Christmas Books in My TBR Pile

 

Christmas Christian Nonfiction Book Review: The Christian Christmas Condition by Scott Rankin

Author Scott Rankin asks readers to join him along a journey of considering many favorite Christmas traditions and viewing them from God's perspective.

The Christian Christmas Condition brings you through history to uncover how traditions like the Christmas tree were repurposed into symbols and celebrations of Christ's birth. But, is that how God wants it to be? Are we honoring Him and glorifying Him when we re-purpose a pagan tradition? Is it right to tell our children about the existence of Santa Claus and his expectations of being good to get gifts? When we finally tell them Santa Claus is made up, how can they believe us when we tell them an unseen God who loves and provides for us is real? These and other topics of discussion may have you reconsidering your holiday traditions.

I have to be honest with you: this is not an easy read. It's an excellent book, and it poses important questions to Christians about family traditions, but you can't help but feel uncomfortable by them. Who wants to be told their time-honored tradition of an evergreen tree harkens back to the time when Romans celebrated a festival where no one could be arrested or convicted for a variety of horrible crimes? I sure don't.

One, however, can't argue against the Biblical stories of Gideon and other ordinary men and women whose obedience to God came with great rewards ...just like the rewards our obedience gains for us. Rankin put together the puzzle pieces into an inspiring and encouraging way to allow us to see how Christmas can be so much more. I love how he reminded readers that God didn't focus on His Son's birth. He focused on Jesus as our Savior ...an act that was thirty-three years in the making. His birth isn't the important part. His death and resurrection are.

Am I ready to pitch my Christmas trees in the fire? I can't say that I am. However, Rankin has given me a lot to think about. I'm glad he shared how his family phased in changing their Christmas traditions, because, admittedly, he also felt there was nothing wrong with the Christmas tree and Santa Claus traditions when his wife first questioned them. Rakin encourages each of us to discover the direction God desires for us and reminds us not to be afraid to ask the question, "What does God say about this?"

Paperback: 196 pages
Publisher: Scott Rankin Publishing (November 25, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1734084804
ISBN-13: 978-1734084801

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas Christian Nonfiction Book Review: The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel

 

When journalist Lee Strobel is sent to interview a family who lost all they owned in a fire, little does he know this encounter will forever change the course of his life. 

The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel opens with his visit with Perfecta Delgado and her two granddaughters. While reporting for the Chicago Tribune on some of the city's neediest families, Strobel is touched by the feeling of hope and peace displayed by this family who had lost everything in a fire. 

Strobel's second visit to the Delgado's home brings even more surprises and leads him on a journey to discover the identity of the Child in the Manger. 

As part of Strobel's Case for series that began with The Case for Christ, this former atheist shares his story of how his encounter with the Delgado family led him to investigate the identity of Jesus through interviews with well-known scholars and theologians across the world. 

This is a book that came recommended to me by my former pastor. I don't read nonfiction as much these days, but this book was on sale and is less than 115 pages, so I figured the Advent season 2020 would be the perfect time to read it. 

Going into it, I wasn't sure what to expect, though I knew Strobel converted to Christianity as a result of his investigation. What unfolds within these pages is an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on the evidence that points to the identity of Jesus. In the end, the reader is encouraged to weigh the facts and decide for themselves.

I found Strobel's approach fascinating. Strobel came armed with his investigative skills and a heavy dose of skepticism. You really need to be committed to uncovering the truth if you will travel to the extent he did and prepare in the way he did to meet these scholars and theologians. Interspersed among the narrative and interviews are sidebars with other pertinent information Strobel learned or tidbits of history and how it played into his investigation. As one would expect, you can't have this discussion without citing some Scripture as well. 

As a Christian, I didn't need to be convinced about the identity of God's greatest gift to the world, but The Case for Christmas still captivated me. I am glad I took time to read it. I would love to read more of Strobel's books.

Publisher : Zondervan; Reprint edition (September 8, 2014)

Language: : English

Mass Market Paperback : 112 pages

ISBN-10 : 0310340594

ISBN-13 : 978-0310340591

I purchased a copy of this book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas Nonfiction Spotlight: The Man Who Invented Christmas How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford

 

As uplifting as the tale of Scrooge itself, this is the story of how one writer and one book revived the signal holiday of the Western world.

Just before Christmas in 1843, a debt-ridden and dispirited Charles Dickens wrote a small book he hoped would keep his creditors at bay. His publisher turned it down, so Dickens used what little money he had to put out A Christmas Carol himself. He worried it might be the end of his career as a novelist.

The book immediately caused a sensation. And it breathed new life into a holiday that had fallen into disfavor, undermined by lingering Puritanism and the cold modernity of the Industrial Revolution. It was a harsh and dreary age, in desperate need of spiritual renewal, ready to embrace a book that ended with blessings for one and all. 

 With warmth, wit, and an infusion of Christmas cheer, Les Standiford whisks us back to Victorian England, its most beloved storyteller, and the birth of the Christmas we know best. The Man Who Invented Christmas is a rich and satisfying read for Scrooges and sentimentalists alike.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown; First Edition (November 4, 2008)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0307405788
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0307405784

Christmas Nonfiction: The True Saint Nicholas by William J. Bennett

I had never heard of this book before. Now, I really want to read it. Have you read it? What did you think?

Former secretary of education, radio talk-show host, and bestselling author William Bennett blends his historical expertise combined with his gift for storytelling into a fascinating tale as he writes his first Christmas book about the actual story behind the man who ultimately became known as Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas’s selfless giving is brought to life from its beginnings in the third century, far from where we stand today but ever so relevant to our lives. Reflecting on his life, we discover an inspiring story of devotion to God and a life example of eternal goodness for all time. The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas focuses on three aspects of Saint Nicholas—the historical data of his actual life, his legacy in the centuries following his death, and the legendary status that transformed his likeness into the present-day Santa Claus. The book is designed to unveil the heart and life of someone who lived so long ago—and yet whose life remains an example for all people everywhere—an example that calls each of us to a higher order of generosity, giving, and devotion to others. A historical yet touching rendition of the origins of our modern-day Santa written by an in-demand spokesperson whose penchant for reminding us of the importance of virtue reacquaints us with the true meaning of Christmas.

File Size: 4520 KB
Print Length: 132 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Reissue edition (October 14, 2009)
Publication Date: October 27, 2009
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Language: English
ASIN: B002SRL3CW