Winter 2004

Pastor David Petersen, in his column on the catechism, compares American pictures of Christmas to the story of Jesus' birth.

God became flesh in Jesus Christ and was born into this world as a baby to suffer and die on the cross and rise physically from the dead. Are these basic truths of Christianity contrary to popular beliefs today as portrayed in books like The Da Vinci Code? Read Veith's latest column to explore this very important topic.

"Keep Christ in Christmas!" and "Jesus is the reason for the season" are familiar sayings these days that we hear frequently around at Christmastime. But what about keeping the "mass" in Christmas? Pastor Borghardt explains what the other half of the word "Christmas" is all about.

Whoa! Wait a minute, can we refer to Mary as the mother of God? Sandra Ostapowich examines this seemingly small point of theology and finds rich meaning in understanding our Lord Jesus Christ.

An unusual encounter with a vicar's cat leads to some startling revelations late one Christmas Eve.

In a letter from a father to a daughter, Pastor Dwight Hellmers addresses some questions about issues that reflect on women, the Bible, and feminism.

With nearly 1 billion Internet users worldwide, stories of crime and abuse of this tool increase as usage increases. But many also have positive experiences. Read about one pastor's experience and how -- with much care and caution -- the Internet can be the place to meet some wonderful people.

Pastor Chryst explores the definitions of some words that you might already wonder about.

Fieberkorn, a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, shares his experiences as a commissioned officer in the armed forces and reflects on his vocation as a soldier.

In this issue, Ex gives advice on great pick-up lines and how to make plans after graduating from high school. Check it out!

A Thanksgiving dinner which begins with high hopes and gourmet grandeur ends up with some lessons about thankfulness and swimming mice.