I sat silently across the room, watching my 3-year-old granddaughter turning the pages of the J. C. Penney Christmas catalogue. Unaware of my presence, she was softly whispering the names of the hundreds of marvelous items pictured in the big “wish book” that lay across her knees.

“Fuzzy bear, rocky horse, bubble gum machine, roller skates, fire truck … “

I was mesmerized. Kristin’s bright blue eyes twinkled as she put her stubby little finger on each picture.

“Cinderella doll, red wagon, Big Bird, tricycle … “

I listened carefully. Is it so wrong to wish? I’m not sure I ever really believed in Santa Claus. But it was fun to wonder. And to wish. Each year, early on Christmas Eve, Daddy would take us downtown. The main street, which was only three blocks long, ended at the park.

Pretty soon the city fire truck, siren howling, would arrive as the climax to the Christmas parade. Mr. O’Malley, who owned the restaurant, always dressed up like Santa and rode on the back of the truck. He carried a big bagful of hard candy and Cracker Jack boxes. Each kid, no matter how poor, got something.

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Then Mr. McWilliams, the mayor, would turn on the lights on the big tree in the center of the park next to the old World War I cannons. The choir from the Baptist church would sing carols. Then it would be time to go back to the house. To wait. To wish.

Is it so wrong to wish?

Christmas Eve was a time of wonderful expectation. Daddy would bring us together around the tree which always stood in the same place, in a small alcove next to the stairs. The rest of the year an ancient spinning wheel sat there, but we kids knew that it was just guarding the spot until next Christmas when the tree would appear—that wonderful tree with the wonderful ornaments. When all the kids were in place, sitting cross-legged on the floor, Daddy would recite from memory: “‘Twas the night before Christmas / And all through the house … ”

Lying in my bed upstairs, listening, I could hear the sound of my younger brother’s breathing as he lay in the bed across the room. We would not speak. To do so would have broken the spell. But I knew he was wishing, as I was.

I wondered what it would be like, spending Christmas as my mother and daddy used to spend theirs with snow on the ground and the sound of sleigh bells ringing—are you listening? Instead there was the sound of the balmy Florida breeze rustling the palm trees outside my window.

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Would he come tonight? Would Donner and Blitzen find our house in the orange grove? Was Santa Claus really coming to town? If so, would he really show up in our fireplace where the stockings were hung by the chimney with care? I’m grateful for that happy home of childhood with wonderful memories. I’m grateful for the sense of Christmas expectancy that I’ve brought with me into adulthood.

Life has a way, as you move into middle age, of becoming routine. The fascinations which once excited me are now slightly frayed; the things which once thrilled are sometimes tepid.

But, once a year, time turns backward in its flight, and on Christmas Eve I’m a child again—just for the night. Is it wrong to wish—as a child? Where else does prayer begin—and faith start? Long before I knew God, I would kneel beside my window: “Star light, star bright / First star I’ve seen tonight / I wish I may, I wish I might / Have the wish I wish tonight.”

C’mon! I know it’s not a prayer. But it was the best I could do as a child. It wasn’t until many years later, after Daddy became a Christian, that we started reading Luke 2 rather than “The Night Before Christmas” on Christmas Eve. But was all that other wrong? Does not God sometimes use fantasy to prepare our hearts for reality? The people I pity at Christmas are those who have no expectations. Those who no longer wish. The spiritual fuddy-duddies who have lost the wonder of childhood. How easy it is to become sophisticated. Super spiritual. To condemn Christmas trees, and Santa Claus, and the wonder of childlike wishing—because we’ve grown old … and correct.

“Look Pa-pa, here’s Baby Jesus in the manger. I wish for Him most of all.” I held her close so she could not see what was happening in my eyes.

I know there’s a difference between wishing and praying, but for some of us, it’s the only way we can begin. I hope I never grow so old, so stodgy, so theologically stiff that I no longer go to bed on Christmas Eve without listening for the sound of hoofbeats on the roof.

