What should parents tell their children about Santa Claus?

Many Christian parents are torn as to whether or not they should play the Santa game with their children. On one hand, he makes Christmas fun and magical, leaving wonderful holiday memories for years to come. On the other hand, the focus of Christmas should be on Jesus Christ and how much He has already given us. So, is the story of Santa Claus an innocent addition to Christmas festivities, or is he a subject that should be avoided?

Parents need to use their own judgement in deciding whether or not to include Santa during the holidays, but here are some things to consider:

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the December issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!


The Star Of Bethlehem From An Astronomer’s Perspective

The story of scholars from the east, following the Christmas Star, seeking to find the King of the Jews, has been told countless numbers of times. It is a story filled with awe, wonder, and intrigue, as the scriptures do not give astronomers much information about what the Christmas Star may have been.

As a professor of astronomy, I have spent many hours pondering what the Star of Bethlehem might have been. There are several possibilities: could the Star of Bethlehem have been a comet? A nova? A supernova? Or a ‘line-up’ of bright planets, known in technical terms as a planetary conjunction? Or was the Star of Bethlehem possibly a miracle in its own right, just as the incarnation – the word becoming flesh – is a miracle of miracles?

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the December issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!


Mary, Did You Know?

God chose a young, unknown girl who lived in a relatively unknown city to bring about the most celebrated event in human history. God uses nobodies to tell everybody about Somebody. God specialises in choosing ordinary people and doing extraordinary things with them and through them.

The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions have raised Mary to the position of a female deity, worthy of worship and to whom we should address our prayers. Protestants on the other hand tend to minimise her importance and fail to recognise her as the unique and remarkable woman that she was. God chose Mary for what could be arguably the most important job in history – bringing our Saviour Jesus Christ into the world. She was the perfect unlikely choice, which made her story even more remarkable.

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the December issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!


How can I trust God when I am facing unemployment, or bankruptcy?

The loss of employment and/or income is one of the most distressing events in life, especially for those supporting a family.

For the Christian man or woman facing unemployment, foreclosure, or bankruptcy, there can be additional doubts about God’s goodness and His promises to provide for His children. How is the Christian to react to these catastrophic life events? What Biblical principles can we apply to the loss of a home or a job and benefits (health/life insurance/retirement)?

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the December issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!