NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

       A new year is fast approaching.  New Year's resolutions begin to creep into our minds.  What do we want to change about ourselves this coming year?  For believers shouldn't it be to behave more like Christ in our daily lives?  That is my daily prayer.  To become more and more like Christ knowing full well I don't have a snow balls chance of achieving it.  Should that stop me?  Not at all. Striving for something that is so righteous and might I say, necessary for our lives is never a wasted endeavor when are heart is in the right place; that being seeking to please God.  rlkeller

ATLANTIC CITY

          We went to Atlantic City last night to see the Christmas light show.  While there I never fail to see the eyes of lost people all around me, trying to be something they are not.  Young girls wearing dresses so tight that when they walk they inch up leaving very little to the imagination.  Guys with their hot babe on their arm.  What an empty existence.  Tomorrow they will wake up to the same problems they had the day before, no closer to a solution, unless they hit it big on the gaming tables.  But even that is only a temporary solution.  

       I like to go to AC to take in the sights and sounds.  The old people furiously playing their favorite slot machine with the endless hope of hitting the right combination with each push of the button.  The waitresses in the push up bras bringing mixed drinks to the patrons.  The mind numbing noises from all the machinery; bells, whirling sounds, clanging, hooting and hollering, laughing, groaning ... just some of the sounds of a casino.  I take in the scene and wonder how one would reach these people.  To preach at them is useless.  They would not listen. At least not in this environment.  Perhaps praying for them would be the answer.  That God would reveal Himself to each one of them in a personal way somewhere when the time was right.  God would know, I can only hope to know.  rlkeller

CHRISTMAS, GREAT WEATHER & HOCKEY

          Another Christmas is past and I survived it!  I am off work thru this coming Sunday and couldn't be happier.  Today will involve a trip with the pups to Cape May for the day.  There is a free petting zoo that we'll be checking out.  It's a beautiful day today!! Temps will be around 50, sunny skies ... perfect for a day trip!!  Not hardly December weather for NJ, but who's complaining?  Got a Triple Play ticket pack for 3 Devils games for Christmas.  Seeing the Flyers, Hurricanes and Maple Leafs between Jan 3rd and early February.  I do love my hockey!!  Devs are not scoring (again) for they are losing (again). Not doing well.  They'll snap out of it sooner or later.  Hope it's sooner ... . Have a blessed day!! rlkeller

A WEEK TO GO / VIENNA BOYS CHOIR / TSO

          A week to go until Christmas.  I still don't have my gifts bought.  I'm pretty much of a last second shopper.  Crazy ...  yeah.  Hey, during my first marriage I used to buy all my gifts for my wife on Christmas Eve.  Four hours at the mall covered it all.  With my crazy work hours lately I haven't had time to do ANY shopping at all.  No time to write.  Just time to do my devo.  I only have the time to write on this blog a couple times a week.  Oh well, that's the way things go.  Everything in God's good time.
          By the way, the Vienna Boys Choir (Monday, Dec 15 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ) was really good.  The Choir was started around 1898 in Austria.  Today they have approximately 100 boys ranging from ages 10-14 who are mainly from Austria.  That 100 is broken down into 4 groups of 25 who are tours groups that travel the globe singing.  They sang mostly Austrian classical and folk songs, but closed the show with a few American Christmas carols.  Of the 23 boys that sang, one was from South Korea, one from Japan, one from Slovakia, one from Mexico and one from America.  The rest were native sons of Austria.  It was a cultural experience to be sure and we enjoyed it immensely.
          This Sunday, the Tran-Siberian Orchestra at The Rock, in Newark, NJ.  rlkeller

CORRECTION / also CONCERT

          I stand corrected.  As I have continued to listen to the HOLLY station on Sirius XM radio I have now been hearing spiritually based songs with the name of Jesus.  They are now playing familiar carols in addition to the current pop Christmas songs.  I have no problem with that.  I can now wholeheartedly recommend HOLLY (17 on Sirius XM radio ... normally the LOVE SONG station when not playing Christmas music).  I was mistaken regarding my original take re: their programing.  While the world is definitely doing it's best to remove God from the public arena, this station doesn't appear to be a part of that.
          Took today off.  Going to Red Bank to hear the Vienna Boys Choir sing a Christmas program at the Count Basie Theatre.  I'm excited to hear them.  They are world class singers.  I love Christmas!  rlkeller

WORK / CHRISTMAS

          In light of all the scuttlebutt about layoffs, I received confirmation from the 2nd shift Asst Operations Mgr that I was part of the core people who will remain working even after the layoffs are done.  The temps are the first to go, naturally.  Perhaps one or two OHL workers will be let go, but for the most part the OHL direct hires, of which I am one, will remain as the core to continue on with the Uniqlo E-Commerce account.  God has seen me through the roughest patch. We have reached the time when we are going to be working our regular shift.  After this Sunday, we will have our full weekends off.  Thank You Lord.  

