Harnett Dispatch » Editorial

Rabin on the Attack and Telling Untruthful Facts

Harnett — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 02:10:26 +0000

Rabin on the Attack and Telling Untruthful Facts

The political season is underway and many of you may have noticed a bundle of mailers arriving in your mailboxes over the last month. It’s that time of the year when politicians start flooding the local postal customers with their mailers to gain name recognition before the November elections. It’s estimated that some of these individuals will spend close to a quarter of a million dollars in order to attack their opponents.

Rabin is using same political strategy

Many of you may remember this same strategy was used against former NC house member, Don Davis of Erwin in the 2012 elections. Rabin’s campaign was relentless and attacked Mr. Davis and made false accusations against Mr. Davis that carried no evidence of facts. The Rabin Campaign ended up spending close to $ 70.000 on attack ads against Mr. Davis. At that time Mr. Davis who is considered a statesman by many local Harnett county natives choose not to retaliate and said that he would run on his on merit and would not stoop down to the level that Rabin’s campaign was playing. Mr. Davis said “if all you can do is attack someone running against you, then you must not have any merit of you own to run on.

The strategy that Sen. Rabin is using is one that many Republican political consultants have been using since the 2010 elections. They start out by sending positive mailers about the candidate they are trying to get elected and then they start mailing nasty attack mailers followed by a few more positive ones.

Fact Check

We here at the Harnett Dispatch wanted to check the truthfulness of the attack mailer that was just deployed by Rabin’s campaign. The mailer states that Mr. Joe Langley would oppose an $ 800.00 pay raise for every working taxpayer and that he says that he wants to help the middle class families. The source that the information came from was documented on the mailer as coming from Mr. Langley’s website. We checked out the source and other countless resources and in fact found that there is no indication nor quote or source that backs up this claim. The mailer was correct on one thing and that was “Joe Langley says he wants to help middle class families”. This statement was the only truthful fact that we were able to confirm from the documented sources and other sources we searched.

Why the Picture Altercation?

We noticed that the picture that was posted on the mailer seemed to be digitally altered; the picture that was used is posted on Mr. Langley’s website in full color. The picture that was used for the mailer had been altered to make Mr. Langley appear older then he actually is. The picture seemed to add more wrinkles and what seemed like to us warts or some type of skin blemishes. Many are asking, what is the tactic behind altering Mr. Langley’s picture.

Please see below

Harnett Gun Owners Have Fire in Bellies

Harnett — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 19:59:54 +0000

Harnett Gun Owners Have Fire in Bellies

Harnett Gun Owners Have Fire in Bellies

Vice Chairman Gary A. House

Harnett County Board of Commissioners

On Monday night approximately 250 to 300 Harnett gun owners rallied at the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to speak against a new PROPOSED ordinance at a public hearing that could limit their ability to fire their guns on their property.

Many of the residents who spoke read and understood the PROPOSED ordinance. It was obvious that others had not read or understood the PROPOSED ordinance. One gentleman approached me before the public hearing with a copy of the ordinance in his hand and started asking questions. It quickly became obvious to me that he had not read the ordinance. Finally I asked him if he had read it. He admitted that he had not even though it was in his hand. He was going by what others had led him to believe.

Many who spoke at the meeting accused the Commissioners of having our minds made up before the public hearing was started. I cannot speak for the other Commissioners but I know my mind was not made up prior to our meeting. I had issues with the ordinance myself. I even posted the ordinance on my FaceBook page once I had it in a PDF format and asked for people’s opinions. Yes, I received several opinions because I reached out to the community.

I came into the public hearing with an open mind. I have always listened to my constituents. I made a promise to my constituents that I would always listen to them and take their views into consideration over eight years ago. I have always lived up to that promise. Yes, I did take it a little personal at the hearing when person after person, some who were friends of mine, kept saying that all of the Commissioners had already had their minds made up and we were going to vote on it later that night.

