t’s been almost 7 years since I started “blogging” about politics. It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing my newsletter that long!
I want to take this moment to thank you for reading & sharing my work, allowing me to post my thoughts & opinions and engaging me in discussion and debate. I particularly want to thank those of you who regularly take time out of your busy schedule to reach out to me by email or text or regular mail to check in, have a discussion or support my work. Every time I open a message from one of you - my heart sings. Truly.
I am blessed by the many new friends I’ve made right here over the past 7 years. You know who you are and what you mean to me!
My dad always told me that I don’t have the right to debate any topic until I have done my homework and due diligence - so that’s what I do and then I share my research with you. Those who engage with me (even those who argue with me) have taught me a lot - and have made me a much stronger, wiser and more patient person. I am blessed!
Anyway, in that spirit, I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for all of you. I don’t know how I would have navigated this past year without you! Like Charlie Kirk said: “What a year. There will never be another year like 2024. Our kids won't believe us when we tell them what happened.”
Now, before I close, I want to share one more thing.
In 7 years, I have never lost readers except when I post about two things. Like clockwork, I always lose readers when I post negative things about the Koch Libertarian Party - like I did earlier this week - and I always lose readers when I post about my faith in, and love for, Jesus Christ.
It seems strange to me that is where the red line is for some folks - they love Libertarians but don’t like Jesus? - but so be it. So, I expect to lose some readers by posting the following - and I don’t care. I’ve been itching to say this for a long while - so here goes!
Denzel’s courage and faith really inspired me to speak out this Christmas:
Denzel Washington just got baptized and licensed as a minister at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in Harlem, New York. He said he is finally free. Hallelujah! I know how he feels.
“In one week, I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here. If God can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.
Things I said about God when I was a little boy, just reciting them in church along with everybody else. I know now, God is real. God is love. God is the only way. God is the true way. God blesses. It’s my job to lift God up, to give Him praise, to make sure that anyone and everyone I speak to the rest of my life understands that He is responsible for me.
When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my Lord and savior. I’m unafraid. I don’t care what anyone thinks.
See, talking about the fear part of it—you can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town. It’s not talked about in Hollywood. It’s not talked about. It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe. I’m free now."
Amen!
How cool is that!?! I wrote this poem to remind me of what Christmas really means:
One radiant night
A guiding star led the way
The Light of the World
Was born on Christmas Day
The world was filled with love
Shined into the darkness from up above
Angels praised his Holy Name
For a sinful world, redemption came
His ways are good
His ways are true
It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me and you
Merry Christmas!
On Christmas Eve, I went to a candlelight service (one of my favorite things to do) and the young pastor there reminded me of a pastor from my youth. There was such joy in the room. Real joy - not fake joy.
Before we lit the candles and passed on the flame to the person next to us, the pastor talked about how, when he was a young child, he was in awe over the fact that he could hold a candle in his hand with a flame representing the Light of the World. He felt it was such a gift that he was entrusted with this tiny portable package of God's creation. I still feel that way today. We have truly been given a great gift. Pass it on!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! I love you all!
You can find my most of my old posts at my website here.