Life Perspective: Reviews & More

 It’s December and that means the Christmas season is upon us! Here are some holiday articles and poems for your Christmas enjoyment   The Historical St. Nicholas: Life & Legacy of an Early Christian Leader ~ With the Christmas already in full swing, let’s take a look at the life and legacy of St. Nicholas: the origins of Santa Claus ~ The Historical St. Nicholas: Unraveling the Life and. Legacy of an Early Christian Leader St. Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra, is one of the most revered figures in Christian history.  Read more ‘The Least of These’–A Christmas Story, Movie Review The Least of These (2018) stars  Tayla Lynn, Emma Faith, G. Michael Nicolosi (and an appearance by Christian Activities Publisher Kathryn Darden) Rose (Tayla Lynn) and her 7-year-old daughter Katy (Emma Faith) are struggling during the holidays. They live in their car (but Katy inexplicably has braces in spite of their homelessness).  Read more Nashville’s Mon...

~ CA Music Notes: What’s going on inside the Christian Music and Entertainment Industry in December 2024 featuring Chris Tomlin, John Berry, Lauren Talley and more! ~ December Chris Tomlin Wraps 2024 with Unparalleled Year ~ Completed World Tour, Record Breaking Good Friday Nashville, Unprecedented success with “Holy Forever,” Exclusive Apple Music Holiday Partnership, Upcoming Christmas Tour and another Christmas Song Available at all Digital Streaming Services ~ Chris Tomlin is wrapping up a record-breaking 2024…. Read more A Lauren Talley Christmas “I’m as proud of this record as any I’ve ever done,” enthuses Lauren Talley about A Lauren Talley Christmas, out now. “From a production standpoint, bringing familiar songs to life in a fresh way is always a challenge, as is finding new songs that stand alongside the classics.  Read more Christian Activities 2024 Holiday Gift Guide The Christian Activities 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is out! it’s that ti...

 A few years ago, a friend told me her mother used chewing gum on various items that needed repair. It took me several years to make up my mind to experiment with it, but I tried it for the first time two years ago   I used it on a wood frame that had a large chip in it a few years ago. I chewed a stick of gum and when it lost its flavor, I smoothed it into the crack. Then I painted it over with acrylic paint, adjusting the color with each layer to get a perfect match. The final step was to seal it.  Last year I repaired an ornamental resin lid that had a sizable hole in it. That one took several sticks of gum and several different colors of acrylic paint. I had to carefully mold it into a shape that matched the lid. Again, I used several coats of paint, but since it had a relatively matte finish, I didn’t seal it     I also repaired an Angel who was missing a hand.  DISCLAIMER : The experts say that chewing gum won’t last, that it will dry and pull away fr...

  Thanksgiving is almost here! It’s time to think about holiday trips, turkey and dressing, family, Thanksgiving history, and most of all, Him to Whom we give thanks for all our many blessings. Here are a few articles to help get our minds in a thankful place   William Bradford’s ‘A Call to Thanksgiving’ It was November of 1623. Three years before, the Pilgrims had left left their homes, jobs and extended families and braved a perilous voyage to a strange world to escape religious persecution in England. They survived the treacherous ocean voyage to come to a newe land and face a harsh climate without food or shelter. Arriving without shelter and with… Read more President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits… Read more Remarks by President Bush on Thanksgiving 2007 President Bush tells the story of the Berkeley Thanksgiving. The Presid...

November articles about politics and culture from Christian Activities featuring President Donald Trump, Veterans Day, voting, and Project 2025   November Veteran’s Day 2024 ~ Patriotic Articles for Veteran’s Day 2024 ~ Veterans Day is an appropriate occasion to honor our military veterans and commemorate their service to the United States. This is a collection of Veterans Day articles and patriotic pieces to help celebrate this patriotic holiday. For Veterans Day,  Read more President Donald J. Trump Elected for 2nd Historic Term: Nashvillians React ~ Donald J. Trump was elected for a 2nd term. Here is how people in Nashville reacted. ~ Author’s note: I have underwritten the operation of Christian Activities for 30 years by working retail part-time to pay the bills. Today was no exception. This is what I saw. They each entered the retail store quietly throughout the day… Read more Christian Activities Calls for Day of Prayer & Fasting Election Day In light of what is at s...

  ~ CA Music Notes: What’s going on inside the Christian Music and Entertainment Industry in November 2024 featuring Amy Grant, Vince Gill, For King & Country, Lauren Talley, Lee Greenwood, Keith & Kristyn Getty and more! ~ November Forrest Frank Nabs Grammy Nomination for ‘Child of God’ ~ FORREST FRANK Nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album; CHILD OF GOD still holds the No.1 spot on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart after 14 weeks ~ GMA double Dove Award-winner and Billboard’s Top New Christian Artist of 2023, Forrest Frank, has received his first GRAMMY-Award nomination. Read more Lee Greenwood, Drew Jacobs Rock Rendition of “God Bless The U.S.A.” Tops Charts ~ Rock Rendition of “God Bless The U.S.A.” Tops Billboard Rock Chart as Lee Greenwood Teams Up with Drew Jacobs for a Historic Reimagining ~  Read more A Lauren Talley Christmas “I’m as proud of this record as any I’ve e...

 Fall is well underway in 2024 bringing fall colors, falling leaves and a cool breeze after a long, hot summer. Here are some poems to get you in a seasonal autumn mood   Fall Poems When Autumn Calls When Autumn Calls, a Fall Poem: As the green of summer leavesAnd the breezes stir the treesTheir cover heaves with color:Older leaves are rediscovered.God’s brush begins to touch:Oh the blush of reddened bush!Yellows too, so bright and trueBedeck sky blue with gorgeous hues.Autumn browns too… Read more The Leaves of October Oh, I want to dance with the leaves of October That merrily twirl in the air, To blend with the yellow, the reds, and the golds of them. To dance in the wind without care. And I want to run in the warm Autumn sun, Skip under the azure blue sky, To drift with the breeze among billowing leaves… Read more A Colorado Fall ~ A Colorado Fall, an autumn poem ~ In the brilliance of the golden leaves I feel His presence there. Stirring through the quaking breeze His Spi...