Creating The Future with Brent Simpson

The history of Christmas with James Cooper of WhyChristmas.com Part 2

⭐ Welcome to part 2 of our Special Christmas Series! ⭐

Merry Christmas, friends! 🎄 This week, we continue our deep dive into the fascinating history of Christmas with none other than James Cooper of WhyChristmas.com – one of the best sources out there for all things Christmas!

If you’ve ever wondered about the roots of your favorite traditions, debated the best Christmas carol, or wrestled with questions about Christmas’s origins, this episode is for YOU! It’s packed with history, humor, and encouragement for keeping Jesus at the center of it all.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

1. What’s the best Christmas carol, and why? We’re talking melody, theology, and a little nostalgia!
2. Where did the Christmas tree tradition come from? And what about those concerns related to Jeremiah 10? Is the Christmas tree biblical, pagan, or something else?
3. Does Christmas really have pagan origins? James unpacks the history and clears up some of the biggest misconceptions about December 25th.
4. The Real St. Nicholas – fact, myth, or legend? Spoiler: He was a real guy! But did he really slap a heretic?...
5. When was Jesus really born? If it wasn’t December 25th, then how did we get this date to celebrate His birth? The answer might surprise you!
6. How can Christians keep Christ at the center of Christmas? Amidst all the noise, lights, and commercialism, how can we refocus our hearts and homes on Jesus, the true reason for the season?
   
   

Whether you’re decorating your tree, wrapping gifts, or sipping hot cocoa, you’re going to love this insightful and uplifting conversation.

Links and Resources:

🎄 For more Christmas history and traditions, visit: WhyChristmas.com
🌐 Check out our website: MyAriseChurch.com
🎥 Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for more great content: @MyAriseChurch
📏 Learn more about Brent: BrentSimpson.com
💎 Follow Brent Simpson:

• Facebook: DrBrentSimpson
• Instagram: drbrentsimpson

🌟 Prefer to listen on the go? Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is available on audio podcast platforms or directly on Podbean: Creating the Future Podcast

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to keep up with future episodes!

May your Christmas season be filled with peace, joy, and the love of Christ!

The history of Christmas with James Cooper of WhyChristmas.com Part 1!

⭐ Welcome to our Christmas Special Series! ⭐

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we’re diving deep into the history, traditions, and stories that make Christmas so special for believers around the world! In this exciting two-part series, we are thrilled to welcome James Cooper, the creator of WhyChristmas.com – one of the most trusted and fun resources for learning about the traditions of Christmas.

This is Part 1 of a 2 part series where we explore some of the BIG questions about how this joyous celebration of Jesus’ birth came to be, along with a look at those familiar traditions that fill our homes with cheer (and maybe even a few surprises!). 🎅✨

What You'll Discover in This Episode

• 🎄 When did Christians begin celebrating the birth of Jesus? Spoiler: It didn’t start with tinsel and trees!
• 🎅 The story of Santa Claus – From Saint Nicholas to sleigh rides, how did a real-life bishop become the jolly old man in red?
• ❄️ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Where did this shiny-nosed hero come from? (Hint: It’s a 20th-century story!)
• 🎒 Stockings and gifts – Why do we hang our socks on the fireplace and stuff them with goodies? And what’s the deeper meaning behind giving gifts at Christmas?
• 🌱 Cool Christmas traditions from around the world! From spider webs in Ukraine to KFC feasts in Japan – you’ll learn about some surprising, heartwarming traditions that honor the birth of Jesus in creative and joyful ways.

Why This Matters

As Christians, Christmas is more than twinkling lights and festive carols – it’s about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Understanding the roots of our traditions helps us reclaim the joy, wonder, and awe of the season.

James shares these stories with humor, insight, and a deep appreciation for Christmas’ rich heritage. Whether you’re decorating the tree, sipping hot cocoa, or snuggling up with family, this episode will leave you smiling, inspired, and maybe even ready to start a new tradition yourself!

 

⛄ Next Up: Part 2! Get ready for even more festive fun as we explore how we got December 25^th as Jesus’ birthday, favorite Christmas songs, and whether Sain Nikolas really slapped a heretic!

 

⭐ About Our Guest James Cooper is the creator of WhyChristmas.com, a beloved website dedicated to explaining the stories, traditions, and history behind Christmas. James has spent years researching and sharing his passion for the season, making him the perfect guest to unwrap the wonders of Christmas with us.

✨ Share the Joy! If you love this episode, give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a little extra Christmas cheer this year! ❤️

🎵 Wishing you a Christ-filled Christmas full of joy, love, and wonder!

 

Links and Resources:

🎄 For more Christmas history and traditions, visit: WhyChristmas.com
🌐 Check out our website: MyAriseChurch.com
🎥 Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for more great content: @MyAriseChurch
📏 Learn more about Brent: BrentSimpson.com
💎 Follow Brent Simpson:

• Facebook: DrBrentSimpson
• Instagram: drbrentsimpson

🌟 Prefer to listen on the go? Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is available on audio podcast platforms or directly on Podbean: Creating the Future Podcast

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to keep up with future episodes!

May your Christmas season be filled with peace, joy, and the love of Christ!

