Beware of the Heelots...

Before you buy that boat, car, or fancy-phone....think about the "Heelots"...

Beware... You may be in danger...





The Heelots may get ya and if you're not careful you may turn into one yourself...Before ya know it! Yes indeed. I've heard reports that the Heelots are especially aggressive this time of year.... Beware. ; )

"Heelots" ...From Meet John Doe.

When they got ya, you've got no more chance than a road rabbit...You're walkin' along, not a nickel in your jeans, you're free as the wind. Nobody bothers you. Hundreds of people pass you by in every line of business. Shoes, hats, automobiles, radios, furniture, everything, and they're all nice loveable people. They let you alone...Then you get ahold of some dough and what happens? All those nice, sweet, lovable people become heelots. A lotta heels! They begin creepin' up on ya, tryin' to sell ya something. They get long claws and they get a stranglehold on ya and ya squirm and ya duck and ya holler and ya try to push 'em away, but you haven't got a chance. They've got ya. The first thing you know, you own things - a car, for instance. Now your whole life is messed up with a lot more stuff. You get license fees and number plates and gas and oil and taxes and insurance and identification cards and letters and bills and flat tires and dents and traffic tickets and motorcycle cops and courtrooms and lawyers and fines - and a million and one other things! And what happens? You're not the free and happy guy you used to be. You've gotta have money to pay for all those things. So you go after what the other fella's got. And there you are - you're a heelot yourself.

(You may want to mute the music at the player at the bottom of the page before viewing clips)





To watch Meet John Doe see Part I in the following clip. All parts are there on youtube in a nice quality...




You can also see the movie in entirity here as well, you may decide what picture quality is best for you.


...Someone already died for that once. The first John Doe. And he's kept that ideal alive for nearly 2,000 years. It was He who kept it alive in them. And He'll go on keeping it alive for ever and always - for every John Doe movement these men kill, a new one will be born. That's why those bells are ringing...

~The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)

Lighthouses, John. Lighthouses in a foggy world.

~ The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)



What will we be? A heelot? A John Doe? A lighthouse in a foggy world? I hope we will be a John Doe...that Lighthouse in a foggy world. I especially hope we will be a Christ Bearer...

Remember...We are the Christ Bearers this season...Take the time to be that Christ Bearer to others....The malls, stores and hospitals are full of those thirsty for Jesus...They are looking for the blessed Hope...Take the time, be prepared to share Jesus, smile, keep it real (never canned)...Love, use words and a hug if necessary...Take the time to share Jesus...It's one of the most valuable lessons our children will ever learn...And in some cases it may just be the most valuable lesson our children may teach us.





I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season, remember it's Christ-mas not Me-mas. : )

For encouraging tips to help us with our homes you may enjoy, and especially if you feel invisible at times? You will be blessed!: http://www.thats-italian.blogspot.com/




Enjoy. Be blessed. Be that Christ Bearer...The World is waiting... Keep the bells ringing......

~Amelia

Teach Us Lord...A Peaceful Protest

As I went through our bags and boxes of cards and Christmas things I ran across this card, it was a simple Christmas card, one I loved and still do. The verse is simply:



Little baby on the hay,

born to us on Christmas day,

Show us how to live the way

that brings us peace and love.



Merry Christmas





Now contrast that simple little verse to what we have now......Parties for children, youth and even adults with what is supposed to be a simple, fun, white elephant game-gift to trade, priced at 10 dollars and up....Oh my. For our family, that is the price of one normal gift that we as parents may bestow on our children . Oh friends... what has happened?



I wonder what my grandmother would think of that? She often shared of her one doll she would receive for Christmas.

I wonder what my friend who was raised in the 50s is thinking? She had a lovely childhood and shared how a normal Christmas for her was usually a nice robe, a pretty doll and perhaps a neat game or other toy on Christmas morning.

When I was a little girl, stocking stuffers consisted mostly of candy, oranges, and if you were very fortunate, perhaps a skipper doll or a puppet. Now I hear of Chanel...




