HAPPY NEW YEAR!
December 31, 2005
May 2005 be the best year of your life, be you young or old!
Health, prosperity, and a new appreciation for LIFE and the One who sustains it!
MY TOP NEWS EVENT FOR 2004
December 31, 2005
As the last few hours of 2005 tick down, most will say that 2004 is a year that most will remember for a wide range of reasons: a mixture of good and bad.
Of course fresh on or memories is the awesome devastation from the tsunmi in Southeast Asia. We’ll never know the exact number of dead but it’s safe to say it will be in the 150-250,000 range, though some estimates go as high as 400,000.
However, for me the # 1 news event was a sad commentary on our citizenry- the incredible political hate that marked the entire year. The infamous polarization of our nation into red and blue states over simplifies the intense Bush-bashing that was the focal point. With so much of the press anti-Bush, it’s a miracle that he won. And we’ve got four more years of it!
Bush haters were quick to nail Bush for not making a public statement until 72 hours after the event, and then for only initially promising $35 million. They have not been heard of since we’ve upped that total to $350 million. Suffice it to say we’ll see more of Bush-bashing 2004 in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Maybe a miracle can still happen. Maybe we could become civil again about our political beliefs, and not make them so personal. Maybe that should be at the top of our New Year’s resolution list.
THE VERDICT IS NOW IN!
December 30, 2005
No more guessing. The Dow ended up the year in the RED. The Nasdaq and S&P500 were barely in the green. And my earlier comment on the inverted yield curve flat-lined as we ended the year, after having spread further apart earlier. Continue Reading »
FORTY EIGHT HOURS TO GO?
December 29, 2005
I’ve been reminded of an interesting phenomenon in the last few weeks: our pre-occupation with our schedules. There’s nothing wrong with planning, setting goals, and establishing expectations; however, when we fall under the assumption that life is an automatic guarantee, we’re headed for trouble.
As we count down the clock to New Year’s Day, we assume we have a month left, a week left, and now 48 hours left in this year before we kick off the New Year. Yes, there are forty eight hours until 2005 comes into reality, but we may not have forty eight hours.
Something like 100,000 people headed to the beach four days ago to enjoy some sunshine and relaxation. Others took a stroll on the beach to think about life. Literally hundreds of thousands of people thought the day was just beginning when in actuality, it was about to end: as they knew it.
In seconds, problems that were thought to be big suddenly evaporated. All those irritants were no longer filling the minds of the disgruntled. For those that have been left behind, life now is altered forever.
In my own part of the world, a co-worker that I thought I’d share years is here no longer: life has ended. A woman I prayed for in Philadelphia has just died. Another man I’ve been praying for in San Antonio has but days or hours to live.
So, count down the days, weeks, or months until something you want to happen is to occur, but treat each day as if it were your last: it could be. And if it is not, you’ll certainly enjoy those days better anyway.
WHAT’S UP WITH THIS YIELD CURVE?
December 29, 2005
As I start thinking about what 2006 will look like, contemplate my navel, peer into my crystal ball, ponder the alignment of the stars, and check the direction of the wind, I can’t help but also look at the yield curve. Continue Reading »
STAGGERING & UNIMAGINATIVE
December 28, 2005
How long have we read day after day from the liberal press about the three U.S. soldiers that were killed in Mosul, the fourteen Iraqi police who were shot, the six civilians that were killed by a suicide bomber, and on and on. And then we have the tsunami in Southeast Asia where the latest death toll is 52,000 and counting.
I am again reminded of the philosopher who said, “An individuals death, or even a few is a tragedy, while great numbers of people killed is just a statistic.” Who can fathom, understand what has happened in Southeast Asia?
When the news broke early Sunday morning, the first report said dozens were killed. The numbers were later raised to 6,000, then 12,000, then 22,000, then 33,000, then 44,000, and the latest numbers as I write Tuesday afternoon are at 52,000! Statistics- unless you are there.
More than 27,000 killed in Sumatra, 10,000 in Meulaboh alone, and closing in on 20,000 in Sri Lanka. Eleven nations have felt the impact and devastation of an earthquake that shook our planet and moved islands dozens of feet from their original location. Incredible power.
What will the final statistic be? God only knows. It’s way beyond my imagination; however, some experts say the toll could reach 75,000 with another 75,000 dying from malaria and other diseases caused by rotting corpses and contaminated water.
In America, we have insurance and a host of governmental agencies to assist us. In the majority of the areas affected by the tsunami, they not only don’t have those things to fall back on, they have little hope as well. Who could have imagined?
GODS & THEN……… MORE GODS!
December 27, 2005
The god’s have spoken! At least that is what one native from Malaysia said after the 9.0 earth quake shook the ocean floors, and sent a tsunami onto the shores of a half dozen nations, killing what will eventaully turn out to be around 50-60,000 people (my estimate).
