Why I'm Rethinking Gift Exchanges This Christmas

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Why I'm Rethinking Gift Exchanges This Christmas

This Christmas, my husband and I have decided to forgo giving our kids Christmas presents. This is by no means a prescriptive for all families, but more of an exhortation for parents to be more attentive to the values we inadvertently pass on to our children. In a conversation with my friend and movie producer, Alyssa Plock, I answer the questions:

  • Could there be an alternative to the self-centered, materialistic culture we find ourselves in American Christianity? 
  • As parents, we have the privilege to shape the values of a generation that will outlive us. How will we steward this power?
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Advent and the 'French Horn Song'

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Advent and the 'French Horn Song'

“Papa,” my four-year-old Jeremiah interrupts as he hops into his bed, “we can’t go to bed yet, we haven’t done Advent and listened to the ‘French Horn song’.”  Exhausted from a day's work, I was hoping to get by tonight without doing our typical family routine during the few weeks leading up to Christmas. However, Jeremiah has already associated this time of year with the hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”, otherwise known as the French Horn song in my household.

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Maple Seeds, The Word of God and Christmas

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Maple Seeds, The Word of God and Christmas

I love maple seeds. When God designed them, I think He was just having fun. They come with their own little helicopter wing and when you scoop up a bunch and throw them up in the air, they spin and float all over the place with a big wink from God. But what do they have to do with the Word of God and Christmas?

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