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Jamie Buckingham wrote 153 columns for Charisma over 13 years, first known as “Dry Bones” but later as its most recognized “Last Word.” His singular voice was animated by a heart for Jesus baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit in 1967 at a Full Gospel Businessmen’s convention. Buckingham provided a steadying force during the scandals of the 1980s, penning the seminal article on the PTL scandal, “God Is Shaking His Church” in May 1986.

I sat silently across the room, watching my 3-year-old granddaughter as she turned the pages of the J. C. Penney Christmas catalogue. Unaware of my presence, she was softly whispering the names of the hundreds of marvelous items pictured in the big “wish book” that lay across her lap.

“Fuzzy bear, rocky horse, bubble gum machine, roller skates, fire truck … “

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I was mesmerized. Kristin’s bright blue eyes twinkled as she placed her stubby little finger on each picture.

“Cinderella doll, red wagon, Big Bird, tricycle … “

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I listened carefully. Is it so wrong to wish? I’m not sure I ever really believed in Santa Claus. But it was fun to wonder. And to wish. Each year, early on Christmas Eve, Daddy took us downtown. The main street, only three blocks long, ended at the park.

Pretty soon the city fire truck, siren howling, would arrive as the grand finale to the Christmas parade. Mr. O’Malley, who owned the restaurant, always dressed up like Santa Claus and rode on the back of the truck. He carried a big bagful of hard candy and Cracker Jack boxes. Each child present, no matter how poor, got something.

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Following are snippets of the top stories posted over the past week on . We encourage you to visit the links to read the stories in full.

Shocking Accusations Against Daystar TV: What We Know So Far

Over the past few weeks, Daystar Television Network—the Christian TV empire founded in 1997 by the late Marcus Lamb—made headlines over a shocking controversy involving the family-run organization.

Lamb’s son, Jonathan, and his wife, Suzy, allege their young daughter was molested by a family member and that the horrific ordeal was improperly handled. Those stunning allegations come amid a dispute over leadership changes within Daystar.

Marcus Lamb died in 2021 due to complications with COVID-19, leaving his wife, Joni, to serve as president of Daystar. Jonathan had served as a vice president but was demoted in April after purportedly declining to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

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Is Bible Prophecy Coming to Pass in Damascus?

The ongoing turmoil in Syria has once again turned global attention toward the ancient city of Damascus, raising a sobering question for Christians: Are we witnessing the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?

As the Syrian Civil War intensifies, reports indicate that Turkish-backed rebel forces, having already captured Aleppo and Hama, are now poised to move toward Damascus—the stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The Bible has long associated Damascus with prophetic warnings. Isaiah 17:1-3 declares: “See, Damascus will cease to be a city; it will become a ruinous heap.” This prophecy foretells the city’s destruction and desolation, a stark vision that resonates as rebel forces secure towns near Damascus, such as Izraa, and gain control of significant territory in the surrounding Daraa Governorate.

The End of Damascus: Exploring Its Role in Biblical Prophecy

The collapse of the Syrian government and the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime is not only a geopolitical turning point but a moment of profound prophetic significance. For believers who examine global events through the lens of Scripture, the situation in Syria—and particularly in Damascus—demands our attention.

A Biblical Perspective on Damascus

Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, occupies a central role in biblical prophecy. Isaiah 17:1 declares, “The burden against Damascus: ‘Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.’” This prophecy remains unfulfilled for the time being, but the unraveling of Syria’s stability suggests the fulfillment may be imminent.

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 Marcus Rogers: Interview With Joni Lamb on Daystar Allegations

In a newly released video, YouTuber and pastor Marcus Rogers sat down with Joni Lamb to share her side of the story, addressing recent allegations made against her and Daystar.

Rogers first brings up the allegations that an unnamed family member going by “Pete” abused Jonathan and Suzy Lamb’s young daughter during a retreat. Joni Lamb says her granddaughter was inappropriately touched by a boy at school, but that the incident during the family vacation has been stretched into something different than reality.

“In 2020, there was an incident that took place at my granddaughter’s school,” Lamb says. “Suzy called me and she said, ‘Will you go down to the school with me?’ I said, ‘absolutely,’ so we went together to the school, we reported it to the school. My granddaughter had told her mother that a little boy had touched her and her friend inappropriately.

