The Christmas Story

I put this story together a couple years ago to tell my children the story of the birth of Jesus in a language they could understand. We read this story every Christmas Eve. Feel free to pass it along.

Send me your comments. Joe

AJA Press

Happy Easter!

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Happy Easter!

Today while I celebrate the Resurrection of my Saviour, I wish you and yours a very Happy Easter!

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Giving Up Socnets For Lent

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Giving Up Socnets For Lent

It's a bit late, maybe, but I decided yesterday (after posting one update to Twitter, Facebook, et. al.) to give up online social networking for Lent. I'm not Catholic, and I don't usually do this Lent thing. But I do want to grow ever closer to my Creator and Savior, and that's what Lent is all about; eliminating a source of distraction in your life and shifting that focus to God.

Twitter, Facebook, and the myriad other social networking sites (including newcomer Google Buzz) can certainly be a source of great distraction. So, other than some already set up automated processes like blog posts being added to my feeds, etc., I will not be updating any of the social media outlets until after Lent (Easter Sunday). I will not be reading the feeds, catching the Tweets, or following the Buzz. I will, instead, be pushing myself to shift the time I would have spent on social networking toward enriching my relationship with the Creator of all things.

Starting now, as I dig back into the book of Job; yet another great man who walked with God. Watch for a new SOAP entry about him here soon.

Send me your thoughts.

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Twenty-Ten

Wow, that was quick. It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the beginning of 2009. Strike that. It seems like just yesterday the world was all agog over theY2K bug. And now, suddely, it's 2010.

Is that two-thousand-ten? Two-thousand-and-ten? I think I prefer simply "twenty-ten." It kind of flows off the tongue. Say it with me three times: "twenty-ten, twenty-ten, twenty-ten." It feels almost natural, doesn't it?

It will be a year of great opportunities, certainly, both of a global and personal nature. Many people like to look back on the past year on this day and reflect on the good times, the bad times, what went well, and not so well. Many like to make long lists of resolutions that will be mostly forgotten before they flip the calendar page on this first month. Not me.

Good things happened in 2009 -- both of a personal nature for me and on the national and global scene. Sad things happened. Thanks to the grace of Almighty God, nothing really bad happened to my family. I won't itemize them here -- it would make for boring reading, and you really don't care, anyway.

I do look forward to great things in twenty-ten. Things like publishing my second novel, doing some home renovation projects, possibly a career change or advancement, and of course watching my family grow. I look forward to casting a vote for restored order in Washington in November. And I look forward to Christmas. Yes, already.

But, hey, twenty-ten is just twelve more pages on a calendar. It's another year to grow personally, professionally, and (most importantly) spiritually. It marks another year closer to the moment we all should be waiting for with baited breath (no, not the 2012 election, but I understand why you might think that).

Twenty-ten. It's here, for the next 365 days. Then it'll be gone, like its brothers before it, and we'll keep on trucking along. Twenty-ten. Two-thousand-ten. However you want to say it (please, never oh-ten, that's just plain bad), only you can make it a good year. Will you? I plan to.

Happy New Year!

Question

If it rains on Christmas morning and snows Christmas night, is it still a white Christmas?

Unaware Motorist Pulled Over By Police

My Audioblog on Cinchcast.com

Send me your comments. Joe

AJA Press

Merry Christmas!

Last year I started a new Christmas tradition with my kids, reading them my own kid-friendly rendition of The Christmas Story. I share that with you today, along with a Christmas message from America's last great President.

Merry Christmas!

Direct video link.

Send me your comments. Joe

AJA Press

Merry X-mas!

This time of year there is always great debate (among those who just need a reason to debate) about the meaning of Christmas. Whether you celebrate it as the birth of Christ, or just a time to give gifts, or some other manufactured holiday [see Kwanzaa], Christmas should be a time of great joy and happiness, shared with family and friends, blah, blah, blah. Right?

I say, emphatically, NO!

