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19 Christmas Articles by Manly P. Hall (from his Journals)Christmas, The Day of Divine LovePersonal Experience of the Christian/Christmas Mystery This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dwtruthwarrior.substack.com/subscribe
Enjoy this previously published episode. We will be back with a fresh new episode next week. In this episode, Bob, Christa, and Jeff trace how the “spirit of Christmas” drifted from the incarnation to vague goodwill and why anchoring the season in Christ brings joy that endures grief, illness, and change. We share practical ways to teach the story, shape honest traditions, and keep Scripture central at home.• Cultural sentiment versus the biblical message• Why the incarnation offends and frees• Angels' announcement as the core of joy• Traditions that teach across seasons and cultures• Santa, honesty, and building trust with kids• Advent habits that keep Christ central• Grief, illness, and celebrating with real hope• How secular frames distort life and family choices• Recalibrating foundations beneath the festivitiesPlease consider subscribing to this podcast, giving us a review wherever you access it, and sharing it with friendsYou can submit your questions as well as comments or suggestions for future episodes at lifechallenges.us or email us at podcast at Christian Life Resources.comFor more about our parent organization, please visit Christian Life Resources.comSupport the showThe ministry of Christian Life Resources promotes the sanctity of life and reaches hearts with the Gospel. We invite you to learn more about the work we're doing: https://christianliferesources.com/
How supernatural is Christmas to you? How spiritual is this season? Did you know that the Holy Spirit is the real spirit of Christmas and the first Christmas was a move of God, not just a manger scene. Listen to this challenging message about the revival that the characters in the first Christmas story experienced and how we need that same revival today. The Real Spirit of Christmas: A Christmas Revival Pastor Heath Harris 12/21/25
Once again we present a short story highlighting the meaning of the gifts we receive each Christmas.
This week, Joe is featuring Vocalist Ray Charles from his 1985 Columbia Records recording, titled “The Spirit of Christmas.”
Thomas Monson shares touching experiences that reflect the true meaning and spirit of Christmas we should all seek to have in our hearts. Click here to see the speech page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bright Bold & Real has produced a special community series - Mindful Community Collective, MC² - to refresh and heal. This guided meditation is perfect to rest your mind and give your week a sense of calm, grace, and flexibility. Consider this time an oasis for your mind and soul.
Scripture: Hebrews 10:5-7
Show #1132 Xmas Without Spinner 01. Parlor Greens - Auld Lang Syne (3:03) (Single, Colemine Records, 2025) 02. Boni Jane - Be My Santa Claus (2:55) (Single, self-release, 2025) 03. The New Bardots - A Pocket Full Of Christmas (2:49) (Single, Bongo Boy Records, 2024) 04. Andy B.AND - Xmas Eve On Venice Beach (4:47) (Tellin' Myself Weird Li'l Stories, Deko Entertainment, 2025) 05. The Doohickeys - Santa Is A Stoner (4:03) (Merry Happy Whatever, Forty Below Records, 2025) 06. Kelly Finnigan - I Can't Wait (For Christmas Time) (2:57) (Single, Colemine Records, 2025) 07. Misty Blues - Coal In My Stockings (4:11) (Single, Guitar One Records, 2025) 08. Mountain Rio - It's Christmas In Ukraine (2:53) (Christmas Hoedown, self-release, 2025) 09. Ollee Owens - Kris Kringle Jingle (2:27) (Single, Ollee Owens Music, 2025) 10. Anne Harris - Christmas Time Is Here (2:10) (Single, Rugged Road Records, 2020) 11. Johnny Vernazza - Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues (3:39) (Home By Christmas, self-release, 2025) 12. McCrary Sisters - Go Tell It On The Mountain (4:59) (A Very McCrary Christmas, Rounder Records, 2019) 13. The Bobs - Too Many Santas (3:59) (Too Many Santas!, Rounder Records, 1996) 14. DPB (David Paul Brooks ft. Journey Eiland & Ouiwey Collins) - The Wonders Of Christmas (3:10) (Single, DPB Muzik, 2025) 15. Nola Blue Revue - Please Come Home for Christmas (3:23) (Single, Nola Blue Records, 2025) 16. Mick Kolassa - Beale Street Christmas Jam (3:28) (Uncle Mick's Christmas Album, Endless Blues Records, 2021) 17. Roomful Of Blues - Good Morning Blues (5:03) (Roomful Of Christmas, Bullseye Blues, 1997) 18. Ray Charles - The Little Drummer Boy (5:30) (The Spirit Of Christmas, Columbia Records, 1986) 19. The Wave Benders - Little Drummer Boy (2:34) (Surfin' Christmas, Dwell Records, 1996) 20. Bobby Christina's Caravan - Funky Mistletoe (4:59) (Various Artists-Walking In A Winter Wonderland, Nola Blue Records, 2025) 21. Allison August - Just Don't Feel Like Christmas (3:02) (Single, MoMojo Records, 2025) 22. Joe Forte & Beth Shelby - I Can Get You On The Naughty List (3:28) (Single, self-release, 2025) 23. Will Wilde - Christmas Eve Blues (4:48) (Single, VizzTone Records, 2025) 24. Paul Gilbert - Every Christmas Has Love (4:56) ('TWAS, Mascot Records, 2021) Bandana Blues is and will always be a labor of love. Please help Spinner deal with the costs of hosting & bandwidth. Visit www.bandanablues.com and hit the tipjar. Any amount is much appreciated, no matter how small. Thank you.
