If I was Pres. Trump's Speechwriter...

I learned earlier today that President Trump (still feels surreal to write that) will be addressing the March for Life.  

What might he say?  Or perhaps… if I was one of his speechwriters, what would I put in front of him? 

It would need to be heartfelt, honest, compassionate, and still retain a good bit of polemical zing.  And - let's face it - the thing would need to be a bit self-congratulatory to sound genuine. 

So here’s what I’d float across President Trump’s desk:

Should we Teach the Santa Myth?

One question I’ve brought up at Youth Ministry is whether we as Christians should continue to perpetuate the Santa Myth.  And by the Santa Myth I mean the following:

“Convincing children that there is a man who lives at the North Pole who monitors their behavior and annually distributes presents.”

My position is:  No.  This is both immoral and counterproductive to raising children in the Christian faith.

Today I’m going to defend this claim with a somewhat Thomistic flair.

Quick Answer: Was Jesus Really Born in the Spring?

Christians, like everyone else, can be tempted to be the smarted person in the room.  Many times this involves knowing little quirks about the Bible which supposedly debunk commonly held perceptions.  

Sometimes these quirks can be helpful.  Such as knowing alternate translations of texts, or the proper ways to fit together timelines.  Other times... they broach into the territory of "too clever by half".  

Such is the case of people insisting Jesus couldn't have been born on Dec 25 - and HAD to be born in the spring.  The evidence typically used to support this claim is from Luke's infancy account:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." - Luke 2:8

Folks will latch onto the detail and say:

It couldn't have been winter because there are sheep present!

A Walk Through Advent - Part IV

Today we finish up with Luke's account of Jesus birth.  Merry Christmas!!

A Walk Through Advent - Part III

Previously we read through the annunciation of Jesus to Mary.  Today we pick up where we left off with the annunciation to Joseph:

A Walk Through Advent - Part II

Previously we read through the annunciation of John the Baptist to Zechariah.  Today we pick up where we left off with the annunciation of Jesus to Mary:

A Walk Through Advent - Part I

So I was wondering what I might do for Christmas this year.  Then I thought, "Hey, why not go through the Biblical accounts of the nativity doing commentary along the way?"

In this first part we'll be reading through the annunciation of John the Baptist to Zechariah.  I hope you enjoy it!