Christmas is a time of year that we recognize the birth of our Savior. Period. You may give gifts, which is great, as on that first Christmas day we received the greatest gift of all from our Creator God in the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, sent to take away the sins of the world. But as I mentioned earlier, much of the debate of this time of year centers around the terms "Christmas Tree," or the use of the letter 'X' instead of 'Christ' in the word Christmas. It is that which weighs heavily on my mind today.

Christmas. Xmas. Or X-mas. What is the difference. Is there really any difference? Many people -- including some of my own loved ones -- intentionally use the letter 'X' to replace 'Christ' in Christmas, as if by writing the word differently they can remove the real reason for the season.

But what does the 'X' really represent? Consider this, from Wikipedia:

"The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning 'Christ's Mass'. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes maesse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.[6] 'Cristes' is from Greek Christos and 'maesse' is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century.[12] Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas."

But maybe you're one who views Wikipedia as flawed, due to it's social editing structure. In that case, consider this:

From Bill Purdue, an Open University historian:

"I suppose to us it will always look like an abbreviation, but it would first seem to be an abbreviation used by clerics with a good knowledge of ancient languages."

Or this, from About.com:

It is said that when the Emperor Constantine had his great vision that caused him to convert to Christianity, he saw the Greek letters Chi and Rho intertwined. Chi is written as an 'X' and Rho is written as a 'P', but they are the first two letters of the Greek word Christ 'savior'. 'XP' is sometimes used to stand for Christ. Sometimes X is used alone. This is the case in the Chi (X) abbreviation for Christ in Xmas. Thus, Xmas is not directly a way of secularizing the holiday, but since 'X' is not Chi in English, we read the word as X-mas and see no connection with Christ.

Still not convinced? Then maybe you should consider this, from Snopes.com, one of the most reputable sites for debunking urban myths (presented as a screen capture as well as text -- click image to enlarge):

The abbreviation of 'Xmas' for 'Christmas' is neither modern nor disrespectful. The notion that it is a new and vulgar representation of the word 'Christmas' seems to stem from the erroneous belief that the letter 'X' is used to stand for the word 'Christ' because of its resemblance to a cross, or that the abbreviation was deliberately concocted "to take the 'Christ" out of Christmas."

Actually, this usage is nearly as old as Christianity itself, and its origins lie in the fact that the first letter in the Greek word for 'Christ' is 'chi,' and the Greek letter 'chi' is represented by a symbol similar to the letter 'X' in the modern Roman alphabet. Hence, 'Xmas' is indeed perfectly legitimate abbreviation for the word 'Christmas'...

So there you have it. No matter how you slice it -- or spell it -- Christmas is just that, the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Merely substituting 'Christ' with an 'X' does not change that. Am I suggesting that you shouldn't celebrate Christmas if you haven't accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Quite the contrary. Instead, I suggest you continue to celebrate Christmas with your friends and family, giving gifts and singing carols, and all that has come to be a traditional Christmas celebration. Oh, yeah, and I strongly encourage you to come to a personal relationship with Christ, because without that, everything we do on this Earth is for nothing.

Send me your comments. Joe

AJA Press

Random Holiday Thoughts

Being in Retail Management, this can always be a hectic and stressful
time of year for me. In past years, the job has actually killed my
Christmas spirit. There can be a great deal of chaos, people arguing
over who got to the last widget on the shelf first -- many people are
just rude in general at this time of year to those in the service
industries.

Thankfully I've been away from the core retail business for the past
five years. I work now in a specialty retail market that barely even
extends store hours for the holidays. And with Thanksgiving (my
favorite holiday) behind us and Christmas rapidly approaching, I can
let the joy of the season flow through me.

There is nothing better at Christmas than seeing my kids happy. It
makes up for all of the rudeness and chaos I see at work.

Next time you're shopping, tell a Retailer "Thank You" for being there
for you this Christmas. It just might make their day.

