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Christmas is often described as the season of joy. We sing about it, decorate for it, and greet one another with it. Yet for many, joy at Christmas can feel elusive. The pressures of family expectations, financial strain, grief, or loneliness can make joy seem more like a command than a reality. The good news of Christmas, however, reminds us that true joy is not something we manufacture—it is something we receive.

I started pastoring in Montgomery, Alabama, in August 1993, overseeing two churches. It was in December of that year that there was no mistaking I was definitely in the South when the head elder of the church announced the hymn for the opening song. Instead of saying, "Our opening song today is 'O Come, All Ye Faithful,'" he said, "'O Come Y'all Faithful.'" Not one person in the church seemed to notice the mistake. They just stood up and began to sing. It is a Christmas memor

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an animal? If you could be an animal, what would you be? I often think of two possibilities: a squirrel or an otter. Squirrels are cool because they seem so carefree. It must be fun to have their quick moves and climbing skills.

As autumn settles in and Thanksgiving approaches, many of us find ourselves gathering around tables filled with food, family, and familiar traditions. Yet for Christians, Thanksgiving is far more than a national holiday