Month: December 2010

Merry Christmas

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and for the first time in a long time, I’ve had time to stop and think.

No real deep thoughts. Just another question: What’s your Christmas wish? I’m somewhat embarrassed to say that in my family, it’s difficult to come up with Christmas gift ideas or requests, because we all have so much, and have no material needs, and few unfulfilled wants.

I have my family together for Christmas, which is a blessing that I don’t think I fully appreciate since I’ve been blessed enough to only miss one Christmas (1984) with family. My prayers are with our servicemembers who are away from family, particularly those who are in harm’s way serving their nation. I pray that God will keep them safe, and bring them home soon as he brings the current conflicts to honorable conclusions.

More than anything, I pray for the Christmas spirit to permeate the next 11 1/2 months. I enjoy this time of year, when people become more sensitive to the needs of one another, and more interested in the good and honorable things of life.

I wish we could live out Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

“Think” about such things is a weak translation of the Greek; it more accurately means to ponder or reason; in other words, dwell on them and let these things permeate your thoughts and your way of living. That’s my Christmas wish…that I can dwell on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. I spend way too much time dwelling on whatever is negative, whatever is wrong, whatever ticks me off. I pray that I can transform my thinking this coming year, and that the Christmas spirit that fills our hearts this time of year can carry throughout the coming year (and every year thereafter).

God bless you all on this Christmas day.

"We have arrived at the moment of truth…"

19 intelligent, experienced leaders from US government and industry spent 8 months studying the current US economic situation for 8 months with a a mandate to “identify to the President policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run.” More specifically, The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform was tasked to produce a plan to balance the Federal budget by 2015, and to address the long term growing gap between revenue and expenditures of the Federal government.

Their report is 59 pages long. It’s not overly complicated, and it’s not a cure-all, but it is a worthwhile read for EVERY American. Too many of us are standing around, wringing our hands, attending rallies, and ranting on blogs, but not really doing anything to educate ourselves on the problem or possible solutions.

They have some radical recommendations. They call for shared sacrifice. Guess what? They recognize that we’re not going to be able to balance the budget on the backs of “the other guys”. We all get to share in the pain.

I like it. Some smart people put aside self-interests, and came up with some concrete proposals. Unfortunately, it seems just in the short time since their report has been published, very little has been taken seriously. I’m afraid we’re going to see this one dry up and blow away, and we’ll be in a deeper hole in 5 years.

Have you read it? What are your thoughts? What are you willing to give up, or are you hoping that everybody else sacrifices so you don’t have to?