In The High Price Of Materilism, researcher Tim Kasser compiles decades of research – his and others’ – to define “materialism”, make a case for what might cause it, and prove its negative impact on us, our families and whole societies. People whose values center around materialism – the accumulation… Read More
My in-laws from Houston are in town. Ten grandkids at a local hotel with Granda and Papa, at the over-chlorinated indoor swimming pool. Girls in one room. Boys in another. An evening meal at Cracker Barrel. Late night movie watching, eating candy, drinking Dr. Pepper – living like rock stars.… Read More
Alrighty, this won’t be short. Let’s recap first. 1. If you need to use the bible to justify gift giving at Christmas time, you’re out of luck: No where are we told to do this. Instead of telling us to give stuff to people to honor Christ’s arrival, it implies… Read More
The way my family celebrates Christmas has everything to do with how we celebrate Halloween. We’re trying to be consistent. Every October I go into the attic and pull out two large plastic bins full of Halloween decorations and one even bigger one full of costume scraps: wigs, wings, hats,… Read More
Yesterday we talked about the wise men and how their story is not a prescription for giving stuff to people as much as it is an inspiration to give ourselves to God. Today, I’m suggesting that Christmas gifts are to most kids what milk is to mine. Our first was… Read More
I asked a few days ago why we give presents to people at Christmas whose birthday it definitely is not. And the fingers pointed to the wise men. It’s their fault, you said. So, let’s talk about that. The word translated “wisemen” or “magi” in the book of Matthew (the… Read More
Shaun Groves