Ever met a couple who clearly needed a crash course in effective communication? Enjoy this fun twist on the traditional 12 days of Christmas carol, given from the perspective of the true love. The 12 Days of Christmas According to the True Love by Lauren Thell DECEMBER 25 My Dearest… Read More »The 12 Days of Christmas According to the True Love
Did you ever have an Advent calendar as a kid? What started with nineteenth-century German Protestants making chalk marks on their walls as a countdown to Christmas has now turned into its own industry. Even Lego is in on it, offering no fewer than six different options for the 2024… Read More »The Forgotten Side of Advent: When Jesus Returns
The saddest thing I’ve ever seen was a funeral without hope. Typically labeled a “Celebration of Life,” this type of funeral merely reflects on the deceased’s earthly life and accomplishments. His buoyant attitude or her kindness to animals might be mentioned, but there’s nothing to celebrate because no matter how… Read More »Jesus Defeated Death—And Now You Will Too
Who is Jesus? People have debated this ever since his mother laid his precious head on a bed of straw. Was he a prophet? A good person whose example we should follow? Those are easy answers to accept, but what about the claim that Jesus is God? Can Jesus be… Read More »Jesus Knows Exactly What it’s Like to be Human
How can a teen observe Advent like a Christian? On a recent visit to Walmart’s Christmas card section, I found quite an array of mailable holiday greetings. Singing cards, pop-up cards, 3-D cards (which, admittedly, are kind of cool), cards with jokes, money-holder cards, and neutral “Happy Holidays” cards. But… Read More »How to Observe Advent Like a Christian
“You can’t take it with you.” You’ve heard that saying many times. Maybe you’ve even said it yourself when you hear about someone who just blew 100k on a 2022 Porsche 911. Or when you learn of someone who made millions by investing in PayPal when it was first launched.… Read More »“You can’t take it with you”: Keep Your Focus On Eternity
It’s one of those buzz phrases Christians love: “heart of praise.” You can’t help imagining a room full of people with their hands in the air, bodies swaying, faces plastered with euphoria. Christian YA fiction books (particularly from 10+ years ago) are loaded with worship scenes like this. This is… Read More »From Silence to Song: How to Find Your Heart of Praise
Live long enough on Earth, and you will eventually face dark nights—and I don’t mean the kind brought on by the occasional lunar eclipse or citywide blackout. I’m talking about those black hours when you’re grappling with fear, grief, anxiety, self-loathing, or some other turmoil. The dark night of the… Read More »Where to Look in Scripture During Your Darkest Nights