Perhaps no Christmas figure is more maligned that Saint Nicholas.
The man who began as a generous church leader, trying to inspire others to care for the poor, evolved into a magical sprite in a reindeer-drawn sled used by parents to bribe children into obedience.
My uncle, my father’s baby brother, died suddenly before the holidays.
At 28 years old, he had moved back in with the family and was working his way through some personal issues, when a complication with a hereditary illness caused his heart to stop one night.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
In 1480, Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to paint an altarpiece for the Augustinian monks of San Donato. He completed detailed drawings of the painting’s figures and scene, but then he left the city.
The painting would be finished years later by an unknown artist.
Philippians 4:4 could be considered the anthem of the third Sunday in Advent. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT).
Malachi’s an odd little book, only four chapters long and at the tail end of the Old Testament. It’s not much fun to read, to be quite honest. There’s lots of rebelling, judgment and general unhappiness.
A great deal of ink has been spilled by those insisting that all Christmas traditions have pagan roots and ought not be celebrated by “real” Christians.
In our struggle to maintain and restore Christmas, we often get caught up in the politics and forget the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus. A new covenant Christmas is about celebrating the glorious liberty that we have in Christ. Gary Wilkerson reminds us that through him, we have eternal life and our accusers are silenced.
