Merry Christmas to our readers!
If you are a bit last-minute like me you might find Tearfund’s 25 Ideas for an Ethical Christmas just the ticket to help you catch up! You might also be interested in reading about the Christian roots of the fair-trade movement (Christianity Today; preview only). Did you know Ten Thousand Villages was the first fair-trade organization in the world? Let me suggest a similar organization, ECHO in South Florida. See their Christmas page if you’d like to shop.
Feeling super stressed? It might be a good time to read A Lost Screwtape Letter (Dated in December) from The Gospel Coalition. Or take my advice and spend 30 minutes watching the pilot episode of a new show about the life of Christ, The Chosen.
My news reader is full of stories of protests (Hong Kong, Lebanon, Iraq, and India) and reports of religious persecution. The night of our “dear Savior’s birth” heaven announced “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” I have come to see the angels’ pronouncement not as a declaration but an invitation. As Charles Wesley wrote, “Joyful, all ye nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies…” the invitation is going out and…the nations ARE rising!
Peace to you and yours,
Pat