Showing titles in Holidays

Darcy is hosting Christmas at the Inglenook Inn, when someone from her past shows up and complicates things. Can they put their differences aside to make Christmas a success?

With his trademark blend of storytelling, faith and psychological insight, New York Times best-selling author Thomas Moore turns his attention to the most enduring story of them all: the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Moore uses passages from the Gospels, archetypal stories and ancient myths to explore the idea that Christmas can only be fully understood as belonging to everyone - as a plan for the entire human race. This may be the most profound reflection on the meaning of Christmas in a generation.

In "A Country Christmas", Louisa May Alcott tells the story of Sophie, a debutante from the city who travels to rural Vermont to spend Christmas with her cousins Saul and Ruth. Though apprehensive at first, Sophie learns that the charms of celebrating Christmas in the country are many.

Halloween has been a topic of controversy among Christians for centuries. The arguments both for and against it are many, making it difficult to discern whether we should participate or completely reject it. With a new perspective on this difficult topic, this short book will help you look at Halloween with hope in the God who has the power to be a light in the darkness of this world.

For many, the Christmas season can be filled with distractions and anxiety rather than the joy and peace it is supposed to bring. In The Christmas Spirit, his first holiday book, Joel Osteen offers uplifting and inspiring stories of family and friends celebrating Christmas traditions that will help readers return to the essence of the holiday by practicing the principles taught by our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate that day. With these stories, Joel reminds us all of what is truly important in life.

A heartwarming true-life fable from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Santa - including his personal journey of discovering the magic of Christmas. Every year, over a million people attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, where they have the pleasure of seeing Charles Edward Hall don a traditional red suit and become the world's most famous Santa Claus - a role he has played for twenty-seven straight years. But Hall wasn’t always such a jolly old soul. Believe it or not, this Santa was once a Scrooge.

The 12 crimes of Christmas: Bart Sagan is a thief, yes, but more or less a good guy - at least, he wouldn’t rob an orphanage if he didn’t have to. Not at Christmastime, anyway. But then the local crime boss, Harry King, loses a shipment of drugs and orders Bart to burglarize the 12 addresses to which it’s been accidentally sent. Can Bart and his ragtag band of independent criminals keep their Christmas spirit while breaking and entering at the behest of a drug lord? Can they keep their lives if they don’t?

Is Saint Nicholas, aka, Santa Claus, Kris Kringle and a host of othernames, a myth, a legend, a fairy tale or was he a real person? In thisshort story, about a 10-15 minute read, you will learn about the life ofa man who was so absolutely amazing that his legacy lives on 1,600 yearsafter his death. You will see why so many of our Christmas traditionshave their roots in a man beloved during his life time, and loved tothis day.

When Catherine Olsen answers his mail order bride ad, he believes that her arrival will help him fulfill at least one of his few remaining dreams. But then Bessie Calhoun steps off the train and into his life, and nothing will be the same ever again After her scoundrel of a husband dies, leaving Bessie with child and all alone in New York City, she doesn’t know how she’ll managed to provide for herself and her baby. Then her friend Catherine proposes a deception, one that makes Bessie deeply uncomfortable, but which she accepts because she has few other choices if she hopes to give her ...

There was a time when I almost gave up celebrating Christmas. Our kids were still young and weren't yet hooked on the idea of Santa Claus and presents, Christmas trees and decorations. I had read that the Puritans who first came to America were so zealous in their faith that they didn't celebrate Christmas at all. Instead they charged fines to businesses in their community who failed to keep their shops open on Christmas day.

The Complete Series for adventure and excitement in this THREE-novels, series full of love, and the joys of the season in one boxed set! When the snow falls and the fires blaze brightly in the hearth, you know Christmas is just around the corner. Venturing west is always a risk, but never more so for the brides who catch a train to tiny Reno, Nevada, at this time of year, choosing to believe that they’ll be spending Christmas with the men of their dreams. There’s a church missing in town, but no lack of faith. As the new brides come together to help Reno find its true heart, they’ll ...

During the holidays, so many of us can suffer for all kinds of reasons. More and more churches are acknowledging this fact with "Blue Christmas" services (also called "Longest Night" services) and offering resources to give particular support and comfort to those struggling during the "most wonderful time of the year". In A Weary World, Escobar provides 28 daily reflections paired with prayers and practices to honor our struggles during the holidays. Weekly resources make this Advent devotional suitable for group study as well.

Filled with soldiers' letters, marked by humor, yearning, and courage, as well as Christmas poems and songs from the period, this is a tale of unabashed holiday spirit for our own divided nation.

Whether you've been naughty or nice, Santa has a treat just for you. Replete with visions of sugar plums, big juicy candy canes, and stockings eager to be filled, The Merry XXXmas Book of Erotica is a campy, blazing-hot feast of holiday erotica that will have you wishing the season of giving lasted all year long. Among these stories, Lynne Jamneck’s "What I Really Want for Christmas” is a tale of friendship igniting to passion with the help of an interfering family, good whiskey, and a Santa suit.

Feeling a chill amidst the warmth of the season? Sensing a shadow lurking behind the tinsel and lights? Experience the darker visions hidden within our brightest holiday. Come listen to the water ghost's story as she spends Christmas Eve haunting Harrowby Hill.

The New Testament begins not with a dramatic narrative or lofty poetry but with a genealogy. Provocatively, Matthew's Gospel includes women in Jesus' family line - something that wasn't customary in an ancient culture, where women were largely powerless and uninfluential. In this surprising take on the Christmas story, Tim Keller reveals how, by focusing on the women in Jesus' birth narratives, a colourful, scandalous and refreshing tale of grace emerges.

Encounter Easter afresh, take a journey of heart and mind to understand more deeply this unique event in history. A series of Easter devotions, based on the events leading up to the crucifixion, looks at real lives of the men and women close to Jesus, and the meaning of Easter for us today.

Thirty years ago, Dan Short left the corporate world to follow a calling - to give the gift of God’s love to children and adults alike. How did he do it? By becoming Santa Claus, of course! These are “Santa Dan’s” tales of hope and humor, collected from his three decades of playing Jolly Old Saint Nick. And as you might have guessed, Santa has his share of stories to tell - some tearful, some joyful, and all of them filled with heartwarming Christmas spirit.

Stories Behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter reveals the real inspiration behind the customs, symbols, and special music of Easter. Through his gift as a storyteller, award-winning author Ace Collins brings new meaning and depth to the celebration of Easter.

When we are initiated into the church with the water of baptism, we (or our sponsors) answer a series of questions called the Baptismal Covenant. The first three questions echo the words of our creeds, our beliefs about God and the church. The last five questions focus on action. They each begin with the words: "Will You?" These "Will You" questions articulate how we are to animate our baptism, to follow Christ's example in our relationships with others, our communities, and the world.