Chuck’s World

London has already celebrated with much splendor and the end of the year is drawing near for the United States. For our family we decided to just celebrate the night quietly together. I guess this kind of signifies the type of year we have had. It has been a good year for us. Some important goals have been met or or at least a lot of progress has been made. However, it has been tiring and almost chaotic at times. That’s why, when it came down to deciding what to do, we took the route some would call boring. We went out to eat as a family, came home, turned on the TV to wait for the ball in Times Square to drop and are playing the game of Life. Maybe not the choice for most, but it is just what we wanted and probably needed. We are closer than a lot of families I think. The four of us almost always prefer to be together rather than apart. Fortunately, some of the trials over the last few years have brought us closer together, when they very well could have driven us apart. I guess there really is a silver lining in every cloud.

We still have a lot to overcome and accomplish in 2008 and beyond, but I am going into the New Year knowing I am truly blessed. I have my God, my family and some very close friends.
It took me almost as long as George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, but I think I have finally realized what a “rich” man I really am.

Christmas 2003

Christmas 2004

Christmas 2005

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2007

I just wanted to say thanks again for a wonderful Christmas! We really had a great time! Thanks for all that you did for us and for your patience while we ran you around everywhere. We wore ourselves out and I am sure we did the same to you, but we had a grand time! Hopefully, you are now quietly recovering.

Debbie and I are blessed to have two wonderful sets of parents. A lot of people in this world can’t say that. I am glad we can.

Well, now I really am going to bed…

Hope you are enjoying your new Mac!

Love you both!

Well, today I got what I wanted. Rest and accomplishing very little. We all slept late, late for us anyway. Hunter and I got up at 8:30, Deb sometime later and Brittany slept till 11:00. Go girl! I wish I could have slept that long, but I will take 8:30. The rest of the day we just kind of bummed around the house. We did go pickup Coco, our dog. I think he was really glad to be home. He is resting on the couch now.

We did manage to take a gift card and go to Biaggi’s, a new Italian restaurant. We just didn’t make it to the grocery store. After our trip to Nana and PawPaw’s, the cupboard was bare. It was either the Walmart to get groceries or Biaggi’s! Biaggi’s won!

Well, off to bed soon for more sleep. Hard to believe this year is almost over.

I wonder what 2008 will bring…

Well, this afternoon we were watching TV and all of a sudden the power to our receiver started going on and off. First it was just every few minutes and then it was constant. After taking it all apart and resetting everything, I have come to the conclusion that the board has shorted out somehow. I am going to play with it some more, but I think it is gone. It is not worth taking in for repair. It would cost more than the unit is worth because of how old it is.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a video and sound fanatic. One day I hope to own an HD system and I guess I will just have to add this to the list of things to save for when that day comes. For now it’s back to the tiny little TV speakers and cables everywhere. At least I was able to figure out a way to reroute most everything to our TV.

In the scheme of things and with the “real” problems people are going through, this is not a huge deal. However, it is definitely a bummer.

Oh well…

Well, we made it back to our home today. We had a great Christmas in the Carolinas. We and the kids enjoyed our time with Nana and PawPaw. Thanks so much to them for all they did. We really did appreciate all the love and hospitality. It will be a Christmas to remember for sure. It was worth the 20 hours on the road, though I must say I am tired of seeing the inside of that SUV! As Brittany said when she got out, ” I think my butt is flat!”

A friend suggested it would be bittersweet coming home and she was right. We had a grand time and mom and dad will be missed, but I must say I am glad to be home and getting ready for my bed. There is just something to be said for sleeping in “your own” bed. I am sure Nana and PawPaw will enjoy the peace and quiet also. There wasn’t much of that while we were there. I am sure with all the running around we did, they feel like they just got back from a Red Cross deployment. Maybe they can get some rest now!

Well, off to bed. I hope we all sleep late…Please God, let us ALL sleep late!

Tonight we decided to get out and see the town, McAdenville, where most everyone participates in decorating for Christmas.

They may be growing up, but they still want to get up at 4 a.m.!

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

by Renee Swope

“Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:36 (NIV)

The holiday season should be a time of cheer. For some, however, it can be lonely and depressing. While the days leading up to Christmas should be filled with peace, joy, and hope, sadness can hover over like clouds on a rainy day. Instead of being surrounded by family, some are surrounded by the darkness of their past mistakes and failures. I wonder if it is because we all have a tendency to define ourselves by what we’ve done or didn’t do.

It’s easy to label ourselves by our past mistakes and wear these labels as if they were truth: No Good, Failure; Unfaithful; Unfit Parent; Liar; Gossip; Addict; Bitter.

The Bible tells us “as a man [or woman] thinks so he/she becomes.” Therefore, if you want to live an unhealthy life, you can. If you want to punish yourself, you will. However, being self-destructive is not God’s plan for your life. In fact, to think this way is to see yourself outside of God’s saving grace.

That’s why the Christmas season offers such hope. God gave each of us what we needed most—a Savior to save us from ourselves. The first step to putting your past behind you and moving forward with a bright and hopeful future is to allow Christ to forgive you and make heaven your future home.

You’ll find it comforting to know that you are not alone in your mistakes. The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means that there is not one perfect person in the entire world. We have all made wrong turns. I know I’ve made my share. No matter how hard we try to do right, we can’t. So God gave His only Son as payment for our sins. In other words, Christ paid our debt. This payment is a gift from God, which He freely offers to you and me.

The awesome thing is that you or I don’t have to earn this gift – we just receive it through faith. Through Christ’s death on the cross God says, “The debt for your sins are paid in full.”

All you and I have to do to receive His forgiveness is to agree with God about our sins. You might say something like this: Yes, God, I have made many wrong choices. I’ve done things I knew I should not do. And I’ve done things that I now realize were wrong. Today, I receive Your free gift of forgiveness for all the wrongs I have done, and I accept heaven as my eternal home. Cleanse me and change my life. Fill me with Your love, hope, joy, and peace. Thank you Jesus, for making my forgiveness possible.

If you sincerely mean what you’ve confessed, then you have been forgiven. Your slate is clean. God remembers your sins no more. It’s as if they never were there. That’s the hope of Christmas and the open doorway to peace!

The next thing you must do is forgive yourself, and forgive others who have hurt you. If you continue to define yourself as a loser or a victim, and the one who hurt you as a villain, then you will not be free.

Unforgiveness keeps us bound and unable to grow. It also warps our perspective. Like looking in the rear view mirror of a car - unforgiveness makes things appear larger than they really are. When you and I make that hurt or mistake bigger than what it is, we give it power to control us.

Just think …this could be the first Christmas where you experience real peace, joy, and forgiveness. It could be the first Christmas you are free to live with hope! It’s why Christ was born…to die and set you free.

Dear Lord, I am a sinner. I believe You died for me and rose from the grave to purchase my place in heaven. Come into my life and take control. Forgive all my sin and help me to forgive others. I’m now turning from my sin and trusting You alone for my salvation. Fill me with Your love, hope and peace in Jesus’ Name, Amen.