Away With the Manger

Away With the Manger

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Description

It began with a letter. Jackson Grim, newspaper columnist, was wading through his usual pile of hate mail from gun owners, religious wackos, and fans of a political talk show when he found it. The letter writer regretted the decision of the Hartville City Council to ban a manger scene on the front lawn of City Hall unless other "Winter Holiday" symbols (Santa, reindeer, snowpersons) were included in the display. Though he was not a religious man himself, Jackson decided to print the letter in his column—a decision he quickly came to regret.

This story of Christmas in the culture wars reveals a town thrown into mayhem by rhetoric on all sides when everyone from the town's leading atheist, Diedra Freep, to Pastor Marty is drawn into the debate. You will be amused and surprised by the events that follow, and you may even find your heart strangely warmed.

Reviews
"Chris Fabry is a wonderful storyteller. His book offers great entertainment coupled with a spiritual wallop."
— Chuck Colson

"We never, never, NEVER endorse other people's novels . . . so how soon does the movie come out, anyway?"
— Brock & Bodie Thoene

"Wildly funny to start with—stunningly sobering at the end."
— Elisabeth Elliot

"Chris Fabry's skill is to be funny and wise at once. By a genuine, gentle humor he calls believers to believe the deep message of Christmas. . . . Read this book for Christmas when it is not Christmas."
— Walter Wangerin

"Reading instructions: Read from beginning to end. Breathe a prayer. Listen carefully for inner response."
— Janette Oke

What Readers Are Saying . . .

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    ROMANTIC TIMES, 4½-Star Top Pick Review

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    BOOKLIST on Borders of the Heart

  • "Fabry has included so much meaningful spiritual content that it is difficult to remain unchanged after reading this book. . . . A fantastic story of the meaning and power of prayer."

    ROMANTIC TIMES, 4½-Star Top Pick Review of War Room

  • "The rural South comes to life, with themes of forgiveness and second chances as highlights. The characters are both deeply flawed and immensely relatable, making this another hit for Fabry."

    LIBRARY JOURNAL on A Piece of the Moon

  • "Solidly literary fiction with deep, flawed characters and beautiful prose, Dogwood also contains a mystery within the story that adds tension and a deepening plot."

    NOVEL REVIEWS

  • "This riveting, no-punches-pulled coming-of-age tale is reminiscent of Richard Bachman's (Stephen King) short story 'The Body,' which was made into the movie Stand by Me."

    BOOKLIST on The Promise of Jesse Woods

  • "Under a Cloudless Sky captivated me from page one. I cared immediately what happened to Ruby and Bean, and the stakes kept rising as tidbits of history were revealed, unraveling the mystery that held Ruby captive. A terrific reading experience!"

    Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author

  • "Once the story starts cooking, [Dogwood] is difficult to put down, what with Fabry's surprising plot resolution and themes of forgiveness, sacrificial love, and suffering."

    PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

  • "[June Bug] is a stunning success, and readers will find themselves responding with enthusiastic inner applause."

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