A public hearing is just that–a public hearing. Sometimes there are votes to approve or deny a PROPOSED ordinance on the night it is presented. Sometimes the ordinance is tabled and sent back to the Planning Department for modification. There are some good things is this ordinance, which I have read numerous times. There are also some over reaching items in the ordinance.

I did learn a lot by listening to the many residents who spoke at the meeting. I would be negligent in my duties and promises if my mind were made up before I listened to the people of Harnett County. There are many things in this ordinance that need to be eliminated or altered. It may be that the entire ordinance needs to be dropped. However, there is one item in the ordinance that needs to be addressed in some fashion. Projectiles should not leave a person’s property endangering the lives of others.

I am certain that almost 100% of the people who attended the public hearing have exemplary safety practices where bullets end up in a natural berm or a manmade berm. However, that is not the case for all gun owners shooting on their property. An example of that was giving to me by our zoning inspector. One gunman was shooting at a target attached to a pine tree with no berm behind it. As a matter of fact, a pond was behind the tree on someone else’s land. If the gunman missed the target, the stray bullet could have hit a child fishing in the pond. The Sheriff does need to have an ordinance that has some teeth in it that would address this issue. We cannot allow unsafe gun practices especially when our lands are being replaced with a rapid influx of people and new subdivisions.

Many people claimed at the hearing that their Second Amendment rights were being assaulted. That certainly was not the intent. Personally, I have had no phone calls about noise or exploding targets even though other Commissioners claim they have and the Sheriff claims he has also.

My chief concern is the ones who do not exhibit good gun safety practices and the health and safety of the ones potentially affected.

Changing directions a little bit, it was wonderful seeing concerned citizens pack the county board room last night with fire in their bellies. Sometimes, I wonder if apathy has paralyzed the citizens of the county. Apathy was certainly not evident last night. We have a lot of important issues in the County that need addressing. Explosive growth in our traditional rural lands has caused concerns over gun safety practices.

That same explosive growth has created tremendous demands on our school system. That growth has generated complaints from parents with children in the system. But honestly, I have not seen the fire in the bellies of the parents at our board meetings that saw in the Harnett County gun owners last night.

We have a school bond referendum on the ballot in November to assist us in financing the schools we desperately need. I would like to see the community use the fire in the bellies of Harnett County gun owners and stand up and demand that we pass these bonds and look after the education of our children.

Parents, you need to start that fire in your bellies for our kids just like the Harnett gun owners exhibited last night for their right to use their guns. Property owners have the right to fire their weapons on their property in a safe manner just as our kids have the right to a good, quality education in a comfortable setting.

I challenge all of you to rid yourselves of political apathy, take a stand on important issues with a burning fire in your bellies. If not, we all suffer.

Why Are Some Local Politicians Upset?

Harnett — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 03:40:40 +0000

Why Are Some Local Politicians Upset?

Daniel Glover
Editor

As the editor of the Harnett Dispatch I enjoy allowing people in our community to gain access to news and events that would otherwise might not ever come to light. I have worked hard over the last 3 years to make the Harnett Dispatch the most transparent news outlet in Harnett County no matter who I’ve upset along the way.

In recent months the Harnett Dispatch has been the subject of threats of lawsuits at local events and among some elected officials. In one incident an elected official went as far as to buy the website domain www.harnettdispatch.com but did not have the knowledge of websites to know that we would be able to lookup who the domain was registered to. Once we discovered who had bought the domain within the prior month we reached out to the elected official through email and asked them if they were thinking about getting into the news business, to our surprise we never got a response to that email and the registration of the domain was set to private and hidden.

