Introduction Merry Christmas to all! It is again the advent season where we celebrate and remember when God Himself took on flesh and dwelt among us. While this is a time of great celebration where the eggnog flows and gifts are exchanged, it is important to remember that Christmas is not simply a time for holiday cheer. The Christmas story is not just a cute tale of a baby peacefully sleeping in a feeding trough. It is a tale of high stakes. It is a gritty story. There is re

Have you noticed this new trend in movies, television, and even conversation with unbelievers that when they want to superficially give thanks, they will exclaim, “Thank sweet baby Jesus!” Why has this phrase caught on, especially with those who don’t claim to be nor desire to be Christians? Christmas is here, and it’s a time where every place has some reference to the nativity. Displays of Mary, Joseph, and of course the baby Jesus fill tons of front lawns in your neighborho