“Don’t cry because it’s over – smile because it happened.”

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

From an email: Read this one and think about it carefully!!

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of a pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime. 

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers do that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks are. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8. 

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it.
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time. 

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them. 

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again. 

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them. 

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. 

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make the difference. 

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas", that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary – especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. 

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity that believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you. 

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. 

Don't forget: I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember: 

I LOVE YOU, JESUS

News around LHS & LISD
By Charles Keaton

Christmas is upon us whether we’re ready or not! Semester test are in progress and everyone at LISD is looking forward to Christmas break. We return on January 7, 2008.

LHS students collected and donated over 2000 cans of food to local charities. Students are really great when it comes to taking care of their own hometown folks.

Basketball is in full swing. The girls start district play on Jan. 4 against Abernathy and the boys will begin district play Jan. 11 against Floydada.

Junior High Special Ed teacher Jamie Gardner has resigned and will be going to work in Dalhart where her husband, Kerry, has been transferred. She is being replaced by Cailey Stoerner, wife of Heath class of ’01. We wish Jamie the best and look forward to having Cailey as part of the Longhorn faculty and family.

Tech Talk
By Charles Keaton

With the Holiday season upon us, I thought some of you with grand kids and little children could use some useful sites that will help you get letters from Santa as well as track Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve.

Need a letter from Santa, personalized for your child, try these Free Letters from Santa sites: http://www.freelettersfromsantaclaus.com/ or http://www.christmaslettertips.com/free_printable_santa_letters.htm.

Also, for tracking Santa on Christmas Eve go to: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.htm. You can go to this site in the next few days and play some games as well as look for the busiest shop at the North Pole. I hope these three sites will make the holidays even more enjoyable.

I hope all of you are ready for the college football bowl season. I intend to watch as many as possible (or at least what my wife will let me). Last night’s game in San Diego saw Utah defeat Navy 35-32. It looks like there’s going to be a lot of good games. The one I’m looking forward to the most, of course, is the Gator Bowl featuring “my” Texas Tech Red Raiders and the University of Virginia. My youngest daughter, Kami class of ’06, will be attending as part of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland. She’s not really looking forward to the 27 hour bus ride but she is excited to be going to the bowl game and all the things that they will be involved in. The Gator Bowl is on Jan. 1 with a 1 PM EST kickoff on CBS. Even if you are not a Tech fan, a least someone from LHS is there representing Lockney.

Another one of my new favorite add-ons for Firefox is ChromaTabs. It tints the browser tabs with a color specific to the website loaded. This helps you identify tab contents based on a distinct visual cue. Of course another aide to help improve the tabbed browsing experience is the Tab Mix Plus. It enhances the tab browsing capabilities with features such as duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, undo closed tabs and windows and much more. To download Firefox go to www.mozilla.com and to get add-ons for Firefox go to addons.mozilla.org. As I said last time, I don’t use Firefox 100% of the time but it’s what I do a majority of my browsing in.

If you have a question or you would like to share a favorite website or software product, send your information to me and I might include it in a future edition.

NOTE: The mention of the above websites and products is for informational purposes only. Use of any of the above products is at your discretion and risk. Neither Lockney ISD nor Charles Keaton will assume any liability regarding use of the above mentioned websites or products. This article is the opinion of the writer not Lockney ISD. The mention of the products and websites in this article does not constitute an endorsement by Lockney ISD.

Announcements

DEPARTURES:

Donnie Bybee, class of ‘49, passed away Dec. 5. He is survived by his wife, Vera Jo, class of ’48, a son Louie, class of ’73, two daughters, Dara, class of ’68 and Becky, class of ‘75, six grand children, four that graduated from Lockney, Bryan, class of ’98, Tyler, class of ‘2_, Matt, class of ’03 and JW, class of ’06.

Edythe Clarke passed away Dec. 5. She retired from teaching in 1986 at Lockney. She taught third and fourth grade. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, W. O. (Windy) of Lockney.

BIRTHS:

MARRIAGES:

ANNIVERSARIES of 50+ years!!!

CLASS REUNIONS:
The class of ’58 is planning a 50th reunion on April 25-26 in Lubbock. The Ashmore Inn will be the headquarters. Contact Wanda (Cox) Moore at cantonmoores@yahoo.com for more information.

The class of ’67 is planning a reunion for June 6-7 in Gruene, TX. For more information contact Cheryl (Seago) Stevens at cjstevens68@sbcglobal.net.

Begin making plans for Homecoming 2008!!

OTHER:
Robin (Carthel) Sidney, class of ’83, recently returned to Texas from LA. She now has four children, Jordan, 18, Tucker, 14 and twins Jayda and Justice 22 months.

If you have an announcement of a marriage of an alumni, the birth of a child, grandchild or great grandchild of an alumni or the departure of an alumni or their parent or siblings, send the information to me at keaton.charles@llockney.isd.tenet.edu.

I’m looking for additional Alumni Profiles, please send me a brief write up (between 250 and 260 words) for possible publication in future editions.