A quick shot.

Ok. Its Monday, I'm in class and I'm missing Monday Night Football and you expect me to blog? I don't think so! :-)
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

Only in America!

I had what is called an "International Dinner": Mexican Burritos, American Apple Pie, ate it with Chinese Chopsticks and washed it down with Colombian Coffee. Only in America!
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

I have a reading problem. I love to read and my greatest fear is running out of worthwhile books to read.

Is it really going to be a "Merry Christmas" for you?

Yes, it is the day after Thanksgiving, better known as "Black Friday". Unfortunately, it also signifies the beginning of insane part of the year the world calls "The Holiday Giving Season".

Ok people, let's call it what it really is: A 30 day period where we all run around like spending idiots buying a bunch of useless stuff that is going to end up in 6 months at a bargain table at somebody's garage sale.

The really sad part is that none of us can rely afford all of this stuff we are buying for our supposed "loved ones". I mean, let's face it, the only reason we buy presents for people (outside of our kids and spouces) is that because they bought us somthing and we have to get them something in order for us not to look like an idiot and save our already messed up reputations.

Yes, we know we can't afford any of this stuff, but do you think the retailers or the TV advertisers care? Not a chance! Everytime I turn on the TV it's another commerical appealing to kids about the next generation of video games, jewerly stores that almost command you to say you love her with a 5 carat rock. Or come to our store for the best in this and get a great deal on that...I've had it!

I've had enough with the general public saying
Merry Christmas and not realizing that if it wasn't for the birth of Jesus Christ a little more then 2000 years ago and the redemptive plan of God, there'd be no reason for this season.

At the risk of sounding like Scrooge, it's not about the getting of Christmas presents, nor the decorating of the Christmas tree, it's not even about Christmas dinner either. It's deciding what you are going to do with the greatest gift of all. The gift that will never lose it's value. The gift that you will be able to keep for all eternity and no one can take away for you. The gift that was sent just for you: Jesus Christ.

I'm inviting you today to step away from the hustle and bustle of this season and take a look at what God has already given you. It's simple. All you have to do is to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart. Then, and only then, can you know the real meaning of the term "Merry Christmas".

If you would like to know more about Jesus, why He came to earth to die for your sins and what being a Child of God is all about, send me an email at Notes@GaryNickels.com

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Morning people...updates will follow.

It's the Day Before Thanksgiving...For a Turkey

You have to wonder, it being the day before Thanksgiving and all, if there are indeed a lot of turkeys out there just wondering if they are going to live to see another sunrise. Yes, granted, there are a lot of their fellow turkeys that have already walked their last mile and now are frozen, headless, carcasses proudly displayed in your grocer’s freezer.

But for the turkey that is alive now, it is a totally different story. To them, making to Thanksgiving morning is a lot like them winning the lottery. I mean think about this for a second. You are a turkey and you are in the pen with a bunch of other turkeys. The date of execution is set for tomorrow. You know that there is a good chance that either you or somebody you are sharing pen space with is not going to be here tomorrow. Everybody there in the pen is looking at each other and wondering “Who’s it going to be this year?”

The older turkeys in the pen are telling the stories about the how dumb young ones who ate like pigs and worked out to impress the lady turkeys ended up on the farmer’s wife’s platter with stuffing crammed into a body cavity because they “looked good enough to eat”.

The wiser/pen-smart turkeys have been performing a Jenny Craig and have been dieting for the past two months, losing considerable amount of body mass and then for the last three weeks, haven’t bathed so that they look skinny, stinky and the least appetizing bird in the pen.

The richer/white collar turkeys are burning up the phone lines in calls to their attorney’s to get a stay from the governor, or if you are really hooked into the corridors of power, the President himself.

Of course, there is always some nut of a turkey that spends his time walking around the pen carrying a sign that says “The End Is Near!”

Well, we really don’t know what the fate of all the turkey’s are going to be, but there is one thing I do know: The turkey I’m having for dinner tomorrow, wasn’t that lucky.

I cried out to the Lord and he heard my prayers...Thank you for being there.