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Alone in a cave lit only by smoky oil lamps and warmed by the body heat of a few indifferent domestic animals, a teenaged girl struggled with the pangs of her child's birth. Outside, a young man, not yet turned 30, waited anxiously in the chilly breeze (for no matter the season, the nights are cold in the Judean hills). When at last her baby was born, the girl washed him, wrapped him lovingly in a handful of clean rags, and laid him in a shallow, grainy trough chiseled from a block of limestone ... You and I have seen so many Nativity plays, heard so many variations on the story, that it can be hard to sift out the real truth under all the traditions. And that's why I want to put a wonderful book in your hands this Christmas season, Paul Maier's The First Christmas: The True and Unfamiliar Story. If you've listened long to the Bible Answer Man, you know my friend Paul. You know that his excellence as a historian is matched only by his love and devotion for Christ. In The First Christmas, he gently removes the layers of speculation and embellishment, to show you the very heart of Christ's Nativity—a story more tenderly human and wondrously divine than any fictionalized retelling. Now, I know you could go online or to a bookstore and simply buy The First Christmas. But I'm going to ask you boldly today, to send a generous gift of support to the Christian Research Institute and let me send you an elegant hardcover copy as my way to say "thank you." You see, we truly need your gift this Christmas season, of $15, $50, $100—whatever amount God has blessed you to be able to share. Throughout the season, for every TV show, radio broadcast, or magazine article celebrating the truth of Christmas, there will be a dozen more to lead innocent and doubting hearts astray. Scoffing at the Virgin Birth, earnestly claiming to be finding the "real Jesus" underneath "all those Bible myths," "proving" that the story is simply a retelling of pagan mythology . . . they will be everywhere, and they will be very convincing. And as our world grows ever more intolerant of Christ, their rhetoric moves more surely away from the fringes of scholarship to become the mainstream view that "everybody knows." By supporting the Christian Research Institute this Christmas, you'll help make sure the Bible Answer Man is there to answer the questions of those whose faith is shaken. You'll also enable us to keep producing and distributing resources defending the Bible's reliability as a guide for our lives... because Truth matters. Really, this could be the most important Christmas gift you give this year—the gift of saving faith to someone currently wavering between God's truth and the world's lies. And as I said, I'll send you a copy of The First Christmas to let you know how much I appreciate you. I think it'll quickly become a favorite in your family. In 94 clearly-written and beautifully illustrated pages, Paul Maier helps you explore the "who, where, what, when, and how" of Christ's birth. Why doesn't secular history mention the babies Herod slaughtered in Bethlehem? When was Christ really born? Who were the Wise Men? You and your family, young and old, will find plenty to ponder as you deepen your understanding of the Incarnation. Divided into twelve topics, the book can even be used as part of your daily devotions leading up to Christmas. Best of all, The First Christmas will arm you against the lies the media will soon stir up again. Please send your gift today, so that we can get The First Christmas to you in plenty of time to bless your own holiday, or serve as a thoughtful gift to someone you love. Any amount you give this Christmas season will strengthen this ministry we share, bringing new faith and confidence to many hearts. Thank you for your partnership!
 P.S. This Christmas season, as the world points a derisive finger at the miracle of Christ's birth, your generous gift will help more people find the truth. And don't forget to request your elegant hardcover copy of The First Christmas when you send your gift today! You can also call 1.888.7000.CRI (1-888-700-0274) or log on to www.equip.org to give by credit card and request your book.P.P.S. Because so many people have told us how my 25-day devotional, The Heart of Christmas, helped them focus on Christ in the midst of the holiday rush last year, we wanted to be sure all of our new friends had an opportunity to receive it this year. If you'd like The Heart of Christmas instead of The First Christmas, simply follow this link or call 1.888.7000.CRI! |
Doesn't sound much like the Christmas card pictures, does it?
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