"Santa certainly had some good answers, and Melinda was almost out of questions. But then she remembered the most important question of all. It was a question she'd always wanted answered. 'Santa, ' she began ... 'Who is the real God?'"--Page 4 of cover

Over the past few years, John Pavlovitz's blog, Stuff That Needs To Be Said, has become a virtual hub for millions of people from all over the world, drawn there by his clear, compelling words on compassion, equity, love, and justice. This expansive, like-hearted community transcends race, orientation, gender, religious tradition, political affiliation, and nation of origin--and finds its affinity in the deeper place of our shared humanity, which is the True North of his writing. This collection lovingly pulls together some of John's most widely-read and most beloved essays on faith, politics, grief, and the elemental parts of being human. It is an encouraging, inspiring, challenging storehouse of "stuff that needs to be said."

God is the treasure of our lives. He is part of everything we do, think, act, and say-literally, he is a part of us. This precious heirloom of Christ himself must be passed on to future generations. But how? Treasuring God in Our Traditions presents the importance of passing along Christ-centered traditions and a Bible-saturated legacy in Christ to future generations. Noël Piper helps her readers recognize how the "everyday" routines of life and the "especially" celebrations of holidays and dates can be practically passed down to future generations. When parents and grandparents seek to pass along the treasure of God to their children and grandchildren, they will develop and deepen their love for him. When family traditions are rooted in the Bible, the next generations will see that the greatest treasure that anyone can have is the treasure of God.

Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a twelve-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God.

What does God and Santa have in common? Why did God put Santa here on earth? When the world saddened God, he gave us Santa who would give very special gifts to the children, as the three wise men gave Jesus many years ago on the most important day of the year.....Jesus' birthday. But what about the naughty children? How would Santa remind them of the story of the three wise men? Would God have an answer for Santa?

Sally, Tim, and their mother discuss the existence of Santa and God just before Christmas. This is a conversation known to many Christian families with young children excited for the holiday. Their conversations and prose are punctuated by the delightful and bright images of the season. It is good and important to believe in the magic and generosity of Santa Claus as a child. God Loves Santa Too encourages this belief while also hinting, ever-so-lightly at the efforts of the parents—both financial and not—to maintain the magic of Santa Claus. We also are reminded of the importance of Jesus during this season. God Loves Santa Too is sure to leave your heart warmed and ready for the Christmas season.

Bad Santas is not a book for children. Here you will find the bloody, the bawdy and the downright bizarre in a celebration of the most imaginative, macabre and curious Christmas figures and customs from across Europe. Drawing on that continent's legacy of disquieting folk tales told at wintertime, Paul Hawkins' gleefully dark exploration of seasonal folklore is the perfect book for reading around the fireside.