The Greatest Story Ever Told By: Zach Collins The holiday season is upon us, once again. The smell of fresh cookies and other baked goods wafts throughout our homes. The sounds of the holiday season fill our ears with the ring of traditional Christmas songs and our favorite holiday movies. The cards are perfectly organized on the entry table. The gifts are bought, wrapped, and placed on the fabric under the twinkling lights. In the words of the famous soundtrack, “Christmas time is here.” The greatest story ever told, Jesus’ story, has been adapted into a commercialized success! Thus, many minds are focused on the commercialized Christ in the movies rather than God’s Christ in the Bible. I want to explore some myths about the birth of the Messiah, which might help us have a deeper appreciation of this significant historical moment.  We often sing, “Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word….” But do we view this story through the lens of a commercialized culture or the inerrant word of God?  Myth #1: Three wise men, kings from the Orient, came to see Jesus at the manger. We do not know the number of wise men, exactly. It might have been three, or it could have been more. It could be like some showers in our culture, where many people pinch in for expensive gifts. And it is never expressly stated that they were kings. Also, they were not present at the birth of Christ. The …

Do You Want To Be Happy? By: Zach Collins Several years ago, in an interview during his battle with cancer, theologian Francis Schaeffer said, “The only way to be foolishly happy in this world is to be young enough, well enough, and have money enough–and not give a care about other people. But as soon as you don’t have any of the first three, or if you have compassion for the weeping world around you, then it is impossible to have the foolish kind of happiness that I believe some Christians present as Christianity.” The answer to the question, “How can I find happiness?”, is also the answer to the question, “How can I stop being miserable?”  Christianity is not a life of prevailing happiness, but enduring joy. The principles and precepts of the Bible necessitate that these concepts must be different. If not, the inspired writers were liars. Happiness is contingent upon circumstances, whereas joy can be found in every circumstance (James 1:2-3). If you are searching for the destination in your life where you will always be happy, and never feel a moment of melancholy, your meritless and misguided pursuit will end in the same emotion as the thousands before you, disappointment.   O wandering soul, listen. Happiness is like cosmetics, but joy is like character. Happiness deals with the outside, but joy deals with the inside. Happiness deals with surface needs, but joy deals with the deepest needs. Happiness registers conditions, but joy regulates conditions.  Now, for a …