There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 PETER 1:19
In the Lord’s instructions to Israel concerning the preparation for the Passover in Egypt we clearly see a foreshadowing of the communal quality of the Christian life: “Take every man a lamb, according to the house of your fathers.”
A lamb for a house—the chosen lamb of that particular family. But when John the Baptist appeared, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” A lamb for each family was one thing—but they were all pointing to this great Lamb, which was not Israel’s lamb at all, but the Lamb of God!
Yes, there is a blessed communal quality in the Christian faith and I add that “communal” is a beautiful word that has been ruined for us by communism. There is a sense in which the people of the Lord are a people apart, belonging to each other in a sense in which they do not belong to anyone else.
I do not hesitate to say that Christians belong to each other more than they belong to their country. I will also say to you, good wives and husbands in the faith, that you belong to Jesus Christ first and to husbands and wives second.
And to you who have Christian children, that those children belong to God first, and to you second. This is where we stand for we belong to each other in the communal family of God first!
As believers we discover there is a kingdom within the kingdoms of this world. A new people within the old. A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen generation—Christians sharing together in the Lamb of God, precious to one another!1
Jesus, the great I am, is the entrance into the true church, and the way of access to God himself. He gives to the man who comes to God by him four choice privileges.
1. He shall be saved. The fugitive manslayer passed the gate of the city of refuge, and was safe. Noah entered the door of the ark, and was secure. None can be lost who take Jesus as the door of faith to their souls. Entrance through Jesus into peace is the guarantee of entrance by the same door into heaven. Jesus is the only door, an open door, a wide door, a safe door; and blessed is he who rests all his hope of admission to glory upon the crucified Redeemer.
2. He shall go in. He shall be privileged to go in among the divine family, sharing the children’s bread, and participating in all their honours and enjoyments. He shall go in to the chambers of communion, to the banquets of love, to the treasures of the covenant, to the storehouses of the promises. He shall go in unto the King of kings in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the secret of the Lord shall be with him.
3. He shall go out. This blessing is much forgotten. We go out into the world to labour and suffer, but what a mercy to go in the name and power of Jesus! We are called to bear witness to the truth, to cheer the disconsolate, to warn the careless, to win souls, and to glorify God; and as the angel said to Gideon, “Go in this thy might,” even thus the Lord would have us proceed as his messengers in his name and strength.
4. He shall find pasture. He who knows Jesus shall never want. Going in and out shall be alike helpful to him: in fellowship with God he shall grow, and in watering others he shall be watered. Having made Jesus his all, he shall find all in Jesus. His soul shall be as a watered garden, and as a well of water whose waters fail not.1
GO to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
The ungodly rich live only for this world as brutes do, and therefore the time shall come, when, like whipped or wounded beasts, they will howl in dismay. Those who by oppression cause the poor to weep shall themselves weep eternally.
2, 3 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (Goods ill gotten, and greedily hoarded have heaven’s curse upon them. Such treasure is only accumulated wrath. Who would wish to increase a heap which shall cause his own flesh to burn?)
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. (Covetousness is capable of any and every meanness, and will enrich itself even from the earnings of the poor. The Lord of Hosts is the Guardian of the needy, and he will avenge their wrongs.)
5–8 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (The great ones who wickedly persecute the righteous will soon be reckoned with, and the poor despised child of God shall speedily have his reward.)
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (Wrongs will so soon be righted that we may well bear with them a little longer.)
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (Our word is our bond; and anything beyond it is forbidden. Let us shun swearing of all kinds.)
13–15 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Use the means and pray. Medicine and supplication should go together. We send for the doctor and his draughts, why not send for the elders and their prayers?
16–18 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. (This is not confession to a priest, but mutual acknowledgment of any wrong done to each other.) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (There are saints on earth whose prayers are equally prevalent. Why should we not be like them?)
19, 20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Christmas is a time of profound joy and celebration for Christians around the world, rooted in the advent of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Yet, amid the jubilant observance of the Incarnation, a deep and often overlooked doctrine emerges from the Christmas narrative: the doctrine of limited atonement, or, as some prefer, particular redemption. This doctrine is not merely an esoteric theological concept but is profoundly tied to the purpose of Christ’s coming and the glory of God in salvation. Matthew 1:21 summarizes this theology succinctly: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Herein lies the heart of Christmas—Christ came with a definite purpose to save a specific people.
What Limited Atonement Does Not Mean
Before delving into the rich biblical and theological aspects of this doctrine, it is vital to clarify what limited atonement does not mean. It does not suggest that Christ’s blood was insufficient or weak. The sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, is of infinite worth and power (John 1:29). As John Owen aptly stated, “The death of Christ, from its own intrinsic worth, was sufficient for the redemption of every sinner in the world.”1Owen, John. The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Banner of Truth Trust, 1959, p. 61 However, the question is not about sufficiency but application: to whom is the atonement effectually applied? Unlike unlimited atonement that claims Jesus died for all people, thereby making salvation possible, limited atonement teaches that Christ’s atonement was specifically intended for the elect, ensuring their salvation.
Unlike unlimited atonement that claims Jesus died for all people, thereby making salvation possible, limited atonement teaches that Christ’s atonement was specifically intended for the elect, ensuring their salvation.
The Biblical Foundation of Limited Atonement
The doctrine of limited atonement is not founded on philosophical reasoning or mere tradition but on the clear testimony of Scripture. The angel’s declaration to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 provides a foundational text: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Christ’s mission was not to make salvation a possibility for all but to secure salvation for “his people.”
John’s Gospel
The Gospel of John repeatedly emphasizes the particularity of Christ’s atoning work. Jesus declares in John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” The Good Shepherd’s sacrificial death is explicitly for the sheep, not for the goats. This distinction becomes even clearer in John 10:26-28: “But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Further, in John 17:9, during His High Priestly Prayer, Jesus intercedes specifically for the elect: “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” The prayer reveals a focused love and intention toward the people given to Christ by the Father.
The doctrine of limited atonement is not founded on philosophical reasoning or mere tradition but on the clear testimony of Scripture.
The Epistle to the Ephesians
The Apostle Paul also underscores this particularity in Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Christ’s atonement is directed toward the church, His bride, whom He loves and redeems. The obvious imagery between a husband and his wife raises the obvious point to the surface that Jesus loves his bride the church in a way that he does not love the general population of the world. The sacrificial nature of Jesus’ love through laying down his life is specifically focused on the church—not the world. Paul could have made the point that Jesus laid down his life for the world, but he is more specific by pointing to the church as the object of his atoning sacrifice.
