I received a Dave Ramsey email newsletter yesterday and he had some great tips related to spending at Christmas. In these current economic times we all need to practice greater wisdom in how we spend our hard earned cash! So I have included Dave's tips below. I have always appreciated the practical nature of his teaching. These are ideas you can put right into practice...

Here are the top 10 Christmas shopping mistakes and how you can act differently:

1. Not prioritizing.Instead of getting stressed out with all the parties, baking and shopping, in addition to your normal daily life, set some priorities before you’re bombarded with a million requests. Think about which things are “must do” and which are “would be nice to do.” It’s all right to say no to keep yourself sane. Shopping for gifts is more fun when you’re not completely stressed out.

2. Not using a budget.Before you make a gift list and head to the mall, set aside a reasonable amount of money for gifts. Make a commitment that you won’t add $20 to the fund every week just because you saw something cute that your niece would love. Get budgeting advice here.

3. Using credit cards.Once you have your budget finalized, stay away from credit cards! You will still spend 12-18% more if you use plastic, and you’ll be paying it off come 2009! Doesn’t paying with cash sound more freeing than having a credit card balance looming over your head? You bet.

4. Buying for everyone.Do you really need to buy gifts for every family member and friend you have? That can get overwhelming and expensive for everyone. Talk with them and work toward an agreement to draw names for gifts or donate money to a common cause.

5. Not listening.Listen to the hints your loved ones drop about what they need or want this year. Maybe your Aunt Sally mentioned that she would love someone to help her in the garden, or Cousin Bob keeps losing guitar picks. A thoughtful gift like this will mean a lot.

6. Not having a thought-out list on paper. If you think you can spend time in “Christmas retail world” without getting distracted by all the shiny toys, you’re in for a big surprise! You’ll be more likely to buy impulsively if you do it that way. Write down what each person you’re buying for would like and stick to the list. Stay focused!

7. Not shopping around.“Shopping around” doesn’t mean you have to spend 24 extra hours running from store to store to save 10 cents. Take a look at your gift list and do some comparative price-checking online before you head out into the retail and traffic madness. This will save you money, time and stress!

8. Waiting until the last minute.Procrastination is not the most appealing gift out there. Don’t find yourself stressed out on Christmas Eve just because you didn’t invest a little bit of time to plan.

9. Forgetting to plan for next year.Throughout the next year, look for outrageous sales on things your loved ones will need. If you time the sales just right and clip some coupons, you could land a major discount on something you were going to buy in a few months for a birthday or wedding gift. Remember to have a list and budget for this, too.

10. Forgetting why we celebrate.If this season becomes all about shopping and gifts, you’ve missed the whole point. People—not things—matter. The miraculous birth of a baby who changed the world is what matters.

(from Dave Ramsey's November 2008 enewsletter) Go to daveramsey.com

My favorite Christmas line every year is: Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Going to the OU vs. Texas Tech game tonight in Norman with two of my sons. I am pumped up about that. Go Sooners!

One of the great joys I have in ministry is baptizing people who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Last Sunday I baptized five kids and it was awesome! Most of them had just finished a nine-week new Christian's study led by some great senior adults in our church. I baptized one brother and sister which was neat to see them together in the baptistry. One little girl had a bit of fear of the water so she got a "death grip" on my robe, but we made it just fine. One girl was from our student ministry and one young lady drew a picture during the service of her baptism. I didn't know I looked like that when I baptized! One of these day I think I will write a book about my experiences as a pastor with baptisms and weddings, and the such! The joy is always in the journey! I can't wait to see what is around the bend!

Traditions! Tevye the milkman from "Fidler on the Roof" lamented the loss of tradition in his culture and time. Traditions can be important to families. Have you established any traditions as a family? One of our favorite Fall traditions is carving pumpkins as a family. Each year as long as I can remember and the kids can remember we have carved pumpkins as a family. Why? Because it's fun! We clear the kitchen table off, cover it with newspaper, get out the favorite carving tools and everybody goes to work. When the kids were little they would get to sit in middle of the table so they could handle all the gook out of the pumpkins. This year, Maddox, our grandson got to experience that. Hope handling all that gook doesn't affect him too much, but if so we are saving up for his counseling! It is fun to see the different designs everyone comes up with. Dad, that's me, gets the job of cutting the top out of each pumpkin. Why? Because I am an experienced pumpkin top cutter outer! If ever I need a second career, I have one ready made as I know there must be a great demand for those who cut the top out of pumpkins. Sometimes our kids both big and small don't seem to get into the tradition until the pumpkins are on the table and the knives begin to fly. Then the stories of pumpkins of the past begin to emerge and soon laughter fills the room. My wife is the queen of tradition. She loves it. And I am so glad she keeps all of us moving in that direction, otherwise, we would just be a bunch of couch potatoes wasting another Saturday afternoon. As the holidays approach I hope you will take a look at your family traditions. If you have some keep them going, if you don't consider establishing some fun things to do together as a family. Need ideas? See Kathy as she has a wealth of ideas when it comes to fun things like this. Here are a couple of pics of Pumpkin Fest 2008 at the Mullican house!

Fireproof Your Marriage

I am a bad blogger. As you can tell my intentions at the beginning of the new year were to blog on a regular basis. I posted one blog! Didn't exactly reach my goal, did I?

