As we enter the liturgical season of Advent, a time of preparation awaiting the coming of Jesus, both at Christmas as a baby in a lowly stable and at the promised time of his Second Coming, we watch also as the commercial world runs seemingly amok. Although the internet and Amazon have taken some of the frenzy from the hordes of people lined up at the big stores on Black Friday morning, we still face long lines at checkout and out-ofstock notices, both in-store and on-line, as we shop for the most-desired of gifts for our young children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews.

It was the best 25-cents I’ve spent in a long time. Saturday, perusing the selection of books at Second Chance, I was attracted to a thin, yellowing spiral-bound book.

As we continue in this Advent Season journeying with the people of the Old Testament and awaiting the birth of the Savior at Christmas, we encounter John the Baptist in the wilderness. We are told in Luke’s Gospel, John is “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’” John proclaims a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. When you see the word ‘sin’, what comes to mind? Guilt, the rules, breaking of rules, maybe a particular sin? If we get to the root of sin, sin isn’t just breaking the rules, it is about breaking a relationship with God. It’s all about relationship, and it has been that way since the time of Adam and Eve when they severed their relationship with God in the garden with the Original Sin. So why do we receive a message of repentance as we prepare our hearts to welcome the Christ-child in the manger?

C House Speaker Dade Phelan withdrew last week from seeking another term leading that chamber. After three rounds of voting on Saturday, state Rep.

T EXAS History Hugh Roy Cullen gave a luncheon at his Houston mansion on Dec. 7, 1949 for Gen.

That Little Voice Do you realize how many ‘justs’ we use each day? I had never thought about it until someone asked what I mean when I say ‘just’. Who knows what I mean? It is a word in the English language that I just use.

To the Editor: To the anonymous coward who sent a letter to me about my Trump flag: I’m sorry you are so bothered that I continue to fly my Trump flag weeks after the election. You demand I remove the flag because it hurts your feelings and it’s not considerate of others.

To the Editor: I voted for the most prolife candidates, because God hates the shedding of innocent blood. (Proverbs 6:17) I voted for the most pro-Israel candidates, because God blesses those who bless Israel and curses those who don’t.

To the Editor: My nostalgia for Veteran’s Day goes back to the 1940’s when I was a little boy living in a farming community in Western Colorado. We kids were expected to spend part of a Saturday, the town’s market day, going around with other kids “selling” VFW Buddy Poppy’s.

Here’s a few scattered thoughts – some Thanksgiving leftovers if you will – as I still dream about that amazing turkey (cooked in a crock pot!) that my niece made for Thanksgiving ... W hen was the last time you ran around on a playground? Thankfully my kids are young enough to still embrace the promise of a good playground, so by extension I still find myself on a swing or a slide every once in a while.