The Epistle to the Hebrews
The book of Hebrews expounds the specificity of Christ’s atonement with clarity. Hebrews 2:17 states, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Similarly, Hebrews 9:28 affirms, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” These passages highlight that Christ’s atonement was intended to bear the sins of “many,” not all. Jesus made a propitiation for the sins of the people, not the sins of the whole world. These verses highlight and underscore the fact that Jesus died for the elect of God who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1).
Isaiah’s Prophecy
Isaiah’s prophecy, seven hundred years before Christ’s birth echoes the details of particular redemption. Isaiah 53:12 declares, “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” The “many” underscores the intentional and definite scope of Christ’s atoning work. In like manner with other passages, the prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion from Isaiah 53 points out that Jesus would die for many rather than all people.
All throughout the pages of the Bible, the explanation of Jesus’ death reveals that he offered up himself as the lamb of God on behalf of God’s chosen people—the true Israel of God.
Limited Atonement: A Doctrine of Christmas
One of the clear doctrines highlighted and emphasized at Christmas for obvious reasons is the doctrine of the incarnation. However, the doctrine of God taking upon himself human flesh in the person of Christ is not an isolated doctrine. Many people perhaps have not paused to consider the connection between the incarnation of Jesus and the doctrine of limited atonement.
Far from being a doctrine for mere academic debate, limited atonement is a doctrine of Christmas. The Incarnation—God becoming flesh—was the beginning of a divine rescue mission. Jesus did not come to attempt salvation or to make salvation hypothetically possible; He came to save His people. As the angel proclaimed to Joseph, the child’s name, Jesus, signifies His mission: “to save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
The doctrine of sin makes the necessity of this mission abundantly clear. Sin (Greek: “αμαρτία”) is a departure from God’s perfect law and divine righteousness. It is complex, pervasive, and utterly damning. Yet, the beauty of Christmas lies in the reality that Christ came to bear the sins of His people, not in theory but in actuality. As A. W. Pink wrote, “It was not the whole human race, but ‘His people’ whom Christ ‘came to save.’ It was for the elect of God, and them only, that the Good Shepherd gave His life.”2Pink, A. W. The Sovereignty of God. Banner of Truth Trust, 1959, p. 52
Objections to Limited Atonement
Those who reject the doctrine of limited atonement often raise objections that require careful theological reflection.
Was the Trinity Divided at the Cross?
One critical question to consider is whether the Trinity’s unity was preserved in the work of the atonement. Ephesians 1:3-6 reveals the Father’s election of a people for salvation, and Christ’s atoning work must align with this divine purpose. Was Christ’s death for those whom the Father elected, or was it for a different group? To suggest the latter is to undermine the unity of the Godhead and do great violence to the doctrine of the Trinity.
Did Christ Die for Those in Hell?
If Jesus died for all people without exception, did He die for those already in hell at the time of His crucifixion? This is an illogical mistake that likewise engages in the belief of double jeopardy from a theological lens. Charles Spurgeon addresses this with crystal clarity:
To think that my Savior died for men who were or are in hell, seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain. … That Christ should offer an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that afterwards some of those very men should be punished for the sins for which Christ had already atoned, appears to me to be the most monstrous inequity.3Spurgeon, Charles H. “Particular Redemption.” Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 181, 1857*
At the heart of the theology of Christmas is the theology of limited atonement. Christ’s coming was not an act of general goodwill but a purposeful mission to save His people from their sins. This doctrine, far from being divisive or harsh, is a declaration of hope and assurance. The elect of God, secured by Christ’s atoning work, can rest in the certainty of their salvation.
At the heart of the theology of Christmas is the theology of limited atonement.
Limited atonement underscores the efficacy of Christ’s atoning work. Jesus did not come to merely hope or attempt to save; He came to save. His mission was accomplished on the cross. When He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He spoke of a completed atonement. That atonement was not general or ambiguous—it was clearly accomplished on behalf of his people.
The glory of Christmas lies not in a sentimental story but in the profound reality that Jesus accomplished what He came to do. Not one drop of His blood was shed in vain. Christmas is a celebration of this glorious truth: Jesus saves His people. Rejoice, in the saving mission of our Triune God! A very important lesson to remember at Christmas is that the message of the gospel is not primarily about us coming to God but about God coming to us.
What happens when you truly encounter God? Dr. Adam Tyson walks through Isaiah 6 to show how seeing God’s holiness changes everything—convicting us of sin, calling us to repentance, and empowering us for His service.
Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no moreNahum 1:12
There is a limit to affliction. God sends it, and God removes it. Do you sigh and say, “When will the end be?” Remember that our griefs will surely and finally end when this poor earthly life is over, Let us quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He cometh.
Meanwhile, our Father in heaven takes away the rod when His design in using it is fully served. When He has whipped away our folly, there will be no more strokes. Or, if the affliction is sent for testing us, that our graces may glorify God, it will end when the Lord has made us bear witness to His praise. We would not wish the affliction to depart till God has gotten out of us all the honor which we can possibly yield Him.
There may today be “a great calm.” Who knows how soon those raging billows will give place to a sea of glass, and the sea birds sit on the gentle waves? After long tribulation the Rail is hung up, and the wheat rests in the garner. We may, before many hours are past, be just as happy as now we are sorrowful. It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can as easily clear the skies. Let us be of good cheer. It is better on before. Let us sing hallelujah by anticipation.
As we center our hearts and minds on the Lord Jesus, everything else in our lives begins to fit into place. Today, Sinclair Ferguson shows that our struggle against sin and our weariness at Christmas have the same solution.
Thomas Goodwin (Rollesby, Norfolk, October 5, 1600 – February 23, 1680)
Thomas Goodwin known as ‘the Elder’, was an English Puritan theologian and preacher, and an important leader of religious Independents. Christopher Hill places Goodwin in the ‘main stream of Puritan thought’.
In 1643 he was chosen a member of the Westminster Assembly, and at once identified himself with the Congregational party, generally referred to in contemporary documents as the “dissenting brethren.” He frequently preached by appointment before the Commons, and in January 1650 his talents and learning were rewarded by the House with the presidentship of Magdalen College, Oxford, a post which he held until the Restoration of 1660.