===
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Thankful Thanksgiving!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Thanksgiving should be something we practice many times a day. But on this day set aside for the purpose of being thankful, for what are you thankful?

Today, I am especially thankful for five things (and not necessarily in this order):

That our girl Maddy is no longer suffering
That our children are happy and healthy
That my work has begun to return to a semblance of normal
For seven wonderful years with my beautiful wife
That my family believes and worships a graceful God

More thoughts on Thanksgiving below the video.



Psalm 69:30
Psalm 95:2
Psalm 100:4
Jonah 2:9
2 Corinthians 4:15
2 Corinthians 9:11
Ephesians 5:4
Philippians 1:3
Psalm 28:7


Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press

Some Early Christmas Dancing

Yesterday, just before we began setting up our Christmas trees (yes, trees this year, plural, as in more than one), my wife turned on the Christmas music channel on Comcast, and my crazy kids started dancing around the room to it.

This short video clip was taken with a cell phone, and you may not be able to hear the music so well, but it's entertaining nonetheless.



It was the first Christmas music I've heard yet this year -- and I think it violates the unwritten rule of no Christmas music until Thanksgiving -- but there's just something about seeing these two little ones dancing around to Christmas music that can put a guy in the mood a little early.

Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press

Tree Trimming

Usually trimming the tree and putting up the Christmas decorations is something my wife and kids do on Black Friday while I'm at work. This year, we're doing things a little different.

I think we all realize that our dog Maddy probably won't be with us for Christmas this year. While we didn't actually discuss it, it's like we wanted to start Christmas a little early this year so we can still share it with Maddy.

So, today we've been putting up Christmas trees and ornaments and decorating the house, one last time, with Maddy watching. And she actually kept changing rooms with us as we moved from one room of the house to another.

She lies beside me as I write this, resting through her labored breathing, as the kids trim the tree.

Merry Christmas, very early!

Thank You, Veterans!

To the brave men and women who have served this great nation, risking or giving their lives for the cause of Liberty:

Thank You for your Service!

Halloween Pumpkins and Podcasts

This evening, we carved the kids Halloween pumpkins. It's an annual tradition for us, following our annual pumpkin hunt, which we did last week. The kids actually design their pumpkin faces, drawing directly on them with a ballpoint pen (fainter lines that make it easier to erase mistakes). My wife cuts the top off and guts the pumpkin, then I do the carving. I'm not the best pumpkin carver in the world, and my kids are kids and design pumpkins like kids (though I think they did quite a job of it this year), so our pumpkins are just simple little pumpkins.

My daughter wanted her pumpkin to look especially happy this year, and I think she achieved her goal.

By the way, to catch my Halloween special episode of The Joe Show from 2007, click here to download now.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

The Declaration of Independence

This is what it's all about. Thanks to the HoosierPundit....

 

 

Sent to you by Average Joe American via Google Reader:

 

 

The Declaration of Independence

via The Hoosierpundit by Scott on 7/4/09

1337 words that changed the world.

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is in the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the Present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let the Facts be submitted to a candid World.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People; unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.

He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.

He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.

He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislaton:

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:

For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond the Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule in these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.

He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Signed by ORDER and
in BEHALF OF THE CONGRESS
JOHN HANCOCK,
PRESIDENT.

ATTEST.
CHARLES THOMSON,
SECRETARY.

PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED BY JOHN DUNLAP..

Happy Birthday, America!

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

 

 

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A Happy Fathers Day!

It is the very thing that completes me -- being a dad. It's what I do, who I am, why I am. And today, the world celebrated me.

Okay, my kids celebrated me, but hey, they're my world. The festivities started last night, when my son kept asking me to come in (from putting air in his inflatable pool) to watch the Reds play the White Sox with him. When I did, he ran upstairs and had a few words with his mother, then he and his sister presented me with an early Fathers Day gift: razors, barbecue chips (to eat during the game), a bag of Jolly Ranchers (he had just been introduced to them on Friday at the vet), and the best homemade greeting cards ever!

