Christmas Message from CrescentCitySports.com

It is a time for inspection and introspection of our current circumstances, position and outlook.

Is the sky rising beautifully or is it falling miserably?

For those of us who believe in the spirit of Christmas and its true meaning, we rejoice in the hope, the love and the promise that our faith in our Savior, who unto us is born, will deliver us from the difficulties we encounter daily in this world.

For believers, the kingdom that is to come is not here but in eternity. That has a nice ring to it. For believers, death has no power over us because of the understanding that it is simply a passage into something considerably better, where they will be no suffering, no weeping, no gnashing of teeth.

It is often hard to rationalize the illness and suffering of a child. It is awful to see those we love go quickly downhill and depart this earth. It is numbing to see human beings take the lives of other human beings. It is heartless to see those who do not agree with others to despise them, cast aspersions at them and ostracize them.

When considering the malaise of others, our own small obstacles seem trivial.

In dealing with cancer, starting over with our website and the substantive financial fallout involved and the recent experience with a problematic knee injury, it has been challenging. It is also an opportunity to display courage, strength and faith.

It is easy to proclaim faith and to talk positively when things are going well. It is considerably more difficult when things are difficult.

I have often stated that you find out more about people when they lose than when they win. You win with grace and character, you lose with grace and character.

Ultimately, maintaining grace, character and class in tough times will produce the ultimate victory despite short term loss.

We must strive to give unconditionally, incessantly and with a warm heart. The Lord loves a joyful giver.

We must erase all prejudice in our hearts and minds, eradicate hate, which has no place in this world or in the beings of believers.

We must be resolute in making ourselves better persons daily.

We must made a concerted effort to become more understanding of all points of views.

We must utilize the gifts we have been given to bless others and to serve.

The greatest command Jesus gave us was to love one another, to love Him and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

It is easy to say, sometimes hard to do.

While listening to Christmas music, devouring whatever my relatives put in front of me and watching NBA games, it is my clear desire to make sure that I am thankful for all of the blessings that have been bestowed on me. I am not worthy and never will be but I am truly grateful.

This is a day we will celebrate with family, enjoying massive calories of excellent food which sisters, wives and children have worked hard to prepare. It is a day where presents will be exchanged, hopefully resulting in smiling faces.

I believe there is good inside of each and every person’s heart. Some are more evident than others. Darkness intercedes and clouds judgment and action to the point of distraction. This is when we must take action and implement subtraction of the negative attraction of sinful thoughts. Our reaction must be one where the traction of our stated belief to serve as a firm retraction to poor behavior until we realize satisfaction and goodness gains traction in our daily lives.

In my quest for encouragement, I often turn to music for inspiration.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra has served as a light in my world for many years now. Through all of the pyrotechnics, amazing lighting, musicianship and amazing voices, there is always a positive message filled with the spirit of Christmas, its meaning and the meaning of life and basis of our faith.

Here are the lyrics from the TSO song “Believe,” which capture the essence of faith, overcoming our mistakes, persevering and ultimate triumph.

So after all those one night stands
You’ve ended up with heart in hand
A child alone
On your own
Retreating
Regretful for the things you’re not
And all the things you haven’t got
Without a home
A heart of stone lies bleeding
And for all the roads you followed
And for all you did not find
And for all the dreams you had to leave behind
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don’t turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I’ll be right there
I’ll never leave
And all I ask of you
Believe
Your childhood eyes were so intense
While bartering your innocence
For bits of string
The grown-up wings you needed
But when you had to add them up
You found that they were not enough
To get you in
And pay for sins
Repeated
And for all the years you borrowed
And for all the tears you hide
And for all the fears you had to keep inside
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don’t turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I’ll be right there
I’ll never leave
And all I ask of you
Believe
I never wanted to know
Never wanted to see
I wasted my time
‘Til time wasted me
I never wanted to go
Always wanted to stay
‘Cause the person I am
Are the parts that I play
So I plot and I plan
Hope and I scheme
To the lure of a night
Filled with unfinished dreams
And I’m holding on tight
To a world gone astray
As they charge me for years
I can’t pay
Yeah
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don’t turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I’ll be right there
I’ll never leave
And all I ask of you
Believe

I believe this is a special time of the year. I believe we are destined for great futures, regardless of past disappointments and current conditions. I believe we can overcome failure.

Regardless of your persuasion, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, we are eternally grateful that you have blessed us by visiting and hopefully enjoying CrescentCitySports.com.

We believe in you. We thank you for believing in us. Merry Christmas from our CrescentCitySports.com family!