He was chaplain to Oliver Cromwell from 1656. He rose into high favor with the Protector, and was one of his intimate advisers, attending him on his death-bed. He was also a commissioner for the inventory of the Westminster Assembly, 1650, and for the approbation of preachers, 1653, and together with John Owen drew up an amended Westminster Confession in 1658. From 1660 until his death, he lived in London, and devoted himself exclusively to theological study and to the pastoral charge of the Fetter Lane Independent Church.
Justin Trudeau is considering stepping down amid cabinet turmoil, reports indicate According to CTV News, a source said that Trudeau is looking at his ‘options’ following the shock resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chyrstia Freeland this morning. To make matters worse for Trudeau, just hours after Freeland’s resignation, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh, whose party has been propping up the Liberal minority government, called on the prime minister to resign.
Trump says Türkiye will hold ‘key to Syria,’ hails relationship with Turkish president US President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that he thinks Türkiye “is going to hold the key to Syria” after over five decades of Assad family rule abruptly came to an end this month, hailing his relationship with the Turkish president. Trump said Türkiye is “very smart” as he hailed his personal relationship with his Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Lebanese Druze party leader urges Shi’ites to ‘seek peace with Israel’ While typically one to outwardly support the Iranian regime and its proxies, he seemed to carefully tow the line and called for an embracing of peace with Israel. “I advise the Shi’ites to go to peace with Israel and let’s all live happily,” Wahhab said. The former supporter of Assad was questioned by the show’s host regarding his past alliance with the Syrian leader, to which he responded, “I will kill and make a deal with the devil in order to protect my family if needed.”
Who are the Kurds and what is their relation to Syria? The Kurdish people are a distinct ethnic group of Iranian origin, with a well-defined identity in the region they have inhabited for over 2,000 years. The Kurds are mentioned in early Greek and Roman sources and have often been involved in the major political upheavals that shaped their region. The Kurds have continued to remain a fairly distinct ethnic group for most of modern history, resisting the pressure to intermarry during various conquests.
Ariel: Third Temple from Heaven is a Christian Concept Rabbi Ariel insists that Jewish sources teach that the Jews are commanded to build God’s house. He goes on to say that the concept of the Third Temple descending from heaven comes from Christianity and, more specifically, from the New Testament Book of John. Rabbi Ariel assures Segal that the prophesied Third Temple in Jerusalem will be built by men.
Leaders Urge Tougher Anti-Terror Measures Amid U.S.- Israel Coordination and Security Talks The leadership of the Yesha Council, representing Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, has urged the Israeli Security Cabinet to adopt more assertive measures against terrorism. In a letter sent ahead of the Cabinet’s weekly session, the council emphasized Iran’s efforts to establish Judea and Samaria as a new battleground following Israel’s successful actions against its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Trump pledges to get hostages back from Gaza, doesn’t mention ceasefire President-elect Donald Trump declared that he will help Israel get the hostages back from Gaza, but he made no mention of a ceasefire as a step toward that development “We’re trying to help very strongly in getting the hostages back, as you know, with Israel and the Middle East. We’re working very much on that,” Trump said at a press briefing Monday Trump mentioned ending the war between Russia and Ukraine as a priority but did not discuss a Gaza ceasefire.
Sword linked to Pharaoh of Passover story discovered in Egypt Egyptian archaeologists have found what they believe is a sword linked to the Pharaoh who was famously told by Moses to “Let My People Go” as recounted in the Torah. The 3,200-year-old bronze ceremonial sword bearing the name Ramses II in hieroglyphics was discovered in the remains of an ancient military complex at Tell Al-Abqain.
Israel, Jordan hold secret talks over Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile Assad’s escape from Syria last week following rebel advances has raised urgent concerns about his abandoned chemical weapons stockpiles potentially falling into terrorist hands. Secret high-level talks between Israel and Jordan have emerged in response to this terrifying threat, according to three Israeli intelligence officials
IDF downs Houthi missile fired at central Israel from Yemen Air-raid sirens pealed in the greater Tel Aviv area on Monday afternoon after Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired a missile at the Jewish state from Yemen, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed. “Following alerts that were activated a short time ago in central Israel, one missile that was launched from Yemeni territory was intercepted and shot down before it crossed into Israeli territory,” the IDF said.
As Houthi attacks continue, CENTCOM strikes Houthi facility in Sanaa http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400845 US Central Command says it conducted a precision air strike against a Houthi facility in Yemen’s capital. The facility “was a hub for coordinating Houthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
Residents of Syrian Golan villages, rebels transfer Assad weapons to IDF – report Syrian villagers and rebels near the buffer zone are handing over Assad’s former weapons cache—including chemical warfare materials—to the IDF, marking a significant shift in regional dynamics. IDF soldiers told N12 that they found several weapons filled with chemical warfare material. “You can see cheap grenades that were filled with chemical material, and they need to add a mechanism to activate them,” the soldiers explained. “There are boxes full of grenades with chemical materials that cause irritation and should not be touched directly.”
Israeli coalition agrees on firing AG, Ben-Gvir says The leaders of Israel’s governing coalition have reached “broad agreement” on firing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Sunday.
As Trump’s Election Brings Peace Back To The Table, Is The Stage Being Set For The Ultimate ‘Man With A Plan’? In the wake of the election of President Trump, the astounding movement toward peace that we are seeing on multiple fronts is nothing short of amazing. Peace seems to be in the air. Even as Donald Trump holds the position of president-elect, peace overtures are pouring in all over the world. The momentum for peace across our globe is not only stunning, it is prophetically significant.
Tropical Cyclone Chido ‘Spares nothing’ in Mayotte, thousands feared dead Tropical Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm to impact Mayotte in 90 years, struck the island on Saturday, December 14, 2024, claiming at least 21 lives, injuring over 830 people, and leaving one-third of the island’s 320,000 residents homeless. Authorities fear the death toll could rise to several hundred or even thousands as the full extent of the devastation becomes clear.
Severe dust storms hit Iraq and Iran Severe dust storms swept across Iraq and Iran on Saturday, December 14, 2024, injuring at least 65 people and prompting officials to close schools and cancel flights. In Iran, the storm was described as one of the worst in recent years.