The Spirit of Christmas has been here since the beginning and will continue to be till Christ returns. Listen in as Pastor John teaches on the Light of Christ and its power to expel the darkness in our lives.To learn more about us, visit faithcenter.tv today!
Message by: Rev. Patrick Ballington. The Bridge Church is located at 607 Hulsey Road, Cleveland Georgia. The church that "Connects Faith and Life". Download our app by searching "The Bridge Church, Cleveland and Apple App Store or GooglePlay Store. Bridge Streams live Sundays @ 9:00 and 11:00 am. Streaming under CCLI License Number #CSPL072350
Scripture: Philippians 2
In this message, Michael explores the deep connection between the Trinity and Christmas, demonstrating how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each function in distinct ways in the Christmas story. It contrasts worldly traditions—such as a merit-based "Santa" and a conjured holiday "spirit"—with the biblical Father who remains faithful to the faithless and the Holy Spirit who leads believers to glorify God. Finally, the speaker concludes that Jesus is the only gift capable of fixing human brokenness, as He bore the cost of sin to provide a purposeful connection to God that material things cannot offer.
The assignment, watch 30 minutes of news and find a single example of unity. Mission impossible? Feels like it at times, right? And yet, all things are possible with God. Do we subconsciously exclude unity from “all things?” We'll explore unity in our study today.Phil 2:2
Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 6 by HOP Blairsville
Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover 2015's Krampus, a holiday horror favorite. We talk about family, spirit, hope, and all things Christmas. Tangents include: hot tubs, stockings, gifts, tarot, holiday traditions, and Chrsitmas hot takes. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Bright Bold & Real has produced a special community series - Mindful Community Collective, MC² - to refresh and heal. This guided meditation is perfect to rest your mind and give your week a sense of calm, grace, and flexibility. Consider this time an oasis for your mind and soul.
Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 5 by HOP Blairsville
John 3:16; Romans 5:8
Message by: Rev. Patrick Ballington. The Bridge Church is located at 607 Hulsey Road, Cleveland Georgia. The church that "Connects Faith and Life". Download our app by searching "The Bridge Church, Cleveland and Apple App Store or GooglePlay Store. Bridge Streams live Sundays @ 9:00 and 11:00 am. Streaming under CCLI License Number #CSPL072350
Sermons, December 2025, John, The Spirit of Christmas, Holy Spirit, Indwelling, Pastor Ray Fowler
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. People are more courteous. They smile more. It is my wish that the light of this season would shine all year long.
Perhaps you've heard of fleeting joy, a temporary breeze of positivity that is cherished for the brief moment that it lands on you. Our study today tackles the idea of complete joy. Complete sounds better than fleeting. Let's explore these types of joy in this study.Phil 2:2
6 years later and Alycia has finally convinced Katey to watch Hallmark's the Spirit of Christmas. This movie changed everything for Alycia and was her gateway drug into Hallmark movies. Listen in to see how if Katey feels the same or if she is about to rock Alycia's world.
Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 4 by HOP Blairsville
Self-interest is directionless and ultimately, is an enemy of both self-actualization and love. For these things, we need a relation to something outside of our own egos.
Bright Bold & Real has produced a special community series - Mindful Community Collective, MC² - to refresh and heal. This guided meditation is perfect to rest your mind and give your week a sense of calm, grace, and flexibility. Consider this time an oasis for your mind and soul.
Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 3 by HOP Blairsville
Galatians 4:4-7
In this 24-minute Christmas special, Joni shares hope-filled insights on how you can create the Christmas spirit in your home and in your heart. Join Joni, along with her husband Ken, and their good friend, Shauna, as she helps us focus on Jesus through Scripture, Christmas carols, prayer, and practical ideas. -------- This Christmas, you can shine the light of Christ into places of darkness and pain with a purchase from the Joni and Friends Christmas catalog. You are sending hope and practical care to people with disabilities, all in the name of Jesus! Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
Sermons, December 2025, Luke, The Spirit of Christmas, Holy Spirit, Virgin Birth, Pastor Ray Fowler
This time of the year there seems to be a wonderful collision between our culture and Christianity. It's as though we're given "permission" to believe the impossible and to have the faith of a child. Many times this phenomena is referred to as the "Christmas Spirit". - The Spirit of Christmas.
In this episode, Shanda is joined by author Cynthia Ruchti to explore a part of the Christmas story we often overlook: the Holy Spirit's presence and power throughout the Advent narrative. From the Spirit's overshadowing of Mary to the prophetic words of Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Simeon, Cynthia helps us see that Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger—but about the Spirit preparing hearts to recognize the Savior. If you want to experience the true Spirit of Christmas, this conversation will deepen your wonder and your worship. Get The Spirit of Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti Find Shanda www.shandafulbright.com Instagram & Facebook: @shandafulbright Email: hello@shandafulbright.com Free Resources: https://shandafulbright.com/links YouTube: http://bit.ly/ShandaYT2021 Store: www.Shandafulbright.com/shop
Heading into December, we'll soon be hearing the music tones of “Joy to the World.” We sing it, we enjoy it, but have we ever really wrestled with that phrase? Is joy something that can be found anywhere in our world today? And if so, what is its source? All these questions are explored in this study. Phil 2:2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 2 by HOP Blairsville
Crisis 75-12-25 The Spirit Of Christmas
Stéphanie welcomes friend and author Cynthia Ruchti for a heartfelt conversation about an often-overlooked key Person in the Christmas story!Inspired by Cynthia's book, The Spirit of Christmas: Discovering His Presence throughout the Advent Season, Stephanie and Cynthia weave together the truths of the gospel with the unique work of the Holy Spirit through the Christmas season.Cynthia beautifully outlines how the Holy Spirit is present at every turn in the story of Christmas. From the Spirit's role in Jesus' conception to His comfort and guidance of Mary on her journey to Elizabeth, we see that God's presence is not limited to grand, miraculous moments but extends to the quiet, unseen steps we take in our lives. Cynthia also notes that even in the last moments of silence preceding Jesus' birth (the 400 years between Malachi and the Gospels), the Spirit is waiting and then speaks to unlikely people—Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth—signaling God's readiness to move.Both Stéphanie and Cynthia share an affinity for observing—paying attention to the details that God reveals. Cynthia describes herself as an “observer” who seeks to notice God at work, longing to discover and dig deeper. She invites us to do the same: to live lives marked by holy expectancy, always searching for evidence of God's presence through His Spirit. The conversation encourages listeners to be lifelong learners of the faith—not settling for what we've always known, but continually growing in our understanding of Him.Cynthia offers to expand our understanding of the gospel: it is not only about Jesus or the Father, but involves the entire Trinity. The Father sends the Son, and the Son sends the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is integral, taking the words of Jesus and illuminating them for us, deepening our comprehension far beyond what we might realize. This broadening view challenges us to recognize the Holy Spirit's involvement not just during Christmas, but throughout all of Jesus' ministry and in every aspect of our faith journey.So, Stephanie and Cynthia invite YOU to make space for the Holy Spirit during this Advent season. Cynthia suggests that we sometimes need to let go of traditions or activities that crowd out our capacity to ponder the real meaning of Christmas. The invitation is to intentionally prepare our hearts, not just our homes, so we don't end Christmas feeling empty or disappointed but deeply satisfied by God's presence.Cynthia also brings attention to the overlooked figures in the Christmas story—the innkeeper, the cloth weavers, and countless unnamed helpers. These reminders inspire us to appreciate every person's role and to look for God among the unnoticed and ordinary.Ultimately, Cynthia and Stéphanie challenge us not just to trace the Holy Spirit through Advent, but through our entire lives. Reflect on how God's Spirit has been working—generations back, in your own childhood, and through every season. The Spirit of Christmas is an invitation to continual