What we’ve noticed is that many elected officials claim that they want more transparency in government but when we do what they have been asking for they seem to get upset and try to promote other local media sources that don’t reveal their actions. We don’t discriminate based on political parties nor individuals. In most cases we report facts that have been conveniently hidden to the public. The threats and attempts to deter people from viewing our publication have failed miserably and have done the exact opposite and people are noticing the attempt and are sharing their observations with us. Our readership has rocketed to 40,000-75,000 on a daily basis. The people of Harnett County deserve to know the facts about their elected officials and what they are doing behind closed doors. Factual journalism serves as a check and balance system for any community.

“Pulling a Fast One on the Harnett County School Board”

Harnett — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 02:40:03 +0000

“Pulling a Fast One on the Harnett County School Board”

Vice Chairman Gary A. House

Harnett County Board of Commissioners

I had one of the worst insults hurled at me today that I have experienced while serving you as your County Commissioner over the last eight years.

I was told that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners is “pulling a fast one on the Harnett County School Board.” When I pressed for clarification, the gentleman proclaimed that the County Commissioners only voted to put the $100 million of school bonds on the ballot to November so it would be voted down. Then the County Board could go back to the School Board and say “Well, we tried. The voters do not want it. There is nothing we can do.”

I was the one who suggested putting the school bonds on the ballot in November. I am the one who made the motion and had the resolution prepared. It was a unanimous vote to have a bond referendum on the ballot. I cannot speak for the other commissioners but I did NOT try to “pull a fast one on the School Board.” I do not operate that way. Based on conversations that I have had with Chairman Joe Miller and Commissioner Beatrice Hill, I do not believe they intended to “pull a fast one on the School Board” either.

Personally, I would never play games with the education of our children. I realize that we have a massive problem with the overcrowding of our schools. For that reason, I have been a vocal proponent of our school system for the last few years.

Some commissioners misled the public stating that if they voted to pass the ¼ cent sales tax, property taxes would not increase. I stood up in a joint meeting with the School Board and held the ¼ cent sales tax resolution up for all to see and told them it would not be a drop in the bucket for what our mounting needs are. I further stated that we could not go around telling people that it was an either/or proposition. The very next week I started getting reports that some commissioners were telling constituents that if they voted for the sales tax, property taxes would not increase.

I cannot help that some commissioners have their heads in the sand and tell the residents of Harnett County things that are not true. Those commissioners are the same ones who voted to start funding a capital reserve fund for the schools in order to pass the budget in 2013-2014. When it came time for them to transfer the money, they refused. They also refused to transfer the money for a sale of property that was intended to go into the capital reserve fund for schools.

Some commissioners may be playing games with the School Board on the bond referendum. But Gary House is not nor will he ever “pull a fast one on the School Board” or anyone else for that matter.

As I have stated in a previous blog, if the school bonds are not passed in November, a future board will be forced to use other forms of financing such as Certificates of Participation (COPS) that will likely carry a higher interest rate than the bonds.

Depending on how the election transpires in November, additional schools may not be built until other commissioners are replaced or they attempt to head to the big City of Raleigh in two years.

Our school system cannot continue to endure the underfunding of its capital needs.

The ones hurt by “pulling a fast one on the School Board” will be our kids and ultimately our communities.

Modern Day School-Raising in Harnett County

Harnett — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 02:07:58 +0000

Modern Day School-Raising in Harnett County

Vice Chairman Gary A. House

Harnett County Board of Commissioners

Over the last eight years of being a commissioner and 24 years of being a certified public accountant in Harnett County, I have had the opportunity to traverse the county many times foraging many relationships. All of the communities in Harnett County have some of the best people in the world. Many have gone out of their way to be kind to me. Frankly, there are many places in Harnett County in which I could be happy living.

I have literally spent many thousands of hours doing volunteer work, coaching, civic clubs, etc. in Dunn, Erwin, Coats and around the county. My duties as commissioner have often taken me to the other side of Harnett County to Anderson Creek. Most of my calls as commissioner came from the Anderson Creek area. I always went when there was a problem no matter from where the call came. I have spent most of my professional career in Dunn but practiced in Lillington for a few years. I know this county well.

