOR AS MUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success."

On October 3, 1789, George Washington (as President) made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America.

Here is a small portion of that proclamation: "Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

President Abraham Lincoln got involved and proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863.

Here is a small portion of his proclamation: "The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God."

It seems the leaders of our government at critical times of these United States recognized the need to be grateful for the things that God has done for this country. It would serve us well if today's leaders took a little history lesson and remembered the things our great leaders of the past readily knew.

That one should be grateful and give thanks to God Almighty...

As I sit down to eat a meal that has been cooked by family and friends I will remember my Heavenly Father. I will thank Him for the things he has done, is doing and will do for my country, my family and me...

George, Abraham and Gaines...

That's pretty good company!!!!!

So forget about separation of church and state and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

The Sun Is Still Coming Up...

I woke up today and much to my delight the sun was still shining.

It's been three weeks since the second most historic election (the first being the first) that the Estados Unidos has ever seen and the earth is still turning. According to various opinions, life as we know it should have ended by now. Now don't get me wrong, the President-Elect is/was not my choice for running this country, but my hope is that he will do a great job. I do not wish for another Carter Presidency in order to get another Reagan Presidency. Having lived through the previous, I understand that this would not be good for our country. This is why I cannot fathom why people hope it gets worse just so they can win. I don't wish to wait four years (possibly eight) before things get better.

I can believe that our President-Elect will do what is right for this country.

Here is where I would point out why and how I believe that this man can and will do all the things possible to make this country better for all of its citizens. However, I am at a loss for words to so... Why? Because, I believe it is not within his ability to do the things necessary to accomplish this great task.

Yet, I still have hope. Hope in the man? No. Hope in my God.

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." Proverbs 21:1

Regardless of what you may hear in the media or those from the far left, this is a Christian nation founded on Christian principles. The United States of America does more to spread the Word of God than any other nation on earth. Therefore, I believe God has a vested interest in the direction of this country.

Why do I believe God will get involved? He tells us He will in His Word.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

I believe there are millions of Christians that (voted both for and against) are praying for President-Elect Obama.

This is a good thing.

This is why I have hope.