I’ve struggled with what to write in December. I thought about doing a “12 Prayers for Louisiana” for 2026 that included “11 LSU football wins” instead of “11 pipers piping” and “4 Republican PSC members” instead of “4 Calling Birds.” However, it was just missing something…

I thought about the leftwing Anti-ICE protestors in Gonzales who made my drive to the gym longer than I expected a few days ago and even annoyed me  a couple days before that in the same area when it was clear as day they were placating to a television camera that was filming them.  However, one of the other writers did a better job on that topic. I do think somehow, we should have a proper thank you meal from the Gulf of America at some point for the ICE, Border patrol folks & other federal law enforcements agents that are here in Louisiana like what was done in Memphis a few days ago.

However, I’ll leave it to some folks who know how to cook better than me, have the right venue, and get the right VIP guests to figure that one out when the time is right. Even in the parts of our state where our food isn’t perfect, we in Louisiana can still beat Tennessee at throwing such a patriotic thank you shindig any day of the week no matter where you are in our great state.

I didn’t think my alma mater, Louisiana Tech making it back to the Independence Bowl and how wild it is that Tulane is headed to Oxford for a rematch in the football playoff was something that would stimulate a great column as I’ve proven I’m not the greatest subject matter expert on football. I’m sure some of you would have questioned my football expertise, given my column earlier this year if I would have tried to go down this road.

I clearly didn’t realize the game mentioned in the article would start a path where the folks in Oxford would win the game but lose the head coach to LSU. The TV drama department in the SEC football scheduling office decided to put the LSU @ Ole Miss game as early as possible in the calendar in September as a response to what has happened.

I’m looking forward to seeing members of my family out west and by spending time in Northern Nevada later this month. My family may remind me about the 0% Nevada income tax when I get out there. When at some point I ride around a portion Lake Tahoe we’ll see the insane California’s “we hate the energy industry” policies at work when I see the gas prices at the pump on the Taxifornia side of Lake Tahoe versus what they are in Carson City, Nevada. That I’m glad Louisiana seems to be on a path to get to 0% income tax and that we still generally love the energy industry, the revenue it brings into the economy and the jobs that come with it. However, that is not a subject for a full column from me.

I thought about the various holiday parties that I’ve been blessed to go to and while it was great to save a little bit on Christmas card stamps, catch up with friends, meet some new ones and eat some great food this wasn’t really “write a column” material.

As good as all the things above are truthfully, I haven’t found many things that top the sermon my pastor delivered at our Men’s Bible study earlier this AM about Daniel 9 even though I was barely awake at 6am, the column my old boss Kelly Boggs at the Baptist Message wrote about the importance of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, and Jefferson Baptist’s Christmas Together.

Why is that? Well football, elections, presidential administrations, tax policy and parties come and geaux. These things are all important and trust me I’ll spend plenty of time in 2026 and maybe even some before then on some of those as well as helping Louisiana’s US House Speaker Mike Johnson maintain his gavel & grow the Republican majority in the US House.

However, the main reason everything else especially at this time of the year is secondary is that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”  The 6am Men’s Bible study, the Kelly Boggs article and the Christmas production focus on that reality in different ways.

I’d recommend all of us (including myself) find time to reflect on this as this month winds down and make sure we have our priorities in line with Biblical truth. In conclusion, I’d recommend you head on to the church house for a church service this weekend & maybe even on Christmas Eve as well, turn on the Charlie Brown Christmas special with any kids in your life and look for those opportunities to bring a few others with you to a Bible-believing church that honors God wherever you find yourself this time of year!

Merry Christmas to all!