ROCKY BALBOA-

Okay, so it's confession time for me again...

ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY!

I confessed to being addicted to a few of the reality shows, I'm happy to confess my love for Rocky Balboa. Yeah, I know he's only a character in a fictional movie, somewhere deep down. Way deep. Want a motivational movie to watch, go see, "Rocky Balboa."

I've enjoyed every Rocky movie. Yes, I like Sylvester Stallone as an actor, but it's Rocky whom I love. I heard a couple of years ago that another Rocky was coming, and I've been patiently waiting ever since. I can't express to you how excited I was when I heard the first hint that the movie was coming out this year. I didn't need anyone to tell me that it was going to be a good movie...I just knew it. Okay, so Rocky V wasn't so hot, but I still liked it.

So why is it worth an entry in my blog? Well, I mention missing socks etc, so that's not really too impressive, is it? Well, it's worth mentioning because it is an inspiring story of hope of overcoming great odds to win the good fight (and I don't mean just in the ring.) It's about not quitting when things get tough. I'm trying to think of the great speeches from good ole Rocky, but can't remember exact wording, but I gotta tell ya, when Rocky spoke, it was like he was talking to each and every one of us. One of his comments (paraphrasing of course):
"It's not about how many hits you make; it's about how many hits you can take and still make it." Okay it was something like that. Simple. But man, it hit home. Okay so he said better stuff, I just can't remember it all, but bottom line the message is simple. You want something, nobody's going to get it for you, and no one has the right to tell you that you can't go after your dream. You've got to work hard for what you want to achieve. And what I love about this movie is that Rocky doesn't win the actual fight in the ring, but he won so much more...respect for a job well done and self-respect knowing that he didn't give up on his goal, his dream. That's it, that's what I like the most: RESPECT...today's society seems to have lost respect to foundamental principles, walking away from giving and focusing more on taking. Or by thinking that someone owes us something for nothing. I don't know maybe I'm just getting old...I'm starting to sound like someone even older than I am.

Maybe that's not so bad.

Okay, I'm done...for now.

Merry Christmas!

How's everyone doing? Five more days until Christmas!! The countdown begins!!

Do you have your Christmas shopping done? If you think you have it all done, do you really? How about those stocking stuffers? Okay you have the kids done, right? Hope so. How about your parents, grandparents, boss, colleague, sunday school teacher, pastor, oh and don't forget your spouse, dog? Didn't mean to list spouse by dog...just the way it came out of the ole brain. I don't even own a dog. The list could go on and on. Have I depressed you yet? Every time I go to the store, I think of something else that I need to buy and buy something else that I didn't even have on the list. How is that?

Do you have the Christmas tree up and decorated? Is your house all decked out with decorations? How about those Christmas lights on the house, bushes and anywhere else you can think of? Oh yeah, how about one of those new snow globes for the lawn? (now those are cool...get the one with Winnie-The-Pooh! My fav!) I have one pine tree decorated outside, is that enough? How about the Christmas cards? Buy those Christmas stamps? Have the cards all been sent out?

How about groceries for Christmas dinner? Oh, I see, you're waiting until the craziest weekend of the year to go grocery shopping, like myself. For you bakers out there, are the Christmas cookies baked? How about the fudge? Oh I think I can smell them now. I made about four patches of cookies in hopes that one batch wouldn't be under-baked (is that a word?) or burned. I digress. So, what else is there?

Oh my goodness, how can I forget. Do you have all of your presents WRAPPED? You're good if you have that done. I'll give you a tip...wrap gifts when you buy them, and it is a much better experience. Even when I do this, I'm still wrapping a day before Christmas, why is that? I don't even want to talk about getting the house clean for family & friends. That list is wayyyyy too long to list here.

And isn't it interesting that out of all the presents we buy for those we love and respect, we don't even give to the one who Christmas is all about? I know...Jesus doesn't want any gifts from his children, right? Or does he?

Could he want to see a little more patience from his children as they rush thru the stores? Could he want his children to give just a little bit more to those in need? Could he want just ten darn minutes of our time daily to praise his name, pray and/or spend time doing devotions? Hmmm...I wonder, what else could he want?

But it's hard, I say to myself. I know that God speaks to me as I open up The Word and pray to him, yet during the time of the year when deep down I am the most thankful, for some reason, at times, I feel the furthest away from my heavenly Father. I can't even use the excuse that I'm just too busy. This season has been much more laid back than years past. I find time for other things, but when it comes to spending time with God, I am unfocused. It's embarrassing to admit, but that's the truth. There are times when I feel close to my Lord because I pray every day, but is that for Him or for me? What am I doing for Him?

I'm going to try hard to go to The Word, work on devotions and think about ways to help others. I ask myself to focus my overday routine and my writing projects, why not this, which is much more important? During this holiday time, shouldn't we actually celebrate the true reason for the season and give our Lord and Savior the best Christmas present ever? I think so.

I encourage you, as well as myself, to remember to praise his Holy Name and find ways to reach out to Him and His people during this busy holiday season. May God bless you and yours.

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S!!