Kroger Starts Selling Abortion Pills at Deep Discounts, Just $7 to Kill a Baby Pharmacies at the second-largest grocery chain in the U.S. as well as the nation’s second-largest wholesale business, are now dispensing abortion drugs, according to reports this week. The news of the expanded availability of the drug comes despite intense controversy surrounding the health risks that chemical abortion poses to women, with widespread reports of severe medical complications — including death — resulting from the pills.
“Kill and Harvest.” Patients are Being Euthanized to Harvest Their Organs In the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Canada, people who want euthanasia can become organ donors. (A recent report in Spain showed that 13 percent of those euthanized donated organs.) Let’s call it “kill and harvest,” a policy heartily approved by our ever more crassly utilitarian medical establishment.
Demand At Food Banks Has Soared To Record Levels All Over The United States Why is demand at food banks all over the country higher than it has ever been before? The media keeps insisting that economic conditions are just fine, but it has become quite obvious to everyone that this is not true. In particular, the rising cost of living has been absolutely crushing households from coast to coast. In the old days, most of the people that would show up at food banks were unemployed. But now food banks are serving large numbers of people that actually do have jobs but that don’t make enough to pay for all of the basics. The ranks of the “working poor” are growing very rapidly, and this is creating an unprecedented crisis all over America.
Police in China Test Indestructible Ball Shaped Robot That Can “Identify And Chase Suspects Move over, BB-8: police in China are now testing a ball-shaped robot that “can identify and chase suspects” for the first time. The spherical police robot in Wenzhou, China, features cameras, flashing lights, and a self-stabilizing design, according to the South China Morning Post. Equipped with tools like tear gas, it supports law enforcement and “cannot be smashed.”
New Theory: NJ Drone Sightings May Be “Nuclear Sniffers” Following Elevated NYC Radiation Levels The founder of an aerospace company specializing in military-grade drones published a video on the Chinese social media platform TikTok, sharing his thoughts on the mystery drone sightings in New Jersey. His expert opinion is alarming, leaving many wishing that Paul Krugman’s theory about an alien invasion was true instead.
“It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives.” —John Adams (1756)
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
Trump sues Des Moines Register: Fresh off a $15 million mea culpa from George Stephanopoulos and ABC News, the president-elect is now suing Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register, they of that rotten piece of electioneering disguised as polling purporting to show, on the weekend before the November 5 election, that Kamala Harris was leading Trump in Iowa 47-44. The shocking poll upended the political news cycle and energized the Harris campaign at the eleventh hour, and yet the good people of Iowa handed Trump a resounding 13-point victory on Election Day. Still, it was “brazen election interference,” according to Team Trump and all intellectually honest pollsters. According to Trump’s lawsuit, filed under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, “The Harris Poll was no ‘miss’ but rather an attempt to influence the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election.” It’s said that elections have consequences. It’ll be interesting to see whether election interference also has consequences.
CNN gets duped by war criminal: Last week, CNN war correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team freed a man locked in a cell in an abandoned jail in Damascus, Syria. The man identified himself as “Abel Gharbal” but turned out to be Salama Mohammad Salama, a former intelligence officer in the Assad regime who was notorious for “extortion and harassment” of Syrian residents in Homs. After CNN broadcast Ward freeing the prisoner, numerous fact-checks surfaced over social media identifying the man as Salama. Verify-Sy, a Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network member, reported, “Salama has a grim history. He participated in military operations on several fronts in Homs in 2014, killed civilians, and was responsible for detaining and torturing numerous young men in the city without cause or on fabricated charges.” CNN eventually admitted that he had duped their correspondent but added, “The decision to release the prisoner featured in our report was taken by the guard — a Syrian rebel.” Salama’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Bye-bye, Trudeau? On Monday, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned, citing Donald Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs as the final straw. The truth is, Freeland is jumping ship before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government collapses. In her resignation, Freeland advised withstanding Trump’s tariff threat by “keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.” But Trudeau seemingly only wants to keep on spending money. His party is trailing in the polls by roughly 20 points, and it would seem that the writing is on the wall. Under his leadership, Canada has seen its economic position sink, with the Canadian dollar now valued at 70 cents to the U.S. dollar. Speculation is growing that Trudeau may soon be following Freeland out the door.
Biden ties Trump’s hands with China tech deal extension: It’d be one thing, a welcome thing, if Joe Biden’s handlers had honored the decision of the American electorate. Instead, they’re doing everything they can to gum up the works for Donald Trump. If they aren’t selling off the American taxpayers’ border wall for pennies on the dollar, they’re shackling Trump to disadvantageous deals with our geopolitical foes. As columnist Tom Rogan writes, Team Biden “just agreed to a five-year extension to the science and technology sharing agreement with China. Established by President Jimmy Carter, the agreement has attracted increasing scrutiny in recent years because of China’s endemic use of U.S. scientific knowledge to bolster its military and intelligence services.” Why the fuss? Rogan explains: “The main problem here is that China views its access to U.S. science and technology through the fixed prism of one key interest: specifically, how that knowledge can be employed to boost the power of the Chinese Communist Party. And that includes Beijing’s key concern of increasing China’s military power.” Joe Biden will surely pass power peacefully, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do it decently.
TikTok’s last gambit: The Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok is desperately seeking to avoid being shut down in the U.S. Earlier this year, Congress passed and Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance, which owns TikTok, to either sell its social media platform to an American-owned and U.S.-based entity or see the platform banned. ByteDance has fought against the law, but to no avail, as just over a week ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the law. ByteDance has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the law infringes on First Amendment free speech protections. Furthermore, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew met with Donald Trump on Monday, hoping to gain his support. Trump stated, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” and he noted that the social media platform impacted securing his election victory. However, it’s not clear what Trump could do to save TikTok for China.
Harris staffer admits they lost the culture battle to Trump: We noted it long ago, and a Harris campaign staffer is now admitting it: Culture is king in American politics, and Kamala Harris lost badly on this front despite the Democrats having for decades enjoyed a historical and institutional advantage on this front. As Harris deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty has now acknowledged: “Campaigns, in many ways, are last-mile marketers that exist on terrain that is set by culture, and the institutions by which Democrats have historically had the ability to influence culture are losing relevance. You don’t get a national eight-point shift to the right without losing hold of culture.” The late, great Andrew Breitbart said it, and the present-day Donald Trump is living proof of it: Politics is downstream from culture. Time will tell whether the Republicans’ advantage on this front can continue to be harnessed when Trump passes from the political scene.
