Giving gifts can be difficult. Trying to figure out the, the what, the, how much, the, will they like it. it is exhausting. Last year, my wife helped me out. She told me exactly what she wanted - Dolce & Gabbana, light blue. When I went to purchase her perfume, I had to walk through the women's intimates. I could feel the eyes of the whole department on me. It only made me more anxious. I needed to get out of this department before they called security. I walked to the perfume counter. A sixteen year old sophomore kid was waiting on me, She didn't look old enough to give advice to a nervous male shopper. Light blue came in two fragrance intensities - Perfume and Eau de toilette. I was not going to skimp on my wife. I determined to pay the ungodly amount and went for the perfume. My sales person sprayed a sample into he air and encouraged me to walk through the mist. I did, and now I smelled like a sophomore on a first date. Once again, I could feel the eyes of other patrons burning a hole in my back. I needed to get out of there. I told the salesperson I would take it. She wrapped it and put it into a dainty bag. The great day of the reveal came. She opened it and responded a bit dully. I guess, picking your own present leaves something to be desired, but there was more. I noticed it was hardly being used. The only time I saw it being used was when she misted the bathroom due to the Eau De Keith. Six months passed before the truth was revealed. I made a major gaff. I will let you listen to catch the goof. Fortunately, in this Christmas season God extended the prefect gift to us. It simply states, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11. Max Lucado says it well. "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior." It was exactly what each one of us needed. This Christmas Enjoy God's perfect gift!

I was a single dad trying to co-parent a 13-year-old daughter. She was starting to put distance between her and me. I didn’t get it… When it comes to insight I am a veritable Pez dispenser of parenting wisdom. My head flops back and out pops sage advice. But I was stuck. I needed some help. I needed a coach. Surprisingly, the wisdom, insight, and coaching sat right on my table one evening. You read that right, not at my table, but on my table. My daughter decided it was time to dispense a little of her wisdom. It worked. Ready for a lesson in communicating with your kids? Listen and learn!

"You intended to harm me..." These are the first words to Genesis 50:20. That could have been Brianna's epitaph. Taken from a party, dead or alive, her body was discarded in the woods near an abandon cemetery. Someone covered her body with branches and leaves and left her, abandon her. For 10 days, she was exposed to the elements and animals of the region, both of which ravaged her body. Limbs missing and decapitated the cause of death could not be determined, but the effect on the family and friends was certain. It was devastating! Brianna had been a homecoming candidate and full of life. But few knew the tole that was being taken on her. She lived in the tiny town of Dunkirk. It was seemingly a Mayberry of rural Indiana. But, looks can be deceiving. Few imagined or acknowledged the ravages of drugs in the community among the students and even among the adults. Brianna got caught in the wildfire of heroine and never slipped out. The drugs may have taken their tole, but someone placed and abandon her body in the woods, but that someone never came forward. But wait. There is more to the verse and the story. Genesis 50:20 states, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Out of the heartbreak came Brianna's Hope, a lifeline to those suffering from addiction. Randy Davis established meetings across Indiana and Ohio to walk with people on their journey of recovery and hope. Not even death can silence God's story of hope.

Hippy the Hippo was the "pet" hippo at the game hunting encampment. An encounter with the adolescent Hippo turns ominous though after Keith "marks" the hippo's boundary territory bush. A chase ensues and Keith is mismatched by the huge hippo. The hippopotamus can run up to thirty miles an hour over short distances...Keith, not so fast. The animal we have tamed in our cute Christmas tune of wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas is actually the most dangerous beast of Africa. The Hippo actually kills over 200 people a year. This is more than the Big Five (Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cape Buffalo, and Rhino) kill all together. This is one hungry hungry hippo and Keith is on the menu.