Netflix Movie Mocks Nativity, Jokes About Aborting Baby Jesus

Netflix’s latest offering, “That Christmas,” an animated Christmas movie geared toward families, makes a mockery of the nativity story in one scene garnering a lot of attention.

The movie centers on a ragtag group of kids, all led by a rebellious teenager named Bernadette. At one point in the film, the children come together to put on a school Christmas production written by a couple students who feel the biblical nativity story is too antiquated for modern culture.

When Bernadette introduces the program, she describes Jesus as “a cool dude” with a beard and long hair and “into woodwork,” calling him “a hipster basically.”

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Natural disasters are regularly called “acts of God,” but we understand that they’re the result of living in a fallen world. However, we also know that God moves in the midst of disaster to use these challenging events to turn people’s hearts toward him.

We have seen this time and again as we walk with people through recovery, and it’s clear the work and power of the Holy Spirit orchestrates circumstances while moving in their hearts. We could not do the work that we do without the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit in every situation, working everything together for our good and God’s glory.

As followers of Christ, empowered by the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit, we each have the opportunity to demonstrate unique aspects of His character to others. We can show a different part of that fruit to someone else in a powerful way—especially those facing a crisis—and this can change their entire experience. What God has given us through the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—becomes the solution to the needs of others.

In a time of crisis, people need to see peace. These situations ultimately create opportunities to reveal what the gifts of the Spirit look like when everything else is crashing down. If you have the gift of faith, God can use you to stand in the gap for people who feel overwhelmed and hopeless.

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We get to choose to have faith in God when we dive into this ministry and face reality with these precious survivors. We have genuine faith that’s not a just feeling, but rather a choice to surrender and trust God to show up. We simply have to be willing to remain poor in spirit, for the Bible tells us that when we are, we will experience the reality of His kingdom. It’s not about being a crisis responder, but about abiding in His presence and allowing Him to transform the atmosphere through us.

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God always does His part when we do our part. While few others may look to God in times of crisis, we don’t take a single step forward without consulting Him, trusting and believing in Him, no mat­ter the circumstances. As we journey alongside those in disaster recovery, we do so in a posture of prayer and humility, making room for the Holy Spirit to move. Whether it’s provision of the exact supplies we need at just the right time, the generosity of donors to purchase gift cards for those who’ve lost everything or the softening of the hearts of officials who aren’t predisposed to welcome Christian volunteers, each of these results are a testimony of the Spirit’s role in ministering to survivors.

It’s not our job to be the savior, just the volunteers. It’s not our job to have everything figured out, but to simply rely on the Lord’s power. When faced with overwhelming disasters, we might wonder, “What can I possibly do?” The answer is simple: the Lord brings the power; we just have to say yes.

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Of the four Gospels, Luke is the one that gives the most detailed account of the nativity and mentions Mary 12 times, more than any other biblical writer. In addition to the birth of Jesus, he also gives special, detailed attention to the birth of John the Baptist, and many see his gynecological interests to be a result of his training as a physician.

Agnostic Oxford professor and archaeologist Sir William Ramsay thought he would scientifically prove Luke to be a bogus, unreliable writer by retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in Acts. But after years of retracing the Lucan account of Paul’s journey and doing archaeological excavations along the way, Ramsay completely reversed his view of Scripture and first-century history.

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He Sets Out to Disprove Luke

Ramsay, considered one of the greatest archaeologists of all time, was a product of the skeptical, German higher criticism of the 19th century. According to these critics, the New Testament was written in the second century by individuals far removed from the events described and is therefore full of inaccuracies, myths and legends.

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Ramsay set out to prove these theories, which he taught and had become accepted as facts throughout much of academia. However, after his years of archaeological research, he became convinced that Acts was written in the first century by Luke, the traditional author, and also acquired a very high regard for Luke as a historian. He wrote: “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense; in short, this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians” (Hyatt, “Christmas is for Real,” 10-11).