NSC employee spills the beans on Biden’s mental decline: No, Joe Biden isn’t literally “dead,” but he’s figuratively so — at least according to a National Security Council adviser inside the Biden White House. As James O’Keefe, CEO of the eponymously named O’Keefe Media Group, reports, “Henry Appel, a former spy who currently works at the Intelligence Programs Directorate for the NSC, reveals: ‘We’re concerned about Trump coming after us. … We’re trauma-bonded… there were a lot of tears.’” We can only imagine. O’Keefe’s hidden camera thus strikes again. As Hot Air’s John Sexton writes, “Summing up the president’s condition, Appel said, ‘Joe Biden is, like, dead. Not literally. He, like, can’t say a sentence.’” Appel then seems slack-jawed that the president’s condition didn’t cause a media uproar until after his debate with Trump. “I can’t believe it wasn’t a bigger scandal earlier,” he said. Oh, it was a scandal all right — and long ago. Just not in the mainstream media.
Ninety-three mail trucks for $3B: And you thought those electric vehicle charging stations were bad… A blatant example of government waste comes courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service under Joe Biden. Thanks to Biden’s foolish green dream, the USPS has spent over $3 billion on developing and producing its Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), with the majority planned to be electric. This comes from Biden’s falsely named Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated almost $10 billion to develop and produce these NGDVs. Defense contractor Oshkosh won the contract. However, as of November, the USPS has only received 93 NGDVs, well below the expected 3,000 at this time. The reason for the manufacturing delay is a story of too many cooks in the kitchen. The attempt to make these NGDVs check off the numerous boxes, including making them “green,” has resulted in a confusing mess of a vehicle. As one exasperated individual involved in production explained, “This is the bottom line: We don’t know how to make a d*mn truck.” This sounds like a perfect conundrum for Elon Musk’s DOGE to solve.
Headlines
Judge refuses to toss Trump’s hush-money conviction based on immunity (Newsweek)
The Abundant Life Christian School community in Madison, Wisconsin, is devastated today, mourning the horrific murders of a student and a teacher at the small school on Monday morning. Six others were wounded (two are in critical condition) when a female student, age 15 (not 17 as initially reported), opened fire with a 9mm handgun before killing herself.
Nearly every American was united in thinking, Not again.
Many of us were reminded immediately of one particular shooting — the one in March 2023 at The Covenant School in Nashville. In that case, a “transgender”-identifying female murdered six at a Christian school, and she was motivated by radical and hateful left-wing ideology to compound her gender-related mental illness.
Madison was partially different, at least in the sense that the killer did not use an AR-15 and was not obviously gender-confused. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes went so far as to incredulously respond to that question by saying, “I don’t think that’s important at all. I don’t think whatever happened today has anything to do with how she or he or they may want to identify.” I beg to differ, as it speaks to the mental state of the killer. In any case, she was reportedly enthralled with school shooters and motivated by radical and hateful left-wing ideology, leading her to murder Christians.
The victims have not yet been identified, though the killer has been. As is our practice, we do not name mass murderers.
Unfortunately, when a murder fits the school shooting template, the same actors trot out their political talking points.
“We need Congress to act. Now,” said Joe Biden in what read like a prepackaged statement with a few blanks to fill in when a shooting happens. “It is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” he continued. “We cannot continue to accept it as normal.”
His “solution” is the same constitutionally infringing and worthless stuff he routinely trots out. “Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: Universal background checks. A national red flag law. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”
Kamala Harris put out her own statement, recalling “12 years ago when someone armed with a weapon of war walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.” She then pushed the same “commonsense solutions” Biden did: “Make background checks universal, pass red flag and safe storage laws, and ban assault weapons.”
Neither of these two gun-grabbers waited to find out if any of their proposals were even remotely relevant to this case. Yet here’s what everyone already did know: Murder is illegal. Students bringing firearms to school is illegal. People under the age of 18 possessing handguns is illegal.
None of those hard and fast laws prevented this girl or any other assailant from taking lives. How and why would any of the Democrats’ proposals suddenly change that?
The killer wouldn’t have gone through a background check, universal or virtually universal. She didn’t use an “assault weapon.” We don’t know yet whether her magazine was standard capacity of generally anywhere from seven to 15 rounds, or whether it was some sort of extended magazine.
None of that matters to Democrats, though, since the point for them is the politics and the tyranny of limiting firearm ownership.
Making this even worse for Joe Biden is his utter hypocrisy. Less than three weeks ago, he pardoned his son, Hunter, for numerous and unspecified crimes over a period of nearly 11 years. Among the specific crimes were three gun felonies. But he wants to talk tough about gun laws for the rest of us. He also just pardoned 39 others and commuted 1,500 sentences for some pretty awful people, including some who harmed children.
To keep things rated G and related to Christmas, I’ll just say, Bah. Humbug.
Finally, note that after the shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, virtually no one said anything about banning guns. Maybe that’s because the usual suspects were too busy excusing or cheering that particular murder.
This isn’t about guns. It’s about culture, mental health, and ideology.
In the meantime, I’ll join my fellow Christians in praying for the families who lost loved ones or endured the trauma of surviving yet another senseless murderous assault.
Douglas Andrews: Joe Biden’s Awful Pardon Recipients — It’s telling that the backlash against the president’s sweeping actions is bipartisan.
Thomas Gallatin: Americans Move for Freedom — Leftist governors think their resistance is simply against Donald Trump when it’s really a resistance against America.
Emmy Griffin: Reforming Health Insurance — While the Dems who support ObamaCare blame insurance companies for high costs and frustration, they once again fail to look in the mirror.
Jack DeVine: Knowing Right From Wrong — Protecting threatened passengers on a subway is good. Assassinating an executive because we don’t like his profession is bad.
