The world can wait

Christmas, Yes! Christmas is a wonderful time of year—the most wonderful if the song can be trusted.   From Thanksgiving to December 25 th , we overload the DVR with Christmas movies.   Carols, albeit beautiful, are played exhaustively, and we regale the traditions of family and all manner of wonderful things.   Even for Christians, the holiday has become so commercialized and sappy (don’t get me wrong, I love a good dose of sap every now and again—my DVR is full) that we sometimes forget that Christmas brings with it some serious messages we shouldn’t forget . One of those messages is the importance of saying, “Yes” to God, even when we don’t know what consequences will come because of it—or even when we do know. We’ve heard the annunciation story: once upon a time an angel came to Mary; she said yes. Joseph wasn’t convinced until he received his own angelic visit, and then everything was ab-fab until there was no room at the inn and the baby Jesus was relegate...

Christmas is a magical time of year. As Christians, we know that Christ is the reason Christmas is special. There is a joy in the anticipation because in our spirits we’re looking forwards to the Saviour’s birth and the wonders His arrival means for the world. The Incarnation is the real reason people are happier at Christmas. (It isn’t the department store sales—although, they don’t hurt. :) ) The Incarnation is also why people are profoundly more depressed if life’s circumstances are not ideal during this season—not because the coming of Christ is depressing, but because deep down, we sense the reality that this time should be a joyous one; so when joy isn’t apparent for us, we feel the lack more acutely. For Pelican Book Group, this is where our Christmas Extravaganza enters. If you notice, Christmas is a time of light-hearted, joy-filled entertainment. Christmas-themed music fills the air, Christmas-themed movies dominate television, happily-ever-after entertainment is in ab...