I think overall the communities in Harnett County get along well. However, I have detected some animosity by some but not all residents based on geographical location.

I personally feel very comfortable with the people of Erwin and Dunn. I spend a lot time in both communities. However, I often hear that there is a fairly strong rivalry between the two towns. Personally I view the two towns as one. Perhaps this lingering rivalry goes back to the old football days between Dunn and Erwin High Schools. Perhaps it is more.

I often hear particularly from the Lillington area that Dunn thinks it is the center of the universe and gets everything it wants. Conversely, I often hear that Dunn thinks Lillington is the center of the universe and gets everything it wants.

What perturbs me the most, however, is many people try to use the Cape Fear River to split the county in half. It causes me great displeasure hearing people say “this side of the river” and “that side of the river.”

My district as commissioner encompasses much area on both sides of the river. I have always seen the Cape Fear River is the link between the county not a barrier.

I often hear from people of Anderson Creek that they have always been treated as the red-headed step child of Harnett County and Dunn rules everything. I, as commissioner, have given Anderson Creek much more attention than they have had in the past. I hear from Dunn that the Western side of the county has always ruled Harnett County. I have always addressed Dunn’s issues when they were brought to me. I believe I have been successful in looking after both sides of my district.

As you can see, there are lots of conflicting perceptions about where the power lies in Harnett County. In my opinion, most of the perceptions are distorted. We have a lot of caring people in Harnett County and I am fortunate enough to personally know a lot of them

However, one thing disturbs me is the overcrowding of our schools. Some attempt to say this is a problem for “the other side of the county.” The infrastructure problems do not exist just in Western Harnett County. They exist in Northern and Central Harnett County as well. Even Triton has capital improvements that must be addressed. I never heard a word about the County using tax dollars from Western Harnett County to build Triton, Coats-Erwin Middle, Dunn Middle, Harnett Primary, Coats Elementary and Angier Elementary.

One commissioner keeps playing a political ploy that we need a special tax district in Western Harnett County so it can build its own schools. He knows this is not permissible in the State of North Carolina nor is it fair.

The only way that I think a special tax district would be fair is if the taxes collected paid for activities such as recreation and libraries—services typically provided for by taxpayers in municipalities. This kind of special tax district is permissible.

Since there are no municipalities in Western Harnett, that area will never have the municipal amenities that Dunn, Angier, Erwin, Lillington and Coats enjoy such as increased police protection, libraries and recreational programs. These amenities and others will come once areas in Western Harnett incorporate.

But schools are different. We are obligated by the State of North Carolina to educate the children in Harnett County no matter whether they are home grown or transferred here by the military. The Federal and State government have not stepped up to help us in this mandate.

We have a massive problem. It is true that we do not have the overcrowding problems in our schools in Eastern Harnett but we used the tax dollars generated from across all of Harnett County to get into this position. I know of no check written specifically from Eastern Harnett to pay for the schools that we enjoy.

We were helped in Eastern Harnett. Now our neighbors in Northern, Western and Central Harnett County need help. We all need to put aside any geographical biases that we have and realize that we are neighbors no matter what side of the river we live on.

What happened to the days when a barn burned down and our neighbors showed up to help us build a new one? What happened to the days when a family moved to the community and the neighbors showed up to help them build a home before the winter cold set in?

Neighbors used to help neighbors. When one was in need, someone showed up with a bushel of corn. I realized that life is a little more complicated now. There are many of us who are struggling. They struggled in the olden days too but neighbors were there for neighbors. They cared.

One day in the near future, Buies Creek Elementary, Erwin Elementary, and Gentry Primary will need to be replaced. I do not want the people from Western Harnett yelling that they do not want their tax dollars going to this side of the river.

One day in the near future, Benhaven School will need to be replaced. I do not want the people in Eastern Harnett yelling that they do not want their tax dollars going to that side of the river.