In 1896, Ramsay first published his discoveries in a book titled “St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen.” The book caused a furor of dismay among the skeptics of the world, for its affirmation of the biblical record was totally unexpected. In fact, the evidence was so overwhelming that many atheists gave up their atheism and embraced Christianity.

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Of the four Gospels, Luke gives the most detailed account of the nativity and mentions Mary 12 times, more than any other biblical writer. In addition to the birth of Christ, he also gives special, detailed attention to the birth of John the Baptist, and many see his gynecological interests to be a result of his training as a physician.

Agnostic Oxford professor and archaeologist Sir William Ramsay thought he would scientifically prove Luke to be a bogus, unreliable writer by retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in Acts. However, after years of retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels and doing archaeological excavations along the way, Ramsay completely reversed his view of the Bible and first-century history.

He Sets Out to Disprove Luke

Ramsay, considered one of the greatest archaeologists of all time, was a product of the skeptical, German higher criticism of the 19th century. According to these critics, the New Testament was written in the second century by individuals far removed from the events described and, therefore, filled with inaccuracies, myths and legends.

Ramsay set out to prove these theories, which he taught and had become accepted as facts in much of academia. However, after many years of archaeological research, he became convinced that Acts was written in the first century by Luke, the traditional author, and he acquired a very high regard for Luke as a historian. He wrote: “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense; in short, this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians” (Hyatt, “Christmas is for Real,” 10-11).

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In 1896, Ramsay began publishing his discoveries in a book titled “St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen.” The book caused a furor of dismay among the skeptics of the world, for its affirmation of the biblical record was totally unexpected. The evidence was, in fact, so overwhelming that many atheists gave up their atheism and embraced Christianity.

Over the next 20 years, Ramsay published other volumes showing how he discovered Luke to be accurate in the tiniest details of his account. In his book, “The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament,” he wrote, “You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian’s and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment” (Hyatt, 11).

To cite just one example, Luke’s use of the term “politarch” to describe officials in Thessalonica was widely considered to be a bogus term since it was unknown in all other ancient literature. But in his archaeological excavations, Ramsay uncovered the term no less than five times in ancient carvings in the city, demonstrating beyond doubt the authenticity and reliability of Luke’s authorship. 

The evidence piled up and became overwhelming. Ramsay eventually gave up his agnosticism and came to faith in Christ. He concluded that if Luke was this careful to get right the most minute facts about words, dates, roads, waterways and different cultures, then he could also be trusted to have gotten his facts right about the supernatural things he described, such as the virgin birth.

Indeed, at the beginning of his Gospel, and just before describing the angel’s visit to Mary, Luke says he has utilized eyewitness accounts of the events described. The detail Luke presents about the virgin birth does indicate that he has derived his information from a primary source, either Mary herself or someone to whom Mary had relayed the intimate details of the event.

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More Affirmations

The famous Oxford historian A.N. Sherwin-White carefully examined Luke’s references to 32 countries, 54 cities and nine islands, finding not a single mistake. The noted New Testament scholar F.F. Bruce pointed out that where Luke has been suspected of inaccuracy by modern critics, archaeology has again and again proven Luke to be right and the critics wrong.

The evidence begs the question that if Luke was this careful to get his facts right about names, places, events and dates, can we not be confident that he was just as careful to get his facts right concerning the more important things about which he wrote, such as the virgin birth of Jesus Christ?

Charles Wesley, the Anglican cleric and Methodist revivalist, believed so and wrote his magnificent hymn, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” after hearing London church bells ringing as he walked to church one Christmas day. He wrote,

Hark! The herald angels sing/”Glory to the newborn King.

“Peace on earth and mercy mild/God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise/Join the triumph of the skies

With th’angelic host proclaim/”Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

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This article is derived from the book “Christmas is for Real” by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt and available from Amazon and his website at .

Once there was a man who was invited to a treasure hunt by his teacher. The teacher gave him a map to this treasure as well as a special briefcase he was to keep with him at all times. The treasure hunter was told that the key to the briefcase was buried at the treasure site.

