Some Poems for the Christmas Season

Merry Christmas everyone! While I try to write something new each week, it is the holiday season and hopefully, I will be spending some quality time with the family! So, I thought I’d use this week’s blog to share a couple of Christmas themed poems from my book of poetry A Head Full of Random Thoughts. Hope you like them!

Sad Christmas

My brother-in-law died today,

With Christmas only days away,

My son was stranded with no car

Needing to reach home from afar.

My wife’s brother called to tell

Of a cousin’s death this week, as well.

It’s a sad Christmas.

The holidays bring stress enough,

And this year will be extra tough,

But we’ll be thankful nonetheless

And pray for strength and maybe rest,

And celebrate our Savior’s birth,

And pray to God for peace on earth.

Early Resolutions

When Christmas comes,

I’ll be more thankful.

I’ll be more cheerful

And smile a little more.

When Christmas comes,

I’ll count my blessings

And hug my wife and kids

And tell them that I love them.

When Christmas comes,

I’ll find a way to pay the bills

And not complain about the cost of gifts,

Knowing that some things are priceless,

Most of all togetherness, and peace,

But material objects the least.

When Christmas comes,

I’ll listen to the old familiar songs

And sing along with joy when I can

And look for manger scenes

To remind me of the One

Who came to give us life,

And also love.

And when Christmas goes,

And the yuletide spirit

Starts to fade and slip away,

I’ll hold on to it fast,

And try to make it last

Beyond the songs, and lights,

And symbols of the season.

If you like these two, pick up a copy of A Head Full of Random Thoughts in paperback from Amazon https://amzn.to/2LwqzKC or in multiple ebook formats https://www.books2read.com/randomthoughts. And again, Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Christmas Movies and Specials

I love Christmas and nothing does a better job of getting me into the holiday spirit than watching a good Christmas movie! Fortunately, there is never a shortage! From the all-time classics all the way down to the cheesy Lifetime and Hallmark productions, these movies remind us of the joy of the season. Here are some of my favorites:

First, my top three!

• It’s a Wonderful Life – Still my all-time favorite! I still cringe every time Uncle Billy hands that newspaper to Mr. Potter. And I still cry like a baby at the ending. And don’t we all need a reminder that whether we know it or not at the time, our actions can have a profound impact on the people around us?
• Miracle on 34^th Street – A close second! (Only the original version though.) A wonderful feel-good story about the commercialization of the holiday. A great portrayal of Kris Kringle and who could resist a courtroom drama starring Santa?
• A Charlie Brown Christmas – This time it’s Charlie Brown who has issues with the commercialism and is confused by the actions of his friends (and even his dog). An absolutely beautiful tale about the true meaning of Christmas! And honestly, has anyone ever done a better job of explaining it than Linus?

And in no particular order, the rest of my favorite Christmas movies and specials:

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas –My second favorite animated special! One of the best songs ever (You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch) and the best narration ever make this one a classic not to be missed. Haven’t seen the newest one yet, but the Jim Carrey version is also very well done.
• A Christmas Story – Ralph and his nostalgic look back at Christmas is perhaps the best comedic take on the subject. Tons of quotable lines and memorable scenes. Definitely one I try to catch each year.
• The Nativity – If you want the Biblical and historical narrative, this one is a beauty.
• The Christmas Chronicles – The newest entry on my list, this one is destined to become a classic. Kurt Russell makes an excellent Santa and rocks the jailhouse in my favorite scene from the movie!
• A Christmas Carol – Almost any version will do! If you haven’t seen it, try Bill Murray’s Scrooged.  There’s also a George C. Scott version I remember well from my earlier years.
• Christmas With the Kranks – As any English teacher will tell you, the book is always better, but the movie does a good job of capturing the adventures of a couple who decide to skip Christmas and then watch as their plans go horribly wrong! (From the John Grisham novel Skipping Christmas.)
• Home Alone – Another great comedic Christmas movie starring the too cute Macauley Caukin. My son once bore a more-than-passing resemblance and was honestly mistaken for him at a mall once. So, of course, I can’t watch without remembering my grown son’s childhood.
• Jingle All the Way – Any parent who has ever gone shopping at Christmas for a particularly popular new toy will appreciate this one. And how can you not love Sinbad and Arnold in fierce competition for the prize?
• Elf – Still number one on my daughter’s list! Personally, I can only take Will Ferrell in small doses, but this is a good one.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas – And number one on my son’s list has to be this Tim Burton classic!
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Am I the only one who watches this one and thinks about my own relatives? And Dads, don’t we all have a little Clark Griswold in us?
• Die Hard – Of course it counts as a Christmas movie! So Yippee Ki Yay and Merry Christmas!

Crapping Rainbows: TV and the New Normal

(Forgive my crass title, but do understand that the expression I was actually thinking of is worse. And of course, forgive my sarcasm. And understand that this is SATIRE! Those of you who are easily offended might want to skip this one altogether.)

