It’s that time of year again when much of the world plunges headlong into a gift-buying frenzy that is wrapped in ribbon & tinsel, decorated with evergreen trees & winter themes, boxed with stories of Santa Claus, and given the words, “Merry Christmas.”

For Christians, seeking to maintain some symbol of truth when using the word “Christ” can be a very confusing time of the year. The confusion comes when we try to combine the world’s Christmas themes with Biblical themes surrounding the birth of Christ.

Even stories told about the birth of the baby of Bethlehem can miss the point if their focus is on a little baby. The birth of Christ isn’t as much about a baby being born as it is about God coming to us in the form of human flesh. Yes, He was born as a baby but this baby grew to be a boy and then to become a man who suffered and died for our sins and was gloriously resurrected from the dead in a grand display of victory over death for all who believe in Him. Christmas is really about Immanuel, “God with us.”

Our prayer for each and every one of you, is that Christ will be with you this Christmas and that Immanuel, will the center of your home, a guest at every meal, a silent listener to every conversation.

On behalf of our family, to yours a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2012.

Paul and Tonya Condry

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14