Celebrate the Truth This Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I’m working on a new book this year as a part of a doctoral program at Faith Evangelical Seminary. My thesis will explore the following idea:  There are only five major religions (or views of God) in the world and that only one of them can be true.

I used to think that there were thousands of religions or concepts of God. This made things quite confusing.  How do you research thousands of ideas in your quest for the truth?  How do you persuade others that there are not many roads that lead the same direction?

In my own quest for the truth—which began my late teens and early twenties—I realized that the myriads of paths that you find in a world containing billions of people can be brought down to just five concepts of God.

Every person on earth is one of “five.”

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Why We Gather Around the Christmas Tree

As you gather around the Christmas tree with family and loved ones, remember that this significant symbol is the product of at least two miracles: The felling of Thor's Oak, and of course, the coming of Jesus Christ.

After reading this story, I hope that you never view your Christmas tree the same again.

Let me introduce you to a great hero of the faith whom God used to give us the tradition of the Christmas tree.

His name is Boniface.

Boniface was one of the great missionaries of Church history. This great missionary to Germany was born in Wessex, England, around 680 AD. When he was small, some missionaries stayed a while at his home. They told the boy all about their work. They were so happy and excited about bringing the Good News to people. Boniface decided in his heart that he would be just like them when he grew up.

While still young, he went to a monastery school to be educated. Some years later, he became a popular teacher. When he was ordained a priest, he was a powerful preacher because he was so full of enthusiasm.

But his heart was in missions and would ultimately be linked to the origin of the Christmas tree.

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Merry Christmas Reading!

There are many wonderful things about the Christmas season--all which center around the coming of Jesus Christ to change our hearts, lives, nations, and eternal destinies.

The glorious music lifts our spirits; Our involvement with the less fortunate reminds us that God cares; Family gatherings point to the beauty of relationships; The wonder of the lights and decorations remind us that Jesus is the light--the colors--of the world.

For me, Christmas is also a time of increased reflection and purposeful reading. Since Jesus is also the treasure source of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3), it makes some sense to use this time of year to "fill up your tank" with a little extra knowledge gathering.

Here are some of my reading list suggestions for Christmas 2010. I've deliberately chosen a variety of books to whet your appetite.

Merry Christmas reading!

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