We munched on the chips and had some Jolly Ranchers last night while we watched the Reds lose to the White Sox. Then my son and I "camped in" together, meaning we stayed up for a while and slept in the living room.

This morning, when we woke up, the first thing my son said to me was "Happy Fathers Day." I was touched that he remembered to say it. While my wife was in the kitchen making homemade sausage gravy and biscuits and eggs for breakfast, I went up to wake up my little girl. The first thing she said to me, too, was "Happy Fathers Day." That was the real shocker, as she's only three years old.

After breakfast, we took the kids and the dog to the park to play and run and get some exercise, before loading up and heading to visit the in-laws in Terre Haute. The kids were pretty well behaved today.

After returning home, I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with my own father. We had a nice conversation, and he sounded to be doing quite well.

Fathers Day sadly comes only once a year. But being a Daddy comes every day, and I thank God for giving me the two greatest kids to be Daddy to!

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

What Is Good Friday?

Question: "What is Good Friday?" Answer: Good Friday is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified. If you are interested in a study of the issue, please see this article that discusses the various views on which day Jesus was crucified. Assuming that Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday, should Christians remember Jesus' death by celebrating Good Friday? The Bible does not instruct Christians to remember Christ's death by honoring a certain day. The Bible does give us freedom in these matters, however. Romans 14:5 tells us, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." Rather than remembering Christ's death on a certain day, once a year, the Bible instructs us to remember Christ's death by observing the Lord's Supper. First Corinthians 11:24-26 declares, "...do this in remembrance of me...for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." Why is Good Friday referred to as "good"? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27 ). However, the results of Christ's death are very good! Romans 5:8 , "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." First Peter 3:18 tells us, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit." Many Christian churches celebrate Good Friday with a subdued service, usually in the evening, in which Christ's death is remembered with solemn hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, a message centered on Christ suffering for our sakes, and observance of the Lord's Supper. Whether or not Christians choose to "celebrate" Good Friday, the events of that day should be ever on our minds because the death of Christ on the cross is the paramount event of the Christian faith. If you would like to learn more about why Jesus' death on the cross was so "good," please read the following article: What does it mean to accept Jesus as your personal Savior? Recommended Resource: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas. What's new on GotQuestions.org? GotQuestions.org seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing Biblical answers to spiritually-related questions. To continue in this mission, we need your support! For more information, please visit https://www.gotquestions.org/support.html Got Questions? The Bible has Answers! We'll find them for you! www.GotQuestions.org This message was sent from GotQuestions.org . It was sent from: Got Questions Ministries, 6050 Stetson Hills Blvd., #254, Colorado Springs, CO 80923.

Contemplating Easter

As Easter rapidly approaches, I find myself giving the holiday some serious contemplation. As a Christian and devoted follower of God, Easter for me has always been more about the Resurrection of Christ than chocolate bunnies, egg hunts, and Spring.

Thoughts of Easter bring on thoughts of Christmas, the "biggest" holiday of the year. Christmas is no doubt the most widely celebrated event on the calendar, whether for Christian principles or otherwise. If you're reading these words, you have likely exchanged Christmas gifts on more than one occasion in your life, and quite possibly have found your share of hidden eggs, as well.

What disturbs me about this Christmas / Easter comparison is really quite simple. Two millenia ago the Creator of the Universe came to earth as flesh in the form of the baby Jesus. Today, we celebrate that day by putting up trees and stockings and waiting for a "jolly old elf" to come falling down the chimney. When companies like Target avoid using the word "Christmas" in their advertising campaign in an attempt to be politically correct, faith groups cry out in protest.

