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The Christmas Assumption

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    The Christmas season is marked by universally recognized images: twinkling lights, festive music, and perhaps the most iconic of all—the Nativity scene. These symbols are so commonplace that it is easy to fall into what we might call The Christmas Assumption : the belief that because people celebrate the holiday, they must understand the actual story of Jesus Christ.      Several years ago, a Baptist Press story highlighted the danger of this assumption. A missionary traveling through a staunchly Buddhist area of Southeast Asia noticed something unusual in an open-air market: several beautifully crafted Nativity sets.      The missionary was curious and tracked down the family making them. To his surprise, they knew nothing about the pieces they were selling. A French tourist had simply suggested they make the sets to sell alongside their other handmade items. The family had absolutely no idea what the Nativity figures represented.  ...
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Immanuel in the Hay: Finding Simple Ways to Share the Christmas Message

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     The Christmas story is the greatest event in human history. So great in fact that history has been divided by that very event.       Everything prior to the birth of Christ was labeled as B.C. which means "Before Christ". Meaning that all of recorded human history that happened before the birth of Christ has that label. For example Alexander the Great died either  June 10 or 11, 323 BC. Another words Alexander the Great died 323 years before Jesus Christ was Born, B.C.       Accordingly everything that happened after the birth of Christ is labeled with A.D. This stands for the Latin phrase "Anno Domini" which means "in the year of our Lord" So this year is 2025 A.D. which means 2025 years after the birth of Christ.     The birth of Jesus did more than help us categorize historical events. It was t he moment when God fulfilled centuries of prophecy by stepping into our world. The God of the Universe who spoke the ...
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Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA
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Beyond the Manger; Living a life of Christ-Centered Generosity

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          The Christmas season draws our gaze back to the manger—to the silent, holy night where God first visited humanity (at least its supposed to). But the story of Christmas doesn't end in Bethlehem; it begins a life of service that challenges us to look for Christ in the most unexpected places.      What if we were waiting for the Lord in glory while He was already standing at our door in disguise?      One of the most beautiful Christmas poems ever told, was by an American poet Edwin Markham. The poem is called "How the Great Guest Came in"  His story centers on a cobbler, a godly man who made shoes.       This cobbler had a dream that the next day Jesus was coming to visit his shop. The dream seemed so real that he rose early, gathering green boughs to decorate his shop, preparing for the arrival of so great a Guest. The cobbler did not want to be unprepared if Jesus was indeed coming to pay hi...
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Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA
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More Than a Messy Christmas; How to manage those Messy Seasons of Life

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          The Christmas season can often feel a bit too stressful. It can become a period of intense planning and busyness. We create detailed strategies for baking, decorating, gift-buying, and attending events. Then there are the school events, and plays that we have to attend. Make time to go down and see the city lights. Make time to watch all those Christmas movies you have watched a 1,000 times before. We pour time and energy into ensuring everything goes according to our vision.      But what happens when our plans fall apart? Maybe a tradition has to change, or a loved one is missing due to sickness or death. The stress of finding the right gift or the pressure of finances can lead to frustration and sadness. While Christmas is a joyous occasion for many, for others, it can be down right depressing.      It’s easy in these moments—when our perfect vision is interrupted—to feel frustrated, saddened, or even feel like we ...
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Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA
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