Why is it that when a natural disaster hits, we call it, “An Act Of God”. Of course when we get lucky, win the lottery, find a fortune, or enrich ourselves, it has nothing to do with god.
But in these days, we find there are lots of gods making their “will” known. On Monday we heard from Osama bin Laden, who thinks he is a god. You see he speaks for the world of all Muslims. And, to every person who is NOT a Muslim, you better convert or off with your head (tough love, baby).
Monday, he PROCLAIMED that every person who VOTES in the January election in Iraq is an INFIDEL! Now, WHO is HE that he can make such judgments? Oh yes I forgot, he’s god! And on Monday, he also proclaimed that he was setting up an under shepherd of Iraq: Abu Musb al-Zarqawi!
Okay, you guys go ahead and give credit to God for the bad things, and even proclaim yourself as THE god. As for me, I’ll pray to MY God that He has mercy on you. I’ll pray to the ONLY God that has and can forgive me. I’ll pray to JESUS who is the only MAN that I know of that loves me enough to DIE for me!
THE BATTLE TO THE END (2005)
December 27, 2005
It sure is a good thing that the holiday sales were up nearly 5%. Can you imagine how bad the stock market would have responded if sales were negative? Continue Reading »
LET THE DRAW-DOWNS BEGIN….
December 25, 2005
And let’s not have anyone but the field commanders take the credit for it. The bloated 160,000+ troops to secure the national election in Iraq, is already being pulled back to the standard line of 138,000; however, Rumsfled has said that there will be another 7,000 reductions beyong that- almost immediately. Continue Reading »
THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
December 25, 2005
That new LCD 42 inch TV that you bought for Christmas now sells for $300 less; however, everything sells for LESS after Christmas, so don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. The newspapers are full of 50-70% off sales. Welcome to the season that was a retailers flop!
Count on the lines being long and the tempers short at the exchange counters. What retailer likes to cancel a sale or tie up employees while exchanging goods? Ahh, but that’s part of the business isn’t it.
There is a way to release the tension though: it’s called MOVIES. Hollywood has been a bust in 2005, but with a week to go, I can recommend at least a couple of movies that won’t waste your time.
Did I mention I can’t stand the movie critics? They never back a good movie. The follow up, Meet The Fockers, was trashed by the critics but I hurt my ‘insides’ laughing non-stop. Whoever wrote the script needs to be nominated for an Oscar.
The Flight Of The Phoenix will turn a nice profit, partly because there’s only one big name actor involved, and partly because it’s a low budget film, but one many are choosing to see. The Kranks and Spanglish are also on my agenda- even though both have been trashed by the critics. It has me tense with emotion several places.
But, on the DAY afer Christmas, I am going to continue celebrating and sharing presents with family- after I attend church and listen to what my wife has to say (always a good thing for husbands to do- listen to our wives). 
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
December 24, 2005
I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. Having spent Christmas Eve in Sugarland, snow did abound. We even rolled up a small snowman. As of midnight though, the North side of town was but cold and dry. What will Christmas Day bring? We shll see. Regardless, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH TODAY
December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas and all that stuff, but mainly, I hope you are able to toast to His life! He was born, He did live, and He still does!
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
December 23, 2005
And all throughout the world, the most radical Muslim terrorists were gathering in Iraq: not a Democrat was withholding their scorn of Rumsfeld. Bush and his policies were hung in effigacy in every liberal newspaper, in hopes that an uprising would soon be theirs.
Michael Moore and Barbara Streisand were all snug in their beds, hoping the Academy would nominate Farenheit 9-11 for Best Picture. And I with my laptop and Santa Ema in hand, have settled down for the night, praying that my plants that are covered won’t die in the first hard freeze.
When out of nowhere I couldn’t believe what I had just heard: Rumsfeld was in Mosul visiting the troops, and Bush had renominated the 20 Judges that were turned down in the first four years. So, away to the internet I flew to see if it were true: was it just the bloggers, or had it really happened as I had heard?
Now Kerry, now Kennedy, now Bill and Hillary. On Dean, on McCauliff, on Biden and John Edwards. Let’s retake the White House in 2008 and dash away, dash away all Republicans in sight.
But then I heard in my Spirit, from the roof top it seemed, came a voice as deep as the sea. And in a vision, just for a moment, I saw one I’d seen before.
It looked like an angel in the form of a man. And as the vision faded I seemed to hear Him say, Merry Christmas my children. And remember that all good gifts are from your father who is in heaven (Eph. 4:8).
And don’t worry, no one will ever be able to take me out of Christmas!
JUST ONE WEEK TO GO!
December 23, 2005
Here we are just a week away from ending the year 2005 and I want to examine it economically, financially. Continue Reading »
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