I wonder what my dad would think?
Roll back your watch to the 1930s...a small town....

Daddy shares of the family that lives in a train caboose during the depression in his little town....The fragrance of orange peel gently warmed by candles on the huge tree at the big log community house as the children there put on a Christmas program... He tells of the young lady with the beautiful voice anointing the atmosphere as she sings....O Holy Night..... My dad as a darling curly blond headed little boy thinks she is the most lovely being ever as he hears and treasures her angelic voice as she stands in her simple cotton dress.... The young lady? She lives in that caboose. These families don't even know they are poor. They have joy and the love of family and friends...They know and understand the wonderment and joy of Christ in that Holy Season.








...What do we have now? What are we hearing? What is this world demanding and dictating of and to us?



...I wonder what Jesus feels and thinks?




I wonder if we should get little Susie the new iPhone now or wait for the second generation to come out with more features?




Oh folks.... Please don't fall into the trap this Christmas. As I see the out of touch price suggestions being suggested for party gift game exchanges and such....oh my heart is grieved. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

What is this excessive spending and wanting, teaching our children and youth?


I don't know what your area of town is like in the way of values, but apparently our area is slipping into the world of bondage when it comes to the excessive consumerism and what is viewed as the normal.



Please be careful.

I'm not writing about taking the wonder or generosity of Christmas from our families...I love Christmas more than anyone, and yes, I love the surprised faces as our daughters open their gifts. But when I see suggestions of ipods and iphones and such for a normal gift, as if it was a bottle of aftershave or cologne it grieves my spirit....When I see white elephant gift price suggestions, being the normal price of a gift that a parent might be giving their children....Or a cherished gift a child may give to their sibling....I have to take a second look and wonder what burden this is putting on families and teaching children and young people.




What happened to the way Christmas used to be? Sitting by the fire, simple, more normal gifts, gifts given and wrapped with love, thoughtfulness and care....Let's get back to a Peaceful Christmas filled with wonderment as we mediate on Christ.

And let's not forget those who are less fortunate this Christmas season, not only in material possesions but those heavy of heart, perhaps those who have lost loved ones, those who need encouragement. It may be in the form of a sweet thoughtful gift or perhaps a tender hug and meaningful conversation...Perhaps both. We can ask God what He would have us to offer Him. Let's be Jesus with skin on to others.

May our homes be a Peaceful protest to the world....

Jesus is the Prince of Peace...

~Amelia

P.S. For more Christmas suggestions please see my other blog with fun & helpful flylady videos and a mighty sweet movie suggestion. My other blog? It can be found here: thats-italian.blogspot.com.

Take a Deep Breath...Simplify

We all need a portal through which we can find a quieter life, at least occasionally. For too many of us, Christmas is a nightmarish revolving door in which we're spinning faster and faster. But the wiser among us find it a sort of time-warp portal, rotating us from the hustle and bustle of twenty-first century life to the sedate world of a quieter time.

So this year, slow down, look up, breathe deeply, spend less - and simplify, simplify! The way of a calmed Christmas - simplicity.

The 12 Ways of Christmas by David Jeremiah





I hope you enjoyed this quote from what is quickly becoming one of my Christmas book favorites.


Let us all keep Our beautiful, precious Savior first and foremost in our hearts and lives...Sweet Baby Jesus, the greatest Gift of all... His yoke is easy and His burden is light...He is the Savior of the World. He is my glorious Savior; I hope He is yours today too. Pour out your hearts to Him. He is worthy to be praised and adored.


Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. ~Psalms 62:8


Please see my other blog, http://www.thats-italian.blogspot.com/ for a most wonderful old movie, Meet John Doe. (1941) Enjoy, be blessed! Speaking of our sweet and dear Savior, this movie has a most wonderful unique ending that will have you on the edge of your seat...we most likely would never see or hear the Lord Jesus being glorified in this beautiful manner in the modern secular movies made today.

Blessings to all! ~Amelia