Just thirty-three years after that historic miracle, the God-man Jesus Christ died the most painful form of death on a cross on a hill, mocked by soldiers and bystanders, then rose from His grave. Next week we celebrate this miracle sacrifice by giving baskets of candy to our children and hunting for eggs hidden by a bunny. Churches will hold special services on Thursday and Friday as well as Sunday to observe, remember and worship the Savior. Other groups will hunt for eggs and devour chocolate bunnies with never a thought of that torturous death so long ago. Even others will use this special day as a rite of passage from Winter to Spring, a time when old things are made new, even a celebration of fertilty (hence the rabbit). Where is the outcry from the faith groups this season?

I'll grant you that Christmas is arguably the most important date on the calendar. The first Christmas was certainly a date of paramount importance in the grand scheme of things. It's not every day that God steps out of Heaven to physically walk among us. But I invite you to consider the following.

God took on flesh and came to Earth for only one reason: to save us all from our sinful ways. He did that by giving His life on a cross and arising from His grave three days later. Today, we call that Easter -- Resurrection Day. Had Christ not died, He could not have arose. Had He not risen from the dead, we would still be doomed to the eternal death that so many still choose by their very failure to choose.

Without Christ's Resurrection, His birth would be insignificant. It was the very gift of Salvation delivered through His death on that cross and subsequent Resurrection that made His birth such a miracle.

Without Easter, there is no Christmas. Without Christ, there is no hope.

Happy Easter! Rejoice in His Resurrection. Receive the Gift of Salvation.

Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press
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Happy Valentines Day!

Okay, so Valentines Day is almost over, but Happy Valentines Day, anyway.

I had to work today until five o'clock, so my family celebrated Valentines Day on Tuesday by going to Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. Of course, there was more tonight. On the way home from work tonight I stopped at Papa Murphys Pizza to pick up a heart shaped pizza for the family. It's sort of a Valentines Day tradition for us. The family and I had a small Valentines Day celebration after I got home. For my wife and I, Valentines Day (like every other holiday) is all about the kids, not us. We're getting ready to watch a Charlie Brown special on TV.

I'm hoping to get a new episode of The Joe Show / Soapy Joe out soon. I have received several submissions from artists and have some great new tunes to share.

Speaking of sharing, my first novel will be available soon -- in paperback on Amazon, in PDF and Palm DOC eBook formats, and even in Audiobook soon. Best of all, the sequel will be out this fall. Stay tuned for updates, plus a great discount code and some bundle specials.

Hope your day was a great one!

Your comments?

Joe

podsafe music network | ioda promonet | magnatune | airplay direct
ariel publicity | kennedy resource development | populuxe records | indie heaven
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Book Review: The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck has penned an unbelievable Christmas Story in The Christmas Sweater. If you've seen the Conservative TV/Radio talk show host, or read any of his prior non-fiction works, you will likely find yourself surprised at this warm, heartfelt tale of Christmas.

Little twelve-year-old Eddie wanted nothing for Christmas but a bicycle. All of his friends had a bicycle, and Eddie had not only been very good all year long, deserving a bicycle, he had actually prayed to God asking for the bicycle, bargaining with the Man upstairs.

Three years ago, Eddie's life changed, when his father lost his battle with cancer. Christmas -- Eddie's entire life, really -- has not been the same since. And a brand new shiny bicycle was the only thing that would make Eddie feel better this Christmas.

But money was tight, and Eddie's mom worked four jobs to try to make ends meet. It would take a miracle for Eddie to get the bicycle for Christmas, but after all, he had bargained with God -- a miracle wasn't out of the question.

Based on "a deeply personal true story," Beck guides us on a journey with a valuable lesson. You won't be able to put The Christmas Sweater down -- I read it in three days. It is the Christmas story that everyone should read. But really, why wait until Christmas -- the message is one that transcends time and holidays.

One of the absolute best books I've read in quite some time, Glenn Beck's The Christmas Sweater will be a classic before it's time.

Your comments?

Joe

podsafe music network | ioda promonet | magnatune | airplay direct
ariel publicity | kennedy resource development | populuxe records | indie heaven
miles high productions | iris distribution | chavis records | after hours music