discovery, deepened intimacy, and expectation for what God will reveal next.Get ready for Advent: As you move through Advent, intentionally seek and observe the Holy Spirit—both in the Christmas story and your daily life. What will you notice when you look?MORE ABOUT “THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS”Discover the Holy Spirit's Presence in the Christmas Story--and Why It Matters Today· A faith-building, eye-opening daily advent devotional· Discover exciting new aspects of the story you thought you knew· Prepare your heart to fully celebrate the birth of JesusWhen we think of the first Christmas, we often focus on the wide-eyed young mother and her faithful fiancé, on tattered shepherds and singing angels and road-weary wise men. But the Holy Spirit was there--and just as He hovered over the waters in the beginning, He hovers over every page of the Christmas story.This Advent, join acclaimed author Cynthia Ruchti for a faith-building, eye-opening walk with the Holy Spirit. Highlighting the power and presence of the Spirit at work in the sacred story, each entry of this 26-day devotional contains· core verses on the Spirit's role in the narrative of Scripture· devotional thoughts perfect for the whole family· often overlooked details that will change the way you see and understand the Christmas story· space for pondering and reflection· practical application with optional projects to help you prepare and celebrate· an Advent prayerBefore the babe was conceived, the Holy Spirit was already at work, setting the stage and preparing the hearts of the biblical characters we know and love. This season, let Him set the stage and prepare your heart too.MORE ABOUT CYNTHIA RUCHTICynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in Hope through her novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction, and through speaking for women's events/retreats and writers' conferences/workshops. She draws from 33 years of experience writing and producing the 15-minute daily radio broadcast, “The Heartbeat of the Home.” Her books have received recognition from RT Reviewers' Choice Book of the Year, PW Starred Reviews, Selah Awards, Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, Golden Scroll Awards and Novel of the Year, Readers' Choice Awards, The Carol Award, two Christy finalists, and more. For 12 years she served as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, and is part of the worship team at her church. She's also a Senior Literary Agent with Books & Such Literary Management. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and seven grandchildren.More at https://cynthiaruchti.com/ THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!NEW!Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example, - a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours. - a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogWhat matters to us here at Gospel Spice is to create a place where people who seek deeper intimacy with Jesus, will find Him. We want a warm, welcoming atmosphere to journey ever deeper into the heart of God. We believe it is the ultimate calling of the Christian life, and I like to summarize it with my motto, God's glory, our delight. That is why we invite you to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. And we have been doing this every day since 2019. We need YOU to keep Gospel Spice alive and growing. Financially speaking, we rely on people who understand this vision and who understand that we cannot function without a minimum budget. We run an extremely tight budget. For example, I work full time but don't draw a salary. And yet, we have expenses – for example, the equipment and technology we use, and also the wonderfully gifted staff who make it possible to deliver high quality content all around the globe, and then the necessary occasional promotional budget to make it possible to be discovered by those who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need your help. So we would love for you to consider if this ministry is blessing you to pay gospel spice forward. You can partner with us monthly with 10, 25, 50, 100, a month, or you can make one donation, once.And because we are a register nonprofit organization in the United States under the status of a 501c3 charity, it means that the amount that you pay to gospel spice is fully tax deductible. Completely tax deductible. So you're even saving money as you invest in gospel spice ministries. It is an eternal investment, and we are very grateful to you for it.Now it's very important to us that we give back as much as possible from what you give us. And so we commit to giving the majority of what we receive, once all of our administrative costs are paid, to organizations that fight human trafficking on the front line. There are many worthwhile causes in the world, so why this one? Because I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – maybe because I have never been its victim myself, so I feel a responsibility to help those less fortunate than me. Also, because Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and that is something that revolts the heart of God. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil. So, we do some due diligence. We pick organizations who have proven themselves trustworthy of our support. And then we give money to these Christians organizations that fight human trafficking.So would you consider paying us forward at gospelspice.com/payitforward?Your hard-earned money is always well used at Gospel Spice. Ultimately, you are giving back to the Kingdom, a portion of what Jesus has given you. We are well aware of the privilege to steward your partnership. And my prayer is always that you will find your own life spiced with the gospel as you partner with us to flavor the lives of those around us, near and far, with the spice of the gospel. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!
Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 1 by HOP Blairsville
Message by: Rev. Patrick Ballington. The Bridge Church is located at 607 Hulsey Road, Cleveland Georgia. The church that "Connects Faith and Life". Download our app by searching "The Bridge Church, Cleveland and Apple App Store or GooglePlay Store. Bridge Streams live Sundays @ 9:00 and 11:00 am. Streaming under CCLI License Number #CSPL072350
Sermons, November 2025, 1 Peter, The Spirit of Christmas, Holy Spirit, Prophecy, Pastor Ray Fowler
There are so many reasons to love Christmas: favorite songs, special meals, and the decorations that make everything feel magical. But at its core, Christmas is about God's generosity in sending Jesus to us. His love, joy, and peace are the true Spirit of Christmas. Join us this December as we discover the True Spirit of Christmas together.
A debate show where we pick any two random things to win the coveted cup This week: The Spirit of Christmas vs. Topo Chico We learn: We can still do a show without Elton This is the second time we have recorded this episode There is a lot of wrestling talk for some reason Support Nuzzle House by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/nuzzle-house Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/nuzzle-house/a3421f45-1299-443b-9936-601d7236bbf7
What world am I living in? Munchkin second edition? Catan sponsoring basketball? The Dice Tower saying something inappropriate? Actually, that last one tracks. Plus, there was a BUNCH of new GW releases announced, so you know we'll talk about that as we get excited for Pax Unplugged!
What world am I living in? Munchkin second edition? Catan sponsoring basketball? The Dice Tower saying something inappropriate? Actually, that last one tracks. Plus, there was a BUNCH of new GW releases announced, so you know we'll talk about that as we get excited for Pax Unplugged!
Plugged In's Adam Holz talks about how the entertainment industry is wrestling with AI-generated music and actors. What is real?? Plus, he looks at how Hollywood is wrestling with God and asking questions more recently. Cynthia Ruchti, author of "The Spirit of Christmas," helps us see the presence and the role of the Holy Spirit in the story of Jesus birth, and how to pursue Him this Christmas season. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here
Heeey what's up everyone! We are back with another episode of The Just Talk Podcast with Episode 329. Here's the breakdown.It's the holiday season! Tommy and Rich talks about Christmas and the spirit of Christmas, how the Sony CEO blames critics for the reception of Kraven, the Wicked Sing-A-Along movie version, and much more and of course, "What Have You Been Up To?"With that said, as always, we thank you all for the listens/downloads and your continuous support. WE APPRECIATE AND LOVE YOU ALL! We hope you enjoy this episode and until next time, we're going silent.Follow Us On IG@thejusttalkpodcastEmail Usthejusttalkpodcast00@gmail.comSubscribe To Us On YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo40E9rCSueQjDxPl21u8Mg
In today's bonus episode, Rachelle and Kelsey discuss the cinematic experience that is 2015's The Spirit of Christmas. Warning: we could not stop talking about sex and drugs in this episode, maybe because the movie is so chaste.Get tickets to Kelsey's book tour here!Pre-order Kelsey's book, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME, here!Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Rachelle, Se'era, Kelsey and Alex, blog recommendations, and bonus secrets!You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com.Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/Episode transcript here.Follow the show on Instagram @normalgossip, and if you have gossip, email us at normalgossip@defector.com or leave us a voicemail at 26-79-GOSSIP.Normal Gossip is hosted by Kelsey McKinney (@mckinneykelsey) and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs), Se'era Spragley Ricks (@seera_sharae), Ozzy Llinas Goodman (@ozzy_llinas), and Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira). Abigail Segel (@AbigailSegel) is our intern. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia.