More is not more. Less is more. This is a good reminder about the reason for the season and especially apt at the start of the holiday season. A week from now, stores will be celebrating Black Friday by opening on Thursday to satisfy the hordes of shoppers. Where is Jesus in this frantic display of consumer greed? What is Christmas? A lot of what the author writes I can agree with, but then sometimes he goes a little further than I would be comfortable with. ( )

Non-Fiction; Religious/Christmas
3 stars

Christmas is Not Your Birthday is a unique short story that give its readers a new way to view the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus Christ.

Take away the hub-bub of the Christmas holiday season and the ‘cleaned up version’ of the nativity scene and author Mike Slaughter presents you with Mary’s life story in the raw.

A pregnant virgin?
A fiance/husband who chooses to believe her?
Traveling on a donkey while in labor?
Delivering your first born in the unsanitary conditions of a barn?
Watching your child grow up being ridiculed?
Kneeling at His feet as he hangs on a cross to die

Not exactly the modern day focus on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or on Christmas Day as we celebrate with presents galore, but rather an insiders look at the true emotions and turmoil that Mary and Joseph must have faced during that time. Remember, they were human just like you and me.

I encourage you to read this short story, if only to put perspective back in to your Christmas season. I promise you will not view the holiday the same way again.

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This book reminded me of another book called Simply Jesus by Steve A Spangler. It is similiar in its concept but with a slightly longer explanation. I recommend this book as well. ( )