 |
| » View
the PDF file (2.1MB) |
HO, HO, HOAX!
Where did the Christmas holiday come from? How did it begin,
and why? Does it really honor Jesus Christ and celebrate
His birth, or is there more to the story that most people
don't know?
Did you realize that historians (and the Bible) agree
that Jesus Christ wasn't born anywhere near Dec. 25?
Or that this particular date was well known for its pagan
religious celebrations long before Jesus Christ was born?
What does a jolly old man in a fur-trimmed red suit
(who supposedly lives at the North Pole and is assisted
by elves!) have to do with the birth of
the Son of God? And what about
reindeer and a flying sleigh?
How much do you know about the origin of the
Christmas tree? How did holly come to be connected with
the holiday, and why is mistletoe supposedly good for kissing?
Few people know why they believe or do the things they do—especially
when it comes to their religious beliefs and practices. If
you want to discover the real facts about the strange history
of this popular holiday, request
your free copy of Holidays or Holy Days:
Does It Matter Which Days We Keep? This eye-opening booklet is waiting for you!
In this free booklet you can discover the shocking truths about
several of
the world's most popular holidays. Perhaps even more
surprising is how they
came to be connected with Jesus Christ and the Christian religion.
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
November/December 2005
Vol. 10, Num. 6
Editorial: Great Storms Foretold?
A Good News editorial
Cover Story
The Day the World Ended: Lessons From Pompeii
The haunting ruins of Pompeii tell a stark and heartrending story. One
day Pompeii was a thriving, lively city; the next it was a steaming mound
of smoldering volcanic ash, buried and forgotten for almost 17 centuries.
Pompeii's tragic tale holds a crucial lesson for us today. Will we pay
attention, or will we make the same tragic mistake?
Natural Disasters: Will We Ask the Crucial Questions?
A native of New Orleans looks back on the city and the devastation unleashed
there by Hurricane Katrina. Is something big at work here, a pattern
beginning to play out that we would do well to heed?
Is God Indifferent to Human Suffering?
If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, He could easily prevent such
terrible disasters as earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods,
droughts and volcanic eruptions. But He lets them happen. Why?
Hurricane Katrina: Is God Removing His Protection?
The
destruction from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was so great and far-reaching
that many wonder if God is playing a hand in these events, either punishing
the United States or removing His protection—or both.
"When You See These Things, Know That It
Is Near . . ."
Jesus Christ instructed His followers to watch for a sequence of trends
and events that would culminate in His second coming at the end of the
present age. Are you attentive to the signs of the times He gave?
When God Doesn't Make Sense
Why does God allow tragedies? Why doesn't He always answer prayers?
Why can it seem that God is ignoring us when we're trapped in the pit
of despair? What do we do when God just doesn't seem to make sense?
Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
Many feel
that Christmas marks Christ's birthday and that it honors Him. Yet some
few Christians don't observe Christmas, believing that He didn't sanction
it and that it dishonors Him. Who is right—and
why?
-Sidebar-
Christians Who Don't Celebrate
Christmas: Here's Why
Regular Features
World News and Trends
An overview of conditions around the world
God, Science and the Bible
News from the world of science about God and the Bible
Letters From Our Readers
Readers of The Good News share their thoughts
Questions and Answers
Answers to readers' questions
Just for Youth
Win-Win: Who Says There Has to Be a Loser? |