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By Kevin Lee
 Rick Warren: The Purpose of Christmas, Howard Books
‘Pastor Rick’, in his direct way,
makes the point that, regardless of your background, religion or
circumstances, Christmas is the best news you can get. He identifies three
purposes of Christmas and how they solve each individual’s three
greatest needs. This is a recommended book to give away, to inspire and
console and the reader. It points to ‘God with us’ this season.
The book is nicely illustrated and does make a great gift.
 Allison Pittman: Saturdays With Stella, Multnomah
Not just a sanctified ‘Marley and Me’,
Allison Pittman shares her life as she adopts a “tiny, shiny puppy of
indefinable breed(s).” She finds a way to show us what it means to
follow the Master, at the same time as we're regaled with episodes of
Stella turning the household upside down. A genuinely funny and inspiring
book for one and all.
 Watch For the Light: Readings For Advent and
Christmas, Orbis
Best-loved writers, from Thomas Aquinas to Philip
Yancey bring wise and beautiful reflections on the season. Each selection
can be read on its own or on a daily basis, one for each day through
Epiphany. This is a powerful collection of over a millennium of the best
Christian writers.
 Julie Stiegmeyer: Fear Not
Joseph, Concordia
Subtitled “A Story of Christmas”, this
beautiful children's book tells of what the nativity experience may have
resembled for Joseph and his family. It’s exquisitely illustrated
with large, realistic images, telling the story from Joseph's point of
view. As it’s read to a younger child, we understand again that God
often chooses the humble and unassuming to be his hands and to share his
mercy with others.
 Jason Santos: A Community
Called Taize, IVP/Formatio
As it’s the world’s first Protestant
monastic order, the Taize community is somewhat familiar within the
contemporary church. This ‘virtual reality’ tour explores the
order, bringing us to its emerging mission as a spiritual focal point for
millions of young people throughout the world. Santos really helps us
understand the history of Taize, an experience of worship within community.
Continue article >>
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 Ross Parsley: Do You See
What I See?, David C
Cook
There’s definitely room this Christmas for this
straightforward, insightful and warm look into the nativity story. Parsley,
as a pastor at New Life Church in Colorado, has come to understand
heartache and dashed hopes. He presents answers to the question in the
title as he looks at ordinary people called to do the extraordinary.
Kevin Lee owns Sign of the Fish Bookstore on Lonsdale
Avenue, North Vancouver. www.bookmanager.com/signofthefish
December 2008
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