Let’s play a word association game. When I use the word “evangelism” what comes to mind?

-A bullhorn? -A “Repent” sign? -A pointed index finger (resulting in a flipped up middle finger)?

Too often, too many of us have negative views of the word evangelism. Sadly, the 2,000 year old practice of evangelism has 2,000 years worth of baggage that comes with it (i.e. the inquisition, burning heretics at the stake, Jim Jones, etc.) In the early church the baggage was merely carry-on. But today, there is so much baggage associated with evangelism that we are forced to check it and tempted to chuck it. more >>

As presidential candidate Ron Paul's poll numbers have risen, allegations that he authored a newsletter with racist sentiments have resurfaced.

The Texas congressman denies any association with the newsletters. Paul told CNN Wednesday, “I've never read that stuff. ... I was probably aware of it 10 years after it was written and it's been going on 20 years that people have pestered me about this and CNN does it every single time. ... I didn't write them, didn't read them at the time, and I disavow them.”

Paul was also asked about the newsletters when he ran for president in 2008. The New Republic, a liberal magazine, has done some of the most prolific reporting on the topic and takes the position that Paul authored, or condoned, all of the newsletters. It published an article titled, “Angry White Man: The bigoted past of Ron Paul,” on Jan. 8, 2008, the eve of the New Hampshire primary. more >>

Did you know that over 1.9 BILLION Christmas cards are sent each year? Yep, that’s the most of any holiday - not even Valentine ’s Day comes close. And the Bah- Humbug thing to me is that the vast majority of the cards are just.plain.wrong. Especially when it comes to their portrayal of the Reason for the Season!

Now… my heart is not an empty hole, in fact I really don’t have an ounce of Grinchyness in me. But I am concerned about the blatant and misleading perception that the covers of Nativity Christmas cards have created. So if you’ll indulge me for a moment, here is a brief overview of my rant.

• Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus did not have freaky looking halos around their heads • 3 Kings? No Kings - they were, in fact, scholars and astronomers from Persia • But were they at the birth? Nope…they arrived over a year later…at Jesus’ HOUSE! • Ox and Lambs keeping time? Ah, no - you see farm animals don’t have opposable thumbs for drumsticks, plus people don’t give birth with farm animals around. Besides Jesus wasn’t born in a- • Barn… Most likely He was birthed in a cave used for shelter, not a structure hosting a petting zoo. • Little Drummer Boy? Wait, that’s Justin Bieber - right? more >>

Animal rights group Vegetarians International Voice for Animals started a campaign against U.K. store Harvey Nichols for selling reindeer meat, and the publicity led to a spike in sales.

VIVA feels there are a host of problems that make the Swedish delicacy unfit to mass produce.

According to the animal rights group, when reindeer are herded to be farmed, they are frightened. Because the furry creatures are highly susceptible to stress, they can be adversely affected by the snowmobiles and helicopters used to guide them. more >>

Nativity presentations in a city in Texas are livelier than elsewhere with a 6-foot-5-inch cowboy Pastor Jim VonSchounmacher, a distant relative of Billy Graham, and his llamas and donkeys as the actors.

Amos the llama and donkeys named Jericho, Cain and Abel are among the animals that go with 67-year-old Pastor VonSchounmacher to churches across San Antonio as actors in live Nativity presentations in December each year.

“People can feel the essence of what it must have been like,” San Antonio Express-News quoted VonSchounmacher, the founder of MorningStar Ministries, as saying. “We try to be supportive of other ministries trying to make an impact. We’re helping to bring the real meaning of Christmas back.” more >>

Christian funnyman Brad Stine has tossed out quips, one-liners and jests for over two decades. There's one thing he doesn't joke about, however, and that's taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas."

Once called "God's Comic" by The New Yorker, Stine says he can't imagine a world where laughter and God don't coexist. He's now defending his savior as the co-star of "Christmas with a Capital C," a holiday film recently released on DVD. In it, the small town of Trapper Falls, Alaska, is assaulted by secular interests looking to remove Christianity from Christmas. The resulting conflict, Stine says, is a fictional example of the culture clash present in America today.

In interview with The Christian Post, Stine reveals his belief that it 'tis the season to take a stand for God. Without our help, he argues, holiness will depart the holidays and that's no laughing matter. more >>