Number 57.

It's done; memories are carefully packed away to enjoy for a lifetime. Miranda's first Christmas with us, Braden working hard to figure out chords on a new guitar, the sound of Lego's being "sifted" by Kellen, a good book to read; Inception & Toy Story 3 (strange "BEDfellows")...house filled with laughter, love and too much good food. My 57th edition; the best one yet.

WE are the reason...

We are the reason for the season...

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us..." Rom 5.6, 8 NLT

Christmas is joyous because God's love never fails.   

Shalom.

...Times that try men's souls...

"These are the times that try men's souls" wrote Thomas Paine in his pamphlet "The American Crisis" published Dec 23, 1776; the Colonies faced the almost certain prospect of defeat in their war for indpendence.  Paine implored Americans "don't give up the fight."

The "idea of America" has been the fuel driving our resolve to be "one nation, under God, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all;"  an idea those who traveled this way before us thought to be worth fighting and dying for.  Indifference to this "big idea" is the real, the urgent threat to our liberty.