          Christmas is right around the corner and I am awaiting my next paycheck to buy some gifts.  Things are expensive, however, there are also many sales.  I have found that buying online preserves ones sanity.  I do it as often as possible.  (lol)  Have an awesomely blessed day!! rlkeller

SNOW / WORK

       It's snowing in Brick, NJ.  Haven't checked the weather to see how much we're supposed to get, but it sure is pretty coming down.  Things have slowed down dramatically at work.  There is talk of letting people go.  The temps would obviously be the first to go.  I sure hope this isn't going to be another layoff situation for me.  That would not be good.  Especially after I just got a promotion.  This company has proven that they really could care less about their employees.  We are still using potty trailers outside as bathrooms ... even in the rain, wind, snow and cold.  Half they time there's no running water or soap or paper towels.  They are usually filthy.  They are having offices built inside, along with a break room and bathrooms. I guarantee you the inside bathrooms will be the last thing they construct.  We've pretty much been treated like lower life forms since day one.  If a layoff comes, it will come without warning.  They shift gears at a moments notice and are expected to adjust and go.  Oh well, such if life.  God is still on the throne and if there happens to be a layoff and I am effected by it, it will be of no surprise to the Lord and He will allow it for my greater good and His ultimate glory.  Amen!  rlkeller

WHERE'S JESUS?

          For those who have Sirius XM for their car radios, have you tuned in to the HOLLY station?  It's full of happy songs that speak of Christmas, peace, happiness, family, reindeer, santa, snowmen ... all the things Christmas is about.  But wait!!  Where are the Christmas songs that speak of the baby Jesus?  Where are the songs that speak of God?  Is it possible that they have purposely left them off their song list??  Apparently so.  On the HOLLY station you will not hear one song like JOY TO THE WORLD or O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM or NOEL or ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH.  Not one.  No mention of the reason for the season.  No WE THREE KINGS or DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR.  They have successfully left out any mention of Christ from their play list.  Now I love Burl Ives rendition of HAVE A HOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS as much as the next person and I'm not saying RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER should be removed from our conscientiousness, but incorporate them in the midst of the "religious" based songs. It's not going to happen.  The secularization of Christmas has been going on for a long time.  That's okay.  For the true believer there is always Christian radio or THE MESSAGE on Sirius XM.  And there is always CD's.  They can't strip us of our memories or our soul.  They can try to make us forget about the coming of Christ, but to the true believer Christmas will always represent His coming.  For you see WISE MEN really do STILL SEEK HIM.  And although many stores may be told not to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to customers so as not to offend anyone, I still say MERRY CHRISTMAS to all I meet.  If they are offended by such an innocent statement then that's a shame.  I make no apologies.  rlkeller

RAIN & DOGS

NOR'EASTER!  Yuck!  Buckets of rain.  High winds.  Cold temps.  Double Yuck!  My pups definitely let me put their all weather rain coats on this morning.  They are smart enough to know they keep them mostly dry (except for their heads).  They don't like being out in the rain ... not one bit.  A light sprinkle isn't so bad, but when it's pouring out, they don't want to go out at all.  Fortunately, they've been potty trained since they were very young and simply will not go in the house.  Phew! Thank God for that.  rlkeller

Kally & Marty

1 year 7 months old

Brother & sister

Dachshund / Lab Mix

SNOW

          Hey, it's snowing in Brick, NJ.  Not too heavy and it isn't sticking to the roads ... yet.  Snow is so pretty.  It signifies purity in its' white, clean appearance.  Once we tromp through it with our cars and on foot we make it ugly.  Isn't that sort of what happens to God's grace.  It's pure and clean.  A fresh start.  However, man tromps all over it and makes it ugly.  We've been given a second chance at life through the soul saving blood of Christ.  Let's not blow it.  Be like Christ in your daily life.  rlkeller

SITUATION CHANGING FOR THE BETTER

       Been working a grueling 5 pm to 5 am shift since last Friday.  Ugh!  I'm dealing with it.  Supposedly tomorrow night is to be the last night of it, then we go back to our regular schedule ... hopefully 3 pm to 11:30.  I expect that it will be 3 to 1:30 for at least one or two weeks.  It's tiresome, but its a job and I do happen to like my work, which always makes it better.  I got promoted to Inventory Specialist the other day so that is a blessing!  God has been very good to me.  I have no complaints.  Now if my dad gum hips and back would stop aching.  In time all will work out.  God is still on His throne and prayer definitely changes things.  One word from Almighty God and your entire situation can change.  Amen? Amen!  rlkeller

WE WANT TO LOOK SEXY

       The other day at work I saw several women dressed up at work ... in a warehouse.  I asked one of them what I felt was a very legitimate question.  "Dressing up to work in a warehouse can't make working  very comfortable.  Why do you dress up?"  Both she and her sister quickly replied, "because we want to look sexy."  Huh?  My response was an indifferent, "Oh, there ya go."  Wow!  It's become very apparent to me in the 3 months that I have been working there that some of the women are there to either find a man or simply have sex.  They are dangerous women, deceitful, beguiling.  They are to be avoided at all costs.  They do just enough work to not be noticed, but in the wee hours of the morning (say 3-4 a.m.) they are leaning against the racks, hidden from most prying eyes, hitting on boys or men.  What has this world come to?  They would more than likely be the first to say "Oh, I believe in God."  It obviously means nothing to them.  They require much prayer.  They simply don't know or understand the seriousness of their own sin.  rlkeller

NEVER WRONG TO DO RIGHT

     I always try to live by what is known as THE GOLDEN RULE.  Luke 6:31 tells us to treat others the way we would like to be treated.  Do we always get treated in like manner, absolutely not.  Proverbs 25:21-22 tells us If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.  Do good to others regardless of how it is received.  Don't do it for God's reward, do it because it's the right thing to do.  And remember, it's never wrong to do the right thing.  rlkeller