Who is on the list of Jesus' blest this year? Have you been Naughty or Nice? Is His blessing given to those with lots of hair, looking youthful...those in great shape wearing the best clothes available? They sure look blest. For those of us that are fat, thinning hair, bad complexions or wrinkled and flabby...maybe we have been put off the best blest list we are not being accepted by other humans, nor are we on the 'blest list' from heaven.

Jesus takes time to point out the beauty in every human being. This is the gospel for a silly, undeserving world. "Blessed are the physically repulsive, Blessed are those who smell bad, the twisted misshapen, deformed, the too big, too little, too loud, the bald, the fat, the old....for they are riotously celebrated in the Christmas Party of Jesus." (from The Divine Conspiracy)

There are those who are seriously hurt this year...victims of earthquakes, hurricanes, AIDS, racism...there are the flunk outs, drop outs and burned outs...the broke and the broken, drug heads, crack heads and dead heads. Some may be divorced, separated, single, or engaged in addictive behaviors that are ruining their lives... there are the brain damaged and incurably ill...the barren and the pregnant, too many times or at the wrong time....the over employed, underemployed, the employed and the unemployable...the swindled, the shoved aside.....and the replaced...parents with children living on the street and children with parents not dying in the rest home...the lonely, the incompetent, and the just plain stupid! IS it true that heaven can heal these hurts here on earth???

It is true....that is the blessing of Christmas and you don't have to wait 'til your 60, or 'til you're dead. Jesus offers His Kingdom and present blessings in a transforming friendship that quietly changes each and all who are on his list.....and that list includes Yes! even me and you! (Rocky humbly apologizes for butchering the fine writings of Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy)

Rocky I feel BLESSED...Great year hunting and fishing, and a chance to write a book about our adventures in Alaska. See the insert for more info on Wild Men,Wild Alaska.

Ginger (23!) is BLESSED... she worked really hard and was accepted to American University's honors program in Washington, D.C. ... majoring in Political Science...this is her take on her year so far at school...

The work load has been incredible! I have about 3 papers due a week, 40-70 pages a week to write and hundreds and hundreds to read. Too bad all the teachers here are raging COMMUNISTS! Holy red scare batman! Every day I find myself in a battle for common American values. Some days it's too much, and some days it's exhilarating. I have a brilliant government philosophy professor. It's just the most exciting class I've ever taken. We started with Plato and the Republic, Locke, Hobbs, Marx and now...and now in the Christmas season, we begin Nietzsche. And I hate Nietzsche, oh, I hate him! What evil oozed from his lips! What foul blasphemy! God spare him for the damage he has done to this world and fine minds like that of my generation. I watch a room full of young, arrogant, ignorant students defend him in their new justification of postmodernism. I am no preacher but this was repugnant. There is no right or wrong, there is no justice; religion is "salve mentality" merely guilt...Christ's death on the cross chains the world to guilt! I stood up in class and said today "What about GRACE!? Christian doctrine states that Jesus came to free us from sin, from guilt! There is NO condemnation in Christ! For as much as Nietzsche hated Luther he certainly never read him".... and my teacher who is very quick to shut people up fumbled around in obvious confusion for a solid moment... which was just enough to prove to our class that perhaps modern thought is lost. I'm sure my passion will hurt my grades. Also, I do "the AU hour" which is our school's broadcast of "crossfire" where 2 republicans debate a bunch of liberals. I'm the resident Republican, and surprisingly a lot of kids watch our little public access channel. Every show they come at us so hard, and we give it to them straight! The phones ring off the hook, people are furious!. I have a lot of fun. Kids mock me around school. I'm infamous! I'm sure my passion will hurt my grades. I hope to remain an A student, but obviously I have not the self control to sit on my tongue ;( Pray for my generation this season..., the future is at hand.

So... keep Ginger in mind for the 2020 Presidential elections "see clearly" campaign!

Merilee (19) was BLESSED this year by being in Rome just before the Pope died...She had a great time traveling through Spain and Italy before coming home from school in Germany...we were so thankful to have her with us in Alaska again this summer...she is always SO fun!! She was an official Alaskan Guide! What a worker! This fall she started Cedarville University in Ohio on a scholarship...obedient to the leading of the Lord to go where He opened the door... not sure whether she'd really like it... ( I think she thought she would find a bunch of great big, huge, pasty faced, farmer boys...boy was she wrong! She is having the time of her life! She walked on and played JV Volleyball, is making some wonderful friends and hopefully learning a lot! Still as beautiful as always...

Kelly (17) was BLESSED this year... she was absolutely the most beautiful girl at the Prom! Kelly just sparkles with new friends and a new quest as she searches out the scriptures and finds answers for her own life. She worked hard in Alaska and has been reaping the benefits of many Starbuck Lattes! ". Kelly still loves to dance and was wonderful in Concert choir. We love watching her perform. She graduates Del Oro High School this year and wants to go to Bible College in England in the fall.

Sunny (13)was BLESSED this year... she reminds me of Jim Carey in "A Series of Misfortunate Events". He played several different main character roles...Sunny can imitate life in so many ways. As she dresses, so she is...she is classy and elegant...punky and spunky...she definitely has her own styles! I have noticed that whatever trend or style she wears, it takes about 6 months to a year and BAM! it becomes the hottest style on the market! Sunny, our trendsetter...and go getter! Oh boy...her mom's looks and her daddy's brains! She is very involved and loves Limelight, the drama group at our church. Did I say...she LOVES drama? She loves drama!! Our little girl is turning into a beautiful young lady.

Sharon... For me life is a BLESSING and an adventure! Always an adventure! It has been so exciting to share a little in the book Rocky wrote this year...my favorite is the chapter "Beauty to Lose" ...it is the story of nine years ago when I lost my daddy and I was down here at home trying to survive in my world and Rocky was in Alaska trying to survive in his! Some of the stories are better for me NOT to read and remember just exactly what my husband does for a living!! A Grizzly Bear chase, plane crashes, boat accidents, survival in the wilderness... whew! I know he is here for a purpose because the Lord could've taken him SO MANY times!! It makes me so thankful for the 29 years we've had together. It was wonderful having our four girls and all being together in Alaska again this summer (Ginger was able to come for a week) The times when we can ALL be together are fewer but oh, so precious! Ginger and Merilee will both be home for Christmas this year and we all feel BLESSED!


Blessings to all of you...our prayer this year is that you will feel the true presence of the Savior, Jesus Christ, this Christmas...forget this "Happy Holiday" stuff!