Today, I am basking in the blessing of our Vow Renewal Service which came at the end of a six-week sermon series called "Fireproof Your Marriage." It has been a powerful six-weeks and it culminated last night with 33 couples renewing their vows in a beautiful, powerful service followed by a beautiful reception.

One of dear brothers from church wrote the following piece in his daily email devotion he sends out and he did such a beautiful job I want to include his whole devotion here. Thanks for putting the past six weeks into such a beautiful perspective Don Williams!

Our Marriage Covenant

I have to tell you that this morning I am busting with joy as I think back on the events of the past few weeks. It started a couple months ago when a young couple asked Debbie and I to mentor them in their marriage relationship. Then six weeks ago our Pastor began a sermon series entitled “Fireproof Your Marriage,” which concluded yesterday morning. On opening night for the new movie "Fireproof," our church had about 100 people who bought early discount tickets and went to the movie together. There were others from our church that went that same night but were unable to get one of the discount tickets, and others who have gone other nights, so that means that well over 100 people represented by our church, wanted to see a movie that helped them focus on how to make their marriages stronger.

Last week our pastor started another six week study series on Sunday night and another one on Monday nights for those who are committed to other things on Sunday night. The study is designed to disciple married couples in their marriage commitments to each other called “I Promise, Enrich Your Marriage!” by Dr. Gary Smalley and facilitated by Pastor Mullican and his bride Kathy. We had 21 people attend the session on Sunday night and 27 attended on Monday night.

Then last night was the topper of my joyful heart. Last night my wife and I joined in and became a part of a “Marriage Vow Renewal Service.” There were 33 couples who joined in the service and renewed their wedding vows and commitments to each other. The couples ranged from being married from just one year to couples who have been married 60 + years. Debbie and I come somewhere in the middle with this year being our 35th wedding anniversary. It was very exciting with the activities of 33 couples making such wonderful pledges and vows to each other.

But there were four couples that touched my heart as I observed the ceremony and the reception that followed. I observed a very old couple that when they walked down the isle to the front of the church, he was pushing her in a wheelchair and she was wearing oxygen. Another one of our older couples walked the isle with her on his arm and then when they got to the front of the church, she had to stand there leaning against her walker. To me, this shows dedication to one another that reaches what most couples in today’s society have a very hard time grasping, commitment. These couples looked at one another and said to each other. “Honey, I don’t care how sick you get, or how bad life’s troubles come, I am committed to you, In sickness and in heath.” And of course Debbie and I had joy as we watched the young couple whom we have been mentoring walk down that isle to rededicate their lives to each other once again. And last but not lease, the very most meaning to me was when I walked my bride of 35 years down that isle once again to recommit myself to her. During the whole service I kept smiling (and crying) at her, and she at me with the same, with joy in our heart.

I am so proud of my wife and my dedication to her is unshakeable. Why did yesterday’s “Vow Renewal Service” mean so much to me? Because, the two of us have been together and over the past 35 years my wife has been very sick most of that time. She has had two Kidney transplants and I have almost lost her twice to death, as deaths door came knocking for her. But God be the glory because He has given her back to me each time. You see, I appreciate every moment that the Lord has given me with her. She is my completion. She is the very reason that I get up in the morning and face life’s difficulties with a smile on my face. She has shown me love that can only come from God. And she has taught me how to love her and others with the kind of love that comes only from our Father which is in Heaven. And mainly because I see how easily she could be taken away from me.

Our church has become dedicated in building strong marriages and families. Why is this so important to me? Because I believe that the attacks of Satan are leveled strong against the marriage relationship and the family. If he can destroy our marriage relationship, which by the way is a picture of the Lord’s relationship to us, the church. Then he can destroy our witness and service toward God. If Satan could destroy the very thing that is a representation to the world of the Lord’s relationship that He has with us. Then the world would see no need to have such a relationship. It would be no better than anything that they the world, has to offer others. So they then would think, what is the point of seeking to have a relationship with God? So it is important that we see how precious our marriage relationship is to God. The marriage commitment is a physical symbol of a spiritual truth of our relationship to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:21-32
21submitting to one another in the fear of God.
22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.


Here is what Jesus said about the marriage relationship and divorce.
Matthew 19:3-6
3The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ A marriage is between one man and one woman.
5“and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? No longer dependant on mom and dad, but to each other. They shall become one flesh and they are therefore bonded together as one flesh.
6“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” God has joined the two of you together, not as two, but now as one flesh. Therefore, let no one tear you apart. It hurts everyone involved, when that which is one is now torn into two parts. Marriage is a life long commitment to each other and to God.

Let me share with you the Marriage Vows as a remind of our commitment to God and to each other, as we make these promises, we need to remember that God does not take them lightly as we make these vows.

In the presence of God, And these witnesses, and by a holy covenant. I, Donald Williams Joyfully receive you as God’s perfect gift for me, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love you, to cherish you and to protect you, forsaking all others as long as we both shall live.

If you are married, then your marriage is a representation of a relationship and His convenant that the Lord has with us, the church. Don’t take that lightly. Fight the devil every time that he attacks your marriage. If you are single, then as you look for a life mate. Choose wisely and let God direct you to your soon to be spouse. He wants to show the world what it is like being a part of his family, his bride.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all,……

God Bless and have a wonderful day in the Lord.

Love Ya
In Christ,
Don Williams "Jesus Christ Is Lord"

Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Don’s webpage
http://www.myspace.com/jesus_the_guiding_light