Matthew 1:24-25 (ESV) says, When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Joseph may be my favorite (human) character of the Christmas Narrative. What incredible faith! Everything in him said to divorce Mary (and do it quietly to protect her life . . . what love!). But Joseph showed immense faith in the Lord’s plan. You can benefit immensely from Joseph’s example here.
Luke 1:26-27 says, In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
Mary was pretty young. Scholars' opinions range anywhere from 13 or 14 years old to 18 or 19. The point is this: God used Mary in a miraculous way. That's God's M.O. He used Mary when she was just a teenager. We could also mention her cousin Elizabeth who gave birth at an older age. It doesn't matter your age, position in life or your circumstances (do a study on the town of Nazareth), God can and will use you today as vital parts of His plan to redeem humankind.
Luke 2:6-7, And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room in the inn.
It seems this generation places a high value on authenticity. There is nothing more authentic than the God of the Universe taking in human form in order to perfectly save his creation from themselves. We can know and worship and relate to God because He became one of us.
Where would the U.S. be without the influence of Christian values? Historian and author Larry Taunton has taken up answering this question in his new book, The Grace Effect: how the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief. Taunton tells the captivating story of his family's efforts to adopt a Ukrainian orphan named Sasha, the Godless world they encountered along the way, and the glimpse they saw of future America if radical secularists have their way.
Through the narrative of Sasha's redemption, you see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. But they also see the power of the grace effect, an observable phenomenon proving that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.
To listen to the interview please click here or scroll down. For more information on this remarkable story click here.
Larry Taunton is the founder and executive director of Fixed Point Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the defense of the Christian faith. In that role, Taunton has personally engaged some of the most vociferous opponents of Christianity, including Richard Dawkins, Peter Singer and Christopher Hitches.
Taunton has written a great article regarding the on-going anti-Tebow stories that will engage you in a new way - read the article here. Plus he also developed the Lookup316 Superbowl ad, which was rejected by the network. Watch the commercial below:
Dr. Alex McFarland, religion and culture expert, is a renowned expert in Christian apologetics. He is the host of the TV program Sound Rezn and is the co-host for Explore the World. He has authored several books including, The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity, Stand Strong: In College, 10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer plus others.
One thing you will find about Dr. McFarland's books is that they are well-written. They are intellectual yet easy to understand. He doesn't shy away from the hard topics but confronts them head on. His latest book, 10 Answers for Skeptics, identifies the 10 most common types of skepticism that plague doubters' minds and offers believers proven strategies for connecting intellectually and spiritually with those who are skeptical about the claims of Christianity.
Dinesh D'Souza, New York Times best-selling author and president of The King's College, says in his forward to the book, "His enthusiasm is contagious not only in person but also in his writing. Alex's latest contribution to the field of apologetics, 10 Answers for Skeptics, is a unique blend of reason and experience. The result is a book that offers answers to intellectual barries as well as the experiential challenges to faith that trouble many skeptics."
During my interview with Alex we talked about his new book plus his latest debate with president of American Atheists David Silverman over the topic "Is Christianity good for America?" To listen click here or scroll down.
