As everyone else is posting a happy new year or what happened in 2011 I have decided to forgo the usual tradition and go straight to the heart of America.  Actually I don't go directly to it I am in total and complete agreement of a woman I don't even know.  She goes directly to the heart of America.  Her name is Froma Harrop and she is an editorial writer for Creators Syndicate.  I seldom read our Columbus Dispatch liberal rag let alone spend a dollar for it however, I came across a copy the other day while eating breakfast and just happened to read her article.

The title of the article," Middle class aided it own decline". is what grabbed my attention. Why?  I have been saying that for the last 20 years.  I have told my family and friends and children and anyone else who would listen middle class America has been writing a check it's ass can't cash.  Bigger homes than necessary, bigger cars than necessary, more TV's in the house than Bibles.  My personal belief is more TV's have led to the breakdown of the middle class family unit. I also believe they have greatly contributed to the "me" generation since it's not necessary to learn to share or compromise.  I have 8 grandchildren.  One household has two children in it.  There are 3 X Boxes in the home and 4 TV's.  I'm not happy with the situation by I can't control a 40 year old parent.  However...........I believe this is typical as I hear from the young people I work with all the time their houses are similar.

Ms. Harrop names such things are young girls at the mall who are more interested in showing cleavage than Barbie dolls, who in my opinion, show too much cleavage to start with. She points out how the over indulgence of keeping ahead of the Jones has caused the housing bubble and many other interesting tidbits that shows middle America blew it themselves!  You can't blame this on Bush.  

For this telling it like it is article clik here.

God Bless America

Pops

Prayer Request

As most of you know I lost my lovely wife to Cancer nearly 3 years ago.  During her valiant 6 month fight there was one woman who was there for her at every step of the way.  This was my Pastor's wife, Linda.  She visited the house and the hospital and along with Pastor was the first to arrive at the home when my Gretchen passed away.  Approximately 2 months after Gretchen passed away on a Sunday morning Pastor grabbed me as I was entering the church.  He escorted me to a quiet corner of the church and there told me his wife, Linda, had breast cancer.  For the first time in my life I saw fear in a man's eyes.  I knew exactly what he was going through and couldn't help.  He told me he wanted me to be the first before he told the congregation and this has bonded us ever since.

We have talked and I have listened while he and Linda fought the breast cancer with surgery, chemo and radiation.  We thought that through the Grace of God we had it whipped.  Needless to say I was greatly saddened when my good friend and Pastor called early Monday morning to tell me the cancer has spread to Linda's bones.  She has several areas throughout her body where the cancer has been detected.  Prognosis a this time I don't know.  I only know this woman was a rock for me and Gretchen and all the while she was there consoling us the vicious demon was coursing through her body.

These things as we all know are God's will and for what reason it is not for us to question.  For this reason I am asking any and all readers of this post to please pass this along to your friends and please prayer for Linda.She is a most wonderful and good Christian woman as I know that walks the face of this earth.

God Bless you all,

Pops

Is the Christmas Spirit DEAD!

My apologies to anyone who has stopped by for the last couple weeks expecting something profound however.....I went back to the hospital for a week due to an infection in my incision.  

Is the Christmas Spirit DEAD?  I sometimes wonder.  I drive down the road at night and see blow up snowmen, Santa Claus' and Snoopy.  Would someone please tell me what in the world Snoopy has to do with the birth of Christ.  I have read the story and find no mention of a dog anywhere in it.  I went for some frozen yogurt this evening and was as close as I want to be in an accident.  The drive of the other vehicle was left of center by about 1/2 a car and just glared at me like it would have been my fault.  I have decried the lack of Nativity scenes in not only the Home Depot where I work but at other major retail outlets.  I have cited the number of plain decorated houses vs the number of Nativity scenes in the front yards.  The plain houses outnumber by about 25 to 1.

Even in the shopping malls and stores where people are supposed to be purchasing gifts to represent the give giving of the Wise me to the baby Jesus there is pushing and shoving, rudeness and downright hostility towards their fellow man.  I watch the news or read the paper and there is some atheist trying to have the Nativity Scene removed from some public square or right of way.  Pardon my french by if you don't believe in God why the hell to you care!  I call on the phone to a company for something and after 10 prompts get a real person who may or may not answer my question.  They end the conversation with Happy Holidays.  I say BS and tell them Merry Christmas!  After all it is or at least one time about the birth of God's Holy Son, Jesus Christ.........wasn't it?  I just don't understand anymore.  Perhaps I am just getting old, Is the Christmas Spirit DEAD?

Merry Christmas to all and God Bless

Pops