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“[Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia] are far weaker today than they were when I took office.” —Joe Biden (All the bloodshed in Ukraine, Israel, and Afghanistan is on Biden’s hands…)
The BIG Lies
“We’ve run a campaign that’s basically scandal-free. That’s hard to do in American politics these days.” —Joe Biden
“Those of us on the [J6] committee are very proud of the work we did. We were doing vital, quintessential oversight.” —Senator-elect Adam Schiff
Dezinformatsiya
“Polls show that around half of Americans don’t trust the FBI … but perhaps no one is more to blame for that than Mr. Trump himself, who has baselessly accused the bureau of conducting witch hunts against him.” —NBC News’s Ken Dilanian
Hindsight Is 20/20
“I wish I didn’t pull that d*mn fire alarm, ya now what I’m sayin’?” —outgoing Congressman Jamaal Bowman
Can’t Fix Stupid
“I don’t know what people were thinking when they voted for [Trump]. … I think that they have been misinformed, misled by other networks. You know, people get mad at us. They say we’re one-sided here. The statistics are here.” —”The View” co-host Joy Behar
“I thought it was a real flex when The Wall Street Journal pointed out that I might have been the least wealthy person to ever run for vice president. And I thought that would be something people say, ‘Well, this guy knows where we’re coming from. He’s had to pay his bills.’” —Tim Walz
“The Democratic Party really is focused on the things [Americans] care about.” —Tim Walz
Straight From the Horse’s Mouth
“Unfortunately, the Democratic Party has the stench of losers written all over the party. And I’m sorry, I’m speaking as a Democrat myself. It brings me no joy to say it. But I feel like Democrats are going to be consigned to the wilderness for at least the next four to eight years.” —DNC official Lindy Li
For the Record
“The arrest of Luigi Mangione for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is more than a criminal case. It is a test of America’s ability to distinguish right from wrong. At this point, far too many Americans have flunked that test.” —Matthew Continetti
“The moment you let morality out the door, the second you rationalize terrorism, you open yourself to nihilism and self-destruction. This isn’t just the theme of great literature. It’s the lesson of radical politics from the Jacobins to al Qaeda. The idea that some Americans would walk down the same dark road out of frustration with health insurers is horrifying.” —Matthew Continetti
Political Futures
“A danger of populism is that it can succumb to pure nostalgia and become overly defensive, giving in to a distrust of technology, big companies and economic change. So long as [Elon] Musk is a major player in Trump’s world, there is a strong counter to this tendency.” —Rich Lowry
President-elect Donald Trump suggests Turkey’s leader Recep Erdogan is deeply involved in the sudden rebel takeover of Syria, and that he sees Syria as part of his plan to rebuild a Turkish empire- this as some fear a Turkish invasion in northeast Syria; and in Israel, growing hope for a deal to release the hostages; new report says the number of deaths in Gaza during the war with Israel has been vastly inflated; Chris Mitchell talks about Israel’s view of the Palestinian claims about deaths in Gaza, optimism for a hostage deal, the serious possibility that Turkey could invade northeast Syria, the actions of the Turkish proxy force- the Syrian National Army, and Erdogan’s plans for the Middle East & how they could affect Israel – Chris says Iran could be falling while Turkey could be rising, and that Erdogan has said ‘Jerusalem is ours;’ in the US, investigators looking for answers after a 15-year-old girl opened fire in a small Christian school, killing a teacher and a student and wounding six more; the growing crackdown on free speech in the United Kingdom; and CBN’s Operation Blessing is helping provide help- and hope- to victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
DAMASCUS (Worthy News) – Investigators revealed Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of Syrians who were “tortured to death by Bashar al-Assad’s regime” are believed to be hurried in mass graves, including near Syria’s capital, Damascus.
Since the Syrian president fled to Russia this month, more details are emerging about the alleged atrocities committed by Assad and his inner circle against perceived opponents.
In one mass grave site in the city of Qutayfah, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Damascus, trenches are marked 6-7 meters (19-23 feet) deep, 3-4 meters wide, and 50-150 meters long.
Here alone, hundreds of thousands of bodies of people could be buried in a mass grave, according to Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the US-based Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), an anti-Assad advocacy group.
After years of work to expose mass graves, Moustafa told media that he’s finally been able to visit the suspected site after Assad’s fall.
Al-Qutayfah, located about an hour northeast of Damascus, had just under 27,000 residents during the last census in 2004.
GRIM SECRET
These residents harbored a grim secret: Al-Qutayfah is the site of one of the mass graves where opponents of the Assad regime were buried.
He said the grave contains a minimum of 100,000 bodies.
A Worthy News estimate suggested the actual figure could be higher.
Gravediggers who worked at the site reportedly said that “four tractor-trailer trucks, each carrying over 150 bodies in each, came twice a week from 2012 until 2018.”
That would amount to hundreds of thousands of bodies. “The 100,000 is a very conservative estimate,” Moustafa said. “It’s an extremely low, almost unfairly conservative figure.”
And Al-Qutayfah is not the only site. Moustafa and his organization have identified four additional locations that are also believed to be mass graves.
MORE RESEARCH
Worthy News learned these sites were uncovered using satellite imagery and other investigative methods.
Further research is required to determine how many victims are buried there, according to investigators.
The investigation at Al-Qutayfah has already begun. Many of the remains unearthed so far showed clear signs of torture, Moustafa said.
“Imagine pulling the fingernails from the hands of babies, imagine drilling into someone’s kneecap, imagine cutting open an elderly person and pouring salt into their wounds. This is how these people were killed. It’s a slaughterhouse, a killing machine.”
In recent days, Syrians have been seen digging with their bare hands, desperately searching for the remains of their loved ones as well as answers for one of the darkest chapters in their nation’s recent history.
(Worthy News) – Urging world leaders “not to look away,” the US-based International Rescue Committee (IRC) aid organization has warned that Sudan is “collapsing” as it faces the “fastest” and “biggest” humanitarian crisis ever documented, Straight Arrow News (SAN) reports.
In its annual Emergency Watch List report published on December 11, the IRC said the ongoing Sudanese civil war that was triggered by a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to unprecedented famine and a catastrophic loss of innocent civilian life. An estimated 61,000 people have been killed since the war began in April 2022.
“The country’s collapse is accelerating as a brutal civil war, fueled by outside powers, devastates civilians. Sudan now holds two distressing records as the crisis there has displaced more people (14.6 million) and left more people in humanitarian need (30.4 million) than any other crisis since records began,” the IRC reports.
“One in 10 people in humanitarian need globally is in Sudan. Experts warn Sudan is heading toward one of the world’s worst famines in decades—making it emblematic of the world out of balance we describe in this year’s Watchlist,” the IRC reports. SAF and RSF leaders have spurned diplomatic resolution, believing their interests are best protected by continued fighting. Outside powers, instead of devoting themselves to restoring peace, have escalated the war by supplying more weapons,” the IRC noted.