How to live a life of Significance and Legacy

We all want to live a life of significance. We desire to be the type of person that leaves a legacy. Yet, American culture has engrained in us that it’s more interesting to do legendary things than to live a life of legacy.

In today’s podcast, Dr. Brent will explain the difference between becoming a living legend and leaving a legacy. And here’s a hint… Significance and selfishness cannot go together.

 

Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for content: https://www.youtube.com/@myarisechurch

 

For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com

 

For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com

Follow Brent Simpson on:

          Facebook:  / DrBrentSimpson 

          Instagram:  / drbrentsimpson  

Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/

 

 

The REAL story of the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving

What really happened on that first Thanksgiving? What did they eat? Who were the Pilgrims? What were they thinking? What games did they play?
In this recast from 2021, Historian Dr. Robert Tracey McKenzie joins us to share the real story of the first thanksgiving in 1621 and what we can learn from it today.

A few of the things we discuss:

Was the FIRST thanksgiving actually in 1621?

Why did the Pilgrims come to the new world?

What was their relationship with the native Americans?

Who was Squanto and was he a divinely appointed answer to prayer?

What food did they eat and games did they play on the 1st Thanksgiving?

Share this episode with the whole family and all your friends and remember the real story of Thanksgiving this year!

To learn more about Dr. McKenzie: https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/faculty/tracy-mckenzie/

Buy his book "The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History" or any of his other books:  https://www.amazon.com/First-Thanksgiving-Loving-Learning-History/dp/B0BMN34P13/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12Q90SRDPGSGJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6c_fxjuUE49ixsPWjUKVwBRu6kbTibCfaW5sjUhmkxDwy8wKAJY25JQSwYjrYS3-.rmG0fqbIMLbt4NsVY4zfJvyyEUUE7TuL9gIsuj_8iIY&dib_tag=se&keywords=tracey+mckenzie+first+thanksgiving&qid=1732206494&sprefix=tracey+mckenzie+first+thanksgiving%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1

 

Dr. McKenzie's blog: https://faithandamericanhistory.wordpress.com/

 

For more information about Arise Church: https://www.myarisechurch.com/

For more information about Brent Simpson: http://brentsimpson.com/

To follow Brent Simpson on:

Facebook: / DrBrentSimpson 

Instagram: / drbrentsimpson  

 

The “most excellent way” to build community

We grew up in an era of radical individualism, where the promise was that true happiness would come from being completely self-reliant and free from needing others. But both Scripture and science have revealed the truth—this idea doesn’t hold up. We need each other. We were Created for Community.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul unveils what he calls "the most excellent way" for communities to thrive together. That "most excellent way" is the focus of today’s podcast.

 

The key Scripture are 1 Corinthians 12-14.

 

1 Corinthians 12:30 I will show you the most excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8  If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

 

To here the message from the Sunday that was a prelude to this podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzoLJex0064&t=1759s

 

For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com

To follow Arise Church on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myarisechurch

 

For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com

Follow Brent Simpson on:

          Facebook: / DrBrentSimpson 

          Instagram: / drbrentsimpson  

Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/

What is the Prayer of Faith? & How do I pray the Prayer of Faith?

James 5:15 states that "The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up."  Many of us know it in the King James, which states: "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up"So what is a "prayer of faith"? How is that different from any other prayer? In this episode Dr. Brent with discuss what the prayer of faith is and then give practical steps for how you can pray the prayer of faith.

Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for content:  @myarisechurch
For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com
For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com
Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on Podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/ 

Separation of Church and State and when is Christian Civil Disobedience appropriate?

Where does the separation of Church and State come from and what does it mean? When should a Christian practice Civil Disobedience?

Let's talk about this and more on today's CTF podcast?

Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for content:@myarisechurch For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com
For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com
Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/

Who are These Christian Pastors Voting For… and Why?

In this episode, a white registered independent voting pastor (Dr. Brent), a black registered independent voting pastor (Pastor Keren Emmanuel), and a female voting pastor (Pastor Tina Blount) sit down to discuss the top issues in this election, which political party best addresses those topics, and which candidate they will be voting for in the 2024 presidential election.

Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for content: https://www.youtube.com/@myarisechurch

For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com

For more information about Tina Blount visit: TinaBlount.com

Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/

 

For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com

Should Christians Participate in Halloween?

It’s that spooky time of year again! And everyone has an opinion on if Christians should celebrate Halloween. In this episode Dr. Brent gives some clear guidance on how Christians should respond to Halloween.

Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for content: https://www.youtube.com/@myarisechurch

For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com

For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com

Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/

Want to Visit the Churches of Revelation?

Paul was undoubtable the most influential human in world history not named Jesus. This May you have a chance to follow his steps across the Mediterranean isles and also visit the ancient runis of all 7 Churches of Revelation. At each site you will receive insightful Biblical teaching from Dr. Brent Simpson and Dr. Joe Davis that is sure to bring your Bible to life!

For more information, or to sign up for the trip: https://myarisechurch.com/events/ 

 

Visit the Arise Church YouTube Channel for content: https://www.youtube.com/@myarisechurch

For more info on Arise Church visit: MyAriseChurch.com

For more info on Dr. Brent Simpson visit: BrentSimpson.com

Creating the Future with Brent Simpson is also available on audio podcast in most podcasts providers, or on podbean here: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/