Holiday Christmas-alation

With everyone getting so twisted about the Christmas - Holiday debate, it's time I offer a brief insight into the mind of the"Cowhunter".

 With so many evil events going on in our country lets put aside all the verbal wrangling and political posturing; instead let's become neighbors sharing joy and a season that represents giving and the gift of hope. A season that represents the best in man-kind....

Tiz the season, ...no? I am so tired of hearing about one group stomping on Christmas and wholesome family values and traditions or another group shouting, "it's a Christmas tree!" or "say MERRY CHRISTMAS!" The latest thing I heard was employees boycotting an office party event because they don't celebrate Christmas. No alchohol just food, sodas and sweet tea. Association is not affirmation. You're not compromising your values or condoning a belief by being freindly or lending your attendance to a gathering at the very place where you work and mingle with other people. In fact it's the exact opposite if we believe in values and our fellow-man then grab a plate, sit next to a friend and talk about your children or your family.

With all the turmoil going on in our world today why wouldn't you want to take time out of your day, sit with your co-workers or next door neighbor for that matter, and enjoy some good food and even a couple of free hours on the company clock.

We see the tradegy brought on by a life filled seperation and division. Let's not duplicate that pattern by isolating ourselves when we should be encouraging one another; if just by our presence and participation.

Put a smile on your face and great one another as humans should with character and goodwill. Let that be a gift you freely give to someone that passes you in the mall or in line at the store. Just as the gift of Christ was given freely to every person on earth. So, Happy Holidays, Merrry Christmas, Happy Hanukka, A Joyous Season, Feliz Navidad and anything else that may be appropriate, you know what I mean.

That's my Tip of the Hat for today.

Holy Day

Thanksgiving was awesome this year. Another fried turkey under my belt... literally. Last year was our first year to try fried Tom and everyone agreed, it's the way to go. So once again, we took the family out on a deer hunt, Suzanne stayed at home to prepare the fixins'. This was Devins first hunt and she enjoyed it very much although not a deer was to be found we still had a great time. Earl, our GPS Outdoors ministry leader took point as our trail guide alone with his daughter Fiona.

We spent about 3 hours in the woods then made our way back to the house. This is my time to cook, turn on the gas, light the burner, get the oil to temp and gently lower the 13.5 lb Tom into it's final resting place. 45 minutes later a golden bird is lifted onto our Supper plates for a tasty meal.

This year the whole family agreed that we needed to find the tallest tree we could get into the front door for our Christmas. So off we go to the Farmers Market and Suzanne our cheif negotiator goes to work. Suzanne is good, I mean she could have talked the gunmen off of the clock tower. The first tree vendor we come to has some very tall trees but for our needs it has to be thin and tall. So the owner takes us to a tree standing up against another tree and the light shown down, this was the one. No more looking around, stop, make sure it's wel shaped and let the negotiator loose. Suzanne begins her magic, I mean it's an art, we work as a team but she's the lead. She makes her offer, looking the owner square in the eyes, he counters, she makes one more offer and walks leaving me to explain. The two of us, men, now have a choice to make, I either exchange cash with the owner or we both walk away with our ears pinned back. We drive away with a 14' Christmas tree from the hills of Avery County. Her work here is done.

Christ is at the center of everything our family is and does. No one, nothing and no circumstance will ever change that. God can change a life one day at a time it's only our stuborn pride that truely hinders God from working through us and in us. Church leader, pastor, deacon, elder or member, if you put your pride aside and let Christ truley have first place in your life you will never be the same.