The IRC placed Sudan at the top of its Emergency Watch List for 2025. Sudan is followed on the Emergency List by “Occupied Palestinian Territory (2), Myanmar (3), Syria (4), South Sudan (5), Lebanon (6), Burkina Faso (7), Haiti (8), Mali (9), Somalia (10).”
Many people in Japan like to eat fried chicken on Christmas.
A KFC in Japan was decked out in Christmas decor in 2016.Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock
In Japan, Christmas is celebrated in a more secular way than in other predominantly Christian countries.
It’s considered a romantic day for couples, and many Japanese families treat themselves to what has become the traditional Christmas meal: a bucket of KFC fried chicken.
One Christmas tradition in Poland involves keeping a fish in your bathtub.
Holiday lights in Poland.AP Images
Christmas in Poland is celebrated with gift-giving, church services, and fasting on Christmas Eve before a 12-dish feast, which usually features carp for good luck.
Most people simply buy a cut of fish from the market, but the old tradition was for the lady of the house to keep a live carp in the bathtub for a few days before preparing it for the Christmas meal.
Many people in Finland celebrate Christmas with a trip to the sauna.
Santa Claus is also a big tradition for Finnish children.Lehtikuva/REUTERS
In Finland (and many other countries around the globe), St. Lucia Day on December 13 is one of the main events of the holiday season.
On this date, the eldest girl in each family sometimes dons a white robe and a crown of candles before serving her family buns, cookies, coffee, or mulled wine to kick off the holiday season.
On Christmas Eve, many Finnish families visit the sauna to relax or go to cemeteries to remember loved ones who have died before attending midnight mass.
For Christmas lunch, the traditional meal is a porridge containing a hidden almond — although it’s likely that this originated in Sweden. Whoever finds the almond will have good luck for the rest of the year.
In the UK, stockings are hung from the end of beds and the monarch gives an annual speech.
The King or Queen of England gives an annual speech on Christmas Day.Pool/Reuters
Rather than hanging Christmas stockings over the fireplace, families in the UK typically place them at the foot of their beds.
On Christmas Day, families break open crackers filled with small toys, jokes, and paper crowns — which are traditionally worn throughout the midday Christmas meal.
The reigning monarch gives an annual broadcast speech on Christmas Day, during which they discuss what the holiday means to them.
Christmas in Croatia can involve cleaning your shoes and avoiding Krampus.
Santa is sometimes called Djed Mraz in Croatia.ANTONIO BRONIC/Reuters
Like many places around the world, some Croatian families celebrate Christmas with an Advent wreath made of straw or evergreen.
The wreath has four colored candles that symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love.
On the night of December 5, children in Croatia make sure to clean their boots and place them by the window for St. Nicholas to fill with treats. However, naughty kids might only receive a few twigs from the Christmas monster, Krampus.
Christmas Eve is typically celebrated with a light, seafood dinner in preparation for the heavier feast on Christmas Day, complete with roasted meats and poppyseed rolls.
People in Greece might keep a fire burning during Christmas to ward off holiday goblins.
The Night of Wishes festival is a common Greek Christmas tradition.ALEXANDROS AVRAMIDIS/Reuters
Greece is primarily a Greek Orthodox nation, and in addition to attending midnight church services on Christmas, families might also keep their fires burning or sprinkle holy water from a basil-wrapped cross to ward off the “kallikantzaroi” — evil creatures that creep into homes through the chimney and cause mischief.
Around Christmas, many Greek cities also hold a festival called the Night of Wishes where people gather to make wishes and release paper lanterns into the sky.
Some holiday traditions in Greece also include making Christopsomo (Christmas bread) and decorating boats.
Christmas in Australia is often celebrated on the beach.
Christmas takes place during the summer in Australia.AP Images
Since December is a summer month in the southern hemisphere, most of Australia is bathed in balmy temps during the holidays.
Accordingly, those in Australia frequently celebrate Christmas with a lunchtime barbecue on the beach. Friends and family gather to indulge in prawns, lobster, and sweets before playing a game of cricket or taking a dip.
In Argentina, some celebrate Christmas with fireworks.
Fireworks are part of both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve festivities in Buenos Aires.Marcos Brindicci/REUTERS
In Argentina, many families put up their Christmas trees on December 8 — the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary — and decorate them with cotton balls to look like snow.
Fireworks are typically launched at midnight on Christmas Eve after a late dinner, and families with children also often light paper lanterns to send into the sky.
Some people continue the festivities and attend overnight parties, so Christmas Day is usually a more relaxed holiday in the country.
For many in Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated on January 7.
Some people in Ukraine celebrate Christmas with caroling.VALENTYN OGIRENKO/Reuters
Like many Orthodox countries, Ukraine uses the Julian calendar for its church festivals. This means some individuals there celebrate Christmas on January 7 rather than December 25.
Whenever the festivities begin, it’s traditional to delay eating Christmas dinner until the first star in the sky is spotted.
Caroling in the streets and Vertep, the Ukrainian puppet theater, are also common holiday traditions.
In the US, children leave cookies for Santa and hang their stockings on the fireplace.
Rockefeller Center in New York City puts up a huge Christmas tree every year.Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Families in the US often leave cookies and milk out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in the hopes that they wake up to presents under the tree and in their stockings, which are hung by the fireplace.
Many families also have Christmas dinner complete with ham or roast beef and eggnog.
Cities typically put up lights and other decorations, and it’s common for families to do the same in front of their own houses.
In New York City, people who celebrate Christmas often look forward to traditions like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree or the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes.
People in Spain often open presents on Epiphany.
The Feast of the Epiphany falls on January 6.Shutterstock
Rather than unwrapping goodies on Christmas Day, most families in Spain open their presents on January 6, or Epiphany, which is the day that the three wise men are said to have brought gifts to the infant Jesus.
Many families in Spain decorate their houses with ornate nativity scenes and enjoy a seafood feast on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
There’s also an annual Christmas lottery, called El Gordo (“The Big One”), which is the biggest of its kind. The grand event has roots tracing back to the 1800s.
The main celebration in Brazil typically takes place on Christmas Eve.