I think I’ll write a screenplay for a new television show. I already know the formula that works these days. I won’t even have to come up with a clever story. It’s all about the characters.

The main one will obviously be a POC. (Because everyone knows all white people are Evil!) And a woman. #metoo right? And of course, she’ll be a lesbian, (“not that there’s anything wrong with that” according to Seinfeld). Or wait, maybe she needs to be trans? And if so, she’ll have to be played by a trans actor. Actress? Actor? Transactor? Transformer?

Her (His?) friends will naturally have to fully represent the entire LBGTQABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ community. I know the cast is getting rather large, but don’t worry, we’ll find a way to squeeze in a few Muslim characters and some illegal aliens, I mean, undocumented citizens. The setting will be a small town in Anywhere, USA, because everyone knows this is the new normal. If IRL, you don’t live in a place like this, you have probably grown up in one of those White Supremacist settlements that are located in all those Red states that voted for Trump.

Not having a story doesn’t matter. All the characters are just going to hang out and talk trash about our country and how awful we are as a nation. And of course, they will all have portraits of President Obama hanging on the walls (maybe that hilarious one of him sitting in a field of flowers), because those were the glory days, the good old days when everyone believed in global warming and protecting the environment was more important than the millions of people out of work because of the all the oppressive regulations on various industries.

That’s okay though, because none of our characters need jobs anyway. They’ll all be too busy attending protests so they can scream and holler and bully anyone and everyone who disagrees with their beliefs. (The loving and tolerant left, LOL)

I guess I started thinking about TV shows after I read an article recently that proclaimed The Good Place to be the best show on television. God help us all if that’s true! I watched the pilot episode (out of curiosity) and although there were some humorous moments, the whole premise is offensive in many ways. For a show about heaven, most Christians would find it very un-Biblical, but then anything out of Hollywood these days will always have a decidedly Leftist world view.

First, the basic idea of a point system as a method of earning your way into the good place is entirely contrary to the teachings of the New Testament. (Not that it wouldn’t make the world a better place if people actually believed this.) Second, the establishment of cute little villages, run by angels? I guess, we’re supposed to think that’s what the Ted Danson character is. And our perfect soulmate is waiting for us there? Because even in heaven, it’s all about hooking up, right?

And of course, the whole plot hangs on our understanding that God occasionally makes mistakes which explains how our main character accidentally ends up in the wrong place. So, while it may be funny imagining heaven as this perfect little place and we might get a few laughs watching an average sinner wandering around trying to fit in, it’s all nonsense. And wouldn’t you know it, there was a lesbian couple and male gay couple, because according to the Left, even in heaven, that’s the new normal.

(The inspiration for this bit of satire is a comment I recently heard from Rush Limbaugh. He noted that even though statistics show that less than ten percent of Americans identify as homosexual, the average movie or TV show these days would have you believe that half the population is gay. The transgender population is less than a third of one percent, but Hollywood is doing their best to convince us that there’s one on every corner. Honestly, I don’t mind the inclusion of any particular character representing any particular group, but when it’s so obviously forced as part of a political agenda, it offends me. And being offended really is the new normal, right?)

A Walk Through Bethlehem 2018

Another year and another Christmas program come and gone! I’ve done many over the years and it always helps me to get into the Christmas spirit. The big community parade is still coming, but with the kids all grown the yearly arrival of Santa is a little less exciting. Still it’s another big event for our small town. Another sign that Christmas is upon us!

It’s almost time, ready or not! So go listen to some Christmas songs or check out the newest holiday movies, drink some hot chocolate or eggnog and get mentally prepared for the coming weeks. And don’t forget the true reason for the season.

  

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 King James Version (KJV)

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Every year my church puts together a huge event for Christmas called “A Walk Through Bethlehem.” For many years, I have participated as a member of the choir. Sometimes we are at the front, entertaining the crowds as they wait to enter our village and learn about the birth of Christ. Other years, we are at the end singing our Christmas songs while the crowds drink wassail and hot chocolate, eat cookies, and contemplate their experience. Either way, we perform our set of ten to twelve songs and do our part to make it a special and festive event.

Inside the village, Roman guards usher you along as you pay your taxes (not really), complete your census form, and then wander through the shops and tents of the common people. As you sample the food and crafts of a typical Judean village, you can warm yourself by an open fire or get close enough to pet one of several live animals. On the way out, look for a very special newborn and listen to his story. It’s a good one.

Each night, I watched a multitude of youngsters walking around showing off their brand new children’s Bibles and a variety of handcrafted items they had picked up on their walk. Everyone was smiling and I was glad to be a part of such a great Christmas tradition. By the end of the first evening, we were tired and hoarse and wondering how we were going to make it through the next two nights, but still, it’s almost Christmas and I can hardly wait!