In the Margins - 12/3/25

Things I Read

Ashley and I started reading Kevin Deyoung’s The Biggest Story Advent with the kids this Christmas season. So far it’s working out great, short and simple enough for our boys to engage with, but also filled with Old Testament biblical theology that the girls can learn from. We read it at mealtimes.

Things I Listened To

I've been on a "Truth in Love" podcast kick recently. In the last week I listened to Jim Newheiser and Randy Patten talk about their Christmas traditions. I love the Christmas season, and it's fun to hear other godly men describe how they use this season to invest in their families and focus on Christ. Hoping to do one on the Incremental Revival podcast with Ashley.

Things I Watched

Nick Robles sent me a link to this animated short film called "Forevergreen." It was powerful - more intense than we expected - but so good. Watch it with the children, and keep some Kleenex nearby.

Things I Thought

Sometimes Christians see two competing themes during the Christmas season: on one hand, you have Christ, the incarnation, and the celebration of his first advent. On the other hand, you have presents, trees, lights, which sometimes smack of materialism. And so the Christians who really want to keep Christ at the center downplay the festivities - they don't want those things to drown out the reason for the season.

Ashley and I have decided that we want to go big during the Christmas season - to make it a wonderful time, memorable and happy, filled with desserts and lights and traditions and presents. The threat of materialism does not have to drive us away from giving and enjoying God’s good gifts. Our goal in the Christmas season is to help our children feel the wonder and joy of God’s generosity. At the breakfast table on December 1st I said to my kids: “So as we enjoy all the fun, the blessing, the singing, the laughter, and the gifts, keep this in mind: what we are trying to do is show you a little bit of the heart of our Father in heaven. If you feel any gratitude in your heart toward us for planning all this, transfer that gratitude to God, for he has given infinitely more than we could ever give.”

Our hope and prayer is that their childlike gratitude, as it matures, will be transferred from us to Jesus, the true source of every spiritual blessing.