Adjourning In The "Nick" Of Time

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Adjourning In The "Nick" Of Time

Special Report - December 23, 2010

The 111^th Congress adjourned yesterday, and for many, the "lame duck" session ended not a moment too soon. This session of Congress will be remembered not by its number, but by what it did and did not do. Beginning with a massive reform bill that will extend health care to many and raises the costs for all, and ending with the legitimization of sodomy in our armed forces, this session dealt with a number of controversial issues. A requirement that the Federal Reserve let Congress know what it was doing with the trillions of dollars it was spending let us see the extent of the bailout to large banks and investment firms.

Voters responded to many of the hot button issues in this Democrat controlled Congress by electing more Republicans in the November general election this year. This destroys the filibuster proof majority enjoyed by Senate Democrats and gives Republicans control of the House, come January 2011. These changes and new procedures will greet the 112^th session of Congress. Senate Democrats are discussing ways to rein in the use of the filibuster by Republicans, and House Republicans are considering new procedures for dealing with budget and tax issues.

Here in North Carolina, Republicans continue to organize for the new session of the General Assembly that begins January 26. Dealing with a $3.7 billion state budget deficit, drawing new electoral districts for the State, and addressing the many legislative issues not considered by the Democrats in recent years, these will predominate.

But for the next few days, many of us will stop and consider the most important things: Faith, family and freedom. We will welcome loved ones from afar, or travel to them. We will worship together as we consider the source of our lives and the freedoms we enjoy. That’s not to say that some of the policy issues we have dealt with will not come up for conversation during our time together, but other things will predominate.

The staff of the North Carolina Family Policy Council prays that you and your family enjoy a holy and blessed Christmas this year. While we know that this can be a most hectic time, we encourage you to make time to reflect on the greatest gift we have been given—a Savior. The time we will spend with family and friends, the beautiful services we will attend, the carols we will sing, the meals we will share, and the gifts we will exchange are all meant to be a part of our celebration of God’s overwhelming love for us undeserving sinners, manifested by sending His only Son into the world to save us.

The best Christmas speech you will hear this year is the same that has been heard for 2,000 years—the Good News announcing the birth of Christ and the opportunity we are given to accept His offer to have a relationship with us. Linus got it right in that classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas"—Christmas is all about God coming into the world as a humble baby to save His people. Watch the clip here, and share this loveable cartoon with your children, family, friends, and other holiday guests. It is so much more than a kid show. It is the reason for the season.