We are a county. We should have unity. We should help our neighbors. We should be there for each other.

With the massive problems we have, it is time to have a modern day school-raising—neighbor helping neighbor no matter where you live.

Why Would Local Politicians Shy Away From Local Media Outlet?

Harnett — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 01:40:17 +0000

Why Would Local Politicians Shy Away From Local Media Outlet?

Daniel Glover
Editor

Many readers have asked me why do some of our local elected officials shy away from the Harnett Dispatch and not share more input into the stories we report. This question is a good one, and needs to be examined in order to understand the nature of the beast. Let me first start out by explaining what journalism is about or should I say, what it’s supposed to be about.

In modern society, the news media is the chief purveyor of information and opinion about public affairs. Journalism, however, is not always confined to the news media or to news itself, as journalistic communication may find its way into broader forms of expression, including literature and cinema. In some nations, the news media is still controlled by government intervention, and is not fully an independent body.

In a democratic society, however, access to free information plays a central role in creating a system of checks and balance, and in distributing power equally amongst governments, businesses, individuals, and other social entities. Access to verifiable information gathered by independent media sources, which adhere to journalistic standards, can also be of service to ordinary citizens, by empowering them with the tools they need in order to participate in the political process.

So one would wonder why some of our elected officials would not be willing to share their thoughts and express their stance on issues that affect our area as a whole.

The Facts

The Harnett Dispatch adheres to the basic principles of journalism.

Fair & Balanced

We Show no Favoritism

No political hype for any one individual

No sugar coating or whitewashing of stories

Factual Reports with evidence to back up what we say

Investigative reporting to uncover corruption or wrongdoing

So the question remains the same, why would they not want to talk to us, it has been rumored that they don’t think people read the Harnett Dispatch and therefore there’s no reason to respond to our inquiries, others have said that many of them are upset with us because we release facts about deals and operations that would not otherwise be released to the public. We here at the Harnett Dispatch have reached out to these elected officials and in many cases never get a response back to our questions so we go ahead and run the facts of the story. There are some officials that are more than happy to help us every time we contact them in order to keep the public informed.

Myth Buster

We make contact with the people they fail to get back with us.

We have a readership of between 35,000-40,000 people a day from right here in Harnett County.

We will always print the truth, if it’s bad we will print it and if it’s good we will print it.

We will not show favoritism.

So elected officials that are reading this, please know that our emails and phones are always open for your comments; the dream world myth of thinking no one is reading this publication just got busted!

Funny Joke of the Day

Harnett — Fri, 16 May 2014 15:13:38 +0000

A North Carolina State Trooper pulled a car over on US 301 about 2 miles south of the Virginia State line. When the trooper asked the driver why he was speeding…, the driver said he was a juggler and was on his way to do a show at the Shrine Circus in Emporia. He didn’t want to be late.

The trooper told the driver he was fascinated by juggling and said if the driver would do a little juggling for him then he wouldn’t give him a ticket. He told the trooper he had sent his equipment ahead and didn’t have anything to juggle. The trooper said he had some flares in the trunk and asked if he could juggle them.

The juggler said he could, so the trooper got 5 flares, lit them and handed them to him. While the man was juggling, a car pulled in behind the patrol car. A drunken good old boy traveling from Tennessee got out, watched the performance, then went over to the patrol car, opened the rear door and got in.

The trooper observed him and went over to the patrol car, opened the door asking the drunk what he thought he was doing. The drunk replied, “You might as well take my ass to jail, cause there ain’t no way in hell I can pass that test.”

Zero Tax Rate in Harnett County??? Will Refunds Be Issued???

Harnett — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:19:49 +0000

Zero Tax Rate in Harnett County??? Will Refunds Be Issued???

Zero Tax Rate In Harnett County???

Will Refunds Be Issued???