Fireworks are also a part of Christmas festivities in Brazil.AP Images
Much of the holiday celebration in Brazil takes place on December 24, when families and friends will often get together for a party that includes ringing in Christmas at midnight.
The holiday feast, which is typically eaten on Christmas Eve, is usually packed with hearty portions of pork, ham, rice, nuts, and fruits.
A version of Secret Santa called “Amigo Secreto” is also popular for gift-giving.
Hanging giant paper lanterns is a common Christmas tradition in India.
Star-shaped paper lanterns are a popular Christmas decoration in India.AP Images
Although Hinduism is the prominent religion in India, the country also has a large population of Christians — which means Christmas is still widely celebrated.
The holiday is usually observed by attending midnight mass and sharing a meal (and plenty of festive sweets) with family and neighbors.
Like many other festivals and holidays in the country, many towns and cities decorate for Christmas with plenty of lights, streamers, and flowers.
Families might also hang mango leaves, star-shaped paper lanterns, or nativity scenes outside their homes. Inside, some people even decorate mango or banana trees.
Instead of waking up to presents under the tree, many families in India pack up boxes of sweets on Christmas morning and take them to their neighbors and friends.
Father Frost visits Russian homes on New Year’s Eve.
Father Frost visits Russian homes.AP Images
In Russia, New Year’s Eve is usually the day of celebration complete with a New Year tree and a visit from the Slavic character Father Frost, who leaves unwrapped presents for children.
In Latvia, you might have to read a poem before getting your presents.
Decorated Christmas trees may have originated in Latvia.AP Images
One Latvian Christmas tradition involves reciting a poem, playing an instrument, or singing a song in exchange for receiving one of your presents.
Christmas markets that sell foods, drinks, and gifts are also popular in the country, and it claims to be the home of the first decorated Christmas tree.
One of the oldest recorded uses of an evergreen tree to celebrate Christmas dates back to the year 1510 in Riga, the country’s capital, though it’s hard to know if it was indeed the first use of the tradition.
Christmas in Kenya is all about connecting with family.
It’s common for Kenyans to attend a Christmas Eve vigil.THOMAS MUKOYA/Reuters
In Kenya, families often see family for Christmas. Many attend midnight Christmas vigils and indulge in a big meal that often includes goat, sheep, and rice.
Instead of evergreen trees, those in Kenya sometimes decorate cypress trees or local evergreen trees with lights and ornaments.
Christmas in Pakistan is a religious celebration filled with family activities.
Many Pakistani Christians attend a candlelight service ahead of Christmas.AP Images
Though Pakistan is a predominantly Islamic country, Christians often celebrate Christmas by caroling with family and friends or setting up a Nativity scene in their homes and churches.
On Christmas Day, some families attend Bara Din celebrations at church. This festive event calls for spending time with family and feasting on delicious food.
Caroling is a big part of Christmas in many parts of Romania.
Children perform a holiday season ritual in Bucharest, Romania.AP Images
Children carol house to house in Romania, receiving traditional sweets and cakes in return for their efforts.
In some parts of the country, it’s also traditional for one person to dress up as a goat with a colorful mask and cause mischief among the carolers. However, in other parts, a similar tradition exists but with one caroler dressing up as a bear.
On Christmas Eve, many families start decorating their trees and hanging mistletoe in their houses for good luck.
Decorations and festive markets are popular in Germany around Christmastime.
Christmas markets are also popular in Germany.irakite/Getty Images
In Germany, preparing for Christmas often includes strolling through markets while sipping mulled wine.
Families also decorate their trees with angel ornaments and light candles in their windows.
A few traditional holiday desserts include stollen, a cake filled with dried fruit and sprinkled with powdered sugar, and lebkuchen, a large spiced cookie that often features a message written in frosting.
In France, Christmas markets are a popular places to shop.
People stroll through a Christmas market in Paris.AP Images
Christmas in France usually involves strolling through festive markets and cutting into a lavishly decorated bûche de Noël cake.
An actual Yule log is also often burned in the fireplace on Christmas Eve after being sprinkled with red wine to make it smell even nicer.
The holiday feast, called le réveillon de Noël, is typically eaten around midnight on Christmas Day, and in some parts of France, it’s traditional to eat 13 different desserts.
This story was originally published in December 2018, and most recently updated on December 17, 2024.
(John Hayward – Breitbart) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been fending off no-confidence votes and calls for his resignation for months, found his position increasingly perilous on Monday following the resignation of his deputy prime minister and minister of finance, Chrystia Freeland.
Freeland, long seen as one of Trudeau’s most stalwart supporters, shocked the Canadian political scene by abruptly resigning on Monday. She said Trudeau wanted her to give up her post as finance minister and accept another Cabinet position, but she felt resigning completely was the only “honest and viable path” she could take.
Freeland and Trudeau were feuding about fiscal policy, particularly Trudeau’s mad rush to spend money in a bid to shore up his collapsing popularity with voters. In her resignation letter, Freeland dismissed Trudeau’s spending binge as a haphazard collection of “costly political gimmicks” that Canada could not afford in the face of tariff threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. View article →
Reform Uk’s Treasurer Nick Candy, Elon Musk and Nigel Farage, in front of a Donald J. Trump portrait.
Nigel Farage flew to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, and has met with Elon Musk amid claims that the world’s richest man – and ‘first buddy’ to President-Elect Donald J. Trump – is poised to donate $100 million to Reform UK.
“They were joined by British property tycoon Nick Candy, a former Tory donor, who was last week unveiled as Reform’s new treasurer.
The meeting will fuel rumors that Mr. Musk, the Tesla boss and owner of X, is ready to plough some of his estimated $300billion fortune into the British political party.”
Musk has repeatedly torched leftist British PM Keir Starmer in recent months, and has shown interest in the rise of Reform.
“Speaking about their talks with Mr Musk in Florida, Mr Farage and Mr Candy said: ‘We had a great meeting with Elon Musk for an hour yesterday. We learned a great deal about the Trump ground game and will have ongoing discussions on other areas’.
[…] ‘We only have one more chance left to save the West and we can do great things together. Our thanks also to President Trump for allowing us to use Mar-a-Lago for this historic meeting. The special relationship is alive and well’.”
Reform’s treasurer Candy has committed to giving £1million of his own money to Reform, but is heading a push to raise ‘tens of millions more’ from other wealthy business figures.
(John Hayward – Breitbart) 
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