The Reason for Jesus' Poverty

The Lord of all comes as a slave amidst poverty. The hunter has no wish to startle his prey. Choosing for his birthplace an unknown village in a remote ...

Frustrated Christmas Shopper Lashes Out

A woman was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds. She was tired of standing in lines. She ...

Jordan's King Mingles with His Subjects

On several occasions, King Abdullah II of Jordan has disguised himself and mingled with his subjects. His rationale for this unorthodox approach is to ...

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" Celebrates 40 Years

Charles Schulz's A Charlie Brown Christmas celebrated its 40th anniversary on December 1, 2005. However, if TV producers had had their way in 1965, ...

Priest Serving Lepers Becomes a Leper

Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to Kalawao—a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, ...

Jesus Christ as Paradox

Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus ...

Augustine on Christmas

Our Lord came down from life to suffer death; the Bread came down, to hunger; the Way came down, on the way to weariness; the Fount came down, to thirst. —Augustine, ...

Man Blessed by Simple Testimony at Post Office

Pete Winn writes in "Citizen Link Update":

I was at the post office in the last days before Christmas. After helping me conduct my lengthy business, ...

Supermodel Swaps Body

As a supermodel, Tyra Banks is used to the stares of others and the snap of camera shutters every time she steps out in public. But in 2005 she experienced ...

Winter Town Receiving Sunlight

The little village of Rattenberg is the smallest town in Austria, and getting smaller each year. The town has lost 20 percent of its population in the ...