My favorite part of the Christmas tradition is giving. Sometimes my search to find that perfect gift for my husband, children, and grandchildren can take all year. I enjoy wrapping the presents in bright paper and color-coordinated, wire-edged ribbon. The beauty of the presentation becomes a part of my gift.

That's why I don't understand why the gift of the Christ Child came wrapped in what I'd call plain brown paper. If I had been in control, that big event would have been wrapped extravagantly.

My favorite part of the Christmas tradition is giving. Sometimes my search to find that perfect gift for my husband, children, and grandchildren can take all year. I enjoy wrapping the presents in bright paper and color-coordinated, wire-edged ribbon. The beauty of the presentation becomes a part of my gift.

That's why I don't understand why the gift of the Christ Child came wrapped in what I'd call plain brown paper. If I had been in control, that big event would have been wrapped extravagantly.

My favorite part of the Christmas tradition is giving. Sometimes my search to find that perfect gift for my husband, children, and grandchildren can take all year. I enjoy wrapping the presents in bright paper and color-coordinated, wire-edged ribbon. The beauty of the presentation becomes a part of my gift.

That's why I don't understand why the gift of the Christ Child came wrapped in what I'd call plain brown paper. If I had been in control, that big event would have been wrapped extravagantly.

Of all the stories in the Bible, surely the Christmas story is one all Christians think they know very well.

Parts of the story are used in many illustrations. Some people even decorate their homes with nativity scenes. Most churches have an annual Christmas program in which kids and teens dress like the main characters and act out the story.

After dark, lights of two major German cities are visible from the bluff at Lohrburg. Young people from the Frankfurt Church of the Nazarene can identify the view: Offenbach to the left, Frankfurt to the right. They should know, since this is where they come to dream.

"You look out there and you think, 'God, there's so much to do and we have no idea where to start,'" said Evan Offutt, who works with five other students in the latest venture toward church planting in Germany. "Show us what we can do."

When he accepted his assignment as 33rd general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in 2001, Talmadge Johnson said, "I accept your voice today. And I will get on with the business of serving God and honoring Him."

In my early days as a college religion professor, a student wanted to write an essay on the concept of Satan in order to fulfill a course requirement. When she submitted the paper, I laughed heartily—throughout the paper she had misspelled Satan as "Satin."

Q: I've heard many terms used to describe holiness in the lives of believers. Are some terms more correct than others?

The holiness of God is majestic, awe-inspiring and wonderful. (Perhaps we should also include fearful.)

God's gracious invitation for us to be called by His name and participate in His holy character is an invitation to be holy as God is holy. Holiness in the lives of believers is humbling, powerful, life-changing, and hopeful. It cannot be easily captured in a single word or phrase.

Holiness: Does it matter?

Holiness: Does it matter?