The treasure hunter spent months locating the treasure site. At last, he found it—and the key! He thought the briefcase would contain special tools to dig up this treasure. But to his amazement, when he put the key into the special briefcase, he didn’t find tools to dig up the treasure—he found the treasure itself. The treasure had been with him the entire time, but the valuables had been completely hidden.

Something glorious was kept hidden for ages and generations but has now been revealed to us. We find it in Colossians 1:19 (NKJV): “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” What does that mean? Who is “Him”? Jesus! In Jesus Himself all the fullness should dwell. The fullness of what? The fullness of all things. The fullness of God. The fullness of the Father, the Spirit and the Son.

The Advent season reminds us that God is with us; rejoice! Immanuel, our Savior, is born! The story of Jesus’ birth n Luke 2 is familiar and beloved, especially through the Christmas season. But in Colossians 1:20, we read more fully into why our Father in heaven brought us His Son, “And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

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The Jesus we serve, the Jesus preached in the gospel, is not just some philosopher or religious teacher. The fullness of all things resides in Jesus. He is higher than all things. He is supreme above everything that was, is and will be. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega—the first and the last. He’s the beginning and the end. He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our Prince of Peace. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He is the highest being who has existed and could exist. All things were created by Him and through Him.

Now, what are those things? They are the created things, or things in heaven. The word “heaven” is the created heavens, the expanse. One day they will be rolled away like a scroll, but then they will be made new. Paul tells us the cross of Jesus has already disarmed the principalities and powers. He explains:

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The year 2024 has been a historic and prophetic year that seemed to flash by in the blink of an eye.

No corner of culture was spared the unprecedented wave of events that highlighted the past year, and massive change has come to not just the United States, but to the world.

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God is moving, and we are seeing the evidence of this all around us. From college campus revivals breaking out to the historic reelection of Donald Trump as incoming president of the United States, here is a brief breakdown of major events that took place in 2024.

1. Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election in a landslide. Donald Trump’s win is the biggest political comeback in modern history. As the country has become less moral and lurched toward socialism in recent decades, millions of Americans (including most Bible-believing Christians) have finally had enough. We prayed that God would change the downward direction by giving us a leader with the ability to change the course. God answered with a decisive win for Trump, whose life God spared—twice—for such a time as this.

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There is a spiritual aspect to this election that most in secular media ignore. They focus on issues they believe swung the election—the economy, the border crisis and foreign policies. But they ignore the fact that millions of us consider abortion murder; that we refuse to allow the ever-growing list of perversions to be crammed down our throats; and that we truly resent the ungodly trend toward more government that manifests itself in so many ways.

Those who oppose Trump also oppose what we believers consider as godly values. Trump famously once said, “They aren’t against me; they are against you, I’m just in the way.” They called Donald Trump a fascist and his supporters “deplorable,” “Nazi” and this time, “garbage.

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The light of the world has come! His coming is the thing we celebrate at Christmas. From the beginning, His light drew people who hungered for truth from far and wide.

There has been a lot of discussion about what day of the year Jesus was actually born. The truth is, we may not know the exact day or date He was born, but here’s what we know: He was born, He lived, He was crucified and He rose again.

Removing God From Public Display

Statistics say most Americans are favorable to public displays of the Ten Commandments, nativity scenes and other Judeo-Christian and Christmas themes. Yet, there is a minority who are proactively using the letter of the law to coerce the majority to cower to the beliefs of the few, banning any mention of God whatsover in public.

Increasingly over the last few decades, we have witnessed an intentional attempt to remove any semblance of Christ, Christianity, even CHRIST-mas from the public square. Sadly, over the years, we have seen the effect strike even the church. There has been a gradual removal of anything deemed offensive to the very few, even at the behest of the majority.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and ministering with Stephan Tchividjian, eldest grandson of Billy Graham. One of the things I remember him saying was, “Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.” This explains what we see happening more and more in our country today, as those who have no relationship with the God of the Commandments have rebelled to the point of opposing any representation of Him in the public arena.

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The light of the world has come! His coming is what we celebrate at Christmas. From the very start, His light drew people who hungered for truth from far and wide.