Gary House

By Vice Chairman Gary A. House

On June 27, 2013, in an attempt to compromise with other county commissioners, I made a motion to approve the 2013-2014 budget with no tax increase with the modification that any excess revenues over expenditures in the General Fund would be placed in a newly created Capital Reserve Fund for school construction, renovation and repair. Even though my goal was to bring the ones who wanted to raise taxes for the schools and those who did not want to raise taxes together in compromise, the motion was approved 3 to 2.

The residents of Harnett County received no tax increase and a promise to start funding the capital needs of our school system which is literally busting at the seams in several areas of the county.

I waited very anxiously to see how much our fund balance would increase according to our 2012-2013 annual audit. I asked our finance director numerous times how much did it look like our fund balance would increase. She always told me not to get excited but it looked like it would be in the $2.6 million range.

When the audit was delivered to us in December of 2013 , it showed that our general fund balance actually increased $4.6 million. Now, after the $2.4 million dollars it took to fund the 2013-2014 General Fund budget, $2.2 million was left designated to go into this Capital Reserve Fund for schools.

I have brought this issue up three times at Board meetings since. I even asked at the Board meetings for this amendment with the exact dollar amount to be brought to us for approval. Since it had not been presented to us, I prepared it myself and presented it this week.

Our finance officer seemed puzzled that I would make a motion for a budget amendment to fund our schools. She chimed in and stated that the motion that I made on June 27, 2013 was against government and municipal rules because it did not give a definitive amount at that time of the motion. The motion was very specific. We all understood that the exact number would be taken from the audit to be presented later in the year.

At no time over the next seven months did anyone from the County including the finance officer, attorneys, or fellow commissioners ever suggest that the motion to approve the budget with the modification of creating a Capital Reserve Fund to be funded the first year by the excess revenues over expenditures of the 2012-2013 year was not valid.

Hypothetically, giving our finance director the benefit of the doubt and assuming that my motion to adopt the General Fund budget was in fact not permissible, the Board has never legally voted on a budget for 2013-2014. The County has made expenditures for seven months erroneously under the pre-audit requirement because it technically does not have a budget. If part of my motion is not permissible, the whole motion is not permissible. At no time in the last seven months has anyone brought up this issue.

Since the adoption of the budget also sets the tax rate and the date to pass the tax rate has already passed, the tax rate must be zero. The property taxes assessed/paid in 2013-14 were assessed at at 72.5 cent per $100 dollars of valuation rate. Shouldn’t those property taxes be refunded since a tax rate was never set?

The Board cannot have it both ways. Either the original budget approved is valid or we have no current budget or tax rate. The County cannot accept half of the motion and not the other half.

By a 3 to 2 vote, we promised the residents of our county we would fund this Capital Reserve Fund. Others may renege on their promise but I will not.

Our schools are in need of help. I have voted against the budget in the past stating that I did not think we were doing enough for the schools. It is beyond the time that eyes were opened and we see the affect that lack of funding is having on our schools, our children, our community and our workforce.

I receive lots of calls from concerned parents particularly in one of the most overcrowded schools in District 2, my County Commissioner district. I also talk with as many teachers as I can. Our issues in the school system run deep. Overcrowding and poor teacher retention in some schools are problems that must be solved.

We cannot expect to attract and retain quality teachers when we have overcrowded schools and the lowest supplements in any county surrounding us. The conditions of the schools do affect the quality of education that we can provide to our students.

It will take a joint effort between the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, the Harnett County Board of Education and the community to compromise in the resolution of these issues that we have in educating our students.

Do I think the county budget is invalid and the county tax rate is zero based on a technicality? NO. Do I think tax refunds will be issued? DEFINITELY NOT.

But I do believe the Harnett County Government should step up and honor its commitment to fund the Capital Reserve Fund for our schools….

