[Pippin]

I saw a post earlier mentioning Texas Cowboy.

I just wanted to say that to me he'll alway be "Cobby" to me as I was introduced to him when he was COB1.

I was sad to hear he had gone on home to the Lord, but I was happy at the same time for him.

He now feels no more sorrow or pain.

And what Cobby brought to Free Republic and to those around him was more than I can say here (Besides, it's already been said by others more eloquently)

God bless you Cobby!

Thank you for all you did for the country and Free Republic.

Pippin

[Billie]

Christmas Magic
by Pippin

Greetings! And Merry Christmas!

Well, ‘Tis the Season!

Time for snow and sleigh rides, for jingle bells and roasted chestnuts on an open fire.

Come, then, sit by the fire and put your feet up and have an eggnog with me as I talk about magic.

Not the magic like in “Harry Potter” or even “Bewitched”! I’m talking real magic! The “magic” that on a night over 2 thousand years ago in a small village in Israel, born to a young peasant girl came to become our Salvation.

As it was said many times before, God so loved the World that He sent his own beloved Son to save us all. I find it interesting that, yes, even in the 1st century, that of all the places Jesus could have been brought into the world, it would be in what is now the most troubled region in the world. I suppose it is because it is there were He was needed the most.

And now, in a time of much evil and natural and political upheavals, a time we need to remember that long ago Christmas night and to call upon and to trust God and all His promises. Because, not like human politicians, God always keeps His promises!

I am troubled by the world’s attempts to usher Jesus and God out of it’s life.

They ban God from the schools and punish those who choose to pray in public, even to say grace before each meal.

They throw judges out of office for posting the Ten Commandments in their courthouses.

Each year there seems to be an ongoing battle to bann Christmas or at least take “Christ” out of Christmas! Just who’s birthday is it anyway? Now I’m hearing that certain department stores and other stores like Wal-mart and Target are even discouraging their employees and customers fro uttering the phrase “Merry Christmas” in their stores.

WHAT!?’’

Folks, it’s time we start to reclaim our Christian heritage.

It is time to reclaim the Holiday that brings us joy and even magic. It’s time to replace the Christ-Child back to the mangers and Nativity scenes that used to dot the town squares and it’s time we take back Christmas and tell those who find that celebrating God’s most precious Gift to the world offensive or abhorrent to “Take a hike”.

The magic that is Christmas should not be extinguished nor must God’s message be ignored. We need Christmas and we need the Salvation that came with it.

May each and every one have a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May God bless you all!!!