There has been a lot of discussion about what day of the year Jesus was actually born. The truth is, we may not know the exact day when He was born, but we do know that He was born, He lived, He was crucified and He rose again.

Statistics say the majority of Americans are favorable to public displays of the Ten Commandments, nativity scenes and other Judeo-Christian and Christmas themes. Yet, it seems there is a minority who are proactively using the letter of the law to coerce the majority to cower to the beliefs of the few, banning any mention of God in public.

Increasingly over the last few decades, there has been an intentional attempt to remove any semblance of Christ, Christianity, even CHRIST-mas from the public square. Sadly, over the years, we have seen the effect even in the church. There has been a gradual removal of anything deemed offensive to the very few, even at the behest of the majority.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and ministering with Stephan Tchividjian, the eldest grandson of Billy Graham. One of the things I remember him saying was, “Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.” This explains what we see happening more and more in our nation today, as those who have no relationship with the God of the Commandments have rebelled to the point of opposing any representation of Him in the public arena.

You may remember that in 2012, during the National Convention of one of the two major political parties in Orlando, there was a vote to reinstate God back into their party platform because He had been removed. It took three different votes to pass the measure, but even the third time, there was much dissension.

Who ever thought there’d be a struggle in our nation to reinstate God? Wow! The good news is that it doesn’t take God three times to force a consensus to reinstate us into His platform. Our triune holy God is already in agreement with Himself. No confusion there.

The tragic removal of God from the public arena has been seen in many places in various ways. Back In 2004, a judge ruled that a Bible had to be removed from a public display from an old monument in front of the Harris County civil courthouse lawn. The monument and Bible display had been there since 1956 honoring businessman and philanthropist William Mosher. Mosher was honored with a small lighted display case in front of the courthouse for his contributions to the Star of Hope Mission, which has served thousands of homeless, desperate and destitute individuals and families in the city of Houston, Texas, throughout the years.

The display, which was maintained by private funds and individual citizens, included a King James Bible, honoring Mosher’s faith and love for the Lord, which compelled him to do the work of ministry to others. A judge in 2004 ruled that the Bible must be removed from the display after an individual complained that a Bible displayed on public property was unconstitutional.

In 2011, at the Veterans National Cemetery in Houston, one rogue director censored the language of pastors and chaplains, saying they could not mention God during funerals for veterans. Local veterans and volunteer groups had accused cemetery officials of banning them from using religious speech—including the words “Jesus” and “God,” even statements to family like “God bless you” during services at the cemetery.

How outrageous! I shudder when I think about how many men and women buried there were people of faith who gave their very lives to defend our freedoms—including the freedom of faith that was now being stripped from them in their final resting place. My grandfather and biological father are both buried in that very cemetery, having served this nation proudly.

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Remember the Reason for the Season

Despite many examples of the erosion of the values and freedoms we hold dear, I believe the majority of people in our nation, regardless of their faith, respect and cherish the Christian values and foundations they have benefited from. People around the world celebrate, in some capacity, the Christmas season, even if they do not truly understand the significance of why they are doing so. That is why it’s important for us as the church to reflect and demonstrate the true meaning, or as the saying goes, “The reason for the season.”

“We Three Kings,” written by John Henry Hopkins Jr in 1857 for a Christmas pageant, is said to be one of the first Christmas carols written in America that became widely popular. It may even be one of your favorite Christmas carols! Scripture, however, does not refer to kings but rather “magi” or “wise men,” and we are not given a headcount as to how many of them there actually were. But we do know they traveled for up to two years, possibly, following a light in the sky that led them to Jesus. And they brought gifts fit for a king.

Nestled in the middle of the Christmas story was the mystery of Jesus’ life: Even though He was a king, He was born to die, that we may live.

From the Manger to the Cross

In 2003, we saw the story of the crucifixion minister to thousands throughout the nation and around the world from a surprising source—Hollywood—with the release of Mel Gibson’s production of “The Passion of the Christ.” With the movie’s graphic depiction of what the suffering Jesus endured for the joy set before Him—our salvation—came a new realization for many of the reality of the crucifixion. For others, the movie generated questions. As the cover of one national magazine boldly inquired, “Did Jesus really have to die?”