Renee Ellmers Blasts Obama coming to North Carolina, Editorial

Harnett — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 15:14:01 +0000

In a featured on WRAL news Rep. Renee Ellmers says that she is dismayed that the President would try to take credit for the job growth here in North Carolina. Watch video below to see full interview.

http://wral.com/13302121

By Daniel Glover

The question must be asked if Rep. Ellmers is so dismayed by the President, what she has done for the district that she represents in Congress. I think we all can agree that Ellmers has had plenty of camera time to talk about what people are not doing but she has not done anything to help the school situation in Harnett and the growth and development of our district. There has been one thing on her agenda and that is to repeal Obama Care.

I think that we may see the same thought process in the election process; people on Main Street want change and help. The last 3 years of Ellmers in Washington has not brought that to the district. If anything she is inaccessible to the general public of the 2^nd district. Now many people may disagree with this but remember I am not talking about an event such as a GOP meeting or fundraiser, I am talking about the streets of our community. She is nowhere to be found…

http://wral.com/13302121

Why I Love Christmas

Harnett — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 15:10:15 +0000

The Reason Why I Love Christmas

A few years ago during the Christmas season I was visiting a member of the church I pastored who was in the hospital. As I was leaving, a lady with whom I was sharing the elevator commented that she liked my Christmas tie. I responded, “Thank you” and “I love Christmas!” A statement that I have made many times, because I do love Christmas. I think it is one of best seasons of the year. My love for Christmas has not just started. In fact, I can’t remember not ever loving Christmas. My earliest thought of the season goes back to when I was two or three years old. I can remember hearing the sounds of sleigh bells and the arrival of Santa Claus on the roof top. A little imagination never hurt anyone that I know of.

For many days after my chance encounter with that stranger in the elevator, my thoughts were haunted by the statement I made about my love of Christmas. I know that I love Christmas, but the question that really haunts me is, “Why do I love Christmas?” After much reflection, I have identified several answers to the question.

I love the sights of Christmas. Christmas has a different look to it. Lighted trees and decorated houses. I like lights and plenty of them. For those who have seen my house decorated for Christmas, you will know that I am telling you the truth. I have jokingly said that if my wife would stand still long enough I would put a string of lights on her.

I love the sounds of Christmas. Have you ever noticed that Christmas has its own unique sounds? There is the sound of bells ringing, children laughing, carolers singing, and a host of other sounds both old and new. Of course, I’m partial to the sacred music such as “O, Come All Ye Faith,” “Joy to the World,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “The First Noel,” ‘Hark, The Herald Angel Sing,” “O, Holy Night,” and “Silent Night.” But I also like many of the traditional tunes we learned as children, such as “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Silver Bells, Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and of course “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” It brings tears to the eyes, and a little laughter to the soul.

I love the smells of Christmas. There is nothing like the smell of a ham baking, fresh baked cookies and candies, a fresh fir tree, and hot apple cider brewing on the stove.

I love the colors of Christmas. Red is my favorite color, so I am delighted that it is a predominate color of the season. Red decorations on a green Christmas tree, there nothing like it!

I love the classic movies about Christmas. Who can forget the lesson that George Bailey learned from an angel in It’s A Wonderful Life that a man is never a failure who has friends. In the Miracle On 34^th Street, a little girl learns that miracles can happen if you believe. How about the story of How The Grinch Stole Christmas? This miserable, small hearted creature learned that Christmas will come no matter what.

I love the generous spirit that arises this time of year. People love to give and this season affords the opportunity.

Finally, I come back to that encounter I had with the stranger in the elevator. That seemingly chance meeting forced me to identify why I really love Christmas. I don’t love Christmas because of all of the things I have just mentioned, no matter how important that may seem to me. The real reason I love Christmas is because I love Jesus, the real source of the season. For all that is good, right, and holy in this world is symbolized in the life Jesus Christ. I owe my life to him and make no reservations about it. So, Christmas is about loving God and loving other people. Even though Christmas brings out the worst in humanity, such as greed, it even more brings out the good that human beings can experience because, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If you have not already, I pray that you too will learn to love Christmas!