Even with the controversy surrounding the graphic violence involved in the scourging and death of Christ, an R rating would not be sufficient to accurately portray the extent of His suffering, from the physical pain of the beatings to the emotional pain and loneliness of betrayal. Crucifixion was a form of capital punishment and considered the most humiliating and brutal way to die. The word “excruciating” did not exist until a word was needed to describe the pain of death by crucifixion.

I remember reading a description of what Jesus most likely went through from a medical perspective, written by the late Dr. C. Truman Davis. Each time I read it, I still get deeply gripped of heart and moved to tears with the revelation of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us.

It is impossible to have a strong foundation as a Christian unless we have a revelation of the passion of Christ, the work of the cross and the power of the Resurrection and how it can transform our lives today. Without that understanding, we are apathetic believers at best. But that revelation changes everything!

In some circles and especially in our Western culture, we have heard about the cross so often that the thought of our sins that put Him there does not still break our hearts or ignite a burning passion of gratitude within us. We sometimes take for granted the high cost of love that was displayed upon the cross for us. We tend to put more focus on “self” rather than fixing our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith.

The timeliness of the message of the cross cannot be overstated. We need it more than ever. We need to be rekindled in heart with a renewed revelation of the work of the cross and the Holy Spirit’s power that is available to each of us. From Genesis to Revelation, from the beginning to the closing of Scripture, we read of the tree of life, the fullness of life through Christ, revealed in full display on the cross, that we may have life and life more abundantly.

From the manger to the cross, we see the scarlet thread of God’s love and redemption revealed.

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He Dwells Among Us

It is important, not only during the Christmas season but throughout the year, to reflect the light of the world, who became man over 2,000 years ago. Because He is the Word who dwells among us, we have a joy and a strength beyond human comprehension. We have peace that surpasses all understanding. May we, the church, let our light shine is such a way that it draws others close to the Lord, as the star over Bethlehem drew the magi. May we be an example to those around us so they too can find their faith, hope, peace and joy in the midst of their difficulties.

Jesus is the Word who dwells among us, and He is the light of the world. Oh, how we need a whole lot of light in the darkness!

The four weeks leading up to Christmas are known as Advent, a word defined as “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” The primary themes of Advent are hope, faith, joy, peace and love. To Christians, Advent is about anticipation, not only for the first coming but also for the second coming of the Lord.

We can’t just look at where we’ve come from, we can’t live encamped in the past. We have to focus on the future with an expectation that God will fulfill His promises.

Light Has Come

The Jewish traditions observed in Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, shares some similarities with Advent. Hanukkah celebrates a time when there was only enough oil to keep the lamp in the Temple lit for a few hours, but it lasted for eight full days as the Jews fought to reclaim the Temple from the Greek-Syrians. Then they celebrated the miracle God did for them by providing this light. And during Advent, we celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus, the light of the world. Hope came into the world as the Word who dwells amongst us.

Today, the world needs the light of Christ as never before. He loved us so much that He gave Himself to us that we might live in His Word, know His Word, share His Word and be a witness of His light to a world that desperately needs Him.

In a world of difficulty that seems to be covered with darkness, this season gives us an opportunity to boldly declare the miracle of God, the birth of Christ. We have the light of the world living in us. It should permeate our lives and radiate from us to those around us. A little light in a dark room illuminates the entire room.

It is time to remember the promises and the great miracles God has done, the great miracles God is doing and the great miracles God will continue to do. We need to share our hope, faith, joy and peace because the light has come into the world, and the Word dwells among us.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Doug Stringer is founder and president of Somebody Cares America/International. As an American of Asian descent, Doug is considered a bridge-builder of reconciliation amongst various ethnic and religious groups. He is a sought-after international speaker, addressing topics such as persevering leadership, reconciliation, community transformation, revival and more. He is host of “A Word in Season with Doug Stringer & Friends,” posted weekly on the Charisma Podcast Network.